Category Archives: Europe

I’ll Drink To That

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

When the private company that provided night bus service in Ghent, Belgium stopped the operation, the municpal government found an innovative solution with an unlikely partner. In the new collaboration, the Antwerp-based brewery De Koninck agrred to cover the cost … Continue reading →

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Underground Books

Posted on December 8, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

By now most bibliophiles have participated in, or at least heard about, bookswapping programs. The latest book give-away scheme is London’s Books on the Underground. All that’s necessary to be a participant is to visit the project website, request some … Continue reading →

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Meaning Minus Truth

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

I’m a fool for book-based art installations, as you may have already surmised. So here’s new one called “Meaning Minus Truth Condition” by Vienna-based artist Thomas Ehgartner. Built with 8,000 recycled books, the installation in the Kunstacademie Wien also includes … Continue reading →

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Amsterdam Goes Green(er)

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

This October, Reuben Beugel’s new company Hopper launched an innovative, eco-friendly taxi service in Amsterdam using chauffer-driven electric scooters. Charging a flat-rate fee of just € 2.50 regardless of the distance traveled Hopper’s service is quicker than traditional taxis, as … Continue reading →

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Borrow One If Necessary

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Tomorrow, December 1st, marks the third annual Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day. More than 1,000 bookshops in North America, along with stores in the U.K. and Australia, will be hosting special events to celebrate young readers. Many bookstores … Continue reading →

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Timeless Alsace

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

According to the editor Julien Guntz,  The “Alsace timelapse” project is the fruit of the collaboration of three French artists from Strasbourg, and the fusion of their photographic, editing and musical talents. The collective, baptized IGH, presents a short film … Continue reading →

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Go Amphibious

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

If you have ever dreamed of going camping and boating, the Sealander is the perfect solution for you. This nifty little schwimmcaravan retails for around $20,000, but it’s fully customizable and comes with an electric motor, heating and cooking equipment. … Continue reading →

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Art in the Metro

Posted on November 24, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Many visitors to Amsterdam never ride the city’s limited Metro system; in fact many don’t even know that it exists. But the GVB’s clever campaign to refurbish the Zilbermeeuwen metro cars may encourage art-loving tourists to take a ride. When … Continue reading →

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Biellmann or Flutz in Paris This Season

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Built in 1900 for the Paris Universal exhibition, Le Grand Palais is one of the most extravagant buildings in a city of extraordinary architecture. Today, it houses the marvelous Galerie Nationale and the de la Decouverte science museum under its … Continue reading →

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No Trees, No Fjords

Posted on November 18, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

This summer, Irish painter Conor Harrington visited the doleful Norwegian port town of Vardø on the chilly Barents Sea and created some marvelous murals around the desolate town for the Komafest street art festival. Lucky for us, filmmaker Andrew Telling … Continue reading →

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