Category Archives: History

London Stopover

Posted on March 23, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

There are so many things to see and do in London that it would take a lifetime to cover them all. So what would you do with a 24 hour stopover in the British capital? The infographic below from Central … Continue reading →

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They had me at chocolate

Posted on March 15, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

New York chocolate guru Jacques Torres has just opened Manhattan’s first chocolate museum in Soho. The Chocolate Museum and Experience focuses on the origins, evolution and cultural significance of the food of the gods. The museum features relevant Mayan, Aztec, and European … Continue reading →

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Don’t Mention The War

Posted on March 11, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Situated on the shores of the Laacher See near Andernach in Germany, Abbey Maria Laach is a handsome 800 year-old center of devotion and learning with a gorgeous 18th century library and a dark history. During the years leading up … Continue reading →

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Book Lover’s Guide To Coffee

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

If you love coffee as much as I do, you may want to download a free copy of The Book Lover’s Guide to Coffee. The e-book from Penguin Random House features stories on the cultural significance of the heavenly beverage, tips on … Continue reading →

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the best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Eighty years ago this month, John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men was first published. Based on Steinbeck’s own experiences as a bindlestiff – an impoverished migratory worker – in California during the 1920s, Of Mice and Men tells the story of George Milton and … Continue reading →

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’60s Redux

Posted on February 27, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Inspired by the ongoing national crisis triggered by the election of a neo-Fascist national government, Chicago-based illustrators Clay Hickson and Liana Jegers have launched The Smudge . With its bubbled typeface masthead and old school feel, the new monthly paper aims to … Continue reading →

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More Than Half of The London Underground Is Above Ground

Posted on February 12, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Many years ago, I wrote a travel guidebook for London, so I like to think of myself as fairly knowledgeable when it comes to the British capital. But I was surprised by some of the bits of information in this … Continue reading →

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Alternative Reality

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Since the depressing events of January 20th, I have been thinking of Philip Roth’s alternative history novel The Plot Against America. Our would be dictator’s references to “America First” reminded me of the anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, fascist movement championed by Nazi-loving Charles Lindbergh. … Continue reading →

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Don’t Be Like These Tourists (Warning: Intense Images)

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Many years ago, I chose to cut short my visit to the Terezín Concentration Camp in the Czech Republic due to the obnoxious behavior of groups of adolescents who laughed, joked, and generally clowned around with total disregard for the … Continue reading →

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Taking It to the Streets

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Most tourists who visit Paris take some sort of souvenir home. Many choose the cliché mini Eiffel Tower or even spring for some gourmet treats from Fauchon. Now travelers truly smitten with France’s capital can own an actual piece of … Continue reading →

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