Category Archives: History

Jimi Hendrix Slept Here

Posted on November 1, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

If you have ever wandered around London as a tourist, I’m sure that at some point you noticed the ubiquitous blue ceramic plaques around the city noting where famous historical figures lived or worked. The iconic plaques commemorating figures as … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Europe, Film, History, Tourism | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Eat Your Way Through History

Posted on October 11, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

Bompas & Parr, London’s always fun and creative food and beverage company, is opening Britain’s first cultural institution devoted to the history, science, art, sociology, and evolution of food. Situated in the historic Borough Market in London’s Southwark neighborhood, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Europe, History, Museums, Restaurants, Tourism | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Heavenly Bookshop

Posted on September 15, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

Many years ago, while visiting the ancient walled town of Óbidos on the central coast of Portugal I was intrigued by a padlocked church in the heart of the old Roman town. Being the nosy tourist that I am, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Books, Bookstore Tourism, Europe, History, Tourism | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Van Gogh on parade

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

The folks in Zundert, Netherlands are crazy about flowers, Vincent Van Gogh and parades. On the first Sunday of every September they put on a wildly colorful festival to celebrate all three. The event honors the region’s horticultural industry, which specializes … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Europe, History, Tourism | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Micrographia

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

Los Angeles-based artist Charlotte Price created this engaging short film for the renowned Huntington Library in San Marino, California. Here’s what she had to say about the project: As a filmmaker, I spend many hours examining the world through a … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Film, History, Libraries, Museums, USA | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Brian D. Butler
Posted in Books, History, Restaurants, USA, Writing | Tagged , | 1 Comment

A Card With A History

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

Most people think of American Express as a credit card company, but the firm—which is celebrating its centennial this month—began as a full service travel provider. Along with organizing trips, tours and cruises, American Express sold all sorts of travel … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, History, Public Transport, South America, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Mind Is Like An Iceberg

Posted on June 22, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

One hundred years ago Sigmund Freud published his groundbreaking paper titled “The Unconscious”, which revolutionized thinking about the mind. To mark this centenary, this week the Freud Museum London is launching a three-month long celebration to demonstrate how the unconscious … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, History, Museums, Writing | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Seventy-one Square Miles Seeded With Hustle

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

The just launched Brooklyn from the Wildsam Field Guide Series describes the New York Borough as “…seventy-one square miles seeded with hustle and grit and leaps of faith”. As the product of more than a century of Brooklynites on both … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, History, Hotels, Maps, Museums, Music, Public Transport, Restaurants, Tourism, Travel Writing, USA | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

It’s International Dylan Day

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

No, not Bob; it’s Dylan Thomas Day. Literature Wales has inaugurated the first annual International Dylan Day to honor Wales’ favorite son Dylan Thomas. May 14th was chosen to commemorate the premiere of Thomas’ play “Under the Milk Wood”. Celebrations … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, History, Theater, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment