Category Archives: History

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

What’s in a name

Posted on April 24, 2015 by Brian D. Butler
Posted in Asia, Europe, History, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Not Your Corner Starbucks

Posted on April 6, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

We are living in a golden age of coffeehouses and coffee culture, but for me nothing will ever match the charms of the quintessentially Viennese kaffeehaus. Give me a groβer schwarzer , ein apfelstrudel and the daily paper in one … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Europe, History, Restaurants, Tourism | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Ferry Cross The Mersey

Posted on April 4, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

For the next two years, passengers who ride the iconic Mersey Ferry in Liverpool, England will be able to choose to sail on the outrageous Everybody Razzle Dazzle boat. Designed by Peter Blake, the ferry—officially named Snowdrop—is a tribute to … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Europe, History, Public Transport, Tourism | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Here Be Monsters

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

TeleGeography’s newly updated “Submarine Cable Map” is a wonderful tribute to the Golden Age of mapmaking incorporating historical elements of Medieval and Renaissance cartography. The fantastic map, which details 299 undersea communication cables, brings back a lost aesthetic of whimsical … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, History, Maps, Tech | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Happy St Patrick’s Day

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Brian D. Butler
Posted in Europe, History, Tourism | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Vienna is calling all bibliophiles

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

On April 18th, the new Literature Museum of the Austrian National Library will officially open in Vienna. The institution will document the nation’s literature with rare manuscripts, books, letters, photographs, illustrations and related objects. Situated in the heart of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Books, Europe, History, Libraries, Museums, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

It Was Snowing Butterflies

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

On its 80th anniversary, Penguin Books has launched Little Black Classics, a series of 80 titles priced at just 80p. The diminutive books include fiction and nonfiction works drawn from Penguin’s Classics list. The covers all sport a striking typographic … Continue reading →

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A book is an object fixed in time

Posted on February 28, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

Over at the Design Observer, librarian/curator/writer Timothy Young offers a damn good list of ten reasons why the printed book still matters. Here’s a stripped down version (see below) of the list. If you’re inclined, check out the fully unexpurgated … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, History, Libraries, Writing | Tagged , , | 1 Comment