Category Archives: USA

Bane of Banned Books

Posted on September 30, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Banned Books Week is the national book community’s annual celebration of the freedom to read. Hundreds of libraries and bookstores around the United States draw attention to the dangers of censorship by mounting displays of challenged books and hosting a … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, Freedom of Speech, History, Libraries, USA, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Free The Museums

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

More than 1,400 museums and cultural institutions across the United States will be offering free admission during the eighth annual Museum Day Live! on Saturday September 29, 2012. Sponsored by the Smithsonian magazine, the event invites participation institutions to get … Continue reading →

Posted in Libraries, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Nary a Cheesesteak

Posted on September 22, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Street art is undoubtedly the most exciting and powerful contemporary art movement. At its core street art is an ephemeral exercise, often disappearing within days of its installation. The precarious, and often politically fraught, nature of street art necessitates dedicated … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Freedom of Speech, USA | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Open Air Philly

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

“Open Air is an interactive art installation designed to transform Philadelphia’s historic Benjamin Franklin Parkway, between tonight and October 14, 2012. In this project, twenty four powerful searchlights create unique, dynamic light formations in the sky which react to voice messages … Continue reading →

Posted in apps, Art, Museums, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

The Key to Character

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

In celebration of the bicentennial of Charles Dickens’ birth, the New York Public Library has opened a wonderful, special exhibition called “Charles Dickens: The Key to Character”. Running through January 27, 2013, and held in the iconic Stephen A. Schwartzman … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, History, Libraries, Tourism, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Book Store of the Month

Posted on September 15, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Urban dwellers in the U.S. are getting ready for their mass pilgrimages to the higher elevations for the autumn leaf-peeping season. Residents of the Northeast often head for the Hudson River Valley region of New York State and the easily … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

A History of New York

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Drawing inspiration from last year’s BBC/British Museum collaboration called “A History of the World in 100 Objects”, the New York Times selected a group of historians to decide what should be part of “A History of New York in 50 … Continue reading →

Posted in History, USA | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Salman Rushdie Says Thanks

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Salman Rushdie recently issued an open letter to independent booksellers expressing his gratitude for their long support of his work. The image below offers the full text of his message. “I have never ceased to be grateful for what the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Freedom of Speech, USA, Writing | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Take a stand against censorship

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Banned Book Week campaign against censorship in America. The folks at Bookmans Entertainment Exchange in Arizona have continued their three decade-long commitment to the cause with a compelling video (see below). The six … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, Freedom of Speech, USA, Writing | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

New York State of Mind

Posted on September 8, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

London-based artist and architectural illustrator Patrick Vale creates wonderful urban scenes and vignettes. He recently shared a marvelous stop-motion video on one of his finest New York City projects. I’ve watched three time and still marvel at his skill in … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Film, USA | Tagged , , | 1 Comment