The best museum in the world ?

Posted on September 27, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

You may disagree, but TripAdvisor just named the Musée d’Orsay in Paris the “Best Museum in the World” for 2018. Housed in a stunning turn-of-the-century former railway terminal, this riverside gem hosts an eye-popping collection of European art works dating from 1848 to 1914. The heart of the collection is an enormous cache of Impressionist, post-Impressionist, and Art Nouveau paintings and sculptures. It’s worth a visit to see works by Manet, Renoir, Degas, Cézanne, and Van Gogh.

I would pay just to spend time inside of the beautifully restored railway station. In fact, I once made a return flight to Paris just to visit the d’Orsay when it had been closed due to a strike by museum security staff. Clearly, planning ahead is key to seeing the “best museum in the world”. If your are going, be sure to purchase an open dated ticket online to avoid the box office queues and remember that the museum is closed on Mondays.

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Stand Up To Censorship

Posted on September 26, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

The annual Banned Books Week this year has a new theme: Banning books silences voices. But as always, BBW focuses on raising awareness about the constant threat of censorship.

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Coffeehouse Tourism Out West

Posted on September 25, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

I recently asked TBTP followers to suggest some of their favorite coffeehouses, either from travels or hometown hangouts. Reader Louis R. nominated Treeline Coffee Roasters in Bozeman, Montana. The small batch artisan coffee roasters have been in the game for about five years and recently opened a second shop in the heart of town. For a funky western locale, Treeline Coffee seems to favor a decidedly Scandinavian aesthetic, from a steel barista bar to the laminated wood decor.

Brooklyn-based Louis, who describes himself as a “die-hard single origin coffee bean fanatic”, reports that the brand new Treeline Coffee shop is a great place to savor a freshly roasted pour over in a welcoming atmosphere. He also says that the outdoor seating is perfect for people watching in the popular tourist town. Best of all, menu prices are are bargain compared to East Coast coffee costs.

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Washington D.C. : Word on the Street

Posted on September 24, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

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How Airports Work

Posted on September 23, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

When I was a young child my Grandfather had a job that took him all over the world for work. I always begged to go along to the airport to drop him off or pick him up for flights. The big attraction for me was the magic of the airport and off course the planes too. I wish that I had a book like Lonely Planet’s new title How Airports Work by Clive Gifford with wonderful illustrations by James Gulliver Handcock. I may just buy a copy for myself anyway.

Posted in Air Travel, Architecture, Art, Books, Public Transport, Tourism, Travel Writing | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

It’s Raturday

Posted on September 22, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

For equal time Raturday, we have Robert Browning’s 1888 version of The Pied Piper of Hamelin illustrated by Kate Greenaway. The text of the volume published by Frederick Warne and Co. was based on a 17th century English take on the 13th century German folk tale. A timely reminder to all of us to always be prepared to pay the piper.

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Bighearted Bookstore

Posted on September 21, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Bank Square Books, Mystic, Conn., is responding to a recent theft in the store with an inspiring act of generosity.

On Facebook, Bank Square posted: “On Saturday, our cash drawer was robbedwhile one of our employees was taking a lunch break. We don’t keep a lot of cash on hand, but we still feel violated and upset about this act of theft.

“We love being part of Mystic and feel strongly about being a positive addition to our community. To balance out this act of negativity, we are asking that you come by our store in the next week and pick out any children’s book to purchase for a child in need. We will give you 10% off your purchase and donate all the books to shelters, schools and other organizations.

“If you want to purchase a book online, you can add ‘For a kid in need’ to the order comment and use the coupon code GOODDEED.”

If you’re anywhere near Mystic in your travels, be sure to make time to visit the bookstore and the beautiful historic seaport town.

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New York City : Word on the Street

Posted on September 20, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

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Bookstore Tourism: Alaska

Posted on September 20, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Despite the fact that there are tens of millions of Spanish speakers and readers in the United States, there is a chronic shortage of Spanish language books and bookstores throughout the nation. New York City-based artist and educator Pablo Helguera has created a unique way to highlight the issue. Libreria Donceles is a traveling pop-up bookstore, art installation, and cultural meeting space with more than 10,000 donated Spanish language books.

The traveling bookshop/exhibition has surfaced in Boston, Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, Phoenix, Indianapolis, and Brooklyn. Now it’s popped-up in Anchorage Alaska of all places. Sponsored by the Anchorage Museum, which is well worth a visit, the Libreria Donceles is selling low cost books and serving as a cultural center, performance and workshop space until January 2019.

 

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Every Book Lovers Dream

Posted on September 19, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

When Paul Morris was forced by ill health to retire from his beloved Bookmarks Bookshop in beautiful Cardigan, Wales, rather than sell the business he decided to raffle it off. To qualify for the prize, customers only needed to make a minimum purchase of £20. The shocked winner of the raffle, which included the bookstore and its entire stock, was Netherlands native Ceisjan van Heerden. The 30 year-old jumped at the opportunity to become the proprietor of Bookmarks and announced that he would manage the shop in partnership with a friend from Iceland. Now van Heerden and friend get to live out every bibliophile’s fantasy of running a bookstore. A big plus for them is the business location in the lovely seaside town in West Wales.

Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, Europe | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments