Don’t Let Go

os-gemeos-hangar-bicocca-top

I’ve been a big fan of the Brazilian street art duo Os Gemeos for years. They recently completed this delightful, massive mural transforming the Pirelli Hangar Biocca exhibition center in Milan, Italy into an enormous metro car. The artwork was created by the brothers for the Outside The Cube Project.

walls-of-milano

walls-of-milano-2

Posted in Art, Europe, Museums, Public Transport, South America | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Would Harry Beck Approve ?

tube1aa

Literary map geeks rejoice—TfL has released a Shakespeare-themed Underground map just in time to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the bard’s passing tomorrow. The Tube lines have been cleverly renamed for Shakespearean characters, locations, plays, and themes. The map will be available for sale as a poster or print from the London Transport Museum. While a large-scale map will be installed near the Globe Shakespeare theatre at Bankside Pier.

tube1

tube5

 

 

 

Posted in Books, Europe, History, Maps, Public Transport | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

What’s In A Name

name

Posted in Canada, Europe, Maps, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Obrigado, Porto

Nature-Landscape-font-b-Porto-b-font-font-b-Portugal-b-font-4-Sizes-Silk-Fabric

I only had a brief visit to Porto, but this charming video has inspired me to spend more time there the next time that I’m in Portugal. “Thank you, Porto” is a sweet tribute to Portugal’s second city by director Tiago Monteiro, starring Joana Sequeira.

Posted in Europe, Film, Tourism | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Just Plane Etiquette

1

Posted in Air Travel, Tourism | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

We Still Love Our Libraries In North America

Billings Public Library, Billings Montana

Billings Public Library, Billings Montana

Last week, the American Institute of Architects and the American Library Association announced the winners of the AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for 2016. To qualify, an institution had to display an innovative reinvention of traditional library design. Are the winners:

Sawyer Library, Williams College

Sawyer Library, Williams College

Hennepin County Library, Minneapolis

Hennepin County Library, Minneapolis

Ryerson University Learning Centre, Toronto

Ryerson University Learning Centre, Toronto

Chicago Public Library, Chinatown Branch

Chicago Public Library, Chinatown Branch

Lawrence Public Library, Lawrence Kansas

Lawrence Public Library, Lawrence Kansas

Renton Public Library, Renton Washington

Renton Public Library, Renton Washington

Posted in Architecture, Canada, Libraries, Tech, USA | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Sign Language

IconSpeak-travel-tshirt-2

Sometimes verbal communication fails us on our travels. A semi-disastrous trip through the Vietnamese countryside inspired three friend to create the Iconspeak clothing line. With 40 universal icons, their t-shirts, along some emphatic body language, should get you what you need almost any where around the world. Check out the website for more information on the product line.

IconSpeak-travel-tshirt-11

IconSpeak-travel-tshirt-9

IconSpeak-travel-tshirt-7

IconSpeak-travel-tshirt-8

IconSpeak-travel-tshirt-4

Posted in Public Transport, Tech, Tourism | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

America’s Libraries

2016SoAL-lores

The American Library Association has released its annual Top Ten List of Frequently Challenged Books, which is included in the ALA’s yearly State of America’s Libraries Report. You can read the report in its entirety here.

The Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2015 were:

1.      Looking for Alaska, by John Green

2.      Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James

3.      I Am Jazz, by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings

4.      Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out, by Susan Kuklin

5.      The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon

6.      The Holy Bible

7.      Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel
8.      Habibi, by Craig Thompson

9.      Nasreen’s Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan, by Jeanette Winter

10.   Two Boys Kissing, by David Levithan

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

London Cheat Sheet

big1

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

Prague’s Other Library

pohled-kniho-1

Founded in 1722, the glorious Baroque Klementinum Library is often overlooked by bibliophiles visiting Prague. Every one heads for the magnificent Strahov Monastery Library—sometimes even walking right by the Klementinum on the way. Once you view the video below, you won’t make that mistake.

Klementinum-was-the-former-Jesuit-college-which-stretches-out-over-five-courtyards

Posted in Architecture, Art, Books, Europe, Libraries, Museums, Tourism | Tagged , , | Leave a comment