Vintage Futures

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Brian D. Butler

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Vintage has just republished a fantastic set of dystopian and futuristic paperback fiction in a series titles “Vintage Futures”. Each of the books includes an attached sheet of acetate that can be used to “animate” the cover image.

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The nine book covers feature highly stylized lenticular illustrations that suit the sci-fi nature of the series. When the covers of each book are aligned together they form a 1965 artwork by Italian artist and designer Franco Grignani called “Centifugal and Centripedal Structure”.

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There’s more about the series on the Vintage design blog.

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London Redux

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Brian D. Butler

I really enjoyed this terrific split-screen video of London Day and Night by Paris-based photographer and filmmaker Franck Matel.

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Last Stop Biscuit Town

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Brian D. Butler

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I’m an avid follower of the Londonist blog, where I found the “Tube Map of Lost London”. The nostalgic, alternative map depicts once well known sites and neighborhoods that have been lost to history. Although even I’m old enough to remember one or two. The old Planetarium on Baker Street in Marylebone hasn’t been gone all that long. But I’ll always fondly remember the former Swiss Centre on Leicester Square. The original building and cultural center is easily forgettable, but the Swiss Café on the ground floor served the most delicious flourless chocolate cake that I’ve ever tasted.

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Check out the Londonist for detailed histories of all of the stops on the Lost London Map.

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Only The Classics

Posted on March 28, 2016 by Brian D. Butler

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Happy Easter

Posted on March 27, 2016 by Brian D. Butler

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Tokyo Views

Posted on March 26, 2016 by Brian D. Butler

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Tokyo 100 Views is a wonderful, whimsical project from Japanese anime artist and illustrator Shinji Tsuchimochi. The colorful illustrations take us on a wacky little tour of Tokyo, replete with imps, ghosts, animals, movie monsters, and robots. It’s sort of like Tintin meets Lost in Translation on magic mushrooms.

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travel expectations vs reality

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Brian D. Butler

 

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How Much Do We Miss

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Brian D. Butler

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After a recent post on the beauties of Budapest, I was discussing the tourist attractions in the Hungarian capital with a TPTP reader and was saddened to find that I completely missed out on visiting the fantastic Ervin Szabó Library. Housed in the stunning former Wenckheim Palace just next door to the National Museum in Pest’s Palotanegyed District, the city’s central library’s main building is a gem of Hungarian Neo-Baroque architecture. Built in 1889 as a townhouse for the industrialist aristocrat Count Frigyes Wenckheim, the landmark was purchased by the municipal council in 1927 and converted into a gorgeous working library.

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I’ll be certain to schedule some time to tour the library on my next visit to Budapest, but if you’re a bibliophile planning to be in the Hungarian capital consider putting it on your to see list.

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Bonjour Paris

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Brian D. Butler

During the past few weeks, I’ve seen a number of news stories and blog posts disparaging Paris tourism. The complaints seemed to focus on a perception that the city is dirty, noisy and crowded. My only comment is that travelers who don’t want a big city experience should head for the country. For my part, I’ll take Paris.

New York City-based videographer/photographer/cinematographer Tyler Fairbank appears to share my love for the French capital. This past summer he spent two productive weeks in Paris filming a wonderful 4k hyperlapse titled “Bonjour Paris”.

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Reading Project

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Brian D. Butler

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For the past year or so, stacks of books have been appearing around New York City with attached notes which read: “Take a book. Any book. Email the artist when you’ve finished it.” The mystery man behind The Reading Project is Brooklyn-based artist and advertising art director Shaheryar Malik.

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The book piles have popped-up on the Brooklyn Bridge, in Central Park, on the popular Chelsea High Line, and even in the Times Square subway station. Inside each of the books, Malik inserts a bookmark with his email address. So far, he’s heard back from folks in 30 different countries.

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photo credit © Daniel Yim

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