Travel Between The Pages

What’s On Your Book Shelf

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

Mike Hanski from the site Bid4Paper has created this interesting infographic titled, “You Are What You Read,” which looks at the reading lists of a diverse set of influential people—living and dead.

Posted in Books, Writing | Tagged Literature, Reading | Leave a comment

Bloomsbury, Soho & South Kensington

Posted on April 29, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

The American fashion retailer J Crew has recently celebrated the addition of three London shops—including a flagship Regent Street store—by teaming with the ultra-hip Wildsam Field Guide publishers (see TBTP 12/8/13) to produce co-branded travel guide books for three London neighborhoods. The new guides, beautifully illustrated by British illustrator Lucinda Rogers, focus on Bloomsbury, Soho and South Kensington.

Posted in Art, Books, Europe, Tourism, Travel Writing | Tagged Bloomsbury, London, SoHo | Leave a comment

Cosmopolis

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

Mexico City-based designer and illustrator Aldo Crusher created this charming series of vibrant, polychromatic illustrations for Aire magazine. Cosmópolis cleverly uses geometric elements to explore iconic landmarks and attractions in each city.

Posted in Africa, Art, Europe, South America, Tourism | Tagged Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Madrid, New York, Shanghai | 1 Comment

Obey the Code

Posted on April 27, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

The Bombay Highway Code is a poem, a postcard and a history lesson all bundled up into one short video shot on the streets of Mumbai. The film was shot, directed and edited by David Baksh with original music from James Fortune. This enchanting little film will captivate you—it’s well worth your time.

Posted in Asia, Film, Tourism | Tagged Bombay, India, Mumbai | 2 Comments

Passion for Postcards

Posted on April 26, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

The Boston Public Library has uploaded more than 90,000 images to their Flickr page in 380 different sets. One of my favorites is a wonderful, nostalgic collections of over 25,000 postcards of U.S. sites. The linen textured, colored postcards were produced between 1930 and 1945 by Boston-based Tichnor Brothers Inc..

Posted in Art, Tourism, Travel Writing, USA | Tagged Asbury Park New Jersey, Chicago, Las Vegas, South Dakota | Leave a comment

Holiday Renascence

Posted on April 25, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

Published between 1946 and 1977, Holiday was a trendy U.S. travel magazine popular for innovative lay-outs, exciting photography and well-written stories. Now, after 37 years, Holiday is back as a bi-annual periodical.

The new Paris-based publication aims to “capture the essence, the esthetic demands and journalistic adventure of its original version…Holiday is a magazine written in English, but its heart is French.”

The magazine is available for purchase online and at select retailers.

Posted in Art, Photography, Tourism, Travel Writing, Writing | Tagged List of travel magazines, Magazines, Paris, Periodicals | Leave a comment

Wheel Good Times

Posted on April 24, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

Beginning next month, visitors to the U.S. capital Washington D.C. will have a unique vantage to see the city’s famous sights: from a 180 foot-tall observation wheel. The Capital Wheel sits at the end of a pier on the Potomac River just south of DC and across the National Harbor from historic Alexandria, Virginia.

Wheel passengers will have sweeping views of the areas iconic sights from one of forty-two climate controlled gondolas. I’m told that it will be possible to see the White House, the Capitol Building, the Washington Monument and all of the National Mall monuments from the wheel.

The Capital Wheel will operate year-round daily from 10am to 10pm, with rides priced at $15. The pier will be accessible by public transit and by water taxi from Alexandria.

Posted in Architecture, Tourism, USA | Tagged Alexandria, National Mall, Washington D.C, White House | Leave a comment

Ideas Box

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

Most of us can take access to books and information for granted. However, for people in areas of conflict, war or natural disaster access to information is often an insurmountable problem. The NGO Libraries Without Borders has partnered with the French designer Philippe Starck to create the Ideas Box, a pre-packaged, portable multimedia center and library. The ready-made system consists of five modules that ship on two standard shipping palettes.

Each of the color coded modules serves a specific function. The yellow module is the system hub, which provides a central desk and check-in area.

The orange module stores books, games and activities.

The green IT module has tablets. e-readers and video cameras.

The blue module is an integrated cinema with sound system and a portable generator.

While the grey modules convert to tables with USB and wifi, as well as seating for 24 people.

Libraries Without Borders has tested the first Ideas Box at a refugee camp in the Congo and plans to test four other units over the next year at other camps.

Posted in Africa, Books, Libraries, Tech | Tagged Libraries Without Borders, NGO, Philippe Starck, UN | Leave a comment

Kids Need Maps

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

I don’t usually promote random Kickstarter projects, but this interactive kid’s map created by Berlin-based Simon Schuetz is a terrific concept. American children in particular are woefully ignorant when it comes to basic geography, but a fun map like this could go a long way at home or in a classroom.

Posted in Canada, Europe, Maps, South America | Tagged Cartography, Kickstarter, Maps | Leave a comment

Pity the Poor Librarian

Posted on April 21, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

I don’t know who is behind the anonymous blog Professional Library Literature but I think that they’re overdue for a sabbatical . These hilarious pulp fiction book parodies will surely ring true for our librarian readers, professional students and library habitué.