Reading Vacation

by Neil Woodburn on

Every so often I get the urge to disappear into a novel. Of course, reading conditions must be just perfect to do so; a comfy chair, a warm fire place and a light falling of rain just outside my window.

Unfortunately, living in southern California I can usually get my hands on a good book and a comfy chair but not much else on my list.

I never really considered a “reading vacation” where I might find the perfect reading conditions. But, believe it or not, they do exist.

The Sylvia Beach Hotel, located on Oregon’s central coast is one such place. Oregon and rain are pretty much synonymous but the hotel takes their reading experience beyond that. Each of the guestrooms are inspired by authors such as Hemingway, Jane Austen Emily Dickinson, Herman Melville, Agatha Christie and Edgar Allen Poe (Poe??? I don’t think I’d want to spend the night in a room inspired by Poe).

Naturally the hotel also has a nice roaring fireplace and a well-stocked library. And, if guests get tired of reading, the quaint fishing town of Newport, compete with its own lighthouse, is nearby.

SkyMaul – Damn!

by Erik Olsen on

Have you ever had one of those experiences where you think you have come up with a great idea and not soon after you see the EXACT idea someplace else? That is what just happened to me. On my flight back from Chicago last Sunday, I was thumbing through the Sky Mall catalog that had been stuffed into the front seat pocket and I thought to myself: Self, why don’t you do a parody of the Sky Mall catalog. You could come up with hilarious fake gift and gadget ideas that would make people laugh so hard milk would come out of their noses (and perhaps other orifi). It would be great, it would make millions!

Well, after having this revelation, I jotted some ideas down, like the combination coffee maker/shower head so that you could dispense a steaming espresso as you’re getting ready for work. I came up with a whole list of these ideas and was readying my pitch, confident that a small publisher would take it on. Then, just a moment ago, I came across this site dedicated to a new book called (sigh. sniffle) Sky Maul, a book parody of, yes, Sky Mall products. I am soooo bummed. Well, good for them. The book is even more outrageous than I was imagining with featured products like the “cow charger” and the “llama-cycle”. I guess it just goes to show there are no new ideas. Now I gotta come up with something else to make my millions.

Contribute to JPG Mag

by Erik Olsen on

It’s been a little while since we’ve called any attention to JPG Mag, and this seems like a prime opportunity. Why? Because every issue they offer the opportunity for folks like you and I to contribute according to a particular theme. I got a photo in the lovely, well-packaged little magazine for its second issue. The theme was “Lost“, I believe.

Well, their next issue is an ideal one for gadling photographers (you know who you are! All the immensely talented folks who contribute to the gadling Flickr site). One of the themes for the upcoming issue is “Tourist”. This theme is about “being away, out of your element, and possibly a little homesick”. As they say, you are NOT meant to take the theme too literally. In fact, they often appreciate people’s quirky takes on a theme, so be creative.

Not for Tourists

by Erik Olsen on

Not For Tourists is the clever name for a brand of guidebooks that are meant to appeal to locals in various cities around the US. They do the guides for New York City (of course), as well as a bunch of other big cities like Chicago, SF, Atlanta, Boston.

I’ve browsed them at the bookstore. They’re actually solid little guides with lots of recommendations for places to eat and spend weekend/evening time that you are NOT likely to find in your standard LCD city guides. I was reminded of the NFT guides recently when I stumbled across their well-done blog, and figured it was worth calling attention to.

For NYC, the blog calls out places to eat and visit, with short, but well-written descriptions and advice. They are categorized by neighborhood and have a handy little “print here” link so you transform this crucial information onto dead tree form and take it with you. There is a news and events section so you can get “what to do” recommendations for an upcoming weekend or a friend’s visit.

I’ll see if I can get my hands on one of the guides itself (hello, Jane & Rob) and will write up a quick review.

Best/Worst of Times: Dublin Bookstores Experiencing Difficult Period

by Neil Woodburn on

I once lived in Dublin for nearly a year and seemed to have spent a great deal of that time in the city’s grand bookstores. When I was bored, I’d swing by one of the many independent bookstores and spend time browsing the titles and reading little snippets of literary gems.

I was therefore disappointed to come across an article by Kevin Cullen lamenting the difficult period these very bookstores are currently experiencing due to Ireland’s booming economy. As the city becomes more affluent and rent continues to soar, more and more of these small, independent shops are having problems paying rent. Many have already shut their doors.

I find this simply tragic. There is perhaps no city on this planet with a richer literary heritage than Dublin. The bookstores are as much a part of the city’s character as its many pubs. As they shut down one by one, the collective screams of Yeats, Joyce, Wilde, Swift, and so many other Men of Letters will ring out loud and clear across this Dirty Old Town.