Eat the City

I can't stop recommending Robin Shulman's "Eat the City" to people. "Eat the City: A tale of the fishers, foragers, butchers, farmers, poultry minders, sugar refiners, cane cutters, beekeepers, winemakers and brewers who built New York" is just that: a beautifully told account of the history of food in NYC. But that doesn't mean the book doesn't hold it's weight in other cities. In fact, "Eat the City" inspired me to learn more about the food backbone of Chicago.

I had the opportunity to interview Robin about her new book and I can't wait to share our interview, but first I want to take a look at the design of "Eat the City".

Although I love being able to get advanced copies of books to review for To Be Shelved, I am always even more happy when I open a publisher's envelope to find a beautifully designed book. This was never more true than when I received "Eat the City".

Christopher Silas Neal did a wonderful job on both the jacket. I think it is a perfect fit for the book's content, and although it is illustrated, it is still very clean.

Neal also created a series of illustrations for each chapter, and a map at the beginning of the book.

If you're interested, he shares some of the cover designs that were tried before arriving at the final. I also encourage you to browse his portfolio to check out the rest of his illustrations. Really beautiful work.

Make sure to look for my interview with Robin, hopefully later this week. Now that I feel adjusted to my new job I plan to be posting regularly again.

Plus, more good food reads
& wonderful illustrators

(gif / illustrations / photos mine)

NYPL Labs

You guys, libraries are awesome. In Chicago, they've been through quite a few fights in the past couple of years and they are definitely not giving up, and for good reason.

I think we all know the classic reasons why libraries are important—because they provide jobs, education, after-school activities, increase literacy, etc times infinity—but libraries have been evolving in some pretty awesome ways lately. For example, the New York Public Library has recently gained a LOT of internet attention for their Stereogranimator. Which basically lets you create and share animated gifs and 3D anaglyphs with the help of stereographs from the NYPL's archives.

I personally own a stereograph of Venice that I wish I could scan in and get to move a lil bit like these.

What about you guys, have you found any stereographs at flea markets or antique stores?

I feel like they're such a photograph treasure and what NYPL is doing is just completely awesome. Way to combine  something old and something new in such a beautiful way. I wish I could hi-five whoever thought of this.

And speaking of libraries, the Seattle Public Library will always leave me in awe. So colorful and so beautiful.

(all images via the NYPL Stereogranimator)

Rorschach

Hey, remember when I posted about that awesome Jay-Z book, "Decoded"? Well I saw the original Warhol painting that is featured on the cover in person while I was at MoMA.



I had no idea how large the painting was. Check out the girl in the corner of my picture who isn't even half the height of the canvas.

I still haven't bought or read the book, but it remains on my to-read list.

Review: Fahrenheit 451

I'll be honest, I thought "Fahrenheit 451" was going to be one of those books I heard so much hype over that it disappointed me in the end. Bradbury surprised me, though. I started the book a few days before I left for New York and finished it on the plane, leading me to think about it during my entire trip. I even went back through to re-read some passages and marked some things to remember, so I hope this review says something you haven't already heard about "Fahrenheit 451".

I also really love the cover on the copy I own, designed by Joseph Mugnaini.  I love the type, the colors and the illustration. Really great stuff.

To read the review and some of my favorite pieces click through the jump.

Review: May Day

I finished reading "Fahrenheit 451" on my way to New York (review coming soon!) and needed a book for the plane ride back to Chicago, so while I was at BOOKMARC, I picked up a F. Scott Fitzgerald novella. OBVIOUSLY this book caught my eye for the cover.

"May Day" is part of the "The Art of the Novella" series from Melville House, and BOOKMARC sold about three different stories from it. The covers for the series are so simple and in various bold colors, and reminded me of the Wallpaper* City Guides I collect. I'd love to see them all lined up on my bookshelf, or in this lovely gift tote bag (hint hint):

Anyway, Fitzgerald made me fall in love with the idea of the novella. I could not put this book down and was annoyed with any interruptions. I finished it before we were even half-way to Chicago and wanted to read it over and over again. In fact, I may have just convinced myself to read it again tonight.

One of the reasons I loved this work was the way it was told. Fitzgerald writes of the May Day riots of 1919 through the experiences of characters at different levels of the social ladder. The characters experiences gradually weave together to create a story that escalates quickly and doesn't disappoint the reader in the end.

The girl who rang me up at BOOKMARC told me she absolutely loved this story, but that it was a little darker than Fitzgerald's other work. I agree. Although this story involves a lot of partying and nonsense, there is a sort of sad tone throughout the piece.

I don't want to spoil anything because I'd really love for everyone to read this. You can read the entire novella online by CLICKING HERE, thanks to the University of South Carolina.

I'd like to hear what other people thought about "May Day". So if you've read it, leave a comment with your own little review.

BOOKMARC

I had such a great time in New York. One of the highlights was definitely the drizzly afternoon Chase and I spent wandering until we came across Magnolia Bakery (one of his favorites). I didn't even notice the little Marc Jacobs bookstore across the street until we walked out of Magnolia, but it seemed perfect that the two were right next to each other. Chase is in the pastry business and I am clearly eager to go to any and every bookshop.

I walked out of BOOKMARC with a F. Scott Fitzgerald novella, which I'll be posting a review for later, and a nice little necklace. I am so proud of myself for being a responsible shopper because there were about fifteen books I wanted to buy there.

Also, I have to mention the staff at BOOKMARC, who were so friendly. They made the tiny little store feel cozy instead of cramped and like a one-of-a-kind experience instead of part of the huge world of Marc Jacobs.

(all images mine)