Strauss’s Symphonic Poem: An Ode to the Death of an Artist

April 24, 2018

April’s National Poetry Month and what better way to celebrate than with some musical poetry performed last weekend by the Philadelphia Orchestra. Symphonic poems are what they sound like: poems set to music. But the words must be imagined. Since 2001, Philadelphia’s symphony has performed in the modern Kimmel Center south of historic City Hall. … More Strauss’s Symphonic Poem: An Ode to the Death of an Artist

Touring Sweden in Your Own Volvo

April 20, 2018

Novelist Karen Stensgaard and her Danish husband made the most out of buying a new Volvo SUV with a free two week road trip in Scandinavia. … More Touring Sweden in Your Own Volvo

Libraries Round the World: Bookmobiles Rule!

April 11, 2018

Today April 11th is National Bookmobile Day. Of course, finding one, since true to their name they aren’t stationary, wasn’t easy. But success came through this afternoon! I guess this one didn’t get the message or couldn’t make it to the party since it was parked outside the Mission Branch Library in San Antonio, Texas. Lee … More Libraries Round the World: Bookmobiles Rule!

Libraries Round the World: The DAR

April 6, 2018

Novelist Karen Stensgaard took a spin around the DAR and found two great granddaddies (5 times back) were revolutionary war patriots. … More Libraries Round the World: The DAR

Libraries Round the World: The Library of Congress

March 30, 2018

Tourists to the world’s largest library (164+ million items), located in Washington D.C., must view the main reading room from a second-floor glass partitioned overlook. Not bad, but to experience the reading room firsthand apply for a free library card. You can request books online and review them while in the library (if in the … More Libraries Round the World: The Library of Congress

Libraries Round the World: La-La Land

March 18, 2018

This massive library, in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, may not be that close to Hollywood, but the eclectic mix of styles could easily double as a film set. The library checks off nearly every period imaginable: ultra-modern, fantasy, art deco, Egyptian, medieval, murals, mosaics, and Latin American. And they do all this while … More Libraries Round the World: La-La Land

Another Reason to Celebrate

February 27, 2018

February is Black History Month aka National African American History Month, and March transitions into Women’s History Month. What better way to celebrate both by reading a novel written by an African American woman based on her history and childhood years growing up in 70’s and 80’s Bushwick, a neighborhood of Brooklyn. Jacqueline Woodson, the poet-novelist, … More Another Reason to Celebrate

Libraries Round the World: With Love from the Landa’s

February 13, 2018

San Antonio has what may be the most romantic library in the world, the Hannah Landa Memorial Library. This library is located in the Landa family’s treasured home in the Monte Vista Historic District. The Italianate stone and stucco house was built in 1928 for the couple, Hannah and Harry Landa. They participated in the … More Libraries Round the World: With Love from the Landa’s

Libraries Round the World: Super Bowl LII Champs Encourage All of Us

February 8, 2018

Philly’s Free Library had a great view of the Eagles on their way down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to the Art Museum and Rocky steps for speeches and accolades from their many fans. The underdogs are now wonderdogs. Never having been a football fan or watched the Eagles play before, I was surprised at my reaction … More Libraries Round the World: Super Bowl LII Champs Encourage All of Us

Libraries Round the World: Dracula at the Rosenbach

January 25, 2018

Yes, the most famous vampire of them all, Dracula, has invaded Philadelphia’s museum and library, the Rosenbach! But not to worry, he isn’t sleeping in the basement in a coffin or roaming the upscale Rittenhouse Square neighborhood. The original manuscript and early editions are part of a special exhibit to honor the 200th anniversary of … More Libraries Round the World: Dracula at the Rosenbach