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Notes on books and travel.

Take a Life-Changing Road Trip From Chicago to Mexico City with 'Caramelo'
Take a Life-Changing Road Trip From Chicago to Mexico City with 'Caramelo'
Our heroine Lala is an astute observer. She'll take you on a virtual trip to Mexico City. You'll smell the corn roasting, hear the music dance in the air, and get caught up in all kinds of (excellent) family drama.
Irish Boxty (Potato Pancakes) Inspired by Timothy Egan's 'The Immortal Irishman'
Irish Boxty (Potato Pancakes) Inspired by Timothy Egan's 'The Immortal Irishman'
It's a well-known fact around the world that you can't really go wrong with potatoes and butter. These Irish boxties are a simple, hearty riff on that adage: tender-crisp pancakes that taste of rebellion and love.
6 Great Books Set in Ireland That We Love
6 Great Books Set in Ireland That We Love
There's so much to love about visiting Ireland: dramatic history, a pint down at the pub, poetry and revolution and tall tells well-told. There's also the crashing surf, the vast green turf, and a wee bit o' magic.
15 Instagram Accounts That Celebrate the Magic and Mystery of Ireland
15 Instagram Accounts That Celebrate the Magic and Mystery of Ireland
Ireland is green and lush and craggy and altogether beautiful. We've collected 16 Instagrammers — photographers, artists, chefs, and other creators — to whisk you away to that lovely island in the North Atlantic.
Chinese Zodiac, NeSpoon's Art, Doughnuts, Lit Live Conference & More: Endnotes 12 February
Chinese Zodiac, NeSpoon's Art, Doughnuts, Lit Live Conference & More: Endnotes 12 February
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got a cities quiz, gorgeous paper dresses, books about girlhood's dark side, Tea Time mag, Irish soundscape generator, and more.
Take a Big Bite of Delicious Family Drama with 'Number One Chinese Restaurant'
Take a Big Bite of Delicious Family Drama with 'Number One Chinese Restaurant'
February 12, 2021, is Chinese Near Year and begins the Year of the Ox. It's a time to feast on good-luck foods and look forward to spring. In this novel, the loving but troubled Han family is also on the brink of change.
Traditional Irish Stew and Irish Soda Bread Inspired by 'That Old Country Music'
Traditional Irish Stew and Irish Soda Bread Inspired by 'That Old Country Music'
We've got the makings of a cozy evening for you: a collection of atmospheric stories to transport you to western Ireland, a comforting bowl of Irish Stew, and a hot-from-the-oven slab of Irish Soda Bread with butter.
SSoP Podcast Episode 24 — Ireland: It's Not Good, It's Grand
SSoP Podcast Episode 24 — Ireland: It's Not Good, It's Grand
The Emerald Isle is just as pretty and magical as you imagine it to be. Green landscapes beg you to take long rambles through the countryside. Then the pub beckons with good food, warm conversation, and lively music.
Taj Mahal, Wild Thing Snow Monsters, Singapore Street Food & More: Endnotes 05 February
Taj Mahal, Wild Thing Snow Monsters, Singapore Street Food & More: Endnotes 05 February
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got a sharp essay about pandemic life, a treatise on napkin folding, cute cows around the world, a history of tourism, and more.
Plunge into Espionage and Romance in Post-WWII Paris and London with 'Spitfire'
Plunge into Espionage and Romance in Post-WWII Paris and London with 'Spitfire'
Livy Nash has been in a muddle since the war ended, alive but not really living. Her days are spent proofreading, her nights with a bottle for company. Then Ian Fleming invites her into a dangerous game of espionage.
6 Great Books Set in Pennsylvania That We Love
6 Great Books Set in Pennsylvania That We Love
Pennsylvania leads the nation in potato chip making! It's also tops in pretzel bakeries, rural population, and covered bridges. It's also an inspiring setting for thrillers, family stories, and historical fiction.
7 Beautiful, Must-Visit Historical Libraries In Pennsylvania
7 Beautiful, Must-Visit Historical Libraries In Pennsylvania
Andrew Carnegie built 59 libraries in Pennsylvania, and the Braddock Carnegie Library near Pittsburgh is an eclectic medieval-style masterpiece. But other libraries found throughout the state are equally stunning.
Celebrate 'World Read Aloud Day' With Your Favorite People and a Great Story
Celebrate 'World Read Aloud Day' With Your Favorite People and a Great Story
Stories are like magical threads, connecting us humans to each other. Reading aloud fosters an even greater sense of intimacy and shared experience. We have suggestions to help you celebrate World Read Aloud Day.
Pressed Coffee & Books is a Chic, Bookish Café in Pottsville's Historic Downtown
Pressed Coffee & Books is a Chic, Bookish Café in Pottsville's Historic Downtown
Tucked onto a side street in Pottsville's center is a gem of a coffee shop that serves books alongside its crepes and cappuccinos. The coffee is rich. The food is delicious. The music is chill. The vibe is welcoming.
Dominican Republic, Bookish Art, Dickinson's Hair, Lupin Fever & More: Endnotes 29 January
Dominican Republic, Bookish Art, Dickinson's Hair, Lupin Fever & More: Endnotes 29 January
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got a movie locations quiz, books about books, Turkish women in Berlin, the history of the passport, British folklore, and more.
Explore an Edwardian Manor and Mysterious Fens in the Gothic Novel 'Wakenhyrst'
Explore an Edwardian Manor and Mysterious Fens in the Gothic Novel 'Wakenhyrst'
The heroine of this super-gothy Gothic novel is a combination of Jane Eyre, Alice in Wonderland, and Wednesday Addams. There's also a secret diary, a maybe-haunted painting, and a murder. What more could you need?
Pennsylvania Dutch Whoopie Pies Inspired by the memoir 'An American Childhood'
Pennsylvania Dutch Whoopie Pies Inspired by the memoir 'An American Childhood'
Is it a cookie? Is it a cake? A whoopie pie is two large, soft chocolate cookies held together with a luscious buttercream filling. Its origin may be in dispute, but we can all agree that it's a truly American treat.
Photographer Janine Pendleton Captures the Broken Beauty of Abandoned Pennsylvania
Photographer Janine Pendleton Captures the Broken Beauty of Abandoned Pennsylvania
In the early 20th century, Pennsylvania experienced a gilded age of dramatic architecture and elaborate decor. These photographs of now-discarded and nearly-forgotten sites are a moving, melancholy, magical tribute.
SSoP Podcast Episode 23 — Pennsylvania: Political Player, Potato Chip Maker
SSoP Podcast Episode 23 — Pennsylvania: Political Player, Potato Chip Maker
Pennsylvania history features coal mining, farming, big industry, and political power. It also leads the nation in potato chip production, pretzel bakeries, mushrooms, and meatpacking. All hail the Keystone State.
SSoP Podcast: A Mini-Episode to Celebrate Our 1-Year Podcast Anniversary
SSoP Podcast: A Mini-Episode to Celebrate Our 1-Year Podcast Anniversary
We've been making our show for a year. Whew! Thank you for inviting us into your ears. In this mini-episode, we take a brief look back at our first two seasons and share a sneak peek at the future of Strong Sense of Place.
Llandudno Pier, Poet Amanda Gorman, Paper Dandelions, Anne Brontë & More: Endnotes 22 January
Llandudno Pier, Poet Amanda Gorman, Paper Dandelions, Anne Brontë & More: Endnotes 22 January
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got a tough travel quiz, chilly winter thrillers, a guide to Persepolis, a Frankenstein book club, Vietnamese cuisine, and more.
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