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Notes on books and travel.

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.
Embark on a Quest from Yakushima Island to Tokyo in the Magical Novel 'Number9Dream'
Embark on a Quest from Yakushima Island to Tokyo in the Magical Novel 'Number9Dream'
This sweeping adventure will whisk you away with a charming hero to two remarkable destinations: Yakushima Island's dense cedar forests draped with lush moss and the kinetic energy of neon-and-karaoke Tokyo. Buckle up!
12 Vibrant Instagram Accounts That Will Make You Want To Visit Vietnam Right Now
12 Vibrant Instagram Accounts That Will Make You Want To Visit Vietnam Right Now
Treat yourself to some travel inspiration and explore Vietnam. From oh-so-green rice paddies to energetic cityscapes, these vibrant images of scenery and people will fire up your imagination and your wanderlust.
Epistolary Novels, Dinner Parties in Lit, Tiki Bars, Whaling Art & More: Endnotes 15 January
Epistolary Novels, Dinner Parties in Lit, Tiki Bars, Whaling Art & More: Endnotes 15 January
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got national costumes, sea shanty mania, 10 Jane Austen facts, the mysteries of Socotra Island, cafés around the world, and more.
There are Deadly Chills and Thrills in Fjällbacka, Sweden with 'The Ice Princess'
There are Deadly Chills and Thrills in Fjällbacka, Sweden with 'The Ice Princess'
'Tis the season of snow and ice, so let's embrace the frosty weather with this thoroughly chilling mystery set in a tiny fishing village on Sweden's east coast. Bad actors getting their comeuppance is so comforting.
Vietnamese Pho Bo Inspired by the Novel 'The Beauty of Humanity Movement'
Vietnamese Pho Bo Inspired by the Novel 'The Beauty of Humanity Movement'
Pho is Vietnam's national dish, a comforting bowl of spice-infused broth, rice noodles, beef, and fresh herbs that tastes like love. We recommend you simmer a pot of broth and take a virtual trip to Hanoi, Vietnam.
The Elegant, Playful, Environmentally Friendly VAC Library in Hanoi, Vietnam
The Elegant, Playful, Environmentally Friendly VAC Library in Hanoi, Vietnam
The VAC Library in Hanoi is a unique open-air structure that invites play along with learning. Solar-powered and self-sustaining, it's a modern (beautiful) example of how libraries can interact with the environment.
SSoP Podcast Episode 22 — Vietnam: Divided by War, Bonded by Family
SSoP Podcast Episode 22 — Vietnam: Divided by War, Bonded by Family
Warning: This show is going to inspire you to book tickets to Vietnam as soon as possible. Who could resist its stunning natural beauty, vibrant street food, fascinating history, and warm, friendly people? No one.
Burano Italy, Sea Shanties, Reading Pod, Austen's England & More: Endnotes 08 January
Burano Italy, Sea Shanties, Reading Pod, Austen's England & More: Endnotes 08 January
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got the booksellers along the Seine, cafés around the world, Iranian poetry, 31 days of literary treats, wine label design, and more.
Solve a Murder in the English Countryside of West Sussex with Inspector Lynley
Solve a Murder in the English Countryside of West Sussex with Inspector Lynley
This weekend, take a bookish getaway to a British boarding school where tradition makes daily life far more fraught than final exams. (And way more murdery!) But, darling, the countryside and campus are lovely!
Everything You Need to Know About the Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading
Everything You Need to Know About the Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading
Here! This is where we'd like to teleport this afternoon to spend a few hours reading amidst the colorful bookshelves. Located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this library has been impersonating a magical portal since 1837.
Crime Fashion, Jollof Rice, Bridgerton Locales, Hogmanay & More: Endnotes 01 January
Crime Fashion, Jollof Rice, Bridgerton Locales, Hogmanay & More: Endnotes 01 January
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got a challenging literary quiz, a daring photography feat, new Agatha Christie documentaries, Pierre Cardin's vision, and more.
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