Ice Cream, Literary Destinations, Ask a Pilot, Nat'l Book Fest & More: Endnotes 19 August

Every Friday, we celebrate the weekend — and all the reading and relaxing and daydreaming time ahead — with Melissa's favorite book- and travel-related links of the week. Why work when you can read fun stuff?!

This post is part of our Endnotes series.

Even when you charge at life with gratitude, curiosity, and a big bottle of water to stay hydrated, it can all be a bit much sometimes. This is our periodic reminder that life is amazing. We’ve chosen the links below to illustrate that point. And whether you’re feeling A-OK right now or you could use a hug (virtual or real or both), here are some simple ways to make your life more awesome. Also, ice cream is amazing.

• The words and images by Candace Rose Rardon in this poignant comic about tea (TBH, it’s really about home and love) combine to great effect. If you enjoy this one, you will probably want to read the author’s previous work about coffee (which is also about home and love). (You should probably also visit her website.)

• The 22nd annual Library of Congress National Book Festival will be held in Washington, DC, on 03 September; details here. This gallery of promo posters for the event from the last 20 years is pretty sweet.

• Also at the Library of Congress? HAIR.

• Treat yourself to this excellent Q&A with Lexie Neeley, the programs coordinator for Little Free Library. ‘The beautiful thing about Little Free Libraries is that every single one is different. Even if there are ten in a neighborhood, every one will have something different to offer.’

• Just a coupla moose grazing under a rainbow in Alaska:

• If you’re curious about aviation or are a nervous flyer, Ask the Pilot is the website for you! There’s an extensive Q&A section — What’s the deal with turbulence? Do you really have to turn off your cell phone? — and a nice collection of essays that range from fascinating to silly.

• News you can use: Best Museum Bathrooms in the U.S., Ranked. You do not want to miss the restrooms at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Seriously beautiful.

• This course at The Rosenbach in Philadelphia is my dream class. ‘The Curator’s Toolkit will equip you with knowledge and skills for handling, studying, preserving, and learning from fine art, antiques, rare books, and manuscripts at The Rosenbach and beyond, and give you hands-on, behind-the-scenes access to a world-renowned museum and library collection.’

• Would you survive a dragon attack? Take this quiz from Tor Books to find out.

• September 20 is going to be a personal holiday because that’s the release date Less is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer. It’s the follow-up to his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Less which I love with my whole heart. In this short essay, the author talks about traveling outside his comfort zone to write his new book.

• For the Ultimate Dolly Parton Experience, You Can Now Book a Stay on the Music Legend’s Tour Bus. ‘The tan and silver Prevost coach is kitted out with a jewel-tone color palette and Parton’s custom requests, including creature comforts like a bathtub, full-sized refrigerator, and a designated wig closet where she kept the signature accessories she wore for concerts and shows. The inside walls of the bus are also customized—hand painted with murals of dancing wayfarers, musicians, crystal balls, and covered wagons.’

• How about a swagger into the jungle with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson?!

• This list of 35 must-see locations for book lovers includes spots associated with Shakespeare, the Brontës, Jane Austen, A.A. Milne, and more. Don’t miss the interactive map!

• When something on Instagram makes me say ‘wow,’ I share it with you:

Wishing you a moment of zen that also makes you say wow.

Top image courtesy of Fallon Michael/Unsplash.