Neon signs turned North America's roadside into a luminous wonderland in the mid-20th century. These unforgettable depictions of exploding bowling pins, crashing cars, baton twirling majorettes, and lassoing cowboys were the fodder for legend and lore. Neon designer Len Davidson has captured their magic with over 350 photos of superb vintage signs. In the text, voices of neon sign makers, shopkeepers, photographers, and preservationists record their legends in words, while a definitive photo archive gives architects and sign artisans an invaluable resource. This volume is a treasure for all who have been captured by the spell of vintage neon.

"What constitutes a great sign? For me it's an elusive synchronicity of color, shape, typography, and iconography, enhanced by authenticity and eccentricity. Signs that have been maintained and still illuminate are always beguiling. The fragility of glass tubing continuously exposed to harsh Chicago weather makes the survival of an old sign a kind of urban miracle, deserving, at the least, of photographic preservation. Even the many that have outlived their functional glory days have their own visual appeal. Animated neon signs, working or not, are a special treat." Nick Freeman, from the Foreword Delight in Chicago's rich neon heritage with this full-color collection of gaudy, garish, and downright spectacular signs. From the far South Side to the Wisconsin Dells, Good Old Neon documents the familiar and the obscure, capturing in over 130 photos these fast-disappearing artifacts of a glorious era when brightly lit signs filled the urban landscape.

Take to the road to discover the history and artistry of North America’s disappearing neon signs. Neon Road Trip chronicles the history of the commercial neon sign with a curated collection of photographs capturing the most colorful and iconic neon still surviving today. The vivid photographs are arranged according to the signs' imagery, with sections such as Spirit of the West, On the Road, Now That’s Entertainment, and Ladies, Diving Girls & Mermaids. Sixteen of the most iconic landmark signs include brief histories on how that unique sign came to be. A resource section includes a photography index by location and a Neon Museums Visitor’s Guide. John Barnes studied art, graphic design, sculpture and photography, earning a BFA degree in documentary photography from the University of Delaware 1984. He worked as a commercial advertising photographer for over fifteen years both on the east coast and in San Francisco, and has been a fine art photographer for the last 30 years. He recently spent the last two years traveling around the United States and Canada photographing iconic neon signs. John resides in Seattle but spends most of his time traveling taking photographs.

In the stories that make up Oblivion, David Foster Wallace joins the rawest, most naked humanity with the infinite involutions of self-consciousness -- a combination that is dazzlingly, uniquely his. These are worlds undreamt of by any other mind. Only David Foster Wallace could convey a father's desperate loneliness by way of his son's daydreaming through a teacher's homicidal breakdown (The Soul Is Not a Smithy). Or could explore the deepest and most hilarious aspects of creativity by delineating the office politics surrounding a magazine profile of an artist who produces miniature sculptures in an anatomically inconceivable way (The Suffering Channel). Or capture the ache of love's breakdown in the painfully polite apologies of a man who believes his wife is hallucinating the sound of his snoring (Oblivion). Each of these stories is a complete world, as fully imagined as most entire novels, at once preposterously surreal and painfully immediate.

The Discovering Vintage series takes you back in time to all of the timeless classic spots each city has to offer. The books spotlight the charming stories that tell you what each place is like now and how it got that way from classic restaurants to shops to other establishments that still thrive today and evoke the unique character of the city. They’re all still around—but they won’t be around forever. Start reading, and start your discovering now!

Save time and money with in-depth reviews, ratings, and details from the trusted source for a successful Las Vegas vacation. How do some guests always seem to find the best restaurants, the best shows, the best hotels—and still come home with winnings in their pockets? Why do some guests pay full price for their visit when others can save hundreds of dollars? In Las Vegas, every minute and every dollar count. Your vacation is too important to be left to chance, so put the independent guide to Las Vegas in your hands and take control of your trip. The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas explains how Sin City works and how to use that knowledge to stay ahead of the crowd. Authors Bob Sehlinger and Seth Kubersky know that you want your vacation to be anything but average, so they employ an expert team of researchers to find the secrets, the shortcuts, and the bargains that are sure to make your vacation exceptional! Find out what’s available in every category, ranked from best to worst, and get detailed plans to make the most of your time in Las Vegas. Stay at a top-rated hotel, eat at the most acclaimed restaurants, and experience all the most popular attractions. Inside You’ll Find: Nearly 100 hotels and casinos described, rated, and ranked―the most offered by any guidebook―plus strategies for scoring the best room rate Reviews of more than 100 restaurants―a complete dining guide within the guide, plus the best buffets and brunches The best places to play for every casino game Almost 50 pages of gambling tips, including how to play, recognizing sucker games, and cutting the house advantage to the bone Critical reviews of more than 70 of Las Vegas’s best shows Complete coverage of the Las Vegas nightclub, bar, and lounge scene, with surefire advice on how to get into the most exclusive venues Detailed instructions for avoiding Strip and I-15 traffic gridlock In-depth descriptions and consumer tips on shopping and experiencing attractions Make the right choices to create a vacation you’ll never forget. The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas is your key to planning a perfect stay. Whether you’re putting together your annual trip or preparing for your first visit, this book gives you the insider scoop on hotels, restaurants, entertainment, and more.

This book is a celebration of tactile beauty and a tribute to human ingenuity. In-depth profiles tell the stories of 20 artisans who have devoted their lives to preserving traditional techniques. Gorgeous photographs reveal these craftspeople's studios, from Oaxaca to Kyoto and from Milan to Tennessee. Two essays explore the challenges and rewards of engaging deeply with the past. With an elegant three-piece case and foil stamping, this rich volume will be an inspiration to makers, collectors, and history lovers.