This is a book of twenty nine mostly unrelated stories that range from wilderness adventures, mental health issues, personal essays and life in northern Minnesota. Fantasy happens periodically. You will meet a blue rat/cat, preacher magician and a former heavyweight boxing champion in the Classy Lumberjack Bar and Lounge. A teenage boy will see unexpected strength in his father during a canoe trip. A fisherman becomes afraid of his comforting fantasies. A black bear from Ely, Minnesota flies to Arizona. A van driver takes odd passengers to rehab and medical appointments in Duluth. A young male schizophrenic panhandler stays positive. An obnoxious cigarette smoker mysteriously vanishes on a Lake Superior dinner cruise. A Charles Russell painting travels a zig zag path.

The definitive biography on Buddy Holly. Ellis Amburn presents the most comprehensive biography ever written about the legendary figure Buddy Holly, a young man who transformed the course of American music with his shocking blend of country, western, and rhythm 'n' blues. Having devoted the last five years of his life to this work—crisscrossing the rural paths of the United States from Texas to Iowa to Minnesota—Amburn portrays Holly as a mythic antihero, whose rebellious, dramatic life was a reaction against the constricting values of America in the 1950s, when his music was regarded as the work of the devil. From his wild days as a juvenile delinquent, to his first romances, to his early associations with then virtually unknown singers like Elvis Presley and Waylon Jennings, Holly emerges as a deeply tortured, driven individual and a brilliantly talented young man in a hurry to make it as a star. And like many stars, Buddy Holly’s would ultimately be tragic and bittersweet.

Late January of 1978. Football season is over; the lights from all of the Christmas trees are out. Full-time cabdriver, sometime card shark Keith Waverly is feeling good driving two exotic dancers to work. But his mood turns sour when he witnesses the violent abduction of a local street hustler. Later, when the man is found with his head ventilated by bullet holes, Waverly is dragged into a world of high-rolling gamblers, crooked politicians, sex, drugs, violence and really bad weather, with only his wits and his new girlfriend to pull him out.

It's March of 1978 and a battered, steaming wreck lays at the bottom of a 50-foot cliff. Former boxing champion and football star Johnny Beam is found crumpled and broken behind the steering wheel. Beam was a gambler, in trouble with the law--and now dead. Was it an accident? Suicide? Murder? How did the former hero end up like this? In the lily-white northern town of Zenith, Minnesota, only one thing was certain: Johnny Beam stood out like a fly in a bottle of milk. Fly in the Milk is a work of crime fiction, a provocative tale of death, betrayal and hypocrisy spanning three generations.

In this lavish full-color volume featuring 225 photographs, Taavo Somer, the creative mind behind Freemans, the iconic New York City restaurant, barber, menswear shop, and bespoke tailor, reveals the creative process behind the development and design of the "rustic-luxe" and holistic approach of this cultural phenomenon and pioneering brand. Nestled in a secluded alleyway off Rivington Street on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Freemans Restaurant is an oasis of calm, beauty, and exquisite food in a crowded, chaotic city. Founded by Somer—one of the defining figures in the New York social and design culture for more than a decade—this one-of-a-kind eatery with rustic décor has redefined New York dining since its opening in 2004. A dozen years later, Somer’s vision has extended to other eateries and bars such as his restaurant, ISA, in Williamsburg, which references 1970s California, and the Rusty Knot, a nautical-themed dive bar in the West Village, as well as a men’s clothing line and bespoke tailoring services, a barbershop model that has been emulated the world over, and an organic approach to interior design that speaks to the soul. Somer was the first to establish the now popular "lumberjack chic" style; the interior of his bars and restaurants—with furnishings handcrafted by the designer in his unique, signature style—harken back to the beauty and simplicity of more rustic times. Now, in his first book, Somer opens the doors to the Freemans world. With an elegant, sumptuous design and dozens of color photographs shot specifically for the book, Freemans showcases the interiors of his numerous Freemans ventures, other restaurant spaces he’s conceived and owns, as well as the classic, superbly tailored American-made men’s clothing, bespoke suits, barbershop, and food and drink that comprise Somer’s iconic—and now much-copied—style. Somer reveals the inspiration behind Freemans—including the restaurant down the alley, acclaimed menswear store Freemans Sporting Club, and the pioneering Freemans Sporting Club Barbershop—sharing the story of his evolution as an architect, designer, and tastemaker, from his rural Pennsylvania childhood to his architectural apprenticeship in Minneapolis to his arrival in New York, where at first he designed t-shirts and threw parties in a Financial District strip club. Freemans also takes fans into the nineteenth-century farmhouse in upstate New York he renovated and landscaped, inside his restaurant ISA, and bar the Rusty Knot, and across the world to the Freemans Sporting Club store in Tokyo, the remarkable four-story townhouse he designed, which has rarely been seen by an American audience. A comprehensive exploration of Somer’s singular vision, Freemans will appeal to the many devotees of the Freemans world, as well as lovers of fine living through its exploration of design, dining, architecture, gardens, and men’s fashion.

This book describes the living-room artifacts, clothing styles, and intellectual proclivities of American classes from top to bottom.

Set on the edge of the Pacific and bursting with culture and life, Vancouver is a delight to explore. Immerse yourself in the best of the city with Moon Vancouver. Explore the City: Navigate by neighborhood or by activity with color-coded maps, or follow one of our self-guided neighborhood walks See the Sights: Bike along the coast at Stanley Park, kayak local waterways, learn about indigenous history at the Vancouver Museum of Anthropology, and soak in gorgeous nature views from atop Grouse Mountain Get a Taste of the City: Sip a perfect pour-over coffee, browse the artistically arranged stalls at the Granville Island Public Market, or dig into some of the best Chinese food in North America Bars and Nightlife: Sample local craft beer, enjoy cocktails on lush patios or in cozy speakeasies, and plug into Vancouver's artsy side with an eclectic lineup of everything from indie rock to world music Local Advice: Vancouver expert Carolyn B. Heller shares her favorite places in her adopted city Strategic Itineraries: See the best of Vancouver with itineraries designed for families, gourmands, history buffs, nature-lovers, and artists, with day trips to Victoria, Vancouver Island, and Whistler Full-Color Photos and Detailed Maps, so you can explore on your own Handy Tools: Background information on the landscape, history, and culture, packaged in a book slim enough to fit in your coat pocket Experience the real Vancouver with Moon's practical tips and insider know-how. Hitting the road? Check out Moon Vancouver & Canadian Rockies Road Trip.

“One of my favorite authors.”—Colleen Hoover An insightful, delightful, instant #1 New York Times bestseller from the author of Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation. Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2022 by Oprah Daily ∙ Today ∙ Parade ∙ Marie Claire ∙ Bustle ∙ PopSugar ∙ Katie Couric Media ∙ Book Bub ∙ SheReads ∙ Medium ∙ The Washington Post ∙ and more! One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn't see coming... Nora Stephens' life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby. Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute. If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.