“Laura Bush has sold a memoir of her eight years in the White House, allowing the battered book industry the light relief of speculating on the size of the advance paid to a high-profile author.” In the first lady’s favor: “the success of American Wife, a fictional account of Mrs Bush’s life by novelist Curtis Sittenfeld, indicated strong interest in the first lady that could justify a high fee.”
Author: Laura Collins Hughes
Arts Deals For Maryland’s Furloughed State Workers
“Maryland Citizens for the Arts, an advocacy group that has been active for more than 25 years, announced that several organizations have joined an effort to support the 67,000 state employees who are facing furloughs as part of a budget-balancing move. The employees will be able to obtain various deals, including free or discounted tickets….”
It’s An Online Novel — But Must They Call It A Wovel?
“The way we read is changing. Time once spent curled up with a good book is now often devoted to catching up on blogs, and browsing Web sites. One publishing company is trying to take advantage of those habits, offering fiction in serial form, online.”
Luckily, It’s Not Like LA’s A Big Driving Town
“If you want to catch a weekend show in North Hollywood’s thriving theater district, better be prepared to step out of the performance once or twice — the city of Los Angeles wants you to move your car.”
Echoes Of Sept. 11 In Libeskind’s Jagged Tower Design
“Daniel Libeskind has proposed a tower next to Manhattan’s Madison Square with huge multifloor gashes hacked out of its tubular form. Were it to be built, it would be a crude and unavoidable reminder of the horrors of 9/11. Is it Daniel’s revenge?”
With Harvey Back For Final Bow, Hairspray Stops The Beat
“The first Sunday of 2009 saw the closing of nine Broadway shows. It’s a safe bet that no performance was more raucous than the ‘Hairspray’ finale after 6 1/2 years at the Neil Simon Theatre.”
Lamos, Ross To Lead Westport Country Playhouse
“Mark Lamos is back leading a Connecticut theater, this time in Westport. The 62-year-old Lamos, who built Hartford Stage into a Tony Award-winning, internationally known theater from 1980 to 1997, is the new artistic director of the Westport Country Playhouse starting Feb. 1.” Longtime Lamos colleague Michael Ross, formerly of Baltimore’s Center Stage and New Haven’s Long Wharf Theatre, will be managing director.
Artist’s Touch Imbues Berlin Homeless Shelter With Luxury
Haus Schöneweide, in suburban Berlin, is “a refuge for homeless men which, following a €100,000 (£98,000) refit, has been dubbed the swankiest homeless shelter in the world. Before its revamp, the shelter, which was tiled in blue from top to bottom, resembled the cold interior of a butcher’s shop.” Then artist Miriam Kilali got her hands on it.
In Europe, Popeye Sails Into Public Domain
“‘I yam what I yam,’ declared Popeye. And just what that is is likely to become less clear as the copyright expires on the character who generates about £1.5 billion in annual sales. From January 1, the iconic sailor falls into the public domain in Britain under an EU law that restricts the rights of authors to 70 years after their death.”
Some Philly Libraries, Targeted For Closure, May Go Private
“Mayor Nutter said yesterday that five of the 11 library branches once scheduled to close permanently on Thursday are instead on track to be taken over by private foundations, wealthy individuals, companies, and community development corporations. … Though the services would vary from branch to branch, Nutter said the centers would likely retain book collections, computers, and perhaps even trained librarians.”