Venice for Lovers is a memorable collaboration by two fine stylists who have fashioned their own personal homages to Venice, one with a novella, the other with a personal essay. Every year for all the thirty they have been married, Begley and Muhlstein have escaped to Venice to write. In her contribution to the book, Muhlstein charmingly describes how she and her husband dine at the same restaurant every night for years on end, and how becoming friends with restaurateurs has been an unsurpassed means of getting to know the city and its inhabitants, far from the tourists in San Marco Square. In his short novella, Begley writes a story of falling in love with--and in--Venice. His twenty-year-old protagonist, enamored with an older, far worldlier woman of twenty-seven, is lured by her to the City of Water, only to be unceremoniously dumped and left to fend for himself after a brief rendezvous. But he discovers a lasting love for Venice itself--not an uncommon romance, as Begley's brilliant literary essay on the city's place within world literature demonstrates: Henry James, Marcel Proust, and Thomas Mann were all illustrious predecessors.

"The difference between Gordon Ramsay and a talking pig is that Gordon Ramsay never shuts up." —From Kitchen Con Our consumer culture can’t help but get wrapped up in designer crazes— these days our collective attention is focused on the designer food frenzy. Chefs are our newest celebrities and their restaurants are their stages, but hidden behind the elegant façade of fine dining exists the stark and sometimes shocking reality of the food industry. Renowned food critic Trevor White exposes what goes on behind the scenes in the high-stakes world of the restaurateur. Diners, be forewarned: this biting critique of restaurant culture shows today’s most celebrated restaurants for what they really are: greedy, ostentatious businesses solely dedicated to the fame of their owners. Kitchen Con pays tribute to the history of dining out, starting with the first restaurants and moving on to the most fashionable and well-known kitchens in New York, Paris and London. Witty, humourous and polished, White takes his reader on a whirlwind trip through the restaurant racket, sparing no one!

When you think of a naturist or nudist resort, you might tell yourself, "I could never do that!" You might feel embarrassed, a lack of self-esteem, or even hesitation of judgement. When people think naturism, they think taking off their clothing. Weird! And yet, jumping out of a working airplane with a parachute can be just as weird. Our hobbies and lifestyles are all about doing what makes us feel great! This book is your personal invitation into the naturist community, answering basic questions on the lifestyle, providing confidence, and leaving you with key guidance for your first naturist experience. Once you try it, you will experience the joy and freedom like so many others have. "A Whole Nude World" answers the questions you might be too afraid to ask! Naturism is no different than any other social grouping that we have in our lives. Explore the history, tenets, parlance, advantages, criticisms, standards, action steps, and convergences that naturism has to offer. Don't knock it until you try it!