Visiting an unfamiliar city is usually best when you have a guide, a knowledgeable local pal who can show you the hidden treasures of his or her hometown. In the most ideal scenario, this friend would be motivated by sensibilities similar to your own--which is why so many traditional travel guidebooks, with their emphasis on well-trod landmarks and obvious institutions, are of such limited utility to travelers with offbeat tastes. But this is no typical guidebook. Abundantly illustrated and lovingly laid out, Graphic USA is like having hip, insightful chaperones in multiple cities across the United States: graphic designers living in 25 metropolises (from capitals of cool like New York, Portland, Miami and L.A. to less predictable locales such as Anchorage, Charleston, St. Louis and Phoenix) were invited to write and illustrate mini-guides to their stomping grounds. With listings for places to stay, bars, restaurants, galleries and clubs, the book gives readers everything they need to live it up like natives in the know. From the blue-collar dive bar that serves tumblers of local whiskey to the slick hotel designed by the hippest architect in town, or the weird restaurant in the strip mall that makes the best breakfast burrito this side of the border--the designer-contributors to Graphic USA have got you covered. All this user-friendly information is accompanied by brilliantly vivid illustrations that reflect the designers' experiences of their cities. A beautiful object as well as a useful guide, this volume offers a truly unique insight into the heart of American culture. The cities included in this book are: Anchorage, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Providence, San Francisco, Seattle, St Louis and Washington D.C.
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You will want this guide when you find yourself in a city and are wishing you had some really cool friends who could take you to places that tourists don't know about. Recommended for all travelers and conference-goers as well as arty browsers. --Melissa Steams, Library Journal, May 12, 2011
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By B. C. Elsley
Format:Paperback
My girlfriend bought me this book last week and it is totally awesome. First of all it looks great. You can't see on the cover image, but it's got a fabric on the spine, and it has a very satisfying substance to it - nice size and weight. The paper is really nice too, with a rough, sketchbook-like feel. Each chapter is written and illustrated by an artist-designer, and the images are really varied - there's photography, drawing, and collage. Some chapters are stronger than others but the overall look and feel of the book is very high end and visually engaging. Next up - the text. Also really great. I come from LA, and the listings for that city are spot on. Alternative venues, but not too art-studenty - more like upmarket alternative venues. Of course each text is written by a single author, so reading through the other cities, you get a sense that some of the writers are more on your wavelength than others, but there's not a single city in this book that I don't now want to visit. Memphis looks amazing. So does Charleston. Each city is about 10 pages long - so probably not enough if you're visiting for more than a week, but plenty to keep you going for a city break. I've been keeping this in my bathroom at home. It's a great book to browse and dream of road trips.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By ktazmom
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Bought this for my son and within an hour he was texting a friend in St. Louis about some of the things she should check out in her city. The concept of the book is a good one, and the design makes it appealing, particularly to an advertising major.
By ndp
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a great book for young people looking for travel tips and ideas. Gave it to my daughter with airline gift cards so she and her husband could plan their vacation. She loves it.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great way to get familiar with a new city
I don't normally write Amazon reviews, but I'm really impressed with this item and thought I'd throw my hat in the ring. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Sogol
4.0 out of 5 stars
Its the hipster's guide
I had a chance to look through this book at the library and spent a good time looking over it. The best part were the city introductions from transplant artsy types. Read more
Published 19 months ago by G. Rodriguez
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