Literary City Guide | Amsterdam

The last time I was in Amsterdam was in 2002 (!), long before Literary City Guides existed to guide my adventures. I got by with my two roommates, hopping on and off the trams, finding cafes, eating waffles, and visiting the Van Gogh Museum. We had a wonderful weekend, but it would have been handy to know where the best bookstores, restaurants, and coffeeshops could be found.

Enter Valeria, our trusty guide who has called the city home for six years, which is long enough to discover that Amsterdammers often build little shelves outside their houses, where anyone can share and donate their books! She also reveals where you can find the best Dutch sandwiches, Thai food, and stationary stores, among other great finds.

Stop by to visit Amsterdam! 

What I'm Reading | December 2015

Grain Bowl at Superba

Grain Bowl at Superba

I make short ribs every New Year's Eve. In a few hours they'll be simmering in the stove, covered in a luxurious sauce of tomatoes and zinfandel. On the last day of 2015, I can say it's been one for the books. I don't typically do roundup posts for the year, but some of my favorite posts were making something out of nothing, when writing slips away, the poem I shared when I told you I was pregnant, and a new recipe for an old poem, stirring up memories from my trip to Thailand. 

Tomorrow morning the first Right Brains Society newsletter of 2016 will arrive in your inbox, and it's filled with news about the year ahead. I can't wait to share it, so if you haven't signed up yet, head here. 

And if you're staying up to watch the countdown and share a kiss at midnight, cheers to you! I'll be asleep. 

26 things every person should do for themselves at least once a year.

The myth of easy cooking.

"I think that the power of art is the power to wake us up, strike us to our depths, change us."

The ultimate guide to getting published in a literary magazine. 

The world's best tea shops. 

The next 11 literary scandals.

A storied bookstores leaves an imprint on Islamabad. 

The daily routines of 12 famous writers.

Iceland seems to have its priorities in order.

The death of the artist, and the birth of the creative entrepreneur. 

A cozy chestnut soup. 

15 inspiring writing podcasts.

Literary City Guide | Adelaide, Australia

Photo by Joanna Chudy

Photo by Joanna Chudy

Where can you find pop-up bookstores, an abundance of chocolatiers, and a week-long celebration of writers? Adelaide, Australia. 

Adelaide joins Australian cities Sydney and Canberra, and boasts a lively literary scene on the country's southern coast. And since it's summer is beginning in Australia, this destination might be especially appealing to anyone whose driveway is currently covered in snow.

Stop by to welcome Adelaide!