I want to tell you about a new “frugal” book. No, it isn’t about gambling or casinos. And, no, I didn’t write it. But it is one on which I would have been proud to have my “trademark.” (Jeffrey, I would have let you borrow it!) I am talking about the new Huntington Press release Arts America, compiled under the leadership of my good friend Jeffrey Compton, Executive Editor.
I really thought I wouldn’t be very interested in this book, no matter how good it was. The subtitle was “Enjoying the Best Art Museums, Theater, Classical Music, Opera, Jazz, Dance, Film, and Summer Festivals in America” – and I am not really an avid “arts person.” I don’t live in or rarely visit any of the 20 cities covered in the book. But when I picked up the book at the Las Vegas Advisor office and began leafing through it as Brad and I were driving home, I realized once again you can’t judge a book by its cover – or in this case, by the title on the cover. Just during the quick scan in the car I was intrigued with sections like “Begging a Free Ticket” and “Cutting Down on Travel Costs” and “Googling Your Way Around.”
Once we got home, I immediately had to sit down and read the introductory chapter with the right-down-my-alley title of “Saving Money and Enjoying the Arts – At the Same Time.” So many frugal hints, many of which could be used even by those who aren’t “art persons.”
Then I perused the chapter on New York City, where I have visited off and on over the last 45 years or so. (Back in another lifetime, during military-family poverty, my first husband and I had been fortunate to be the recipients of many free Broadway show tickets offered to airmen when he was stationed at Newburgh Air Force Base.) Reading this chapter made me want to start planning a trip back to NY City right away. This is not your common dry “guidebook.” The writing is fresh and chatty, like a friend is trying to help you get the most bang for your buck. I like that style – maybe because that is the way I write! Easy-to-read is always good.
The book covers the “big five” art cities in depth: New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. Then they cover Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Hartford/New Haven, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Diego, and Seattle. I am going to presume that anyone who lives in any of these cities and/or visits even one of the major cities or several of the smaller ones will easily get back the price of this book – and be able to save hundreds of dollars – even thousands over time – if they really work at it.
If you want more information about the book, plus updates, you can go to the companion Web site, http://go-artsamerica.com/. Here you can also check out the cultural arts in more than forty additional cities not in the book and read the latest art news.
Sounds like the perfect holiday gift for your art-lovin’ relatives and friends! You can order at http://www.shoplva.com/.