When George Washington embarked on his presidential tours of 1789?91, the rudimentary inns and taverns of the day suddenly seemed dismally inadequate. But within a decade, Americans had built the first hotels?large and elegant structures that boasted private bedchambers and grand public ballrooms. This book recounts the enthralling history of the hotel in America?a saga in which politicians and prostitutes, tourists and tramps, conventioneers and confidence men, celebrities and salesmen all rub elbows. Hotel explores why the hotel was invented, how its architecture developed, and the many ways it influenced the course of United States history. The volume also presents a beautiful collection of more than 120 illustrations, many in full color, of hotel life in every era.

Hotel explores these topics and more:

·        What it was like to sleep, eat, and socialize at a hotel in the mid-1800s

·        How  hotelkeepers dealt with the illicit activities of adulterers, thieves, and violent guests

·        The stories behind America’s greatest hotels, including the Waldorf-Astoria, the Plaza, the Willard, the Blackstone, and the Fairmont

·        Why Confederate spies plotted to burn down thirteen hotels in New York City during the Civil War

·        How the development of steamboats and locomotives  helped create a nationwide network of hotels

·        How  hotels became architectural models for apartment buildings

·        The pivotal role of hotels in the civil rights movement

The World’s Top Photographers’ Workshops pairs in-depth, practical advice with stunning images and personal tips from the world’s leading photographers. The latest in this series, Celebrity and Performance, offers hardworking, incisive, and comprehensive advice on this field of photography. This book shows how to shoot big personalities; the challenge being to capture something special and unique from celebrities who spend many of their waking hours in front of a camera or audience. Techniques workshops cover all the practical considerations. Work reflecting all aspects of celebrity and performance photography is showcased, including projects shot in studios, on sets, in theaters, on stage, and on location. Official and unofficial, reportage and staged photographs are featured, including: portraiture and cover shots; lifestyle stories for celebrity magazines; celebrity weddings; celebrity children; film unit stills photography; behind the scenes reportage; dance and opera performance and rehearsal photography; theatre promotional shots; gig photography; band portraits; head-shots; glamour photography; catwalk photography; paparazzi street photography; and red-carpet/press conference news coverage.

With the full force of culture and convention ranged against them, women have nonetheless been taking to the air almost from the first. And because of all the obstacles they have faced, these women in aviation have had to show a rare degree of courage, ambition, and skill.

Stars of the Sky celebrates these women--the wildly daring, the pioneering, and the implacably determined--and their remarkable achievements. In profiles illustrated by aviation artist Sharon Rajnus, accomplished writer and flight instructor Ann Cooper introduces readers to fifty female stars of the sky.

Among these women are many firsts (first black female aviator, first female aircraft designer, first woman to fly solo around the world, first female Airline manager, and first female Thunderbolt pilot). Rajnus also profiles women who have made singular contributions, from a flight surgeon and a daredevil sky-writer to an Eskimo Bush pilot and air traffic controller, as well as record setters such as a long-distance record holder, a Hellcat test pilot, and a golden age Air Racer.

The pictures and stories in Stars of the Sky bring these women, their personalities, their passion for flying, and their legend-worthy experiences to clear, colorful, and vibrant life.

This book traces the latest designs using tile, stone, and mosaic. Through beautiful photography and illustrative text, installations for every room in the house-kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, and more-are presented. Renowned designers and tile manufacturers from around the world share their exquisite creations.

In this high-tech world, tile, stone, and mosaics can fulfill our innate desire for tactile design. With these materials, we can create homes that are sensual places where the feel of cool stone beneath bare feet is as important as its deep, rich color or how the sunshine illuminates it.

For interior designers, homeowners, and apartment dwellers, this book is an essential guide to using tile and stone to decorate. It will surely inspire.