- Table View
- List View
Patients Beyond Borders
by Josef Woodman Jeremy AbbateMore than ten million patients now travel abroad every year for affordable, high-quality healthcare. From Thailand's American-accredited Bumrungrad International Hospital to Eric Clapton's Crossroads Center in Antigua to Johns Hopkins International Medical Center in Singapore, health travelers now have access to a full array of the world's safest, best choices in healthcare facilities and physicians.Now in its Third Edition, Patients Beyond Borders remains the best-read, most comprehensive, easy-to-understand guide to medical tourism, written by the world's leading spokesperson on international health travel. Patients Beyond Borders Third Edition lists the 25 top medical travel destinations, where patients can choose from hundreds of hospitals and save 30-80% on medical procedures, ranging from a comprehensive health check-up to heart work, orthopedics, dental and cosmetic surgery, in vitro fertilization and more.
Patisserie
by Leonard J HannemanThis classic book, widely known and used by patissiers is a professional text on the art of patisserie. In the twenty years that Patisserie has been published there have been great changes in almost every aspect of this art, and the author has thoroughly updated this new edition to take account of these.Updated in paperback format the revised edition of this classic text is now even more affordable, practical and enjoyable. Complete with the original, beautiful seventy-three colour photographs, each shows clearly how the finished product should be presented, and a wide range of diagrams demonstrate the more complex processes.New dishes have been added, for example, pavlova, sticky toffee pudding, blinis, pasta dough, frangipan apple, cheesecake, and sugar balls, while some of the existing ones have been amended or replaced. Additional information on fruits, and on using eggs or egg substitutes in patisserie have been included. Of special interest are the chapters on equipment, commodities, and hygiene, which include the provisions of the Food Hygiene (Amended) Regulations 1990, as far as they affect the patisserie section of the catering industry.
Patos Island Lighthouse (Landmarks)
by Edrie Vinson Terri VinsonSince 1893, a light has been shining from Patos Island, the northernmost island in Puget Sound. Built to guide ships through treacherous waters, the lighthouse was also a happy home for many, including Edward Durgan and his family in the early 1900s. Boundary waters smugglers and rumrunners once visited the island to stash their contraband, and it was a front-line guard for the nation during World War II. Manned for eighty-one years by the U.S. government, the light was automated in 1974 and is now maintained by the Coast Guard. Join authors Edrie Vinson and Terri Vinson, members of the Keepers of the Patos Light, as they explore the history of this unique Washington landmark.
Patricia Unterman's San Francisco Food Lover's Pocket Guide: Includes the East Bay, Marin, Wine Country
by Patricia Unterman Ed AndersonPATRICIA UNTERMAN'S SAN FRANCISCO FOOD LOVER'S POCKET GUIDE offers an intrepid, unapologetically discriminating, and refreshingly down-to-earth selection of the best and most interesting eateries, markets, and other food- and drink-related spots in San Francisco, the East Bay, Marin, and the wine country. Now in a compact format, this book is a hip-pocket must for locals and tourists alike, covering everything from sophisticated California cuisine to authentic Mission taquerias. The bible of food guides for the West Coast food mecca, with more than 600 listings, updated and condensed for the first time into a handy hip-pocket size. As a restaurateur, journalist, and food critic for more than 30 years, Unterman is the Bay Area's most respected authority on food. Previous editions have sold more than 75,000 copies."Indespensable for an informed culinary wandering."-Town & Country"Forget Zagat. If you want to know where to eat, drink, and buy food and wine in the Bay Area, let Patricia Unterman show you the way. ... A must have for food-and-wine hounds heading to the Bay Area." -Food & Wine"Patricia Unterman's San Francisco Food Lover's Pocket Guide promises to help the palate-driven to only the top foodie spots in town." -New York Daily News"Patty knows her Asian food: Eat whatever she says." -7x7 Magazine"Stash this slim volume in your glove compartment and you will never be at a loss for dining options ever again. While this book is not just for tourists, I couldn't help but pass my copy off to a visiting hungry eater/blogger who already used it to find the burrito of his dreams." -Amy Sherman, blogger, Cooking With AmyFrom the Trade Paperback edition.
Patrick Air Force Base (Images of America)
by Major General Thomas USAF Ret. Roger MccormickThe search began in 1946 for a location to conduct long-range missile tests. Cape Canaveral was chosen in part due to a nearby deactivated military base that could support a long-range proving ground for test firing missiles. The base, originally known as Banana River Naval Air Station, was eventually renamed Patrick Air Force Base in honor of a distinguished Army general. Today, Patrick is part of Air Force Space Command, and it is operated by the 45th Space Wing that also oversees launch facilities at nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station with the vision of "World's Premier Gateway to Space."
Patrick County
by Thomas D. PerryFormed in 1790, Patrick County is named for the Commonwealth of Virginia's first governor, Patrick Henry, who lived in neighboring Henry County. Located along the border of North Carolina where the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Appalachian Range cross the state line, the "Free State of Patrick" is half piedmont and half mountain plateau. This dividing geographic feature is reflected in the mountain people of Scots-Irish and German descent along with English living below the mountain heights. This divergent population produced tobacco magnate R. J. Reynolds; Civil War general J. E. B. Stuart; Virginia governor Gerald Baliles; Virginia's highest-elected female, former attorney general Mary Sue Terry; and World Series pitcher Brad Clontz.
The Patriots: Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and the Making of America
by Winston GroomIn this masterful narrative, Winston Groom brings his signature storytelling panache to the intricately crafted tale of three of our nation's most fascinating founding fathers--Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams--and paints a vivid picture of the improbable events, bold ideas, and extraordinary characters who created the United States of America. When the Revolutionary War ended in victory, there remained the stupendous problem of how to establish a workable democratic government in the vast, newly independent country. Three key founding fathers played significant roles: John Adams, the brilliant, dour, thin-skinned New Englander; Thomas Jefferson, the aristocratic Southern renaissance man; and Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the Caribbean island of Nevis. In this complex and riveting narrative, best-selling author Winston Groom tells the story of these men--all of whom served in George Washington's first cabinet--as the patriots fundamentally responsible for the ideas that shaped the foundation of the United States. Their lives and policies could not have been more different; their relationships with each other were complex, and often rife with animosity. And yet these three men led the charge--two of them creating and signing the Declaration of Independence, and the third establishing a national treasury and the earliest delineation of a Republican party. The time in which they lived was fraught with danger; the smell of liberty was in the air, though their excitement was strained by vast antagonisms that recall the intense political polarization of today. But through it all, they managed to shoulder the heavy mantle of creating the United States of America, putting aside their differences to make a great country, once and always. Drawing on extensive correspondence, epic tales of war, and rich histories of their day-to-day interactions, best-selling author Winston Groom shares the remarkable story of the beginnings of our great nation.
Patrons of Paleontology: How Government Support Shaped a Science
by Jane P. DavidsonIn the 19th and early 20th centuries, North American and European governments generously funded the discoveries of such famous paleontologists and geologists as Henry de la Beche, William Buckland, Richard Owen, Thomas Hawkins, Edward Drinker Cope, O. C. Marsh, and Charles W. Gilmore. In Patrons of Paleontology, Jane Davidson explores the motivation behind this rush to fund exploration, arguing that eagerness to discover strategic resources like coal deposits was further fueled by patrons who had a genuine passion for paleontology and the fascinating creatures that were being unearthed. These early decades of government support shaped the way the discipline grew, creating practices and enabling discoveries that continue to affect paleontology today.
Patterns of India: A Journey Through Colors, Textiles, and the Vibrancy of Rajasthan
by Christine ChitnisIt's the trip of a lifetime--a textile-based tour of colorful Rajasthan, India featuring more than 200 lush photographs depicting everyday life in one of the most vibrant regions in the world.Patterns of India is a visual experience that offers intimate insights into the diverse and richly hued Western Indian culture. Color is the thread that binds the vast country together, defining every aspect of life from religion and politics to food and dress. Organized by the five dominant colors royal blue, sandstone, marigold, ivory, and rose, this book explores how deeply color and pattern exist in a symbiotic relationship and are woven into every part of the culture. For instance, the fuchsia found in the draping fabric of a sari is matched by the vibrant chains of roses offered at temple, and the burnt orange spices in the marketplaces are reflected in the henna tattoos given to brides and wedding guests. While every color is imbued with meaning, it is often within the details of patterns that the full story comes to light. Photographer and writer Christine Chitnis spent over a decade traveling through, getting to know, and falling in love with the intricate patterns of everyday Rajasthani life. With history and culture-based essays woven throughout the more than 200 stunning photographs of architecture, markets, cuisine, art, textiles, and everyday goings-on, Patterns of India captures the beauty and essence of this unique part of the world.
Patterns of Portugal: A Journey Through Colors, History, Tiles, and Architecture
by Christine ChitnisA vibrant tour of Portugal, featuring more than 200 photographs that bring to life one of the most beautiful countries in the world.In this gorgeous book, writer and photographer Christine Chitnis invites you to celebrate the unique, timeless beauty of Portugal through the stunning designs and hues that define Portugal&’s countryside, coast, small towns, and cosmopolitan cities.This collection features over 200 stunning photographs that illustrate the ways that color and pattern are woven into the very fabric of the country&’s culture, history, architecture, and traditions. Each section features insightful essays that explore the artistry of azulejos, the colorful ceramic tiles covering much of Portugal's architecture; the intricately embroidered details of traditional lavradeira costumes; the rich flavors of Portuguese cuisine, and so much more.Throughout these vibrant pages, you&’ll discover the vivid stories behind each color and pattern, transporting you to the gorgeous fields of Alentejo, the sparkling waters of the Algarve, the busy streets of Lisbon, the lush valleys of the Douro, and beyond.
Paul Smith's Adirondack Hotel and College (Images of America)
by Neil SurprenantFrom 1859 to the present, the name Paul Smiths has meant different things to visitors and residents of the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York. In the 19th century, the name was synonymous with a grand hotel on the shores of Lower St. Regis Lake and the wilderness guide who was its founder. In the early 20th century, the hotel business expanded to include land sales, a railroad, a telephone company, and the Paul Smith's Electric Power and Light Company, which became the first electric provider in the region. After World War II, Paul Smith's College was founded to provide quality liberal arts and technical associate-level degrees to returning veterans and recent high school graduates. Today Paul Smith's College attracts students from across America to the only baccalaureate-degree-granting institution in the six-million-acre Adirondack Park.
Pawleys Island: A Century Of History And Photographs (Images of America)
by Steve Roberts Lee BrockingtonThe history of Pawleys Island can be summed up in four words: rice, sea, golf, and hammocks. The rivers threading through coastal South Carolina created an ideal environment for cultivating rice, and by the mid-18th century, vast plantations were producing profitable crops and wealthy landowners. But those plantations also produced malaria-carrying mosquitoes, so the landowners sent their families to the seashore for the summer and built the first houses on Pawleys Island starting in 1822. The end of slavery doomed the rice culture, and the old plantations were sold to rich Northerners for hunting and fishing retreats. During the Depression, the Lachicotte family started making and selling distinctive rope hammocks, the perfect symbol for the island's slow, simple lifestyle. By the 1960s, many of the old plantations were turned into golf courses, reviving the economy. But the beating heart of Pawleys Island remains the rhythm of the sea and what one early visitor called "the only beach in the world."
Pawnee County
by Clyda Reeves-FranksPawnee County is unique among Oklahoma's counties. It represents a microcosm of the state's culture and heritage. Like Oklahoma, Pawnee County is divided in half by the cross timbers: to the east are woodlands and lakes, and to the west are the short grass country and the Great Plains. The eastern half of the county was a part of old Oklahoma Territory and is filled with lake homes that serve as a bedroom community for Tulsa, while the legacy of the Wild West lives in western Pawnee County, home of the Pawnee Bill Memorial Rodeo. A vibrant agriculture and cattle economy made the county an economic center of the Oklahoma Territory. Then came oil and a rush of fortune seekers. Thousands of wells produced millions of dollars in black gold, as tens of thousands of oilmen rushed to the region, along with gamblers, con men, prostitutes, bootleggers, and other ne'er-do-wells. From this colorful legacy, modern Pawnee County emerged.
Pawpaw
by Andrew Moore Michael W. TwittyThe largest edible fruit native to the United States tastes like a cross between a banana and a mango. It grows wild in twenty-six states, gracing Eastern forests each fall with sweet-smelling, tropical-flavored abundance. Historically, it fed and sustained Native Americans and European explorers, presidents, and enslaved African Americans, inspiring folk songs, poetry, and scores of place names from Georgia to Illinois. Its trees are an organic grower's dream, requiring no pesticides or herbicides to thrive, and containing compounds that are among the most potent anticancer agents yet discovered. So why have so few people heard of the pawpaw, much less tasted one? In Pawpaw, author Andrew Moore explores the past, present, and future of this unique fruit, traveling from the Ozarks to Monticello; canoeing the lower Mississippi in search of wild fruit; drinking pawpaw beer in Durham, North Carolina; tracking down lost cultivars in Appalachian hollers; and helping out during harvest season in a Maryland orchard. Along the way, he gathers pawpaw lore and knowledge not only from the plant breeders and horticulturists working to bring pawpaws into the mainstream (including Neal Peterson, known in pawpaw circles as the fruit's own "Johnny Pawpawseed"), but also regular folks who remember eating them in the woods as kids, but haven't had one in over fifty years. As much as Pawpaw is a compendium of pawpaw knowledge, it also plumbs deeper questions about American foodways--how economic, biologic, and cultural forces combine, leading us to eat what we eat, and sometimes to ignore the incredible, delicious food growing all around us. If you haven't yet eaten a pawpaw, this book won't let you rest until you do.
Pawtucket Red Sox, The (Images of Baseball)
by David BorgesBefore players like Carlton Fisk, Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, Mo Vaughn, and Nomar Garciaparra starred at Fenway Park, they were Pawtucket Red Sox. Over the past thirty years, the PawSox have evolved into one of the most successful franchises in all of minor-league baseball. Millions of fans have packed McCoy Stadium to watch everyone from superstars like Fisk, Boggs, and Clemens to career minor-leaguers like Chico Walker and Pork Chop Pough.The Pawtucket Red Sox examines the history of the PawSox from their origin as a Double-A affiliate of Boston to their ascension to Triple-A status in 1973, right on through the ownership years of Ben Mondor. More than two hundred photographs chronicle the players, managers, and other key figures behind the franchise's success, as well as the defining moments in PawSox history: the 1977 International League championship, the longest game in professional baseball history, the unveiling of the new McCoy Stadium in 1999, and many others.
Pawtuxet, Rhode Island (Images of America)
by Donald A. D'Amato Henry A. BrownFounded in 1638, Pawtuxet is one of Rhode Island's oldest and most historic villages. The Pawtuxet River divides this unique settlement almost in half; the northern section belongs to Cranston and the southern to Warwick. The village is a distinct entity, however, and the object of much pride. After making significant contributions to our nation's fight for freedom--the British schooner Gaspee was burned off the shores of this village in the first act of violence in the American Revolution--Pawtuxet became known as a prosperous seaport and, later, as the home of Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, an entertainment mecca that attracted visitors from far and wide. Many a couple met and courted at this exquisite resort, whose charms included ballroom dancing, big band music, canoe rentals, and regional culinary fare. The village of Pawtuxet has retained much of its attractive historical character over the years; by-passed by new roads and superhighways, Pawtuxet's heritage has been preserved.
Pay No Heed to the Rockets: Life in Contemporary Palestine
by Marcello Di Cintio"With humility, respect, and great sensitivity, he seeks out writers, people skilled at telling stories, and asks them to narrate their own situations. The result is a document that captures not only the manifold sorrows and injustices of Palestinian life but something of its beauty, its joys, and its yearning." —Ben Ehrenreich, author of The Way to the Spring Taking the long route through the West Bank, into Jerusalem, across Israel, and finally into Gaza, Marcello Di Cintio meets with Palestinian poets, authors, librarians, and booksellers to learn about Palestine through their eyes. Pay No Heed to the Rockets offers a look at life in contemporary Palestine through the lens of its literary culture, one that begins with art rather than with war.
Payson
by Jayne Peace Pyle Jinx PyleBeneath the escarpment of the Mogollon Rim in Gila County lies Payson, Arizona. Founded as Green Valley in 1882 by ranchers and miners, the town site of Payson was laid out by local blacksmith James C. Callaghan and local merchant and cattle rancher John C. Hise. Two years later, local rancher and Native American fighter Charlie Meadows founded the Payson Rodeo in a mid-town meadow, which ultimately became the world's oldest continuous rodeo. When the cattle and timber industries declined, Payson evolved into a retirement and tourist destination. People looking for places to hike, bike, fish, hunt, and camp are attracted to the Payson area, which is also popular for its festivals and historic sites. A replica of Zane Grey's cabin stands next to the local museum, and the Tonto Natural Bridge is just 11 miles outside of town.
Peace Kills: America's Fun New Imperialism (Books That Changed the World)
by P. J. O'RourkeThe #1 New York Times-bestselling author who “never fails to find the absurd” addresses everything from airport security to the Iraq War (The New York Times Book Review).To unravel the mysteries of war, P.J. O’Rourke first visits Kosovo. (“Wherever there's injustice, oppression, and suffering, America will show up six months later and bomb the country next to where it's happening.”) He travels to Israel at the outbreak of the intifada. He flies to Egypt in the wake of the 9/11 terrorists' attacks. and contemplates bygone lunacies. (“Why are the people in the Middle East so crazy? Here, at the pyramids, was an answer from the earliest days of civilization: People have always been crazy.”) He covers the demonstrations and the denunciations of war. Finally he arrives in Baghdad with the U.S. Army, and enters one of Saddam's palaces. (“If a reason for invading Iraq was needed, felony interior decorating would have sufficed.”) With this collection, P.J. O’Rourke once again demonstrates that he is “an acerbic master of gonzo journalism and one of America’s most hilarious and provocative writers” (Time).
Peace Meals
by Anna BadkhenTravel books bring us to places. War books bring us to tragedy. This book brings us to one woman's travels in war zones: the locals she met, the compassion they scraped from catastrophe, and the food they ate.Peace Meals is a true story about conflict and food. It illustrates the most important lesson Anna Badkhen has observed as a journalist: war can kill our friends and decimate our towns, but it cannot destroy our inherent decency, generosity, and kindness--that which makes us human. Badkhen writes: There is more to war than the macabre--the white-orange muzzle flashes during a midnight ambush . . . the scythes of shrapnel whirling . . . like lawnmower blades spun loose; the tortured and the dead. There are also the myriad brazen, congenial, persistent ways in which life in the most forlorn and violent places on earth shamelessly reasserts itself. Of those, sharing a meal is one of the most elemental. No other book about war has looked at the search for normalcy in conflict zones through the prism of food. In addition to the events that dominate the news today--the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq--Peace Meals also bears witness to crises that are less often discussed: the conflict in Chechnya, the drought cycle in East Africa, the failed post-Soviet states, the Palestinian intifada. Peace Meals focuses on day-to-day life, describing not just the shocking violence but also the beauty that continues during wartime: the spring flowers that bloom in the crater hollowed by an air-to-surface missile, the lapidary sanctuary of a twelfth-century palace besieged by a modern battle, or a meal a tight-knit family shares in the relative safety of their home as a firefight rages outside. It reveals how one war correspondent's professional choices are determined not only by her opinion of which story is important but also by the instinctive comparisons she, a young mother, makes each time she meets children in war zones; by her intrinsic sense of guilt for leaving her family behind as she goes off to her next dangerous assignment; and, quite prosaically--though not surprisingly--by her need to eat. Wherever Badkhen went, she broke bread with the people she wrote about, and the simple conversations over these meals helped her open the door into the lives of strangers. Sometimes dinner was bread and a fried egg in a farmer's hut, or a packet of trail mix in the back of an armored humvee. Sometimes it was a lavish, four-course meal at the house of a local warlord, or a plate of rice and boiled meat at a funeral tent. Each of these straightforward acts of humanity tells a story. And these stories, punctuated by recipes from these meals, form Peace Meals. Following Badkhen's simple instructions, readers will taste what made life in these tormented places worth living.
Peace through Tourism: Promoting Human Security Through International Citizenship (Contemporary Geographies of Leisure, Tourism and Mobility)
by Lynda-Ann Blanchard Freya Higgins-DesbiollesPeace through tourism refers to a body of analysis which suggests tourism may contribute to cross-cultural understanding, tolerance and even peace between communities and nations. What has been largely missing to date is a sustained critique of the potential and capacities of tourism to foster global peace. This timely volume fills this void, by providing a critical look at tourism in order to ascertain its potential as a social force to promote human rights, justice and peace. It presents an alternative characterisation of the possibilities for peace through tourism: embedding an understanding of the phenomenon in a deep grounding in multi-disciplinary perspectives and envisioning tourism in the context of human rights, social justice and ecological integrity. Such an approach engages the ambivalence and dichotomy of views held on peace tourism by relying on a pedagogy of peace. It integrates a range of perspectives from scholars from many disciplinary backgrounds, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), tourism industry operators and community, all united by an interest in critical approaches to understanding peace through tourism. Additionally diverse geo-political contexts are represented in this book from the USA, India, Japan, Israel, Palestine, Kenya, the Koreas, Indonesia, East Timor and Indigenous Australia. Written by leading academics, this groundbreaking book will provide students, researchers and academics a sustained critique of the potential and capacities of tourism to foster global peace.
Peaceful Places: San Francisco
by Raynell BoeckThe third book in a new series of city guides, Peaceful Places: San Francisco features over 100 unexpected sanctuaries, gardens, vistas, beaches, neighborhood strolls, and quiet cafés that can be found throughout The City by the Bay. It gently guides travelers who are searching for an escape from the bustle of city life. Within the book are helpful tips and an insider's perspective on the best time to find peace and quiet at a wide array of locales, from resplendent gardens to scenic perches. Residents and visitors alike can use this guide to navigate their way through the diverse neighborhoods of San Francisco and its surrounding areas. Those searching for some tranquility amidst the vibrant - and sometimes overwhelming - streetscape of one of America's most sensory-infused cities will be pleased with the discoveries they make inside Peaceful Places: San Francisco.
Peaceful Places: Washington, D.C.
by Denis Collins Judy ColbertNative Washingtonians Judy Colbert and Denis Collins have grown up and lived amid some of the most exciting sightseeing in the country--in their own grand urban backyard. They share this knowledge in Peaceful Places: Washington, DC. Now readers can enjoy the sights without being elbow-to-elbow with visitors from around the country and the world. Their diverse peaceful "finds" unfold in 12 categories of tranquil spots: Day Trips & Overnights, Enchanting Walks, Historic Sites, Museums & Galleries, Outdoor Habitats, Parks and Gardens, Quiet Tables, Reading Rooms, Scenic Vistas, Shops & Services, Spiritual Enclaves, and Urban Surprises. Readers will find places that please the senses of smell, touch, hearing, sight, and taste.In addition to the beautifully written site descriptions, the concise entries also include vital information such as locations for the nearest Metro stations or local parking facilities, admission charges (and any free times), and operating hours. Plus, the authors provide a "peacefulness rating" based on three criteria: always peaceful, usually quite tranquil, or peaceful during the times or seasons specified in the peaceful place entry description.The entries are arranged three ways: alphabetically by name; by category (see all 12 listed above); and by area (keyed to the guidebook's maps). That is so readers can pick a quiet spot according to interest, mood, and location. Although most of the attractions are in the downtown, National Mall, and northwest sections of Washington, many escapes are located beyond those perimeters and on into Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland.Peaceful Places: Washington, DC is not a coffee-table book. It's one to keep in the car, the briefcase, the backpack, or the purse. Whether the reader is a native, who has lived in D.C. long enough to be considered a native, or is a visitor with only a few hours between business meetings or a hectic tourist schedule, this book will be a treasured asset.
Peaceful Places: Chicago
by Anne FordThe fourth in a new series, each one set in a U.S. metropolis, Peaceful Places: Chicago leads the reader on an unexpected path. Author Anne Ford uncovers hidden pockets of relaxation throughout the windy city. Her unique guide reveals the surprising gardens, vistas, sanctuaries, café respites, and neighborhood strolls that make up Chicago communities from downtown to the 'burbs. Readers will discover new destinations, and they will find tips on when to visit grand and diminutive locales for a bit of quiet time.
Peaceful Places: Portland
by Paul GeraldEverybody knows about Portland's food scene, its outdoor recreation, its bike lanes, beer pubs, and coffee shops. Whether you call it Stumptown or Bridgetown-or even PDX-Portland has been mocked as the city "where young people go to retire." But seemingly every weekend there's a festival, organized bike ride, political march, or something else clamoring for participation. In short, Portland is a happening town.But sometimes folks just want to chill out, to go where there isn't much happening. They might want to enjoy a quiet meal, take a walk in a park, curl up with a good book, or get out of town to some soul-soothing destination. With books covering all the other activities in town, where's the one that tells people where they can do .... well, not much?As of Fall 2012, the answer is Peaceful Places: Portland, written by Paul Gerald, the man who gave this town 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of Portland and Breakfast in Bridgetown. This time, Gerald is off in search of peace and quiet, and he invites the reader along to quiet tables, parks and gardens, enchanting walks, outdoor habitats, and other retreats.Seeking out the places or times when the crowds will be elsewhere, Gerald will give you the essence of what each place is about-what makes it peaceful or inviting. But he does not stint on also giving you all the detailed info you need to find the place and get there at the crowd-free time.Sometimes, this will be a matter of discovery, as in "Do I really stand a chance of seeing a heron in the Pearl District?" Other times it may feel like being let in on a secret, like a meadow full of camas blooming within earshot of Interstate 205. Or maybe it's just the right time to hit just the right table for a romantic meal or some quality reading time.But the theme that carries throughout the book is a simple one: Portland is a great city, but it's still a city, and sometimes folks just need a break.