Matthew O'Brien's Blog, page 13

Place Hacking post

An interesting blog entry by Bradley Garrett about urban exploring and the storm drains of Las Vegas. The video is exhilarating (though I don't condone the act) and the photos are outstanding.

http://www.placehacking.co.uk/2011/05/12/las-vegas-undercity/

NPR's The Story

I'm a big fan of the NPR show The Story. Love host Dick Gordon's voice and style and the way the producers piece together simple and powerful stories. Recently, former tunnel resident Rick Cobble and I were interviewed by Gordon at the local NPR affiliate (KNPR). Here's the result:

http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_041411_full_show.mp3/view

Fundraising project

If you're interested in helping the people who live in the underground flood channels of Las Vegas, here's an opportunity to do it. The NPR show "State of the Re:Union" visits Vegas in its second season, which kicks off in the next month or two, and is raising money for my community project Shine a Light.

For more information on Shine a Light, "State of the Re:Union" and the fundraising project, visit http://02af589.netsolstores.com/lasvegas.aspx.

Newsweek mention

An interesting and informative Newsweek piece about the local economy, with two 'graphs on the tunnels about halfway into the story.

http://www.newsweek.com/2011/03/13/rich-vegas-poor-vegas.html

Huffington Post Q&A

A Q&A with the Huffington Post, focusing on Shine a Light and activism:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/28/las-vegas-author-matt-obrien_n_829450.html

Beautiful/Decay

Some thoughts about Beneath the Neon and urban exploring from Beautiful/Decay:

http://beautifuldecay.com/2011/02/10/beneath-the-neon/

Book signing follow-up

Good turnout at the book signing yesterday. Thanks to everyone who dropped by: fellow Huntington Press authors Bill Branon, Cathy Scott and Al Mancini; author JJ Wylie; photographer Bill Hughes; curator and historian Brian Paco Alvarez; advocate for the homeless Linda Lera-Randle El; film director Delaney Dragon; and others.

I don't have any other public signings scheduled. So if you want a signed copy of Beneath the Neon or My Week at the Blue Angel, visit the Beat coffeehouse downtown, the Borders at Town Square, Barnes & Noble on Maryland Parkway (just north of Flamingo) or the B&N near Summerlin (which, post-signing, had one copy of Beneath the Neon left). These businesses, last I checked, had signed copies in stock.

Thanks to everyone who's supported My Week at the Blue Angel. Looks like it's headed to a second printing!

Last scheduled signing

I have one more scheduled book signing for My Week at the Blue Angel. It'll be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at the Barnes & Noble near Summerlin (8915 W. Charleston Blvd., 89117). I'll be there till at least 2.

I haven't seen a lot of the folks who supported Beneath the Neon, which will also be available at B&N, at any of the My Week at the Blue Angel events. Hope to see you at this one.

Books at Resnicks

Oh, and Beneath the Neon and My Week at the Blue Angel are also available at Resnicks, the hip new convenience/grocery store at the bottom of Soho Lofts (Las Vegas Boulevard just north of Charleston). For more info on the store, visit www.resnicksgrocery.com. (Heads up: The site is under construction.)

Books at the Beat

Beneath the Neon and My Week at the Blue Angel are now available at the Beat in downtown Las Vegas (520 Fremont St., 89101). Owners Michael and Jennifer Cornthwaite, who are very supportive of local artists, agreed to stock a few signed copies of each book in their cool coffee shop that looks out onto Fremont. As far as I know, the Beat is the only business downtown that carries the books.

Maybe Michael and Jennifer's next business venture will be a bookstore. Downtown could use one and it would sit well in the Fremont Street area, though, yeah, they probably wouldn't get rich off it.