Nancy J. Hajeski

In this richly illustrated volume, experience the visual panorama of America''s great ballparks—with photos, vintage postcards, illustrations, and team mementos, all displayed in a lively scrapbook style. Nothing stirs the soul of a baseball fan like the crack of a bat against a ball . . . or the sight of a fielder leaping high into the air to snatch that ball out of play. What would these fans be without their favorite sport, and what would baseball be without those high-tiered, impossibly beautiful temples to the sport called ballparks? North Americans have treasured some wonderful venues from bygone eras, but sadly lost so many as well. Within the pages of this book readers can revel in the new builds—the retro-modern fields inspired by Baltimore’s Camden Yards, while looking fondly back at the older, more traditional ballparks often referred to as Jewel Boxes. In America’s Ballparks all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums are covered in detail, along with a brief history of their teams and background on any previous ballparks in which they played. Special features throughout the book include: The design evolution and anatomy of ballparks The home fields of the Negro Leagues The top venues of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. A section that examines the long partnership between baseball and corporate branding Each ballpark entry provides cumulative team stats, as well as lists of stadium firsts and club achievements.

The complete guide to the national parks, national monuments and memorials, military parks and battlefields, national trails, seashores, rivers and marine conservation areas, national recreation areas, national highways,  preserves and reserves of the United States Since 1872, when Yellowstone became America’s inaugural national park, these protected areas have enthralled visitors from around the globe. Currently the 63 national parks attract more than 300 million visitors each year. But what is the X factor that draws people again and again to these historic places or wilderness spaces? In this comprehensive guide readers will begin to understand the character of these parks, for each is, in its own way, truly unique. • Begin with handy stats about the park’s location, size, number of visitors, date established, elevation, and geology. • Explore the history of each park, including early cultures, homesteaders and settlers, commercial interests, and park advocates. • Discover popular activities, along with details on trails, landmarks, natural wonders, amenities, accommodations, and nearby attractions. • Get acquainted with the animals that make each park a wildlife adventure, as well as the native plants and trees that populate woodlands, grasslands, wetlands, deserts, and high alpine zones. If vacationers have a national park visit on their agenda, The Complete Guide to America’s National Parks provides an excellent overview, along with stunning photographs that capture the essence of each park, and puts vital information at their fingertips ... whether they intend to visit one park or a dozen.

This engaging picture-and-text book explores the art and legacy of the cinematic costume designer, starting with the birth of the modern motion picture industry on a prime piece of California real estate known as Hollywood. Readers will discover how film clothing evolved from actors selecting items from their home wardrobes… to outfits customized for their roles: Everything from suits of armour to ball gowns to office attire to lingerie, created by a studio designer and a dedicated staff of costumers. They will also encounter the actress from each decade who displayed a distinct fashion sense, on and off the screen, women who made a costumer’s job less demanding by embodying the character and evoking the time, place and circumstances the designer wishes to portray. “Feature spreads” throughout the chronological chapters include: Style makers, offering closeup biogs of the legendary designers and showcasing their most outstanding creations; Style trends, exploring the social movements and cultural phenomena that affected movie costumes and further influenced how the world — dressed; Album of trendsetters highlighting Oscar fashions and introducing the fans’ favourite Blondes, Brunettes and Redheads; Men of the Decade shows how male actors used fashion — contemporary, historical or futuristic — to create a character or enhance ambience. Ultimately, Hollywood Fashion will leave readers with a wider understanding of film costuming and an increased appreciation for the men and women who clothed the stars — and made the spellbinding world of the Hollywood cinema memorable.