A Walk Around the Block: Stoplight Secrets, Mischievous Squirrels, Manhole Mysteries & Other Stuff You See Every Day (And Know Nothing About)
A Walk Around the Block: Stoplight Secrets, Mischievous Squirrels, Manhole Mysteries & Other Stuff You See Every Day (And Know Nothing About)
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Overview
In this celebration of the seemingly mundane, Carlsen opens our eyes to the engineering marvels, human stories, and natural wonders right outside our front door. He guides us through the surprising allure of sewers, the intricacies of power plants, the extraordinary path of an everyday letter, and the genius of recycling centers—all the while revealing that this awesome world isn’t just a spectator sport.
Engaging as it is endearing, A Walk Around the Block will change the way you see things in your everyday life. Join Carlsen as he strolls through the trash museum of New York City, explores the quirky world of squirrels, pigeons, and roadkill, and shows us how understanding stoplights, bike lanes, and fine art of walking can add years to our lives. In the end, he brings a sense of wonder into your average walk around the block, wherever you are. Guaranteed.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781799943839 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | HarperCollins Publishers |
| Publication date: | 10/20/2020 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.20(w) x 5.70(h) x (d) |
About the Author
Daniel Henning is a director, producer, actor, and writer. His work has been seen on HBO, CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, MTV, Comedy Central, and on stages throughout Southern California. He won a 2017 Telly Award for "Best Writer" for the film version of his play The Tragedy of JFK (as Told by Wm. Shakespeare). As director and writer, his TV and film work includes MTV's Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory and the film Critic's Choice. He won the NAACP Theatre Award for "Best Director of a Musical" for The Wild Party.
He is the Founding Artistic Director of Hollywood's The Blank Theatre, winning over 200 awards for his productions, including "Best Production," from LA Drama Critic Circle, LA Weekly, Ovations, NAACP, etc. Henning has been inspirational to thousands of young artists through his creation of The Blank's Young Playwrights Festival (the only professional nationwide competition for playwrights aged nine to nineteen). He directed the first play by 2016 Tony Award Winner for "Best Play" Stephen Karam when Stephen was seventeen and a winner in The Blank's Young Playwrights Festival.
Henning has also been an acting teacher and coach and is known for his ability to spot young talent. He has given opportunities to many young actors who later went on to success in Hollywood including Tessa Thompson, Noah Wyle, Alison Brie, Molly Shannon, Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer, and Sarah Michelle Gellar. He coached Sarah Michelle Gellar on her auditions for the landmark TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and they shared a close personal friendship, even traveling to Australia together with family for New Year's Eve 2000, where the paparazzi photographed Henning and Gellar dancing. For several months, Henning was rumored to be dating Gellar in the Australian fan magazines (including Big Hit Magazine), which, of course, was inaccurate as Henning was traveling with his husband, Rick Baumgartner.
He is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Circle in the Square Theatre School, and American Conservatory Theatre. His work for LGBTQ Equality includes creating the fiftieth Anniversary Celebration of the Black Cat Protests (the first major LGBTQ Demonstration in the US) and directing and hosting the 2017 LA City Council LGBTQ Pride Ceremony. He was recently honored by the CA State Legislature for his work in LGBTQ Equality and nurturing the future of the Arts.
He has also narrated dozens of audiobooks, both nonfiction and fiction.
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Part I Incoming
Chapter 1 The Front Porch: Rocking Back and Forth with the American Dream 7
Chapter 2 Electricity: Birds on Wires and Sparking Pliers 12
Chapter 3 Water: Towers, Faucets, and Meters 26
Chapter 4 Mail: First-Class Diamonds, Babies, and Rattlesnakes 38
Chapter 5 Telephone Wires and Waves: From Tin Can to iPhone (to the Bieber) 54
Part II Outgoing
Chapter 6 Recycling: From A+ to D in One Hour Flat 65
Chapter 7 Sewers: The Lifesaving World of Wastewater Below 79
Chapter 8 Trash: How to Fit Three Tons of Trash into a One-Pint jar 93
Chapter 9 Roadkill (and Litter): Squished, Plucked, and Plogged 107
Part III Surfaces
Chapter 10 Bike Lanes: Pedaling Uphill and into the Wind 117
Chapter 11 Asphalt Streets: Pavement, Potholes, and Mummy Paint 129
Chapter 12 Alleys: One Man's Love Affair 136
Chapter 13 Concrete: Sidewalks, Dams, and that Damn Joan Crawford 140
Chapter 14 Parking: The Secret Cost of Free Parking 150
Chapter 15 Walking: Soles for the Body, Mind, and Soul 156
Chapter 16 The Block: The Feast of a Great Community 170
Part IV Nature
Chapter 17 Pigeons: Vindicating Rats with Wings 179
Chapter 18 Parks: Where Cities Pause to Catch Their Breaths 194
Chapter 19 Lawns: Caring for Your Seven Million Little Plants 205
Chapter 20 Trees: Stiletto Heels and Stumping to Survive 214
Chapter 21 Squirrels: The Gnawing Truth 228
Chapter 22 Snow: The Fate of My 3,358 Inches 241
Part V Signs, Lines, and Lights
Chapter 23 STOP! Green Lights, Red Signs, and Roundabouts 255
Chapter 24 Road Lines and Signs: The Language of Signs and Dashes 266
Chapter 25 Street Names and Numbers: Stravenues and Psycho Paths 280
Chapter 26 Graffiti: Making a Mark on the World 287
Epilogue 299
Acknowledgments 303
Notes 307