Many top drawer people in the Northeast spend summers in Maine's preppy enclaves. Photographer Sarah C. Butler's new book Portrait of a Maine Island is a love letter to one such locale, Northeast Harbor.

In this never-before-seen collection, Butler showcases her extraordinary art portraits of Northeast Harbor's local inhabitants, architecture and stunning land and seascape, as viewed from properties like this 2006 Estate of the Day.

60 people and places are brought to life through original photographs that "convey and identify what it is that makes Maine culture so distinctive." Martha Stewart, who has an estate on nearby Mount Desert Island, often uses it as inspiration.

Butler doesn't just focus on the well-heeled summer residents however. A post-mistress, mechanic, carpenter, lobsterman, librarian and artists are all included, as well as a visual journey through the area's coves and rocky necks.

In the age of digital books, the Kindle, and, ahem, blogs, one unassailable argument for the survival of paper are beautiful, lavishly designed books. Books that are actually pleasing design objects, if not works of art.

Persephone Books is a small London book publisher on a wonderful shopping street called Lamb's Conduit, which I discovered on a retail tour led by Clare Dowdy, author of One Off, about unique retailers worldwide. (Arrange Dowdy's tour through the InterContinental Park Lane London.)

Persephone, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, publishes just 83 books, and ones you won't easily find elsewhere -- neglected classics by 20th century writers who are mostly women. Their books are bound in an elegant dove gray, and the endpapers are unique to each book, and are prints of antique fabric designs. (You can get a matching bookmark.) It's fun to visit the store and hard to buy just one -- I walked away with An Interrupted Life: The Diary of Etty Hillesum, and The Journal of Katherine Mansfield -- although you can also order online.

Luxury Living: New York, the latest volume in teNeues' luxury series, affords a rare inside peek at a truly privileged world. The book features some of the Big Apple and environs' finest architecture interior design, from a glinting modern masterpiece in Manhattan to a solidly traditional structure set in the Hamptons. More than just the most expensive living spaces, however, the featured abodes all express opulence married to great taste, even on a small scale; one of the apartments included in the volume measures a mere 300-sq.-ft., while others are multimillion-dollar palaces. Dazzling photographs by Reto Guntli adorn every page.

There's only just over a week left for easy access to one of Antwerp's more hidden treasures: the Nottebohm Room. This reading room is in what used to be the City Library, recently renamed the Hendrick Conscience Library (or Erfgoedbibliotheek Hendrik Conscience in Flemish), for its location on Conscienceplein in the city center.

The Nottebohm Room is everything you'd imagine a traditional reading room should be, all dark wood paneling, inviting desks, and two stories of books that will bring a respectful hush over any book lover. The library's collection dates back to 1481, and includes more than a million books, with 6,000 rare books, folios and other priceless book-related artifacts, including a delicately calligraphed and illuminated history of Rome written by Eutropius . In the early 20th century, the Nottebohm Room was the gathering place for Antwerp's literati -- you can see some more pictures of it here, although the page is in Flemish.

It's my understanding that the Nottebohm Room isn't open to the public regularly, but it's currently hosting an intimate exhibit of modern hand printed books called "Mooi Marginaal", and the contrast between these modern and often whimsical works, along with the nostalgic presence of the entire sweep of publishing history is a fine reason to fit this in when you visit this jewel of a city in Flanders. The exhibit is on until June 14th, Tuesday through Sunday, and admission is free.

Chef Thomas Keller will be having his first ever Las Vegas book signing later this month. Keller, considered one of America's best chefs, will be at Bouchon at the Venetian, from 6-7:15pm on June 16. The event will start with a brief question and answer session. Under Pressure, Keller's latest cookbook is dedicated to the science of cooking sous vide, a technique used in all of Chef Keller's restaurants. Copies of "Under Pressure" will be available for purchase the day of the event for $75 plus tax. Keller's other titles including "The French Laundry" and "Bouchon" will also be available for $50 each plus tax (they're available online for less but how many chances do you get to meet Keller?). Like his other books, "Under Pressure" is for those home cooks looking for a real challenge and a chance to cook high-end restaurant fare in their own kitchens. Interested parties may RSVP for Chef Keller's event at Bouchon by contacting Annie Kang Drachen at akangdrachen@bouchonbistro.com.

The other day we wrote about some of Helmut Newton's work being offered at auction. Sadly, Newton died in 2004, but a few photographers are carrying on in his spirit of fashion-meets-fine art-meets-erotica. Chief among them is German lensman Stefan May, who has a brilliant, lavish new monograph coming out from teNeues on June 15 titled Women Only. The book, available for pre-order from Amazon, cements May's place as the master of the sensual nude. The collection combines duotone and color images in an imaginative assortment, and the "contrast between photographic modes helps the reader fully appreciate form and texture, as well as interplays of light and shadow." It's also damned hot.

The New York Restaurant Cookbook: Recipes From the City's Best Chefs is an armchair tour of the most cutting-edge culinary city in the world. The book features recipes for the signature dishes from over 100 of the New York City's best restaurants, all selected and painstakingly adapted by respected food journalist Florence Fabricant.

The new version just out from Rizzoli has been updated with 30 all-new recipes from the most important restaurants in Manhattan, and its surrounding boroughs, on the scene today. Recipes are divided into eleven separate chapters including Appetizers; Soups; Salads; Pasta & Rissoto; Eggs, Sandwiches, Pizza & Brunch; Seafood; Poultry; Meat; Side Dishes; Desserts; and Drinks.

Highlights include Union Square Cafe's Grilled Filet Mignon of Tuna, Brooklyn's hip The Grocery's Seared Foie Gras with Asian Pear and Endive Salad, the iconic Second Avenue Deli's comforting Chicken Soup and the newly minted Fig & Olive's fresh Zucchini Carpaccio recipe. There are also chef's tips, wine and beverage suggestions, an exhaustive sources list, and full directory of restaurant addresses.

Author Michael Gross, who famously dished the goings-on at one of New York City's most elite residential buildings, 740 Park, has a new target, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Rogues' Gallery represents the end result of three years of research and into the history and leadership of the Met telling the ins and outs of the collections and the people involved.

Gross went to great lengths to reveal the story of America's greatest art museum. He tells ArtInfo that he had people calling him a "sleeze" and yelling at him on phone calls for prying into the history of the museum. This is because the story of the museum is also the story of the rich and influential people who created and run the institution. The book probes the fact that the Met is for the benefit of the public and yet is run in a rather private way. It is certainly an interesting time for the Met with a new younger curator,Thomas Campbell, in place but the same old guard still staffing the board of trustees. This book is going on my summer reading list.

Laurence Leamer, author of The Kennedy Women, examines the seamier side of Palm Beach's high society in his new book Madness Under the Royal Palms: Love and Death Behind the Gates of Palm Beach. Described as an "inside look at this playground of the rich, and its under-class of social-climbing wannabes," the book traces the history of Palm Beach and its most famous estates before examining some of the posh town's more infamous scandals.

Publisher's Weekly says the book's "highly visual vignettes - dominated by divorce, infidelity, excessive drinking and violence - produce a depressing picture of sad, angry, insecure and frequently nasty people hiding behind empty smiles, luxury cars and socially invisible servants," noting that while some may find it "a penetrating portrayal of a privileged segment of the American population, others might regard it as a book-length gossip column."

Visionaire is famous for its unique editions and the latest takes advantage of the summer sun in fascinating way. The Visionaire 56 SOLAR uses the latest in printing technology to create a book that is two different experiences. Viewed indoors under normal light an all white book contains black and white photographs. Take it outside and the case is alive with color and the photos inside change colors too. Calvin Klein is the designer supporting this issue and contributing artists include Yoko Ono, Mario Sorrenti, Alex Katz and Peter Lindbergh. There are 3,000 copies which sell for $250 each. You can get a sneak preview of the color change in action on the Visionaire website.

[via Vogue UK]

If you can't make it to "Francis Bacon: A Centenary Retrospective" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York this month you can still enjoy the great painter's works courtesy of art book imprint Skira Rizzoli. Francis Bacon, a comprehensive study of the seminal 20th-century painter (and oligarch favorite) "provides a radical reassessment of his major achievements and his enduring importance for the twenty-first century."

Bacon developed a way of portraying the human body that was unique in the history of painting - "usually in isolation, at moments of extreme tension or even pain, his figures distorted as if in a fantastical nightmare," as the authors note. In addition to 250 full-color plates, the book also reveals Bacon's inspirations, including magazine tear sheets, photographs, and imagery from films. The book, which will be published later this month, is currently available for pre-order on Amazon.

These days the celebrated French leathergoods company Longchamp is best known for its super-stylish handbags as seen in ad campaigns starring Kate Moss (above). Most people are unaware however that the company, which dates back to 1948, started off selling luxurious leather-covered pipes to Paris' bon ton. The rich heritage of the firm is celebrated in Longchamp, a gorgeous new illustrated history from Abrams by Marie-Claire Aucouturier with photographs by Philippe Carcia, published in celebration of the company's 60th anniversary.

Beginning with the deluxe pipes, which became a favorite of Elvis Presley (pictured smoking one in the book), the company built a brand as a bridge between the very social equestrian world and the world of luxury travel. Named after Paris' famed Longchamp racecourse where Napoleon III presided over the Royal Enclosure, the company adopted a horse and rider as its logo. The pipes were soon followed by cigarette cases and other leather accessories for smokers, then expansion into small leather goods in the 1950s, followed by the opening of the first Longchamp boutiques in the 1970s and '80s.

The first in a line of luxurious luggage soon followed. Longchamp thrived where many firms failed by catching on early to the importance of the Asian market. In the early 1970s, Philippe Cassegrain, Longchamp's founder, designed a line of bags called "LM," destined for the Japanese market, recently re-released for the anniversary. Its success gave Longchamp a solid reputation as a creator of women's handbags and enabled the company to expand further. In 1993 Cassegrain introduced the Le Pliage collection of foldable travel bags made of colorful vinyl with luxurious leather trim, an instant smash; two billion of them have been sold since.

Russell James has what is indisputably one of the best jobs on Earth - photographing naked supermodels for lots of money. The Australian lensman has shot numerous ad campaigns for Victoria's Secret as well as sizzling spreads for Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue. His amazing new XL monograph is just out from teNeues, publishers of the beloved Luxury series. Gisele Bundchen (on the book's cover, above) and Heidi Klum start stripping at the mere mention of his name, it seems. Aside from the eye-popping images, however - we wish we could show you some - James' story is also inspiring, as told in his introductory essay, "Trash Cans to Supermodels in Nine Easy Steps." Actually it's a lot more complicated than that. You can order a copy here.

Known for its azure blue waters, famous grottos, and dramatic vistas, the island of Capri has long been one of Italy's most visited and treasured destinations, especially among the jet set. Diplomat, journalist, and avid diver Patrick Howlett-Martin's new book Capri by the Sea, due out from Skira in May, offers readers a intimate look at the island he's been exploring for more than 15 years. Howlett features 14 seagoing itineraries around the island, giving readers a meticulously detailed guide to exploring Capri's grottos, beaches, and hiking destinations.

Each of the entries are carefully documented with detailed information about getting to the destination, diving notes, what to see and do, touring the grottos, and the paths that you can explore once there. This is a yachtsman's must-have to be sure. Every page is also embellished with fascinating trivia, including present day and historical photographs, documents, works of art, curiosities, and quotes from famous writers and poets inspired by this idyllic island. The book is currently available for pre-order on Amazon.

We've seen some expensive musician-related iPods before but Prince trumps them all with the Prince Opus. The purple one is selling a limited-edition iPod Touch for $2,100. The iPod is loaded with a 40-minute concert video and 15 songs from a live soundtrack. Only 950 Prince iPods are available and they are being sold with a book of Prince photographs from high-end book publisher Kraken Opus.

For one deep-pocketed and devoted fan there is the Prince Opus Number One, a unique one-off artwork of ultimate purple luxury. The book has an alligator skin binding with sterling silver artwork and purple silk lining. A diamond-encrusted rendering of Prince's symbol is one the cover. The platinum piece includes 21 round brilliant cut diamonds and five rare purple diamonds totaling 7.7 carats. The piece can be detached and worn as a pendant. The Number One will be exhibited and will be auctioned off later this year.

[via Wired]