They were all spotted (by moi) over a period of 2 days last week on the New York City subway system!

Leaving work, riding the F train from West 4th street, the young lady sitting next to me was reading Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview?* by Ellen Gordon Reeves (*hard to spot since the “vintage” copy below has since been re-jacketed — check out that smashing the new green cover above!). Ooh, and all those post-it notes on the pages! Good luck, subway-riding-lady — we hope you get the job!

Many of you have sent in reports from all over the city after seeing Missed Connections artist Sophie Blackall‘s poster art on several train lines. This shot was also on the F train, when it came above ground at the closed-for-renovations Smith & 9th Street stop.

And on the Manhattan-bound D train the next morning, the doors opened to let passengers on and off at Grand Street, and this was the view! The What to Expect When You’re Expecting movie (inspired by Heidi Murkoff’s pregnancy bible) is “due” May 18.

And what else mama-related is just around the corner? Oh, right: Happy Mother’s Day to all you mamas out there!

Have you spotted any Workman books in your recent travels? In window displays at your favorite neighborhood bookstore, at an airport kiosk, in a contented reader’s hands on a morning commute? Post your photos to our Facebook page!

The adventure began on Friday morning, when Maggie, John, and I hit the road in our amazing custom Brain Quest minivan!! This year marks Brain Quest’s 20th anniversary, and we’ve teamed up with Chrysler to give away over $25,000 in scholarship money and other prizes through the Brain Quest College Tuition Sweepstakes. Be sure to enter online!

Maggie and John are ready to hit the road in style.

It’s a long drive from New York City to Washington, D.C., but we came prepared: In addition to Brain Quest for the Car and Natan Last’s crossword puzzle book Word., we also brought a copy of All-American Car-I-Oke—and busted out a car-rocking rendition of “Proud Mary.”

Maggie bringing down the house---er, car.

When we arrived at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, we pulled the van into our booth, which was decked out with some truly amazing signage, made by our great studio team.

Brain Quest has never looked better.

After a good night’s sleep, we got up bright and early to greet the crowds! Thousands of eager science enthusiasts flocked to the convention center to get some hands-on scientific action. As you could probably guess, a huge part of our weekend was about Brain Quest. Lots of kids stopped by the booth to be quizzed on math and science topics from their grade levels. And we unveiled the brand new free Brain Quest app for iPad!

Jessica quizzes some Girl Scouts/future Marie Curies, while two others play with the new Brain Quest app for iPad (right).

Plus, just in case you think we were too easy on the Brain Questers, Selina fired questions at kids while they hula hooped.

"I'll take the physical challenge!"

We also had the distinct pleasure of hosting not one but two Workman authors in our booth. The first was Sean Connolly, author of The Book of Potentially Catastrophic Science and The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science. Sean performed experiments from those two books as well as from his most recent endeavor, The Book of Perfectly Perilous Math. Below, Sean Connolly demonstrates some of the more surprising principles of sound waves to young science buffs.

Stop, hey, what's that sound?

And did you ever hear the story of the inventor of chess, who asked only that his only reward for inventing such a spectacular game be a piece of rice for the first square of the board, two for the next, four for the next, and so on, doubling the amount for each square? Below, Sean uses a real chess board to show that the reward wasn’t as measly as you might think.

Scientists of all ages are amazed by Sean's math skills.

Also in attendance was Allen Kurzweil, author and inventor of Potato Chip Science, a book and kit that includes everything you need to complete 30 science experiments involving potatoes and potato chips. Allen showed us how to turn an ordinary potato into a mind-blowing display of Boyle’s Law, which states that volume and pressure are inversely related. In other words, as pressure increases, volume decreases (and vice versa). In other other words, load a chunk of raw potato into either end of a patented Potato Propulsion Pipe, apply pressure, and BAM! Potato goes flying! Science!!

A budding rocket scientist loads his Potato Propulsion Pipe.

No one can resist a mad scientist who advocates launching veggies in the air.

The USA Science and Engineering Festival was a truly wonderful experience, and I’m so glad I got to be a part of it. Seeing all those kids learning about the way science affects their everyday lives proved something I’ve been pretty sure of all along: It’s FUN to be smart!

—Avery, who got to stand about 50 yards from her childhood hero Bill Nye the Science Guy. BILL! BILL! BILL! BILL!

More than 700 visitors (mostly brides-to-be, their grooms, moms, and bridal brigades) came through the intimate space festooned in handmade goodness. There were baked treats, signature cocktails, letterpress stationery, gowns, neckties, shoes, head pieces, and other keepsakes, and in the midst of it all, Kayte (the only craft star in attendance with a make-and-take activity!) helped guests fold paper favor boxes from scavenged decorative papers (old book pages, vintage maps, magazine clippings, scrapbook bits, etc.).

Did you catch that paper fascinator in Kayte’s hair? Perfect for the Paper Made! bride… (also found on page 126 in the book!).

So many adorable brides….

So many favor boxes…wrangle those bridesmaids together for a pre-wedding paper folding extravaganza!

This happy duo happen to be getting hitched on my 5-year anniversary!

So much paper folding, so many sparkling ring fingers!

Some stunning save-the-date cards on display…

Cake toppers, anyone?

All the ribbon and trim decor was subtle and fairy tale-like — so dreamy!

One of our editorial assistants was totally crushing on this dress; I’m feeling smitten with this Fantastic Mr. Fox-inspired neckwear.

And it’s nice to know that some wedding decor can last well after the honeymoon — that bridge poster print hangs in my baby’s nursery! And a lasting sentiment to honor the day…

If you missed the Etsy event last weekend, COME THIS MONDAY May 7, 2012 to PowerHouse Arena in DUMBO, Brooklyn,where Kayte will be launching her book officially with more paper crafting make-and-takes, a photo booth, some bubbly concoctions (will they be served in paper cups?), books for sale, books for signing, and more!

If you couldn’t guess, I’ll tell you that we here at Workman are HUGE Star Wars fans. Exhibit A: Fandex. Exhibit B: Scanimation. (Don’t those sound like words from the Lucasverse?)

That’s why we’re extremely excited to offer you a tiny sneak peek at the next Star Wars project we have lined up, to be released this fall! No details yet, but here’s a behind-the-scenes shot to pique your curiosity.

Designer Phil takes a break to pose for the blog.

Watch this space for more details about our latest project to come out of the Star Wars universe!

-Robert Browning

I just made that quote up, but I’m sure Bobby Browning would agree. National Poetry Month may be officially over, but our appreciation for poetry cannot be curbed because of a silly date on a calendar. To extend your poetry fix, check out this fantastic GalleyCat interview with The Anthology of Really Important Modern Poetry authors Kathryn & Ross Petras.

One Art
by Elizabeth Bishop

The art of losing isn’t hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn’t hard to master.

Then practice losing farther, losing faster:
places, and names, and where it was you meant
to travel. None of these will bring disaster.

I lost my mother’s watch. And look! my last, or
next-to-last, of three loved houses went.
The art of losing isn’t hard to master.

I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,
some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.
I miss them, but it wasn’t a disaster.

–Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture
I love) I shan’t have lied. It’s evident
the art of losing’s not too hard to master
though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster.

Well, now he’s really done it. He’s put Arlo (the REAL Arlo) in a video for his (their!) new book. Talk about a Wonder Dog!

It’s too cute for words. We hope you’ll agree. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go get my eyes checked…

The Anthology of Really Important Modern Poetry is just that: a collection of “poems” by some of the preeminent public speakers of our day, from Charlie Sheen to Sarah Palin and everyone in between. Below, some choice examples of brilliant verse…by people who really should learn to think before they speak.

 ”After Winning an Oscar for the Film Titanic,” by James Cameron

This is for a real event that happened when real people died
and shocked the world in 1912 and I’d like…
to do a few seconds of silence
in remembrance of 1,500 men, women and children who died.
You really made this a night to remember in every way.
Now let’s party ’til dawn!

“My Recipe for Raising Kids,” by Ivana Trump

My recipe for raising kids:
I encourage my children to try new things.

As much as I tell them they can do anything,
I don’t want them to engage in pastimes that have no future.

xxxxxThe other day, Ivanka came to me and said
xxxxxshe wanted to enroll one afternoon in field hockey.
xxxxxI said,
xxxxx“Ivanka, that’s a boy’s sport. There’s no future in it for you.”

If Ivanka wanted to do karate, fine.
Field hockey she doesn’t need.
Golf, I think, is a perfect sport, but fencing? I’d say,
xxxxx“Kid, don’t waste your time.”

Ice skating is great exercise and it’s social.
xxxxxYou won’t get many phone calls to play field hockey,
xxxxxbut ice skating you can do in New York
xxxxxat the beautiful Wollman Rink in Central Park
xxxxxwhich their father and I rebuilt during our marriage.

—————————————————————————————————–

The Anthology of Really Important Modern Poetry was curated by Kathryn and Ross Petras and is on sale now. Visit the Petrases at their website, Stupidest.com, and follow them on Twitter @TeamStupidest.

And there are plenty more where that came from… 100 more projects, to be exact. So dig into your stash of candy wrappers, wall paper scraps, junk mail, leftover wrapping paper, and old office materials — and get making! (Forget Earth Month, I have a feeling Earth Day might turn into Earth Year…)

According to one Urban Dictionary definition of 420, the term is “widely used in Cannabis culture as a time to get high, a national day to get high, and cannibis itself.” But the theories on how the term was invented seem to number almost as many. Today’s Washington Post article shares a few, and the Wall Street Journal shares some newer takes on the marketing of this “holiday,” but here are several classic theories that seem to have permeated the air.

Have you heard the Bob Dylan theory? It involves math, so it must be taken seriously: The “everybody must get stoned…” lyric is from the Dylan tune, “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35.” Multiply 12 times 35 and you get 420. (Dylan is also credited with introducing The Beatles to stuff.)

What about Bob? The other Bob. The Bob Marley theory is a rather mistaken since the reference is in regard to the claim that he died on April 20. He actually died on May 11.

Or how about the Police Code theory? Basically, that “a 420″ announces a narcotics bust… Though widely cited, it’s not true, since there is no code for a drug bust, just a drug deal — which is referred to as a “966,” apparently. (Some people claim that it used to be known as a 420, though…grasping at straws, here.)

We look to our neighbors to the north for the Highway 420 theory: In 1960s Ontario, Canada, marijuana plants used to grow roadside on this stretch of highway. It wasn’t given the 420 moniker, however, until 1972.

The Chemical Makeup theory: Some claim there are 420 “ingredients” in weed, but the reality is that there are closer to 300, a number that fluctuates according to the source of the weed. In another take on this angle, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol. Tetra means four, and hydro means water (or H2O), and so the mash-up gets you vaguely to 420.

The Tea Time theory: Okay, this one’s cute, about 4:20 p.m. being “tea” time in Amsterdam, but still doesn’t have legs to stand on.

Most signs, however, point to the San Rafael theory as being the rightful heir to the 420 myth. In the early 1970s, a group of students (yes, they’re middle-aged now) from the San Rafael High School in California (incidentally, the first state to legalize the stuff) who called themselves the Waldos, liked to enjoy an afternoon toke at the base of the Louis Pasteur statue on campus. The term “420,” referring to the time of day they would meet at the statue to engage in the illicit activity, was their code for the meetup. In an interview with High Times, one member of the original Waldos shared what may be the actual genesis of the particular time stamp: one Waldo had heard about a patch of weed plants growing in the woods nearby. The group decided to form a search party of sorts and agreed to meet at the statue at 4:20 to embark on a search for the elusive crop (PS: they never found it).

There are a slew of other theories and coincidences and intentional instances of 4/20, 4:20, and 420 in the history of the plant that is celebrated today — and no shortage of places to read about them. So for those of you who like to get high on reading, we’ve got a special one to recommend today.