This volume explores how consumption and entertainment change cities, but it reverses the 'normal' causal process. That is, many chapters analyze how consumption and entertainment drive urban development, not vice versa. People both live and work in cities and where they choose to live shifts where and how they work. Amenities enter as enticements to bring new residents or tourists to a city and so amenities have thus become new public concerns for many cities in the U.S. and much of Northern Europe. Old ways of thinking, old paradigms - such as 'location, location, location' and 'land, labor, capital, and management generate economic development' - are too simple. So is 'human capital drives development'. To these earlier questions we add, 'How do amenities and related consumption attract talented people, who in turn drive the classic processes which make cities grow?' This new question is critical for policy makers, urban public officials, business, and non-profit leaders who are using culture, entertainment, and urban amenities to enhance their locations - for present and future residents, tourists, conventioneers, and shoppers. The City as an Entertainment Machine details the impacts of opera, used bookstores, brew pubs, bicycle events, Starbucks' coffee shops, gay residents, and other factors on changes in jobs, population, inventions, and more. It is the first study to assemble and analyze such amenities for national samples of cities (and counties). It interprets these processes by showing how they add new insights from economics, sociology, political science, public policy, and geography. Considerable evidence is presented about how consumption, amenities, and culture drive urban policy by encouraging people to move to or from different cities and regions.

Lee Anne Bartlett is passionate about empowering and inspiring others to become a better them. Through her work as a coach, mentor, trainer and presenter she has assisted hundreds and inspired thousands of people globally to be better and do better. She has been able to path the way in her arena, showing others what is possible and pushing the limits and creating new levels. She loves to challenge herself and challenge others to get out of their comfort zones and go for it. Lee Anne went from over 7 figures on debt to being a multiple 7 figure income earner in just a few short years and has mentored many others to create amazing life transformations too. Lee Anne lives on the Gold Coast with her husband and 2 beautiful daughters, loves to travel and is always sporting some bling and leaving a sparkle wherever she goes. To find out more about Lee Anne and what she does - visit www.leeannebartlett.com

This is a story of a Castle that holds many rooms filled with the lives of the people that live there. Some have secrets, some have regrets, and some are empty or full of confusion. Inside one room of this lavish Castle, a world-renowned Doctor named VALEN JOHANSSON lives his secret life. Known as a master of drug psychotherapy, he turns to the Castle for a much needed break from his life. With his betrayal, deceit, secrets, and lies he has much to hide. A sweet smelling florist, SYLVYA JENKINS, has captivated Valen's eyes, but she has been too busy with her work to notice him. How far will he go to get her to notice him? Meeting other friendly faces inside the Castle, DOCTOR JACOB SMITE and his witty nurse SUSIE WESTON stitch up problems that arise between Valen and Sylvya. As the four of them become entwined the lies unravel as blood and tears are shed. There are many friendly faces inside the Castle. Just because they are friendly, does not mean they are a friend.

In Anne Bartlett's engaging novel, a chance meeting sparks a friendship between two very different women who share a fascination with knitting. Sandra, a rigid academic, struggles to navigate the world without her husband, whom she has recently lost to cancer. Martha--a self-taught textile artist with her own secret store of grief--spends her days knitting elaborate projects charged with personal meaning. As the two women collaborate on a new project, surprising events will help heal them both.