Only In Whistler

For several weeks in February, the eyes of the world will be on Whistler, BC, as it hosts the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and the appetite for a story to go with the place will be extreme. Stephen Vogler has that story, and in this book he tells it fully for the first time. Vogler is one of those rare Whistlerites who actually grew up in Whistler and he has for some years been running a one-man crusade as writer, broadcaster and author of books to prove his hometown is not only a bona fide community, but a uniquely interesting one. Whistler begins in the days when the town had a mere 500 year-round residents who referred to weekend visitors as "turkeys" or "gorbies." His parents were old-school European alpinists who had given up a comfortable life in Vancouver so they could teach their children how to yodel and schuss in an appropriate setting. People like them, with names like Ples and Wilhelmsen, had developed the ski hill in the 1960s and together formed one of Whistler's founding cultures. The other founding culture was a swarming, partying mass of snow-hippies who lived rent-free in rough squatters' shacks and liked marijuana as much as they didn"t like wearing clothes. Their "high" spirits melded with the soberer tradition of the transplanted Tyroleans to produce a hybrid "only in Whistler" character that is equally devoted to serious skiing and unserious living. It was no accident that the first Whistlerite to win an Olympic gold medal also tested positive for cannabis, and successfully defended himself by arguing that just breathing the air in his hometown was enough to put him over the limit. If anybody doubts that story, they won't after reading Only in Whistler: Tales of a Mountain Town.

* The ultimate insider's guide to Whistler* Features interesting and unusual places not found in traditional travel guides* Part of the international 111 Places/111 Shops series with over 650 titles and 3.8 million copies in print worldwide* Appeals to both the local market (more than 11,800 people call Whistler home) and the tourist market (more than 3 million people visit Whistler every year!)* Fully illustrated with 111 full-page color photographsWhistler is so much more than one of the best places on Earth to ski. Tucked in the southwestern corner of British Columbia, less than two hours from Vancouver, the resort municipality is really as much a state of mind as a destination. Its modern culture, firmly rooted in the great outdoors, offers a unique healthy and active lifestyle that people around the world can only dream about. Yet many of the over two-million people that visit Whistler annually from every corner of the world are in such a hurry to get up into the mountains they miss so many of the secret sites, hidden gems and offbeat attractions scattered throughout the Sea to Sky corridor - home of Canada's most scenic road. When you know where to look, you'll be amazed by Whistler's rich diversity and quirky surprises, from the funky dives where local "Liftees" dine, to high-end, glamorous shops in the village, aboriginal landmarks, ghost towns, and left-over traces of the Winter Olympics. And although mining and logging have been replaced by tourism, vestiges of the early pioneer days still pop up in the most unusual places.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A high-stakes thrill ride through the darkest corners of the Sunshine State, from the author hailed as “the best thriller writer alive” by Ken Follett We expect our judges to be honest and wise. Their integrity is the bedrock of the entire judicial system. We trust them to ensure fair trials, to protect the rights of all litigants, to punish those who do wrong, and to oversee the flow of justice. But what happens when a judge bends the law or takes a bribe? Lacy Stoltz is an investigator for the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct. It is her job to respond to complaints dealing with judicial misconduct. After nine years with the Board, she knows that most problems are caused by incompetence, not corruption. But a corruption case eventually crosses her desk. A previously disbarred lawyer is back in business, and he claims to know of a Florida judge who has stolen more money than all other crooked judges combined. And not just crooked judges in Florida. All judges, from all states, and throughout United States history. And now he wants to put a stop to it. His only client is a person who knows the truth and wants to blow the whistle and collect millions under Florida law. When the case is assigned to Lacy, she immediately suspects that this one could be dangerous. Dangerous is one thing. Deadly is something else. “[A] main character [who’s] a seriously appealing woman . . . a whistle-blower who secretly calls attention to corruption . . . a strong and frightening sense of place . . . [John Grisham’s] on his game.”—Janet Maslin, The New York Times “[John Grisham is] our guide to the byways and backwaters of our legal system, superb in particular at ferreting out its vulnerabilities and dramatizing their abuse in gripping style.”—USA Today “Riveting . . . an elaborate conspiracy.”—The New York Times Book Review Don’t miss John Grisham’s new book, THE EXCHANGE: AFTER THE FIRM, coming soon!

James McNeill Whistler painted his mother on impulse, when she came to London to escape the American Civil War, forcing him to evict his mistress from his house. It is hard to imagine a greater contrast than that between Whistler's outrageously flamboyant life in London--where he famously befriended Oscar Wilde and Dante Gabriel Rossetti--and the subdued, touchingly melancholic depiction of his Puritan mother he entitled "Arrangement in Grey and Black." This portrait has become one of the world's best-known paintings and an American icon, yet we know remarkably little about it. While restoring the painting for the Louvre, Sarah Walden became intrigued by the extraordinary and complex history of the painting, which had never been fully explored. From French, British, and American sources, Walden uncovers the intersections between Whistler's flawed genius, his struggle for recognition, his troubled relationship with his mother and mistresses, and the unprecedented historical response to his greatest work. Walden's findings read like a detective story, and her controversial and progressive views on art restoration combine with biography and criticism to create a gripping narrative that skillfully weaves history and aesthetics into a seamless tapestry.

‘A captivating tale ...This novel is a delight’ THE TIMES ‘A terrific novel ... It springs off the page’ DEBORAH MOGGACH 'Vividly engaging’ SUNDAY TIMES

Mister Whistler always has a song in his head and a dance in his feet. But when he has to catch a train, he is so distracted that he loses his ticket-and has to dance his way out of his clothes to find it!

The Opinionated Hikers: Kathy & Craig Copeland have created the new Done in a Day series to show hikers with limited time where to enjoy the greatest scenic rewards. Start your adventure within a short drive of the village, and witness the wonders of Whistler and be back for a hot shower, great meal, and soft bed at the end of the day. Choose from easy, vigorous, or challenging hikes that have been boot-tested and certified spectacular by the authors.