Whether you’re staying home this summer or heading for wondrous adventures oversees, the books below will lend you lots of inspiration and wanderlust.

Lake Tahoe
Thomas Bachand’s stunning photographs of Lake Tahoe capture the sublime allure and fragility of this beloved leisure destination. Bachand’s work reveals the delicate balance between conservation and recreation, as images of both majestic landscapes and development are juxtaposed.

If you are traveling to Lake Tahoe this summer, Bachand’s photographs will be on exhibit at the Vista Gallery (7081 North Lake Blvd. (Hwy. 28)) from July 1 to September 8, 2009.

You can meet Bacahnd at a reception scheduled for July, 11, 2009. 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the gallery. Bachand will be giving a 45-minute mini-workshop as well–covering basic camera settings, composition, and tips on lighting. Bring your camera and questions! Free

Inside Iran & Inside North Korea
Award-winning photographer Mark Edward Harris has traveled and photographed in more than 70 countries. Harris and Chronicle Books recently published books on two countries that are in the world spotlight – Iran and North Korea.

If you are in San Francisco, join us at the World Affairs Council on Friday, June 10 at 6 pm to hear him discuss the work in these two books. The World Affairs Council of Northern California will host an exhibition of dozens of his photographs that will run until September 10, 2009.

Still: Oceanscapes
The timeless and awe-inspiring quality of Debra Bloomfield’s hypnotic photographs provides a visual map of the powerful interplay between sea and sky. Over the years, on a single lonesome stretch of beach, Bloomfield has captured an undeniably intimate portrait of the ocean at rest. With images that envelop the viewer in the endlessness of the horizon, this captivating collection of photographs takes on an otherworldly aspect, one that challenges our expectations and moves us towards self-reflection.

Odyssey: The Photographs of Linda Connor
Spanning three decades, this first major monograph by the internationally renowned photographer captures sites of mystery and contemplation from around the world. Odyssey: The Photographs of Linda Connor perfectly marries photographs from Connor’s extensive travels with prints she has created from nineteenth-century astronomical glass plates from the Lick Observatory.

Manuel Alzarez Bravo: Photopoetry
Manuel Alvarez Bravo was the most significant figure in the history of Mexican photography–this major retrospective documents and celebrates his life’s work. Over 350 sumptuous tri-tone photographs—including more than twenty previously unpublished images—span Alvarez Bravo’s remarkable eighty-year career.

The Antarctic: From the Circle to the Pole
Antarctica is a place of extremes that remains largely unknown and infinitely fascinating. Stuart Klipper, considered on of the most experienced photographers of the Antarctic, has traveled to the continent six times in twenty years to create this astounding body of work. The Antarctic brings together gorgeous photography, thought provoking text, and a package that creates a sweeping look at this most mysterious and extreme of continents.

Patti Quill
Marketing & Publicity Manager

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When Michelle Obama gets behind something, it changes everything. As the keynote speaker at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service, she brought a whole new energy to the volunteer movement. Obama began by addressing the 4,000 community organizers, non-profit workers, and volunteers in the room: “You are my people,” she said. She acknowledged that her listeners had probably heard the question, “So working in the community is nice and all, but when are you going to get a real job?”

But she’s not the only one getting behind volunteering and service these days. The star-studded cast of speakers at the opening session made me wonder if I was at political rally, a concert, or a conference in the Moscone Center.

Arianna Huffington advocated for a third C-SPAN channel–one that would cover the non-profit world.

Yes, that’s Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

And yes, Arnold Schwarzenegger really did say, “I am here . . . to pump you up.”

In a surprisingly humble and charming way, he spoke about his commitment to the Special Olympics and his position as the Special Olympics International Weight Training Coach.

And then, the Twitter rumors proved true: Bon Jovi played. A personal highlight for me was dancing like a total dork to “Living on a Prayer” in a conference hall (how could I resist?) and then noticing that Matthew McConaughey was walking by!

Maria Shriver is one tough cookie. When her interviewer said that she probably doesn’t hear “no” for an answer very often, she responded, “Oh, I hear it all the time. I just don’t pay any attention to it.” Loved her. Early that day, along with Chronicle volunteers and KaBOOM!, she helped build a playground at Bret Harte Elementary School in Bay View, San Francisco.

And how on earth did I get lucky enough to have front row seats to the action? Chronicle author of Change the World for Ten Bucks, Eugenie Harvey, was a VIP speaker at the conference, and as her editor, I got to tag along. As you can see, they loved her.

Christina Amini
Editor

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Enter to win a copy of The ¡Salpicón! Cookbook when you tell us about your favorite Mexican spice/seasoning and what makes it so delicioso.

Mexican-Style Gazpacho with Spicy Cucumber Sorbet
Gazpacho Mexicano con Nieve de Pepino y Serrano

Gazpacho is, of course, a Spanish dish, and it can be quite mild. I much prefer it a la mexicana, with the added zip of poblano chile. Wait until local tomatoes are in season before making this salad—it just isn’t worth it with bland supermarket tomatoes that are shipped in from who-knows-where. And please remember that gazpacho should always be served ice cold. The cucumber sorbet not only keeps the soup cold, it imparts its own flavor as it melts.

Makes 6 servings

Spicy Cucumber Sorbet
2 large cucumbers (1 1/4 pounds), peeled and seeded
1 serrano chile, seeded, deveined, and minced
1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt
1/2 cup water

Gazpacho
4 ripe red tomatoes (19 ounces total)
1 ripe yellow tomato
8 ounces seedless cucumber, thickly sliced
1 poblano chile, roasted, peeled, and coarsely chopped
1 1/2 cups water
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Fine sea salt to taste

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This will be Chronicle’s 6th year at Comic-Con. We have expanded our booth and will have an impressive roster of authors/artists available for signings. Yet, I wanted to spotlight one of the “smaller” products that won’t have a signing, but will no doubt appeal to fellow Comic-Con’ers.

The Art of Star Wars Comics is a collection of 100 covers from Star Wars comics in postcard form, presented in a cool collectible box. From the 70s up to present day, the collection spans the history of Star Wars comics and features some iconic imagery. The Star Wars Tales with Darth Vader pondering C-3PO’s dismembered head (Alas, poor C-3P0!) is one of my favorites. One that fans will also enjoy is the cover by Sergio Aragonés (of Mad Magazine fame).

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Over the last four weeks, Design Desk featured a series of New York creative studios and the very talented people who work in them. At each visit, we couldn’t help wishing we, too, had our own letterpress, silk-screening table, and Boston Terrier.

But looking around our own little design corner of the office, and out the window to the baseball stadium, and feeling the sunlight beaming in, well, it became clear that we do indeed have some studio perks to enjoy.

For one, our production room has a cutting table large enough for eight, a bulk paper cutter, binding equipment, a drill (I think that’s what it is), and even our very own sewing machine!

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