Fans of modern design will love this Christmas tree alternative: the Possibilitree. The handcrafted wooden tree is the brainchild of architect Richard Babcock, who favored clean lines over clutter. The tree folds down flat for storage, but stands as a dynamic and eye-catching centerpiece when assembled.
Source: PossibiliTree
Those looking to buy local this holiday season will have no trouble finding a treasure of gifts handcrafted in Detroit. Crain’s Detroit offered a festive round-up of some of their favorite local merchants and artisans. There’s something for everyone, with shout-outs to Detroit Bikes, Sister Pie and Lead Head Glass. See the complete list here.
Source: Crain's Detroit
Turkey soup, turkey sandwiches, even turkey omelets — you’ve done your best to tackle the Thanksgiving leftovers. It’s time to treat yourself to a something new. May we suggest this scallop dish from Novel in Kansas City? The fall flavor palette is complete with locally grown spinach, leeks, sweet potatoes and oyster mushrooms.
Source: Novel
The home at No. 2 Millikin Place in Decatur, Ill. is a Frank Lloyd Wright original. Built in 1910 by the architectural legend, the home is one of the last examples of open style Prairie School architecture. Wright also designed the furniture and decor for the home, but when the house was sold in the 1980s, the furnishings landed in the Milwaukee Art Museum’s collection. The home’s newest owner is now working with the museum to create replicas of the original sconces, rugs, doors and other details. Those curious to see the restoration in progress can tour the home next weekend at Decatur’s Heritage & Holly Historic Home Tour.
Source: Herald Review
After the great Grape Salad Debacle, The New York TImes has found a simpler way to deduce what each state is making for Thanksgiving: check Google. Their new map shows no grapes anywhere on the national menu, but the classic Midwest favorites are all there: wild rice casserole for Minnesota, Snickers apple salad in Iowa, cheesy potatoes in Michigan. See the whole list here. (Of course Oregon has vegan mushroom gravy.)
Source: The New York Times
A family of four in Shakopee, Minnesota calls this 207-square foot cabin home. Part of the “tiny house” trend in architecture, the minute structure is packed with ingenious storage ideas and versatile built-ins; it feels almost like a jigsaw puzzle. Take the interior tour (it won’t take long, after all), at Tiny House Swoon.
Source: Tiny House Swoon
A great meal is a work of art, but San Francisco artist Hannah Rothstein took it one step further and imagined what famous artists would have done with their Thanksgiving meals. She created festive plates in the style of Jackson Pollack, Vincent Van Gogh, Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol and, of course, Pablo Picasso (pictured). See each culinary tableau at TIME.
Source: TIME
Add a new word to your culinary vocabulary: arepa. Hola Arepa, the food truck sensation that opened a brick and mortar location this summer, landed a spot on Mpls.St.Paul Magazine‘s Best New Restaurant list. Arepas are griddled corn cakes that can be filled with a whole range of amazing ingredients: braised meat, mango cilantro sauce, pickled onions and cotila cheese. The restaurant also serves up an array of must-try cocktails.With a to-die-for bruch menu as well, we could eat every meal here.
Source: Mpls.St.Paul Magazine
The Firecracker Press in St. Louis shared a sneak peek of their latest printing project, and it’s a beauty: a colorful poster for Urban Chestnut Brewing Company. The craft brewery offers not only top-notch beers but also an investment in sustainability. We definitely want this poster for our wall.
Source: Firecracker Press
Shinola has reinvigorated America’s manufacturing scene with their quality U.S.-made goods. To celebrate other artisans and craftspeople making quality goods around the country, they’ve launched Makers Monday. Makers Monday falls on December 1 this year, and you can support local businesses and American manufacturing by buying U.S.-made goods that day (and all year round!). The Makers Monday site has a list of makers by state; pictured is a mug from Heritage Bicycles in Chicago, one of our favorites.
Source: Makers Monday
Alchemy Architects’ beloved weeHouses make cozy getaways in the winter. This weeHouse sits on prairie land near Lake Pepin in Minnesota. The interior is entirely wrapped in Douglas fir and features floor-to-ceiling windows with impeccable views no matter the season. With the glowing stove and the wintry landscape, its a picture perfect scene of modern architecture.
Source: Arch Daily
Behold: the entirety of Thanksgiving, stuffed into one doughnut. Give thanks to Strange Donuts in St. Louis for cooking up this holiday creation. It features cranberry filling, sweet potato icing, candied walnuts, and, of course, a smoked turkey topper. We’re ready to make this our new holiday tradition. Sales of the festive treat go to benefit Food Outreach St. Louis.
Source: Strange Donuts
One stop at Rocket Baby Bakery and you’ll be marking this Wauwatosa, Wis. sweet spot on the map. Rocket Baby Bakery makes their delectable baked goods from scratch, and they shared this mouth-watering photo of a berried treat dusted in powdered sugar. They’re just outside Milwaukee, and worth the trip.
Source: Rocket Baby Bakery
A mid-century home for sale in the Palmer Woods neighborhood of Detroit has quite the famous lineage. It was designed by Minoru Yamasaki, the Detroit architect who designed the World Trade Center. The home is one of three in the neighborhood designed by Yamasaki before he moved on to larger pursuits; it’s currently for sale for $425,000.
Source: Detroit Free Press
The New York Times is spreading grape-flavored fallacies about Minnesota cooking. The paper unveiled a list of Thanksgiving recipes this week — one for each state. Some states got off easy — Iowa got Thanksgiving Cookies, though you’d think they would have had a recipe with corn in it. Wisconsin apparently specializes in Wild Rice With Mushrooms, while Illinois got the delicious sounding Pumpkin Soup With Anchos And Apple. But Minnesota was saddled with Grape Salad. The recipe is simple, we’ll give it that, with only three ingredients: grapes, sour cream and brown sugar, but no Minnesota we know has ever even heard of the dish, let alone wants to try it. The Times‘ source is apparently a “Minnesota-born heiress.” She can keep her grape salad to herself this Thanksgiving. See all the recipes.
Source: The New York Times
Textile designer Amy Butler is known for her bright pops of color and bold prints. She makes her home with her husband in Granville, Ohio, and Apartment Therapy has the grand tour of their impeccably decorated abode. Amy calls her style “modern, natural, folk and artistic,” and you can see all of that in play on the tour. We love the bold graphic touches balanced with neutral furniture and dark wood.
Source: Apartment Therapy
“Less vacancy, more art” continues to ring true in Detroit. An empty Midtown building is soon to be HopCat, a pub with over 130 beers on tap. It’s going to be just as beautiful outside as in — the developers have recruited local artists to paint the building with wild and vibrant murals. Motor City Muckraker shared this preview of the space and the murals in progress. When finished, HopCat will be the perfect place to raise a toast to art.
Source: Motor City Muckraker
St. Louis-based fashion line Fauxgerty is taking vegan leather mainstream. The alternative material is fashionable, durable and almost indistinguishable from actual leather. Fauxgerty will launch their line of vegan leather jackets this Friday. Available in a range of classic and playful colors, the jackets are coming just in time for falling temperatures.
Source: ALIVE Magazine
This modern home in Northern Wisconsin was built with winter in mind — the outdoor courtyard features an entire storage wall for stacked firewood. The 8,000-square-foot structure is clad with copper and warm wood, materials which are both featured in the courtyard as well. Nestled in a birch forest, the home was designed by Vincent James Associates Architects of Minneapolis.
Source: Gardenista
Chicago’s historic Pullman neighborhood, on the city’s southeast side, is soon to be a national park. The neighborhood was built in the 1880s by railroad tycoon George Pullman; it was the first model industrial town in the country. While most people think of wide open natural spaces when they think of national parks, parks like Pullman can bring attention to important historical developments, like the birth of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first black union, which formed in the neighborhood. The Park Services estimates that the number of visitors to Pullman will increase from 30,000 to more than 300,000 annually.
Source: Grist
The Northern Grade markets in Chicago and Minneapolis have come and gone, but you can still get a piece of the action with their market t-shirts. Featuring the artwork of Minneapolis’ favorite son, Charles Schulz, this Snoopy shirt is ready for adventure.
Source: Northern Grade
What’s it like to live in a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright? We imagine the pressure to do the space justice with your decor is quite high. Cleveland natives Dan and Dianne Chrzanowski live in Wright’s John J. Dobkins House, which they spent 15 years restoring. See how they’ve incorporated vintage pieces and personal touches with a full tour on Houzz.
Source: Houzz
Hugh, the stunning home goods and accessories store in Detroit, currently has these vintage gems for sale: original LaGardo Tackett cups in eye-catching orange. Tackett was a prolific mid-century dinnerware designer, drawing inspiration from his travels in Japan. His designed pieces that could be used both at the dinner table and around the house as accessories. These cups definitely fit the bill!
Source: Hugh
For those who have forgotten what spring looks like, the murals in Detroit are here to remind you. The Red Hook coffee shop shared this photo of two Detroiters enjoying the larger-than-life flowers while braving a little early snow.
Source: The Red Hook
Alchemy is the perfect name for this Minneapolis architecture firm — they can take older homes and turn them into gold. This house, known as “The Folded House” for its origami-like roof and awning, started as a 1950s ranch-house. After an energy efficient renovation by Alchemy, the house is now a stunning blend of modern design and zen-like touches. Tour the grounds and the interior on Alchemy’s site.
Source: Alchemy