Daily Pics

A Textile Pioneer

Ruth Adler Schnee has been a pioneer in the world of textile design for over 50 years. After fleeing Nazi Germany, she settled in Detroit and became the first woman to earn a graduate degree in architecture from the Cranbrook Academy of Art. Inspired by the growing metropolis, she began to create textiles that evoked the skyscrapers and industrial of Detroit. Now 91, she was just named a 2015 Kresge Eminent Artist. To see her groundbreaking designs visit the Detroit Free Press.

Secret Recipe

The Tasting Table gets The Purple Pig’s Jimmy Bannos Jr. to spill his secrets – one of them, anyway. Bannos, the James Beard Award-winning Rising Star Chef, unveils his recipe for gourmet cauliflower you can make at home.

Before And After

This is the most dramatic “before” photo of a house renovation that we’ve ever seen. Christopher and Amy Lee set out to restore an abandoned home that was once the Lee’s family homestead. No roof, no ceiling, gaping holes in the floor… The Detroit couple definitely had their work cut out for them. To see some of the astounding “after” photos, check out this feature.

World Class Pastries

Team USA took third place in the world’s top pastry competition, Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie. The team was led by Jon Kraus of Patisserie 46 in Minneapolis. Italy took gold and Japan silver at the bake-off in Lyon, France. Those hungering for award-winning sweets can stop by Patisserie 46 for a taste.

Pure Detroit

Detroit is full of architectural gems; don’t miss your chance to explore them with Pure Detroit. The Guardian building is a gleaming, art-deco wonder; you could easily spend hours looking at each detail. Pure Detroit will give you the scoop on its construction. Tours of the Fisher Building are also available. More details from Pure Detroit.

Into The Woods

This lake house in Green Lake, Wisconsin blends right in with its surroundings; the architect used exterior vertical panels to echo the surrounding trees. The panels themselves are various shades of red, orange, yellow and green, mimicking the changing leaves. The interior features high ceiling, exposed beams and unimpeded views of the rich landscape.

Modern Minimalism Goes Rustic

We’re in love with the elegant yet comfortable decor of this summer home on Lake Wisconsin. Designer Lauren Piskula of de[luxe] design studio mixed modern minimalism with rustic touches to create the peaceful getaway. To see more of the house, which will have you longing for cabin time, check out Interior Design 2014.

Frito Pie, Gourmet Style

The Frito pie has a place in many people’s childhoods but Punch Bowl Social in Detroit is taking it to another level. Their artisan version of the nostalgic treat features smoked brisket with chimayo red chili, queso oaxaca, queso cotjia, onion and crema. Not exactly the way mom used to make it.

Innovation In Detroit

The Argonaut Building was originally designed to be a research laboratory for General Motors, but in 2007, the company donated it to the College for Creative Studies. Now, the historic structure houses three organizations that are revitalizing Detroit. Detroit Creative Corridor Center takes up the first floor, the College for Creative Studies (CCS) has set up a graphic and product design campus on the second floor, and up on the fifth, you can watch Shinola watches being made at one of the company’s manufacturing sites.

West Michigan Modern

This thoroughly modern gem dates back to 1936 and was designed by Emil Zillmer, who studied at what is now the Illinois Institute of Technology. The home is tucked off the road in East Grand Rapids and was sold to a modern architecture enthusiast in 2014 who has preserved much of the original interior design. To tour the home and see more about its history, check out West Michigan Modern.


Hackwith Dreams Of Summer

The American Edit sat down with Lisa Hackwith of the Minneapolis fashion powerhouse, Hackwith Design. Hackwith’s latest line has us longing for summer: the HDH SWIM collection features fashion forward suits for a range of body types. Learn more about Lisa’s inspirations and creation process from The American Edit.

Which Curd Do You Prefer?

Brooks High promises a future full of perfectly fried cheese curds. The forthcoming beer-battered food truck plans to use local brews to shake up the traditional fish fry. And there will be cheese, of course. They shared this shot of two different curd varieties: one fried with Ponyboy Gold from the LynLake Brewery and one fried with Stargazer from Bauhaus Brew Labs. We’ll take one of each.

Shriners May Shine On

Demolition has long been looming on the horizon for the historic Shriners’ Hospital in St. Louis, but the building may get a reprieve. The building, which dates back to 1924, may earn a spot on the National Register of Historic Places thanks to the St. Louis’ Preservation Board.

Paper Creations

Matt Shilan, an Ann Arbor-based artists and alumnus of Cranbrook Academy of Art, is featured in the new issue of American Craft Magazine. Shilan’s intricately folded paper creations almost take on a life of their own. Shilan draws inspiration from everything from nano-particles to traditional Islamic tile design to his daughter’s pop-up books. Explore more of his work at American Craft Magazine.

Sotamugs

Red Wing Pottery has made a little piece of Minnesota you can take wherever you go. Their limited edition Sotamugs make the perfect party accessory or housewarming gift. We loved the classic loon scene, and, of course, the iconic Red Wing logo.

Tom Gill’s Frozen Scenes

Landscape photographer Tom Gill has captured the Midwest winter in all its breathtaking glory: his shots of the frozen lighthouses on the shores of Lake Michigan are almost dream-like. Gill braved the frozen catwalk to capture this icy scene at the St. Joseph lighthouse in Michigan. To see more of Gill’s incredible photography, visit his blog.

Nobel Creations

How do you capture the groundbreaking ideas of Nobel Laureates with fashion and music? The American Swedish Institute’s new exhibit captures the magical translation with “Nobel Creations.” Students from Beckman’s College of Design and the Royal College of Music in Sweden collaborated with the Nobel Museum to create artistic representations of the laureates’ work. The exhibit is on display from Jan. 31 to May 24.

Salvage Craft

Electric guitars are just the beginning. Artisans are crafting goods and accessories from abandoned homes in Detroit with spectacular results. Wallace Detroit Guitars makes sweet music from the reclaimed wood, Homes Eyewear fashions glasses and Woodward Throwbacks makes everything from cutting boards to six-pack holders. Entrepreneur has all the details on these enterprising artisans.

The Detroit Tastemakers

Metromode gives a run down on the up-and-coming Detroit chefs whose work you need to sample and savor. These chefs are helping stoke the culinary revolution unfolding in the Motor City. Check out the complete list and plan your next night out accordingly.

Tiki Paradise

No matter the winter temperatures, you can have a tropical escape without ever leaving Chicago. Paul McGee latest tiki-endeavor (his first was the award-winning Three Dots and a Dash bar, ranked one of the best in the world) is called Lost Lake. This is just one of the whimsically delicious drinks they’re serving up–get the full scoop from Chicago Magazine.

Art Space

UrbanWorks Architecture brought this dreamy artist housing complex to life in Northeast Minneapolis. Jackson Flats features family-friendly units for artists to both live and work. The building also has a communal 2,000 square foot studio workshop. Did we mention it’s environmentally sustainable?

Duck Poutine Doughnut

Just when you think the doughnut revolution has pulled out all the stops, Strange Donuts in St. Louis pulls out another astonishing creation: the duck poutine doughnut. The fanciest doughnut we’ve heard of is a collaboration between Strange and Guerilla Street Food, which has duck poutine on their regular menu (pictured here): sous vide duck breast, duck fat fried ube fries, garlic, adobo sauce and black pepper aioli. Now picture all that on a doughnut and you can die happy.

A Winter Commute

“There’s a Scandinavian expression, which I’ll paraphrase: ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing or equipment,'” Kevin Hardman said. Wauwatosa Now catches up with Hardman, a hardcore winter bike commuter, who explains his philosophy. Hardman rides all year-round to his downtown Milwaukee office.

Avec Crowned The Best In Chicago

This victory tastes delicious. Avec was just named the best restaurant in Chicago by Zagat. Celebrated for both their minimalist but warm décor, as well as their mouthwatering menu (the stuffed dates are “life-changing,” Zagat says), Avec is a long-time Windy City favorite.

Fish Fry With A Twist

Brooks High food truck specializes in the traditional fish fry with a twist: they use all local beer for their batters. This collaboration between the craft brew scene and the local food movement yields delicious results.