Shinola’s Maker’s Monday initiative highlights artisans across the country, and that’s how we found Abigail Murray, a ceramic artist in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Her layered pieces caught our eye — she casts familiar textures, like wood or aluminum siding, and then pieces together these unique bowls. See more of her work here.
Source: Makers Monday
Cincinnati’s Union Terminal art deco styling may look familiar to comics fans — the building is the inspiration for the Hall of Justice from Super Friends. The building is packed with must-see architectural elements, including the celestial rotunda (pictured). Voters in Cincinnati recently decided to fund restoration of the building, which now houses several museums. With the new funding, the building will undergo needed updates that will preserve it for future generations.
Source: PreservationNation
The new stadium of the St. Paul Saints, CHS Field, is slated to open this spring. (It’s one of the most beautiful stadium designs we’ve seen.) Futures North is hard at work on the public art for the stadium and they are documenting the process on their blog. They shared this snapshot of the art in action. Can’t wait for opening day, for the art and the game!
Source: Futures North
When Lagunitas, the California-based brewery, said it was opening up shop in Chicago, people were skeptical. If the Midwest knows how to do one thing well, it’s beer – especially craft beer. But the Lagunitas Tap Room in Chicago has won people over with its live blues music and hoppy ales. They landed on Thrillist’s list of Chicago’s Best New Bars of 2014; see the whole list here.
Source: Thrillist
That all-American meat, the hot dog, is getting it’s time to shine. Photographer Lucas Blalock’s new exhibit at White Flag Projects in St. Louis focuses on the wurst of the wurst. Blalock’s large scale prints depict different arrangements of those barbecue favorites. The exhibit will be open until December 20.
Source: Riverfront Times
Big Star Chicago is teaming up with Off Color Brewing for a collaborative dinner on December 9, and they shared this sneak peek of the surprise menu: Chef Cary Taylor’s beer steamed mussels with chorizo, pork fat aioli, tomatillo, fried chicken skin, verdolagas and serrano chile. Want in? More detail here.
Source: Big Star
“There’s more to Minnesota than extreme weather conditions and Prairie Home Companion,” proclaims a 2006 article in Food & Wine. The magazine applauded the Twin Cities for their exciting architecture and world-class restaurants. More new buildings and must-try dining hotspots have popped up in the last 8 years, but the list is still a great starting point for enjoying the Twin Cities, with the 112 Eatery and Frank Gehry’s Weisman Art Museum (pictured) making the cut.
Source: Food & Wine
There are many abandoned gems in Detroit, but the Brodhead Naval Armory is ready to shine as a new development. The long vacant limestone structure sits right on the Detroit River, close to the Belle Isle Bridge and Gabriel Richard Park. The city of Detroit is currently drawing up a request for proposals for developers interested in transforming the empty structure.
Source: Curbed
Cheers to the holiday spirit! Minneapolis craft brewery Bauhaus Brew Labs is getting in on the holiday fun with sweaters so bright and tacky, your grandma would be proud. We’re not going to lie — we kind of want one, and we’ll take the growler too.
Source: Bauhaus Brew Labs
Public Functionary has brought a talented Twin Cities painter back to his hometown. Eric Inkala, born and raised in the area, opened his solo show, “Chaos Complex,” at the gallery this week. His paintings are bold, graphic and abstract, channeling both street art and sign-painting with shapes that hint at letters but elude identification. “Chaos Complex” is runs until December 20.
Source: City Pages
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