Short stories are hard to write. Trying to cram all that detail and character building into a few pages takes talent. Luckily, it seems Minneapolis publisher, Graywolf Press, isn't at a shortage of talent these days. Three of its books, "Spectacle," "This Close"and "Love is Like Power, Or Something Like That," made Flavorwire's list of the 10 best short story collections of 2013.
Source: Flavorwire
When the owners relocated from Washington, D.C., to Duluth, they wanted a home that embodied modernist values: openness, light, economy, sustainability, connection to the land and enhancement of the natural features. Scroll through gorgeous interior and exterior shots here .
Source: ArchDaily
In one fell swoop, Hyde Park Art Center in Chicago plays matchmaker between 75 artists and potential art buyers in its fifth installment of "Not Just Another Pretty Face." The exhibition of commissioned work opens this Sat., Dec. 14.
Source: Hyde Park Art Center
In honor of the exhibition "Album: Cinematheque Tangier, a project by Yto Barrada," sign painter Dan Madsen spent a few weeks at the Walker working to bring a 16-by-25 foot map to life marking the theaters (past and present) in the Moroccan city, Tangier. Learn more Madsen and the inspiration behind the beauty that took 193 hours to paint.
Source: Walker Art Center
The rising stars of metro Detroit's culinary scene put on a meal to remember last weekend. In case you missed it, The Root Restaurant & Bar posted two delectable photo recaps: one of the nine plates served during the first Young Guns Dinner, and another of the behind-the-scenes prep. View the full menu here.
Source: Eat It Detroit/The Root Restaurant & Bar/Jacob Lewkow
Steven Holl Architects' addition to The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art in Missouri brings translucent glass to another (gorgeous) level. These photos of the buildings from Andy Ryan look like minimalist paintings and drawings.
Source: Arch Daily/ Andy Ryan
Fall may be slipping away, but there's no reason not to give the quintessential fall dessert ingredient, the apple, one more go around. Especially if the recipe includes bourbon -- mixed in ice cream. That's sure to warm anyone's spirit right up. Here's the secret to making baked apples topped with bourbon ice cream.
Source: A Beautiful Mess
We could all use an extra happy hour as the holiday season approaches, so why not mix up the usual bar scene? This Wed., Dec. 11, head over to SpaceCrafting for drinks and appetizers (thanks, Parka), and a chance to see new products from Arbor Wood (thermally modified timber products), Biosurf (a biolaminate made of soybeans and corn) and Plyboo's new Reveal line (carved and textured bamboo wall panels). The event runs from 4 to 7 p.m., and did we mention one lucky attendee will win a Loll Designs chair?
Source: Intectural/SpaceCrafting
It's holiday shopping crunch time. Luckily, there's a studio opening in St. Paul, and a pop-up shop in Minneapolis this weekend where you can get some stocking stuffers or "just because" gifts (hello, we're also buying for ourselves). On Friday and Saturday, Woodsport is teaming up with TOMOCO and Hennepin Made glass to bring you some of the most beautifully made furniture and glass light fixtures. Get there. Then on Saturday and Sunday, online curated shop, A Mano (started by a local photographer), joins Forage Modern Workshop for a gorgeous pop-up sale of goods handcrafted by U.S. artisans (think teak wood and tobacco candles, jewelry, handmade soap and more).
Source: Woodsport/A Mano
The closing party of the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit's show, "The Past is Present" is nearly as exciting as the exhibition itself. Eighty years after Diego Rivera's iconic "Detroit Industry" mural, MOCAD celebrates the city by asking 15 artists to create new murals inspired by Motor City. Breezee One, Detroit's diva MC, singer and songwriter will close out the show with her power synths and minimal beats.
Source: Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit
Ponyride throws open its doors of its 30,000 square-foot warehouse in Detroit this Friday for its second annual open house. This year's soiree features a return of a pop-up marketplace (including makers such as Detroit Denim and the Smith Shop), that drew more than 500 people last year.
Source: Ponyride
Sure, you've heard of a food and wine tasting, but how about a chocolate and beer tasting? Missouri bean-to-bar company, Askinosie Chocolate, teams up with Mother's Brewing Company to show you how to combine the best parts of a meal: booze and dessert. But don't go late. We hear the handmade truffles infused with Mother's beer don't last long.
Source: Askinosie Chocolate
A new beacon of light is coming to a Detroit corner. A group of students who call themselves "Larry and Friends Design Co." are knee-deep in the process of creating a light sculpture set to shine on a vacant lot in Midtown. The class of students from Lawrence Technological University's College of Architecture and Design will debut their sculpture at Midtown's 41st Noel Night on Dec. 7.
Source: Deadline Detroit
This year marks the 10th and final year of Art vs. Craft in Milwaukee. Over the years, more than 15,000 people have shopped the wares of more than 450 artists. Don't miss your chance to catch this fair before it goes away for good.
Source: Art vs. Craft
Canadian artist Diane Landry transforms plastic water bottles, laundry hampers and plastic cutlery into things of beauty. Her most recent installation "Exhaustion," a chandelier-like object made of plastic forks and knives that floats up and down, made its U.S. debut at her ongoing exhibition (open through March 2) at Ohio's Contemporary Arts Center.
Source: Contemporary Arts Center/ CityBeat
Gregory Euclide has been busy lately jet-setting between Los Angeles, Paris and London for several solo shows. But the Minneapolis College of Art and Design graduate will round out his season with a show in his home state of Minnesota, his first show there in years). The show opens at the Arts Center of St. Peter on Dec. 7.
Source: Minneapolis College of Art and Design/ Arts Center of St. Peter
With great fanfare (gaggles of media and the who's who of the restaurant scene) Eataly previewed it's newest location in Chicago set to open Dec. 10. The 63,000 square foot Italian marketplace boasts an open layout stocked with delicious morsels.
Source: Chicago Eater
Here's a dark, confined and uninviting space transformed into a series of exterior and interior rooms you won't want to leave, all thanks to a renovation from Bruns Architecture.
Source: Arch Daily/ Tricia Shay
The Miller House is a testament to American modernism: an open layout, flat roof, and walls made of stone and glass. The original owners still lived in this beauty when it was named a National Historic Landmark (the first to do so while one of its designers was still alive). Get a video tour (below), or see it in person.
Source: Indianapolis Museum of Art
A family in Lawrence, Kan., wanted a modern home on a meager budget. See what architect Dan Rockhill created to combat the building site’s steep slope and obtrusive street noise.
Source: Dwell/Dan Rockhill
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