Championing the makers, artists, and wanderers in all of us.
On our anniversary this year, we took Quijote for a picnic at The Farm at South Mountain.
We saw herbs in terra cotta pots on these stepped shelves that looked like little plant bleachers. Maybe they were cheering on the good weather!
It’s the time of year for all things cranberry!
The fruit’s tart taste is an excellent balance to the creamy and sweet foods the holidays are heavy on. And they just happen to be that deep red color that goes perfectly both with Thanksgiving’s fall palette and the merry shades of Christmas.
Whether they’re in a centerpiece or a serving dish, cranberries instantly make a table look more festive.
Here’s a scrumptious compilation of cranberry recipes, so you can get cooking!
Every year NPR Correspondent Susan Stamberg shares her mother-in-law’s recipe, a surprisingly controversial twist on the classic side dish. The relish was originally meant for Thanksgiving, but she also recommends it putting it over latkes for Hanukkah. / via The Salt
This is a gluten-free, paleo, single-dish entree with a one-minute video showing the simple prep. I imagine you could use the same recipe for turkey breasts, as long as you adjust for a longer cook time. / via Cotter Crunch
Candying cranberries adds sweetness and gives them a little extra sparkle. You can then use them to top desserts or garnish drinks. / via Fork and Flower
Memories of a friend’s Thanksgiving table – and of the sweet potato and apple dish that was served on it – inspired Marlee of I Just Make Sandwiches to create her own version for family members trying to eat healthy. / via I Just Make Sandwiches
A unique addition to your Thanksgiving dessert table, I’m pretty sure that both #TeamCake and #TeamPie will be fans of this tart. / via The Everyday Mess
Ali at Gimme Some Oven has a great tip: choose a “go-to appetizer” for the entire holiday season that you can whip up every time you need something to take to a party or serve to guests. This 7-ingredient, 20-minute recipe for a melty wheel of brie topped with cranberry sauce, pistachios, and orange zest looks so pretty and festive! I’d be curious to know how well it travels, but it certainly sounds delicious! / via Gimme Some Oven (h/t Jenny Collier’s Friday Favorites)
Vodka, rosemary syrup, tangerine and cranberry juice make up this Warhol-inspired cocktail, which you can garnish with a sprig of rosemary and sugared cranberries (use the recipe above or the less-sugar version in this post.) / via Fork Knife Swoon
Another unusual take on cranberry relish uses wild chiltepin peppers to spice it up and either honey or agave syrup for sweetness. Try it with peppers that grow where you are! / via Savor the Southwest
Great idea for a holiday season snack! / via The Kitchen Is My Playground
This recipe calls for fresh or frozen cranberries, dried figs, cardamom, and honey. You can make it up to 3 days ahead and refrigerate, and then just bring it back up to room temperature before serving.
Greek yogurt standing in for mayonnaise is the secret to lightening up this chicken salad. While it isn’t just for the holiday season, I could also see it inspiring a new take on Thanksgiving leftovers! / via Damn Delicious
Photos via their respective sites.
I was skeptical about the palm tree on the Genoa travel poster and whether it could actually grow in a city that far north.
What I hadn’t realized is that Genoa is on the shores of Mediterranean — specifically, the Italian Riviera. This coastal region in Liguria also includes towns like Portofino and the Cinque Terre, and it has a climate warm enough to support palm trees, agaves, and sun-seeking tourists.
In fact, the Italian Riviera was already a tourist destination in 1884, when Claude Monet visited and painted scenes like the Palm Trees at Bordighera.
Now if the word “riviera” initially made you picture a river (same here), you weren’t completely wrong. The Italian word rivièra can actually refer to the shores of a river, lake, or, in this case, a sea.
Because there’s an Italian Riviera, English speakers called the Mediterranean coast on France’s side of the border the “French Riviera,” borrowing the Italian word again. Apparently, there’s also a (much) lesser-known English Riviera, which seems like a tourism-bureau invention.
And, yes, in Italy, you can just call the Italian Riviera the “Riviera.”
Photos via:
I’ll be linking up with Thursday Tree Love at Happiness and Food.
A 10-foot tall skeleton in a sombrero leaned over to ask if I knew what time it was.
Which is not that weird when you’re at a Día de los Muertos celebration with skeletons everywhere – on banners, as sculptures, painted on kids’ faces, and for sale on tote bags.
So, of course, there would be a skeleton with stilts, a full beard, and no watch.
When you think about it, the lack of a timepiece may be the least surprising part. Schedules are probably pretty irrelevant in the realm of the dead.
Phillip, Quijote, and I had showed up near the end of Mesa Arts Center’s festival. We started at the custom car show and worked our way toward an oversized Frida Kahlo skull made from tissue paper flowers, stopping to listen to a band on the way.
We visited the community altar, which was decorated with photos, candles, art, and flowers in memory of departed loved ones.
On a second stage, Mariachi Pasion, an all-woman mariachi band, began playing.
When Quijote got restless, we moved on to check out the arts and crafts vendors. There were handcrafted decorations, jewelry, papel picado banners, and small ceramics that looked like ones we had seen in Peru.
Now it was 4:30 – half an hour before it was all scheduled to be over – and the party showed no signs of stopping.
In fact, it was still so crowded that our stilt-walking friend had trouble getting through. The bands played on, vendors continued to serve up churros and hot dogs and tamales and paletas, and there was still a line to get into the craft-making area.
As we walked away, the celebration continued behind us – everyone enjoying the moment, like time was irrelevant.
We are on the brink of another holiday season, and, even though it seems impossibly soon, 2018 is about to wrap up.
As the pace picks up for the final months of the year, here are a sampling of workshops, festivals, exhibitions, performances, tastings, and tours worth taking notice of. Let me know if you go!
Now – Jan 20, 2019
Anchorage Museum, Anchorage
Exhibition of work by Unangan artist, carver, and weaver Gertrude Svarny, who interprets her history and culture using traditional materials, such as local mineral pigments, seal intestine, and sea lion whiskers.
Nov 30 – Dec 9
Anchorage
Festival of local and international “films worth freezing for,” which includes original films, filmmaker workshops, and events like Martini Matinee and the Golden Oosikar Awards.
Now – Jan 27, 2019
Phoenix Art Museum
Major traveling exhibition exploring the archaeological history of Teotihuacan, the first metropolis on the American continent, through more than 200 artifacts – both art and domestic objects – from the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. The Aztecs discovered the ruins of the city on the Mexican Central Plateau in the 14th century and named it Teotihuacan, “the place where gods were born.” Included with paid admission. $5 during voluntary-donation times.
Now – Nov 18
Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix
Fall Butterfly Exhibit with Monarch butterflies and other beneficial insects. Included with admission.
Oct 30 – Nov 3, 11am-5pm
Tlaquepaque Arts + Craft Village, Sedona
26-foot long community mural in the tradition of Dia de los Muertos, which honors friends and family who have passed on. Everyone is encouraged to paint their own tributes and remembrances. Paints and brushes are provided.
Nov 2 + Dec 7, every 30 minutes from 6-10pm
Mesa Community College, Mesa
Monthly planetarium shows open to the public the first Friday of the month during the Fall semester. There is also telescope viewing (if the skies are clear) and hands-on activities. Free planetarium show tickets at the door (first come, first served, starting at 5:30pm). Advance tickets available online for $3 each.
Nov 2-4
Tucson
Two-mile long procession to both celebrate and mourn of the lives of our loved ones and ancestors. Leading up to the procession are art exhibits, performances, and other Dia de los Muertos events. Free. (Donations accepted.)
Nov 2-4
Scottsdale
Visit artists’ studios, see artists at work, and purchase art. Free admission.
Nov 2-4
Tucson Convention Center, Downtown Tucson
Community-based pop culture convention with a mission statement of “Pop Culture For All!” Full weekend passes $45.
Nov 3, 10am-4pm
DeSoto Central Market, Phoenix
Event with Arizona-based artisans, food trucks, and live music. 20% of event proceeds benefit local non-profits. Admission: $10 /adults, free for kids (12 + under).
Shemer Art Center, Phoenix
Nov 3-4, 10am–4pm
Two-day holiday shopping event to benefit the non-profit Shemer Art Center. One-of-a-kind works and demonstrations from 40 Arizona artists, as well as live music, food and beverage vendors, a silent auction, and opportunities to create your own glass, blacksmith, or ceramic gifts. Free festival admission / $5 Kids Zone.
Nov 4, 2–5pm
Hance Park (west lawn), Phoenix
The 9th annual Pie Social will feature pies baked by professional Arizona chefs competing for your vote, live music, art, and storytelling. Benefits Roosevelt Row CDC, Hance Park Conservancy, Arizona School for the Arts, and BioScience High School. Free admission. Pie tasting: $15 for 5 tickets.
October – April
Garden at Bar Bianco, Phoenix
Monthly four-course meal with local and seasonal ingredients hosted by Bar Bianco. Each dinner will be paired with wines from a different winery. Reception starts at 6:30pm with dinner to follow. Tickets $150-250.
Featured wineries:
November 10, 3pm
The Bungalow @ Heritage Square, Phoenix
Learn the art of spinning from shepherdess Celia Petersen, starting with a fleece fresh from the sheep. She will take you through the process of cleaning, carding, turning it into fiber, and building your own drop spindle. No experience is necessary. All materials are included. Class fee $15-16.
The Farm at South Mountain, Phoenix
Nov 10, 11am – 8pm
Historic Grand Avenue
Art-centric, non-traditional walking festival that highlights arts, small businesses, adaptive re-use, recycling, and the unique history of Grand Avenue. It includes local music, outdoor art installations, free historic building tours, mural projects, pop-up galleries, kid’s activities, artist-designed “selfie stands,” wandering performers (stilt walkers, poets, dancers, balloon twisters, clowns, face painters), arts/craft vendors and food trucks. There are also hands-on, make-and-take arts and crafts booths by art teachers, artists, and makers.
Nov 15-17
Tucson Expo Center, Tucson
Expo with sewing, quilting, needlework, and craft supply vendors (both local and national), as well as workshops and presentations. Admission $10 or free with online coupon (PDF).
Nov 16-18, 23-25
Cave Creek, Arizona
Self-guided tour of open artist studios in the Cave Creek and Scottsdale area with demonstrations and art for sale. Free admission.
Nov 17, 8am-2pm
Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix
This is the day your dog can join you at the DBG! You and your pup can walk the garden trails, take a family photo, meet other dog lovers, try Doga (dog yoga), learn about local dog-related nonprofits, and shop vendors with Fido-friendly samples. Included with garden admission (humans) + $4 admission per dog. Proceeds benefit the Arizona Humane Society.
Nov 17, 11am-5pm
Margaret T. Hance Park, Phoenix
Festival of top pizza makers, featuring live music, lawn games, local vendors, and craft beer and wine bars. Food and beverages (including $2-4 slices) available for purchase. Proceeds benefit Downtown Phoenix Inc. Tickets: $10 advance / $12 at the gate / free for kids under 5.
Nov 17, 10am-4pm
Beatitudes Life Center, Phoenix
27th annual event with lace making, exhibits, vendors, and lessons. Presented by the Lacey Ladies of Arizona.
Nov 23 – Jan 4, 2019
Downtown Mesa
Mesa’s holiday celebration with the City’s official Christmas tree, outdoor ice skating rink, Christmas Market with hand-crafted gifts, visits from Santa, food trucks, and Polar Express light rail car.
Merry Main Kick-off! Nov 23, 4-10pm
Old Town Scottsdale
A month of celebratory festivities leading up to the December holidays.
Nov 30 – Dec 2, 10am-5:30pm
Downtown Tempe
More than 300 artist booths line Mill Avenue and the surrounding streets presenting handmade artwork, including woodwork, photography, ceramics, and wearable art. There are also live entertainment stages, street performers, and entertainment booths. A portion of the proceeds raised at the Festival benefits local charities.
Dec 7, 6-10pm
Medlock Plaza parking lot (behind Frances/Stinkweeds/Golden Rule Tattoo), Phoenix
Annual arts and crafts festival with local handmade original work, (jewelry, toys, knitwear, beauty products, holiday decor, etc.), as well as live music and food trucks. Free.
Jan 26, 2019, 10am – 4pm
Cityscape, Phoenix
Festival of brunch with food and cocktail samples, live music, and beach games. A portion of the proceeds go to One N Ten. General Admisison $8 online / $10 at the door / free for kids (ages 12 and under). Additional food and beverage items available for purchase ($2-$15).
Now – Apr 14, 2019
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont
Outdoor sculpture exhibition of larger-than-life origami creations by Jennifer and Kevin Box.
Now – Jan 2019 (estimated)
Huntington Art Gallery, San Marino (Pasadena)
Watch the process of conservation work on the iconic painting The Blue Boy each Thursday and Friday, 10am – noon + 2-4pm and 2-4pm on the first Sunday of the month. This is one segment of Project Blue Boy, which is ongoing from September 22, 2018 to September 30, 2019.
Now – 2020
Museum of Man, San Diego
A collection of the handmade postcards submitted to the PostSecret community art project from millions of people from all over the world anonymously sharing their secrets. Included with admission ($13).
Long Beach
Modern Makers Festival featuring local craft and food makers, live music, and community.
Nov 17-18, 10am – 4pm
Central Park, Pasadena
Shop handcrafted goods from over 200 local artisans. All ages. Free admission.
Walnut Creek
Gallery dedicated to allowing the public access to learn about the visual arts, including the work of historic, modern, and contemporary artists. Admission $5.
Mission San Juan Capistrano, downtown San Juan Capistrano
Veterans Museum at Balboa Park, San Diego
Interactive concert series by professional ensemble Westwind Brass.
Nov 30, 6pm
Foothills Art Center, Golden
Community caroling walk from Foothills Art Center to the Golden Visitors Center. Hot beverages, cookies, and entertainment will be provided at several businesses and cultural facilities. Free to join the walk. Candles and glow sticks available for purchase for $1 each.
Dec 8-9, 10am – 5pm
McNichols Building, Denver
Shop handcrafted goods from local artisans. All ages. Free admission.
Dec 8-9, 11am-5pm
EXDO Event Center, Denver
Cat-lovers’ convention in the Denver RiNo arts district that will raise funds for over 50 non-profits. There will be art, music, presentations by vets and other speakers, kitty yoga, and a cat cafe and lounge with adoptable cats. General admission tickets: humans $15 / cats $5.
Old City Hall, Brunswick
Nov 10, 10am-5pm
Handmade Holiday Market by a group of 40+ modern, eclectic makers.
Nov 24-25
Old Town Hall, Salem
Festive market of handmade treasures with live music and a seasonal theme.
Detroit
Now – Aug 17, 2019
Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art, Las Vegas
Exhibition exploring form and function through ceramic vessels from West Mexico. Suggested voluntary contribution: $5
Now – Feb 3, 2019
The Museum of Modern Art, Floor 2, Marron Atrium
Gallery exhibition, print publication, and performance program that celebrates the Judson Dance Theater, a group of choreographers, visual artists, composers, and filmmakers in the 1960s who would go on to profoundly shape all fields of art in the second half of the 20th century and expand dance in ways that reconsidered its place in the world.
Dec 3, 6-8:30pm
Brooklyn Museum
10th annual potato pancake tasting event to benefit The Sylvia Center, a nonprofit dedicated to teaching healthy eating habits to children and their families. $75 admission ticket includes unlimited latke tastings, beer, wine, and nonalcoholic beverages.
Nov 4-6
Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Durham
3-day event that includes a dazzling floral display of show mums grown by members of the Central Carolina Chrysanthemum Society, cultural and historical information, arts and crafts, and gardening tips. All ages. Free.
Nov 10-11, 10am-5pm
Albemarle, Greene, Madison, and Nelson Counties
Self-guided tour of 28 studios showing the work of 49 artisans in Central Virginia. Each studio on the Tour provides locally-sourced refreshments, and many provide demonstrations. Free.
Nov 16-18
Main Street Station, Richmond
Museum-quality show that aims to showcase the finest in contemporary craft. See work in the categories of ceramics, precious metals, glass, wood and recycled materials, contemporary design, innovative use of traditional craft materials, and fiber from over 150 artists from across the country. The event will take place at Main Street Station’s newly renovated train shed. $10 general admission / $80 weekend pass
Current exhibitions included with admission ($10):
Now – Jan 21, 2019
Renwick Gallery
Large-scale, participatory artwork from Burning Man will take over the entire Renwick Gallery building, as well as extending into the surrounding neighborhood. The in-gallery exhibiton will include immersive room-sized installations, costumes, jewelry, and ephemera, along with photographs and archival materials from the Nevada Museum of Art. Free.
American Indian Museum, National Mall
Oct 27, 10am–5pm + Oct 28, 10am–3pm
This year, the museum celebrates monarch butterflies through the creation of an interactive mural, butterfly luminaria, and butterfly masks. Butterflies will also appear in both contemporary and traditional ofrendas. Grupo los Tecuanes (Mixtec) shares cultural performances of Danza de los Tecuanes (Dance of the Jaguar) and Danza de los Viejitos (Dance of the Old Men). Free.
Dec 9, 5:30pm pre-program + 7pm carols
Yankalilla Show Hall, Yankalilla, SA
Pre-program activities include free jumpy castle, free face painting, and sausage sizzle. At 7pm, there will be a selection of traditional carols, guest artists, and nativity play.
Nov 16-18
Conexus Arts Centre, Regina, Saskatchewan
Thousands of skillfully hand-crafted works by new and returning local artists. Saskatchewan-made food products available for purchase.
Dec 8-9, 11am-5pm
The Pipe Shop Building, North Vancouver, British Columbia
Over 95 independent local vendors, free do-it-yourself workshops, and food trucks. Tickets: $3 until Dec 7 / $5 at the door / free for kids (12 and under)
Nov 10-12
Inveruno, Milan
Regional fair of Lombardy in its 411th year. It includes an agri-food exhibition, agricultural equipment, seminars on sustainable agriculture, equestrian shows, and local food.
Dec 7 – Jan 7
Gubbio, Umbria
Every year, a group of volunteers arrange lamps on a hillside at the base of Mount Ingino to create what is known as the “Largest Christmas Tree of the World”. More than 300 green lights outline the shape of a 650-meter-high Christmas tree with over 400 multi-colored lights filling the center, and it becomes a backdrop to the medieval town of Gubbio.
Nov 2-5
Scenic Matavai Resort, Niue Island
Festival showcasing the local produce and Polynesian flavors of Niue, paired with New Zealand wines, as well as chef cooking demonstrations, classes, and dinners. 3-night package $599 / 7-night package $1099
Flowers Gallery, London (Cork Street)
Now – Nov 24
Exhibition of new work by Edward Burtynsky in collaboration with Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas de Pencier, stem from the artist’s ongoing Anthropocene Project, a multidisciplinary investigation into human impact on the planet. The Anthropocene Project debuts this fall with simultaneous museum exhibitions at the Art Gallery of Ontario and the National Gallery of Canada, a feature-length documentary film, and a book.
Northlight Studios, Hebden Bridge
Autumn Term Workshops offer the chance to work with practicing artists. Basic materials are included in the price. Day workshops run from 10:30am-4:30pm.
Nov 15-24
Universities Around the UK (Dundee, Exeter, Newcastle, Nottingham, Queen Mary London, and Swansea)
Festival of the humanities, which aims to make research in the humanities accessible to non-specialist audiences. The 2018 theme is ‘Origins and Endings’.
Hoveringham Village Centre, Hoveringham
One-day workshops in Jane Lightfoot’s home studio. Includes instruction and a homemade lunch. Workshop fee: £55 + materials.
This is my handpicked Happenings List! No one has paid to be on it. I’ve scoured the internet to find events of interest for you, standardize the format, and edit down the descriptions to be more clear and concise. As much as I try to make everything accurate, there could be errors or changes. So let me know if you notice something off.
Have fun!
-S
Alaska photo via Anchorage Museum.
Georgia image via Moxie Craft Fest.
Massachusetts photo by Jess Tennant.
International photo via Wintergreen Craft Market / Cindy Hoppe.
Italy photo via Albero di Natale.
New Zealand image via WellingtonNZ.com.
UK photos via Being Human Festival.
