A demanding book of recipes from a chef that commands our attention Read more
November features Province, Cafecito, Breijo, and Martial Noguier Read more
Fifteen years after a gut-busting debut at Lounge Ax, The Sea and Cake continue to engineer a new rock sound Read more

The Man's Bag

The Chicago handbag designer Christopher Augmon launched his eponymous handbag line this fall, and his sophisticated designs are now available online at augmon.com. Augmon’s rich leathers lend themselves to his simple and sophisticated shapes; check out the red patent leather London clutch ($460) and his exotic Boa-embossed purse ($985). African, Asian, and Indian influences are subtly...

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 The owner of Haus fell in love with the pottery of Mark Williams before he ever opened his shop. Now, Gregory Stephens is featuring the Michigan artist’s pots and bowls in a spotlight event through November. Williams, who works out of a studio near South Haven, combines the pottery techniques of textured slab and throwing on a pottery wheel. It’s all dishwasher- and oven-safe.

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Vintage wallpaper rollers become candle holders. Chicken coops become light fixtures. A vintage sieve becomes a mirror. Found objects find a new home as furniture and accessories in the hands of Philip Sassano and his crew at Refined Rustic Studio & Gallery. Last week Sassano threw a party for the opening of his new showroom at 3924 N. Milwaukee Ave. (he has a studio in Harvard, too). He also does design consultations and is the exclusive area retailer for Romo, a fabric and wallcoverings company out of England with fantastic designs that would work equally well in modern or more traditional interiors.

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What real girls have to say about American Girls Read more