Festival of Maps : Chicago IL

Detail of a Map of Africa, 1562
Courtesy of Northwestern University Libraries


The Festival of Maps, beginning November 2, 2007 and running into 2008, takes place across over 30 different institutions in the Chicago area. They are calling it "a unique collaboration to display humanity's greatest discoveries and the maps that record our boldest explorations." Maps of all sorts: printed maps, painted maps, embroidered maps, digital maps, maps etched into clay tablets...just to name a few.

If you can't get to all of these places, some of the collections can also be viewed online. The Field Museum has a great virtual map exhibit. The Northwestern University Libraries also has their antique African map collection available for view online.

But if you can, I really really really think you should stop by at least a couple of the exhibits. There's so many to choose from. And for future reference, the Newberry Library in Chicago has quite an amazing map collection.



Handpainted map of an Aztec empire, 1524
Courtesy of the Newberry Library



Map of London printed on a leather glove, 1851
Courtesy of The National Archives of the United Kingdom


Map of Chicago, 1857
Courtesy of the William Blair & Company Fine Arts Collection

Punkins

Hollander's : Ann Arbor MI

To call it a stationary store would do it a disservice. Hollander's not only offers an amazing selection of papers, cards, journals, albums and such but also is a great source of supplies for those of you who want to craft such things yourself.




Then there's the "School of Book and Paper Arts" part of Hollander's. They offer all sorts of paper related classes and workshops. Bookbinding, letterpress printing, calligraphy and many more. You can even watch the classes going on while you're shopping in the store!



Hollander's
410 N. Fourth Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 741-7531
www.hollanders.com

Farmers and Flowers : Madison WI

New potted plants basking in the sun.

It has been a beautiful Saturday in Madison! A little warm for fall, but just a perfect day to walk around outside and watch the leaves blowing off the trees. It was also a good day for a visit to the farmers market, where I got the new potted plants. And some beets, swiss chard, leeks, and radishes. For anyone visiting Madison on a Saturday morning, the Dane County Farmers Market is a force to be reckoned with. It's huge. Seriously. There's a lot of great great things. But a lot of repeats, so you may want to hold off for better prices as you walk around. Or more like crawl around if you go during a prime traffic time. It's pretty popular so make sure you're not in too much of a hurry, cause there's going to be a lot of people in your way, especially between 10-1. And they'll be walking very slowly. So try to relax and enjoy the hustle and bustle.

A few blocks off the square is the most charming flower shop, Daffodil Parker. Where I bought some flowers.




The staff was super friendly and sweet. Even my piddly little order of a few random stems of flowers were wrapped in pretty paper and ribbons. AND after hearing the flowers would be sitting in the car for a couple of hours she went back to put water tubes on my flowers to keep them as fresh as possible. You've got to love that kind of respect for flowers.

Flowers at night.


Daffodil * Parker
502 W. Main St.
Madison, WI 53703
www.daffodilparker.com

Cafe Zola : Ann Arbor MI

After my first visit to Ann Arbor, I've decided that I love it there. So you just might see a few more upcoming features about Ann Arbor-y things. First things first, I need to rave about the delicious Cafe Zola.


They had quite a few things to choose from at this bistro-ish restaurant but I went with the Champagnon crepe seen above. It was filled with a tasty variety of mushrooms. Who doesn't love crepes? A delicious lunch that makes you feel oh so sophisticated.

A refreshing iced tea rounded out my order.

Mmmmm. Simple, elegant, delicious.

Cafe Zola
112 W. Washington
Ann Arbor, MI
www.cafezola.com