from The Finders Keepers Market in Melbourne {{image from Kazz the Spazz}}

by guest contributor Angela Traunig

I was born in a suburb of Melbourne, Australia called Ferntree Gully. Yes folks, there really is a place called Ferntree Gully. My family moved to the States when I was 8 years old, but I’ve always felt that Melbourne was my true home. Maybe if I lived there now I would consider the good ‘ole USA to be home, but as it is, absence makes the heart grow fonder and I bleed for Oz.

Melbourne is considered the most metropolitan, busy, architecturally diverse, and artistically minded city in all of Australia. Now Sydney, might argue that point, but to me, Sydney is a fantastic place to vacation and people watch, but Melbourne is the beating heart of the country.

And if you need to get away, within a day’s drive you can be boating, surfing, 4 wheel driving, visiting wineries or enjoying a Devonshire tea amongst the tree ferns.

To help illustrate my point, I decided to ask some of my fellow Melbournian artists to share what they love most about being an artist in this amazing city.

- Penny from Pocket Carnival

Melbourne is awesome for lots of different reasons, but we really love the opportunities that arise and the support from the really strong & vibrant arts & crafts scene. There are always so many shops, markets & galleries who are super supportive of small handmade businesses & emerging artists, and SO MANY lovely people who are delighted to share info & resources. That is pretty great.

Also, Melbourne has awesome coffee. And great food. And nice beaches.

- Natalie from Little Red Owl

I love that Melbourne fosters its own community of creative people as well as its exposure to what is happening internationally. I love that you can find the work of independent creatives in shops all over Melbourne and that there are regular (incredibly popular) Design Markets in Melbourne, as well as a huge number of genuine craft markets, which I find incredibly inspiring. Melbourne also has a thriving gallery and exhibition scene and it is possible to go to a different exhibition every day of the week.

Since having my own children, I take more notice of the fact that children are very much included in the creative scene in Melbourne as well. There are regular ‘Art Cart’ activities at the National Gallery and a specific area set up for them in the Gallery; so I love that creativity and exposure to the arts is fostered from an early age in Melbourne.

The other thing I love about Melbourne is that Melbourne people love unique and individual work (and are quite proud of their arts scene) and will spend that little bit extra to buy it, and that creates a support base for artists who want/need to make a living from their work.

After having lived overseas in New York and London for a long time, I thought I might be missing out a bit when we moved home to Melbourne, but I don’t feel that at all, I love the creative scene in Melbourne.

- Kristina & Jason from Inaluxe

What we love about being artists in Melbourne? The diversity of people, things to see and do, and places to go. Williamstown beach is one of our favourite spots, the Northcote Social is perfect for lazy long lunches and cold beer! The Sun Theatre in Yarraville is one of the loveliest old buildings in Melbourne, and is such a fabulous place to go see a film! We love all the second hand furniture, book, and music stores. So many things to do… so little time.

-Tali of Milk And Cookies

Melbourne has a really vibrant arts community. The year is crammed with festivals: film, arts, fringe, design, food, you name it! We’re also lucky to have a fantastic local music scene and great community radio stations. I secretly do love the crazy weather – there’s always time to do something creative if it’s raining outside. I feel lucky to live in a city that values the arts. There are so many talented people living here – they always surprise and inspire me.

- Anne from Anou Design

Melbourne has a vibrant and growing handmade scene. There are so many talented designers, and it is easy to find inspiration among their creations. Handmade crafts are displayed and sold in many local craft markets; it is often hard to choose which one to go to or to participate in!  There are lots of local markets close to my home where amazing craftspeople first started selling their goods, just like me. The experience from these markets is so enriching. Many of Melbourne’s craft markets are dedicated to promoting the uniqueness of each artist and showcasing wonderful creations and inspirational ideas.

Melbournians are rediscovering the joy of buying something made by hand and it is a real pleasure.  Shops are now conscious of the beauty and uniqueness of the handmade creations. Manufacturing and mass production are becoming overtaken by the reuse and recycle phenomenon. I love how people in Melbourne mix the new and old items, the eco urban design, the original architecture, I simply love the lifestyle. Melbourne is a city that celebrates family, friendship, love, food, design, art and so much more. Melbourne is MY creative place, where I can make a living from my hands and be happy.

I want to thank all my fellow artsy Melbournians for contributing to this article and I also want to encourage all you wonderful people to consider visiting the Etsian Australian Flood Appeal site on Etsy. They are selling some fabulous handmade goods from Australian artists to raise money for the unfortunate folks north of Melbourne in Brisbane, Australia. There has been so much rain and flooding of the Brisbane River that it is simply coming up out of the manhole covers in the middle of downtown. If you see anything you might like on their Etsy site, please buy buy BUY! and help out my Aussie brothers and sisters!

About the contributor: Angela Traunig is the artist behind Ferntree Studio. She was born in Ferntree Gully, Australia, but her family moved to Atlanta when she was 8 years old. She is a southern girl with even more southern roots! She has a background in Industrial Design, but after spending some time on bed rest during a pregnancy, she started drawing and Ferntree Studio was born.

photo by Chris Lee Sisters Ash Weeks Cart & Kimmy Ulmer of Green Eyed Monster® (a shop filled with all handmade, independent, and earth-friendly goods) are sharing their collegiate motherland of Williamstown, Massachusetts for a long overdue Indie City Guide. Actually, the pair use the term “city” loosely, as Williamstown is more of a farming village than urban hub. But this Northern Berkshire town features  famous art museums, a top-ranked liberal arts college and internationally acclaimed theater, dance, and music festivals. Sounds more like a city now, eh? Read more below. If you are interested in writing an Indie City Guide or sharing what is indie happening about your city, then shoot me an email. xoxo – jen

by guest contributors Ash Weeks Cart & Kimmy Ulmer

The very mountains that reminded Herman Melville of the hump of a whale’s back, inspiring him to write Moby Dick, are the very mountains that silhouette the quaint, college town of Williamstown, Massachusetts, home of the Williams College Ephs. Often referred to as the Purple Valley, Williamstown and the surrounding area are tucked up in the northern Berkshires, minutes away from the Vermont and New York borders.

On the surface, Williamstown appears to be a middle-of-no-where-farm village, perfect for cow tipping and buckling down as a college student with little to do besides study, study and study; however, this tiny town of 8,500 is like a mountained city in disguise. With its dozens of delicious restaurants, a handful of world famous art museums, relaxing spas and deluxe lodging, renowned cultural performance venues and unique boutique and antique shopping, Williamstown is a perfect retreat for a person in need of an urban escape. Just two and a half hours away from Boston and New York City, the Northern Berkshires offer the extra perk of picturesque outdoorsy activities for the crunchy-granola type in us all.

Williams College  – photo by Chris Lee

Start your adventure with a night at The Porches Inn (231 River Street, North Adams; 413.664.0400), a series of six renovated Victorian-era row houses that once provided housing for North Adams’s mill workers. Located behind MassMoca (Massachusetts Museum of Modern Art), the Inn stays true to the town’s industrial history while incorporating the contemporary, artistic flair of the museum, giving it, as our mother describes, a “retro-chic aesthetic.” After a steam in the sauna and night sleeping under the delicious European, down duvets, a complimentary breakfast is delivered in a big, steel lunch bucket with deliciously strong coffee in thermoses.

The Porches Inn

If you’re in need of some protein to supplement your continental breakfast, head down the road to BrewHaHa (20 Marshall Street, North Adams; 413.664.2020) for a banging breakfast wrap or frittata to gear up energy for some serious museum hopping. Cross the street to begin your excursion at MassMoCA (87 Marshall Street in North Adams; 413.662.2111), the largest museum for contemporary arts in the United States. Housed in a 19th century factory building, MassMoCA provides vast, non-conventional museum spaces to present and display work in both the visual and performing arts. MassMoCA is currently home to the 3-floor retrospective of Sol LeWitt’s work (read more in Ash’s post on the Etsy Blog), complete with 105 wall drawings that dazzle, delight, and awe inspire. Be sure to see it in person, although you have over twenty-two years before the exhibit is dismantled, so no rush.

MASSMoCA

Sol LeWitt Exhibit – MASSMoCA

While in North Adams, cruise through Hardware, the museum gift shop, and behold the crazy, funky accessories and gifts reflective of the museum’s exhibits. And if you have a beloved wee-one in your life, don’t miss Shima Boutique (105 Main Street, North Adams; 413-346-1055) , filled with lovely wooden toys, organic baby clothing, and natural products for your little one.

Shima Boutique

After your jaunt in North Adams, drive over to the college utopia of Williamstown, MA and check out the Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA) (15 Lawrence Hall Dr., Williamstown; 413.597.2429), with its famous works such as Edward Hopper’s Morning in a City and the permanent outdoors sculptural installation by the late Louise Bourgeois’ called Eyes. Be sure to see it in the evening when the eyes are lit up with multicolored streams of light emitting from the pupils. It is particularly magical and creepy during a snowstorm.

WCMA

If you’re in need of some nourishment, Spring Street is the main strip to grab a bite or a cup o’joe.

For lunch, pop into Pappa Charlie’s (28 Spring Street, Williamstown; 413.458.5969), with its sandwiches named after actors who have performed at the Williamstown Summer Theater Festival. Definitely consider the Mary Tyler Moore (bacon, lettuce, tomato, and avocado) and try the homemade frozen yogurt (oreo and cookie dough make for a mind-blowing taste sensation.)

Pappa Charlie’s – photo by janeymoffat

For some delicious ethnic food, Spice Root (23 Spring Street, Williamstown; 413.458.5200) fulfills your desire for Indian eats, and Sushi Thai Garden (27 Spring Street, Williamstown; 413.458.0004) is located next door with, surprise, delicious Thai cuisine and sushi. As a testament to its quality, I once spotted Gary Sinise and Sir Anthony Hopkins inside eating Pad Thai (with some fava beans and a nice Chianti). For a caffeinated-pick-me-up, head down to the end of Spring Street to Tunnel City (100 Spring Street, Williamstown; 413.458.5010) where all the studious Ephs (Williams College students) dwell with their laptops and espressos.

And speaking of the theater festival, if you visit Williamstown during the summer months, do not miss a show on the stages of the Williams College ‘62 Center for Theater and Dance. Arguably the most famous theater festival in the country, the Williamstown Theater Festival (WTF) is over 55 years old and boasts some of the best creative talent in the performing arts. Similarly, check out Jacob’s Pillow for dance and Tanglewood for music, both a quick drive away from Williamstown and also teaming with raw, live talent in the summer.

‘62 Center for Theater and Dance

Returning to Spring Street, this small downtown is also home to Images Cinema (55 Spring Street, Williamstown; 413.458.5612), a one-screen movie theater that plays the latest indie flicks in a relaxed, non-pretentious setting. In fact, Tony Goldwyn requested special permission to premiere the film, Last Kiss, at this quiet locale.

The Browns

Goldwyn, the film’s director, and Blyth Danner (momma to Gwyneth Paltrow and an actress in the movie) both launched their careers at the Williamstown Theater Festival and wanted to screen the movie in the town where they got their start. Before the premiere, Goldwyn was spotted shopping at The Browns

(16 Water Street, Williamstown; 413.458.1618), a high-end boutique with beautiful clothing and accessories in an even more beautiful storefront. For shoppers on a budget, stick to Spring Street where you can check out vintage goods at HUDSONS (37 Spring Street, Williamstown; 413-458-4230), or antique options at Library Antiques (70 Spring Street, Williamstown; 413.458.3436) For eccentric gifts, gizmos and gadgets, visit Ken and Michele Gietz, the friendly, bubbly owners of Where’d You Get That?!(100 Spring Street, Williamstown; 413.458.2206

If you’re recharged for more artistic musings, head over to the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute (225 South Street, Williamstown; 413.458.2303) that holds a plethora of French impressionist artwork including pieces by Renoir, Degas, Pissaro, Manet, Monet and Gauguin. This summer, the museum is home to the ground-breaking exhibit, Picasso Looks at Degas. If you are in an active mood, hike Stone Hill trail located behind the museum for breathtaking views of the Purple Valley and check out the brand new Stone Hill Center built by the museum. For those more ambitious, hike Mount Greylock for 360-degree views of the area.

The Clark

The fall is the optimal time to experience a hike up Stony Ledge where the foliage and outrageous autumn colors will rock your socks off while looking across to Mt. Greylock. The Mountain Goat (130 Water Street, Williamstown; 413.458.3044) will equip you with any and all fleecy, camping paraphernalia you may need for these adventures. Go to here for trail maps and more detailed information. If you visit during the chilly winter months, Jiminy Peak (37 Corey Road, Hancock; 413.738.5500) is a small, local mountain to fulfill the skiing bug. In the summer, definitely indulge in a dip in the Green River (Water Street, Williamstown), a favorite late-night skinny-dipping spot of many a tipsy college student.

View from Mt. Greylock – photo from IICD

If you’re more the sit back and relax type of traveler, you too can enjoy the Green River from the comfort of the InTouch Massage and Day Spa (84 Water Street, Williamstown; 413-458-3235). Seated directly on the west bank of the river, you can listen to the water flow by as you indulge in a massage or body wrap.

By this time, you’re ready for a drink and some quality dining. Williamstown is not known for its wild and crazy nightlife, unless you’re interested in attending a Williams College party with the local coeds. For a casual pint, sit outside at the Red Herring (46 Spring Street, Williamstown; 413.458.2808). For a more romantic, dimly lit by candlelight experience, head over to Mezze (16 Water Street, Williamstown; 413.458.0123) for delicious dining or a swank cosmopolitan.

Mezze

Those who love a solid brew and are willing to drive outside of the Purple Bubble, will not be disappointed by a stop at Ye Olde Forge (125 North Main Street, Lanesboro; 413.442.6797). Drink fifty of their different beers in a year and you will receive a free pewter mug with your name engraved on it, and don’t forget to try their wings. Continue just a bit farther and you will arrive at Elizabeth’s (1264 East Street, Pittsfield; 413.448.8244), a word-of-mouth, mom-and-pop shop Italian restaurant, where Tom and Lizzy, a husband/wife team, cook up a storm. Located in an inconspicuous local house, this hole in the wall has an open kitchen, making for an intimate, friendly dining experience. Tom’s Caribbean Tomato soup is to die for! And you can never go wrong with the mushroom appetizer, gorgonzola pasta, lasagna, or Lizzy’s Brownie. I usually fast for at least 24 hours before embarking upon a meal at this locale. Bring check or cash, as they do not accept credit cards. If you forget, they will allow for IOUs. Seriously. If you are not up to driving back into Williamstown, have an extravagant evening and spa experience at The Cranwell (55 Lee Road, Lenox; 413.637.1364).

View from The Cranwell

Before heading home, it is always critical to bring back New England delicacies to your friends and family who weren’t fortunate enough to experience this bucolic, cultural haven in the Purple Valley. The Store at Five Corners (U.S. 7 and Rte. 43, Williamstown; 413.458.3176) will supply you with all the apple cider, pies and maple sugar you could possibly need for a delicious trip home. Just a sweet, sweet taste of all the Northern Berkshires has to offer.

About the contributors: Ash and Kimmy are the sisters behind Green Eyed Monster® totes, an arty little biz bringing you the most unique reusable bags on the block.  They also run the Green Eyed Monster® shop , which is curated with an eye for enviable living.  Each designer and handmade product in the shop promote a sustainable and earth-friendly lifestyle.

Deb Dormody of If’n Books + Marks is sharing her city of Providence, Rhode Island today for Indie City Guides. Deb, a bookbinder and an organizer of Craftland, will take you on a tour of the quirky city of Rhode Island.  Enjoy!

If you are interested in writing an Indie City Guide or sharing what is indie happening about your city, then shoot me an email.

by guest contributor Deb Dormody

Welcome to sunny Providence, Rhode Island! People here eat things like quahogs and drink things like coffee milk. Or at least that’s what we tell people when they visit.

Providence was colonized by Roger Williams who was booted out of Massachusetts for believing in such things as the separation of church and state. He arrived in what is now Rhode Island and was greeted by Narragansett Indians with the phrase “What cheer, netop?” which pretty much means “Hey holmes! what’s happening?”

Flash forward to modern day, and Providence still welcomes exiles of all kinds with catchy phrases.  Then as now, people don’t come here to ‘make it’ but to make something out of nothing. The crafty atmosphere is plentiful and encouraged by communities of friends—not to mention preeminent institutions like the Rhode Island School of Design.

Wolf Myro

Located smack in the middle of the industrial revolution, Providence has plenty of big old mill spaces to go around in which to make your work. And there are two supply shops to get started if you’re ready to begin a project. One is Wolf Myro. This is nothing short of mecca for jewelers. Pilgrims come from all over the US to comb its dusty shelves for findings, stones, and odds and ends that you are not imaginative enough to even think could exist in the world. Fun fact: Providence is also known as ‘the jewelry capital of the world.’ This grants its residents a free pass for being extraordinarily opinionated about adornments, from artistic to costume jewelry.

Lorraine’s Fabric

The second must-see stop is Lorraine’s Fabric. Technically in Pawtucket, the next town over, this shop is home to a dizzying array of trims and buttons, lame´and fabric, fake fur and felt. But before you fall over, pop on your headphones (with music from Armageddon Records to overpower the blaring Kenny G) and head upstairs to the Bargain Attic. All the cloth is $1.99 a yard. That’s right, an attic full of $1.99 fabric. You just might find a bolt that reappeared from 1972 especially for you and your cloth-filled whims.

(As a paper nerd myself, I’m more likely to visit the RISD Store for a great selection or to stock up wholesale-style at The Paper Connection).

Frog and Toad

 The Curatorium

Once you’ve created your stellar body of work, you can head over to some local boutiques to see if they’ll sell them for you. Or perhaps you’ve given up entirely and just need to buy a super duper gift. In either case, there are plenty of options. Two include The Curatorium and Frog and Toad. The Curatorium is run by the inimitable Matthew Bird who describes his collection of fun designy wares as “well-considered.” Meanwhile, the goods in Frog and Toad are almost as cute as owners Erin & Asher Schofield who host a menagerie of imported and local artisan lines in their upper Hope Street shop.

Craftland

And once a year, when the moon is in just the right position, the magical wonderment that is Craftland appears in its glittery form in downtown Providence. The month-long holiday craft show attracts thousands of customers and represents the work of 150 artists in its unique store format. Along with several other craft devotees (including Devienna, Heather L., Heather T.,  Margaret (whose Rainbow Sugar website was stolen) and Teresa) I organize this show in my ’spare’ time. This December will be our lucky seventh year! It will be open seven days a week from December 5-24th. Catch it before it’s gone again!

Before you go though, dress yourself in cute outfits from Queen of Hearts. And for faraway folks who only wear pajamas, be sure to check out Peggy Lo’s exquisite stationery shop, Figments in your online travels!

Circle A Cycles

Providence is a small secondary city and when you are out and about, you will run into so many people who will inspire you to make your cool stuff even better. The bicycles of choice here in town are made by Chris Bull and Brian Chapman at Circle A Cycles. Secure your helmet and ride over to the Dirt Palace, the feminist collective that lives craft. Maybe you will see a show there, or eat brunch there, or help with a Books Through Bars mailing, but you will definitely be able to check out the 24/7 storefront window gallery. Next, buy Jon & Shea, from Tiny Showcase,  some tacos at the Taqueria Pacifica. Then see some music at AS220 and buy a beer for artist Jim Frain (who is apparently a ghost in cyberspace) or Sonny  or Corace or Jo Dery or Mike Taylor or Jean Cozzens (screenprinters in Providence are like cheesesteaks in Philly). Oh man, there are so many more great and talented people! Just come over to Alec’s and my house and we will have a vegan barbecue with everyone invited.

Dirt Palace

If you are nice, you can also come and visit me at my studio – If’n Books + Marks. Crossing the city line back into Pawtucket, the bindery has a bruised doorframe from all the ridiculously heavy cast-iron equipment I’ve had hauled in there. Thankfully, this stuff is as beautiful as it is useful. It helps me make so many blank journals and photo albums.

If’n Books + Marks

I hope you have enjoyed your tour. There’s lots more people to see in Providence, places to visit and good food to eat. Drop me a line if you need to know more.

About the contributor:  Deb Dormody had tried all the get-rich-quick schemes. None of them worked until she created If’n Books + Marks in 2000 when she started making blank journals and photo albums by hand. Now, she’s loaded.

The If’n Books + Marks studio is located in a century-old mill building complete with high ceilings, a fabulous corner view and a super-stripey wall. We make each book by hand using vintage and contemporary equipment that is beautiful unto itself.

Laura and I did end up at Art Star, which I hadn’t yet visited since in the new larger location.  Megan & Erin, the owners,  have such a great eye for all things indie and it’s always a real treat to visit & shop at Art Star.  They were working on putting the finishing touches on the Gallery for the new exhibition by artist Kathleen Lolley—just love her melancholy fairytale-esque point of view.

I ended up only buying one thing all day, some earrings at Art Star by the designer Jen Walrath, but here’s a few more things that I had my eye on.

1. Vinyl bags from Miss Alison ::::: 2. Stuffed owls from Kathleen Lolley ::::: 3. Earrings I bought from Jen Walrath ::::: 4. Leather cut-out jewelry (not available online) ::::: 5. Pretty much wanted everything from glass jewelry artist Penelope Rakov ::::: 6. Pillow jewelry from Amy Buffum (not available online) ::::: 7. Tees from fluffy co ::::: 8. Purse brooches from Yoko Tazaki

After Art Star, we wanted to eat at Bar Ferdinand, but apparently they don’t open for lunch (who knew), so we ended up at The Abbaye, a Belgian bar/restaurant. The food was good and the beer was even better, I’d definitely go back. On the walls, there were parintings by local artist Kathleen Vaccaro.  I liked the one titled “Kate Coppola” and Laura liked the falling elephant.

After eating,  Laura & I hit up Wholefoods, since the one in Philly is the closest to us and that’s still an hour away.

All in all it was a good day, spent with an even better friend, shopping, eating & drinking…what a lovely way to spend a crisp October Friday!

It’s the final day of  Charissa Faire’s Indie City Guide for Portland (which was supposed to go up yesterday, but I dropped the ball).  Read Day #1 here and Day #2 here. 

If you are interested in writing an Indie City Guide, shoot me an email.

by guest contributor Charissa Faire

Day three of my Indie City Guide to Portland covers two of the areas most near and dear to my heart: Art and shopping. I’ve included just a small sampling of the local art galleries and favorite places to shop, and hope they’ll at least provided a starting point to begin exploring this city should you ever visit (or move!). And if you do, stop by and say hello to me.

SHOPPING AND GALLERIES

Hello Portland is in my neighborhood, so it’s the first place I go when I need a fabulous last minute birthday gift or just something to cheer me up. They’ve got it all: Great locally made bags and purses and barrettes, cute pins made from Spanish bingo cards, stationery and cards by NobleWorks Inc. and Curly Girl Designs, and gadgets and gizmos galore. They also have an elaborate selection of party favors which never fails to make me wish I threw more parties. Of course I still don’t, but it’s always nice to feel temporarily inspired!

HELLO PORTLAND
525 NW 23rd Ave
Portland, OR 97210
(503) 274-0771

Ah, the famous Powell’s Books. You may have a branch in your city, but not like this one. An actual warehouse filled with books, covering an entire city block, with so many rooms and floors there are maps and color-coded rooms to help you navigate. When I first arrived in Portland at the train station and there were flyers for Powell’s at the depot, I wondered what kind of bookstore would count as a tourist attraction. I’m glad I found out. Definitely don’t miss checking out the gorgeous rare books room, the changing art exhibits in the art section, the staggering array of local and independent press items, and the items for sale by locals scattered throughout the store. I recently picked up some great magnets by local artist Trish Grantham, who is one of my absolute favorites. So cute!

POWELL’S BOOKS
1005 W. Burnside
Portland, OR‎ 97209
(503) 228-4651

Billy Galaxy has such a dense collection of vintage toys, comic books, video games and memorabilia arranged into such a tiny store, it’s a wonder it’s as easy to navigate as it is. But it’s such a delight perusing their jam-packed shelves, going “ooh! I remember that! I HAD one of those!” and hurrying to snatch up that old Care-a-lot Playset before someone else gets her grubby hands on it. So I don’t think you’ll mind one bit.

BILLY GALAXY
912 W Burnside St
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 227-8253‎

Moshi Moshi is the art space adjoining Billy Galaxy, and it has a lot to offer on its own. They recently featured shows by artists Junko Mizuno and Brett Superstar, and have lots of terrific Japanese toys, t-shirts, and stationery items in their shop. A very fun place to browse!

MOSHI MOSHI
916 West Burnside
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 227-8253

Tender Loving Empire is the creme de la creme of indie Portland, as far as I’m concerned. They offer custom screenprinting. Music. Art. Local books and comics. Events. Handmade jewelry. Handmade pins. Handmade t-shirts (including stuff by the Timber Preservation Society, which I love!). Wallets by Tiny Meat. Cards from Ryan Berkley. I am having trouble even putting into words how happy I feel every time I walk into this store, and all of the kooky little items I’ve found among their shelves that they weren’t even aware they had. And what’s best of all is, they’re always looking for new music and art to have in the store. So if you’re interested in having your own wares on display, stop by!

TENDER LOVING EMPIRE
1720 NW Lovejoy St
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 243-5859‎

Cannibals is an art gallery in northwest Portland featuring handmade pieces by local artists for a variety of budgets. The art is made mostly from recycled materials, and is some of the most unique, whimsical, and sometimes downright creepy stuff I have ever seen. There is always something new to marvel at and get my imagination working at this store. Plus, it really IS affordable. I recently picked up a tiny comic book about a mayonnaise-eating baby, drawn and written by local artist Alicia Justus, for only five dollars. What kind of person wouldn’t treasure something like that forever?

CANNIBALS
518 NW 21st Ave
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 224-2663

The 3D Center of Art and Photography is a small shop and museum dedicated to — you guessed it — three dimensional art and photography. It’s a wonderful way to spend an hour or so, walking around with your complimentary 3D glasses, looking at the current 3D photography display (with bunnies that look like you could pick them up and hold them!), and examining the relics and gadgets from the history of 3D photos. Very cool, interesting stuff. Plus they offer classes so you can learn to do this yourself. But the biggest reason I’m including this here is because they also offer View-masters(tm) for sale, as well as the incredible work of local resident Vladimir. Her “Vladmaster” reels illustrate different narratives from literature using the View-master(tm) format, and are truly marvelous to behold. It’s about time the View-master(tm) got the recognition it deserves!

3D CENTER OF ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY
1928 NW Lovejoy St
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 227-6667

Together Gallery is a gallery in the Alberta Arts District of Portland which has a variety of creative shows drawing on a pool of local and non-local artists alike. My personal favorite was “The Tent of Technicolor Bliss”, featuring “a psychedelic tent of afghans,” but you can view more here. Plus one of their artists is Seth Neefus, whose work I am particularly nuts about.

TOGETHER GALLERY
2314 NE Alberta St
Portland, OR 97211
(503) 288-8879

Just Be Complex/Compound Gallery is a very cool store with vinyl toys and the like downstairs, great gallery upstairs. The work of Oregonian Evan B. Harris is on display now, with a recurring marine-life theme and an old-timey look to the characters that really appeals to me. Lucky for us, a lot of work is online.

JUST BE COMPLEX/ COMPOUND GALLERY
107 NW 5th Ave
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 796-2733

Just like the San Francisco sister site, Upper Playground and Fifty24PDX here in Portland are dedicated to awesome street art, great art shows, and a fabulous selection of shoes, t-shirts and more.

UPPER PLAYGROUND/ FIFTY24PDX
23 NW 5th Ave
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 548-4835‎

Wham! has t-shirts and cards and toys and other fun items — it’s the kind of place to go when you want to chuckle to yourself and say “what will they think of next?”. Nice selection of indie stationery and other assorted gifts.

WHAM!
617 NW 23rd Ave
Portland, OR 97210
(503) 222-4992

Calling itself an “Independent Press Emporium,” Reading Frenzy is exactly what it advertises. This month’s events include an exhibit of self-portraits by local female comic book artists and the 8th annual Portland Zine Symposium. They show a total dedication to alternative press and lesser-known artists with talent, which makes this place a real asset to the community.

READING FRENZY
921 SW Oak St
Portland, OR 97205
(503) 274-1449‎

ARTISTS

I wanted to include a few of my favorite local artists. I could rhapsodize about their work for several paragraphs a piece, I’m sure, but a picture’s worth a thousand words, right? I’ll just add a few words (because I’m chatty) and then let their work speak for itself.

RYAN BERKLEY

TRISH GRANTHAM

SETH NEEFUS

APAK

And that concludes my City Guide to Portland! Way longer than I intended and still not nearly long enough to cover all the unique large and tiny indie wonders of this city. Thanks for reading!

It’s Day #2 of the Indie City Guide for Portland by Charissa Faire.  You can read Day #1 here and be sure to check back tomorrow for the final installment. 

If you are interested in writing an Indie City Guide or sharing what is indie happening about your city, then shoot me an email.

by guest contributor Charissa Faire

Welcome to Day 2 of my guide to Indie Portland! Today I’m covering events and food, because this stuff’s important. It was hard to narrow it down to just a few, but hopefully these are at least a starting point to a wonderful world of indie fun and eating in the great Northwest!

EVENTS

One of the most central and well-known events in Portland is the Portland Saturday Market. It takes place downtown every Saturday and Sunday between March and Christmas Eve. The market includes an almost overwhelmingly large collection of temporary booths with every imaginable craft under the sun: From jewelry to musical instruments to toys to home furnishings to visual arts and more. I got a silver ring made from a spoon there, and there’s a booth dedicated entirely to utensil art, so don’t miss out!

PORTLAND SATURDAY MARKET
SW Naito Blvd, under the Burnside Bridge and in Ankeny Park

Next up is the fabulous and so very appropriately named event known as Crafty Wonderland. Taking place on the second Saturday of every month at the ultra-cool Doug Fir Lounge, this is a glorious smorgasbord of all things crafty. It features about forty vendors PLUS a free DIY table every month: Recent vendors include Moontea Artwork, Mugwump, Happy Cake, and my much-adored Robot Candy.

photo from the Crafty Wonderland flickr pool

CRAFTY WONDERLAND
at Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E. Burnside
Portland, OR 97214

The PDX Pop Now! music festival is an annual festival begun in 2004 to bring attention to Portland’s rich and varied music scene. PDX Pop Now! is a non-profit organization formed from sheer love of local music, and it showcases lesser-known bands right alongside more well-established artists. This year’s festival has already come and gone, but you can still check out all of the CD compilations from this year and previous years here.

PDX POP NOW!
at Rotture, 315 SE 3rd Ave
Portland, OR 97214
(503) 234-5683
FOOD

We’ve already established just what’s so indie about food, so I don’t think I need to explain why I’m including a few of my favorite local eateries and grocery stores. Every place listed here is a great source for a tasty treat, as well as supporting indie-friendly values. I’m sorry I couldn’t include more, but I’m just starting to discover the amazing local menu here myself!

Alotto Gelato started out with one family growing berries in their own yard, selling the gelato they made at the local farmer’s market. And it’s stayed true to its beginnings, using quality and often local ingredients to produce some of the tastiest flavors around. They offer their traditional flavors right alongside more innovative ones such as Sweet Corn, Rose Petal, and Chocolate Chipotle.

photo from S Crume’s Flickr photostream

ALOTTO GELATO
931 N.W. 23rd Ave.
Portland, OR 97210
503-228-1709

If I ask my boyfriend where he wants to eat, nine times out of ten he says Burgerville. And I can’t fault him for that. Their motto is “Fresh, Local, Sustainable,” and even their veggie burgers are locally sourced. Not only that, but they have the most incredible onion rings I’ve ever eaten, their burgers always taste fresh, and they have a seasonal selection of milkshakes that are always mouthwateringly good. I’ve only listed the location closest to me here, but you’ll find Burgerville throughout the Northwest.

BURGERVILLE
8218 NE Glisan St.
Portland, OR 97220
(503) 255-2815

Cupcake Jones is a locally-owned cupcake shop with some of the most delectable little cupcakes I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. They have a revolving menu including the delicious standard flavors they offer daily as well as several different flavors of cupcake for every day of the week. My favorite is one of saturday’s flavors, the Peanut Butter and Jelly with “white velvet cake filled with homemade berry jam topped with peanut butter icing and a homemade jelly drizzle.” Honestly, just reading their menu will blow your mind, so treat yourself.

CUPCAKE JONES
307 NW 10th Ave
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 222-4404

Voodoo Doughnut is a Portland institution. Not the kind of institution for crazy people, though that could be argued as well. What I mean is, if you mention Voodoo Doughnut to anyone who lives here, they’re going to not only know exactly what you’re talking about, but suggest you both go there RIGHT NOW. The doughnuts are excellent, they have a ton of creative shapes and flavors, they’re open just about all the time, they perform weddings, and they have classes in Swahili on Monday nights. I am not even making this up. What more can you ask from a doughnut shop?

VOODOO DOUGHNUT
22 SW Third Ave
Portland, OR 97204
(503) 241-4704

Sahagun Chocolates has a great situation going on. Because who doesn’t love handmade chocolates? And when they’re handmade and hand painted by a local resident using all-natural and often local ingredients (including hormone-free Oregon cream and sour cherries from the Willamette Valley!), it just doesn’t get much better –or tastier– than that.

SAHAGUN CHOCOLATES
10 NW 16th Ave
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 274-7065

I go to Food Front Co-op several times a week. Partly because I live incredibly, wonderfully close to it, and partly because it’s just that amazing. Food co-ops have been gaining in popularity here recently as more and more people are concerned about where their food comes from, and Food Front is always great about having lots of fresh and local organic produce and meats available. Living next to this place in Oregon in berry season has been nothing short of sublime. Plus, they support other local business as well, offering such items as these cards from local artist Urban Bird Designs.

FOOD FRONT CO-OP
2375 NW Thurman St
Portland, OR 97210
(503) 222-5658‎

Other co-ops in the area are:

PEOPLE’S FOOD CO-OP
3029 SE 21st Ave
Portland, OR 97202
(503) 232-9051‎

ALBERTA CO-OP GROCERY
1500 NE Alberta St
Portland, OR 97211
503-287-4333

Some more delish eateries:

COOL MOON ICE CREAM (Delicious locally-owned ice cream store with handmade ice cream using many Oregon flavors and ingredients).
1105 NW Johnson Street
Portland, Oregon 97209
(503) 224-2021

HOT LIPS PIZZA (Portland-owned and operated pizza business with four locations, dedicated to sustainability. Just look at their food sources!)

1. NE 33rd (at Killingsworth) (503) 445-1020
2. SE Hawthorne (at 22nd) (503) 234-9999
3. DOWNTOWN/PSU (at SW 6th Near Hall) (503) 224-0311
4. PEARL DISTRICT (at NW 10th and Irving) (503) 595-2342

And that’s that for today! Tomorrow will be my final day, where I’ll be covering art and shopping. Mmmmm, art and shopping…

Today Charissa Faire, regular contributor to The Fabulist and writer behind Isn’t It Always a Surprise!, is sharing an Indie City Guide for the city of Portland, Oregon. Portland is a very indie friendly city and one I wished I lived in…if all my family & friends would move with me, that is. Charissa’s fabulous guide will run today, tomorrow and Thursday, so make sure to check back each day to read about the cool happenings in Portland.

If you are interested in writing an Indie City Guide or sharing what is indie happening about your city, then shoot me an email.

by guest contributor Charissa Faire

From the moment I first visited Portland, back in June of 2007, I realized that this is a place unlike anywhere else. A place with what must be THE MOST sidewalk chalk drawings of any city on the entire planet. A place where it is not at all unusual to find an interactive poster someone put together and hung on a telephone pole in honor of their love of the boardgame Candyland. A place where Spoon and The Decemberists and The Shins are played as the muzak in the local shopping malls and restaurants (all are are local bands).

I just moved to Portland from San Francisco about seven months ago, so I can’t provide the expertise that a true native could. And I’m a bit of a hermit, honestly, so I probably can’t even provide the expertise that another seven-month-long resident could. But what I CAN do is give you the perspective of a girl with fresh little eyes with stars in them seeing everything around her for the first time, before the city acquires the patina of familiarity and she starts to take it all for granted. So, I’ve assembled a short list of a few of the places in Portland that can inspire even a bona fide homebody like myself to venture out of her apartment and into the rain or — yes, it does happen here occasionally! — into the sunshine.

Clothing, Beauty, and Accessories

Portland has an incredible array of vintage, handmade, and just plain unusual clothing and accessories to choose from. First on my list is Gilt Vintage and Artisan Jewelry, a gorgeous two-story jewelry store with a selection of both vintage and locally handmade ornaments you won’t find anywhere else. The staff is helpful, the prices are reasonable, and most importantly, the pieces have stories behind them. A romantic sort of history for a very romantic sort of store.

GILT VINTAGE AND ARTISAN JEWELRY
720 NW 23rd Ave
Portland, OR 97210
(503) 226-0629‎

Next up is Sock Dreams. Can you imagine how excited I was when I saw my favorite online store for all things legwear has an actual physical location, and it’s right here in my city? Apparently they opened here in April of this year–just in time for my arrival! And with items not to be found anywhere in their online catalog, it’s worth a visit. After all, it’s essential to have a pair of socks or stockings for every possibility. You never know what might come up.

SOCK DREAMS
725 SE Powell Blvd
Portland, OR 97202
(503) 234-0885

One of the most well-known places for vintage clothing in Portland is the Red Light Clothing Exchange, a store that counts The Gossip’s Beth Ditto among its regular patrons. Racks upon racks of the cutest, most colorful little vintage dresses you’ve ever seen line the walls, along with a staggering array of vintage t-shirts, boots, high heels, roller skates (!!), polyester shirts, rainbow wigs, handbags, cowboy hats, pleather pantsuits…you name it, you’ll probably find it here.

RED LIGHT CLOTHING EXCHANGE

333 SW 10th Ave
Portland, OR 97205
(503) 294-0800

Not to be ignored, there’s another little vintage store nearby called Magpie that’s worth checking out. It has a large selection of very groovy outfits and accessories in an elegant setting, but this shop impressed me most with its beautiful, sparkly purses and costume jewelry. Magpies are known for their love of shiny objects, and so am I. It’s easy to see why I love this place.

MAGPIE
520 SW 9th Ave
Portland, OR 97205
(503) 220-0920

Eclexion is a downtown boutique specializing in independent designers. They offer a wide diversity of fashions, and order only one of each design and color so you’ll never run into someone wearing “your” outfit. While that’s a complete drag if you stop someone on the street and ask them where they got their fabulous dress, it’s absolutely wonderful if you’re the one who got to it first.

ECLEXION
111 NW 2nd Ave
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 248-2735

Blush Beauty Bar is a cosmetics store in Northwest Portland with quite possibly the most friendly and knowledgeable staff I have ever encountered. Helpful without being overbearing, they can point you right to every single locally and independently made line of products in their store. Not only that, but they’ll often let you try them out or take a sample home! Their local lines include Guerrilla Glamour, Velana K, Treat Beauty, and the Lily Lambert line of fragrances. I have tried almost all of the local lines of products and love they’re all fantastic, but I’m especially head-over-heels in love with Lily Lambert’s perfumes. If I could make this screen scratch-n-sniff for you, I would.

BLUSH BEAUTY BAR
513 NW 23rd Ave
Portland, Oregon 97210
Phone: (503) 227-3390

Entertainment

I’m not going to go crazy on the Entertainment section, because there are honestly just too many options to choose from and it’s all a little overwhelming. But there are two choices that I feel bear mentioning: Living Room Theaters and Ground Kontrol.

Living Room Theaters is a restaurant, bar, and independent filmhouse all in one fantastic package. It’s also the only all-digital, only-digital movie theater in the U.S. If you want to read about the numerous advantages this provides to lesser-known independent directors and to the environment, click here. But what it means to lovers of independent film like us is there’s always some little gem of a movie on one of six screens waiting to be viewed over a tasty meal.

LIVING ROOM THEATERS
341 SW Tenth Avenue
Portland OR 97205
(971) 222-2010

Another place worth a special mention is Ground Kontrol. Out of all the places people kept telling me I had to go when I first moved to Portland, Ground Kontrol was at the very top of the list. This is a veritable temple to all things classic arcade, with a bar and live music and pinball tournaments and all kinds of other fabulous nonsense to boot. If you are looking for a place to play some Centipede or prove your pinball mastery while sucking down a Mike’s Hard Lemonade, you have found your paradise.

GROUND KONTROL
511 NW Couch St.
Portland, OR 97209
phone: (503)796-9364

I’ll return over the next couple of days to continue this city guide with descriptions of more shopping, art, events and food (oh, there will be food!). But until then, in case you didn’t believe me, behold the Candyland poster. It opens up to reveal a tiny mouse playing the xylophone. I am not kidding.

About the contributor: Charissa Faire came to Portland by way of Florida and San Francisco, and she now lives in Portland with her cat, her fish, and her boyfriend Tedd. She is a regular contributor to The Fabulist and has a photo and poetry blog called Isn’t It Always a Surprise!.

It’s Day #2 if the Atlanta Indie City Guide by the ladies behind Supercute!  Supercute! is a collaboration of  three independent artists: Lorigami,  Lizerati & Becky of Glue&Glitter. Becky, Lori & Liz also joined forces to put together an Indie City Guide for their hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. Today, they are sharing Day #2 of their Guide—you can read Day #1 here.

If you are interested in writing an Indie City Guide or sharing what is indie happening about your city, then shoot me an email.

East Atlanta
East Atlanta is a great little corner of the city, mostly known for it’s Indie nightlife. With a handful of small clubs and some great little corner bars, this is where to go after dark.

E.A.R.L.

Probably one of it’s best known establishments is the E.A.R.L. . Bands are in the back room, which has a low stage and only holds about 300 people. There’s a really intimate environment here, great for the non-corporate indie bands they are so great at booking. The EARL is one of the last mid-sized venues in this city and is a must-stop for anyone truly into the Indie music scene. They’ve also got a great menu with a full bar, and they serve late. There are even a couple vegan dishes on the menu, in addition to one of the best burgers in the city, so there’s a little something for everyone.

E.A.R.L. / 488 Flat Shoals Ave SE / Atlanta, GA 30316 / (404) 522-3950

Echo Lounge
While we’re on the subject of music, another great Atlanta venue is re-opening soon in East Atlanta. Some people may remember the legendary Echo Lounge, which sadly closed it’s doors a number of years ago. Well, new owners have been busy bees reinventing that venue, and promise to reopen any day now, bringing back another mid-sized venue with great sound and a dedication to the Indie Music scene.

EastSide Lounge

Another of East Atlanta’s after-hours treasures is the legendary EastSide Lounge. Tucked away behind a wall of stainless steel is a fabulous little venue where you can grab a drink, view one of the ever-rotating art shows, then head upstairs to dance to some of Atlanta’s best indie DJ’s. The new owner has been a staunch supporter of the local art scene, opening his walls to rotating monthly shows for artists of all kinds. From graffiti to photography to metal sculpture, there’s always something going on here. Once a month you can even grab a drink and make your own art at Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School with a rotating cast of amazing live models.

EastSide Lounge / 485 Flat Shoals Ave SE / Atlanta, GA 30316 / (404) 521-9666

‘Bound To Be Read’

After all that partying, are you looking for something a little more intellectual? Well, locally-owned bookstore ‘Bound To Be Read’ features new and used books, and even holds several monthly reading clubs, and a salon with themes ranging from Homesteading to their Scandalous Book Club. All are hosted by the most well-read cat in East Atlanta, Kona. Treats appreciated, but not required.

‘Bound To Be Read’ / 481 Flat Shoals Ave SE / Atlanta, GA 30316 / (404) 522-0877

Decatur

Located just east of Atlanta, Decatur is a world of its own. Populated by cute neighborhoods, indie shops and local restaurants, Decatur is also home to Agnes Scott college and Emory University. The Square is easily worth a full day of your time, or even the entire weekend!

McDonough Street Market

Sister to the lovely Irwin Street Market, Decatur has it’s own McDonough Street Market. Slightly smaller, but equally charming, this market again houses a Jake’s Ice Cream, along with the works of several local craftspeople, vintage clothing and antiques. There’s also a florist shop, and even a place to get your pet’s portrait painted by a local artist!

McDonough Street Market / 515 N. McDonough Street / Decatur, GA 30030

Emile Baran

While you’re wandering, you have to pop by Emile Baran’s music shop, on Clairemont Avenue. Even if you don’t play, you can’t help but appreciate the beautiful workmanship of these handmade stringed instruments. Founded over 50 years ago by the son of a swing band player and trumpeter, Emil hires skilled artisans who not only repair intruments on the premises, but craft exquisite new ones, keeping an old art quite alive for a younger set. Next door, you’ll find a selection of all sorts of band instruments, catering to the student and aspiring Benny Goodman.

Emile Baran / 113 Clairemont Ave / Decatur, GA 30030 / (404) 377-3419

By Hand South

Featuring beautiful and unique crafts from local and national artists, By Hand South was founded in the late 80s by two sisters. After a move from a side street in 1995, By Hand South sits in the middle of the Decatur Square. There’s a broad range of items, from beautiful jewelry and glass pieces to wooden puzzle boxes and toys. It’s a great spot for unique gifts and they’ll even wrap them for you.

By Hand South112 E. Ponce de Leon Ave. / Decatur, GA 30030 / 404-378-0118

Blue Moon Designs, Inc.

Blue Moon is a funky house just off the main square in Decatur. Antiqued birdhouses decorate the porch (along with tons of other cool things) and the inside is stuffed with a variety of handmade and commercial goods. It’s fun to explore – as an old house, you can wander from room to room and find surprises in every corner!

Blue Moon Designs, Inc. / 418 Church St / Decatur, GA 30030 / (404) 378-1114

Squash Blossom Boutique

The mother and daughter pair of Ettie Wurtzel and Talia Wurtzel Blanchard host an exciting array of clothing and accessories in the Squash Blossom Boutique. One of the best things about walking in is that the clothes are arranged by color! You can make a beeline for your favorite to see what they have to offer. Local jewelry, a nice shoe selection, and a kids area round out this comfortable yet stylish space.

Squash Blossom Boutique / 113 East Court Square / Decatur, GA 30030 / (404) 373-1864

Java Monkey

With organic coffee, a wine bar, a stage that hosts local acts, comfy chairs inside, and a lovely patio outside, Java Monkey is the best place to rest and refuel after a day of wandering around and shopping in Decatur. Check out the board near the door for fliers and signs for all kinds of activities around town. Also suggested: have some lunch! The menu is small but delicious and they have dessert too!
Java Monkey / 205 E Ponce De Leon Ave / Decatur, GA 30030 / (404) 378-1852

Vivid Boutique

Vivid is a new addition to Decatur and it couldn’t be cuter! Christina Muir is not only the owner, but creates lovely jewelry featured in the store. This is the perfect spot to pick up a gift for a friend without breaking the bank. You can find paper goods, handbags, candles, and a whole host of quirky items – something for everyone.
Vivid Boutique / 133 East Court Square / Decatur, GA 30030 / 404-371-5181

Brick Store Pub

With hundreds of beers to choose from (no, seriously), the Brick Store Pub opened in 1997. Popular not just in Decatur, folks from all over Atlanta head to the Brick Store to grab dinner, have a beer, and relax. The food is not typical bar faire – it is well worth stopping by just for a meal, but if you’re going to be there anyway, why not have a beer or something off the amazing scotch menu?

Brick Store Pub / 125 E. Court Square / Decatur, GA 30030 / 404-687-0990

Push Push Theatre
Push Push relocated to Decatur in 2003 and has been thriving ever since. From their mission statement: PushPush, an award-winning theater dedicated to the development performing artists, aims to be a force in cultural progression by supporting and providing artistic and cultural development and offering the outcomes to the community through a wide range of innovative programming. The end result is a fantastic range of worthwhile performances for all different audiences and age ranges!

Push Push Theater / 121 New Street, #4 / Decatur, GA 300

About the contributors: You’ve heard of Superbad? Well now, it’s time to learn about Supercute!  Supercute! is a collaboration between three independent artists who believe that a kinder, happier, sustainable world is possible with just a little optimism and a whole lot of cuteness.  Lorigami is a self-employed artist and crafter living in a tiny house in Atlanta with her husband and entirely too many cats. When she’s not working on a renovation project, she likes to make pretty things out of vintage, found and recycled materials. Lizerati makes makes beautiful art pendants using found objects. She’s currently living in Atlanta, GA where she loves the craft scene but hates the deadly heat of the summer.  Becky Striepe of Glue&Glitter loves turning found and vintage materials into something cute and new. She hopes that the things she makes help folks see that reducing their ecological footprints is not just possible but fun!