Oscar Night!

The 83rd Academy Awards are upon us! Get your official ballots here.

Check out those classy new envelopes.

[image: NBC]

Color Inspiration at The Art Institute of Chicago

Amadeo de Souza Cardoso (Portuguese, 1887-1918)

The Leap of the Rabbit, 1911

Oil on Canvas

Arthur Jerome Eddy Memorial Collection, 1931.514

The Art Institute of Chicago

James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834-1903)

Green and Blue: The Dancer, c. 1893

Transparent and opaque watercolor, over traces of black chalk, on brown wove paper, laid down on card, 275x183 mm

Restricted Gift of Dr. William D. Shorey; through prior acquisitions of the Charles Deering Collection and through prior beqeust of Mrs. Gordon Palmer, 1988.219

The Art Institute of Chicago

[images: The Leap of the Rabbit; Green and Blue: The Dancer]

Artist Showcase: Samantha French

[images: Samantha French for Poppytalk Handmade]

Cool Sign in Toledo, Ohio

Calm, Cool and Collected: A Home Tour

Design*Sponge posted a fantastically drool-worthy home tour today that you will absolutely need to check out. Here.

Rhubarb Soda

[image: D. Erin]

A Tarot Card Series

[images]

The Stack: Vol. 7

1. Sliding barn doors in houses are sort of my favorite thing. Find a step-by-step process on how to construct your own, including where to find the right hardware here.
2. Another smart use for river rocks! Woop!
3. Check out Roman and Williams's design handiwork for The Ace Hotel's New York Oyster Bar. How very darling!
4. Life Magazine follows Bettina Ballard, Vogue Fashion Editor, to NYFW in 1951.

[image: leahgiberson]

Stenciling About

I just bought this book on stenciling and print-making, and have since been seeing project ideas everywhere I look. This may not be your ideal backyard patio, but it's pretty creative, non?

[image: Apartment Therapy]

Longman & Eagle Inn: Well This is Awesome

Chicago's hip, new gastropub, Longman & Eagle just announced the addition of the word INN to its title. As in, not only do they offer amazing food, but they're also accepting boarders. As in, you can sleep there.

Rates vary depending on the room, but prices are definitely reasonable at $75 to $250 per night. The decorating is super trendy, too. What a fab little getaway for both Chicagoans and their friends and family!


[images: Longman & Eagle]

Snowpacolypse 2011

Believe it or not, The Addison Stop does not pay the bills. Alas, I have a day job.

Being that I am a working woman, it was fairly awesome when all of Chicago shut down two weeks ago due to a freak blizzard and its accompanying thundersnow (yes, thundersnow). Ladies and gents, let me tell you, there's nothing better than being 28 years old and finding out at 7:30 on a Tuesday night that tomorrow is A SNOW DAY! Seriously! When was the last time you had one of those?

Leslie, of Elle Rogers, and I were literally holding hands, screaming and jumping around my apartment when we got the news. It was as if we were back in middle school, and had just downed 14 pixie sticks, three cherry cokes and were about to prank call a boy. Here are some pictures of our gang in all its snowy glory.

So I'm a little late in posting these. :)

[images: Cassie Lynott for The Addison Stop]

Artist Showcase: Russell Chatham

I discovered this artist via Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations episode in Montana. Aren't these lithographs beautiful? I love the golden hues and overall feeling of peace Chatham incorporates into his work.

Montana really sounds lovely. It's going on my to-do list.

[images: Russell Chatham]

Cool Idea: Gobos for Signs

Gobos are a classy, albeit expensive, way to brand your event. I love the use of one here on a plain-faced building. It almost looks like a magazine ad, doesn't it?

[image: BizBash]

The Lids

I've been going through some major life changes lately, most importantly, my eyeliner. I've always admired girls who could pull off a heavy lid, but with my fair skin, didn't consider myself among the lucky few.

Enter: Bobbi Brown's Award-Winning Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner.

I know my euphoria is bound to even out a bit, but I've honestly looked forward to getting up and putting makeup on in the morning. Coming from a girl knee deep in a record-breaking Chicago winter, that is really my highest honor. A heavy line helps brigthen the eyes and because its quick-dry AND smudge proof, those sharp lines stay with you all day, making you appear more alert and polished. Plus, you get to apply it with a paintbrush, which is super fun.

Have you discovered any beauty products out there with similar magical qualities? I'd love to hear about them.

[image: Bobbi Brown]

The Stack: Vol. 6

1. 50 AND 50 is a collective project where fifty designers represent their states with a design featuring their state motto. A new state is unveiled every weekday. I can't wait for OHIO!
2. Apartment Therapy has an idea for an affordable wall art that will leave you feeling sentimental.
3. Ta-da! Farrow & Ball have announced their new wall colors for 2011.
4. My spring hairdoo.
5. Crazy fireworks from Hong Kong!

[image: Fifty and Fifty]

I think I've found my mules...

Riding on the coattails of yesterday's post. Get the whole outfit here.

[image: Anthropologie]

Anthropologie Windows at Block 37

[images: Cassie Lynott for The Addison Stop]

Stylized.

I'm digging this 80s throwback haircut.

[image]

Artist Showcase: Susan Biaggi

California Home + Design recognizes Susan Biaggi in its 2011 CH+D Awards as the top designer in Landscape Design, and it's easy to understand why. How about planning a dinner party with that table? I bet it smells fabulous.

[image: SBiaggi]

Miss Celie's Blues

After Mike's birthday bash on Friday, we're taking it slow tonight. In my case, that involves watching The Color Purple on TV, baking brownies, drinking hot tea and sewing some new pillow cases (fingers crossed on THAT endeavor). Who knows? It's Saturday night. Maybe I'll even read a novel.

In the meantime though, I'm rekindling my high school love affair with this scene between Whoopi and Tata Vega.

That headdress is beyond awesome.

A Treehouse by Bosworth Hoedemaker

Check out some of their other work here. Amazing! I love the clean, simple lines.

[images: Bosworth Hoedemaker]

Vosges Chocolates Turn on the Red Light

Alright. So, once you’ve tasted Vosges Chocolate, it’s impossible to pretend you haven’t. It is the most magnificent chocolate in existence, and it is not only delicious but immorally expensive.

I am in love with its exotic flavors, like Red Fire (hot and spicy - great when paired with a pinot noir or a bubbly rose), Blood Orange Caramel, and Organic Enchanted Mushroom (doesn't that sound interesting?). However, buyer be warned: after the sugar rush, you are quickly reduced to a painful reality known only to the lovelorn, like Sting for his Roxanne. Eight bucks a pop? Sigh.

But seriously, how cute are these little devils? I'm thinking of making a version of the beer and chocolate package for my own cutie-valentine.

[images: Vosges Chocolate, The Addison Stop]