Strange Closets

I write about Ipso Facto a lot, I know, but I can’t help myself.  Former Chicagoan and Ipso Facto owner Brandon Nelson’s eye for color, space and dimension makes me want to dance, er, take photos, and so I do.

Harbor Country, Michigan’s a tough place to leave, especially on a perfect sunny September Sunday.  After spending two summer’s worth of near perfect weekends in the area, I’ve come to associate New Buffalo and the surrounding towns with stunning natural beauty, amazing antique shops and interesting people.  And frankly I enjoy the delusion, which is [...]

This one’s for all you antique lovers out there. Alan Robandt was one of the first antique dealers to invest in downtown Buchanan, and he actually relocated there to spearhead its revival.  I would advise you to drop by the next time you’re in the area, but I actually think it’s worth a special trip.  [...]

I’ve never particularly liked the concept of favorites.  While I would never judge the kind of people who feel the need to proclaim that their favorite color is blue or that their favorite band is Winger (whatever), those kind of people are somewhat juvenile (we must face facts mustn’t we?).  Having said that . . [...]

When I interviewed KitchenLab co-founder Rebekah Zaveloff last fall, I was struck by the fact that unlike many specialists in a given field, the witty intellectual spoke passionately about a variety of topics including art, politics and food, not only its preparation but what it means in the larger context.  And she wasn’t off-message (that’s [...]

Ipso Facto owner and past Open House star Brandon Nelson is a man of many talents.  In addition to curating one of the coolest collection of antiques and vintage goods in the Midwest , playing in the band Squirm Orchestra and raising two kids with wife Lisa, Brandon’s also an artist who creates breathtaking pieces.