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weekly wander 01

photographers we are the rhoads photographers we are the rhoadsphoto credit we are the rhoads

Slowly but surely it’s beginning to feel like spring around here. There’s something in the air and I’m ready to explore and go on an adventure. I just keep thinking about packing my bags and taking a long road trip somewhere – great food, beautiful scenery, quirky boutiques, anywhere is good and everything is new. Here are a few things inspiring my wanderlust this week –

Traveler’s guide with an insider’s feel – Wildsam is a series of small books filled to the brim with information including interviews, hand-drawn maps, reflections and essays. Travel aficionados and natives will both love these little books which are equal parts travel guide and tribute. Wildsam has already released guides for Nashville, Austin and San Francisco and have plans to release four new field guides this year – Detroit and Brooklyn in the spring and another two in the fall.

Charming corner store – Amber Clohesy and her husband Ben run the neighborhood shop The Woodsfolk Family Store in Melbourne, Australia specializing in home goods and sweet gifts. The store stocks a wide range of products including locally handmade items such as dream catchers, cushions and tea towels, dozens of items from the US like greeting cards, leather goods, bags and camp stools and their entire line of products from their wholesale business Down to the Woods. I have a feeling I could spend hours in a shop like this.

Take me away – I love these photos taken by photographer Jennifer Chong from her recent trip to Argentina. Just looking at them makes me want to jet off to an exotic location. Iguazu Falls is high on my list of adventures the next time I find myself in South America. See more of Jennifer’s travels here.

let’s eat and drink | river west chicago

eat and drink river west chicago | photo credit we are the barkers eat and drink river west chicago | photo credit we are the barkers eat and drink river west chicago | photo credit we are the barkers eat and drink river west chicago | photo credit we are the barkersphoto credit we are the barkers

I’m so proud of this city, and I loved living there so much that I thought I’d share some of my favorite spots with you – a guide if you ever visit Chicago or if you live here and want to try a few new places. Today I’m going to start with my old Chicago neighborhood – River West.

So, River West – it’s a tiny little neighborhood along Milwaukee from Grand to Chicago east of the Kennedy Expressway and west of the North Branch of the Chicago River and there are tons of fine dining and inexpensive cafes, wine bars and coffee shops. There’s an intersection at Grand, Milwaukee and Halsted with several great places – La Scarola, Iguana Cafe, Piccolo Sogno and The Dawson. River West also rubs elbows with some of the trendier neighborhoods in the city – Wicker Park, River North and the West Loop are all just a few blocks away. Let’s eat and drink –

Iguana Cafe – A true local hangout with a European feel – I love it here. Try the crepes or the paninis. Linger over coffee or a glass of wine. Also a great spot for brunch.
La Scarola – this little restaurant is the real thing. Healthy sized portions of authentic Italian cuisine – I love their grilled calamari and any of their pasta dishes.
Piccolo Sogno – Delicious Italian food and amazing atmosphere. It has the best outdoor patio in the city and we order the antipasto appetizer every time. Previously mentioned Piccolo here.
Paramount Room – Craft beer, burgers and specialty cocktails. I like to grab a bite at the bar.
The Point – Grab a table outside in the sun and enjoy a great classic cocktail or beer from their long list.
694 Wine Bar – I love this spot, one of my favorites in the city! Delicious plates of meats and cheeses and an excellent wine selection. Go Wednesday night for BBQ night all year long!
Silver Palm – A railroad dining car turned restaurant and a great spot for dinner – or take a seat at one of the sidewalk tables.
Matchbox Bar – Very narrow, hip bar – could possibly be Chicago’s tiniest bar. Have a chat with one of the bartendars and a quirky cocktail. Can’t go wrong with a Manhattan – they marinate their own cherries in bourbon.
Big Shoulders Coffee – Grab your morning coffee and a fresh pastry. They’ve got wifi too if you need it.
Thalia Spice – an excellent little Thai cafe
Duran  It’s part of a small chain but the sandwiches are delicious and it’s BYOB
Windy City Cafe – a neighborhood gem and the very best breakfast sandwiches in the city! Family owned, lots of traditional breakfast and lunch options and their coffee comes from Big Shoulders.
The Dawson  a casual spot with three bars – upstairs, downstairs, outside – and an American menu that makes use of a wood-burning grill. This place just opened in the fall and is a great addition to the neighborhood!

designer carolina iriarte

designer carolina iriarte via freunde von freunden | palettes and passports blogdesigner carolina iriarte via freunde von freunden | palettes and passports blog designer carolina iriarte via freunde von freunden | palettes and passports blogdesigner carolina iriarte via freunde von freunden | palettes and passports blogdesigner carolina iriarte via freunde von freunden | palettes and passports blogdesigner carolina iriarte via freunde von freunden | palettes and passports blogA dreamy feature on Argentinian born fashion designer Carolina Iriarte and her covetable Barcelona showroom. Carolina creates one of a kind purses with the level of quality you seem to only find with antiques. Her latest collection of handbags, called Sur, is inspired by the literary movement from Buenos Aires following the birth of South Magazine and it’s founder Victoria Ocampo. I found myself devouring these photos of Barcelona and this article about Carolina. You can tell that her creative endeavors are an authentic reflection of how she lives which I truly admire.

shop iriarte iriarte | photo source freunde von freunden 

kohler | wisconsin

a winter weekend in kohler wisconsin | palettes and passports bloga winter weekend in kohler wisconsin | palettes and passports bloga winter weekend in kohler wisconsin | palettes and passports bloga winter weekend in kohler wisconsin | palettes and passports bloga winter weekend in kohler wisconsin | palettes and passports bloga winter weekend in kohler wisconsin | palettes and passports bloga winter weekend in kohler wisconsin | palettes and passports bloga winter weekend in kohler wisconsin | palettes and passports bloga winter weekend in kohler wisconsin | palettes and passports bloga winter weekend in kohler wisconsin | palettes and passports bloga winter weekend in kohler wisconsin | palettes and passports bloga winter weekend in kohler wisconsin | palettes and passports blogOur weekend in Kohler consisted of long walks around the lake, steamy bowls of soup and Spotted Cows, ice skating followed by evening naps and long drawn out dinners. We spent Sunday morning getting pampered at the Kohler Waters Spa. I typically spend most of the winter season indoors avoiding the actual weather that comes with winter, but it felt so refreshing to change settings for a bit, get outdoors and explore a new place.

For Chicago folks who want to visit, the Village of Kohler is located on 419 Highland Drive in Kohler, Wisconsin about two hours north of Chicago and one hour north of Milwaukee.

photo credit kate zitzer

beach guide

Winter has settled in. It’s 16 degrees in Chicago today and this board has me dreaming of a beach vacation. I ‘d love to have the tie-dye tote, and seriously, how fun are those polka dotted sneakers? Also, don’t forget that beach print is on sale right now for $15. You can find it here.

beach guide | palettes and passports blogFind these items – 1 Linda Farrow sunglasses 2 Shopbop blanket 3 Louise & Co denim shorts 4 Zara tie-dye shopperTopshop nail polish 6 Rebecca Minkoff sunglasses pouch 7 J Crew hat 8 Madewell sneakers 9 Anthropologie journal 10 Forever 21 duffel bag 11 popsicle 12 River Island bikini bottoms 13 ModCloth earrings 14 Huffy bike 15 ModCloth straw hat 16 sandals 17 ASOS sunglasses