Cheryl's Art And Music Guide

Annika Hinds thinks her family helped fuel her creativity. If a new table, shed, doghouse or treehouse was needed, they built it themselves.  So when Annika adopted a kitten, she avoided overpriced stores and made Figgy 's toys and accessories herself--even a jungle gym and miniature cabin! The results appear in Chronicle Books ' Crafting For Your Cat .  Each craft is rated with a paw system which indicates the degree of difficulty. So five paws represent more challenges. The DIY guide is also fun for those who aren't handy. It's full of appealing photos with 'models'--including Figgy --posing with Annika's creations.  A couple of scratching posts, shaped like a giant strawberry and mushroom, resemble pop art. Other colorful projects include a crescent moon hammock, crochet bandana, floral tent, and sparkling name tag. There's even a tea party plate. It sounds elegant and complicated, but gets just one paw: All one needs to do is glue a saucer on top o...

The Art And Music Guide was sorry to learn about the passing of Clive Davis . The record executive and producer, known for his ''golden ear,'' was 94 years old.  Clive was with Columbia Records before he started Arista.  This was where he signed up acts like Aretha F ranklin, Barry Manilow, and Patti Smith .  In 2000, he founded J Records , credited with the success of Alicia Keys and Maroon 5 . Clive, who also worked with Janis Joplin, Carlos Santana and Aerosmith , hosted an annual Grammy Week bash which Variety called ''the music business' most coveted social ducat.''

We've all heard of photogenic people, but tornadoes? Storm chaser and author Hank-Schyma thinks they can be, although he is particularly fond of lightning. There are loads of such images in his book, Storm: Chasing Nature's Wildest Weather . There's even lightning-related phenomena: The most common, he says, are sprites. which often resemble jellyfish. They are among the book's best shots. So it's disappointing to learn that light-sensitive cameras are responsible, as sprites aren't too bright close up. When it comes to hail, Hank isn't eager to get up close--though they come in all sorts of odd shapes (even resembling the human heart in one depiction). He explains that storm chasers are not concerned so much about getting hurt. It is more about losing a vehicle window, then being forced off the road while trying to find another one. Hank has had his fill of hurricanes, though. After capturing damage from Ike , which made landfall not far from his home in ...

Forever Stamps tells the story of American history, pop culture and art through hundreds of vibrantly rendered stamps.  The book, due on the 16th of June, includes popular figures like Charlie Brown and Mister Rogers . It also salutes artists who have contributed to U.S. stamps, such as Ruth Asawa and Ellsworth Kelly .  Visit https://www. penguinrandomhouseretail.com/ book/?isbn=9780593797358 for a look inside.  In related news, Ralph Lauren is the first person to be invited to curate a complete, official USPS stamp issuance. The collection is called American Icons . There are 13 stamps, featuring photographs from the 86-year-old's archive and from visuals which have inspired him. A lighthouse, teddy bear, baseball glove, pickup truck, hamburger and barn are among the images.  A dedication ceremony for the stamps was recently held at the James A. Farley Post Office Building in New York City. To purchase, click on https://store.usps.com/ store/home , and to lear...

It's not officially summer yet. But the 2026 Foellinger-Theatre summer concert series kicked off last night in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with the Fort Wayne Community Band . This was a free show--unlike national names like Kansas and 38 Special (scheduled for July 10), Three Dog Night (July 17) and UB40 (October 4). Another noteworthy headliner will be the Little River Band , once considered ''the best singing band in the world'' by the Eagles ' Glenn Frey . They are to be supported, on June 12, by Seals and Crofts 2 . The new project, which honors the popular seventies duo, features Brady Seals , cousin of original member Jim Seals , and Lua Crofts , daughter of Dash Crofts .  David Lee Roth was to appear tomorrow night with Eagles of Death Metal . However, Roth's performance has been cancelled, due to ''unforeseen circumstances.''  Major upgrades to the venue were completed last year, including enhanced stage and house lighting, and ...

Christie's will soon be offering rare artifacts once owned by Jim Irsay, the late owner of the Indianapolis Colts .  It is the next installment in The Jim Irsay Collection Series , with the first four happening in March of this year.  This time around, the sale will include goods ranging from a painted eagle regimental drum to Harry Truman 's Inauguration Day top hat. There are also posters and pennants from key elections and historic moments as well as autographed photos and other items pertaining to figures as diverse as Harry Houdini and Susan B. Anthony .  The live auction, which is a celebration of America 250 , will held on the first of July at Christie's New York (20 Rockefeller Center). Prior to that, a free public exhibition will be held at the same location. Some proceeds will be donated to causes supported by Irsay. Among them was the Kicking the Stigma campaign, launched by Jim and his daughters in 2020 to raise awareness and expand treatment and resear...