This month’s National Geographic features a story about Russia’s dacha culture, a long history of summer cottage living that goes back as far as Peter the Great’s reign in the 1700s. Today, it’s estimated that nearly 50% of Russian urbanites have some form of dacha, the definition of which has expanded from the modest one-room, unheated summer shack to include massive homes just 50 miles from Moscow. But in most traditional dacha communities, where there aren’t even permanent mailing addresses, the old ways persist. Parties with singing and dancing, horse riding and swimming, and gardening occupy most residents’ time. While…
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Referred to as “Sweden’s most primitive hotel,” STF Kolbaryn has neither running water nor electricity. It is situated on lake Skärsjön in the seemingly endless forest regions of south central Sweden, only two hours drive from Stockholm. Guests stay in small forest huts, half built into the ground, with two wooden cots and a fireplace. You chop your own wood, start your own fires and cook your own food. But you also get to enjoy the water, either by boat or floating sauna, take midnight wolf pack tours in the woods, and hunt for forest trolls. In Sweden, the connection…
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I find flags to be fascinating almost-art objects. And the storytelling aspects of rare American flags, typically used to express unity or victory or passion, are part of the same symbolic lineage as merit badges we all lust after at camp. Lots of geometric shapes, bold colors and iconography. These days, merit badges still tell a story — of a struggle, or a victory — and serve to express commitment to a group or cause, such as environmentalism or organic farming. And the visual stories they tell are as important to campers as these early flags were to revolutionaries and idealists. We made merit badges…
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Second up in our ‘meet your new camp counselor’ series…MICHAEL KISER. An insanely talented, prolific, inspiring, brainiac tastemaker, (and married to the equally talented and lovely Hillary, who you will meet tomorrow).Here’s a little something about Michael:RESIDING AT…Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood by way of the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania.FAVORITE SUMMER CAMP MEMORYThe canoe race at Camp Brulé in 6th grade. We finished first, only to realize we’d forgotten the last lap. We jumped back in, backwards, and still won. Oh, and kissing girls. TOP 3 FAVORITE SITES / BLOGS FOR INSPIRATIONhttp://www.ohbeautifulbeer.com — the blend of vintage and modern design elements, especially the…
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