Those in the U.K. searching for that extra special thing to grow their house can take a look at the Clerkenwell Design Week to find goods right from the showroom. On American shores, the San Francisco Bay Area’s Maker Faire encourages creative tinkering. Beneath, our five choices from all over the world of things to do this spring.
The Pothole Gardener
FESTIVAL — May 19–June 10, 2012
Chelsea Fringe
London
Whether you are interested in guerilla gardening or are simply interested in the background of horticulture, the Chelsea Fringe festival will have something for you. Aiming to exploit and disperse a few green cheer in its debut three-week event, this entirely volunteer-run initiative will have plenty of garden-related activities to choose from, occurring all around London. Some highlights include guided foraging walks, edible-garden workshops, avant-garde artwork installations as well as the mini artwork creations of the Pothole Gardener (photo).
Watch the full schedule of events
evanjoseph.com
SHOWHOUSE — May 16–June 14, 2012
Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse
The Aldyn Residences, 60 Riverside Blvd., Riverside South, New York City
If you are a style enthusiast or simply a sequential show home attendee, make sure you take a look at this year’s Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse. In years past, the series house was in an Upper East Side townhouse, but this two duplexes in a glassy Upper West Side home made building were chosen to undergo the remarkable interior makeover. Notice how 30 interior designers changed the room to showcase the latest trends in fine furnishings, art and technology.
Capital benefit after-school and enrichment programs of the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club.
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sunday, 12–5 p.m.
Cost: $30
Purchase tickets online
CAPPELLINI
FESTIVAL — May 22–24, 2012
Clerkenwell Design Week
Crown House, 151 High Rd., Loughton, U.K.
Clerkenwell Design Week is a three-day design and design festival; more than 60 design showrooms will open their doors, including Cappellini (photo), and several will stage exclusive product launches and discussions with designers. The festival will take place in the historically creative town of Clerkenwell, and a tiny traveling pop-up theatre designed by Aberrant Architecture will pay tribute to the city’s theatrically rich roots. Site-specific installations will be on display in buildings typically open to the general public, including the Farmiloe Building, a former warehouse for both glass and lead merchants, and the House of Detention, a underground Victorian prison.
There will also be an area exhibiting home products found at the April Milan furniture fair.
Hours:10 a.m.–9 p.m.
Register online for free entrance
laughingsquid.com
FAIR — May 19–20, 2012
Maker Faire
San Mateo Event Center, 1346 Saratoga Dr., San Mateo, California
Now in its seventh year, the Maker Faire is a hands-on, two-day interactive event celebrating the intersection of arts, engineering, technology and the DIY spirit. According to Make magazine, this season’s Maker Faire highlights include a Coke Zero and Mentos series (in case you do not know what happens when you combine both, warning: Don’t attempt it without some research ), lock-picking workshops and an expo hall showing advanced robotics, electronics and implemented kinetic arts. There will be a lot of do and watch for budding inventors, and for anyone with a curious spirit.
Watch the complete program guide
Hours: Saturday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Cost: Starting at $27.50 for adults
Purchase tickets online
stephaniestantonphotography.com
GARDEN TOUR — May 19–20, 2012
Trade Secrets Garden Tours
Millerton, New York; Falls Village and Lakeville, Connecticut
Nothing says spring like gardens in full bloom, and for the past 12 Decades, the annual Trade Secrets Garden Tours and sale has brought garden lovers to the grounds of upstate New York and Connecticut. Discover rare garden plants and research four manicured, manicured gardens.
Saturday’s sale provides a day of pure plant treasure hunting and also a special talk from Marina Marchese, proprietor of Red Bee Honey, about renewable honey farming. Sunday’s garden tours will include gardens at Trade Secrets’ founder Bunny Williams’ and John Rosselli’s Falls Village house, Jack Hyland’s and Larry Wente’s 41-acre property, Richard deBart’s and Debra Blair’s Linden Hill Farm and Robert and Jane Keiter’s Hawk Hill Farm.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Women’s Support Services.
Hours: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Cost: Garden sale, $35; tour, $60 in advance. 1 ticket grants entrance to all four garden tours. Purchase tickets online