Great Gifting: Seeing the Art Around You

By now, "buy local" is a mantra for everything from where we shop for groceries to where we buy our books. Not that the internet doesn't provide a handy outlet when the thing you're looking for isn't available locally or the price is prohibitive. But there's nothing like going to your favorite neighborhood bookshop, browsing the shelves or talking to the owner…you know, in person…and discovering, say, a new favorite author.

Same goes for buying gifts from local artists and designers. I mean, not that there isn't some decent mass-produced stuff out there, but isn't it more fun to say something was made by a friend, a neighbor or even someone in the area, particularly if it's totally gorgeous?

With all the holiday bazaars, gift shows and studio tours going on, it's not hard to find something for everyone from beer drinkers to great-aunties. Here are a few local artists to get you started, and feel free to add your own faves in the comments section!

• Occupy Pubs t-shirts from Beer Goddess Lisa Morrison.
• Delicate jewelry made with precious stones from Lisa Belt of Maefly Designs (above left).
• Plein air landscapes, plus chickens and farm implements from Clare Carver (top).
• Contemporary illustrations layered into beeswax from Amy Ruppel.

Read the other Great Gifting posts: Eating is Believing, Giving From the Heart and Keeping Spirits Bright.

CAVA Closing Tonight

Our friend Amy Ruppel just sent an e-mail letting us know that tonight is the last night to go in and get CAVA's amazing mushroom bruschetta, to sit in the warm glow of the dining room with so many other eastsiders and enjoy a place that exuded that certain Portland charm, with none of the pretense, the trying-too-hard-to-be-hip attitude found at so many other places.

In her message, Amy outlines the reasons for the closure:

"Blame it on the 'economic crisis,' or the location, or what have you.... the business is just not pulling in what it needs/used to, and the costs heavily outweigh the intake. We've stayed open as long as we could, digging deep into our own pockets to try to keep it all running, but to no avail.

"It's sad, for last night we actually had a good amount of folks come in. And they loved it. And we know people love it, and they (and us) will be very upset about this closure. It makes me ill to think about all the work and love we put into that place, only to have it fade away and become another statistic.

"I wish I had a million dollars, or an investor in these crazy times, to keep it all afloat and keep everyone happily fed, and the staff employed. But in the end, we need to save CAVA from delving deeper into debt."

We'll miss you and the staff that made it such a special place, Amy.

Details: Cava Tavern, 5339 SE Foster at 53rd. Phone 503-206-8615