Next Tuesday, December 4, DWR on Tremont Street will be hosting an auction to benefit Artists for Humanity, a Boston-based non-profit.

"DWR Boston is excited to introduce Artists for Humanity's latest venture, a 'green' furniture line using junk mail to create tabletops and wall art. As part of the project, the Boston Studio challenged the participating teens to incorporate re-claimed DWR catalogs into their design. Artists for Humanity (AFH) partners these talented inner city kids with design professional mentors and encourages them to conceptualize, create and market individually assigned projects. The Studio is taking part in its first ever AFH design challenge and auction. The results will be unveiled during this inspiring event. Select pieces will be auctioned the same night, and 100% of the proceeds will benefit Artists For Humanity."

RSVP to boston@dwr.com by November 30.

Design Within Reach
519 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02116
617-451-7801

Last year, I told you about a proposed skyscraper that would be taller than the Hancock tower. I knew that Steve Belkin, the only person to submit a proposal for the site, would incorporate the adjacent office building, 133 Federal Street, that he owns into the project.

What I didn't know was that Belkin's adjacent building is the Blue Cross Blue Shield building, built in 1960 by Paul Rudolph, one of America's foremost Brutalist architects. As things stand now, Belkin has been given the right to tear down the BCBS building as soon as early next year.

Jason Hart of CUBE design + research has created an interesting proposal to preserve the BCBS building while allowing for the new tower to be built. He has created modernpreservation, a flash movie showing his ideas. I particularly like the idea of preserving the exterior of the building and melding it into the facade of the tower.

Take a look and let us know what you think!

Last month, Dabbieri's Sonciary Honnol teased us by saying she was going to have a contest on her blog, but that we'd have to wait for it.

Now, the wait is over! Just go to the contest page and enter your email address to win. It's as simple as that.

Good luck!

Joe Varnum has been my friend since I first moved to Massachusetts over 20 years ago. After serving in the Navy and working in technology, he recognized his creative side and went back to school; he is currently in the Graphic Design/Photography program and UMass Lowell.

The Lowell Friends of Photography are a "group of students, alumni, and faculty at UMass Lowell who share a common respect for the photographic arts." They have created a 2008 calendar of the group's photos, and one of Joe's photographs, "Home", is there for July. Congratulation, Joe!

This weekend, skip past the mass-produced nonsense and get your loved ones some truly unique gifts.

Crafts at the Castle 2007, now in its 22nd year, will bring "150 of the top craftspeople and designers in the country for this annual major cultural event in Boston." Meet the artists and see (and buy!) their handmade clothing, jewelry, art and more.

Not only will you find great, unique gifts, but you will also be helping charity: 100% of the ticket proceeds goes to "Family Service of Greater Boston, boasting over 170 years of serving families and communities in Greater Boston... 100% of the ticket proceeds directly benefit programs for children, youth, and families struggling with emotional, psychological, and economic effects of poverty, abuse and neglect."