Cover story:
From junk to funk
We admit it: We never scored A's in art, home ec or shop class. So when it came to whipping up a homemade gift that didn't look like that warped clay coil pot we made in second grade, we needed some help.
DIY at Bucketworks Adding a personalized touch can turn a so-so gift into something spectacular.
On the cover Fonde P. Bridges; Photo/Jake Herrle

downtime
Hip hop homage Brew City artists remember the time they fell in love with beats, breakin' and graffiti.
Threeview: Butch's Clock Steak House Somewhere on the restaurant spectrum between an old-fashioned supper club and a fancy steakhouse lies Butch's Clock Steak House and Martini Bar.
Budget bite: Flautas (chicken or beef) at Casa del Rio It's not hard to find something to smile about at Casa del Rio.
Dining out for the holiday? Plan ahead A number of years ago we had Chinese takeout for Thanksgiving dinner. Untraditional?
One tank trip: Chicago's Millennium Park Chicago's Millennium Park was designed to be an outdoor epicenter where green space, open-air theater and public art meet.
Meet the bartender: Jenny Toy Jenny Toy has got it under control. At least that's the impression you get as she serves or talks to you.
Exposure On Thursday, Nov. 18, the holiday season got under way with the annual Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival.

how we live
How I got my job: Nina Gelmanovich of Enigma Beauty Salon MKE talked to Nina Gelmanovich of Enigma Beauty Salon about her career, which started in Belarus.
Easy ways to loosen up when work gets tight There are ways to squeeze some stress relief into your lunch break.
You don't have to trim veggies from the big feast Bringing a dish? Add a side of seasonal taste.
New stores on the scene A bike mecca, a marriage of sound and sight, dig-worthy bargains, and fashions Sarah Jessica would love.
The perfect bird These tips can turn a turkey into a savory meal.
Feeling your way through jealousy How you deal with insecurity and fear can make or break a relationship.
What's the feeling of 16 needles poking you? MKE's Nicole Sweeney let a stranger jab her with needles in the name of relaxation.

in the know
Profile: Lelia Lupianez The weather's nicer in Nicaragua, but friends keep this Milwaukeean warm.
How to pick up the pieces after identity thieves strike What do you do when someone's already been pretending to be you?
When I was 30: Kim and Hamid Alwan Time can make the life stories of a couple get confusingly entangled.

online exclusives
Attack of the clones "Please see ID." That's what I wrote on the back of my Visa CheckCard in place of my signature.
MKE blogs
MKE blog directory: 1000 voices