Jenna Vanden Brink Ceramics. Each handmade piece by this local artist is thoughtfully created, from the contemporary colors to the sharply etched designs. Warning: Her lovely bud vases might outshine your flowers. www.jennavandenbrink.com
Keepin’ It 1600 Podcast. Sure, Jon Favreau and Dan Pfeiffer have a bias — they worked for candidate and President Obama — but they know how a successful presidential campaign is supposed to be run. Useful insights during this especially unconventional season.
Before the Fall. This mystery from Noah Hawley unravels what happens before and after the crash of an executive jet with some important people on board. A page-turner that finds time to examine how life and death are inevitably processed through media experiences.
Perseid Meteor Shower at Riverview Observatory. Astronomers expect the annual meteor shower to be bigger than usual, and inside city limits a good way to catch it is laying on a blanket on the big lawn by this North Side park’s historic observatory. Peak nights should be Thu., Aug. 11, and Fri., Aug. 12.
