Where there’s a wiki, there’s a way
www.Wikihow.com
If you’re raring to go on some new shelter project but haven’t a clue on specifics, you might want to try Wikihow.com, a community-authored index of how-to guides. If you’ve ever used a wiki like wikipedia.org, you know how this site works: Individual users write the articles, and other users can edit or add-on under the supervision of the site’s webmasters. Baffled by your messy kitchen? That’s easy: Navigate to "How to Organize a Kitchen." Wikihow’s community seems to know how to do everything, no matter how big or small, concrete or abstract. You might arrive looking for specific instructions on how to fix a leaky faucet, but after some link-jumping, find yourself reading about how to find happiness (there’s a correlation, after all).—Carianne King
Back in time
www.lala-a-gogo.com/kitschen/
Throwing a party, but in need of some fresh ideas? Party like it’s 1959! So says The Kitschen, a website that presents 1950s- and ’60s-inspired party guides. Webmaster "Lala" has a passion for vintage things and created the site to redefine the modern-day soiree, which she describes as "just a bunch of cheap booze, pizza, and rambunctious ruckus." In the site’s "Party Ideas" section, find answers to etiquette emergencies like "Which appetizers are appropriate for my cocktail party?" or "How can I decorate sensibly for a luau?" Perhaps you’re just looking to add some style to your recipe box; The Kitschen offers cute, easy-to-print recipe cards for desserts like "Strawberry Festival Cake" or "Goody Goody Gumdrop Cookies." The site is marred by some incomplete links, but if you have the time to browse around these, you’re guaranteed to find something kitschy-cool for your next shindig.—C.K.
Spaced out
www.grdnbklyn.com
"Well, at least I tried." Unfortunately, this is what many urban gardeners end up admitting with their wilting windowbox displays. With GRDN, a store that springs from Brooklyn, New York, city-dwellers can now shop for accessories that will help them add some green to their lives without the plant pity. Browse for décor items like pots and vases, or practical tools like plant clippers, and you can enjoy sleek photographs that inspire solutions for a healthy indoor garden. GRDN doesn’t stop at the garden, though—the "kitchen" section of the site sells stylish water pitchers, tea kettles, and other decorative pieces for your cooking space. The "Gardener’s Sore Muscle Soak," an original soap that massages away pains after a long day of green-thumbing, is another charming item we found in the "bath" section. Even if you decide to keep the windowbox after all, GRDN promises some unique products to freshen up your home in other ways.—C.K.
Get together
www.meetup.com
Like a popular friend, Meetup.com knows people and can get you into all the hottest parties. Well, maybe not parties. But knitting circles, cooking clubs, or film societies? Definitely. If you’re new in town, or just looking to meet locals who share your interests, Meetup.com’s Charlottesville network can be an excellent tool. The site has been gaining interest in our area recently as a place where members can organize club meetings through messageboards, polls, and calendars. When we looked at the Charlottesville Knitting Meetup Group (50 subscribers), for example, it had two meetings set up for August with RSVP information for those who want to come knit, chat or learn. "Good Reads and Good Eats" (68 subscribers), a book club that meets at a local restaurant each month to discuss its latest read, frequently uses the polling feature to decide its next book. Charlottesville’s network is just getting off the ground—so there’s still a lot of room for you to invent your own reason for rendez-vous.—C.K.
