Midwest Living - February 2010

Drawers of discovery Part of the charm of buying handmade gifts is that every detail—the color of the beads, the grain of the wood, the thumbprint in the pottery—tells a story. But the goods for sale at Helen Winnemore Craft in Columbus, Ohio, have an extra-special history.

In the 1930s, art lover Helen Winnemore began inviting friends to her house to browse her crafts collection. She updated her inventory constantly, purchasing works from around the country and storing them in chests of drawers. Eventually she opened a storefront, and then, in 1966, moved her shop to the historic German Village neighborhood, only to find that customers missed rummaging through her dressers! So she installed drawers and filled them with hand-crafted jewelry, clothes, toys and housewares.

In 1997, a year after Helen died, her manager sold the business to Sarah Harpham, who had two big assets—a jam-packed file cabinet of artisan info and warm memories of shopping at Helen Winnemore’s as a child.

Thirteen years later, the shop still buzzes,
especially on Saturdays, when visitors have
time to linger, pulling open drawers in
search of the perfect treasure.
Helen Winnemore Craft, 150 E. Kossuth
Street (614/444-5850; helenwinnemores.com).

READER’S
PICK
THE
LONDON TEA ROOM

Many English-style American tea shops tend toward the frilly and

feminine. But The London Tea Room in St. Louis strives for authenticity.

That means piping hot loose-leaf in real teapots; airy, house-made scones topped with Devonshire cream and jam; and, yes, good coffee, because Brits drink that, too. What

PHOTOGRAPHS: (SHOP) RANDALL LEE SCHIEBER; ( TEA ROOM) COURTESY OF LONDON TEA ROOM; (MUSEUM) EXPLORE MINNESOTA TOURISM

you won’t find are lace curtains or teddy bears.

Owner Pat Richardson opened the London Tea Room so Americans could see that English tea—even the three-course kind—isn’t a buttoned-up experience. The mood here is hip,

relaxed and a wee bit funky, and the menu includes a full range of paninis, soups and sweet treats to complement your afternoon “cuppa.”

The London Tea Room, 1520 Washington Avenue (314/241-6556; thelondontearoom.com).

Have a Discovery of your own? We’re always looking for more ideas. Send your own tales from the road to Discoveries, Midwest Living, 1716 Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50309-3023. Or send an e-mail to discoveries@midwestliving.com. If we publish your pick, you’ll receive $50.

Art of the Iron Curtain

During the Cold War, many Russian artists led double lives, producing Soviet propaganda while simultaneously risking their lives to make their own art. The Museum of Russian Art brings those hidden works to light—and hosts a range of special exhibitions—in a beautifully renovated Minneapolis church. Every piece tells a different story, but taken as a whole, the collection is an inspirational testament to the creative spirit. Admission charged. 5500 Stevens Avenue S (612/821-9045; tmora.org). ;