Perhaps you are a baseball fan - or possibly you live with someone who is, obsessed with stats and RBIs and the like.

Right now, you (or they) are oh, so happy because the playoffs are here. Want to talk ball? Here, start with this: It’s going to be one of the best Fall Classics ever.

If you’re a Chicago Cubs fan, you’re so happy you could cry. The Cubs have not been in the World Series for 100 years — that’s right, a whole  century. But now, they have the best record in the majors and this could be the year! (Disclaimer: My whole family are Cubs fans, and we were singing, “Go Cubs Go!” the day they clinched the division.)

(more…)

When is a book a head scarf? When is a dish towel a souvenir? Not often, granted €” but these cute textiles fit all the descriptions above and more. They’re humble but lovely cloths made in Japan, where you might find them worn in street festivals or hanging on the wall. In case their multi-functionality confuses Western shoppers, importers have folded them up and stitched them so the make a kind of book of fabric, each “page” highlighting a different part of the larger illustration. (To use them as originally intended, just snip the two threads that keep the sheet folded up.) While the fabric’s maker, Hamamonyo, offers a huge selection of patterns in Japan (see them at this foreign-language site), the American company Compact Impact is testing the market with only three styles, which it sells in this bundle for $15.50. More varieties featuring illustrations of pets are on their way in October, the retailer says.

You can€™t buy love. But you sure can surround yourself with beauty that is good for the heart and soul. That notion would seem to be the organizing principle behind the eclectic offerings at Rian Rae Interiors & Gifts, which specializes in unique but comfy home décor pieces that make use of elements found in nature and are, quite simply, beautiful to behold. They€™re also so sensually and texturally alluring that you might just long to reach out and touch them, like these geometrically shaped hand-crocheted pendant lamps ($224; pictured) or this French crinkle pendant made of white glass ($379). The Bamboo Cloud chandelier was designed by a Thai artist using traditional bamboo-weaving techniques in a nontraditional way ($690). The roof of this handcrafted lantern ($1,898) is covered with oyster shells. Cuddle up on the couch with this crocheted wool throw ($148), and put a cup of hot tea on this coffee table made from an antique Fench pigeon basket ($1,385). (more…)

Did you make it to Lollapalooza last weekend in Chicago’s Grant Park? Were you in the crowd for Wilco, Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Nine Inch Nails or Kanye West? No? Sigh. Neither were we. But that’s fixable. Read the Blogapalooza, take crib notes from the 2008 set lists, buy the shirt and say you went. The Lolla Coat of Arms women’s T (pictured) would do the job nicely, with its black and gold eagle stretched above a Lollapalooza banner ($20). You can get that same coat of arms on a Lollapalooza onesie ($15). A little more cash will get you extreme eye candy with the limited-edition custom-made Lollapalooza skateboard by Element ($95). If you’d rather be the center of attention for having not attended the CMA Festival, you can accomplish that with the 2008 official event shirt, which splashes the logo across your chest and lists the musicians down your back ($20), or even the official 2008 CMA shooter glass (and yes, that is its actual name) for $10. Wishing you’d gone to Bonnaroo? The 2008 limited-edition silk-screened event poster will help with that, since it’s got cool funky art and lists all the musicians who performed ($30). You say you’re more of a Coachella kind of girl? Then it’s the “Sound Waves and Heat Waves Unite” Hula Hula T that is calling your name ($35.) And if you’re really holding out for the music itself, you can still get single-day passes to the 2008 Austin City Limits Music Festival Sept. 26-28 ($80 per day) or grounds tickets to the 2008 Monterey Jazz Fest Sept. 19-21 ($35 Friday, $45 Saturday or Sunday). The longest-running jazz festival in the world already has its own official black, electric blue and gold 2008 event shirt online as well ($25), so regardless of whether you go, check it out. It’s as cool as Coltrane. — by Diane Porter

Multicolored anodized aluminum is back and as sleek as ever for the home. First popularized by the Art Deco movement, the process of making the metal’s surface harder and less reactive with acidic substances resulted in beautiful objects for the home like these rare English Art Deco anodized pink ($375) and green ($175) aluminum vases from Decollect. For the noncollector, we found a set of six tumblers at Sur la Table ($30) just right for outdoor entertaining. And for keeping the ice cream cold, Betty€™s Attic has a retro aluminum ice cream bowl set ($18). For cocktails, Target offers sets of colorful martini and margarita (pictured) glasses ($30 for a set of six), and for nondrinkers there are juice tumblers ($20 for a set of six). Each one features a different color on the outside (like turquoise, eggplant and olive), and a mirror finish on the inside. Pour the beverages from a huge 98-ounce retro pitcher ($20). And if you€™re in the market for a bud vase, TVA has a charming example of anodized aluminum that comes in your choice of red, purple or silver. Hand washing is recommended for all items.

Holy credit card, Batman! The Dark Knight sure does make you want to shop. The film, starring Christian Bale and Heath Ledger, scored the biggest opening in Hollywood history with $155 million. And while you may have already spent $10 on a movie ticket, there are superhero-sized amounts of Batman-inspired goods to keep the spirit of the movie alive. The official Warner Brothers Batman Store is a good place to begin. The general consensus is that Ledger steals the show as the Joker, so no doubt the black Joker T-shirt ($20) or the white “Why so serious?” Joker T ($20) is a good addition to any collection. A lunchbox with a Batman emblem is the perfect accessory for back to school ($14), while The Dark Knight limited-edition Batman bust ($66) or Joker statue ($165; pictured) could adorn the mantle of any comic-loving fan . At Target.com, fans can purchase The Dark Knight, a book featuring character sketches, director Christopher Nolan’s original shooting script and personal behind-the-scenes material created during filming ($27). Buzz is already growing for a possible Oscar nomination for the film’s music; pick up the movie’s soundtrack at Amazon ($13). Kmart offers fun Batman decor for youngsters. The Warner Brothers Batman rough bat valance ($12) goes perfectly with the Batman dark bat comforter ($25). Sweet superhero dreams!

Michael Tonello has been criss-crossing the country to promote his book, Bringing Home the Birkin: My Life in Hot Pursuit of the World’s Most Coveted Handbag. Squeeze this one into your summer reading list: It chronicles Tonello’s journey from New England based hairdresser/make-up artist to “Platinum Power Seller” on Ebay living in Barcelona. After moving to Spain for a job that falls through, Tonello turns to creative ways to pay rent. Eventually, he earns power seller status with Hermes products, specializing in the holy grail of purses: the Hermès Birkin bag, beloved by stars and socialites and virtually impossible to obtain through retail channels. A glance at eBay reveals asking prices from $14,000 to more than $55,000 (pictured is the elusive Hermès Rouge VIF Croc Birken with diamonds). BHTB is a fun romp and engaging memoir mixed with the allure of Hermès’ iconic bag. Tonello in person is a charming blend of Fred Astaire meets boy from New England. His Web site offers entertaining details about the book and author. I visited with Tonello at a recent signing, and he told me about his plan to produce a line of men€™s jewelry he’ll call His Inheritance (he wore a fabulous tourmaline ring he designed). He also plans to follow up his Birkin book success with a prequel detailing his adventures as a makeup artist/hairdresser. There may even be a series of children€™s books based on the antics of his cats, Dali and Gala. After persuading him to read some of his favorite BHTB passages aloud, I went to bed with visions of Birkins dancing in my head.