In this week’s Marketplace collection, Paradise City’s artists show you work that is fanciful, whimsical, and guaranteed to make you smile. It may be playful, high-spirited or simply full of witty visual puns. It may have bright colors, exaggerated shapes, introduce you to mythical characters or even tell a captivating story.

What we love most about summertime and warm weather is that it allows us to spend a lot of our time outside. After a season of being cooped up inside, it’s great to throw open the windows, breathe the fresh air, and walk out the door. We hope you’ll allow some of Paradise City’s artists to show you the way.

In this week’s curated Marketplace “Table Talk”, you’ll find furniture and home furnishings made of the finest hardwoods and fabricated from metal and glass. Some makers draw their inspiration from the Arts and Crafts Movement, mid-century aesthetics, or Japanese architecture. Others simply let the natural woodgrain guide them or push their work into the realm of cutting-edge design.

Memorial Day Weekend is upon us. It’s the unofficial start of summer, but more important, it’s also the weekend when many of you normally make a beeline for the Three County Fairgrounds in Northampton to savor the pleasures of the Paradise City Arts Festival.

A great “gift match” is so satisfying. It can be something you know they need – or an amazing find they don’t even know is their heart’s desire until they receive it. This curated selection of gifts covers a wide range of occasions, from weddings and graduations to birthdays, baby showers, and even just a “thank you for being my friend” token.