The final logo for Story Hill BKC has yet to be chosen, but here are two concepts that have been developed. BKC will hold a bustling cafe with an open kitchen at the back. Exposed Cream City brick walls will enhance the rustic feel of the space. Original terrazzo will be refurbished to give the cafe old world charm. Published Feb. 26, 2014 at 11:07 a.m.

"Bring your imagination," read the text from Chef Joe Muench as he invited me to tour the future home of Story Hill BKC at 5102 W. Bluemound Rd., which is scheduled to open sometime this summer.

And there was no pretense in his request. Imagination is exactly what it takes to walk into a space that's been stripped down to the studs and envision the potential of what it might become.

But, that exercise has become part of the day-to-day for restaurant owners Muench and Dan Sidner, whose vision of a coffee shop / retail shop / restaurant still rings larger than life.

"It's exciting and frustrating all at the same time," says Muench as we walk through the space bright and early on a Monday morning.

The large front windows are dusty from the demolition, and yet as the sun filters through the grime it reveals the lovely if stark landscape of Mitchell Boulevard Park. The view is broken only by the myriad colors of Nancy Metz White's recycled steel "Tree of Life" sculpture, a symbol of the artists intention that it become a place for Milwaukee locals to gather and forge new community ties.

Not surprisingly, that vision of community is part of the restaurateurs' vision, as well.

The building, which most recently housed Goldfish Uniforms, actually comprises three distinct buildings that were fused as years passed. Once a grocery store and a candy shop, the space has seen its share of neighborhood activity over the years, and Muench says the intention is to restore that vibrancy.

"We want it to be hummin' all day long," he says as he points to the area that will eventually house the caf.

The space, which will eventually benefit from natural light thanks to four newly-installed windows, will be flanked by an open kitchen with a wood-fired oven all visible from the front door as customers enter. Meanwhile, a bar with a counter will provide seating as well as equipment for coffee service.

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Bring your imagination: An update on Story Hill BKC

U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner (Lewis Geyer, Longmont Times-Call)

Republican Congressman Cory Gardner intends to drop his re-election bid to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Mark Udall, lobbing a bombshell that alters Colorado's political landscape for the November elections.

Shortly after The Denver Post first reported Gardner's plans, the GOP front-runner in the Senate race, Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck, revealed he was going to run for Gardner's seat in the 4th Congressional District.

A number of Republicans, including former state GOP chairman Dick Wadhams, hailed Gardner's move.

"This is a game changer not only for Colorado Republicans in the Senate race, but also it totally changes the entire 2014 election," Wadhams said Wednesday. "Cory is someone who all Republicans can rally around and can usher in a new generation of statewide leadership to our party and the state of Colorado."

Former Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck

Gardner, who is viewed as a rising star by the national GOP, has criticized Udall over his support for the Affordable Care Act.

Udall's campaign said the senator "looks forward to debating the important issues that impact our future."

"From flood and wildfire recovery efforts to ensuring that every family has the opportunity to get ahead to standing up to the NSA and protecting Coloradans' freedom to be left alone, Mark spends every day working to protect Colorado's special way of life," said Udall's campaign spokesman Chris Harris.

Denver political consultant Eric Sondermann said the Gardner move "single handily puts Colorado at the center of the battle for U.S. Senate that Republicans are waging."

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U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner to enter U.S. Senate race against Mark Udall

Uttrakhand has the vast potential to become a heritage tourism destination in a big way, a new report released by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry said on Tuesday.

According to the report, the Himalayan states from Jammu and Kashmir to Mizoram need to be developed as heritage tourism destinations systematically without disturbing the ecological environment in order to have year round inbound tourists.

The report further stated Heritage Tourism helps make historic preservation economically viable by using historic structure and landscape to attract and serve travelers. When it comes to world tourist's numbers, 20 per cent of the tourist travel to the mountain areas and it is increasing rapidly.

According to the report pilgrimage has traditionally been the major segment of tourism in Uttrakhand which can be further elevated to a new level by inculcating cultural, adventure and wild life tourism. The report further states huge employment opportunities available in these sectors especially in state like Uttrakhand which is overflowing with employment

The location advantages and close proximity to Delhi makes Uttrakhand a favourite hot spot for international mountaineers. On the other hand centuries old pilgrimages Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamnotri, Gangotri, Hemkund Sahib, Lokpal, Nanakmatta, Meetha-Reetha Sahib, Piramn kaliyar etc are some of the important places of pilgrimage of various religions which have seen remarkable growth in numbers of tourists.

The report highlighted the rich and vibrant cultural heritage of the state like Jhanda Mela (Dehradun district), Surkanda Devi Mela (Tehri), Magh Mela ( Uttarkashi), Nanada Devi Mela (Nainital) make Uttarakhand an apt state to promote cultural tourism.

Besides adventure sports like rafting in Rishikesh and nearby areas, there lies an abundance of possibilities in the higher reaches of the hill state. The Badrinath-Ghastoli Manapass route is one such jewel of opportunities. It is one of the world's highest motorable roads.

A good plan built around mountain biking and regulated motorcycling can prove to be significant livelihood earner for the local people as well as a superb branding initiative for Uttarakhand Tourism. This is an initiative that the Uttarakhand government must take a serious look at. The proposition is a win-win for all in term of economics, social, market-value and branding output.

The state will have to build small support resources along the way and put together some basic infrastructure. This itself can be done on PPP mode with the community and Tracking of efficient operations could possibly be outsourced to the forces. It will also need streamlining of the permit, process, which is right now in the hands of three separate authorities.

A single season of medium traffic can safely sustain a large number of local enterprises and positively boost employment in the area. There will be an immediate need for tour & camping guides, porter, cooks, equipment hire, ration& nutritional suppliers, paramedics, mule owners, maintenance person etc. followed by a regular boost to local handicraft makers, fruit, processors and eatery owners.

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PHD Chamber for developing heritage tourism in hill states

For about 30 years, the Coval House has stood on a wooded, 5-acre estate as one of Mercer Islands dream homes. Its owners, research scientists Myer and Barbara Coval, lavished so much money on landscaping, rooms and a tropical pool that HGTV showcased the home on its Million Dollar Rooms show.

Cathedral-like ceilings are built with wood shipped from the Republic of Congo and Costa Rica. The landscape includes more than 300 trees, an organic fruit orchard and a koi pond.

The amenities of a $10 million pool are so intricate, it took contractors five years to finish.

You step inside, and it just blows you away and the swimming pool room is out of this world, said Linda Chaves, 63, a neighbor whos been invited to the home occasionally for neighborhood parties.

Now the estate is close to becoming the exact opposite of all that: A proposal the Mercer Island City Council says it will decide Monday night could make the property the largest residential development on the island since the 1980s.

The proposal from a developer buying the property, MI 84th Limited Partnership, registered in Washington under Garth Schlemlein, would level the mansion and much of its landscape to build 18 single-family homes in its place. The developer would also chop the top off a hill on the property that is close to a steep slope, prompting some neighbors to worry about the hill becoming destabilized.

Chaves said she imagined the property would become some kind of development because it seemed the Covals had trouble selling it since it went on the market in 2011 with an initial listing price of $15.5 million.

The Covals were devastated by not being able to find a buyer who would invest in preserving the property as is, said David Paul Eck, who spent years designing much of the homes interior. He said they at first refused to believe an appraiser who said only a developer would likely ever take on the property. But after two years of no serious offers, they reluctantly agreed the appraiser was right.

We tried hard to find somebody of a like mind, but the world doesnt turn that way anymore, said Eck. Nobody stepped up.

But because Chaves and others didnt expect the development to so drastically change the landscape, theyve banded together in hopes that the next phase of life for the property can keep some semblance of its last.

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Mercer Island mansions fate touches off development debate

From Wan Shahara Ahmad Ghazali

This last part of two articles on MARDI's role in developing Malaysia's agro industry focuses on the potential of aerobic rice farming.

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- It takes 3,000 litres of water to put a kilogramme of rice on your table.

For a country with the staple food being rice, droughts and increasingly limited water resources can present a real challenge to its food security.

Fortunately, the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) has ventured into the research on aerobic rice farming in Malaysia since 2005.

Aerobic rice is a high-yielding plant that can grow in dry irrigated land instead of the traditional flooded fields.

The variety developed by MARDI is known as the MRIA 1, and was launched on Aug 22 last year.

This is a paradigm shift for the rice farming industry and a move that is timely and apt particularly with rice being a food security crop for the nation.

PUTTING NEGLECTED LAND TO USE

MARDI Director, General Datuk Dr Sharif Haron saw the possibility of MRIA 1 being grown on abandoned private lands nationwide that cover up to 107,000 hectares.

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Aerobic Rice Set To Change Malaysia's Paddy Growing Landscape

Some artists are taking up space at the Wave Hill Garden and Cultural Center in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, creating masterpieces inspired by their surroundings. NY1's Stephanie Simon filed the following report.

Wave Hill Garden and Cultural Center is doing more than just giving artists studio space. It's allowing them to take what they need from the natural landscape to create new works of art.

"The 'Winter Workspace' program is a great way for an artist to come here and work onsite, and they are inspired by our gardens and our beautiful landscape, and the plants in our collection and the greenhouses," said Curator Gabriel de Guzman.

All of the artists are inspired by the nature around them but for some it's more literal.

"I was looking at the invasive plants growing inside the garden, kind of at the edges of the property kind of creeping in. So I was taking photographs of them, the trees of heaven kind of cutting it up and playing with it," said Artist Whitney Artell.

There are six artists in this year's "Winter Workspace" program, including Shanti Grumbine, who applies organic forms to newspaper. Some look like snowflakes, others like trees.

"So images of Syria, I'm actually literally carving branches. First I draw the branches into the image, then I carve away with the X-Acto knife to sort of bring together my world and what's going on abroad," Grumbine said.

This might seem like an unusual time of year to visit a public garden but folks at Wave Hill say for many people, winter is their favorite time to come.

"First of all, we have 28 acres of gardens and woodlands. When it snows, there's no better place to be than Wave Hill. We have beautiful views of the Palisades, you can come inside, you can see our greenhouses, which have incredible succulents, cactuses, tropical plants," De Guzman said.

The artists will open their studios to the public on March 30 to show their finished work and they will hold free art making workshops throughout March.

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Bronx Garden Becomes 'Winter Workspace' for Local Artists

The following is a press release from Mall at Chestnut Hill.

Mall at Chestnut Hill is seeking interested landscape artists, horticulturists, master gardeners and floral designers to participate in the 6th Annual Step Into Spring Flower & Garden Show beginning Saturday, April 5Sunday, May 11. Participants will be given a designated area in the mall to display what they offer and their talents for five weeks.

The public will have the opportunity to view displays native to New England along with some of the most rare and unusual varieties. Your business can be featured in creative ways, from logo presence, to sampling efforts, brochure distribution and much more.

This is a wonderful partnership between many talented florists and landscapers and we look forward to working with the participants each year to showcase some of the areas most artistic forces, said Debora Konig, Director of Marketing for Mall at Chestnut Hill. Each spring people come to Mall at Chestnut Hill to view the displays, participate in the special events and be inspired or simply for a reminder that spring is about to bloom!

Interested businesses should contact Assistant Director of Marketing Ashley Wheeler at Mall at Chestnut Hill now until Monday, March 10. Email: AWheeler@simon.com Phone: (617) 933-3577

Visit http://www.Facebook.com/MallAtChestnutHill and follow us on Twitter @ShopChestnut.

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Mall at Chestnut Hill looking for "Step Into Spring" vendors

The Bottom Line

This austere teen-centric drama marks out its first-time director Sofia Norlin as a promising voice, but she needs to work on story skills

Berlin Film Festival (Generation 14 Plus)

Sebastian Hiort af Ornas, Lina Leandersson, Alfred Juntti, Par Andersson, Alexandra Dahlstrom

Sofia Norlin

Programmed in both the GoteborgFilm Festival and the Berlinales Generation 14+ line-ups after winning Swedens Guldbagge award for best cinematography, austere teen-centric drama Broken Hill Blues marks out its first-time director Sofia Norlin as a promising voice. That said, Norlin should in future perhaps concentrate on sharpening her screenwriting skills since this look at young people coping with small-town life above the Arctic Circle barely has any plot to speak off. Ultimately, the film is a procession of exquisitely shot lyrical moments that feel like all the bits in between bigger, narrative-propelling scenes that were perversely edited out. Broken Hill Blues is unlikely to crack through the ice into distribution outside Nordic countries, although more festival exposure will surely follow.

If nothing else, Broken Hill Blues will be welcome viewing for all those out there beyond Sweden whove been waiting to see whats happened to Lina Leandersson, who played Eli, the fragile pubescent vampire in Tomas Alfredsons 2008 cult hit Let the Right One In. Now 18 and even more striking looking with her strong features and slight frame, Leandersson here plays Zorin, the daughter of immigrants from an unnamed Balkan country, who loves to swim and take photographs. Such is the nature of Norlins screenplay that we dont get to know much more than that about her, but Leandersson is consistently interesting to watch throughout.

Zorin is one of the happier kids encountered in the film, who are for the most part a pretty depressed lot, stuck as they are in Kiruna, a small settlement in Northern Sweden whose entire economy revolves around the local iron-ore mine. Almost a character in itself within the film, the dragon-like mine growls and makes the ground shake beneath everyones feet. The entire town may have to be moved lock, stock and barrel soon because the friable earth beneath it has become so unstable.

From time to time, the mine swallows sacrifices, like some of the characters fathers, and its hungry maw seemingly yearns to consume Markus (Sebastian Hiort af Ornas), an angry young man whose only two loves in life are the aged Chevvy hes resurrected from near-scrap and his passive girlfriend Helena (Jenny Sandberg), pretty much in that order. Meanwhile, troubled teen Daniel (Alfred Juntti) scowls and pulls up the hood of his sweatshirt a lot, presumably to signify that hes upset by his alcoholic father (Par Andersson) and his inability to commit to the violence demanded by the gang hes joined.

Norlin skirts away from the clich that seems to be coming in the final reel when Daniel trudges up the mountainside with a rifle alone, a move for which many viewers, exhausted by the films pinched air of misery, will feel grateful. Elsewhere, Petrus Sjoviks digital cinematography, carefully juxtaposing intimate close-up details and spectacular landscape vistas in both winter and summer seasons, offers a kind of visual Prozac that helps viewers endure the emotional torpor. Both Erik Guldagers source sound design and the musical undertow provided by Conny Nimmersjo and Anna-Karin Unger enrich the dreamy atmosphere.

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Broken Hill Blues (Omheten): Berlin Review

Autumn Hill Nursery in Hickory Flat at 4256 Earney Road offers gardeners a wealth of tools to have a beautiful yard. Many homeowners are looking for answers on how to get landscaping in shape after the frigid temperatures, and owner Eric Hill has advice to assist. Special to the Tribune

With spring just around the corner, gardeners and homeowners are looking for answers.

Eric Hill who, along with his wife, Kari, owns Autumn Hill Nursery in Hickory Flat and Autumn Hill Four Seasons Gift & Garden in Canton has some expert advice on those gardening concerns.

The two have 22 years in the business, helping their customers make the most in their yards and gardens.

Eric Hill offered some advice on how to handle the recent bad weather and its effects on the yard.

Many of us have had plants damaged by the single digit temperatures we experienced in January. The questions are how much was damaged, is it permanent, and what do you do about it, Eric Hill said. A plant suffering cold damage falls into one of three scenarios. The leaves are damaged, and they will simply drop off and new ones will grow; all or part of certain branches may have been killed; the entire plant met its demise.

Hill said for many of those questions, the only option is to wait and see.

Time will tell. We can simply wait until later in the spring and see what branches put out new growth, and then prune out the rest, while removing any shrubs that are completely dead, he said.

Hill said in the weeks ahead, many gardeners will be working to get their plants back in shape.

If you want to start getting your yard back in shape in March, but dont know what to prune, use these two simple tests. Scratch the bark of the branch with your thumbnail or pocket knife. Just below the surface the tissue should be a light green/yellow green. If it is, the branch is still alive. If it is brown, it is dead, and you can work your way down the branch until you see green, then prune out the dead, Hill said.

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Garden help for winter weather conditions

Known as The Rock because of its rocky landscape and spectacular soaring cliffs, Newfoundland and Labrador truly live up to its nickname.

If you are looking for an outdoorsy type of vacation, you will very much enjoy a trip here.

Whale watching, iceberg spotting and fishing rank high on most people's list of things, but there are many more:

1. Take a hike on the East Coast Trail

St. John's is the capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador, and boasts the beautiful East Coast Trail, on the east side of the Avalon Peninsula.

The East Coast Trail provides ample opportunities for hiking, whale-watching and bird-watching from one of the many vantage points along the trail.

2. See the lighthouses

One of the most popular lighthouses in the country is Cape Race, near Chance Cove Provincial Park. This lighthouse was the first one to receive the first distress signals from the Titanic.

The second lighthouse worth seeing in Newfoundland is Cape Spear Lighthouse, which is the oldest in Newfoundland and Labrador. This lighthouse can be easily reached by car from St John's (within 20 minutes drive).

3. Join a festival

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Nine things to do in Newfoundland