SURF IT: Cats with exceedingly good taste and an eye toward green living will purr with delight over the “feline furniture” we found online at Branch Home. These cat trees, designed by Susan Kralovec and handmade of heavy-duty, double-walled cardboard by Everyday Studio in San Francisco, promise to stand up to years of scratching (the surface can be lightly sanded to conceal scratch marks). Sleek, modern and multifunctional — “Pounce,” the largest model at 30 inches long and 20 inches tall, can be used as a seat or an end table — the three pieces use non-toxic adhesive and paint, and come in green, blue, black, brown and white. In addition to “Pounce” ($168), also available are “Claw,” 2 feet long by 1 foot tall, and “Nap,” 16 inches long and 8 inches tall ($84 each). Go to www.branch home.com or call 415-341-1824.
— Marcia Borucki
GREEN IT: Improving indoor air quality, optimizing use of the sun, energy efficiency and responsible use of land are among the topics to be discussed at “Building and Remodeling Your Home With Green.” The free hourlong seminar takes place 4:30 p.m. June 20 at New Metal Crafts, a lighting design, manufacturing and restoration company at 812 N. Wells St. Speakers include graduate master builder Scott Sevon, president of Sevvonco Builders and Remodelers Inc., Palatine; and kitchen designer/interior designer David McNulty, president of McNulty Design Group, Park Ridge and Glencoe. Registration required. Call 312-787-6991 or see www.newmetalcrafts.com .
— Karen Klages
BUY IT: Many of the folding multitools we see these days aren’t worth much; they try to do too many things and don’t do any of them well. But here is a folding tool that is genuinely handy, partly because it only tries to be one thing. The Bit Dr. Pocket Screwdriver from LoggerHead Tools is a ratcheting screwdriver, with 10 bits in different shapes, that folds to be only 4 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. The driver can be positioned at several different angles for awkward spaces. The tool could be a lifesaver at the office or in the car. It is $24.95, plus shipping and handling, from www.loggerheadtools.com.
— Beth Botts
TOUR IT: Woman Made Gallery celebrates it’s 15th anniversary with an Art Bus Tour to three Chicago art destinations on Saturday. First stop is the Chicago Mosaic School for a tour and mosaic demonstration, followed with a lunch by Amazing Edibles. Second stop is at Ginny Syke’s Art Studio and final stop for a tour of Lillstreet Art Center. Tour starts with breakfast at 9:30 a.m. at Woman Made Gallery, 685 N. Milwaukee Ave. Bus will leave at 10:15 a.m. and return to Woman Made Gallery at 4 p.m. Cost is $85 per person, or $150 for two. Registration required. Call 312-738-0400.
— Mary Daniels
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SEE IT: Marc Gold, the founder of 100 Friends, a Project of the Foundation for Sustainable Development, will be at Island Girl Salvage from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday. He will be sharing stories and slides from his travels on behalf of 100 Friends, whose recent efforts have been to help people in Southern Thailand in the aftermath of the December 2004 tsunami. Ten percent of the sales at Island Girl Salvage, which sells architectural salvage, will be donated to 100 Friends.
160 Kelly St., Elk Grove Village, 847-593-2433. www.islandgirl salvage.com
— M.D.
SEE IT: Check out the 32nd annual Antique Phonograph & Music Box Show at Donley’s Wild West Town, just off Intersate 90 at the intersection of Illinois Highway 20 and South Union Road in Union, Ill. The show, which closes Sunday, brings together dealers and enthusiasts from around the globe. Cost $8. Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 815-923-9000. … Also visit the opening of “American Glass — Swedish Tradition” from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Swedish American Museum Center, 5211 N. Clark St. The free exhibit, which runs through Sept. 9, features work by Andrea C. Blum and Warren K. Olson. Call 773-728-8111.
— Marjorie David
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