You may be thinking that summer isn't even technically over, and the winter days of fresh powder are still a long, unpredictable road ahead. But we’ve seen this amongst our peers before, and before you know it, you could be that person who ends up sitting out an epic chute on the mountain or turning back early on a burly 15-mile trail because, whoops, you’re not quite as in shape as you thought and the leg-burn has overcome you. So trust us when we stress that strength and endurance do not build

Imagine this: you’re heading to a local school’s arts & music night, expecting something along the lines of a spaghetti affair, and instead, find yourself transported into a star-lit, wooded wonderland, something straight out of a movie. This is the kind of magic Allison Broeffle brings to the table.

“So, I had BB Barns deliver 20 trees –like, good-sized trees– and put them into the dining room at the middle school,” Allison recalls of her role organizing Evening of the Arts at Valley Springs one year. “I had twinkle lights criss-cross-apple-sauce all over, and all these big trees uplit, the orchestra, the chorus, and we had art that the kids could sell –half the money went to the student and the other half went to the school– and we had docents walking around, explaining the paintings. We worked this thing like a dog, and I gotta tell you, it was amazing. Nobody had ever seen something like that at the school. And this little girl comes up to me, and she says, Miss Allie, I hope my wedding looks like this. I didn’t know anything could ever look like this.”

Allison Broeffle was born to raise the bar. Part energizer-bunny, part altruist, part adventure-junkie, and no doubt, the life of any party, Allison has the fizz-pop positivity of a cheerleader mixed with a certain elegant grit and go-getter mentality, and it’s nothing short of infectious. She’s the kind of person who will convince you to buy the ticket and take the ride, and the kind you want in your corner for highs and lows alike. Betting that she’ll be one of the first people out on the dance floor (even if it’s not a dance floor) would be a wise move, as would betting that she’ll take twenty minutes longer than expected at the grocery store; because, well, she’s also the kind of person apt to be sidetracked by a conversation with a stranger in a parking lot, just to see them smile.

Simply put, she’s the friend you didn’t know you needed, and also, the friend you’ll never want to be apart from. Becky, Allison’s pal of 44 years, would be the first to agree. I catch Allison for a conversation as the two former boarding school classmates drive to Boston, after two days of celebration at their 40th high school reunion in Connecticut.

The Films of Charles and Ray Eames

Though they were primarily noted for their architectural contributions and pioneering furniture pieces throughout the mid-twentieth century, this six-volume DVD set shows a whole other dimension to the visionary marriage-team of Charles and Ray Eames by recognizing some of their most inspiring work in film. Whether it’s a journey through time, space, and everything in between in “Powers of 10,” a look into the world of toys in “Toccata for Toy Trains,” or a one-of-a-kind historical piece about the rise and fall of the Roman Empire in “Atlas,” this collection is like a stunning sequence of visual orgasms that manages to combine everything from art, science, history and autobiography in a subtly brilliant kind of way that will make you ooo and ahh at throughout.

That's the Way I See It
by David Hockney

Whether he’s working on set designs, morphing photographs into fax-machine experiments, or painting everything from California swimming pools to the Grand Canyon, to say that David Hockney is unconventional would be an understatement: his whole life is basically one big art project. In his second autobiography of sorts, Hockney takes the same intelligence, charm, and creativity of his art to reflect on love, life, and 18 years of design that have ultimately made him one of the most prolific and elusive artists of the past century. Even for those who aren’t immediately familiar with his talent, this collection of colorful personal pieces and essays will leave you wishing that you had a David Hockney of your own in life. And this book is a perfect way to get that.

Boundaries
by Maya Lin

It’s no surprise that Maya Lin’s writing is a lot like her architecture. Subtle in power, graceful in design, and compelling in impact, “Boundaries” gives readers a truly inspiring introspection into the mind of one the greatest architects of our day. Lin writes on what it was like to devise the groundbreaking (and at-one-time controversial) Vietnam Veterans Memorial when she was still a senior at Yale University, on what it’s like to blend the boundaries of culture, art, and design, and on how her imaginative process translates into her work. Lin’s book is a beautiful extension of her design-fueled life- a scrapbook, as she calls it- and it’s definitely something to be appreciated, both as art in itself and as a refreshing personal abstract.

Starck
By Ed Mae Cooper, Pierre Doze, and Elizabeth Laville

Philippe Starck just wants to make you feel good. Really. As someone who once said that the best way to make the world a better place is by replacing beauty with goodness, take his advice and do your part of experiencing the good by journeying through this one-of-a-kind assortment of enlightening commentaries and entertaining designs that capture Starck’s inspiring lifestyle. It doesn’t matter if he’s making chairs, watches, toothbrushes, toilets, or hotel interiors, this designer’s beloved creations are vibrant and aesthetically provocative in a way that make us feel helplessly “cool.” And I don’t know about you, but that definitely helps make me a happier (and therefore, better) person.

3rd Ward Brooklyn

Talk about a true artist’s haven. With over 20,000 square feet of creative facilities in Brooklyn’s ever-so-artsy East Williamsburg neighborhood, the 3rd ward community will inspire you to drop everything you’re doing, and well, try out everything you’re not. Whether it’s sculpture, welding, sound, photography, or woodwork that sparks your interest, this art enclave offers a diverse range of month-to-month classes and intensive workshops that will teach you how to make everything from a set of funky textile prints to your own string guitar. Or, if you simply feel like experimenting, just show up and do your own thing in their range of various design studios and spaces. Although membership is not necessary to be part of this art sanctuary-of-sorts, imagination, on the other hand, is absolutely required.

The Art Studio NYC

It is said that artists are partly born with that innate ability that allows them to make even the most complex art pieces look so damn easy to create. But for those of us who aren’t necessarily as inclined to become the next Picasso, it doesn’t hurt to explore just how far a few art workshops can take you. Offering oil painting, pastel, collage, drawing, and mixed-media classes for all ages and abilities (no shame allowed here), The Art Studio will help the artist in us all break free and leave you wondering whether you’re at an intimate soul-freeing, mind-clearing therapy session or at an actual art class. And for those looking for some serious self-expression, try out one of the studio’s creative retreats in locales like Costa Rica, where the inspiration will flow faster than those cold beers you’ll be drinking during sunset.