Everyone loves to bash suburbia. But, are the suburbs really so bad? Paul Barker's new book Freedoms of Suburbia (compare prices) argues that the suburbs have gotten a bad rap. Rupa Huq, author of the pop music book Beyond Subculture (compare prices), notes that the suburbs have much to praise.

The Sunny Side of the Suburbs:
Suburbia: The New Utopia? in The Guardian

A Darker View of the Suburbs:
Suburban Nation: The Rise of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream

Your Turn:
Are suburban houses boring? Cast your vote

Thanksgiving is an American holiday, but there are no boundaries on gratitude. This festive week, we say thank you to the architects and builders who help design emergency shelters. From constructing new homes to designing essential medical clinics and schools, volunteers are rebuilding devastated communities. How architects help >>

I never get tired of looking at pictures of really weird architecture and the Chicago Tribune has served up a feast with a gallery of some sixty-three photos. Have you seen a really weird building? Share Your Photos!

• This ODD House in the Chicago Tribune
• Funny Pictures of Weird Buildings

_{Above: A Weird House in the Alps. Photo by Flickr Member Nicolas Nova, creative commons license 2.0}

It's hard to imagine a world without artist Jeanne-Claude, who with her husband Christo, created the 16-day, $21 million "Gates" installation in New York City's Central Park. The Gates was just one of many dramatic public art projects that the team created during a partnership that spanned fifty years.

• The Gates in Central Park
• Tribute to Jeanne-Claude, About Art History
• Jeanne-Claude Obituary, The Guardian
• Artist Jeanne-Claude, CNN
• Part of a Creative Powerhouse Behind Ephemeral Artworks, Wall Street Journal

_{Above: The Gates in Central Park by Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Photo © Jackie Craven}