Wandawega Blog Archive

Our hearts and bellies are full. @stockmfgco and @juanmanjuan do it again annual Campfire Jamboree thank you @wade____hall for capturing Epic meals & incredible friendship for those few days – with so many thanks :@moethennessy and @terrazas_andes for sponsoring, @webergrills for the gear, beverages and snacks by @metriccoffee @prettycoolicecream and @hopewellbrewing, and some incredible meals by @bangbangpie, @mindysegal, @galit_restaurant, @obelixchicago, @perillafare and @goatboyintl.And to the long list of other incredible Chicago community chefs who joined us as guests again to raise a toast and watch Manion blow up that – we salute you

September 25, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

First days of fall.Our favorite season.We are gonna soak up the next month With all the apple picking, color drives that wisco has to offer. Thanks to our friends @erikengstromphoto for the sweet reminder with his pics (and our customized @pendletonwm collab)

September 24, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

If you only have 48 hours in NYC – and are a history, design, and storefront nerd – what do you have to see? Heres the highlights list from the last couple days:WHAT DID WE MISS??? (for the next trip in a couple months, let us know!) Working on something new. Had to do a little inspo research trip in warp speed…* One of New Yorks oldest taverns @EarInnBar * Hitting the ENTIRE @the_shopkeepers map (of Williamsburgs most gorgeous historic design storefronts) this first pic was not on their list, but its potent has my whole heart.* The wooden walls, vintage fabrics & complete historic vibes of @BODE collection of stores. * The Fall windows at @doubleRL – they keep outdoing themselves.* @whitehorsetavern1880 in Greenwich Village (Another of the historic taverns of NYC). Never gets old. Even though its is.* @thetenementmuseum 4th visit. 1930s time capsule of preservation, stories of lives told through the walls of a tenement house. * Finally getting to @StudioGang new wing at @amnh #iconic (andthe antique framed butterfly & turtle shell collections. I die)* @mcrowcompany in SOHO- ever-changing. Had me at taxidermy stag & gold leafed facade. Every. Time.The real highlight: spending time with creative friends who move us to think differently : find your people. Finally getting to see our dear friends @JamesSpindler home IRL (check it on Curbed- Im dead.) Home tour lunch with the cultural curator legend herself @kimpaper (her new book STUFF is next level) #MeetYourHeroesBowl lattes at my NY ritual @balthazarny with our dearest design aficionado @silasHelm@deanwintersofficial on his Tribeca rooftop, chance meeting a designer there that I follow. #Fate

September 23, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Spotted camp from our cab window in midtown Manhattan yesterday: pulled over to find Wandawega plastering the walls. Most folks dont know that we let other brands book camp as a production location – this one was for a shoe company shoot a few months back. They left behind a few props – so if you see that life sized black bear shooting target parked at the archery range, thank @johnstonmurphy.Loved to see a little bit of our Chicago favorite @heritagebikesandcoffee for the custom Wandawega bike fleet (supersized in store – thanks to our friend @dadmikeysal

September 22, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Our camp mascot IH Travelall just barely made it back to camp from her little visit to Chicago (turns out that a vacuum line needs to be replaced more than once over 53 years).She made it back, and so did we. Grateful for lots of friends (and our mighty little camp staff crew) helping us pack, load, haul, & build out this little pop up at @thetiebar. Our dear friend @bobcoscarelli stopped by this week and got us some shots to remember the time Camp moved onto Armitage Ave.On October 20th this little shop is on the road again announcing the new location soon.The new spot will be home for our nomadic Grizzly for three months – then we hope to find a forever(ish) home for her.Fingers crossed

September 21, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Calling all our fellow history & old storefront buffs.Were on the lookout for a little shop space. Looking to stay close to our Chicago home near Damen/Grand: West Town, Ukrainian Village Logan, Humboldt. Always looking. Seems like a good new years resolution to find a sweet little spot. (And a way to mark our upcoming centennial year: 1925-2025). Seen a spot with good bones & original facade? Street level. she could be tucked away on a residential side street. might not even have a for rent / lease sign posted we look for the sleepers with creaky floors & tin ceilings. We swoon for the old ones that are time capsules. Could be an old bar. pharmacy. Drycleaner. Floral shop. hardwares store. an empty room – the kind of space that most folks think is too much work too old is what we generally fall for (hit up hashtag wandawegarehabs to see how far we go to bring things back)Repurposing an old space that time forgot (who remembers JCrew Liquor store in NY?) were on a flight to NY as I am posting this – looking for inspiration (like you see on @the_shopkeepers ) & throwing this little shop dream into universe.We want to find a special spot to fill with special old things. New collabs & good vibes.Drive by one ? Give us a shout!

September 20, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Thanks, @BusinessInsider for the inspiring conversation about the state of mental health in adults, and why something as simple as a trip to a summer camp can help combat feelings of isolation.Story: Forget Euro summer travelers want to return to summer campExcerpts:The nostalgic art of sharing bunks and canoeing with new friends is no longer reserved for kids at summer sleepaway camps. Lately, an increasing number of grown-ups have begun flocking to adult-only summer camps. You can relive your glory days with activities like kayaking, archery, and marshmallows over the campfire.A growing number of adults have started seeking out these nostalgic experiencesUs grown-ups feel isolated 30% of adults reported feeling lonely at least once weekly over the last year, according to the American Psychiatric Associations survey of 2,200 people in January 2024.To combat this, young adults have been attending more face-to-face social events, whether it be running groups, reading clubs, or, in this case, summer camps even if it means shelling out cash for the potential to make new friends.It doesnt matter if you were raised on Park Avenue or a farm town, Tereasa Surratt, the co-owner of resort Wandawega, told BI. When you show up at camp, youre wearing the same t-shirt and doing the same things.Surratts historic lakeside property in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, has cabins, homes, and glamping accommodations to sleep up to 75 people.Instead of a planned itinerary, Wandawega offers camp-like amenities and activities like a treehouse, hatchet throwing, watersports, and vintage craft kits that keep most guests hanging around on-site.You never know whos going to be in the cabin next to you, Surratt said. Unlikely friendships are forged.Theres no age restriction, but Surratt estimates at least 80% of Wandawegas guests are grown-ups, noting a recent influx in adult group bookings.Thanks !First feature pic of camp in the story by @bobcoscarelli Written by Brittany Chang

September 19, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Something in the works.Sneak peek scenes & outtakes from a film project by @efilms and the @blindbarber crew. Theyve been coming for years to get off the grid – and decided to make something special this year. Stay tuned. (Fun fact : the tattered shirt that the main character is wearing is Davids dads original T from the 1970s, back when the Latvians here called it Vandawega because the Latvian language doesnt have a W sound).Thinking about bringing it back – its burgundy vibes are nostalgic for us.

September 17, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

The Dept of Creative Endeavors. Its what we jokingly call our obsessive creative projects, cause Its more fun to work with other folks. Weve been cooking up a bunch of projects that were excited to share soon.Shooting the photos of a product launch is just about the last thing we do (but the main thing folks get to see).We always try to give props to the invisible work and the people that help us do it.The late nights & weekends done by those who are too busy in the trenches to take the time to give themselves any credit.The truth is (out of necessity) weve spent the last 20 years tackling all creative, design, etc. pretty much by ourselves (usually bringing in creatives to help make content around it).But for several recent projects, including our latest @TheTieBar line, our deputy creative @NathanBobey has been in the trenches with me, co-designing the collection, the packaging. creating social, webpages, case studies, look-books, sourcing for for the pop up shop. If you stop in & watch the film playing (that was Nathan with his Super 8. He also edited it, found a vintage TV set, and wired it to play on a loop).Were grateful to have his help on this project (& too many things to list). From the bigger things (like man-handling a 9 foot grizzly with David).To all the other invisible work like picking photos, photographers, props, pantones, & places to shoot around here.Find yourself creatives who like to learn new things alongside you, wholl also care way too much about the exact hunter orange duckcloth upholstery. Who wont hate you for texting at 5am about a new idea for the toe detail on a sock…and then still have the enthusiasm to pick up a camera and shoot campaign photography. Around here, we try to find like minded creative comrades – those who create for the sake of making stuff (knowing that its not gonna bring them fame & fortune).When you crack open our lookbook, nearly half the pics are Nathans. Including our favorite – of Charlie in the socks Nathan helped design. If you really zoom in, ( on the lookbook )see end result of all of those 5am texts..the kerning of the letters on the toe. Thank you, Nathan.

September 10, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram