Find funky (or just functional) pottery at Northern Clay Center this weekend

For 18 years, the Northern Clay Center has celebrated (and sold) funky and functional pottery in a three-day festival that features more than 1,000 teapots, vases, platters, mugs and more. Top talent from around the country shows up to give talks, lead workshops, take tours, show and sell, munch and brunch. If there's a wedding, dinner party or breakfast cup of coffee in your future, pep it up with something new from the festival, perhaps even Bede Clarke's jaunty pitcher, shown here. (Opening 6-9 p.m. Fri., $25. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., $5; 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sun., $5. Northern Clay Center, 2424 E. Franklin Av., Mpls. 612-339-8007 or northernclaycenter.org)