diff --git a/best-cigars-guide/blocks/footer/footer.js b/best-cigars-guide/blocks/footer/footer.js
index 93d9828..1a32f83 100644
--- a/best-cigars-guide/blocks/footer/footer.js
+++ b/best-cigars-guide/blocks/footer/footer.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { getMetadata } from '../../scripts/aem.js';
 import { loadFragment } from '../fragment/fragment.js';
-import { isInternal } from '../../scripts/scripts.js';
+import { isInternal, isCategory } from '../../scripts/scripts.js';
 import { addLdJsonScript } from '../../scripts/linking-data.js';
 
 function buildLdJson(container) {
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ function buildLdJson(container) {
   };
 
   // Change type for category pages
-  if (document.querySelector('.article-list-container')) {
+  if (isCategory()) {
     ldJson['@type'] = 'CollectionPage';
   }
 
diff --git a/best-cigars-guide/blocks/item/item.css b/best-cigars-guide/blocks/item/item.css
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..636fe07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/best-cigars-guide/blocks/item/item.css
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+.item-wrapper {
+    border-bottom: 1px dashed #ccc;
+    margin-bottom: 40px;
+    padding-bottom: 45px;
+    font-size: 0.75em;
+    font-weight: 300;
+}
+
+.item-wrapper h3 {
+    margin-bottom: 25px;
+    text-align: center;
+    font-size: var(--heading-font-size-s);
+}
+
+.item-wrapper a {
+    display: block;
+    text-align: center;
+}
+
+.item-wrapper img {
+    max-height: 75px;
+    width: auto;
+    margin-bottom: 25px;
+    text-align: center;
+}
+
+.item-wrapper .item-stats {
+    display: flex;
+    justify-content: space-between;
+    flex-wrap: wrap;
+    margin: 30px auto;
+    width: 90%;
+}
+
+.item-wrapper .item-stat {
+    padding-right: 10px;
+}
+
+.item-wrapper .item-stat .label {
+    font-weight: bold;
+}
+
+.item-wrapper .item-buy-now a {
+    font-weight: 600;
+    text-decoration: none;
+    display: inline-block;
+    box-sizing: border-box;
+    width: auto;
+    padding: 10px 25px 9px;
+    background: #177abb;
+    border-bottom: 1px solid #035890;
+    color: #fff;
+    border-radius: 4px;
+    transition: background-color .15s;
+}
+
+.item-wrapper .item-buy-now a:hover {
+    background: #0d67a2;
+}
+
+.item-wrapper .item-subinfo {
+    display: flex;
+    justify-content: space-between;
+    align-items: center;
+    width: 280px;
+    margin: 0 auto;
+}
+
+.item-wrapper .item-star-rating img {
+    width: 25px;
+    height: 25px;
+    margin: 0;
+}
diff --git a/best-cigars-guide/blocks/item/item.js b/best-cigars-guide/blocks/item/item.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..55cab3b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/best-cigars-guide/blocks/item/item.js
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+/**
+ * parse block row data into a js object
+ * @param block
+ * @returns {{}}
+ */
+function parseData(block) {
+  const rows = block.children;
+  const data = {};
+
+  // eslint-disable-next-line no-plusplus
+  for (let i = 0; i < rows.length; i++) {
+    const fieldName = rows[i].firstElementChild.textContent;
+
+    if (fieldName === 'Image') {
+      data[fieldName] = rows[i].lastElementChild.innerHTML;
+    } else if (fieldName === 'Rating') {
+      data[fieldName] = Number(rows[i].lastElementChild.textContent);
+    } else {
+      data[fieldName] = rows[i].lastElementChild.textContent;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return data;
+}
+
+/**
+ * render rating stats html
+ * @param data
+ */
+function renderRatingStars(data) {
+  let output = '';
+
+  // eslint-disable-next-line no-plusplus
+  for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
+    if (i + 0.5 === data.Rating) {
+      output += '<img src="/best-cigars-guide/icons/star-half.png" alt="">';
+    } else if (i < data.Rating) {
+      output += '<img src="/best-cigars-guide/icons/star.png" alt="">';
+    } else {
+      output += '<img src="/best-cigars-guide/icons/star-empty.png" alt="">';
+    }
+  }
+
+  return output;
+}
+
+/**
+ * render individual item stats
+ * @param data
+ * @returns {string}
+ */
+function renderStats(data) {
+  // list of possible stat fields from block data
+  const stats = [
+    'Country',
+    'Strength',
+    'Wrapper',
+    'Color',
+  ];
+
+  let output = '';
+  // eslint-disable-next-line no-plusplus
+  for (let i = 0; i < stats.length; i++) {
+    if (stats[i] in data) {
+      output += `
+        <div class="item-stat">
+            <p class="label">${stats[i]}</p>
+            <p>${data[stats[i]]}</p>
+        </div>
+      `;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return output;
+}
+
+function render(data) {
+  const ratingLabel = data.Rating ? `Rated ${data.Rating} out of 5 stars.` : 'No ratings yet.';
+
+  return `
+    <h3>${data.Name}</h3>
+    <a href="${data.Link}">
+        ${data.Image}
+    </a>
+    <div class="item-info">
+        <p>${data.Description}</p>
+        <div class="item-stats">
+            ${renderStats(data)}
+        </div>
+        <div class="item-subinfo">
+            <div class="item-star-rating" data-rating="${data.Rating}" title="${ratingLabel}">
+                ${renderRatingStars(data)}
+            </div>
+            <div class="item-buy-now">
+                <a href="${data.Link}" target="_blank">Buy Now</a>
+            </div>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+  `;
+}
+
+/**
+ * loads and decorates the item
+ * @param {Element} block The item element
+ */
+export default async function decorate(block) {
+  const data = parseData(block);
+  block.innerHTML = render(data);
+  return block;
+}
diff --git a/best-cigars-guide/blocks/nav/nav.css b/best-cigars-guide/blocks/nav/nav.css
index faa101b..eb176ed 100644
--- a/best-cigars-guide/blocks/nav/nav.css
+++ b/best-cigars-guide/blocks/nav/nav.css
@@ -3,8 +3,9 @@
   display: flex;
   justify-content: space-between;
   align-items: center;
-  margin-bottom: 20px;
-  padding: 10px 0;
+  padding: 50px 1rem 15px;
+  max-width: var(--content-width);
+  margin: 0 auto 20px;
 }
 
 /* Breadcrumb styling */
@@ -68,6 +69,7 @@
   .nav-row {
     flex-direction: column; /* Stack items vertically on small screens */
     align-items: center;
+    padding: 10px 16px;
   }
 
   .breadcrumb,
diff --git a/best-cigars-guide/blocks/nav/nav.js b/best-cigars-guide/blocks/nav/nav.js
index 73b9731..16bc128 100644
--- a/best-cigars-guide/blocks/nav/nav.js
+++ b/best-cigars-guide/blocks/nav/nav.js
@@ -122,8 +122,8 @@ export default function decorate(block) {
   block.remove();
 
   // Create nav
-  const startingTag = document.querySelector('body > main > div');
-  const navDiv = document.createElement('div');
+  const startingTag = document.querySelector('body > header');
+  const navDiv = document.createElement('nav');
   navDiv.className = 'nav-row';
 
   // Create Breadcrumbs
@@ -142,5 +142,5 @@ export default function decorate(block) {
   awaitCategoriesDropdown();
 
   // Append nav to the dom
-  startingTag.prepend(navDiv);
+  startingTag.after(navDiv);
 }
diff --git a/best-cigars-guide/blocks/sidebar/sidebar.css b/best-cigars-guide/blocks/sidebar/sidebar.css
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..623c93a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/best-cigars-guide/blocks/sidebar/sidebar.css
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+.article-wrapper {
+    display: flex;
+    max-width: var(--content-width);
+    margin: auto;
+    justify-content: space-between;
+    padding: 0 1rem;
+}
+
+.article-wrapper .section {
+    padding: 0;
+    width: 64%;
+}
+
+.article-wrapper aside {
+    width: 30%;
+    max-width: 315px;
+}
+
+aside h3 {
+    font-size: 0.9em;
+    margin: 0 0 1.2em;
+    font-weight: 700;
+}
+
+aside ul {
+    list-style: none;
+    padding: 0;
+}
+
+aside li {
+    margin: 0 0 12px;
+    font-weight: 300;
+    font-size: 0.7em;
+}
+
+@media (max-width: 600px) {
+    .article-wrapper {
+        display: block;
+    }
+
+    .article-wrapper .section {
+        width: 100%;
+    }
+
+    .article-wrapper aside {
+        width: 100%;
+        max-width: 100%;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/best-cigars-guide/blocks/sidebar/sidebar.js b/best-cigars-guide/blocks/sidebar/sidebar.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2752481
--- /dev/null
+++ b/best-cigars-guide/blocks/sidebar/sidebar.js
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+import { fetchCategoryList } from '../../scripts/scripts.js';
+
+function getRelatedArticles() {
+  const wrap = document.createElement('div');
+  wrap.className = 'sidebar-related-articles';
+
+  const heading = document.createElement('h3');
+  heading.textContent = 'Related Articles';
+  wrap.append(heading);
+
+  const list = document.createElement('ul');
+
+  // todo: related article magic  🪄
+  list.innerHTML = '<li><a href="/best-cigars-guide">Dummy list item</a></li><li><a href="/best-cigars-guide">Dummy list item 2</a></li>';
+
+  wrap.append(list);
+
+  return wrap;
+}
+
+async function getCategories() {
+  const wrap = document.createElement('div');
+  wrap.className = 'sidebar-categories';
+
+  const heading = document.createElement('h3');
+  heading.textContent = 'CATEGORY';
+  wrap.append(heading);
+
+  const currentCategoryPath = window.location.pathname.split('/').slice(0, 3).join('/');
+  const categoriesList = await fetchCategoryList();
+  // get the current category name
+  categoriesList.forEach((category) => {
+    const categoryPath = category.path.split('/')
+      .slice(0, 3)
+      .join('/');
+
+    if (categoryPath === currentCategoryPath) {
+      heading.innerText = category.path
+        .split('/')
+        .pop()
+        .replace(/-/g, ' ')
+        .replace(/\b\w/g, (char) => char.toUpperCase());
+    }
+  });
+
+  const list = document.createElement('ul');
+
+  // todo: fetch sub-categories from index
+  list.innerHTML = '<li><a href="/best-cigars-guide">Dummy list item</a></li><li><a href="/best-cigars-guide">Dummy list item 2</a></li>';
+
+  wrap.append(list);
+
+  return wrap;
+}
+
+export default async function decorate(block) {
+  const categories = await getCategories();
+  block.append(categories);
+
+  const relatedArticles = getRelatedArticles();
+  block.append(relatedArticles);
+
+  return block;
+}
diff --git a/best-cigars-guide/icons/star-empty.png b/best-cigars-guide/icons/star-empty.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a28fbb4
Binary files /dev/null and b/best-cigars-guide/icons/star-empty.png differ
diff --git a/best-cigars-guide/icons/star-half.png b/best-cigars-guide/icons/star-half.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2b78ab9
Binary files /dev/null and b/best-cigars-guide/icons/star-half.png differ
diff --git a/best-cigars-guide/icons/star.png b/best-cigars-guide/icons/star.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..098181d
Binary files /dev/null and b/best-cigars-guide/icons/star.png differ
diff --git a/best-cigars-guide/scripts/scripts.js b/best-cigars-guide/scripts/scripts.js
index 3a0ffc2..330918e 100644
--- a/best-cigars-guide/scripts/scripts.js
+++ b/best-cigars-guide/scripts/scripts.js
@@ -1,6 +1,20 @@
 /* eslint-disable max-len */
 // eslint-disable-next-line object-curly-newline
-import { sampleRUM, buildBlock, loadHeader, loadFooter, decorateButtons, decorateIcons, decorateSections, decorateBlocks, decorateTemplateAndTheme, waitForLCP, loadBlocks, loadCSS } from './aem.js';
+import {
+  sampleRUM,
+  buildBlock,
+  loadHeader,
+  loadFooter,
+  decorateButtons,
+  decorateIcons,
+  decorateSections,
+  decorateBlocks,
+  decorateTemplateAndTheme,
+  waitForLCP,
+  loadBlocks,
+  loadCSS,
+  decorateBlock,
+} from './aem.js';
 
 const LCP_BLOCKS = []; // add your LCP blocks to the list
 const CATEGORY_INDEX_PATH = '/best-cigars-guide/index/category-index.json';
@@ -47,6 +61,34 @@ function buildHeroBlock(main) {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * check if this is a category listing page
+ */
+export function isCategory() {
+  return !!document.querySelector('.article-list-container, main.error');
+}
+
+/**
+ * builds sidebar block appends to main
+ * @param {Element} main The container element
+ */
+function buildSidebarBlock(main) {
+  const sidebarBlock = document.querySelector('main aside');
+
+  if (!isCategory() && !sidebarBlock && main.tagName === 'MAIN') {
+    const container = document.querySelector('main');
+    const sidebar = document.createElement('aside');
+    sidebar.className = 'sidebar-wrapper';
+
+    const block = buildBlock('sidebar', '');
+    sidebar.append(block);
+    decorateBlock(block);
+
+    container.classList.add('article-wrapper');
+    container.append(sidebar);
+  }
+}
+
 /**
  * load fonts.css and set a session storage flag
  */
@@ -84,6 +126,7 @@ export function decorateMain(main) {
   buildAutoBlocks(main);
   decorateSections(main);
   decorateBlocks(main);
+  buildSidebarBlock(main);
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/best-cigars-guide/styles/styles.css b/best-cigars-guide/styles/styles.css
index ba20c72..0c6bd05 100644
--- a/best-cigars-guide/styles/styles.css
+++ b/best-cigars-guide/styles/styles.css
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@
 
 :root {
   /* colors */
-  --link-color: #035fe6;
-  --link-hover-color: #136ff6;
+  --link-color: #177abb;
+  --link-hover-color: #177abb;
   --header-color: #2c2c2c;
   --paragraph-color: #4a4a4a;
   --background-color: white;
@@ -242,12 +242,12 @@ main img {
 
 /* sections */
 main .section {
-  padding: 16px;
+  padding: 0 16px 16px;
 }
 
 @media (min-width: 600px) {
   main .section {
-    padding: 32px;
+    padding: 0 32px 32px;
   }
 }
 
@@ -263,3 +263,13 @@ main .section.light,
 main .section.highlight {
   background-color: var(--light-color);
 }
+
+.default-content-wrapper {
+  font-size: 0.75em;
+  font-weight: 300;
+}
+
+.default-content-wrapper h1 {
+  font-weight: 700;
+  margin: 0 0 1.2em;
+}