Consumer Escapes - The Henry Ford Right in our Backyard

When I lived in New York I didn't see the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty until my family came to visit. When we lived in Baltimore the same was true of the National Aquarium. For all the years we've lived in Detroit we rarely get to the Detroit Zoo or the Henry Ford, both area gems. Why is that?

Regular readers of this blog know I usually answer my rhetorical questions. I believe we feel the need to show these institutions off. We want credit for bringing someone and in the process "where we live" becomes a better place. (Maybe even better than where the visitor came from.)

As an example, two weeks ago we visited the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park, IL with my sister-in-law. She just moved to Chicago and we were choosing from the long list of family-friendly tourist attractions in the area. The tour was fascinating. While we've been to Fallingwater and Taliesin, the picture was clearer seeing where Mr. Wright first lived and worked. So go Wright and make the trip. It's worth it and will inspire much conversation. For that hour or two Chicago was THE place to be.

"Good design isn't just good business," said D.J. DePree, the man who built Herman Miller into a global powerhouse. "It's a moral obligation." While we don't have any out-of-town visitors this weekend, I'm planning to get my butt out of my Aeron chair and get down to the Good Design: Stories from Herman Miller exhibit at the Henry Ford Museum. It's not just an educational escape, it's my obligation!

Better questions than "who are you wearing?"

“Writing is like prostitution. First you do it for love, and then for a few close friends, and then for money.”

 - Moliere

I love that quote, it certainly describes the path of my career. (Although this blog right now is for love and only has a few friends who read it.)

I've been visiting colleges with my daughters recently. In that process there's much discussion about the application process - specifically the essays.  The essays are the opportunity for a prospective student to demonstrate their love of writing. The University of Chicago posed two sample questions at the orientation session:

Tell us about a time you got caught?

How do you feel about Wednesdays?

 

I'd welcome your take on the essays. Go ahead and relive your high school days. No pressure. No money, either.