Book It Across the Pond

I love the warmer weather because it means I can sit outside and do a little reading. Though the problem I’ve found: when you venture outside of the park, there isn’t much in the way of bench seating. Yes, you can sit on the concrete steps of Diversey Harbor (like Harry Potter and I did this weekend), but I can never get comfortable. There’s something about sitting on a bench and reading and having the backdrop of a Lake behind you.

It seems London and the National Literacy Trust have cured my current dilemma by teaming up with with a cartoonist and How to Train a Dragon creator. The Books about Town campaign brings to life classic book illustration interpretations on 50 park benches. Yes, there are book benches strewn about London begging for you to sit and read and they depict some of your favorite books. As we know, I love a seek and find when it comes to the arts.

Heavy sigh. Via BBC News Entertainment & Arts

P.L. Travers’ Mary Poppins by Artist Darel Seow

Michael Bond’s Please Look After This Bear by Artist Michelle Heron

Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations by Artist Ivan Liotchev

 

 

Ad of the Day: Like a Girl

Absolutely adore this campaign from P&G while at the same time cringing a bit. It’s powerful message  comes to life during interviews with young girls. It makes us “big” girls feel extremely embarrassed and in turn, changes the way you’ll ever hear the phrase “like a girl” again.

Via AdWeek

Agency: Leo Burnett (Chicago, London, Toronto)

We’re Becoming Labbies

During last year’s Chicago Innovation Awards, I learned of the Makers Lab– a space in the Chicago Public Library (Harold Washington branch) featuring new technology and workshops. The best part? It’s all free. I’ve been trying to get in to classes since November.

And I finally did.

Two weeks ago, Amanda and I (and her baby bump) headed to the lab to create 3D cuff bracelets. After placing together shapes in TinkerCAD software, we picked our plastic color and watched a printer create crazy designs. I had no idea how insanely cool and efficient 3D printing is. Seeing other objects the team put together, I was completely mesmerized by this animal figurine with moveable legs, and the fact it was all built on the same plane. No assembly required.

Last week, a few of us from work went over to try the Laser Cutter printer during the Name Plate workshop. Using a program similar to Illustrator, we created our words and phrases. I went with “Write On” as a not-so subtle reminder/encouragement for the desk.

Below are photos from the first visit making bracelets. My bracelet printed in a boxed printer, so you couldn’t really see what was going on. Thankfully, Amanda printed in the open space!

Creating the raft (base) of the bracelet

Beginning the outline/edges of the bracelet on top of the raft.

The printer continues to go over this pattern until the bracelet is at the desired thickness

Finished pieces!

World’s Toughest Job

I saw a few people on Facebook link this video and even more on Twitter calling it out. I finally caved and watched it.

And I’m oh so happy I did. Via Ad Freak

Here’s the job description containing roles and responsibilities.

Black Dog Syndrome

I recently stumbled upon photographer Fred Levy’s “Black Dogs Project” and immediately started googling and reading and clicking to understand Black Dog Syndrome. Black dogs are often overlooked at shelters and rescues, so Levy has photographs these dogs in a stunning matter to show their personalities and how light still shines through them.

The project’s starting to get quite a lot of traction, especially from pet owners and their adopted black dogs. Seeing as Mom sent me this photo yesterday, I just couldn’t resist. This Summer marks the fifth anniversary Nixon Oscar joined the family after being rescued. And lucky for us, this Black Lab mix always looks like a puppy, no matter his age.

Doo-Wop on Tonight

Loving Jimmy Fallon’s newest endeavor, The Tonight Show. And oh so happy to see he brought his usual antics and challenges with guests from The Late Night Show. His interview tactics bring out sides of guests you’ve never seen.

Here, see Billy Joel embrace a new technology and sing a little duet with one Jimmy. All while sitting in the hot seat.

 

 

Travel on the Write Track

When I packed my bags and moved to Chicago, I arrived by train. And ever since that May day in 2009, I find myself taking the train quite often. While the CHI—STL length isn’t nearly as glamorous as travel up on the East or West Coasts, there’s still something comforting in the travel. Train travel seems timeless to me, classic. I love finding myself in Union Station and knowing the rush of traveling and the look of the building were what people many, many years ago experienced.

So imagine my excitement when I came across Amtrak Residency. There’s a ton of press going on about the program, though here’s the gist: Reporters tweeted at Amtrak how cool this would be. Amtrak agreed, and made said writers take a train ride. And now, the Residency is open to writers of all levels for various lengths of time.

What I really love about this whole initiative (despite the fact it’s right up my alley) is it came about from one writer just tweeting about a love for writing on trains. Amtrak listened and decided there was something powerful there. As more brands continue to use their consumer base for more than just customers, I’m excited for more things such as this to come to fruition.

As this weekend is another family wedding, I’ll be taking that well-traveled CHI–STL train ride. And I’m excited to sit there, put in the headphones and just start writing.

To see the power and beauty of train travel on the Coast, visit my gal pal Leela’s blog. Last month she spent 36 hours on a train from California to Seattle (now she’s moving all throughout Europe).

“At the end of hours of train-dreaming, we may feel we have been returned to ourselves — that is, brought back into contact with emotions and ideas of importance to us. It is not necessarily at home that we best encounter our true selves.” — Alain de Botton, “The Art of Travel.”

 

A Moving Installation

Bristol Library celebrates its 400th year anniversary. Again, Bristol Library is celebrating 400 years. And they’re using an installation to recognize this feat. With Book Hive, it seems the library commemorates and thanks patrons opening and closing books throughout the many, many years of its service.

And the best part? The books open and close as visitors walk by. Love seeing technology and libraries coming together in a such a different way.

Photos via Bristol City Council on Flickr

The Parting Glass of Whiskey

Ever since working abroad in Ireland six years ago (REALLY?!), I’ve had a major, major love affair with any and all things Irish. Though I never realized this love affair had started much earlier after seeing Waking Ned Devine with a friend and her Mom. I’m not sure what prompted us to see this film, but we did. And I loved it and more importantly, the soundtrack. In particular, the song “The Parting Glass” was something I found myself continually listening to, and still do today (Meryl Streep’s singing at amFAR is sublime).

While I find myself clicking on any and all advertisements and creative work that has any Ireland connection, this ad for Tullamore Dew Whiskey made my morning. Using that song I oh so love, the scenery that’s simply divine, a rainy day and some lads.

Via AdFreak
From: Opperman Weiss and RSA Films

 

Location, Location, Location

When you combine two of my favorite things–movies and superb advertising–I cannot look away. This genius screening of Pixar’s Planes from Disney and a Dutch airline KLM is perfection. It shows that without an unforgettable experience, you don’t really have much to stand apart from everyone today. And why no detail should go overlooked (I mean, the outside atmosphere to this piece?!).

The fact it’s strictly for little kids is stellar. There is magic in the power of flight, even when you’re grounded.

Via Advertising Age