rob: September 2009 Archives

The family and I took our muggle butts down to the Museum of Science and Industry today to check out the Harry Potter exhibit. No cameras were allowed within the exhibit but there were a few photo opportunities in the main areas of the museum. The exhibit is a bit pricey, $25 per adult for about 45 minutes from start to finish. However, the props were amazing, everything from the first movie to Half-Blood Prince. Quidditch uniforms, dress robes, ball gowns, creatures... everything from the movies in fine detail. I especially liked the fake book jacket cover designs for Ron Weasley's favorite Quidditch teams. You could tell the designer(s) had a fun time coming up with authentic looking programs. Another area I enjoyed was Hagrid's hut. It definitely felt like you could have been hanging with Hagrid talking about dragons. All in all, we had a good time. The boy is a too young to appreciate the fine craftmanship but hopefully the exhibit will come back around when he gets older and is more familiar with the books and movies.

Valspar, Love Our Style is a new campaign aimed at newlyweds and the problems they face as their styles collide. The website is a playful resource that provides inspiration and helpful tools for an easy transition from the single life to cohabitation. Users can take a style quiz, download a painting guide, and share their collective styles on Facebook. There is even a photo contest in which a lucky winner is chosen each week for a free color consultation from Valspar and Beehive Studios.