Wannabe Grad Student

Yesterday I tagged along with Ross' class on a Day Trip to Amsterdam. Twelve of us met at the train station and took the hour-long ride to the first city of The Netherlands. It was both mine & Ross' first time there. Unlike most people's first visit to Amsterdam, this was educational and we'll remember it.

We met up with Ross' program director at the Stedelijk Museum to check out one of it's current exhibits. The 40 best Dutch designed, printed & bound books of 2006 were on display. There were many examples for a class of type majors and a book-designer to be inspired by.

Afterwards we had a koffie, warme chocolademelk, and appeltartje in the hip restaurant on the top floor, Bar Club 11, and checked out the views of the city.

We then walked 15 minutes to the tiny and smoky printhouse, De Buitenkant, and marveled at the quality and beauty of the publications by a small group of individuals. Beatrice Warde's broadside "This is a Printing Office" was prominently displayed.

Afterwards, the ten students, two tag-along girlfriends, the program director, the printer, and one woman in orange tights all went for a drink or two at a pub around the corner, before heading back to The Hague.

This weekend in The Hague is Today's Art an art festival, and it is awesome. There are many films, shows, performances and music in various locations around the city. The most interesting part, however, is how the spaces in between these venues are transformed for the events. Projections of images and videos turn public spaces into galleries and narrow streets host video installations. There isn't way-finding installed; it's projected. The main feature is a large shopping street transformed into an airport runway. Flashing lights as bright as day line the sides, and speakers that nearly break your eardrums, simulate being beside a 747 as it's taking off. It was awesome, and both Ross & I are amazed how a small city like Den Haag can host such an event.

Stay tuned for more about today' events, and hopefully some photos.

PS: Ross & I don't have hot water this weekend. We both had cold showers yesterday, and our mini-hot water tank won't be fixed until Monday, at least. Our apartment sure is purty, but it's come with more baggage than anywhere else I've ever lived.