Destination creativity the life altering freeman zachery, rice

The Hilton and the Hyatt–Bead&Button’s host hotel–are both connected to the center by skywalks, so you can cross from your room to the center without ever going outside. This is especially nice late at night when you might not want to walk around downtown. It’s really confusing to me, though, and we spend a lot of time finding a hallway, wandering down it for a little ways and then going, “Nope, this isn’t it.”

The center is a big place–a really big place. We spend a lot of time wandering around here, too, riding the escalators. But it’s not annoying. It’s cool and clean, and everyone is friendly, and getting lost on the wrong skywalk somehow feels like an adventure.

I always love the Meet the Teachers events. Everyone’s so excited about what’s ahead, and everyone wants to meet their favorite teachers. This one is particularly cool because people are selling their work, so not only is there meeting the teachers, but there’s shopping from the teachers, as well. Who can resist?

We find several artists we know–Robert Dancik, Susan Lenart Kazmer, Thomas Mann–and we meet Christi Friesen, whom I’ve interviewed for Belle Armoire Jewelry but have never met in person. I love her immediately. She’s just as outgoing and hilariously funny in person as she was on the phone. I’d love to hang out and get to know her better, but this is one busy woman, with a full teaching schedule, plus a booth for vending. Good thing she’s all energy, all the time.