Category: Art

Nike’s Department of Unimaginable

On By What It Do DKIn Appreciation, Art, Check This Out, Chicago, Event Reviews, Lifestyle1 Comment

Nike has just released their biggest air bubble yet for their new Air Max shoe, the Air Max 720.
#JustGoBigger

Not only was I given a chance to experience the shoe, but I also attended a fully immersive experience centered around it. Which is now open to the public for the rest of the weekend. If you’re in the loop, make sure to stop by, the Department of Unimaginable is right next to Billy Goat Tavern. You can see all the different color schemes and order the shoe with free shipping there! Below is the flyer with the address, or check out www.jointhedepartment.com.

As you know, I am a sucker for experiential marketing. So, of course, I enjoyed the Department of Unimaginable. Upon starting the tour, my picture was taken to receive this cute branded lanyard with the photo! Also, while there, I tried Flow, the naturally alkaline spring boxed water; I highly recommend the cucumber mint flavor was quite refreshing. (And now I see on their website that they have free shipping.)

Next, I was led into a room to reflect on the influences behind the shoe and its history. As you can see in this photo, all the previous Air Max designs were on display. My favorite part of this activation was the use of an overhead projector. When was the last time you saw one of those? They had an assortment of images to choose from to create your own backdrop/filter for a sick photo-op AND polaroid!

What’s an activation without the audience’s participation? Am I right? Another exciting part of the pop-up had the chance to donate air by blowing up a plastic bubble and labeling it as yours. It would be cool to see Nike do something with all the air collected by its participants at the end.

Emphasis on the air because not only are these shoes super comfy, they are just as bouncy. Next, I was led into the workshop room to construct my own sneaker, where I felt certified receiving this official lab coat.

Overall, I had a delightful experience at the Department of Unimaginable and am thankful I was invited to it. If you’re in NYC or LA, it’s coming to you next; visit www.jointhedepartment.com/ to RSVP and register for a workshop such as the Air Workshop. My friend Abbey went to the same workshop and designed these Moon Shoes; they looked much better than my design. Lol 🙂

How can you, too, stay on top of finding out about Nike activations like these? Follow Nike on your favorite social platform and follow what you’re into specifically; by that, I mean the sport or style of shoe you’re into. In the last year alone, I’ve gone to similar pop-ups like this for Nike’s sports bras and athletic shoes. There will be more soon coming to Chicago, I promise! Stay tuned. I am figuring out how to update you with things on my radar!

[My] Mac Miller Day: December 3rd #ForeverSwimming

On By What It Do DKIn Appreciation, Concert Reviews, StoriesLeave a comment

December 3 will always be my day dedicated to Mac Miller, so let me get into why.

He and I wouldn’t be where we are today if we didn’t go through different obstacles and challenges that continuously reshaped our hearts. I know it is cliche for me to say that, but his perception of pain and joy expressed in those periods always resonated with me. I have downloaded every CD, mixtape, feature – you name it; I have always been obsessed with Mac Miller.

When I saw The Divine Feminine Tour dates go up in the fall of 2016, I was shocked because Chicago was not on the list. So, of course, like the millennial I am, I opened up Snapchat to rant about my disappointment that the closest weekend stop was his Royal Oak, Michigan, show. My dear friend from college, Meg, replied to my story informing me that she had family nearby Royal Oak and that we could go to that show together.

I cried out of pure happiness as I proceeded to buy my ticket for the show. I began to ball my eyes out when I saw a meet-and-greet option and purchased that as well. I had ALWAYS wanted to meet Mac, and I was already feeling high off initiating the plan to meet my all-time favorite rapper.

I HAD to go to The Divine Feminine Tour because Mac Miller was bringing Soulection out as his support for the tour—my favorite independent label/collective. The Royal Oak stop has support from The Whooligan, a long-time DJ, and the Director of Operations for Soulection.

Excited about the show, I made an Instagram story tagging The Whooligan, hoping he would see it so I could tell him he had to sign my Soulection and chill hat. Success slid into those DMs; ya girl is slick; what can I say. Anyway, The Whooligan Julio agreed we’d link up at the show.

Sick. It is now December 3, 2016, and I have traveled by bus to Michigan and reunited with some of my OG DePaulians. I remember getting dropped off at the venue and waiting in a massive line for the meet n greet alone. I couldn’t believe all these kids and I were going to meet Mac Miller, had to of been at least a hundred of us. Security checked us and filed us into the Royal Oak Music Theatre. I remember a security guard telling us not to try to give Mac a single joint; those who did would be thrown out immediately; Mac was sober then.

Everyone got a number and a lanyard; the number was to help you find your picture online later. I got in the back of the line because I wanted to be one of the last, and I had to figure out what I would say. You’d think I would have had that planned out already, but being in his presence made my heart start racing, and by the time I got up there, I couldn’t help but start to cry. I looked him in the eye and thanked him for his years of incredible music that meant the world to me; I thanked him especially for bringing out Soulection on tour and asked why the tour didn’t stop in Chicago. He didn’t know why a Chicago stop wasn’t made, but he was impressed by my Soulection knowledge and sincerely thanked me for recognizing them. He also exclaimed at me, “Dope coat!”

IMG_2105

I am not even lying when I say I am the only person he genuinely smiled with because I saw everyone else’s photos. I was living so so so so so so SO happy; I got to meet THE kid Mac Miller. How could my night get any better besides seeing him, of course? Well, the show did have to go on.

The Whooligan was up first and killed his set; the kids loved him; I say kids because I am pretty sure I saw many X’s on hands. I was 23 at the time lol. That’s this video above, a Snapchat, actually, as you can see the Mac Miller Divine Feminine Tour filter on it. lol

Next up was Mac. It was the 7th time I got to see him perform. He was on his A game.

And he played the two songs I wanted to hear the most.

Dang! ^ (feat. Anderson .Paak)

& Best Day Ever ^

“No matter where life takes me, find me with a smile
Pursuit to be happy, only laughing like a child I never thought life would be this sweet
It got me cheesin’ from cheek to cheek
And I ain’t going to wait for nothing
Cause that just ain’t my style
Life couldn’t get better
This ‘gon be the best day ever.”
– Mac Miller

I had been DMing Julio during the show; he informed me that he was coming to meet me. Not only was I finally getting to meet him, he tells me that Mac returned after the meet and greet to say to him, “A girl in a fur jacket thanked him for bringing Soulection with him on tour.” My eyes light up, night made. Julio signed my Soulection and chill hat and led me to the sound engineer for the finale and encore.

I can’t thank The Whooligan enough for making that night so special for me. Sadly, it was the last night I had with him. I had a ticket to see Mac Miller with support from his musical-brother Thundercat at Aragon Theater exactly two years after I met him in Royal Oak, Michigan. Coincidence? No, not for me. All I can say is to live beautifully without regret and go out of the way to do things for yourself that make YOU happy because, in the end, all that will matter is how you remember your life.

A special thanks to Meg for allowing me to stay with your family in Michigan, Sammy; for picking me up from the bus station and dropping me back off, and both of you for attending that show with me. I owe everything to this universe for allowing me to live a fulfilling life.

Rest Easy Malcolm James McCormick (January 19, 1992 – September 7, 2018)
#ForeverSwimming
ღ

p.s. every Mac Miller mention is a differen’t song 🙂