Otherworld and other Immersives

We were able to visit Otherworld in Columbus, Ohio — it’s 32k sq ft in what was probably an old K-Mart or similar in a run-down shopping center — of what’s rightfully explained as an immersive experience, annnnd so immersive that after :45 or so, we were all ready to get back into the ‘real world’. That sounds more critical than I mean it, though. Sure, it probably something that most of us will want to do only once, but it was absolutely worth doing, and was really fun just to explore. I’ve really wanted to try something like this since I heard of Meow Wolf‘s Omega Mart and others.

We’ve done the traveling grand-scale Beyond Van Gogh exhibit in Birmingham

Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, Birmingham AL

Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, Birmingham AL

Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, Birmingham AL

and the permanent Monet & Friends Alive at the Indianapolis museum (post coming soon)

Monet & Friends Alive, The Lume, Newfields, Indianapolis Museum of Art, IN

Oh! And I almost forgot Candytopia that was in Atlanta

Candytopia, Atlanta

Candytopia, Atlanta

Back to Otherworld:

Otherworld, Columbus Ohio

Otherworld, Columbus Ohio

Otherworld, Columbus Ohio

Otherworld, Columbus Ohio

Otherworld, Columbus Ohio

Otherworld, Columbus Ohio

Not like this but absolutely immersive in another way is one of my favorite exhibits of all time, Ragnar Kjartansson’s The Visitors, which we saw at the Frist in Nashville. It’s at SFMOMA through June 2024

Ragnar Kjartansson: The Visitors

Ragnar Kjartansson: The Visitors

Ragnar Kjartansson: The Visitors

Share: Family Reunion Food

Family Reunion Soul Food Restaurant, Birmingham Alabama

Would you share what dish(es) you bring to a family reunion, and the ones that another family member brings that it wouldn’t be the same without?

Family Reunion Soul Food Restaurant, Birmingham Alabama

Family Reunion Soul Food Restaurant, Birmingham Alabama

I noticed this article at Southern Living about 34 Classic Dishes You’ll Find at Every Southern Family Reunion and while I’m lucky to have gone to a few and been invited to friends’ reunions, there are several listed that I don’t think I’ve seen on those tables: reunion pea casserole, chicken tetrazzini, turkey noodle poppyseed casserole, butternut squash gratin, and something with goldfish crackers on top.

Family Reunion Soul Food Restaurant, Birmingham Alabama

My list would include several versions of fried chicken, barbecue and bbq chicken, those jelly-glazed meatballs, potato salad, coleslaw, seven layer salad, macaroni salad, strawberry pretzel salad, ambrosia, pimento cheese, homemade rolls, macaroni & cheese, hashbrown and some other casseroles, lots of pies and cakes (hummingbird, strawberry are a must) and cobblers and bars/candies, a bundt cake or other that’s been overly-spiked, and someone’s ‘famous’ baked beans (prob also with a good glug of bourbon). Oh, and deviled eggs, deviled eggs, deviled eggs. And a couple giant watermelons.

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

I’m missing a few but that’s what comes to mind first. Recipes for much of the above are in this section.

What about you — have a specialty? Please share…love this!