Alicia Hansen Creative

Around the end of July, the mom guilt kicks in and I start wondering if we’ve done enough.

Then I remembered today... it’s literally August 1. We’ve got plenty of summer left. ☀️

📍 Fun 'n' Stuff Amusement Park

I’ve been to The Cleveland Museum of Art more times than I can count. Last night, it felt like I was experiencing it for the first time...

I previewed ArtLens Reimagined, and I walked away genuinely impressed by how intentionally they’ve approached this next chapter. Built at the intersection of art, technology, and innovation, ArtLens has been helping visitors connect with the museum’s collection for more than a decade, but this newest iteration feels like its biggest leap yet.

The goal isn’t to replace the experience of standing in front of a work of art. It’s to remove the intimidation that can sometimes come with visiting an art museum and give people the tools to look closer, ask questions, and dive deeper.

One detail that really stood out to me was the museum’s thoughtful approach to responsible AI. Human expertise remains at the center at all times, with technology designed to support learning and accessibility, not replace it.

This includes the ArtLens App, which turns your phone into a personal museum guide, letting you plan your visit, navigate the galleries with an interactive map, save your favorite works, and continue exploring the collection long after you’ve left.

Whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, ArtLens Reimagined gives you a completely new way to experience one of Northeast Ohio’s greatest institutions:

Member Preview Days: Thursday, July 23rd – Sunday, July 26th
Opens to the public: Tuesday, July 28th

Huge thanks to Her Fork and The Road: Food & Travel with Lisa Sands for inviting me along as her plus one, and to the The Cleveland Museum of ArThe Cleveland Museum of Art. I can’t wait to go back and spend even more time exploring!

After dealing with a herniated disc over the past few months, I signed up for the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s Lantern Festival 5K fully expecting to walk the entire course. Instead, I found myself (not wisely) run/walking my way through the 3.1 miles... and crossed the finish line in about 35 minutes. Not too shabby for this middle-of-the-pack gal! 

The best part? Waking up today feeling GOOD. No flare-up. No regrets. Just another reminder that progress doesn’t always look the way you expect it to.

And as for the race itself? Running through the Zoo after hours, with lanterns lighting the way and animals along the course, made for an unforgettable date night. 🏮🐆

Huge thanks to Sam C for the hospitality and for encouraging us to come out. Hans Hansen and I had a great time!

Safe to say this one exceeded expectations. I’ll take that as a coming-back-from-injury win. 💪

The tea was always hotter than the yoga room. 👀🤐