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The week’s end at the Haus. From the Archives The Ghosts of Retail Past: What Happened to Brookdale? What started as a look back at a mall became a dive into an entire shopping district: department stores, strip malls, a movie theater, and a Ford dealership. How did it all come together? Why did so … Read more
There was always that one house. A dark porch. A flickering light. Someone sitting in a chair beside a bowl of candy, suspiciously still. Was it a decoration? Was it somebody’s dad? Only one way to find out. You sent your friend first. Halloween had a way of turning an ordinary neighborhood into somewhere worth … Read more
We spend a lot of time figuring out how to live longer. Exercise. Better food. More sleep. Some supplement advertised by a man who lives in the woods and cold plunges daily. Meanwhile, there’s a seat belt sitting right next to us. It comes with the vehicle. Requires no subscription. And wearing it reduces the … Read more
In Brooklyn Center, there was a mall. Brookdale Center, also referred to as the Brookdale Mall. It had neighbors, too. Around the mall, shopping centers, restaurants, and a dealership formed a sprawling regional retail district. You could shop for clothes, look at a Ford you probably weren’t going to buy—much to the disappointment of the … Read more
Have you ever met someone and immediately hit it off? Within minutes, you’re laughing, swapping stories, and finishing each other’s sentences. The conversation seems to take on a life of its own. You might have completely different backgrounds, interests, and experiences, but somehow, you just click. It’s almost like you’ve known each other for years. … Read more
You love working out. You love learning about fitness. You enjoy helping people get stronger, healthier, and more capable. So why not become a personal trainer? Well, because enjoying fitness and enjoying the business of fitness are two very different things. I know because I used to be a personal trainer. And while there are … Read more
“I’m alone. I am not lonely.” You may recognize that line from Heat, the classic movie with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino—and that harrowing downtown shootout. When I first heard Neil McCauley (De Niro) say it, I immediately identified with it. I’m alone. Well, some of the time. My kids are here regularly, and … Read more