jim cohen 2017

5 on my real-list

I keep thinking about the importance of legitimacy. Especially now, at a time where fake has blurred the boundaries of real and created the confusing, intentionally distracting alternate universes of real / fake and fake / real.

I’m drawn to real / real. By my definition, it’s the stuff and experiences that; feel genuine, tell the truth, are based on a set of beliefs and principles, are well-crafted, cared for. They have honest intention. They’re not trying to pull the wool over our eyes.

They mean what they say, deliver on the promise, amaze and delight and feel right.

Clearly a list of real is in order!

In my world of the multi pronged design of brands, environments, systems, services, experiences at large, there’s lots of debate and judgment about what’s real and what’s not. Who’s delivering on the promise and who’s not. From my vantage point it’s wild to watch big players try to act artisanal while local smaller businesses attempt to strike the pose of being larger than they really are. Truth is, people can tell who’s legit and who’s not.

I’m all in for the honest ones, whatever their size. The global enterprises who actually care about their consumers and employees, and show it every day. Exceptional, service, products designed around ease of use, humans on the help line, valuable employee health care, collaborative, empathetic business cultures, you know what I mean.

And the legit local businesses in your city or town that make good on their word. The book store and baker that know you and what you love. Thrill you with new, unexpected titles and crazy good bread, muffins and bagels. The real stuff, you know it when you see it.

I’m out in the world seeking that realness and the beliefs behind it, discovering it, telling those stories. It’s the root of my quest. There’s something compelling here to explore.

I believe there’s a craving out there for these experiences, products, stores, restaurants, services and the people behind them. The kind of creativity and inventiveness they bring us. The authenticity that’s more than a buzzword but a way of life based on closely held beliefs.

Lots of examples spring to mind, but for the sake of brevity and getting something down on the page, here’s a start;

5 of my real-list of places, sounds, experiences, local, national, big, small:

1. McNally Jackson Booksellers — an actual, independent bookstore with a trove of art and design books, current titles, recommendations, a suburb sister store of Goods For The Study, journals, pads, pens, you can spend hours here, I do when I’m in NYC
2. Starbucks — yes, big, global, but still evolving and delivering on the promise inside and out
3. New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival — it’s grown but maintained its integrity, diversity and spirit; the music, the people, the scent of soft-shell po boys in the breeze, the best event on the planet!
4. Dawes — the band, turned on and impeccable live, the discs are great too, they have the songs, the chops, the energy, the mojo
5. Mosca’s — back to New Orleans, a legendary spot, little has changed in the delivery of garlic and olive oil infused glory in the 30 years or so that I’ve had the pleasure of dining in this fine joint

Who would you add to this list? Let’s find more and tell these stories.

Be real.