Local Columnist Tackles Small Matter in Big Way: Chicago Children's Museum Sign Glitch
Chicago Sun-Times columnist Neil Weinberg recently received an email from long-time reader Cathryn, expressing concern over the imperfections visible on TV during a recent Bears game. Specifically, she pointed out that some lights on the Chicago Children's Museum sign at Navy Pier were burned out, detracting from its overall aesthetic.
Weinberg, known for his column "Things I'd Rather Not Know," took it upon himself to investigate and help rectify the issue. He reached out to the museum's PR team, who directed him to Peter Williams, Vice President of Exhibits and Building Operations. According to Williams, the sign's issues were caused by a faulty transformer that would trigger when it rained.
Thanks to Weinberg's persistence and a phone call from their CEO, Melissa Bell, the entire sign was replaced in under 48 hours. The museum also revealed that they are currently showcasing an exhibit on Ella Jenkins, Chicago's "First Lady of Children's Music," which features some of her beloved spinning tops.
In his typical down-to-earth style, Weinberg recounted the experience and expressed surprise at being considered a "man about town" who could help with such matters. The museum's response proved that sometimes even the smallest requests can lead to bigger outcomes when local journalists take an interest.
Chicago Sun-Times columnist Neil Weinberg recently received an email from long-time reader Cathryn, expressing concern over the imperfections visible on TV during a recent Bears game. Specifically, she pointed out that some lights on the Chicago Children's Museum sign at Navy Pier were burned out, detracting from its overall aesthetic.
Weinberg, known for his column "Things I'd Rather Not Know," took it upon himself to investigate and help rectify the issue. He reached out to the museum's PR team, who directed him to Peter Williams, Vice President of Exhibits and Building Operations. According to Williams, the sign's issues were caused by a faulty transformer that would trigger when it rained.
Thanks to Weinberg's persistence and a phone call from their CEO, Melissa Bell, the entire sign was replaced in under 48 hours. The museum also revealed that they are currently showcasing an exhibit on Ella Jenkins, Chicago's "First Lady of Children's Music," which features some of her beloved spinning tops.
In his typical down-to-earth style, Weinberg recounted the experience and expressed surprise at being considered a "man about town" who could help with such matters. The museum's response proved that sometimes even the smallest requests can lead to bigger outcomes when local journalists take an interest.
A small matter about a burnt-out sign becomes a big deal thanks to Neil Weinberg's dedication 
. It just goes to show that having a passion for what you do can lead to some amazing connections and outcomes 
. I mean, who knew being a journalist could be so... hands-on? 
The fact that the museum replaced the entire sign in under 48 hours is insane, and I love how they're using it as an opportunity to showcase Ella Jenkins' exhibit – genius! 
i cant believe how much effort went into fixing just one sign! like, its not a life or death thing or anything 
but at the same time, its kinda cool to see people taking care of these small details. and yay for ellie jenkins 
i had no idea she was a chicago legend 
what kind of spinning tops are we talking about tho? some kinda educational toy? anyway, kudos to neil weinberg for not ignoring the email like lots of ppl would 
. like, who knew one person's attention to detail could make such a big difference? 
. and i love how the museum ended up showcasing an exhibit on ella jenkins - that's some cool chicago history right there 
!
and now they have this awesome exhibit on ella jenkins 
.
. Can we get more of this kinda stuff in the news?
I'm starting to think that some of these columnists are more interested in saving the world from burnt-out sign lights than actual journalism 
. And what's with the "I'd Rather Not Know" column? Sounds like a bunch of clickbait to me 
. Anyway, glad the museum got their act together and replaced the whole sign. But seriously, 48 hours is pretty quick turnaround - you'd think it'd take longer considering how big the operation is 
It's awesome how he took Cathryn's email seriously and dug deeper to help the museum out. And can you believe it was just a faulty transformer causing all the trouble? Like, little things can add up, right? 
. Who knew being a "man about town" could be so empowering? 
. Maybe we should all take a cue from Neil and start looking for those little wins in our own lives 
. It's just a light, folks! But hey, I guess it's great to see someone taking action for what they care about. Neil Weinberg is kind of like Ferris Bueller - always showing up where he's needed and making things happen 
. And yeah, the fact that it all came together so quickly is pretty awesome. You never know who's got your back, right? 
But then again, shouldn't we appreciate the people who actually do work on fixing things around us? Like, I don't know, it's pretty cool that Neil Weinberg helped out and got the museum to fix the sign in like 48 hours or something. 