Color Factory Experience

The first time I remember hearing that you were supposed to spend your money on “experiences,” I read it on a blog post by Jordan Ferney of Oh Happy Day and, more recently, of Color Factory fame. A few months after her blog post, I read the results of the Harvard study that money can buy happiness if you’re buying experiences. All these years later and malls are shutting down because Americans are shifting their spending from retail to, yes, experiences e.g. dining out, girls weekends, and *bing* the Color Factory.

That Atlantic article says, “Laugh if you want, but these sorts of questions— ‘what experience will reliably deliver the most popular Instagram post?’ —really drive behavior.” So I’m no different from the rest of America: I had to go to the Color Factory because it is “San Francisco’s Newest Instagram Hotspot!” and I’ve been drinking Jordan Ferney’s sweet, sweet Kool-Aid for a decade.

I woke up on Saturday at 6:00 AM like it was Christmas Freaking Day. The entire thing was just as magical as the internet makes it look, and seeing it through Jack’s eyes was twice as nice. We spent a little over ten minutes completely alone in the confetti room, and his excitement was barely contained in those glass walls. But he hated the disco room (“Too dark! Too scary!”), and I thought he would love the giant yellow ball pit, but he was terrified. He preferred the tiny yellow ice cream cone.

This month I’m going to have a week alone with Zoe, and we’re going to spend a couple days exploring their neighborhood map (murals, temporary tattoos, private dance parties) because I have a fever, and the only prescription is more Color Factory experiences. If you’re at all interested in joining me for that, then you should TELL ME because I want you in my Instagrams too. ;)

b perry

p.s. Jack's absolutely favorite part of the entire experience? Riding the “trolley” just like Daniel Tiger.