Q Old World Meets New

Posted by: Alissa Ampezzan

After a very long day of traveling, Thilo and Laurenz arrived in Detroit Wednesday evening. First stop: dinner at one of the best restaurants in Ann Arbor, Cafe Zola. 
 
From left: Thilo, Christine, Tom, Alissa, Laurenz.  

The next day, we wasted no time putting them to work at Q North American Headquarters. 
 
Note: The third clock on the wall reads Wiesbaden time, so they felt right at home…kind of.  

During lunch (Zingerman’s, of course), Thilo gave us a talk on his personal project of the last few years,
Fritz Kahn: Man Machine.
 
This is the most people we have ever fit into the conference room! 
  

Thursday evening at our Q+Q party at the Kerrytown Concert House, we toasted the coincidence that brought the two Q’s together. It was a full house, more great food and wine from Cafe Zola, and, as a bonus, a screening of Lemonade: Detroit.  
 
More photos from the party here.

After the party, some of us with a little energy left went to Zingerman’s Roadhouse for a late dinner.  

Front from left: Alissa, Stephanie (Tom’s daughter), Ben
Back from left: Laurenz, Thilo, Tom, Mark (Stephanie’s husband) 

Friday was the annual Q retreat. This year our location was Thornlea Mansion at Cranbrook
in Bloomfield Hills. We started the day off with (caffeine and) an exercise mapping the Q+Q global reach. Each person described the place they were born and told a story about another place that had an impact on their life. We were also lucky enough to get a private tour of Cranbrook House and enjoy a fantastic 5-course dinner at Forest Grill. 
 

  

More retreat photos here.

Such a fun few days. Luckily for Tom, Christine, and I, we won’t have to wait too long to reunite with Thilo and Laurenz. We will see them this weekend in New York City. But, it was very special to finally have them here in our little part of the world. More photos from their visit here.

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