Besides GLOW, Eindhoven has hosted more internationally renowned events, such as the Dutch Design Week. Although successful, a pessimist would argue that such events do little to hide the city's boring everyday quirks, not significantly improving the City of Light's real sunshine. Although such a perspective is reasonable, it is too easy to dismiss GLOW and its counterparts as mere entertainment tools. We do not merely host such parties in our old home, we also refurbish and improve it in the process. 

Still, I feel that Eindhoven could do more to silence pessimists. Our events have too often served as one night stands, while a proper relationship could be in the making. Why don't we consider GLOW to be a living lab, in which we can properly test new concepts and ways of living without the burden of everyday legislation?

The TU/e has set a nice example by turning one of its GLOWw installations, the AnTUenna chimney of light, into a permanent exposition. I feel that we can further lighten up Eindhoven, and should be allowed to have more nice and shiny things.

In which camera should I look to address the local municipality? Yes, hello camera 040, dear municipality, it's me! What a show GLOW was, eh? Do you know which part I appreciated the most? The small market that turned the ugly parking site between the Keizersgracht and Kleine Berg into a joyful open-air food court. It suddenly presented itself as an atmospheric square which connected the inner city with the bars on the Kleine Berg; far better than any street-paint arrow would.

Listen, wouldn't it be nice to turn this thing into a permanent market? That we could join hands in December, enjoying some glühwein in the open air, together? Sounds like a plan, doesn't it?

Please don't worry about any lost parking lots. Researchers at TU/e have found a new way to capture emitted particles in underground parking sites, which would be a far better solution for the city center. So, shall we put this living lab to work and start further testing?