Asides

On the Outskirts of DC, the Center of Education

Cinthia Villarreal

To experience DC fully, we thought it important to visit just outside of the nation’s capital and explore a work by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Pope-Leighey House, and Old Town Alexandria.

Interestingly, Old Town Alexandria was, for many years, part of Washington, DC, but it was ceded back to Virginia in 1846. George Washington had a house in Alexandria, and he, in fact, surveyed the streets, which are laid out in a grid pattern.

It was a pleasure to see the historic buildings, the red-bricked streets, and the beautiful harbor area while learning more about the nation’s history and George Washington.

We also had the opportunity to see history of a more recent version: the work of Frank Lloyd Wright.

The Pope-Leighey house is the essence of what Wright believed a home should be. It is a “Usonian” home, so designated by Wright to reflect its fundamental democratic and American nature. Like almost all of his houses, it embodies a horizontal motif, embodying, Wright believed, the non-hierarchical society in the United States. Moreover, as a Usonian, it was designed to be affordable.

To keep them affordable, Wright kept them small, while still incorporating his unique touches.


Wright was a firm believer that a home’s first purpose is to provide shelter from the outdoors. He exemplified this by having a low roof as one entered the house, in order to transfer the person to a sense of confinement and safety–shelter.

Beyond the entrance, however, the interior opens in the central living area, where the need for mere “shelter” gives way to higher order needs of family togetherness. This sense of “compression and release” was central to Wright’s architectural philosophy, and this has been, over the decades, adapted to the “open-floor concept” of today.

Another aspect of huge importance for Wright is connection with nature. He wanted his design to blend with the outdoors, to be one with its surroundings, which he achieved at times by using materials from the immediate surroundings for the material structure of the home.

He also utilized “transitional spaces” to usher people from the outside of the home to the inside. So, the outside eaves might provide light, similar to outdoor windows.

The indoors, too, might have windows in unusual places, to allow for light from the outdoors.

And, in the “community spaces,” the windows would be large (and they often opened, as doors) to allow full interactivity with nature.

Wright’s Usonian designs definitely stand out to us compared to the historical houses we have visited and will visit throughout this week. Nonetheless, this was a great opportunity for us to expand out limited knowledge in architecture and see how history, art, and social living interact.

Dial “LEAP” for Entertainment

For the first weekend of the summer session the LEAP Ambassadors gathered with alumni and friends to attend another of the Alley Theatre’s wonderful productions, this one “Dial ‘M’ for Murder,” the Hitchcock classic adapted to the stage by Jeffrey Hatcher.

As is our norm, we met friends at the Houston Post Market for dinner. This venue allows everyone to try something new, while also providing for a diversity of taste options.

And the Post Market also provides a wonderful view–from the rooftop!

Although a casual dinner, it was celebratory. Not only was it a wonderful way to spend time with friends, but it was also the Spencers’ birthdays! Yes, they share the same birthday of June 1.

Following dinner, we zipped to The Alley Theatre, where we settled in for “Dial M for Murder.”

We were able to see some familiar faces, regulars from the Alley’s professional cast, such as Dylan Godwin (from SHSU) and Todd Waite. But we were also able to see some new (to us) talent, including Teresa Zimmerman, Geena Qintos, and Brandon Hearnsberger.

We loved the play, with some debate about whether this, “The Nerd,” or “Shear Madness” (at the Lincoln Center in DC) was the LEAP Ambassadors favorite among recent productions.

In broad outlines, the play follows the 1954 Hitchcock thriller, but this production added in more humor, particularly in the second half. There were also a few modernizations and an added twist, ensuring that even those familiar with the film classic will find new aspects of the thriller to enjoy.

All agreed that the sets and lighting were one of the chief assets of the production.

There was less consensus on which of the actors was the best, but everyone agreed that watching Todd Waite is a joy.

It was a wonderful way to spend an evening, precisely how we wished to kick off the summer session–with entertainment, education, and friendship.

A Thrilling Afternoon with Harlan Coben

by Christina Biello

As a student at Sam Houston, I find it almost impossible not to encounter numerous criminal justice majors daily. Many have a passion for mysteries and true crime, and I have always enjoyed them as well. So, on a Saturday evening, Olivia, Cinthia, and I decided to indulge this shared interest by attending an author talk by Harlan Coben, a renowned writer of mystery novels and thrillers, who was on hand at Murder by the Book to discuss his latest book, “Think Twice.” 

This was my first visit to the bookstore, and it did not disappoint. The atmosphere was lively; the substantial turnout indicated Harlan Coben’s widespread appeal.

His popularity is further shown by the numerous adaptations of his books into television series, such as the acclaimed Netflix show The Stranger, which was released in 2020. 

When I began perusing the novels lining the shelves, my gaze fell upon some familiar names. Among them was Jeff Guinn, who recently came to SHSU in September of 2023 to share his knowledge; he spoke on topics such as Waco, Jim Jones, and Bonnie and Clyde. His books, including Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson and his latest release from 2023, Waco: David Koresh, the Branch Davidians, and A Legacy of Rage, were prominently displayed. 

I continued to scan the titles; however, the eruption of laughter from the audience interrupted my thoughts, drawing my attention to Harlan Coben. His quick wit and humorous anecdotes thoroughly entertained the crowd, and I found myself awaiting each twist of phrase and clever remark. 

As he addressed the audience, he shared insight into his writing process, emphasizing that he does not approach his novels with the sole intention of creating a successful Netflix Show. “If it’s good, then it’s good, but if not, then it’s fine,” he remarked. This highlighted his dedication to crafting meaningful stories rather than solely aiming for commercial success on streaming platforms.

But that success has clearly helped his sale and crowds. For most of the event we weren’t even able to see Coben!–although we did sneak to a spot that allowed us to get a partially obstructed photograph.

He elaborated on his process further when an audience member inquired whether he begins with the story or the characters. Coben noted that while many writers claim to start with characters to sound more artistic, that is often not the case. He clarified that he typically begins with an idea and then delves into determining who will narrate the story. That is, who the main character will be. He stressed the importance of not separating the character from the plot. Some attendees appeared puzzled by this explanation, a sentiment Coben seemed to discern from their expressions. 

To elucidate, he cited the example of Batman’s origin story. He recounted how Bruce Wayne witnessed his parents’ murder, leading to his transformation into an orphan and, eventually, Batman. Coben then posed a question to the audience: “Was this aspect of the story character-driven or plot-driven?” This prompted the realization that it encompassed both character development and plot progression. The clarity provided by this example effectively reinforced Coben’s earlier point about the inseparability of character and plot. 

Harlan Coben’s captivating talk not only entertained us but also provided invaluable insights into the art of storytelling. From the comforting ambiance of Murder By The Book to the contagious laughter echoing through the crowd, every moment was a testament to the profound impact of literature in fostering connections. This memorable evening reaffirmed my passion for the enchanting realm of mysteries and true crime. With eager anticipation, I look forward to returning to the bookstore to immerse myself in its treasure trove of stories and experience more fulfilling author talks.