07/03/2026
Headed into the big holiday weekend, I am reflective. I recently took a walk on Bay Drive and stopped at the 3rd street sound access for a little breather. There were two Spanish speaking men sharing a cigarette under the Pavillion and I said hello and asked if they minded I sit for a bit. They said of course, no worries!
As I sat facing the water on the stairs, I heard them in the ambient background. This is what America is to me, what it should be, what we should want for our country. Communal experiences of beauty, safely sharing access to nature - coexisting without fear or discomfort. Birds chirping, friends chatter, water lapping against the soft sand.
If you're like me, you may not be excited about the loud fireworks or the state of the country but I also refuse to let myself believe that America is a lost cause. My friend made the cover of NOIRE, my neighbors enjoyed a shared cigarette by the water, I feel more connected to this land & water than I ever have in my life (and I've ALWAYS felt connected!) Our shop continues to be a safe place for people which has been our goal all along. America is exposing herself in ways many have been blind to for a long time, but she is also exposing how consistently beautiful she is, too.
Nationally, there are so many things out of our day to day control but being present in America is something we can all do. We can all actively choose to de-center ourselves & embrace: the diversity, the true history & each other. That doesn't mean looking away, it means seeing all the beauty and all the devastation and then figuring out how we, each one of us ourselves, can make a difference & make active changes.
We will be open July 4th. If you need a safe & easy place to escape from the cookout, come by. We'll have some iced tea, good music & a puzzle going. πΊπΈ