One Year of The Koji Club

I wrote this on June 1, 2020:

Today was your first day of the Koji Club. You softly “launched” around 8:30am with a handful of social media posts and support from close friends, gentle push from Lauren who is hosting your pop up, and an enormous knot in your stomach. Yesterday, you asked Boston Magazine to not cover your story in light of current events.

Last night, there was an event in support of Black Lives Matter with thousands of people peacefully marching in protest until late at night where there was some violence and looting. Nothing compared to the past few days of protests in other cities like Minneapolis, St. Louis and Los Angeles. Your friend’s ice cream shop in Manhattan was looted. Most of New York is already a nightmare because of the incredible impact of Covid-19 in the months prior to these protests and riots. Another friend of yours has a daughter in her early twenties who was run over by a police motorcycle and had to get 8 stitches in her knee. You can't do much for anyone except listen and send love. We are all still diligently and thoughtfully quarantined. We have been quarantined since March 2020.

On March 1, 2020, you gave your notice at the job you love. You had been considering giving your notice for a long while to pursue this dream. On April 3, 2020 everyone was sent home to quarantine.

Last week, your longtime mentor and friend Charlotte Klein passed away. She was the owner of Charlotte Klein Dance Studios in Worcester, your second home for many years. It has challenged you daily but you have not shared this with anyone as your current circle of friends did not know her or your past dance life. But Charlotte taught you the skills needed for a day like today:

“The show must go on..” 

“If you forget the steps… make them up, listen to the music and keep going…”

“You can do anything if you have the right foundation to launch from…”

This morning you posted your news on social media and were immediately showered with support. You baked brioche, visited in person with your dad, fed your sourdough starter, spoke to a lawyer about the liquor licenses you will need to make your pop-up permanent someday, showered, got dressed (twice), received celebratory texts from your best friends who love you and the first “like” on your Instagram post was from someone you truly admire.

You got in your Prius and drove to Rebel Rebel wine bar, The Koji Club’s first home. Lauren, her team and sweet Willa the pup greeted you and showed you the lay of the land. They marked the occasion by drawing a sweet sign on their sandwich board. You brought warm brioche to share with them, a bucket of locally grown strawberries to snack on and a bottle of yuzu sake that just entered the New York market.

They are closed on Mondays, but you sat in their wine window and did your best to sell sake to the handful of people who came to visit from 12pm to 6pm. Nicole was your first guest. The sun was warm and you read a book (titled Minor Feelings) and smiled for all 6 hours. You sold 13 kits out of 24. You should probably buy more sake.

In a world that is sick and burning, you are surrounded by love. 

Today you were brave. 

Keep going.

AMD

PS- when you get home tonight, your friend Leah made your kimchi pork dumplings for dinner. A perfect ending to a perfect day.