I remember the deep curiosity about where this would all go before it was really here. There was enough information to be vigilant but not yet enough to make major shifts. The launch party for my fiancé’s incredible new space was happening- we had been preparing for months and with COVID-19 there was now a sense of uncertainty about the timing. Very few people had really started cancelling things yet, so we went ahead but we did want to be super careful. We had ALL the hand sanitizer set all around the space, decided no hugs or handshakes, and went on as planned.

The evening was amazing… I have no idea how many people came and went but for two and a half hours it was a boisterous, joyful, full house. People laughed and “elbowed” rather than shaking hands or hugging - some insisting on elbows, others not sure it was really necessary but going along with it anyway. Julio of Minnie Olivia Pizzeria next door catered THE most beautiful spread of antipasti and we had amazing desserts (including custom baby yoda cookies!) from our friends at I Canita Cake. The VR lab ran demos non-stop while records played on vinyl.

That was March 4th, which feels like it was at least 6 months ago yet it hasn’t even been two months. If we knew the virus would shut everything down the way it has, we definitely would have cancelled. Nobody that attended ever reported getting sick, thankfully. Having no sickness result from the gathering puts me at ease to enjoy the memory of such an exciting evening, the celebration of so much hard work and so much more to come.

Right now crib, the design and research lab of faction strategy + innovation , sits quiet and waiting like so many other beautiful spaces. The faction team still thrives on, though! Just…remotely, like everyone else.

With Joy,

Lauren Liz