Open Sesame

Today's #365ofgoodWR is a bit different than previous posts, but I believe it still fits in with the overall theme.

Yesterday the bricks and mortar location of Open Sesame closed. For fans of the store, you can breathe a little easier knowing that the online store is still up and running. However, I for one will miss the space it held near City Hall. The space was lovely of course. Every time I walked in, it felt peaceful and beautiful. The products were varied, unique, and often thought-provoking. But Open Sesame was much more than just a place to buy items. Lauren was intentional about making this a space for the community, with a focus on the arts. Although there were many more events I would have liked to attend, I had the opportunity to attend several events here (events ranged from book discussions, music nights, art exhibits, and more). 

As Open Sesame closes it (physical) doors though, I'm pleased to see Lauren's advocacy for keeping that space as a community cultural space. There are many reasons why that space could continue to be an asset, which you can read in this letter about the closing of Open Sesame. If you agree that this space should head in this direction, please reach out to the local elected officials mentioned in the article.

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