The Lake Shrine
Neuroscientist Dr. Daya Grant discovers a sanctuary in Los Angeles for reflection and a moment of respite from it all.
“Live each present moment completely and the future will take care of itself. Fully enjoy the wonder and beauty of each instant.”
What is it: The Lake Shrine is a sanctuary in the heart of Los Angeles. The beautiful grounds have a small lake (with turtles, koi fish, and two exquisite swans) surrounded by a walking path, pristine plants, flowers, and trees, as well as benches for reflection.
Why You'll Love It: As soon as you step onto the grounds, you can't help but exhale. It is peaceful and inclusive, and every time I visit I can't help but feel that "All is OK". The setting is absolutely gorgeous, but there's also an energy there that is grounding, uplifting, and hopeful. It's a place where you're encouraged to slow down and take your time.
What They Offer: Pre-COVID, the Lake Shrine offered beginner meditation classes in the charming windmill chapel right on the lake. Now, all inspirational presentations and meditations have shifted online. At the Lake Shrine itself, there is a small gift shop with gifts from India, as well as a small bookstore with thoughtful readings.
What Makes It Different: The Lake Shrine invites you to just be — to breathe deep and surrender to the present moment and the beauty all around. While it is on the grounds of a spiritual organization, inclusivity is paramount.
What You Need to Know: During COVID, reservations are required. A limited number of parking permits are available and can be reserved (for free) at a particular time the week prior. It does sell out each week within five minutes, so jump on your computer early and prepare to hit refresh! It is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 1 pm to 4 pm.
In Their Words: "Lake Shrine is part of Self-Realization Fellowship founded by Paramahansa Yogananda. Dedicated in 1950, he envisioned a spiritual environment where people from all over the world could come and experience peace of heart and mind. Today, Lake Shrine offers a lakeside Meditation Garden with shrines and waterfalls, a hilltop Temple with weekly inspirational services and meditations, a retreat for silent renewal, and an ashram for monks of Self-Realization Fellowship."
Miyoko's Creamery
Miyoko’s Creamer is making “doing good” feel very easy for the rest of us.
Doing Good From Home with Miyoko’s Creamery
What is it: Founded by celebrity chef Miyoko Shinner, Miyoko’s is a California-based vegan cheese company whose mission is to shift the dairy industry from animal to plant-based. They call this the Evolution of Dairy and it is all very exciting!
Why you’ll love it: More than being one of the most delicious dairy replacement items we’ve ever had (and, truly, we’ve tried it all) we love Miyokos because it stands for something. While their mission is partially to help you make an out-of-this-world mac n cheese that will blow the minds of your very non-vegan friends, it is, equally, to shift our world completely, by inspiring more people to go vegan. (They even run a farm animal sanctuary!)
What you need to know: If the world stopped consuming meat and dairy, global farmland use would be reduced by over 75 percent. That’s the equivalent of the United States, China, the European Union, and Australia combined reverting their farmland back to a natural environment. Buying an electric car, lowering your thermostat, and taking quick showers all pale in comparison to simply eating less meat and dairy. The way we produce, consume, and waste food is unsustainable. Every person has the power to effect change just by their daily food choices. (Source: The Guardian)
What they offer: Literally: Vegan cheeses, butter and spreads made by skilled cheesemakers, using traditional cheesemaking cultures and processes resulting in a line of products so good that we actually can’t even understand how it is possible. (It also makes all the dishes we bring to Thanksgiving instant hits with our otherwise skeptical families). Figuratively: hope for a sustainable world that does not depend on the exploitation of animals.
Why we think it’s different: If you were vegan over a decade ago, you might remember the floppy American-cheese-esque slices that once sat on the outskirts of the produce section, near the tofu. They were, putting it lightly, a travesty. (Though we thank them for a stepping stone in the dairy-free evolution.) Miyokos is different because its products are aged and processed in a way that mimics the dairy industry processes. In short: we’re able to make mac and cheese and lasagna and brown butter sauce without feeling like we’ve sacrificed anything in regard to flavor or texture. More than that, we feel GOOD about ourselves when we make this switch. This. . .is a game-changer.
In their own words: “Our mission is: Phenomenally Vegan. What do we mean by that? It’s the new gold standard for the future of food that emphasizes artistry, integrity, ethics and conviviality. It's the credo that drives everything we do from the creation of our products to inspiring others to try this phenomenal lifestyle. Phenomenally Vegan is how we change the world. Together.”
Why we love them: In addition to their wonderful products, lovely founder, and ambitious mission, we love Miyokos because of their dedication, honesty, and adherence to their values. In 2015, Miyoko founded Rancho Compassion, a farmed-animal sanctuary based in west Marin County. Here, over 70 (otherwise slaughter-bound) animals have the chance to live out their days in peace and comfort. Visitors are encouraged to come and interact with the animals, receive education into humane living and maybe even cuddle a cow. (All offerings are virtual for now, but the sanctuary is still very much in operation!) We love Miyokos because they’ve found a way to take their passion for all living beings and put it into products that are actually capable of freeing those same beings. They make “doing good” feel very easy for the rest of us.
Chapter 510 and the Department of Make Believe
Need permission to dream? The Department of Make Believe gives you, and kids in Oakland, exactly that.
“I am rooted here
because this city reminds me of who I want to be
is the only place that accepts me for me
provides my tension as well as my release
lets me be all of my selves.”
What is it: A writing, bookmaking, and publishing center for Oakland’s youth fronted by a rather fantastic magical bureaucracy.
Why you’ll love it: Words matter. They give us pathways, allow for hope, shape the sense of our lives, and of ourselves. Through writing, bookmaking, and publishing workshops and camps, Chapter 510 brings words to those aged 6 to 18 living in Oakland. Here poetry is used to imagine better futures, storytelling to explore Black Joy, and songwriting to address racial injustice and the impacts of the pandemic.
Why we think it matters: By providing access to creativity, Chapter 510 also teaches confidence, joy, and courage. Through authoring essays and stories and magazines, Chapter 510 creates eager learners and leaders, future change-makers and creatives. By establishing a learning center led by teaching artists, volunteers, and educators, Chapter 510 makes a safe and supportive space for the youth in their community. It’s a place that invites all people to make-believe, whether shopping their magical products or attending one of the programs.
In their own words: “Chapter 510 is a Made in Oakland literacy project focused on developing creative and expository writing skills for students. Founded by parents, educators, writers, and youth-serving organizations, Chapter 510 shares a vision for Oakland as a place where we make our children and their perspectives visible; where teachers are honored and supported; and where we expand our community’s belief in its own possibilities.”
Something to do: If you live locally, volunteer to teach, tutor, or mentor. Or volunteer your design skills, your time, your other abilities (they are very open about who they need to support their mission - if you can help and want to help, you can apply to volunteer here). Even as classes go online during the pandemic, there are opportunities to help continue the work of Chapter 510 remotely.
How to bring this into your life wherever you are: You can now dream virtually from home with capsules of dehydrated courage and liquid procrastination.
To find out more: Website // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram
If you’ve visited Chapter 510 and the Department of Make Believe let us know about it. Things change all the time and we want to make sure we’re bringing you the most up to date information.
Tilden Regional Park
At a moment when many of us are turning to nature, guest writer Kat Vellos finds her calm at Tilden Regional Park
Whenever I need a hearty serving of peace and contentment, I head to Tilden Regional Park, which sits on Ohlone land on the border of what we commonly refer to as Berkeley and Oakland, California.
As you arrive, the smell of pine and eucalyptus trees welcomes you, with their spicy and bright aroma. If you’ve chosen one of the many hiking trails or picnic areas, you might be rewarded with wide views across expanses of green that roll over hills and ravines towards Mount Diablo. Within minutes of arriving, I can feel a drop in the tension and stress that I’ve been holding. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to cross paths with a pack of shimmering, prehistoric-looking wild turkeys. And I’ve heard — but never seen — that deer and goats pass through in the summer.
If you are drawn to water like I am, wend your way over to Lake Anza. Swimming’s not usually allowed due to an algae that grows on the water. But on a clear day, you’ll find the sun glittering across its surface, as it sparkles like a sapphire set atop a tiny mountain. Just being near it deepens my breathing and allows quiet peace to wash over me. The shore of the lake even has sand near the entrance gate, so if you bring a blanket, you get to pretend that you’re laying on a very quiet, very hidden, secret beach.
Around the lake, there’s a small walking path that will take you past bigleaf maples, manzanitas, and graceful peeling eucalyptus trees that remind you to shed whatever you no longer need. At the north end of Lake Anza, a fallen eucalyptus juts from the shade into the water’s edge — a perfect perch for reflecting on the impermanence of all things.
Tilden Regional is a huge park. Admittedly, I’ve only ever explored a tiny sliver of it, having a preference for the regions surrounding Lake Anza. It has everything I need: it provides an unbroken view of the sky, the warmth of the sun, and a quiet place to walk or lay down and feel the energy of the earth rising up from deep below. If you come here, please try to maintain the tranquility that this special enclave offers. Shrill exclamations and even the volume of normal conversation carry easily across the water and will disturb the peace for everyone around you.
This special park has multiple facets and a long history that stretches back to the early 1900s.Tilden’s land originally belonged to the native Ohlone Indians. According to Wikipedia, Spanish explorers and Mexican ranchers drove the Ohlone off the land when ranchers infiltrated Wildcat Canyon. The land was turned into a park when it was purchased by the East Bay Regional Park District in 1936.
After World War II a number of attractions were added to the park, including tennis courts, a model airplane field, a miniature train, and a merry-go-round near the lake. There’s also a botanic garden and a banquet hall and event venue. If you want to stay longer, there are picnic and camping sites. Or, you can do what I do, which is simply to drop by for an hour or two whenever you need some peace and quiet and want to make the stressful rush of the city feel very, very far away.
Fox + Kit | Tumbling Towards Joy
Entering the play space was like entering another world; a world where quality design meets functionality, a world where the color palette doesn’t send your eyes darting back and forth seeking reprieve, a world where kids slide happily down hills with nothing more than pirate hats, books and one another to entertain them.
“Coffeehaus + Playground”
When I first entered Fox + Kit, my two children in tow, I quickly placed a mental bet with myself: How long would it take us to (1) break something beautiful, or (2) be kicked out entirely?
The cafe felt, distinctly, like somewhere grown-ups like me weren’t allowed to enjoy anymore. Live plants, marble tables, swinging rattan chairs, gorgeous modern furniture in dusty pinks and deep blues. They must not know how sticky we are (?), must not know that I have a 3-week-old banana in my purse, just waiting to tumble out.
The baby-pink-clad barista (a detail I would be remiss to overlook) standing beside a bevy of drool-worthy pastries (another key fact) didn’t appear to share my hesitation. With a smile, he asked if we’d been in before, if he could get a coffee started for me, and if the kids would be heading into the play space.
And, that’s when I saw it … a giant glass wall cordoning off what can safely be considered the most aesthetically-pleasing play area I’d ever seen. Custom woodwork, faux-grass, plush stones, stackable cushions, cozy corners and caves, space for reading and running and dress-up (and whatever other weird things kids do when they are loosely-supervised). We were awestruck, our feet moving forward before our brains could catch up.
So, I stumbled through my coffee order and we continued toward the play space. “We’ll put it in a tumbler for you, so you don’t have to worry about spills in there,” they called after me. I didn’t know exactly what a tumbler was, and the kind, pink barista clearly didn’t know that I’d fully resigned myself to any discomfort associated with spilling things in public (but I was very excited for a special cup). I wanted to drop into my most gravelly voice and tell him, “You don’t know the things I’ve seen…” but I already had the rotten banana to deal with, so I thought it best not to press my luck. (It was the kid’s job to get us kicked out, after all. Wouldn’t want to steal their glory.)
Entering the play space was like entering another world; a world where quality design meets functionality, a world where the color palette doesn’t send your eyes darting back and forth seeking reprieve, a world where kids slide happily down hills with nothing more than pirate hats, books and one another to entertain them. Miraculously, my kids (ages 5 and 10) were both instantly hooked. I grabbed my coffee (a cool, copper tumbler, with a spill-proof lid that I still can’t quite understand the dynamics of), gave them kisses, told them I’d be in the cafe, then left.
Walking back in to the cafe felt illegal.
Can I sit here? Are these swinging chairs for the VIPs? When my kids come running out, loudly-insisting that I come see their half-heartedly executed tumbles, is that when the jig is up? When does the shame part start???
But…it never came.
The kids played, ran in and out, insisted that I meet their new friends and watch their questionable gymnastics feats, took a short break for croissants and chocolate milk (their little mini-tumblers even cuter than mine)…and they played, and I worked (and breathed, and relished in the beauty of the space).
The novelty of this might be lost on someone who hasn’t spent the better part of a decade feeling excluded from the spaces they once found comfort and solace in. And, of course, no one is really *actively* telling you that you can’t enjoy the spaces you once occupied (that would be discrimination) but there is certainly an air of “your crying baby is ***really*** fucking up the vibe and if you don’t leave on your own volition, we might be forced to hipster-stare you into oblivion.” Sometimes just because you’re “allowed” to be somewhere, doesn’t mean you’re welcome there.
When husband and wife designers David and Kyoko Westberg set out to create a space for parents and children, they considered every detail, most notably, a way to make guests feel comfortable, content and accepted for what they are: very nice people (with very loud smaller people, in tow) who all just want some good coffee and yummy snacks.
At Fox and Kit, we’ve found a space that makes us feel both welcome and at ease, even productive. (No one even mentioned the banana.)
Website www.foxandkit.com / Facebook @foxandkitmarin / Instagram @foxandkitcafe