liturgy of a neighborhood

this article from 'the curator', IAM's web publication, inspired me to consider the liturgy of my own neighborhood. living in a city as chaotic and overwhelming as shanghai, it's those small practiced patterns, those pockets of haven found in the nooks and crannies of crowded streets, that allow us to not only maintain sanity but see the beauty and often-hard-to-find tranquility in the city. i think the author best sums it up here:

"Urbanites seek refuge from the traffic and workweek cacophony, and our activities are almost unconscious liturgical repetitions. We work with our hands in our home or in an office, completing similar tasks over and over again. We frequent our favorite places to eat, drink, and refuel. We are created to gravitate to rhythm, order, beauty, and our incarnational five senses. Or perhaps we rebel against these forces, our fallen dance." (Simmons)

my apartment sits above a busy street, an intersection frequently marked by construction and traffic jams. but it's a nice jaunt across an overpass and a quick stroll to the french concession, hands-down my favorite area in this city. there are certain spots i retreat to, rituals of rest and restoration that have become part of my liturgy for this neighborhood.

coffee tree is my office away from the office. tucked away in quaint ferguson lane, this quiet cafe with soothing music and big windows induces a certain industriousness in me whenever i decide to work from there. i think something about their ginger tea actually makes me more productive! plus there is also an adorable decor store and wonderful gallery in the same lane, for when i need a break.

going to jz club to catch some good live jazz has been a long-time ritual for me. having gotten to know many of the musicians through their performances at our gallery, it's nice to go and catch a show where i'm not working or having to be "on" to receive guests. jz is almost always on my itinerary for when i am hosting out-of-town visitors--it's a nice respite from the glitter-and-glam and bump-and-thump of the usual shanghai nightlife.

for beers on the patio and the occasional indulgence in a fatty cheeseburger, boxing cat brewery has become my favorite spot. this is one practice that i try not to partake too much in...

a new addition to my neighborhood liturgy is yoga 109, a boutique-style yoga studio hidden behind a parking lot on fuxing road. i love yoga and it's nice returning to it after too long of a hiatus. the classes are small, the instructor is friendly, and it's only a 15 to 20-minute walk from my apartment.

and there is of course, just ambling about the tree-lined streets, dreaming of renovating old lane houses and peeking in store windows--often medicine enough for the soul. there is a greater sense of rhythm and continuity in these older, more residential neighborhoods: watching old men play chess in the parks, listening to the women laugh and gossip as they sit on benches, fanning themselves... it's almost as if you can feel the methodical movements of life being carved out in this city. i suppose we need this sort of liturgy of life for our own peace of minds, but perhaps it's also to know we matter, that our existence makes some sort of imprint in this sea of millions. as we seek and participate in things that are good and beautiful, perhaps we long to be part of an enduring goodness and beauty as well, weaving our own lives into the life of the city, transcending the concrete and steel to build something more permanent.


cups of coffee: 2

mood: breathe....1....2....3.....