Why Gathering (In-Person) is Important

In the complicated, and often stressful and isolating world we live in today, the importance of gathering with other people has become a vital aspect of a healthy lifestyle. In fact, the U.S. Surgeon General raised alarms about this lack of connection people are feeling last year, calling it a national "crisis" with detrimental health effects. And these bells started ringing even before the pandemic hit, so we are now entering our latest epidemic and it is that of loneliness, which crosses generations and demographics. 

Pictured above: Local author, Tara Vasser, who recently came for an interactive reading of her Lost in a Fairytale, Choose Your Path series.

Gathering with other people is ancient. It is steeped in our DNA as social creatures designed to cooperate and collaborate with others. It provides a framework for civil operations and discourse, as well as fun and leisure. It introduces us to other perspectives and ideas that help us grow and evolve. It has the power to transcend moments into blissful experiences that you never forget... like when you attend a concert and the lights dim, followed by a brief hush until you hear the music of your favorite band start playing, and the crowd erupts in elated cheers and you feel those goosebumps on your skin and you feel that euphoria sweep over you and everyone else there...

Magic. A shared venture with others - mostly complete strangers - but for those moments you are suspended in time and reality, connected in this human experience and no longer an "I' but a "we". Time flies by and stress starts to feel further away. There is a reason so many indigenous cultures always have the communal hearth and fire; why we are drawn to spaces and places that understand this and cultivate a sense of belonging. 

Of course, there are often barriers of entry to these experiences that are part of the problem and contribute to our crisis of loneliness, one being how expensive it is simply to gather in spaces sometimes. Technology certainly plays a role with the isolation factor, ironically, because we have never been more connected and isolated at the same time as a species. We feel drained from the constant social availability aspect of our screens, and this then affects our stamina for real-life engagements. And writing this as an entrenched introvert, I know all too well the constant duality of wanting to be included and not having any "gas" left for such events. 

Here at The Curious Crow Company, we endeavor to offer extraordinary events that open doors to many things: a fun and interactive experience; a sense of community and belonging; and an opportunity to learn and expand both your circle of friends and your hobbies and interests. We want to be your local nerd shop, where everyone knows your name. This has been at the center of why we opened our store and how we operate our business.

Many of our events are free to attend, or a low ticket entry that is incorporated into a cash prize payout (e.g., our tournaments and such) or directly pay our artists or vendors. We also have a large variety in our offerings, from classes where you learn how to draw cartoon and anime characters; trivia nights; card game tournaments; movie nights; and live music. We are constantly adding different activities and artists. Furthermore, when we are not hosting events ourselves or with other vendors, we offer FREE table time in our game room where you can gather with your friends and family with your favorite table-top game or card game, or just hang out without need to make a purchase. However, if you want something tasty, we have local wine, beer, snacks, and sodas. We also encourage people to show up with a curious mindset, and learn more about things that interest them in a safe space. 

Pictured above: Our last movie party night, where we played "Beetlejuice" with cosplay options.

As the holidays approach and gathering with friends and loved ones becomes more top of mind, we want to invite you to come out and attend one of our events or use our game room for your game night. Our event and game room has plenty of room but is also a very cozy space for gathering with old friends, or making new ones! Our passion is in building community and offering a place that is welcoming to all. We hope you come join us, and become part of our 'murder' of curious crows. 

FIND ALL OF OUR UPCOMING EVENTS HERE.