A New Orleans Bookstore and Café for Rebels and Creatives

A note from creator / manager Kyle DeVries:
When I was a kid, I always had my head in a book. Sitting lost in rows of books at a library or bookstore, cross-legged with a stack to check out by my side, was my happy place. Maybe more importantly, it was my safe space. I found community among booklovers, and, through the stories I read, I learned I wasn't alone as a nerdy, gay weirdo.

Now those same stories are being banned from schools and libraries. The safe spaces I treasured as a child are disappearing, legislated out of existence. So, what's a long-time community organizer to do? Start exactly the kind of space I'd want to spend all my time in, both as a kid and now: a bookstore that focuses on the literature and culture being censored and pushed out of the public sphere.

But, the truth is, I've got a lot of passions, and another one is that I love cooking for people. Lots of people, when I can (I used to run a retreat catering biz). And, I love art and culture of all kinds, not just books. Music, murals, spoken word, collage; art is what elevates existence to transcendent. So, I figure, why not combine all of these things. And, Lavender was born!

My background is as a LGBTQ+ community organizer and cultural producer, so I'm excited to create Lavender in community and with your support. I can't build this alone (and wouldn't want to!) so let me know what books you want us to carry, who your favorite authors are, and the local artisans you love. Keep an eye out for developments, as we will be launching our first pop-ups soon. Here we goooo!