Lotus Moment: The MUD Room

Why this is awesome: Last month, I had the pleasure of enjoying a day in the city for the first time in over a year. Although it was the Grief and Grievances exhibit at the New Museum that brought me downtown, I made sure to sneak in some visits to other locales to round out my day. One of those visits was to the cafe/restaurant MUDspot on 9th in the East Village.

While I was there, I had to use the restroom, and lo and behold, I saw this uniquely artistic contribution to the tiny room's decor (see above). Sure, I've seen wall graffiti in bars, nightclubs and diners. But it's not a common sight in most coffeeshops, and when it is, it rarely looks so aesthetically pleasing to the point of being uplifting.

Speaking of uplifting, there's also this lovely addition on the tile near the toilet (a sentence I never thought I'd write). But honestly, how often will you get a chance to use a public restroom and see the words of encouragement below:

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When I saw that wall of graffiti above the sink, as well as around the cozy space that made up this broom-closet-of-a-room, I knew I had to snap a few photos to share with all of you (another sentence I'd never thought I'd write).

I had a wonderful day out during a particularly busy few weeks for me, and I'm happy to say that I think it helped sustain me while I was in the weeds at work, as well as while I was tackling an important freelance project. And for that reason alone, it has become a truly treasured Lotus Moment.

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Both images: by Candace Nicholson