Multi-use Culver City venue Royal/T—which includes a café, retail store, gallery, and costumed staffers—has launched a series of crafty public offerings in a 385-square-foot space within the 10,000-square-foot complex. The pop-up, dubbed "the Forbidden Forest," got under way in late August and runs through September 5, offering various public workshops on craft-making and environmental friendliness. Retail curator and store manager Judith Kyvik oversaw the event, and handled all of the production in house.
Workshops include whimsical programs such as a session on crocheting birds; a kids' craft session using only recycled materials; terrarium making; a moss graffiti class; and a flower fairy-making class this weekend. Artist Cheryl Cambras, environmentally conscious family business the Greenees, and lifestyle/fashion/culture blog Zippercut are among the vendors behind the workshops and crafts. A closing party for 300 to 500 guests—also free and open to the public—will take to the shop on Saturday.
"Our whole idea is to let people experience art who may be intimidated to go to museums or galleries, but who just come in off the street and want to have french toast or whatever," said Royal/T owner Susan Hancock. "And pop-ups are a fun way to get a lot of attention quickly."
During the two week run of the pop-up, Royal/T’s maid café (where servers wear maid costumes styled after the cafés of Tokyo’s Akihabara district) will serve up a farmers' market-inspired menu including tea-smoked duck breast over organic tatsoi with navel orange, toasted almonds, and an orange-lavender vinaigrette; tempura squash blossoms stuffed with spicy tuna and shiso pesto aoli; green tea soba noodles with farmer's market vegetables, wild mushrooms, and oyster sauce; and grilled salmon with heirloom tomatoes, Meyer lemon-Thai basil pistou, and Japonica rice. Also on offer is a new signature cocktail, "Botanical Bliss," which is made with basil-infused soju, Nigori sake, and a splash of peach syrup.
Among the other groups to make use of Royal/T's pop-up space will be Hello Kitty, which will rent it for the month of October in honor of the brand's 35th anniversary.
