Where We Don’t Work: Our Favorite Spots to Take a Break in New York and Michigan

Twice a month we share the art studios and creative spaces of our Listings Project community members. In this two-part Where We Work spin-off, we’re taking a small break from sharing spaces devoted to productivity to share how our team members like to take a moment for themselves.

A Moment of Respite in NYC

Photo by Mahayla Laurence

Mahayla Laurence is our Lead Community Manager. She is a liaison and caretaker of our community, offering customer support rooted in empathy, and working to ensure our policies are equitable.

“My favorite place to disconnect from responsibility and reconnect with myself and my thoughts is usually a museum. I’ll go alone or with a friend and take time to just wander and travel through the space impulsively. Whether or not I’m there to even look at a specific exhibition or just people watch, it’s a place that feels very meditative in that everyone is there to have their own experience. I also try to stick with institutions that have developed lasting relationships with the artists they exhibit; those tend to be the most tender environments to step into.”
- Mahayla Laurence

A Riverside Escape in Ypsilanti, MI

Photo by Mayela Rodriguez

Mayela Rodriguez, our Editorial Designer, creates visual designs for the Listings Project website, newsletter, and Instagram account. She also oversees the production of editorial content.

“When I need a break from work, I like to walk down to the river. It’s maybe 10 minutes from my house, next to the co-op where I like to pick up a sandwich or a snack. I’ll go and sit by the river and just zone out for a while, maybe listening to music and watching the ducks float by. There always seems to be something new or exciting to see at the park. Last summer, the Ypsilanti Parks and Rec department hired sheep to mow the hill nearby.” - Mayela Rodriguez

A Stationary Bike to Start the Day

Photo by Stephanie Diamond

Stephanie Diamond, our Founder and CEO, is an artist, entrepreneur and community-builder. Stephanie's art projects reflect her strong sense of intuition as well as her lifelong obsession with communal and private space.

“I try to bike before working, especially if it’s a day full of meetings. Sometimes that’s a pipedream, but if I can fit biking in, even later in the day, I do it. I enjoy riding while watching a show on HGTV or sometimes Netflix will get me with their algorithm. If I am hooked on a show, I will binge and bike.” - Stephanie Diamond

Dozens of artists find and share art studio spaces every week on Listings Project. These artists are the lifeblood of our communities, keeping us connected to and engaged with the things that matter most. In our Where We Work series, we showcase some of these art studios.

Feature Photo by Mayela Rodriguez