Introducing Our Next Project: The “Enlightenment” Salon Series

Salon Schedule

November 7, 6:30-8 pm - True Crime Night
Three professional crime journalists tell us how they unraveled the deeds of our region’s most notorious murderers.
Ruhstaller BSMT, 726 K St.

Hi there,

You and I may know of each other already, because we’re probably connected by just a few degrees of separation. It’s most likely a digital link that ties us, via LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook. But honestly, I’d love to meet you IRL.

I’m happiest when I feel connected and part of a community. You probably are too. Yes, I like to have some solitude and R&R. But I don’t want to be spending my nights and weekends scrolling through my phone out of laziness, boredom and just because it’s there.

So I’ve decided to do something that doesn’t involve the phone, gets me out of the house, meet people, help others meet other people, and create more connection and more community.

***

One big reason why I think I’m on the right track about this: The U.S. Surgeon General has sounded the alarm about an American “epidemic of loneliness and isolation,” with all the danger that classification implies. He says a lack of social connection now affects more Americans than, say, diabetes or obesity.

I believe it. I’ve regularly felt lonely, isolated, disconnected from others, and depressed. Those feelings haven’t really let up since the pandemic. Zoom calls and texting don’t fill the gap.

And I know I’m not alone in feeling this way. Because of a constant stream of depressing headlines about political turmoil, climate change and Loneliness Epidemics, we’re all craving unique, meaningful connections and experiences.

***

But what to do about it?

The light bulb for this new idea went off for me after reading about the Age of Enlightenment, which happened in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. I was struck by the fact that many of the great ideas and innovations came out of small group talks held in living rooms. Basically, a few aristocratic women in Paris opened their homes to anyone, regardless of wealth or class, who wanted to discuss social, literary, or political topics of the time. They also served as mediators by directing the discussion and emphasizing civility.

And so, the Salon was created and became Ground Zero for the ideas that shaped big things, like our Declaration of Independence and the French Revolution.

Four hundred years later, despite all our technology, we still crave face-to-face interaction, civil discussions and conversation that matters, and we want to take part in it. The Salon is the perfect place to have that. It’s an intentional gathering of friends and friends of friends, in a cozy setting. It offers good times with humans coming together for conversation and to eat, drink, talk and listen.

***

So I’ve decided to start a regular Salon in Downtown Sacramento, and call it “Enlightenment. “I’ve been graciously offered the use of Ruhstaller’s BSMT taproom in Downtown Sacramento (a neighborhood that definitely needs help bringing people back for gatherings) for the rest of 2024. I intend to host a few imperfect, convivial gatherings with drinks, food, vibrant conversation, and hopefully live music and local art, with the intent to change the world bit by bit in our own community.

I’m choosing local/national/global topics I’d like to know more about, and asking guests what they want to know about, too. I’m narrowing down the list to topics that appeal to people from different worlds. Then I’m finding people who live locally and are experts on the subject, from authors and professors to filmmakers and company founders, and inviting them to come over so we can ask them some fireside-chat types of questions about their work, life and the topic.

By bringing people together – you, your friends, and your friends’ friends -- we can make the world better by providing a place for people to really listen to each other, learn from each other, and enjoy each other’s company. Whether or not any new idea or innovation comes out of the evening, we definitely will have a lot of laughs along the way, I promise.

***

With Enlightenment, I am building a new movement around stimulating conversation in real life, because damn it, that’s what we need right now in the world. A lot more face-to-face conversations, understanding each other’s views, listening, asking questions, being curious, enjoying each other’s company and having FUN.

I am changing the world one salon at a time, and I’m having fun putting it together. But I can’t – and I don’t want to – do this alone. I’m here to convince you to join me on this journey IRL so we can listen, learn, and have fun together.

I look forward to meeting you in person.

— Vanessa Richardson, director of California Groundbreakers