🪂 Taking Over The Tea Stand

Pack lightly! There is not much extra space in the bags.

• A snack, ideally something quick and clean like a granola bar
• If less than 60°F: dress super, super warm. Subtract 20° from the actual temperature and dress for that – sitting still gets quite chilly! Please do not underestimate this!!!
• If sunny: sunglasses & sunscreen
• If chance of rain: umbrella & rain jacket

1. Arrive at storage space at 1339 Dekalb Ave (photo below).
2. Retrieve key from lockbox. The code is 1969 (photo below).
3. Unlock door and enter. Lock door behind you. Turn lights on if needed. Walk straight past tool shelves until you see my bike (photo below).
4. Find the two collapsible water jugs and fill both with tap water from the bathroom (give it a rinse or two, first). Once both jugs are completely full, screw on tops and place one jug in each pannier bag (to balance weight).
5. Cinch the pannier bags closed with the drawstrings and make sure no straps are dangling near the wheels.
6. If needed, adjust the bike seat. You can find the hex key tool in the zipper pocket in the black duffel bag (photo below).
7. Lay the lawn sign(s) flat atop the pannier bags, place the black duffel bag atop the lawn signs, and use the two bungie cords (likely on handlebars) to secure them to the bike rack.
8. Put on the bike helmet (likely on handlebars)!
9. Carefully walk the bike outside. With so much weight on the bike rack, it topples over VERY easily! Don't forget to turn off the lights.
10. Lock the door and put the key back in the lockbox! The code is 1969.
11. Hop on and ride safe!

1. Walk or ride the bike as close as possible to where you plan to set up The Tea Stand. Carefully rest the bike on a tree or pole. Remember, the bike topples over VERY easily!
2. Undo the bungie cords and remove the duffel bag and lawn sign(s).
3. Unclip the pannier bags from the bike rack. Here's a tutorial video. If possible, remove both pannier bags at once to prevent the bike from toppling over.
4. Now that the bike is fully unloaded, lock the bike to a pole or tree using the chain lock. The code is 17220.
5. Set up the folding table. Here's a tutorial video.
6. Remove the orange & black keffiyeh from the pannier bag and carefully unwrap the mug inside. Use the keffiyeh as a tablecloth and place the mug atop the table.
7. Set up the table top (photo below). Almost all of the items can be found either in the red mooncake tin or loose in the pannier bag. The cups and lids are in the black duffel bag.
8. Set up the camping chair. Here's a tutorial video.
9. Set up the water station next to the chair (photo below). Atop the solid orange cloth, place the jugs, jetboil, thermos, and propane.
10. Set up the tea station on the other side of the chair (photo below). Atop the checkered cloth, place the tea tins, the red mooncake tin, and any miscellaneous items (phone, journal, etc.).
11. Set up the blanket area to the side of the table (photo below). All of the items can be found in the black duffel bag. Lay out the zines, the guest book, the pencil case with markers, and the cushions. Some of these items may be missing; don't worry if so!
12. Stow the pannier bags and duffel bag. Usually I put them back on my bike if it's within my field of view while sitting, otherwise I keep them neatly arranged my by side.

1. Use some hand sanitizer (from the red mooncake tin).
2. Make some hot water! Here's a tutorial video. Remember: we want the thermos full of 80°C water at all times.
3. Review the teas that you're serving today. The most important thing is to know which teas contain caffeine.
4. Once you have hot water made and feel ready to serve, place the lawn signs in the ground so that they face passersby coming from both directions. The Tea Stand is now officially open!
5. Have a seat and relax! I encourage you to let visitors engage on their own terms rather than offering people tea as they walk by, but it's up to you. Just keep in mind that we are here to welcome, not disrupt.
6. Maybe pour yourself a cup of tea :)

Some technical reminders while serving:

• Offering a cup: usually I open with "hi, would you like a cup of tea?" and then "great, here are today's options...". Once you hand the visitor their cup of tea, suggest they wait 5 minutes for it to cool and steep.
• Refills: the four things you may need to refill as you serve are: cups, lids, agave syrup, and propane. All of these extra materials can be found in the black duffel bag.
• Taking notes: please use the small journal found in the zipper pocket of the black duffel bag for note-taking purposes (in lieu of using your phone). You can write general observations, people's contact information to follow up on later, etc.

And some physical reminders:

• If you need to use the bathroom: please ask a stranger (or ideally a friend) to watch things over while you're gone. You can use the park bathroom or a nearby bodega.
• In case of rain: put everything water-sensitive (zines, guest book, punch cards, journal) in the black duffel bag (it's waterproof) and put the lid on the donation teapot. Hopefully you brought an umbrella :)
• In case of high winds: use the rocks on the table to hold down any materials which are blowing away.

And some spiritual reminders:

• Keep distractions to a minimum! No phones, no books, no music. Instead, be curious about your environment: what type of people are around you? How do they seem? Don't zone out, zone in!
• Practice non-judgement & engage authentically. Accept people as they are and speak with sincerity. You are encouraged to speak about your own creative work and personal life; you are not simply a substitute for me. Feel free to explain your relationship to The Tea Stand in whatever way feels most honest.
• You are not expected to answer every question that comes your way about The Tea Stand! You can always suggest that people scan the QR code on the coaster which has a link to our website (which has an FAQ page).

For a note about Safety, scroll to the very bottom of the page.

1. Use some hand sanitizer (from the red mooncake tin).
2. Make some hot water! Here's a tutorial video. Remember: we want the thermos full of 80°C water at all times.
3. Review the teas that you're serving today. The most important thing is to know which teas contain caffeine.
4. Once you have hot water made and feel ready to serve, place the lawn signs so that they face passersby coming from both directions. The Tea Stand is now officially open!
5. Begin approaching folks who are waiting for the Distro to begin and offer them tea. You can ask "would you like some free tea today?" and then list the options. If you'd like, you can use the small journal found in the zipper pocket of the black duffel bag to record people's orders.
6. After taking 2-3 orders, return to The Tea Stand to prepare people's tea orders.
7. Bring people their cups of tea and repeat steps 5-6 until you've served everyone waiting for the Distro (including the Riders4Rights volunteers).
8. Don't forget to pour yourself a cup of tea :)

Some technical reminders while serving:

• Offering a cup: once you hand the visitor their cup of tea, suggest they wait 5 minutes for it to cool and steep.
• Refills: the four things you may need to refill as you serve are: cups, lids, agave syrup, and propane. All of these extra materials can be found in the black duffel bag.

And some physical reminders:

• If you need to use the bathroom: please ask a stranger (or ideally a friend) to watch things over while you're gone. You can use the park bathroom or a nearby bodega.
• In case of rain: put everything water-sensitive (zines, guest book, punch cards, journal) in the black duffel bag (it's waterproof) and put the lid on the donation teapot. Hopefully you brought an umbrella :)
• In case of high winds: use the rocks on the table to hold down any materials which are blowing away.

And some spiritual reminders:

• Keep distractions to a minimum! No phones, no books, no music. Instead, be curious about your environment: what type of people are around you? How do they seem? Don't zone out, zone in!
• Practice non-judgement & engage authentically. Accept people as they are and speak with sincerity. You are encouraged to speak about your own creative work and personal life; you are not simply a substitute for me. Feel free to explain your relationship to The Tea Stand in whatever way feels most honest.
• You are not expected to answer every question that comes your way about The Tea Stand! You can always suggest that people scan the QR code on the coaster which has a link to our website (which has an FAQ page).

For a note about Safety, scroll to the very bottom of the page.

(This is pretty much just the "Set Up" portion but in reverse! There is very little extra space in the bags, so be sure to pack efficiently.)

1. Remove the lawn sign(s). The Tea Stand is now officially closed!
2. Pack up the blanket area. Fold the blanket (photo below) and place flat in the black duffel bag (first remove all other duffel bag contents). Place all items that were on the blanket (zines, guest book, markers, cushions, etc.) in the duffel bag atop of the blanket.
3. Pack up the hot water station. Empty the water jugs (water some plants!), empty the thermos, and empty the JetBoil. Unscrew the attachment piece from the propane canister and place inside the JetBoil. Here's the tutorial video once more. All items go in the pannier bags.
4. Pack up the tea tin station and tabletop. Cups and lids go in the black duffel bag. The agave syrup and spoon go in a separate tin. The mug gets wrapped up in the orange keffiyeh. The donation teapot goes straight into the pannier bag. The remaining items go in the red mooncake tin: take care to store them as you found them.
5. Pack up the table. Here's the tutorial video once more.
6. Pack up the camping chair. Here's the tutorial video once more.
7. Clip the pannier bags back onto the bike rack. Here's the tutorial video once more.
8. If it's dark out: remove the front & rear bike lights from the zipper pocket in the black duffel bag and attach them on the front & rear of the bike.
9. Lay the lawn sign(s) flat atop the pannier bags, place the black duffel bag atop the lawn signs, and use the two bungie cords to secure them to the bike rack.
10. Unlock the bike. The code is 17220.
11. Put on the bike helmet.
12. Hop on and ride safe!

1. Arrive at storage space at 1339 Dekalb Ave.
2. Retrieve key from lockbox. The code is 1969.
3. Unlock door and enter. Lock the door behind you. Walk straight past tool shelves and lean the bike against the wall wherever you found it.
4. Undo the bungie cords and remove the duffel bag and lawn sign(s). Place the bungie cords and helmet on the handlebars.
5. Remove the water jugs and hang them from the handlebars. Unscrew the tops and place somewhere safe. This is important so that the jugs can fully air-dry.
6. If you used the bike lights: remove them from the bike and put them back in the zipper pocket of the black duffel bag.
7. Make sure no items are blocking the walkway.
8. Take a photo of the bike!
9. On your way out, turn off the lights.
10. Lock the door and put the key back in the lockbox. The code is 1969.
11. Text me or call me to let me know that the door is locked and the key is back in the lockbox (and if there were any other major issues).
12. Get home safe :) Thank you so much for your work!