Hi there, my name is Laura Rex and I am trying to buy and restore Cedar Terrace, a 60s Motel Resort in the crossroads of the Catskills, aka Cairo, NY. Welcome to [What If].
You could call it a social experiment, or a community project. The property was built circa 1956, it’s been sitting for a bit, but it is the most magical little bit of history. I fell in love with the property and the town of Cairo, NY. Through research, I fell in love with the Errante Family, owners from the 1950s-2000s – who originally hailed from Ridgewood Queens, maybe we could have been neighbors!On the logistical side of things – follow along at rexmakescoolshit.wordpress.com – I am updating it daily, and the entire project is meant to be transparent. I am selling everything I have, as well as offering up services to raise the funds.
The GoFundMe Campaign
The initial GoFundMe campaign is to get things going, there are a lot of moving pieces. I am selling my stuff and my services. The goal here is to raise awareness and capital to secure the property.
Shop The Store
I’m not here to beg, so I’ve whipped up some cool stuff for you to snag! Dive into unique services from my 20-years of adventures, or grab some snazzy merchandise—all to fuel this project’s fire!
Kickstarter Campaign
Explore the packages Septeber 1st*. Once the property is secured we will launch our Kickstarter campaign. The goal here is to raise awareness, and fund a large chunk of the initial renovations. We are also exploring NYS grants and incentives.
Trade or Donate
Once upon a time people used to trade and barter their skills and services. We are working rapidly to put together the comprehensive list of what will be needed across all phases of the project. If you already have an idea, send it our way, let’s collab.
Need More Info?
If the project has piqued your interest, and you would like to explore the details, the numbers, or partner in a different way, shoot us an email at whatifmotel @ gmail.com or drop us a line on the contact page.
What If It’s A Bummer?
BAH HUMBUG — But if you were wondering what will happen to the $ if we can’t lock in Cedar Terrace property?
In 2021 I set out to open a place in the neighborhood, it got lost in the chaos of life, and has since evolved, but these are the notes.
It’s meant to be the village hub, about “It takes a village”. And I keep coming back to the mixing of generations and cultures. A place for parents to be people, A place for people to be people
Raise your hand if you have/want kids Raise your hand if you know someone who has kids Raise your hand if you have been bothered by kids in a restaurant. Raise your hand if you have judged someone with kids in a restaurant.
I would imagine there are a lot of hands raised right now…
The vision had a corkboard wall dedicated to spreading kindness, joy, support, advice, as well as community resources like workshops, classes, etc. Write out the “manifesto” what would we write on the wall when you enter, what is the purpose, why are we here? “Be gentle with other generations” – community board with notes –
What is one thing you wish people would stop saying about your generation? What is something you don’t understand about other generations? Ask a question to another generation. And then also include a generation chart and polaroids of multi-gen visitors (self-submit).
NOTE: How can we accommodate different generations?
This led me down a path of research post-baby. Going to a restaurant with a baby was an extreme anxiety-inducing event for me. There had to be another way — I was given a book called Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff and it felt like fireworks and lightbulbs. Notes from an internet dive into related issues such as family dining and child development coughed up some of the below notes.
Kids learn emotional regulation from us, but some of us don’t get to learn it from anybody else, so who are we supposed to learn it from?
“It’s that we all have different definitions of what is appropriate and expected in a public space, and often that changes depending upon the mood you’re in, the stress you’re under, and how the planets are aligned.” Via article on Scarymommy circa 2016/2020 here
One solution could be to never go out to eat until your kids are in college. But then they miss out on the valuable lessons that can be learned in a restaurant setting, such as how to behave themselve
s in public and use their manners. Another solution—sharing a meal or letting your kids eat off your plate.
How restaurants can create a more inclusive experience for kids with autism article is here
“The relationship between children and restaurants is always going to be slightly strained. It’s nearly impossible for a restaurant to cater successfully to everybody, and one of the most obvious clashing points is always likely to be that between young families and people who don’t like the presence of children.”https://www.them-apples.co.uk/2010/03/should-kids-be-allowed-to-eat-in/
I spent the better part of 2020 at home with my boyfriend and my pets, online scrolling, consuming content, and being isolated like the rest of the world. My anxiety has skyrocketed.
“No parent goes to a restaurant and wants their child to misbehave. Not a single parent.”
“In many ways, the innovation of the children’s menu changed the ways that families move through public spaces, for better and for worse. Indeed, the children’s menu is the story of America, from Manifest Destiny to the postwar baby
The Brain Dump
Given my background in branding and marketing, I like to tackle strategy backwards. Here were my notes for an ad campaign and/or pitch deck about the project concept:
Calling Ridgewood parents
Rex’s room – a place for parents to be grownups and parent at the same time
First and foremost we are kid fucking friendly.
The space was created for parents to be able to feel like an adult without having to find a sitter or feeling like they are disruptive in a regular cafe setting.
First time parent? We got you.
Thinking about kids? We got you.
Looking for comfort classics? We got you.
Picky eater? We got you.
Call it a practice place. But we also serve beer & wine, seltzer and non alcoholic stuff DUH.
Private nursing rooms that are not a toilet.
Private stalls like rolo’s or something like phonebooth style for nostalgia (this would probably be more expensive since they would need to be soundproofed)
Sound Proof Space or Dining Space for a larger group, a meeting, etc.
Private events ?
How to be a community space but also profit?
Minimal overhead & staffing
Partner with local spots for vendors and food
What kind of random shit do we sell that’s profitable?
Easy classics
Drip coffee
Chicken nuggets
Grilled cheese Add apple
How do you create a space that makes parents feel relaxed, and also is engaging enough for kids to stay occupied but not overwhelming?
Interior design and sound muffling, ceiling design,
The following was an email sent to the parent community at my kids school.
Hi Parents & Friends!
Laura Rex, back again with some updates, ideas and general thoughts.
It’s a new year and for me personally it has been an absolute dumpster fire so far. If we haven’t gotten to know each other yet, that’s cool. There is always time. For those of you I have gotten to know, I appreciate you. We might not be cut from the same cloth, but everyone loves a good quilt. Now let’s get some of the admin and reminders out of the way
It’s Tuesday, and the 2nd Tuesday of every month is FAMILY NIGHT at The Seneca. After lots of chats with different folks, I am stoked to share that Family Night is becoming a weekly, we are adding a VCR for that nostalgic VHS goodness, and revamping some of the deals. Hope to see you there
The 2nd Annual *school* Auction will take place April 7-13 2025, and we need help with sourcing and collecting donations — There is a quick survey HERE for preferences and auction ideas, do me a favor please and check it out. If you have an idea, we want it! Want to promote your business, let’s do it! Know someone who might be interested, let us know!
In Other News: THANK YOU to everyone who donated to the parent fund. Back in November I used one of my awkward tokens to ask the community for a monthly contribution ($5/month was the suggestion), and I was blown away at the response. We raised $1100 collectively! ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
The $ will be covering the following: All teacher appreciation initiatives, Special events & Supplies (Holiday party, Spring Picnic, Moving Up Ceremony, etc), Ideas have been floated about Leaving a cushion for the crew next year to get started, or donating the leftovers to fundraising, Insert your COOL idea here (but really in the form I will share soon).
Let’s Be Real. Hi I’m Laura.
I believe that transparency is the best policy – so for me you get what you get at all times, in all places. I have ADHD, I’m on the spectrum somewhere, I am awkward, often loud, brutally honest, filled with love, ideas, and questions. I ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS. I use “curse” words regularly, and I do my best to not offend people, but I’m generally an unfiltered person. If you have met me, you’ve probably seen me cry (no shame here).
In 2024, the Surgeon General issued an advisory related to parenting, so if you are feeling alone in how stressful this shit is, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
We were all people before we were parents. Parenting is fucking hard, and it has recently come to my attention that many of us have been looking for a village, a friend, or literally any type of connection — So let’s connect!
Please don’t mistake this for me expecting everyone to be my “friend”, but some of y’all peaked in high school and it shows. If I am not your cup of tea, no harm, no foul. You just keep doing you. However if you’d like to have tea or coffee, vent, rant, walk, etc. I’m looking at hosting it on Friday mornings after drop-off after break.
THE FUTURE IN 2025:
In an effort to not exhaust myself yet again, or “over promise and under deliver” by attempting to do ALL of the things, I have put together a brief list of ideas, events, initiatives, etc. If something resonates, let’s find a way. Throw your expectations and assumptions out the window. I’m here for it.
Clothing Swap – As Springtime quickly approaches and everyone starts thinking about “spring cleaning”, a number of folks have communicated an interest in participating in a clothing swap.
School Retreat/Vaca takeover – Aiming for Spring break dates. More info coming soon.
Community Cookbook – I attempted this last year, made it WAY too complicated, and it got lost in the shuffle when the timing lined up with the auction, spring picnic, and the chaos of life. The goal was to create a communal resource of recipes and meals that our kids and families love, that are easy. We had a decent amount of responses, and I would love to share them with current, past and future families.
Parents Night Out Rotation – With coordination and communication, I’d love to explore giving parents a break for personal time, date night, or whatever TF you want to do with your time, while simultaneously fostering connections of the kids.
Next week, you can expect another update/reminder about all of the things. Feel free to text me at any time, or shoot me an email with your thoughts, questions, feelings, no matter how weird or silly they may seem.
Thanks for coming to my REX TALK– hope to see you out and about.
Below is a part of an application I submitted in March 2024 for a guest residency spot in the neighborhood. I didn’t get the spot. It’s all just a part of the story, and the journey…
— Hi there, I’m Laura Rex. I am looking to ignite my spark again. I am a maker and a dot connector. I find it hard to say I am just one thing, hence why I am applying under the multi-disciplinary section. I am a writer, an artist, a photographer, a creator, a designer. I am a dreamer and a doer. I am a parent and recently a wife. I found the Woodward residency while I was exploring the neighborhood — escaping my home office basement on daily walks during the pandemic. Your hope that members and guests feel energized to be there is my literal dream right now.
A quick about me, the history – I am adopted, born in Nebraska. I was raised in NYC. I attended a boarding school in Vermont for 3/4 years of high school. Went on to study Communication Studies at SUNY Oneonta and found myself working with musicians at Gibson Guitars after graduation, time spent in the showroom lead to my first publication, a handful of venue reviews for a NYC Live Music Guide. Webster Hall was one of the venues, and I became enamored with the space. From door cashier to marketing director, and what we used to call “talent wrangler”. Post Webster Hall I made the move cross country solo, and lived in LA for a brief yet amazing year. Upon returning to NYC in January 2017, I found my current spot in Ridgewood, I found work in marketing, in hospitality and lifestyle, and ended up as the Head of Food & Beverage/ Marketing Manager at the McCarren Hotel up until covid.
Long story short. I have been home for the better part of 4 years. I was lucky to have remote work in 2020 when the pandemic hit, which allowed me to become a parent in late 2021. Opted out of maternity leave. Ran myself dry trying to keep up with a toxic job + parenting and snuffed out my own light. I finally said NO MORE a year ago, and after a half-dozen attempts at quitting I was free in August 2023. I could see the light at the end. It was so close. The kiddo was going to be starting at wBees Forest School in September*, which turned to November. Such is life. Then holidays, sickness, more life. Last week was the first time I had a quiet space at home. I am exploding with concepts, ideas, and projects. I have dozens of “work in progress” projects.
In an effort to stay close to home & my kiddo, I would be honored to land a guest spot at Woodward Residency. A new experience, a change of scenery, connecting with others are just the little bits I need to make magic happen and spur me to move through some of the projects I have been sitting on.
I want to do cool shit. I want to create more. I want to focus and connect more. Some projects I would love to complete during my time there: 1.“What’s that sound?” A Children’s book/ book series that explores sounds and noises. Using photos, illustrations, and some engineering to create a board book that is interactive and educational and can also be a helpful tool for those with sensory issues.
2. Club Kid Chronicles – A Coffee style table book that shares all of my stories from my days at Webster Hall (2010-2015). Coming up on 10 years out, I wanted to finally share polaroids, interviews, stories, and essentially never before scene stuff of some of the biggest musicians that passed through.
3. Complete draft of the script/ screenplay for the book ‘I Was A Teenage Fairy’ by Francesca Lia Block.
4. Building a catalog/ database of digital collage elements using IRL tools and mediums. Paint, marker, torn paper, etc. All of the things I use in my own collage pieces, but digitized.
5. A view of Ridgewood through Playmobil – a photo series of different local businesses, and community scenes recreated using playmobil toys and building custom sets.
At the end of the 3 month residency I hope to leave with my spark ignited and a clear vision of my my creative path, maybe even something tangible to show for my time there. A pop-up event, a draft of a book, the completed design for a new community co-op, at this moment I am not quite sure, but when I get there I’ll know.
I am not sure if this personal letter is too much, or not enough. 700 words feels hard, and I am very out of practice. I saw the application deadline post on social a few days ago, and I will not let fear and doubt hold me back from trying. I am currently in the midst of a website overhaul, most pages are hidden, but I shared over a link to some projects I have done.
VHS goodness, and revamping some of the deals. Hope to see you there 
