Meet Katy Larsen | Owner of The Agora Borealis and The Fashion Prize liaison

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katy Larsen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katy, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
In the beginning you are working so hard to make people aware of your business, your presence, your capability, and the collaborations that could take place. I went to several events, group/community activities, collaborative spaces, and made myself available to the masses, trying to find where I was needed, wanted, and would make the most impact. As years passed the demand for my time and energy stretched into many categories, mainly artistic endeavors, but I started to feel less effective, and the community received more of me than I received of me. I had to prioritize myself if I was going to support myself, my family, and my community. That shift happened in 2019 and the compromise was through monthly travel.

The balance I choose is to step away from the place where I am needed and to make time for myself to become the small ant in the ant hill. I feel more a part of the whole when I make time to slow down, step back, and see a bigger picture. The culture of other areas influences my mood, it inspires my creativity, and fills my internal pitcher, so I may fill our community cups. Maintaining that balance takes effort and will power but will make all the difference in the long run. I am grateful I have the opportunity and hope that that energy returns ten fold to my community.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
When asking friends ‘what sets me apart from others,’ they often say it is my passion for my community. As a Leo rising (astrologically speaking), I have a will to lead and serve my community. I lean into my work with joy, compassion, and integrity. I am most proud of the sense of safety we have created in our community for our artists and creatives. Through thoughtful layout, intentional energy, and steady availability to our community, we have become a source of light, something we wished to be from the conception of Agora. I am where I am today because of this availability and vulnerability we show. It is ok to struggle. It is ok to make mistakes. It is ok to be different, to be loud, and to be authentically yourself. There is space for you. There is space for us. There is safe space for all. It might not always be a cake walk but if you are true to your community there will always be cake! To overcome the challenges, one must believe in themselves, because if you don’t, who do you expect will? Always be willing to listen, learn, and change. There are plenty of ways to be successful, but not all those directions are for you. Follow your gut. Follow your intuition, it is deep within you.
Some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way sound as if they came straight from Mr. Rogers, Bob Ross, Oprah, or any other spiritually altruistic leader/creative might say, “Be grateful. Be kind. Do good things. Be the light. Leave the world a little better.” If there was anything I’d want to share about myself or our brand and story, it would be that it isn’t always easy but being honest with yourself and others will take you far. The Agora Borealis was intended to serve our community as an agora (marketplace) would have for centuries, worldwide. I think we have accomplished that and plan to continue our quest to better our little portion of the world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This will be the hardest and most exciting part of the questionnaire! I love my city and its amenities, I have a huge list of restaurants with patios, events to go to year round, and we even had a map created to share with travelers, our favorite things. Please reach out for more suggestions BUT here are a few:

Cocktails & Breweries:
Great Raft
Fatty’s
Stray Cats
Bear’s
Seventh Tap

Best Food:
Fat Calf
Ki Mexico
Cypress
Marilynn’s Place
Well + Fed
Zuzul
El Cabo Verde
Frank’s Napoletana
Frank’s Louisiana Kitchen
Rhino
Whisk 
Dripp Donuts
Noble Savage
Bella Fresca
Giuseppe’s
Superior Steakhouse
Missing Link
We Olive
Julie Anne’s
Doc’s
BesTea

Events:
PRIZE Fest
Taco Wars
The Revel
The Farmers Market
Highland Jazz and Blues Festival
ArtBreak 
Mardi Gras- Krewe of Highland Parade 

Shopping:
Nader’s Gallery
Enchanted Gardens
King’s Antiques
Uniquely Yours
Clean Slate Botanicals
L. E. & Chalk
Chemistry Hair Salon

Night life:
Korner Lounge
Phoenix 2.0
Central Station
Casinos

On the other side of the Red River Bossier:
Axe Throwing
Canna Care (Jaya McSharma)
B.A.C.
Flying Heart
Red River Brew Pub
Renesting Project

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I COULD NOT/WOULD NOT be able to accomplish the things I do without the support and hard work of my TEAM! The received success of our business is due to all the work my team and community puts in to make it possible. We have a friendly staff to great you when you visit, our social media handler who juggles our newsletter and website as well, our curator for our five rotating galleries and their exhibits, the several graphic designers we work with, my co-workers at the Prize Foundation, my family who helps care for my daughter, and my friends and community for keeping us in business and serving our purpose! It really takes a village!

Website: theAgoraBorealis.com

Instagram: theAgoraBorealis

Linkedin: theAgoraBorealis

Facebook: theAgoraBorealis

Youtube: the Agora Borealis

Other: Also, as the Fashion Prize liaison I did not touch base on it as much but that ‘s a WHOLE story in itself. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lafashionprize Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lafashionprize/ Website: https://www.prizefest.com/fashion/ Email: katy@prize.foundation 2022 Winner video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tOlSGRoMF8 2021 Fashion Prize Shreveport Times video: https://www.shreveporttimes.com/videos/news/2021/09/26/fashion-prize-finals/5872126001/ 2020 Fashion Prize filming recap: https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=1475390849327478 2020 Prize Fest Recap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=batOVtOSofo

Image Credits
Federico Vellasenor Jenn Armand Shannon Palmer Brittany Strickland Brian Buckner Mallori Sanders Thom Johnson