What a Real Party Looks Like

by | Aug 24, 2012 | USA

At the end of July, my former residence in DC ceased to be a residence. Chalk it up to disagreements with the landlord. It may become a residence once more, with new tenants and a different pricing plan, but it will likely never be the place that it was.

While I haven’t lived at the house since June of 2010, I have returned on several occasions, often for events like the one below.

My keys for a true party are as follows:
– Free and nonexclusive
– Children – kids party harder than most adults
– Uninhibited dancing
– Live music, preferably from a band like the Archives who play roots, rocksteady and early dancehall
– Front porch rather than back patio (this goes along with the nonexclusive part)
– Activities such as water balloon duels
– A grill
– Materials for spontaneous artwork
– Fresh squeezed lemonade that has vodka in it

This list is not comprehensive, but I believe it covers many critical items. Here are a few pics:

We rigged up the tarp because of a rain/thunderstorm threat. While it only rained for 15 minutes, the tarp prevented a break in the music. Worth it.

Archives warming up on the porch and a small crowd forming in the street.

I tried to teach these girls how to draw camels but they were in their own world, a world that is/was probably much better than any world you or I know.

These two twins later started a balloon mosh pit.

1607 — You will be missed.

If you are interested in hosting a party like this, let me know, and I will help you with planning (in exchange for an invite). Also, you may not be able to book Archives — they are getting a little too big for porch parties — but you can check them out at thearchivesdc.com, where they have a new album (think vintage reggae, the best parts of it) that is available.

9 Comments

  1. Kay Johnson

    Wot’s the matter ? Has life gone quiet on you suddenly ? You missed the Spanish fiestas . . . . !

    Reply
    • phil

      I wasn’t invited to the Spanish fiestas 🙁

      Reply
  2. Rease

    What a blast! This looks like a fantastic party. My best party was my Goodbye America/22nd birthday party I had 3 days before I left the US to live as an expat in Argentina. It was in a park and then my near-empty apartment (no furniture 3 days before an international move!) and it lasted from 3pm to 3am.

    Reply
    • phil

      Park and empty apartment combo, 3pm to 3am — I like 🙂

      Reply
  3. Benjamin

    LOVE LOVE LOVE when you do Hobart posts!! I take a moment every day to reflect on the the good O’l Hobey dayz!

    Truly an epic party/neighborhood. Can’t wait to see you soon my brudda!!

    Whole lotta love!

    Benjamin!

    Reply
    • phil

      One day we will buy that house. Serious.

      Reply
  4. Ekua

    I remember reading about this and/or discussing this with you… always sounded so awesome. I’ve never lived in a party house, but have a few friends who do and I was recently thinking about how households like this are fleeting… eventually people move to another city, landlords get nutty, etc. But I guess the key is to enjoy it while it lasts and savor the memories!

    Reply
    • phil

      It was a great house because we could party, but it wasn’t non-stop. The landlords had beef because they wanted us to pay utilities and they also wanted to add another tenant to the house. The landlord himself was also going senile — separate issue entirely. I do agree that this kind of house is fleeting, though, and it’s hard to keep it together. Savoring the memories is working in the meantime 🙂

      Reply

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