My first decor purchase for The House of Chill
My housewarming is this weekend! I moved on Thanksgiving weekend and between the holidays and then craziness at work, we’re just now having the chance to warm it up officially.
I say officially because I had about 10 friends over to help us move and 10 turned into 20 and soon enough I counted 30 people between the living area and the backyard. We had crashers and everything. It was a wonderful start to what I hope will be a constant habit of casual hospitality.
I’ve had one random brunch party, one “you have to come over now and drink beer with me” night, one night of consoling the roomie over beer and pizza and just last weekend a very fancy, involved dinner for two. We’ve already packed a lot of living into this space, and I love it.
But this weekend, it’s official. We’re throwing the doors open with a lot to celebrate. Since we moved in, my roommate has gotten engaged, so she’ll actually likely be moving in with her fiance. Housewarming/engagement party. A dear friend just launched her website. Housewarming/engagement/site launch party. Another dear friend had her last day yesterday at a stifling job and is pursuing her dreams in the fashion industry. I could go on, but I can’t fit that many celebrations into one sentence properly. I have 100 RSVPs, I’ll put it that way.
I thought, foolishly, that I’d be all settled in by now and the place would be sort of decorated. Of course, I left myself one free weekend since moving in. I thought Valentine’s Day weekend would be the one time I could stay home (being single), but I wound up having fun plans that entire time. I did get one decoration, though! I was at the Brooklyn Flea, and my friend Q eyed the cute vintage wooden utensil set for me, since he knows I love to cook. I just hung it tonight.
While that’s a little disappointing for me that my place isn’t gorgeous and picture-worthy, it does give me the opportunity to ask my friends for advice on how to use my space.
I adore my part of Brooklyn, and have lived here since I moved to NYC three years ago. I am smack dab in the middle of a few neighborhoods, but spend most of my time in my hood or a couple blocks over in Fort Greene. This party is called Chillhouse 1. The name is a mashup of Clinton Hill House (after my neighborhood) and Clinton Hill Chill (an annual barbecue that my neighborhood has thrown every summer for the past 11 years).
I’m not the only one who loves it here. I’ll be meeting an online friend for the first time in person that day. Clinton Hill Foodie reps our hood hard, reviewing as many restaurants and wine spots as he can get to. He’s making a red velvet cheesecake for the party, which I’m just beyond about, as our area is also famous for Cake Man Raven, home of some of the most sought-after red velvet cake anywhere around. I can’t wait!
My neighbor Kara Masi, who hosts the first underground supper club I ever attended, the Ted and Amy Supper Club, will also be there, so I feel like there will be a lot of good neighborhood love going around that day.
Everyone who is RSVPing for the party is admitted as a “Member of the House of Chill.” I am going to make that literal.
Benefits of membership include:
- Opportunities to throw parties at my place. It sucked when I didn’t have a big enough space to have people over and NYC can be such a challenge that way.
- A gift bag at the first bbq of the season.
- Grilling privileges.
Also, this party is interactive! I’ll have several surprises for folks when they come over, but even before that, I’d like to get folks involved.
Help me create the playlist! If you’re attending (or wishing you could make it), please leave a comment with the name of the song or songs you want to hear on Saturday! I’ll be making the playlist in Grooveshark, so it shouldn’t be too obscure.
I look forward to seeing what songs everyone suggests, and looking forward to hearing them with friends even more. Happy Inaugural Chillhouse Weekend!
How about some Donna Summer to combat the winter storm: “Hot Stuff,” “Macarthur Park,” or “I Feel Love”?
“Take Your Mama” Scissor Sisters ~ Ana
“In the Clouds” Under the Influence of Giants ~ Rob
Lyn Collins “Think” – old school funk!
Beck “Gamma Ray”
De la Soul “Ring Ring Ring” (radio mix, aka http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_Xrtsd7Isc )
Rolling Stones “Paint It Black”
Because I was listening to my Young Hearts Run Free Pandora station yesterday…
Anything by Candi Staton namely Young Hearts Run Free and Victim
Can’t wait … need this chill.
xx
i am so sad ima miss this. altho if we can’t get outta here on the bus for the snowboarding – i will get down there for the warming of the casa.
x’s and o’s.
Since Lil Wayne might not be the most ‘easy’ listening for a chill house, I’m gonna opt for anything bob marley :)
Looking forward to it, and I’ll be making a cheesecake today!
For songs:
JJ Grey & Mofro – “Orange Blossoms”
The Heavy – “Sixteen”
Scissor Sisters = “Take Your Mama Out”
Haha, Ana already suggested the Scissor Sisters song, so count this as a second vote :)
Justin Timberlake – Carry Out
Jason Derulo – In my head
Akon – Sexy Bitch
Oh, and any old school Tribe.
Common, Tribe Called Quest, Ella, Strange Fruit Project, Shakira, Nas, The Temper Trap, Sade, LL, Coldplay, Snoop, Alicia Keys, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Bebel Gilberto – Aganjú, Biggie, Joe Arroyo – Rebelión, J. Holiday, Gaga, Janelle Monáe, Michael Jackson, Erykah Badu, Slum Village…I have a million others lol. I’m getting all worked up because I can’t list them all! Throw some calypso and reggae up in there and I may not leave lol.
And of course Dolly Parton – Jolene! Lmao.
Little Secrets by Passion Pit (or anything by them).
Second the Scissor Sisters recommendations.
And of course, all of the outrageous pop music we listen to anyway.
Larry Heard–The Sun Can’t Compare
Blaze–Lovelee Dae
Inner City–Good Life
Warm, Chill House for Chill Housewarming!
Brand New Me – Aretha Franklin
Player’s Anthem – Junior Mafia
Seed 2.0 – The Roots
I Got 5 On It Remix – Luniz
Scenario – ATCQ
You’re a Jerk – New Boyz
Jerk It – Thunderheist
Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough – MJ
Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting – Charles Mingus
Doing It To Death – James Brown
Ice Cream Paint Job Remix – Dorrough
Forgot About Me – Scarface feat Bun B
You’re Everything – Bun B
International Player’s Anthem – UGK feat Three 6 Mafia
That’s all I got.
Kanye West – What It Is
Clipse – Popular Demand
Lupe Fiasco – What You Want
Tanya Morgan – Gotcha Opin
Gucci Mane – Dangers Not a Stranger (Diplo Remix)
Kanye West ft. Little Brother & Consequence – I See Now
Hope to make it. I’m literally a block away but I need a nap!
I love this blog! have fun. I would play last train to georgia. yeah I know i’m in a sucky mood.lol
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