Wine With Your Neighbors

     Once a month our neighborhood has "Wine With Your Neighbors". Since we moved into the neighborhood one year ago this has became a favorite for Mr. T and I! We will re-arrange our schedules if necessary to attend. The premise is simple; once a month, someone takes a turn hosting neighbors in their home.

     As the host, you provide glasses (anything from plastic to crystal), ice and a table for the food. Some hosts take you on a tour through their home (everyone's favorite because, let's face it, we're all nosey people at heart and we LOVE to see how each person repairs, paints, plasters and restores their home), and some are more private. Personal preference.

     As an attendee, you bring two bottles of wine, one to share and one for the host (they're all gone by the end of the evening anyway), and food of some sort. I often bring a cheese tray and a bowl of olives. There's everything from shrimp, to bruschetta, to chips and dip. Sometimes the table is laden with food and sometimes it's more of a meager spread, but it doesn't matter, Wine With Your Neighbors is not about the food anyway, it's about the people!

     This poor fellow was not on the "People" guest list and was confined to the garden. He got plenty of love and attention throughout the evening, but he was not thrilled about not being able to circulate among the guests.

     Ostensibly, the hours are from 6-9:00, but we are all poor guests and stay later. This month we left around 11:30p.m. and the house and party were still in full swing!!  Yes, it's in poor taste to stay that long, but everyone follows the host's lead. If they're yawning and sleeping in the corner, we leave.                          

        It is a great way to learn to know your neighbors and as all our homes are old we share a unique bond-we all LOVE our old, creaking, imperfect homes!  The conversation invariably turns to leaking roofs, plumbing disasters, crumbling plaster and high heating bills (I have found that NO ONE turns their heat to 70 or above, EVERYONE wears slippers and sweaters for 7 months of the year, we all have smallish kitchens, and every home is a constant work in progress). The men almost always have to see the attics and the basements (the women never follow unless it is a finished space) and the women stay in the living areas and talk paint colors, kids, food, work and home décor ideas.

       We have found our plasterer, tree trimmers and other workers at Wine With Your Neighbors. Everyone has extensive knowledge of different craftsmen's work and reputations and many have them (sadly) on speed-dial. We actually had our plasterer over for Thanksgiving Dinner last year (having only met him the week before). He is now a friend!   

     The walk home is always lovely. The lampposts are on and they give off a cozy glow as we stroll home with our empty dishes. We especially love it when it is snowing. I think ANY home looks magical lit up at night.
 

     If this sounds like  fun to you, but you have nothing like this in your neighborhood, I encourage you to be the one to start it. Customize it to fit your neighborhood; if there are lots of children where you live, you can make it more kid friendly (games, etc.), or if you need a date night, keep it kids only. If  you head it up, you can customize it. Offer to host the first one and set up host homes for one year. If  you have an association, have the secretary email dates and info each month. We get our info the week before via email..
     In a previous neighborhood I walked door-to-door inviting people the morning of an impromptu gathering. People looked at me like I had grown two heads and said they didn't think they could come, but everyone cautiously came (bearing too much food I may add) and it became our "Block Party" tradition. You may meet up with some resistance (naysayers abound), but persevere. You may only have a couple people the first few times, but you'll have fun with 4 or 40 people. Don't be too afraid of numbers, people will spill outdoors if it's nice and if the weather is inclement the house will just be full! An FYI: people don't seem to stay as long when it's raining.
     For heaven's sake don't make yourself nuts cleaning. NOBODY cares and it will be dark anyway!!! Just open your home, step out of  your comfort zone and have fun!