Overlooked, away from the hipster spotlight and in need of a few repairs, my house is a location that’s provided a stable source of invariability for an entire generation. A visit today offers undaunted travelers the opportunity to witness a preserved culture whose rhythm has outlived its purpose. The rambling 2200 square feet area – known ironically to its residents as “the crib” – is a place best enjoyed with a glass of Tempranillo and a bag of zesty ranch potato chips. A series of fraying greeting cards on the fireplace mantel just west of the main hub attests to the vibrant domestic scene that flourished here. It’s hard to imagine that just a decade ago there were children clogging up the toilets with diaper wipes.
FRIDAY
My Thai | 6.30 p.m.
Good ethnic food doesn’t usually come to mind when one thinks of my house. But a brief fascination with coconut milk coupled with the opening of a local Asian grocers on the high street has produced culinary delights that could easily confuse diners into thinking they’re in Bangkok. But no smog here since they shut down the power plant! Enjoy a Siam Mary or three on the paver patio which overlooks the neighbors’ Slide-N-Sway Mountain Lodge swingset as you wait for your Som Tam to be expertly tossed. “Don’t you think you should slow down?” you might hear your partner say as you chase a tapioca-dusted water chestnut with a lemongrass and basil mojito. Note the raku bowls ($24.75) purchased when I was still single of which only three remain.
SATURDAY
Fermented Fun | 10.30 a.m.
“There’s a moldy smell coming from your garage,” Bruce, a retired financial planner and longtime neighbor said recently as his German Pinscher marked his territory on my Japanese maple. He’s referring, of course, to a broken bottle of wine which has yet to be located as all efforts to do so have been interrupted by the discovery of long forgotten spliff roaches and subsequent bouts of maudlin nostalgia. In a storied era, The Garage was once home to two cars but like many industrial spaces, it became a cultural hub when a group of young musicians adopted it to play mediocre and derivative rock songs. It’s difficult not be overcome by all that has been lost so feel free to weep uncontrollably until your partner comes to comfort you. In recent months this mercurial space has found new purpose – a Le Cache Vault 3100 Wine Cabinet ($3799), crates of Glenmorangie ($65.99 a bottle) and an upright freezer filled with crushed ice ($1.79 a bag) make this a favorite during the holiday season.