After reminiscing about Burning Man and then meeting up for book club last night (our 22nd book), I thought it would be interesting to document my regular social trends.
Burning Man
I go to the Burning Man event once a year for approximately two weeks leading up to Labor Day.
ARTery
The ARTery is the Burning Man team that supports artists and their work during the event. Outside of the event, we meet monthly every 2nd Thursday of the month at headquarters. As the volunteer coordinator, I fully admit I lapsed on my duties this past year, but I’m hoping to plan more fun socials—starting with Art Murmur in Oakland last Friday.
Book Club
Jen and I founded our book club on October 8, 2006. This is how it all went down. “Do you want to start a book club?” “Yeah that’s cool.” Early on, we were flexible with participants, but it almost always whittled down to a core six of us—five of whom all went to Cal together and lived in a house on the hill. Five marriages, one baby, and another bun in the oven later, we tend to meet at least once every two months.
Puff-n-Sip
I don’t really go to these, but this is a huge shout out to my former coworker Stas (same company, different group) who organizes weekly happy hours every single Wednesday. Unless the Russian is out of town, he’s at the designated bar EVERY SINGLE WEDNESDAY. Serious props. The crew also organizes seasonal costume-themed pub crawls—Tiki, Bunny, Santa, Olympics, 80s prom…you name it.
Bay to Breakers
Every year for the race, my friends Brian and Leslie Baker throw a wild party at their home right along the Panhandle. What do they call it? The Bay to Bakers. Too funny and way too much fun.
4th of July
My uncle and his high school friends started a 4th of July party right after they graduated—30 years ago. What started out with a handful of fellas turned into a massive gathering of the friends’ growing families, friends of friends, and extended family. It seems to get bigger and bigger each year. This year my uncle got to Tillman Park at 5am to reserve tables. He got the early party going with Spam, eggs, and garlic fried rice. That’s what I’m talking about! By the time we got there around noon, there were rows of lumpia, chili, tacos, fruit salad, chicken salad, potato salad, chips, cupcakes, cookies. There were hot dogs, burgers, salmon, beef and vegetable skewers, and prawns on the grill. There was a water balloon toss competition, a 30-person tug of war. Plus t-shirts they had made that said “4th of July XXX anniversary.
That’s what I call tradition.
So great to see your descriptions of these trends especially around BM and 4th of July which are two that I personally hold dear to my heart. //
About my 4th tradition.. a few friends of mine, up to 12 people now and growing for 11 years in a row have spent the 4th of July in Sausalito getting there early 8:30 am for the Sparrow Creek Montessori School pancake breakfast fundraiser, the small town parade with a trip into Smitty’s Bar following the Cal Alumni Band in for a traditional bloody mary.. then we head over to Dunphy Park on the bay with Angel Island in the distance for tug of war, egg toss, live music and friends (this year with warm weather and sunshine, a five gallon cooler of sangria, snacks, mini kegs of beer, cheeseburgers, BBQ’d corn on the cob, blankets, happy kids and dogs everywhere). Good times for sure, a perfect day in my book. I’ve actually flown in for Sausalito 4th when living on the east coast temporarily one year, and made the early morning drive from Russian River when weekending there one 4th weekend just to keep the tradition alive and joining my friends for breakfast to start a great day.
You will always know where to find me on the 4th of July. Sausalito, CA. The one thing I can guarantee. It’s keeps me grounded. Here’s to tradition! Join us!