The Pink House in Yonkers

It feels that since moving to New York, I don't go to as many house parties as I used to. I can't decide if this is because I am now older, and that was part of the college phase of my life, or if it directly relates to the smaller real state in NYC. More and more I think that because of people's small apartments here, they are less likely to have large get-togethers.

This weekend I went to a birthday barbecue party at a friend's house in Yonkers. Because it's outside of the city proper, and space is more available, their apartment was the entire first floor of a house, with a backyard included.

It was fun afternoon/evening, with grilled hot dogs, burgers, dip, micro-brew beer, caipirinhas, good conversation and dancing.

It made me miss the gatherings of Austin. This house was old, with hardwood floors, and the furniture had that "found" quality of creative artsy people. Sometimes I miss the sense the old wooden homes of Austin, specially in the campus and west Austin areas. And, most importantly, the house was pink - the entire exterior and outside light posts.

The crowd from yesterday reminded me of Austin as well, a laid back artsy vibe without the standoffish hipster pretension. Maybe that's how all "cool" people are at home when they can relax and let loose. Maybe if I went to more house parties, I would find more chill hippies. in NYC. Who knows. A part of me feels that I sound like my beloved US Weekly in a new section called "Hipsters, they are just like us" (they drink coffee!! they go thrift shopping!!! they work on their macs!!! just like me!!!). I don't know why I am going on a hipster rant, but I think it's because sometimes when I go to East Village or Williamsburg, it makes me nostalgic for the easygoing community I'd built in Austin. Maybe if I stay in the city long enough, I'll feel like I truly belong in the soup here as well. Then again, I feel perfectly at home in Park Slope though, so it might just be a neighborhood thing.

Or, more likely, I'm getting older.