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since i posted this, I've thought of, like, 10 parties I've been to in the last 12 months that were awesome. Don't be offended friends, or stop inviting me because I'm an ungrateful hoze-bag. I guess when I was thinking party, I was thinking the kind where someone gets locked in the bathroom or pukes in the punch bowl. Yes, it's ok is you tell me I'm a douche.

Always a crowd pleaser.

I've said it once and I'll say it again. There is nothing quite like warm night on the decks. Last Saturday, I spent about three hours out there, cautiously sipping my Stock Pot Lemonade, chatting with Nova and Dan and Jill and Jess and Probert. It was like a revolving door of friends. When one bowed out, another one would show up. It was catching up on new news, rehashing old times, giving shit and making plans. The night was breezy, the drinks cool and delicious and the company unbeatable.

As I headed home on my bike, I ran into a friend who directed me to a party on the upper floors of a Market Square building. Feeling tired, but a little adventurous, I went in. I was not sorry.

Maybe it's because I'm older or maybe because Portsmouth's becoming a little more laid back everyday, but when I first moved to this town, there were killer parties almost every weekend. There were all those great bashes on Lawrence Street with the Breaking New Grounds kids and then it became the Union Street Friendly Toast gang. For a while the Brewster Street posse had some great shows/parties, but I haven't been invited over there in a long time. Then there was that one New Year's Eve extravaganza on McDonough Street where everybody who's anybody showed up and people were dancing and spraying champagne all over the place. Those were the days.

This winter, the party supply was especially dry. No one I knew even threw a Christmas cocktail party, you know the kind where everyone gets really dressed up and drinks manhattans and martinis and the night ends when someone falls drunkenly down the stairs. Those used to be a holiday season staple!

[footnote: I did go to a really, really good New Year's party this year, but one event cannot last a girl an entire year!]

Thankfully, my faith in Portsmouth's young adults was renewed when I showed up at the casual soiree in a Market Square apartment. I walked in and was offered a choice of beverage and ultimately handed a coffee cup of Jagermeister. Beck's Midnight Vultures was on the stereo and about 20 people milled about. I had stuff to do in the morning, so after about an hour, I tried to make a graceful exit. However, it was one of those parties where each time you try to leave, someone new and cool shows up and you end up having another beer with them. This happened to me about six times.

The place was really sweet with great views of the square. People were giving hugs and high-fives to new people who came in the door. At one point a brief dance party broke out when someone put on MJ's Thriller. Good times by all.

When I left, finally, the party was still in full effect. It could have turned into a giant shit show for all I know, but if I were to give this one a review, I say thumbs up, way up.