Hall Party

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Hall Party

GOOD WINE, GOOD FOOD DRAW NEIGHBORS

By Chris Christen & Kurt A. Keeler

The invitation was simple enough.

Bring something to drink and a snack on a plate and let's meet as hall neighbors from six until eight.

Keith Allerton and Rebecca Noble were new to the Residences of One Pacific Place and eager to meet others on their floor when they hatched the idea of hosting an informal hall gathering last October. The holiday that month inspired a Hall-oween theme, announced to neighbors in the form of a rhyme.

The couple's invitation--left at 19 apartment doors--drew a handful of fun-loving residents. "The first party was small because people didn't know what to expect," Rebecca recalls. The attendees enjoyed themselves so much, they decided more parties were in order. Attendance doubled almost immediately. Now, after six months of these hallway socials - all adjacent to holidays - folks in the building next door even want in on the fun.

Inspired Home Omaha crashed the May Day-Memorial Day soiree with a bottle of Moscato and a salami, cheese and fruit platter. We joined conversations and eavesdropped on others centering on soccer, graduations, vacations, summer homes, outlet malls, membership warehouses, career paths, and business successes and failures. Politics? Nada. This group is strongly divided in its political views and good-naturedly decided early on there was plenty to talk about without going there.

"Most people who live in apartment complexes don't have an occasion to interact" outside of clubhouse events, says Helga Patterson, who has lived at The Residences for 10 years. "This is great because nobody has to clean their apartment or spend all day preparing food. If we spill on the carpet it doesn't matter--as much," she quipped.

"We're so glad we moved here," says Keith Holmes. He and Mary Lou, his wife of 53 years, have been in their apartment home since Christmas Eve 2008. This past winter, health issues kept them from getting out as much as they wanted. The hall parties have given them an opportunity to socialize simply by opening their front door.

Mary and Jim Erixon, from the building next door, dropped in for the first time and felt right at home. The Erixons knew Rebecca through Dundee Presbyterian Church, and Jim and Helga's husband, Phil, go back 63 years, to their days at Benson High School. Teasing ensued almost immediately with Jim lobbing the first jab. "If I had known he (Phil) was here, I wouldn't have moved in."

Eight o'clock arrives too soon. But no one overstays their welcome. Bottles, glasses and plates are gathered. It's been a fun night. When is the next one?