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@therichunkle_tru

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Martha Stewart energy. Steve Jobs vision.
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Baby, bring back the dinner party.

With everything getting more expensive and the weather getting cooler, I’m beginning to think staying in might be the new going out. And after hosting my first private dinner in quite some time, I was reminded just how much I’ve missed it.

Now, I’ll admit, I was a little rusty. But give me a good market, a sharp knife, and a few hours in somebody’s kitchen, and it starts coming back to me.

This one was especially sweet because we were celebrating a birthday. And I’ve always believed a birthday is your own personal New Year, so naturally, we had to put a little luck on the menu.

We started with a beautiful chopped salad full of colorful, nutrient-rich ingredients, followed by Hoppin’ John soup with black-eyed peas, collard greens, and cornbread. Because we’re not entering another year without a little prosperity and good fortune.

Then came the lamb chops and macaroni and cheese, followed by carrot cake to finish the evening.

Four courses, good conversation, and nowhere else anybody needed to be.

And no, hosting a dinner party isn’t necessarily cheaper than going out. But there’s something about sitting around a table, laughing a little too loudly, pouring another glass, and enjoying a meal made just for you that no restaurant reservation can quite replicate.

I think we’ve forgotten how wonderful it can be to entertain at home. To slow down, gather our people, and make an ordinary evening feel like an occasion.

I’m glad to be back in the kitchen. I’ve missed this.

So tell me, are we bringing dinner parties back this season?

Eat. Play. Heal. by @therichunkle_tru

Go vote. by @therichunkle_tru

I f***** up.

And y’all know I don’t usually curse on here, so you know this one hurt.

I found what I thought was the PERFECT chandelier for the vestibule of my 1863 Baltimore rowhome. Romantic, whimsical, a little fairy tale, and just dramatic enough to make you feel like you’ve entered somebody’s French château.

There was just one tiny problem.

You can’t open the damn door.

Apparently, in all my excitement, I forgot that doors are supposed to function. A minor architectural detail, really.

So the chandelier hunt continues. But we have made some progress! The vestibule is finally getting painted, and we’ve settled on this beautiful, muted sage green for the trim and borders. I’m still searching for the perfect wallpaper to bring the whole thing together.

At this point, I’m learning that restoring an old house is equal parts vision, patience, and discovering that the things you love don’t always fit where you want them.

But I refuse to compromise on the fairy tale. We may just need a slightly smaller castle chandelier.

Now, does anybody know where I can find one that allows people to actually enter the house? by @therichunkle_tru

You can take the man out of his 1863 rowhome, but apparently you cannot take the Rococo out of the man.

I went to a neon sip and paint here in Baltimore, brought my own snacks and libations (because I believe in being properly prepared), and decided to let the evening take me wherever it wanted.

And where did we end up? Painting an ornate Rococo hand mirror. Of course.

Some people paint sunsets, flowers, or abstract masterpieces. I apparently cannot be trusted with a paintbrush without finding a way to incorporate 18th-century French decorative arts.

But I must say, she turned out rather fabulous. A little neon, a little extravagance, and just enough drama to make me consider where I might hang her.

Now I’m wondering if I’ve discovered a new hobby or simply found another way to decorate a house that is already under construction. by @therichunkle_tru

How I spent my Halloween… he still creeps me out. by @therichunkle_tru

Orchid season is upon us, and apparently, so is my annual mating dance with the houseplants.

If you know me, you know orchids are some of my favorite flowers to keep around the house. Mostly because they have a temperament very similar to mine.

Give them too much attention, they’ll die. Don’t give them enough attention, they’ll also die. They like affection, but they also appreciate a little space. Frankly, I find that perfectly reasonable.

And now we’re entering my favorite part of the year, when they’re getting ready to bloom again. One little trick I’ve learned is that many orchids love a change in temperature. Warm days and cooler nights can help encourage those beautiful new flower spikes.

So I’m over here dancing, tending to my orchids, and preparing everybody for their next grand entrance.

Because in this house, even the flowers have personalities. And apparently, none of us believe in performing on demand. by @therichunkle_tru

Im in that mode again… by @therichunkle_tru

My toxic trait is thinking I can get it done before the @unionsquarebaltimore Cookie Tour.

And the unfortunate part is, I usually do.

A little throwback to last year, when I decided the powder room had absolutely no business being at the back of the house. So naturally, I moved it to the middle, built some new walls, and rearranged the entire floor plan.

All because I wanted a scullery in the back.

A perfectly reasonable series of decisions, if you ask me.

Now, with another Cookie Tour approaching, I’m putting up MORE walls, adding arches, restoring architectural details, and once again convincing myself that a couple of months is plenty of time.

At this point, I’m beginning to think the Cookie Tour isn’t a holiday tradition. It’s my annual construction deadline.

But we’ll get it done. We always do.

The real question is whether I’ll ever learn to leave well enough alone. And I think we all know the answer to that.

However if you haven’t already, get your cookie tour tickets early. They always sell out. by @therichunkle_tru

Apparently, putting the walls back up was the easy part. Now we have to decide what hangs from the ceiling.

I’m chandelier shopping for the foyer of my 1863 Baltimore rowhome, and naturally, I want something with a little history, a little drama, and absolutely no interest in being understated.

The trouble is, I have a remarkable ability to fall in love with things that have no business being in the same room together.

So I’m bringing the design committee along for this one. Take a look at the contenders and tell me which chandelier deserves to make her grand entrance.

And don’t just tell me which one is prettiest. Tell me which one feels right for the house.

The floor is yours, committee. Just remember, I reserve the right to ignore the vote. by @therichunkle_tru

Well, would you look at that. I actually listened to y’all.

After much deliberation, several opinions, and a few conversations with myself, the crown molding is officially up in the dining room of my 1863 Baltimore rowhome.

We went with a different style from the rest of the floor, and I’ll get into the reasoning behind that decision later. But I must admit, it really does finish the room beautifully.

And to everyone who weighed in when I couldn’t decide what to do, thank you. Apparently, this little design committee knows a thing or two.

Now that it’s installed, I need your final verdict.

Did we get it right, or should I revoke the committee’s design privileges? by @therichunkle_tru

Well, would you look at her. She’s finally getting her curves back.

The arches are taking shape, the vestibule is coming together, and the dining room is beginning to look like somewhere I’d actually like to invite people again.

I’ve spent months putting walls back into a house that everybody else probably would’ve opened up. But the more these details come together, the more convinced I am that this old girl knew what she was doing long before I got here.

And while I love a good architectural detail, let’s not forget the real reason we’re doing all this.

I have dinner parties to host, menus to perfect, and people who’ve been waiting entirely too long for an invitation.

The house was built in 1863. Surely she can give me a few more weeks.

Now, somebody tell the contractors the dinner guests are getting restless. by @therichunkle_tru

Fellas, we can argue about football all Sunday. But when was the last time you checked your cholesterol?

This Sunday, November 1, we’re getting together at the Village at Mondawmin for the Ravens vs. Bills Men’s Health Watch Party.

We’re talking smoked brisket, barbecue jerk chicken, good company, and FREE health screenings. A1C, blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, and Lp(a). No insurance required.

And because I’m a firm believer that getting older should come with more wisdom, not just more prescriptions, I’m inviting you to beta test Halo, the personal wellness assistant we’re building through HealthLink360.

DM me HALO for access. I want your feedback as we build something that helps us better understand our health and take action on it.

Come for the game. Stay for the fellowship. Leave knowing a little more about yourself.

Getting older is a privilege. Let’s act like we intend to enjoy it.

Sunday, November 1 | 11 AM–4 PM
Village at Mondawmin, 3201 Tioga Parkway, Suite W, Baltimore

Registration is free, but space is limited. by @therichunkle_tru