An all-inclusive, weekend celebration of culture!
(with accommodations for far away visitors!)

For the first time in three hundred ninety-four years, the Mayan Calendar has rolled to the next baktun*, and we're not missing the opportunity to toast the culture of this fantastic region of the Americas. Congratulations! The date is 13.0.0.0.1, and we're going to celebrate the New Freshness with a Rebirth Party in celebration of Mayan tradition!

Admittedly, we're skewing the rules a bit here on the theme. This is a most excellent chance to celebrate the entirety of culture "south of the border", be it historical or modern. So I expect to see you in your best sombreros with your shiniest maracas or … whatever it is you'd like to plan to keep up a groove in line with the ways of Central America and Mexico.

Your host (that's me!) aspires to put together an interesting selection of historically accurate mayan foods to entertain your bellies. It's a mostly vegetarian and somewhat vegan cuisine (especially if you make exceptions for honey), so everyone can partake. As always, you're very encouraged to join in on the theme. As above, anything between the Rio Grande and the Panama Canal is free game for your culinary experimentation, so damnit make me some salsa!

Mayans were a sporty bunch. They loved games. We likely won't have enough space or warmth outside to play the traditional pok-a-tok (not to mention a cleanup crew for all the arterial splatter everywhere -- that's one hell of a game!), but I wouldn't mind taking some of you down in a rather friendlier game of Bul or Patolli (it apparently resembles "Parcheesi", for the knowledgeable gamers out there).

Let all your friends know about the fun! We'll be bringing the ball pit indoors (now with a much easier and faster setup/breakdown time!), but for those who want to Maya it up outside, our firepit should have far more than enough wood** to keep going the whole time. There's a pretty decent sized yard for various kinds of spinning and fun.

But hey now, some of you whom I've invited are a bit distant! We always have a decent amount of crash space, but be sure bring something soft to lay on in case we run out of beds! If you'd like to spend a weekend in the area, let me know in advance, and you can come on Friday and spend the whole weekend here. There's some sort of horror themed Faire with performances and puddin' wrasslin' going on a mere 12 minute drive away on Friday Night which might keep you entertained that extra day. There's also a fire show and spin jam in brooklyn that night.

* Note: Arguably, the actual full flip-over of the calendar where the Mayans have their apocalypse is at 19.19.19.17.19, or October 12th of 4772. What's happening this year is just the equivalent of, say, celebrating the beginning of a new century. Rest assured, we will have an "end of the world" party ready to go in two thousand, seven hundred sixty years.

** And this part was even written weeks before Sandy!