Fall Events

Time flies when you’re having fun. The NAYP turned two in September and celebrated at the Northampton Brewery with a night of cake and beer. Yum. For pictures of the festivities, sponsored by the Northampton Brewery and Beyond Green Construction which just completed a major green renovation of the brewery, visit thenayp.com and click on the photo gallery. You’ll also find pictures there from all of this summer’s events including the Look Park barbecue where we said goodbye to Ned (sniff), a night under the tent at Paradise City Tavern with the Springfield YPS, and the summer kick-off party at the Hotel Northampton in June. Summer may have been rainy, the tomatoes blighted, but judging from these photographs,  the NAYP had fun, and even got a bit of a tan.

October’s Party with a Purpose will be at Dani Fine Photography in the Eastworks building in Easthampton (116 Pleasant St.). Food and cash bar will be provided by Your Way Gourmet – also located in Eastworks, and DJ Dana Collins will be spinning (and if we’re lucky, making balloon animals – it says on his website that this is one of his many talents). And as if that’s not enough entertainment for one PWAP, the featured non-profit of the evening, Best Buddies, is bringing along some of their own musicians as well. It’s been a long time since I’ve sat for a school picture or a family portrait, so I’m looking forward to seeing the studio space at Dani Fine Photography – judging from their website it’s a far cry from the “wooded fall scene” pull down screen and the itchy carpet-covered blocks in the department store studios of my youth.  With its strong artist community, many of whom share studio space with Dani Fine Photography in the Eastworks building, a growing restaurant scene and a new circus school, Easthampton may just be Northampton’s “left-bank.”  Come check out the other side on Thursday, October 8.  And remember to wear something nice. You just might get your picture taken.

On November 12, when the fall chill is in the air, and you’re wishing it was summer again, the NAYP will be at Mama Iguanas where the margaritas and table-side guacamole mash up will make you glad you booked that January getaway to the Yucatan. Wait, no plans? No trip? No steamy tropical getaway? There’s still time. If you are a tequila drinker, there is no better place to pull up a stool in Northampton than Mama Iguanas. Forget all that “I only drink Patron Silver” nonsense and  let the bartenders school you with one of their Tequila flights. Sample reposado (or, rested) Añejo (or, “old”), Blanco or Gold varieties. All have their own flavor from smoky and rich to light and citrus-y. They are not the Jose Cuervo of your youth. The key is to sip, not to shoot. Unless you’re looking for that kind of night…

So for the past two years, you could count on a NAYP Party with a Purpose every month. That’s 24 parties, people. 24 opportunities over the last two years to meet new people, hang out with friends, rub elbows with some of the valley’s most promising young people (you know who you are 40 under 40), and try out different places in town from the Northampton Brewery, Impish and Jackson & Conner in Thornes Marketplace (I’m still rockin’ my screen printed t-shirt!), to the World War II Club.  We haven’t let you down.

Now, we’re about to blow your mind. To celebrate our two year anniversary, we’re giving you something new. In addition to a great line-up of Party with a Purpose events every second Thursday, we’re introducing NAYP Pub Nights, every fourth Thursday! That’s right – TWO opportunities every month to hang out with your NAYP buddies. The concept is simple – come have a drink with your friends and other NAYP folk at a different local bar every month. It’s informal (no door prizes, no business cards), it’s free, meaning your friends who haven’t ponied up for a NAYP membership yet don’t have to fork over $5 to hang out, and it’s a great way to start the weekend a little early, meet some new people, check out a bar you haven’t been to yet, you get the idea. There were lots of new faces in the crowd at the first NAYP Pub Night last week at the Dirty Truth – check out the fun that was had at thenayp.com. And make sure you’re connected – we’ll be spreading the word about the monthly location via our Facebook and Twitter pages, so follow our tweets and updates so you’re in the know!