Let me make you hate yourself for not living in downtown Binghamton for just a sec, K?  In addition to the ever-increasing restaurant options, the free wi-fi, the variety of bar (cocktail) choices, and the obscenely low urban rent, it’s home to the best housing (and more importantly, house parties) in Binghamton.  Seriously.  Just because you haven’t gotten an invite yet, doesn’t mean it’s not true.

Still don’t believe me?  Come out this Friday.

Three living spaces that are going to make you “uber-jealous” (as Bruno might say) will be open to the Southern Tier Young Professionals, and through them, the public.  The event is a progressive dinner that will weave from downtown to Riverside and back again over the course of 4 hours.

The party starts at Sylvia/Wayne Kerber’s gorgeous 4-floor loft.  You will drool; you will covet; it will make you reconsider your career choices.  This pad is so fab, in fact, that it was covered over on HGTV—which is not to say they did a good job of covering it; the editors over at HG have managed to imbue a compelling story of urban renewal with all the energy of a 7-part Ken Burns miniseries on the history of the ball-point pen.  The reality, however, is much more interesting.  And you should join STYP there on Friday for appetizers, a chance to meet the (extremely warm and creative) Kerbers, and to take in this modern designer’s wet dream.

Now I haven’t been to home of Robin Alpaugh OR Doug Camin, but I’ve heard good things.  Robin’s home is described on the invite as a classic Riverside mansion, and you’re invited to munch noodles on the porch smothered in homemade sauces.  Doug Camin, for those of you who haven’t met him, does all sorts fancypants things with computers—that afford him a State Street loft right above state-of-the art recording studio On Point Productions.  He’ll be the final destination—the place where you hopefully still have enough room to scarf down some dessert without losing everything else you’ve been consuming till then.

Personally, I’m looking forward to collapsing shortly after that.  But I expect there’ll still be plenty looking to party downtown.

I asked Dawn Lanouette, social chair of the Young Professionals to give me just a few more details…

Well look, I’ve never been to a progressive dinner.  And I can guess what one is.  But why do all that work when you could just explain….

Progressive dinners come in all shapes and sizes. Since this one involves such a large group, we try to keep it simple. We start at the first home on Court St.  and eat appetizers and drink wine. At about 7 pm, we’ll leave and (weather permitting) walk to riverside drive for dinner and more beverages.  Then about 9, we’ll walk back to another loft on Court St for dessert and beverages.  So, it’s a meal, a home tour, and an evening stroll all in one!

I see from Facebook that people are invited to bring an app or desert.  Is it free otherwise?

A dessert or appetizer is the price of admission so to speak. We provide the main course and some wine and non-alcoholic beverage. People are encouraged to bring their favorite beverage, too, as you may not like what we serve, but it is otherwise free.  You don’t have to worry about carrying things, either.  We’ll have a car for transporting food and wine from place to place.

OK, this is important:  I see there’s a pasta bar for dinner.  Rottini, sphaghetti, elbows, penne?  What are we talking here?  Will there be a variety of shapes?  And sauces.. talk to me about my options.  I’m serious about my pasta.

We use penne because its easier to eat. So far, we’ve got three sauces-a bolognese, a vodka sauce, and an alfredo. I’d love to add one more, but we’ll have to see if we get a volunteer.  There will also be salad and garlic bread. The sauces are homemade. I’m told the bolognese is her grandmother’s secret recipe and I know the other two have won awards. I think you’ll be duly impressed.  But, since you’re the expert, maybe you want to show off your skill.

The venues look like fun; describe the "vibe" of each: the Kerber house, the Alpaugh mansion, and the Camin loft…

The Kerber place is simply awesome. It’s been featured on HGTV. Essentially, they took this store front type building in downtown and turned it into their home. Since they designed it themselves, they give great tours.  It is very modern. Robin Alpaugh’s Riverside Drive house is the complete opposite.  You step inside and feel like you’ve gone back in time.  He has a photograph of what it used to look like and has worked very hard to restore it.  He just added a garden out back, so we’ll be eating on the huge front porch and in the back garden.  It’s beautiful.  Doug and Kim’s loft has a younger, hipper feel to it.  It has a great view of downtown, and is just this huge space for people to mix mingle, eat and drink. 

Seriously, though, don’t you think you should have included somebody’s dirty, overcrowded studio just for grit and realism?

Um, yeah, I used to live in one of those, so, no.  Though, we are walking through downtown twice, that should provide enough grit and realism for everyone, or you could walk downtown after the event–it’s only a block away.
 
Your invite fails to mention the drinking opportunities.  I can only assume this is an oversight.  So let’s talk booze.  Being that all the venues are within walking distance…

You are correct, that was an oversight.  So, here’s the deal–we’ll have wine at each venue and some non-alcoholic beverage, BUT as you pointed out, this is a great chance to drink without having to drive, so people are welcome (even encouraged) to bring their favorite beverage, and there are already several people bringing their favorites to share.  Hey, you want to enjoy this night, and who knows if you’ll like the wine we’re serving?  Again, we’ll have a car to put wine in to take from place to place.  Oh, and Doug and Kim have a nice bar, so wine probably isn’t the only thing on the menu at that stop.
 
So do we bring our fancy party dress?  How should we fit in; nobody wants to be the only dope in cargo shorts and a "Bing Crosby + Ham + 1-Ton Weight" T-shirt…

Common sense is key to dressing for this event.  Remember, we’re walking from Court to Riverside and back again, so save the 3 inch heels for another night.  That said, there will be all types of dress.  Some of us will be coming straight from work, so that means, losing a jacket, taking off a tie and rolling up the sleeves.  Most people, though, will be very casual.  Shorts are fine–ripped t-shirts probably will make you feel underdressed.  Unless, of course, it’s a BingPop T-Shirt, then it’s welcome everywhere, right?