Office Nomads—which rents office space to freelancers, telecommuters, and consultants on a daily or monthly basis—hosts a party about once a quarter. The company has invited friends, roommates, and family, and also opened it up to the public in conjunction with the Capitol Hill Art Walk. When I arrive, hardly anyone isn’t a Nomad; the only strangers seem to be a salmon fisherman who knows a lot about Ballard shoe stores and, well, me.
Eric—who neither gets paid by Office Nomads nor pays to work out of the drop-in office space—tells me he comes in each morning, opens up, and makes waffles. He describes his position at Office Nomads as “Entertainment Director on the Promenade: We hit all the ports.” Jacob, the co-owner of Office Nomads snaps, “I hit your mom’s port.”
In the next room, photographer Andy Aupperlee is taking “New Year’s resolution” pictures. Eric poses with his waffle maker for some “waffle porn.” “Will you make me a waffle?” I ask. Bluebird Homemade Ice Cream is here, with three flavors of ice cream, giving the party an elementary-school ice-cream-social kind of feel, if your elementary school served a keg of Elysian Fields Pale Ale instead of fruit punch. I keep trying to get Eric to make me waffles (Bluebird’s snickerdoodle ice cream would be awesome on a waffle). Finally he tells me, “I’m kinda wasted and I don’t really feel like making waffles.” But he insists that if I come back in the morning next week, he’ll make me some. I don’t know if I’ll make it in, but I’ll definitely consider coming to Office Nomad’s next party: They’re thinking of serving stout floats. 
Want The Stranger to resolve to crash more parties at your house party?
E-mail the date, time, and party details to partycrasher@thestranger.com.
I always hated Fruit Punch. The most generic of all fruit juices. I mean, really, what does it taste like? “Fruit”?
Good Times at Office Nomads. My favorite Ice Cream and Ale. And some great conversation about Ballard Shoe Couture.
It’s all Xtra-Tuf’s Baby!