Hey there, it's Martine. Happy New Year's Eve. All week, we're sharing some of our favorite episodes

from this past year with you. And today, we have an episode about how to throw a great party.

This episode is from my friend Maggie Penman. She's a reporter for The Optimist here at the Post,

and she did this story about a guy in D.C. who's been having an open house party every month

for 15 years. This story is so wild, and it really made me think about how we build community

and how we keep it going.

So I hope you like this episode and have a lovely New Year's. All right, here's Maggie.

David Weiner is washing dishes.

I'm David Weiner and welcome to the 21st of 21.

It's the 21st of the month, so his D.C. Roe House is full of people.

Some of them are friends he's known for decades.

Some of them are people he's never met.

It's a party basically for the community

here, but the invitation is open. It was created with the idea of a big jam session.

There's a jazz band playing downstairs, and the music is floating up through the house.

A few of the musicians are professionals, but others are amateurs, people who showed up with an

instrument and enough courage, liquid or otherwise, to join in.

I did play the French horn, which doesn't work very well at one of these events.

The price of admission is a $21 suggested donation.

That just about covers costs and pays the house band.

A bottle of wine or food to share is always welcome.

And this party has happened basically every month for 15 years.

...