NEXT DINNER PARTY

Writing + Culture + Design + Art

Hi there. I’m Emily Walker, a writer and interior designer behind Next Dinner Party, a concept inspired by that anticipation of planning your next dinner party and all the promise that holds. New friends! Deeper relationships. Scintillating stories. A beautiful evening with dripping candle wax and the sound of clinking glasses. Through my words, dinner parties, writing salons, and the soulfully quirky rooms I design, I strive to encourage others to be the most authentic versions of themselves and to use their innate creativity to express their personalities and life experiences. Born and raised in suburban Detroit, I moved to Washington DC (my spiritual hometown) after college and then lived around the world for 12 years (Yemen, Madrid, Jerusalem, Morocco, and Algeria). I’m now settled back in Washington DC, a city that totally gives Paris, which is my favorite city in the world.

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Reject the color of the year, Cloud Dancer, which is the dingy white of an old sneaker. Instead, notice how color infuses a vibrancy into life, and how a vibrant life has its own palette of colors. (None of which are off-white).

I was living in Algeria in 2021 when I first saw Billel Decherani’s oil pastel at an Algiers art gallery and I loved the tension between the vibrant, energetic hues and the still, contemplative subjects. A few years later, I gazed at three of his paintings hanging in my Washington DC living room and decided to buy a lot more of his work. Doing an international art deal wasn’t easy! But now I have the honor of curating an art show (a first for me) in my apartment and getting to share the soulful work of Decherani and spread the gospel about how living with original artwork can transform your space, and yes, even transform you.

Let’s shape the tension of this strange time into creative writing. Join me for the online version of my salon, Writing Through Uncertain Times, which kicks off on October 4 and will meet virtually for six consecutive Saturdays from 1-2:30pm EST. Limited spots remaining.

There are still a few spots left for my Writing Through Uncertain Times 6-week creative writing salon, which starts Tuesday Sept. 30. Come create with me.

My writing salon takes to the Internet! Learn how to stay present in this strange time and create art from the tension. I’d love for you to join me. Classes start soon!

Writing Through Uncertain Times returns for its second gathering - a creative salon-style evening of delicious food, readings, writing prompts, and discussion. Join me in transforming the tension of these times into creative energy.

Washington DC resident here, coming to you live from the beautiful, clean, safe, diverse city I adore.

Swimming in Lake Huron, beach jogs, bonfires, pickle pizza, fishing in the river, watching classic 80s/90s movies. Another Tawas, Michigan family trip in the books!

I was recently interviewed on the podcast Career Bitches and I talked about storytelling, vulnerability and openness.