Enoch’s Salon Dinners

Dinner party for the intellectually curious.

 

Join me for salon dinners in 2024!

Are you interested in joining me for salon dinners? I think of it as a casual "dinner party for the intellectually curious."

I’m considering organising salon dinners in 2024, and I’d like to know who might be interested so I can start planning.

Message me if you're interested, or sign up here to get on the mailing list. You can also learn more below.

What are salon dinners?

Salon dinners are topic/theme-based discussions around simple, casual dinners.

It is a "dinner party for the intellectually curious." A convergence of conversation, connection, and community. It's not "just another dinner party", nor is it meant to be exclusive or fancy. It's a discussion, not a debate.

You can read a bit more about the history of salons on Wikipedia.

Why are you doing this?

This is an opportunity for me to bring friends together and meet new people, as well as to learn more about various topics and other people’s points of view.

I used to host monthly after-work drinks for the University of Melbourne Alumni Association LinkedIn Group, and I miss having that regular connection with my friends and network. However, I want to move beyond casual drinks and also have deeper, intellectually stimulating discussions where I can learn and gain new perspectives. (Kind of like those long discussions I had with my mates back in uni!)

How will the salons be run?

Each salon will have no more than 12 participants. I'm hoping to have a good mix of friends, friends of friends, and contacts from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives.

My plan is to host them regularly - possibly one salon per month - starting February 2024. Most likely on weeknights, but I'm also open to trying weekends (including weekend lunch). Let me know your preferences and availabilities so I can gauge interest levels.

I will try different formats of salons - both in-person and online. For in-person events, I’ll try hosting them at my home near Highpoint Shopping Centre (in Victoria, Australia) or in the Melbourne CBD or other suburbs. Please let me know what you’re interested in!

Dates and topics will be sent out in advance for expressions of interest. The plan is to start with casual catch-ups and discussions upon arrival from 7pm-7:30pm. Dinner starts at 7:30pm sharp with a moderated discussion on the topic/theme, with a nominal end time of 9:30pm (though I’ve enjoyed deep discussions with friends late into the night on occasions, this seems like a reasonable finish time for most people).

What will I have to do?

You just need to come ready to participate in the discussion with openness, honesty, and curiosity. While I may send out articles ahead of time to stimulate your thinking, you don’t need to prepare anything in advance.

The salon will adhere to the Chatham House rule. Participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed. This is to encourage a more open exchange of views.

How much will it cost?

There is no cost to you (for my current plan).

I’m planning to start by hosting the dinner at home - I will cover the costs of the food. I plan to cook a fairly simple dinner (or just order pizza), so my costs should be minimal. For online/virtual events, those will be free too. In-person events in Melbourne CBD may have some costs due to venue costs/minimum spend requirements.

Guests are welcome to bring food, desserts, or drinks, or contribute to covering the costs, but it is not required.

My goal is to minimise barriers that might prevent you from participating in the salon.

What topics/themes are on the agenda?

This is very much a work in progress, but here are some ideas I have so far. I'm also keen to hear about topics and themes that interest you… please message/email me!

  • The Future of AI and Work

  • The Future of Ownership (aka Everything-as-a-Service)

  • The Future of Community

  • The Future of Education

  • The Future of Transportation and Travel

  • The Role of Expertise

  • The State of Modern Discourse and Free Speech

  • Free Will

  • The Limits of Human Cognition

  • Human Performance

  • Human Connection and Friendship

  • Communication Skills and Tools (Email, Slack, etc)

  • Productivity and Time Management

  • Purpose, Meaning, and Happiness

  • What is Your Relationship to Money?

  • The Ethics of Friendship

  • Familial Obligations

I'm interested, how do I get into a salon?

Sign up for the mailing list, and I'll let you know once I have one organised! If you have any questions, email or message me.