Within a month, we already held two events at The Well.
First was the Super Garage Sale with Houseworks Coffee—a husband-and-wife tandem who opens their home on Opal Street (a few streets from The Well, still within Pilar Village) on certain weekends.
We invited them to join us and run the beverage booth. And somehow, that day became an intersection of different communities: Mommy Yoly’s walking buddies from Vermosa, a few neighbors from Pilar, followers of Houseworks Coffee (and their friends from The Feast), and our friends who came all the way from QC.
There were also kids—playing, drawing chalk on the floor, skipping around like it was the most natural thing in the world to do at a garage sale.
During the Super Garage Sale, KRN_N held a live electronic music set—which I later learned was the first time something like that happened in Pilar. I also learned there’s another lost sound artist living here too… so now I have a new jam buddy.
We even held a mini watch party of one of our favorite albums—The Mountain by one of our favorite artists, Gorillaz.
The second event was with Houseworks again—but this time, they invited themselves over. It was for a cause, they said: for their recently widowed childhood yaya. Of course we thought that was cool—something we could support and show up for too.
Maybe they just liked the atmosphere enough to do two consecutive events with us. Honestly, we like them too.
They feel like the kind of people who woke up on the right side of the bed of third-wave coffee—figuring out how to make a living doing what they love. For Don and Bea, that’s coffee. For me, it’s slow living… which also happens to be chai and tea.
I’ve known Don since the Need Coffee days—he was crew with Dan. But it’s only recently, since we moved in, that I’ve been able to hang out with him more often.
During the second pop-up—Houseworks for a cause—there were a few guests who came that we assumed were theirs. After they left, Don said, “No, they were your followers daw.”
I was like… really?
It still never fails to amaze me. But more than anything, it puts a smile on my heart.
Also: during that second pop-up, Athena finally put her stonewares on display and sold her first few pieces. I’m so proud. Always have been.
And I’m proud in a quieter way too: that I didn’t rush Athena into selling. Partly because it’s her art, her work, and it’s personal, always is. Instead, I just tried to give space for her to arrive on its own terms—so when she made that decision to let some go, it felt like their own initiative.
Aside from guests who came for Jacob’s Well Chai during the second pop-up, I also really enjoyed making more friends from the people in the neighbourhood. The set of KRN_N and jamming with Don was also really enjoyable. (For a change, i’m attaching a few photos below from those shenanigans.)
Having said that, I want to invite you to the upcoming Belated 9thsary Celebration at The Well this coming May 8–10, 2026. I’m really looking forward to it, since it’s both a “work” celebration and something deeply personal for me as well (more details in the next update). I couldn’t be more excited!
It’s the same feeling as brewing my first batch of chai—that slightly giggly feeling. The kind of work I want to work on with my whole being. The kind that nourishes my soul.
What that looks like, I don’t know. How it’s going to happen, I don’t know yet either. It’s something my wife and the rest of the team have heard me say repeatedly… and still never quite get used to.
But you know what—if it wasn’t that way, it wouldn’t be magical. Right?
The Belated 9thsary is a three-day celebration of the people who journeyed with us—and the things we like: music, pottery, books, slowing down, community.
A few highlights (still on the talks):
- Live electronic music
- Jazz music
- Talk/Discussion: #staycraft
- Arts and crafts; live shit and tote bag printing
- Run event
- Mini chess tournament
- Sunset yoga?
- Booths by our friends, and people from the neighborhood
Come say hi. Stay a little longer than you planned. Let’s celebrate slow.
In case you haven’t seen it yet, here’s a video recap of the SUPER GARAGE SALE!
