FROM THE DESK OF THE FOUNDER
Somewhere along the way, Gen X collectively decided that last call is a scam and 7:30 PM is the new prime time. Lane Kennedy has the receipts this week: the early evening dance party is real, it is thriving, and the bar industry is sweating. As someone who considers a 9 PM bedtime a personality win, I have never felt more seen.
Also inside: Derek Castleman finds Epictetus hiding in the Serenity Prayer, Megan Wright covers 95 miles of Scotland and Ireland without missing a single pub (Guinness 0.0 counts), Teresa Bergen tracks down a cat cafe and legit mocktails in Fort Wayne, and Lane returns with a Hayden Panettiere essay that will sit with you long after you close the tab. (Seriously, it’s a must read.)
Pour something cold and zero-proof. Let's get into it.
— Alysse Bryson (*AB That’s Me 💋) / Seattle, WA 🌃 05.01.2006
SOBRIETY IN THE CITY
Gen X Is Tired. The Bar Has Noticed.
Senior Sober Curator Contributor Lane Kennedy highlights a shift for Gen X: trading late-night outings for early evening gatherings. With a focus on health and longevity, alcohol-free nights are becoming the trend. 🕺💜 How about a dance party that starts at 7:30 PM? Sounds perfect! 🌟
SPIRITUAL GANGSTER
The Serenity Prayer and Stoicism: Finding Wisdom in What We Can Control
What does the Serenity Prayer have in common with ancient Stoic philosophy? Sober Curator Contributor Derek Castleman explores how Epictetus’ teachings on control, acceptance and wisdom mirror one of recovery’s most familiar prayers—and how knowing what we can change may help us live with greater peace.
TRAVEL
Traveling Scotland and Ireland Sober: Pubs, Guinness 0.0 and 95 Miles of Adventure
Can you travel through Scotland and Ireland sober without feeling like you’re missing the experience? Sober Curator Contributor Megan Wright explores pubs, castles, cliffs and plenty of alcohol-free options—including Guinness 0.0—during an 11-day trip through two cultures famously intertwined with drinking.
She has a genuinely useful amount of specific NA drink content in here, including Guinness 0.0, ciders, lagers and alcohol-free spirits across Scotland and Ireland.
SOBRIETY IN THE CITY
10 Ways to Have Sober Fun in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Looking for sober fun in Fort Wayne, Indiana? Senior Sober Curator Contributor Teresa Bergen shares 10 alcohol-free ways to explore the city, including riverfront biking, colorful street art, a botanical garden, farmers markets, a cat café and some seriously good mocktails.
SPEAK OUT! SPEAK LOUD!
Hayden Panettiere, Juliette Barnes, and the Darkness Addiction Doesn't Want Us to See
Senior Sober Curator Contributor Lane Kennedy spent the past year falling in love with Nashville while trying to find her own footing again. Hayden Panettiere's portrayal of addiction felt almost unnervingly real. Now she understands why.
ALSO THIS WEEK ON TSC 📰
👉 26 Things Sobriety Taught Me That Therapy Couldn’t — and Why You Need Both Read more here→
👉 Sharing Your Story Without Showing Your Face: How Creators in Recovery Can Protect Their Privacy Online Read more here→
👉 When Fitness Becomes the New Addiction: Compulsive Exercise in Sobriety Read more here→
👉 National Recovery Month 2026: Celebrating The Great American Recovery Read more here→
👉 DopeyCon: The Game Show Experience Is Coming for NYC (And Possibly for You) Read more here→
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P.S. Isn’t it pretty cool that a brand like this supports the sober + recovery communities? We think so.
See you Wednesday!
