FROM THE DESK OF THE FOUNDER
Happy Monday.
A man got sober at his own bachelor party. In Ibiza.
Now he puts world-class alcohol-free drinks in the best bars on the planet, Claridge's included. That's this week's Sober Spotlight, and it's my favorite kind of sober story: the plot twist beats the party.
Reinvention is all over this issue. Janey Lee Grace toured with Wham! before she built The Sober Club, and Amy Liz Harrison gave her memoir four sobees. Lucy Hale skipped the Grand Ole Opry for rehab and is four and a half years sober.
Meanwhile, I own a 2.5-foot disco candy corn and regret nothing. It made the gift guide, along with 20 other treats.
Zero tricks. The good stuff starts below.
— Alysse Bryson (*AB That’s Me 💋) / Seattle, WA 🌃 05.01.2006
#QUITLIT
"From Wham! to Woo" Review: Janey Lee Grace on Reinvention
From Wham! fangirling to sober reinvention, Senior Contributor Amy Liz Harrison finds plenty to love in Janey Lee Grace’s memoir. This four-sobees review explores music, midlife and the many versions of ourselves we bring along for the ride. Sober Curator Fun Fact: Janey Lee Grace is one of our UK Contributors.
#ADDTOCART
The Sober Curator’s Sober October Gift Guide 2026: 21 Treats, Zero Tricks
Sober October is the one month the rest of the world borrows our lifestyle and acts like they invented it. I say welcome. Here are 21 gifts for your sober and sober-curious crew: a Bill W. pillow, rom-com VHS matchbooks and a disco candy corn I may never put away.
SOBER SPOTLIGHT
The Sober Sommelier Wants You to Take Your Seat at the Bar
He got sober at his own bachelor party. In Ibiza. Now he’s putting world-class alcohol-free drinks in the best bars on the planet. This is what sobriety looks like when it walks into Claridge’s and takes a seat.
SOBER CELEBS
Lucy Hale Is Four and a Half Years Sober. She's Still Doing the Work.
She woke up from a blackout before a Grand Ole Opry performance, called her manager and went to rehab instead. Her advice for anyone thinking about sobriety runs three sentences. I'd frame all three.
ALSO THIS WEEK ON TSC 📰
Reinvention After Sobriety: Finding Purpose Beyond Your Old Career Read more here→
Hear Ye, Hear Ye: Centralia Has a Sober Tavern, and It’s Worth the Drive Read more here→
Nicotine: The Last Socially Acceptable Addiction in Recovery Read more here→
Book Review: Uptown Girl by Christie Brinkley - Booze Was the Other Woman Read more here→
Sober in Seattle: Fore the Kids - Inside Birdies for Bridges 2026 at The Golf Club at Newcastle Read more here→
Sober Sweets: PNW Cookies Has No Right Tasting This Good Read more here→
BACKSTAGE w/ TSC EVENTS THIS WEEK:
THURSDAY 10/15 VIRTUAL: Claude Anonymous | The Bi-Weekly Thursday AI Meeting for Sober Humans Who Are Sick of Feeling Behind Read more here→
SUNDAY 10/18 VIRTUAL: SOBER SWAP BACKSTAGE! Bring one thing. Leave with everybody else’s good taste. Read more here→
See you Wednesday!
