Marigold and the Morning After
On Our Honor, It’s NA
This is a morning after story everyone will love. It starts with a gathering in an up and coming space called Marigold, a non-alcoholic bottle shop and sipping space. The concept is Erin Flavin’s extension of an experience that began with her own sober journey and spilled over into the shift to offer NA beverages in her Minneapolis hairstyling salon Honeycomb Salon.
As someone who’s amassed some time in recovery and armored up to enter local liquor stores seeking NA options, Marigold caught my attention. Although it is not yet open to the public, last night’s event had attendees envisioning what a completely NA beverage shopping experience could look like. No more weaving through liquor stores to back corner, dimly lit shelves with dusty product. At Marigold, NA is front and center and proudly on display. What an amazing uplift to any person exploring how to make better choices in their life.
Marigold is adjacent to and directly accessible from Honeycomb. In conversation with Erin, I was reminded of the heaviness hairstylists handle with the volume of clientele coming in and out of their salon daily. In the chairs, people let their guard down with stylists who clearly go beyond just a cut and color to be a listener. Someone who’s the right amount of removed from the situation, but enough to hear and validate someone’s reality. And in doing so, I imagine healing is most definitely happening.
It's happening without a glass of wine, as can be customary in salons and spas. This simple, intentional act – especially since haircare is paired with self-care – is making an important impact. It’s creating space for a wellbeing experience unpaired with alcohol. Where else can we challenge social and cultural spaces to take a leap like Erin?
That conversation was all the buzz at the April 16th Buzz Cut event. The event, as Darrin Kovar significantly noted, had a speakeasy feel due to its paper-lined windows, unassuming storefront and edgy vibe. Like a Prohibition-era space to secretly socially drink, only that not drinking alcohol is the ticket in. The stars of the show were Proxy Bar and ABV Technology, who featured non-alcoholic cocktails and beer in a celebratory way. It fully captured what I talk about and seek in a #SoberNotSomber experience.
The doors opened at 8:00 and the party may have continued past the time when my friends, M.J., Peter and I left at 10:30. As an alcohol-free person the typical time I might spend in an adult space or event is 1.5hrs. It says something to me that in this intimate space without alcohol – where everyone was sober -- I was able to comfortably and energetically spend 2.5hrs mingling and vibing. Every adult is entitled to this experience and should know that it is entirely possible.
The morning after is filled with optimism…. oh and it’s Easter morning. It fills me with joy to know that I, like others at the event last night, are showing up and present for ourselves and our families today. We’re feeling just a cut above the alcohol-indulgent selves of our past. And that is a lovely story.
— Read more about Erin in the Star Tribune’s January 2022 article: For These Minnesotans, life after drinking offers more joy and fulfillment.
