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6 Reasons to Visit Bendicion Dry Bar in Chicago

bendicion bottle shop chicago

photo (via Bendicion Dry Bar)

Have you heard of Bendicion Dry Bar located in Chicago? If not, you’re about to find out why you should know about them and why you should pay them a visit. It opened in (2020) by Latina (Christina Torres) and the idea was to have a unique and inclusive sober space in Chicago. I love that they host fun sober events monthly and also that they have quite the library of NA drink brands. Let’s take a look at 6 reasons why you should visit them soon.

  1. First NA bottle Shop in the City – Bendicion Dry Bar is the first NA bottle shop in the city, located in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. They have quite the selection of non-alcoholic beer, wine, and spirits. Along with CBD infused drinks and other alternative NA drinks. If you’re looking for a specific brand for a drink you want to make, I would call first and see if they have it. Most likely they do.
  2. NA Drinks Menu – they also host bar service on select dates and on event nights. Call or check their website for these dates.
  3. Safe Sober Space – the owner specifically wanted to create a space that is inclusive and open to people in various paths of sobriety; be it sober, sober curious, California sober or other. A space that is open and welcoming to those who wish to socialize with others, in whatever stage of their sobriety.
  4. Latin Owned – as mentioned above, the owner Christina Torres is a Latina, and was raised in the Humboldt Park area. She now lives in Logan Square. If you’re looking to support a Latin business in the area, give this one a look.
  5. Fun Sober Events – Bendicion Dry Bar hosts a series of events all month long, everything from mocktail making classes to paint your pet workshop (4/14/2024) and other fun events. Check their website for the monthly sober events.
  6. BONUS (Plant Shop Next Door) – yes folks, for all the plant loving queer friends here, Bendicion is located next to a plant shop. So, after you peruse what they have at the NA bottle shop, you can then head on over and pick up a plant (or three).

We’re happy that Christina decided to open this cool sober space in Chicago and wish her the best of luck in growing it and making it even more awesome over time. Kudos to her!

p.s. They’re also listed in our Sober Queer directory.

Healing

6 Ways to Self-Care This Weekend

lady taking a bubble bath

Is life feeling kind of crazy and stressful lately? We feel you.

Sometimes everything just gets to be too much. That’s why it’s really important to take some special time for yourself, especially on the weekends when you can finally relax and recharge.

This weekend, treat yourself with these 6 simple but powerful ideas for self-care. They’ll help you chill out, refocus and remember to nourish your mind, body and spirit.

Keep reading!

1. Catch Up on Sleep

Most of us are busy all week – waking up early, dealing with commutes, working long hours, taking care of our families, and more. By Saturday, we’re totally wiped out.

But we often force ourselves to jump out of bed at the crack of dawn, feeling guilty for “sleeping in.”

This weekend, give yourself permission to sleep as late as you need. Ignore that nagging inner critic saying you’re lazy for not popping out of bed at 6am.

2. Enjoy a Long, Relaxing Bubble Bath

When’s the last time you really took your time with a nice, lengthy soak in the tub? For most of us, baths are quick events, squeezed between errands and chores.

This Saturday or Sunday, clear your schedule and treat yourself to a peaceful bubble bath by candlelight. Fill the tub with hot – but not scalding – water.

Add Epsom salts to soothe sore muscles, essential oils to calm your mind, and bubbles just for fun. Light some candles, play gentle music, and savor every minute of this blissful experience. The rest of the world can wait.

3. Get a Soothing Massage

When you’re stressed and full of knots, nothing beats a good massage. The nurturing touch of a therapist releases feel-good endorphins while working out all that tension. Make time for a massage this weekend, whether you book a spa appointment or ask your partner to rub your neck, shoulders and back.

Even a 15-minute massage can melt away a world of tension. As the therapist’s or your partner’s hands unwind those knots, breathe deeply and feel yourself relaxing on physical and emotional levels.

4. Connect with Loved Ones

In our busy digital era, it’s easy to lose touch with loved ones, even when you live together. You get distracted by work, chores, screens and the latest crisis.

This weekend, schedule quality time together with the important people in your life. Put away your devices and focus completely on each other. Ask thoughtful questions, actively listen, share laughs, and do fun activities like taking a stroll, playing a game, or cooking a meal.

Reconnect wholeheartedly with those who matter most. Laughter, friendship and human contact nourish the soul deeply.

5. Get Moving Outdoors

Want an instant mood and health boost? Get moving in nature! Head to a park, hiking trail, beach, garden, or anywhere outside that makes you feel linked to the natural environment.

Breathe fresh air as you walk, job or bike with no set destination. Feel the sun and wind on your skin. Listen to the trees and birds. Smell the fragrant flowers. No gym can compare to the restorative joy of moving your body surrounded by natural beauty. Let the peaceful energy of nature wash your worries away.

6. Pamper Yourself

Sometimes the best self-care is mini spa treatments in the comfort of home. Set aside time for grooming rituals that make you feel oh-so-refreshed. Give yourself a facial, hair mask, mani/pedi, eyebrow pluck, body scrub, waxing – anything that pampers your body and spirit.

When you pamper yourself, sip a delicious NA drink, use a luxury body lotion post-shower, and play music that lifts you up.

Taking time to care for yourself with love and attention nourishes the soul. You deserve to feel 100% confident in your own skin.

Healing

Low-Cost Ways to Cope with Anxiety (#Free or Budget Friendly Ideas)

low-cost-anxiety-ideas

  1. Reading – This is always a great escape. A great way to just get lost in whatever subject is interesting to you. And it doesn’t have to be fiction; it can be about business, biographies (which I love), art, finance, celebrities, sports, etc. I think to limit news consumption and or social media distractions, print is best for now. (magazines, print books, etc.)
  2. Fave movies – who doesn’t love to curl up with a cozy good awesome movie. From a hilarious comedy to a juicy romance thriller or a heart-pumping action flick and everything else in between; vegging out for an hour and a half or so and watching your fave movie is a great anxiety reliever. Doesn’t matter if you stream, get a Redbox or go old school and watch a DVD.
  3. Reruns of (fave TV shows) – another personal fave of mine and maybe yours as well. The reason I mention reruns is that this way you know you won’t get hit with more info and or news that you want a break from. Maybe you love an oldie but goodie drama like (The Good Wife) or want something light and funny like (Friends); you can’t go wrong with watching something you know is something you already like and can count on. What are some of your go-to (must-see) fave TV shows? Share with me in the comments below.
  4. Writing/Blogging – if you happen to be a writer or a blogger, then you know that writing and or blogging is a great way to get out of your headspace and direct the focus away from yourself. And it doesn’t matter what form that takes, it could be a piece for your novel or book, a how-to video, a tutorial, a podcast, etc. Writing and or blogging is another great way to lose yourself and shift gears when it comes to emotional or even event induced anxiety.
  5. Music – I don’t know how many times a good song (or two) has completely elevated my mood and brought me from a frown to a smile. Why do you think playlists and music streaming services like Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora and others like it – have become insanely popular and widely used. From pop, rock, country, rap, reggaeton, classical, opera and whatever music taste is your fave; music absolutely and completely “feeds the soul”.
  6. Retail therapy – what’s your retail poison? Shoes, tech, purses, jewelry, clothes, art. Whatever it is and wherever; shopping can if done (with moderation) be another fantastic anxiety-reducing idea. Lately ever since joining Mercari (the selling app), I’ve become totally obsessed with it and selling or buying on there and or just browsing all the goodies. Are you an Amazon junkie, eBay pirate, H&M fiend, Columbia outdoor enthusiast – whatever you’re into; retail therapy is another good distraction, and it doesn’t have to be costly. You can easily just browse around, look for hot deals, shop for budget specific items (say something under $50, $20 or even $10 and as always – if shopping online, look for coupon/promo codes and free shipping.
  7. Food/Cooking (baking sweets mostly!) – my fave recipe site is All Recipes. On this site, I like spending time and saving different recipes I plan to try. Check out (All Recipes) for just about anything you could/would want to try to make.
  8. Family Feud on Facebook – do you love this game as much as I do? have you checked out Family Feud on Facebook? If not, here you go – take a look and follow the page if you prefer this format best. The Facebook page features clips of the TV episodes and it’s a great way to unwind, relax the mind and maybe get a laugh in as well.
  9. Dog walking – this a threefer. One you get to hang around all types of awesome doggies. Two you get exercise while walking said doggies and three you get paid. What a win-win for everyone – you, the pet owner and the doggies! Want to try dog walking with Rover? Sign up here and check it out for yourself. (scroll down the page some, to see the listing for dog walking)
  10. Laundry – simple? Yes! but it works. It gets you out of your house or apartment, you might run into others and can chat up a bit (or not, your choice!) and you get fresh nice clean clothes when it’s all said and done. I realize I’m single and as such, my laundry consists of a load or two each week, versus a family of three or four where laundry is a massive undertaking. In this case, I can see how laundry wouldn’t be a stress reliever. So this idea is mostly aimed at single people who usually have a load or two each week.
  11. Biking – if you own a bike or belong to one of the many new! bike-sharing programs (hello! Divvy) biking even for 20 or 30 minutes has been known to help with anxiety and net you the following: fresh air, Vitamin D, socialization, exercise, community and more. Don’t own a bike? You could possibly score a nice used one online through Facebook Marketplace (like I did, last Summer) or look on Craigslist. Want to join your local bike share program, but on a budget? Look up “reduced fair bike share” in Google and see what options pop up in your city. You might be able to get a low-cost option with your local bike share provider.

Stay safe and stay healthy!

Healing

Relaxation Apps for Android – 6 Good Options to Download

This is a guest post by Alex Tanase. If you too, want to write for us – please use our form.

There are different things that ail us that make some people resort to drinking and one of these is anxiety. It’s actually pretty high on the list of reasons why some people drink.

Couple that with the digital age we live in, and the intense work schedules and lifestyles of many, and it’s no wonder that over 4% of the global population is dealing with an anxiety disorder. Not only that, but over 74% of people feel overwhelmed and stressed at least once, if not multiple times during a year. That’s why it’s extremely important to relax and unwind. Thankfully, there are plenty of relaxation apps for Android that you can use to achieve such a goal. Let’s take a look at a few.

guy reading on the beach

1. Insight Timer

What makes Insight Timer unique is the fact that it helps you not only de-stress and unwind, but also focus on journaling. It has 5 wellbeing apps in 1, and it makes the process of creating healthy habits a lot simpler. You can access over 150,000 tracks for guided meditation, and you can also access sleep stories. In addition, the app does a very good job of helping you control and manage your breath. They have a breathwork library to help you optimize and control the way you breathe. You can also connect with others and attend all kinds of live breathwork sessions.

But what really sets Insight Timer apart is the ability to contemplate, reflect and journal everything. The app will help you write down things you are grateful for, how you feel in the moment, and also the goals you have. It gives you the means to ease stress, reflect on what you want to do and also monitor your mood. There are also great quotes to help inspire you for the day. All in all, this is a good app for anyone who wants to relax, unwind and refocus.

2. Calm

Calm is widely regarded as one of the top apps for meditating. If you’re dealing with constant anxiety, stress, and want to focus more on yourself, then this is a great app to get started with. It features a large number of meditative sessions, and relaxing sounds, along with stories told by many well-known celebrities and popular meditation experts.

In addition, it integrates breathwork sessions, detailed courses that span over multiple days, grounding exercises, and many others. With help from Calm, you can have that much-needed relief while also improving the way you live your life. It’s also very good if you have trouble sleeping. Its unique sessions that focus specifically on sleep improvement will help you reach deep sleep a lot easier. Aside from stories, you also have sleep-inducing music, soundscapes, along with a professional sleep-tracking tool.

3. Headspace

Headspace is a paid app, and it’s designed to help track and improve your mental health. It has specific sections that help you improve your focus and speed up the way you think and react to things. On top of that, it can also bring you courses for self-esteem, mindful eating, articles about building healthy habits, how to improve your sleep, and so on. Everything is presented in a stunning, beautiful app that’s very easy to use for beginners and experts alike.

4. Colorfy

Colorfy is an excellent tool for relaxing that takes a different path when compared to the other apps. Instead of meditating, it brings you the means to relax by drawing and coloring. You can join a large artist community and color their work the way you want.

Adult coloring books are known to help you relax, ease stress, and relieve any anxiety or depression. Colorfy itself is free to use, and it provides a unique way to improve your mood. They have thousands of great images you can start coloring, and the designs are spectacular.

5. Sanvello

Sanvello is an app designed specifically for people who are overwhelmed and dealing with lots of anxiety or stress. The app will check in, and you can track your emotions over time. It’s very good when it comes to self-care since you can access a complete routine based on your needs. They added things like guided journeys, meditation, positive thoughts, goal setting and tips to create a sleep routine. All of these are very useful, and they are provided in a great, well-rounded app.

6. Othership

One of the best ways to relieve anxiety or stress is to optimize your breathing. Othership focuses specifically on guided breathwork. With this app, you have access to a plethora of guided breathwork sessions. They will help you regulate your nervous system while also decompressing and relieving pressure. They also integrate other things like affirmations, visualizations, sound healing, vocal toning, and mindful working.

Conclusion

If you find it difficult to relax and de-stress, then giving these Android apps a try, can be a great idea. These apps are designed from the ground up to help you get past any pressure, anxiety, or stress. They also give you the means to improve your mental health, control your breathwork while also creating healthy sleep and meditative routines.

Uncategorized

Guest article: 6 Fun Spring Activities to Enjoy with Friends, That Don’t Involve Alcohol

This is a guest article by Martha Washington. If you too wish to write for us, fill out our form. Thanks!

friends out hiking

Introduction

Springtime is approaching, and it’s the ideal time to have fun outdoors and indoors with activities with your friends. Do you want a fantastic experience that doesn’t include alcohol? You’re in the right place! Below is a list of six unique sober activities that guarantee some fun and memorable experiences. Whether outside having fun in the sun or finding comfort inside the house, these ideas will make your spring that much more enjoyable.

1. Host a Game Night
No one can resist the fun of a great game night. That’s the best way to hang out with your pals at home. Reach into the back of your closet for those board games, set up the card table, or even connect the video game console for a night filled with laughter and friendly competition. You can add more fun by creating a theme or establishing a tournament. Don’t forget the snacks – try popcorn, homemade pizza, or a DIY taco bar. The best part? For that time, you’ll forget about the alcohol and enjoy yourself.

2. Take a Nature Walk
Spring is the perfect time for outdoor exercises. The weather is perfect, not too hot or cold, and there is a lot of greenery outside. Go for a hike with friends on a local trail or nature reserve. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the beauty just right around the corner. Bring a packed lunch with you on the way and remember your camera to take photos of the beautiful nature. In addition to being good for the soul, hiking is a great way to get some exercise.

3. Practice a New Hobby Together
Spring is the season of fresh ideas, so why not make a new hobby with your friends? It can be anything from painting, pottery, learning to play an instrument or even gardening. You won’t just learn something new; it will be more enjoyable if you do it with your friends. You can exchange ideas, encourage each other, and figure out who looks most impressive.

4. Have a Movie Marathon
On the days the weather is not cooperating, or if you are just in the mood to stay in, a movie marathon is a perfect solution. Decide on a topic – a movie series such as Harry Potter, childhood movies, or films made by a particular director – pick a day for an all-day movie marathon. Make it cozy by creating a pillow fort and buying your chosen movie treats. It is an excellent opportunity to unwind, have fun and maybe watch movies you’ve been dying to see.

5. Organize a Scavenger Hunt
If you’re more of a thrill seeker, make a scavenger hunt. You can carry this out in your neighborhood, at a park near you, or indoors if there is enough space. Consider a list of objects or tasks that teams should obtain or finish and have them start on their mission. This can be kept as straightforward or as complicated as you want. The goal is to have fun and bump into some new sites. The winning team gets a treat, like selecting the activity for next time.

friends doing a scavenger hunt

6. Volunteer Together
Donating to the community with friends is an excellent way to spend time together. Find volunteer opportunities, if any are available in your local area. It could be anything from helping at a food bank, planting trees, or participating in community clean-up work. Not only will you spend time with your friends, but you will also create a positive change in the community. It’s a win-win!

Conclusion
Spring is an exciting time to do new things and create memories to remember with your friends. Through participation in fun activities that do not include alcohol, you can concentrate on the fun and companionship of your friends. It doesn’t matter whether you are enjoying nature, going to a museum, getting creative or just helping your community. There is no limit to the possibilities of the colors of the seasons. So, if you’re ready, do one (or all!) of these activities and let this season be memorable.

This was a guest article by Martha Washington. If you too wish to write for us, fill out our form. Thanks!

Want more sober activity ideas? Our new book, “100 Sober Activities to Try with Friends All Year Round” is now available on Amazon.

Mocktail Recipes

4 Tasty Mocktail Recipes That Are Easy To Make At Home

mimosa mocktail recipe

  • Mimosa Mocktail Recipe – this is one of my all-time favorite drinks, as I love the combo of OJ and sparkling wine. Well to make a mocktail out of a Mimosa, you simply have to replace the Champagne. And you can do this with several alternatives, such as sparkling apple cider, ginger ale, club soda or NA sparkling wine.

RECIPE: 1/4 cup chilled orange juice, 1/2 cup NA sparkling wine (you can try any of the bottles we profiled in an earlier post)

NA Dirty Martini

  • NA Dirty Martini – another classic favorite of mine, the Dirty Martini. This one is also very simple, as it has just a few ingredients in it. To make a NA Dirty Martini you need to swap out the spirit, be it Vodka or Gin.

RECIPE: one tablespoon of olive brine, 3 olives for garnish, four ounces of white grape juice or sparkling water, bitters (optional) or 3 ounces of NA Vodka or GIN (some notable brands include Ritual and CleanCo Clean V)

cosmo mocktail

  • NA Cosmopolitan – Bartender Jon Harris of Washington, DC’s Firefly has what I think the best recipe for a non-alcoholic Cosmo. Here is his take “It’s kind of impossible to mimic vodka because it’s so neutral,” Harris says. Instead, he mimics the Cosmopolitan as a whole. He uses fresh lime juice in place of citrus vodka, cranberry bitters (“to give that bitter tang instead of cranberry juice, since we already have juice”), orange flower water instead of triple sec and grenadine for color, bright berry flavor and body. He thins everything out with a splash of water then shakes it over ice and strains it into a martini glass.”

NA mojito recipe

  • NA Mojito – although we are not quite yet in Summer, we can dream and go there mentally with an ice cold and fresh NA Mojito mocktail. The traditional Mojito is made with rum, so we need to find a suitable substitute for this to be non-alcoholic. Options include: white grape juice or apple juice or NA Rum.

Recipe: In a tall glass, muddle some mint leaves and sugar with a wooden spoon. Squeeze the juice of half a lime and add it to the glass. Fill the glass with ice and pour four ounces of white grape juice or apple juice over it. Top with club soda and stir gently. Garnish with a lime wedge and a mint sprig.

Which one are you going to try? Which one have you already tried?

Uncategorized

Sober Queer News Round Up – #1

There’s lots of news this week in the sober space, so I thought I would do weekly round ups, from around the web.

1. Have you heard of Nightcap? I hadn’t till today. It’s a new company started in 2016 by a young sister and brother team, that has created a niche product for drink safety. Whether you drink alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks and whether it’s in a bar, club or elsewhere; unfortunately, spiking drinks is a thing. And according to the founders of the Nightcap, this is what they found – “We surveyed 100 women when we started the company and 26% of them said they had their drinks spiked,” says Shirah, 21. “Realizing that it was a problem, that’s how we market it now: It’s a fun solution to a serious problem.” So, they created drink covers that hide in a hair scrunchie. See pic below. Its clever, convenient and an easy way for anyone to protect themselves from a potential drink spike.

@nightcapit Protecting your drink is good 4 u. #BestSeatInTheHouse #DADMOVES #MACscaraface #ConjuringHorror #xyzbca #PerfectAsWeAre #Destinationdepop ♬ good 4 u – Olivia Rodrigo

2. Applebee’s $200 Date Night Pass – this has been all over the news and web, Applebee’s on Monday announced that a $200 date night pass would be available netting you $30 worth of food and non-alcoholic drinks for one year. Well apparently, lots and lots and lots of peeps wanted in on this deal, so much so that in a matter of minutes the Date Pass was sold out and completely unavailable. Much to the dismay of many. Maybe Applebee’s will do this again and offer more next time. Maybe not. Lol.

3. SAPPH-O-RAMA – a new film festival dedicated to Lesbian Cinema is hitting the Film Forum theater in New York in February. This Sapphic festival will feature 30 plus films from cult favorites like BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER to the 90’s Lesbian coming of age, THE INCREDIBLY TRUE ADVENTURE OF TWO GIRLS IN LOVE and the 80’s classic DESERT HEARTS (which I’ve seen many times) and many more. If you happen to live in or near New York, you have several options come February 2nd to February 13th for some good Lesbian flicks.

That does it for our first news round up. Stay tuned next week for our next one.

Have a good weekend!

Uncategorized

The Cute Ice Tray Every NA Drink Lover Should Own

I just found this super cute rose cube and diamond balls ice cube tray online and must get one asap. The ice balls are perfect for mocktails, iced coffee, iced tea, fruit juice and NA whisky or bourbon drinks. The ice cube tray is made out of food grade silicone, is BPA free, can be stacked and comes with removable lids. I think these are super cute and think you will too. You can grab one for less than $10 at Amazon.

get it here:  https://amzn.to/48Wkl0z

rose & diamond balls ice cube tray

Sober NA Brands

NA Sparkling Wines Under $25

I’m partial to Sparkling wines and have had my share of the traditional alcoholic variety, but as a newly sober curious person, I now want to try NA Sparkling wines. But I want to keep it within my budget per bottle, which is $25.

So, I went to a few of my fave shops online to see what’s on offer and below is what I found. If you have a fave NA Sparkling wine (that you absolutely love) that is less than $25 bucks, please share the name and brand in the comments. Ok, here’s the list.

  • Giesen 0% Sparkling Brut – this one comes from New Zealand and features notes of lime and citrus. From the website: “Fresh lemon, grapefruit, and pear make for an inviting fruit-centric aroma. Refreshing citrus and Stone fruit, elevated by effervescence. A non-alcoholic sparkling wine with a crisp, dry finish.” $25

get it here:  https://amzn.to/4bj8Kdq

giesen na sparkling wine

  • Lyre’s Sparkling Wine – this one has mixed reviews on Amazon, with some liking it’s not so sweet taste, while others not liking that it doesn’t taste like the traditional Italian varieties (like Prosecco). I’ll give this one a try first and see for myself.

get it here:  https://amzn.to/42pSKlN

lyre na sparkling wine

  • Surely NA California Sparkling Rose Wine – this one is vegan, low sugar and low cal. (coming in at under 50 calories per 8 ounces) and gluten free. From its website, this one is “dry with notes of strawberry, pear, and tropical fruit”. $ 25

get it here:  https://amzn.to/3HE2tvt

surely na sparkling rose wine

  • Thomson & Scott NA Sparkling Chardonnay – this one is organic, vegan and has 2.9 grams of sugar and 14 calories per glass. The Organic Chardonnay grapes originate from vineyards in Souther Spain. $ 25

get it here: https://www.spiritedaway.co/products/thomson-scott-noughty

thomson scott na sparkling chardonnay

Chateau De Fleur NA Sparkling Wine Champagne – this one hails from New Zealand and has notes of apple and peach. One reviewer noted: “I’ve tried SO many non-alcoholic sparkling wines. Most are way too sweet, basically tasting like sparkling grape juice, or are weirdly tart. This one actually has nice balance and depth of flavor without being too sweet, and dry tart”.  $ 17

get it here:  https://amzn.to/3SGCvxI

Chateau De Fleur Non-alcoholic Sparkling Wine Champagne

If you try any of these, please come back here and leave a review or your feedback on the wine. We would love to hear your thoughts on these NA sparkling wines.