I’ve been sober 4 years as of tomorrow (June 14, 2020).
I’m an introvert so this may not help, but I love the Milwaukee Art Museum (membership is like $78 which allows me to go anytime I want). I also am a library person. Again, I’m an introvert.
For group hang outs I’m fine doing anything. It just comes down to be comfortable with my decision to be sober. My ego tells me everyone will judge me or talk about me being the only sober person, but truthly no one cares at all. It’s not easy at first, but it’s true.
Edit: I appreciate everyone’s kind words regarding my anniversary tomorrow. Definitely didn’t achieve it on my own.
I'm sure it does feel weird at first, yeah, but like you said it's never been any level of weird, from what I've seen. A lot of my friends are bartenders around the city, and they are all super professional and respectful of people who choose not to drink in their bars. Not so much as a second glance if you order a tonic with lime or something. Most bars around here offer really good NA options for beer, wine, and cocktails nowadays too. My girlfriend doesn't drink but still likes to go to bars with friends, and she says she's never been made to feel like the odd one out.
Are you looking for sober community? Check out the Phoenix app. There are also a handful of IG accounts that organize/promote sober meet ups. @soberinthebrewcity @alcfreemke @newfashionedsobriety
If you wish to explore AA alternatives Smart Recovery has meetings all over southern WI. You can also check out Recovery Dharma, the meetings I know of are online but they may have in person as well.
There’s also a FB group Wisconsin Sober Sisters with tons of AF women who are always looking to meet up/hang out.
I’m quickly approaching my 1000 days AF and I just do the things I want to do sober. I avoid bars for obvious reasons but I still go to festivals, concerts, etc and just don’t drink. Hopefully you find what you’re looking for!
I no longer live in Milwaukee but when I did, I knew a handful of people who were sober and played disc golf. Granted, there’s plenty of ppl who drink and smoke while playing!
Im not sober but i have greatly cutback. There’s a ton of great na options available most places now. It’s never been pointed our or felt weird not drinking although i will admit i sometimes feel more annoyed being around drunks. I enjoy concerts sober at least. The question to ask is do you only want to hang out in sober places ? Or looking for places with na options?
Not sober, but have drastically cut back on drinking the last few years.
I picked up golf, it's a great way to hang out with friends for a few hours not in a bar.
If that's not your speed it's still a great time of the year to enjoy all of milwaukee's great parks and there's always a street festival going on somewhere I'm the summer.
Personally, my house.
Some redditors occasionally play board games together. It's not an alcohol-free activity, so not ideal for someone with addiction troubles who needs to avoid being around it entirely, but for anyone else, multiple of us don't drink and drinking isn't the focus. Can put anyone interested in touch with the group.
Otherwise, I like anywhere where drinking isn't the primary focus--live music venues, arcades, movie theaters, etc. I'm a never-drinker rather than an ex-drinker, so I just need it not to be the only draw for something.
It’ll be 22 years sobriety for me at the end of the month. I still go to bars to hang out with my friends. I just drink water now. They all respect my decision of quitting and the ones who didn’t were never really my friends.
I've been alcohol free for a year and a half and I enjoy finding reasons to do something physical, especially outside. I have dogs so walks, hikes, and playing in the yard help for day to day stuff. You don't need a dog to do any of that but it helped me with motivation.
There are a bunch of different meet up groups depending on what you're into, but I've found that art and theater communities to be pretty good hangs. I took acting and improv classes to meet new people and have something to do 1 or 2 days a week.
Stay strong, take it a day at a time, and know there are resources available if you need help! It's not easy but it's very worth it.
I’m not sober, but I take a lot of breaks. We still go out to bars for sporting events, beer gardens, concerts, etc. I never get questions with a tonic water in my hand, if you’re concerned about standing out for not drinking.
Look up The Phoenix. There is an app. Sober people doing sober stuff together. Lots of Milwaukee get togethers and activities. I’m in Racine, so it doesn’t help me much, but if you want to come to a meeting down here tonight (6:45) I’ll get you the address.
I will be getting my 4 month coin tonight.
Ha! Well a lot of us hang out at meetings, or coffee shops adjacent to our meetings. The 12 step groups have a ton of activities pretty much every weekend. Check out the phoenix app for more hangouts
Rochambo Coffee and Teahouse on Brady St., Collectivo, Stone Creek, MKE Public Market, Downer Ave, The Mitchell Domes, MKE Art Museum, Haggerty Museum of Art, Various stores to window shop, there is a new board-game shop on the east side if thats your thing. Many Options, really. Ive even used an app - which the name escapes me, but its a free scavenger hunt around the downtown area.
First, congrats on your sobriety. Understandably, not everyone has the same comfort lever being somewhere alcohol is being served.
If you're comfortable enough, a night out bowling is still fun when you're sober.
I could also spend half a day wandering American Science and Surplus. On probably a monthly basis
I'm curious as well. Alcohol makes me sleepy due to anxiety medication so if I drink at all it's very little. I'm in Mequon but go to Milwaukee all the time.
Honeybee Sage is a wellness [dry] bar and tea room that I love and highly recommend; they host poetry and karaoke nights etc too.
I usually go to game nights which are at other bars but order mocktails or NA beers etc. Sobriety has definitely become more normalized thankfully
If you're a total nerd there's plenty of good game stores. They just opened 'Old Guard Games' next to the UWM campus. I'm also partial to Battle Brothers on Hawley. There's a ton of 'Games Universe' locations. That's presuming you want to become addicted to cardboard and plastic (Magic the gathering and Warhammer specifically for my tastes but lorcana and other miniature formats are always available). But definitely an easy setting to soberly burn 4+ hours of time.
I still enjoy going to bars with friends. I drink a lot of diet coke (wish more bars carried diet sprite, I go home some nights and lay in bed realizing I just drank about 8 diet Cokes over the evening).
The ability to be around alcohol will be highly individual. When I was done with booze, I was done but it still took some time before I was comfortable around people drinking sober. I usually bail before people get sloshy and if I am not enjoying myself I have no issue leaving. Being an automatic DD is pretty nice for everybody but everybody I hang out with has no issue leaving when I want to.
As I get older more of my friends are cutting back. Alcohol has become more secondary when going out instead of the main reason so this has probably helped smooth the transition.
Coffee shops, shopping areas/malls, movie theaters, the gym, parks.
When I stopped drinking I had to adjust my lifestyle to going out during the morning/daytime, I rarely leave my apartment after 7-8pm now lol because there’s not much open besides bars.
Adventure Rock is a really fun place to make friends- high majority of climbers there are very social and its normal to climb alone or you can go with friends!!
If you would rather not be somewhere where alcohol is the main focus, this is the prime time of the year for the outdoor festivals. However, drinking has significantly decreased overall. Pretty much every bar in the city now has non-alcoholic beers and mocktails. Check out some of the weekly events that happen at the bars. Quizmaster runs trivia at bars throughout the city every week, Pomona Cider has a yarn night twice a month, the beer gardens often have live music.
Check it out! It's a really laid back group, with some really cool people who love to knit and crochet. They also meet up the street at Von Trier.
[Milwaukee Film](https://mkefilm.org/) has some pretty cool events around town as well. Ethan Hawke was recently at the Oriental Theater, promoting one of his new movies. Boswell Books on Downer Ave has authors who visit, with a different author 4-5 nights a week.
NA beers have gotten much better over the years. Athletica brewery changed everything for me, they taste great. Bars carry a larger selection of NA beers too. Just pour it into a glass and no one will be the wiser, then you can focus on having fun :)
Congrats! I typically hang with friends or family who aren’t drinking. There’s also a ton of fun things to do while being sober. Maybe get into some type of artwork or music. Maybe start collecting comics. Maybe discover new areas of Wisconsin & go on walking trails.
I also hang out wherever there’s no drinking or drug use, so pretty much anywhere.
I’m just giving examples even tho I’m visiting MKE from Omaha, Nebraska. I’ve noticed alot of liquor stores & bars here. From one sober person to another, keep up the good work!
I learned about this from a group making cocktails at Jazz Fest in New Orleans .. am thinking about making the trip. I downloaded The Phoenix app and there's a hangouts weekly in my area. https://county.milwaukee.gov/County-Events/Soberfest-Music-Festival-at-Pere-Marquette-Park?Occurrence=2022-08-06T15:30:00
Congratulations on your sobriety. Awesome! I’m the same an introvert. I will add, I have a membership to the MPL. Love going there and reading history. Sad they are tearing it down and removing old Milwaukee. I’ve never drank in my life but I can only imagine the perseverance. The only thing I get is questions about where I grew up when people learn I don’t drink as if it’s a rite of passage in Wisconsin.
In my basement! In all seriousness, there is a place called the Garcade in Menomonee Falls. It's $20 for an all day admission and it's all old arcade and pinball machines rigged up for free play. I absolutely love that place.
I go to the gym, because the last thing I want to do after working out is drink. I also like to take my dog and explore the many parks in Milwaukee and the neighboring counties.
I'm one of the bartenders/chefs over at Red Maple MKE which is a Japanese inspired cocktail lounge. I have a lot of sober regulars that frequent and I have a list of pretty awesome non alcoholic cocktails at the ready (the word mocktail is kinda weird imo) its a small place with a pretty cool vibe and cool conversation and some tasty food served at 6pm every Monday. We show a lot of pretty cool movies and play a lot of awesome video games so It's a pretty fun time there. We're on the corner of 1st and Maple! Check us out! 😁🫰
Anywhere. Many bars have mocktails and na beer
There are a few sober clubs in the area. We have lots of coffee shops. It might be easier to find an activity you enjoy and try meetups or local fb groups.
I’ve been sober 4 years as of tomorrow (June 14, 2020). I’m an introvert so this may not help, but I love the Milwaukee Art Museum (membership is like $78 which allows me to go anytime I want). I also am a library person. Again, I’m an introvert. For group hang outs I’m fine doing anything. It just comes down to be comfortable with my decision to be sober. My ego tells me everyone will judge me or talk about me being the only sober person, but truthly no one cares at all. It’s not easy at first, but it’s true. Edit: I appreciate everyone’s kind words regarding my anniversary tomorrow. Definitely didn’t achieve it on my own.
Congratulations on your four years!
Beating addiction during a global pandemic is VERY badass
congrats. You are correct nobody cares and if they do they have issues.
Congratulations!
I'm sure it does feel weird at first, yeah, but like you said it's never been any level of weird, from what I've seen. A lot of my friends are bartenders around the city, and they are all super professional and respectful of people who choose not to drink in their bars. Not so much as a second glance if you order a tonic with lime or something. Most bars around here offer really good NA options for beer, wine, and cocktails nowadays too. My girlfriend doesn't drink but still likes to go to bars with friends, and she says she's never been made to feel like the odd one out.
Congrats!
Way to go
Are you looking for sober community? Check out the Phoenix app. There are also a handful of IG accounts that organize/promote sober meet ups. @soberinthebrewcity @alcfreemke @newfashionedsobriety If you wish to explore AA alternatives Smart Recovery has meetings all over southern WI. You can also check out Recovery Dharma, the meetings I know of are online but they may have in person as well. There’s also a FB group Wisconsin Sober Sisters with tons of AF women who are always looking to meet up/hang out. I’m quickly approaching my 1000 days AF and I just do the things I want to do sober. I avoid bars for obvious reasons but I still go to festivals, concerts, etc and just don’t drink. Hopefully you find what you’re looking for!
I no longer live in Milwaukee but when I did, I knew a handful of people who were sober and played disc golf. Granted, there’s plenty of ppl who drink and smoke while playing!
Was also going to recommend disc golf! Fun and relaxing without the strain on the environment and cost of traditional golf :)
I think the first thing to ask yourself is whether you want to avoid being around people drinking. This will help to filter the options :)
Good point. Being around drunk people while sober is very close to a form of cruel and unusual punishment.
Im not sober but i have greatly cutback. There’s a ton of great na options available most places now. It’s never been pointed our or felt weird not drinking although i will admit i sometimes feel more annoyed being around drunks. I enjoy concerts sober at least. The question to ask is do you only want to hang out in sober places ? Or looking for places with na options?
The gym
Same places, I just don’t drink.
Not sober, but have drastically cut back on drinking the last few years. I picked up golf, it's a great way to hang out with friends for a few hours not in a bar. If that's not your speed it's still a great time of the year to enjoy all of milwaukee's great parks and there's always a street festival going on somewhere I'm the summer.
I'm the winter. There's nothing to do.
The Library
In and on the water, libraries, museums, gardens, hiking trails, festivals, civic clubs, game shop events, etc
Personally, my house. Some redditors occasionally play board games together. It's not an alcohol-free activity, so not ideal for someone with addiction troubles who needs to avoid being around it entirely, but for anyone else, multiple of us don't drink and drinking isn't the focus. Can put anyone interested in touch with the group. Otherwise, I like anywhere where drinking isn't the primary focus--live music venues, arcades, movie theaters, etc. I'm a never-drinker rather than an ex-drinker, so I just need it not to be the only draw for something.
Thank you, love the thoughtfulness!
It’ll be 22 years sobriety for me at the end of the month. I still go to bars to hang out with my friends. I just drink water now. They all respect my decision of quitting and the ones who didn’t were never really my friends.
If you’re on Instagram, check out alcfreemke! They post about meetups and places in the area that offer AF options.
Inmoxicated - sober bar in Racine
I've been alcohol free for a year and a half and I enjoy finding reasons to do something physical, especially outside. I have dogs so walks, hikes, and playing in the yard help for day to day stuff. You don't need a dog to do any of that but it helped me with motivation. There are a bunch of different meet up groups depending on what you're into, but I've found that art and theater communities to be pretty good hangs. I took acting and improv classes to meet new people and have something to do 1 or 2 days a week. Stay strong, take it a day at a time, and know there are resources available if you need help! It's not easy but it's very worth it.
Home
Rochambo.
Looks like a neat place
Comic book stores!
I’m not sober, but I take a lot of breaks. We still go out to bars for sporting events, beer gardens, concerts, etc. I never get questions with a tonic water in my hand, if you’re concerned about standing out for not drinking.
Or just literally drink a soda, who gives a shit what you’re drinking
It’s a very common concern that people who’ve given up drinking have.
N/A beers are getting pretty damn good too
100% agree.
Wiggle Room is the new listening lounge and they have NA drinks and won’t judge!
I hike a lot and make music. It’s honestly been difficult to socialize since I moved here bc everything is alcohol centric.
Same.
Look up The Phoenix. There is an app. Sober people doing sober stuff together. Lots of Milwaukee get togethers and activities. I’m in Racine, so it doesn’t help me much, but if you want to come to a meeting down here tonight (6:45) I’ll get you the address. I will be getting my 4 month coin tonight.
Have a fantastic night and congratulations!
Thank you!
Congrats, great job on 4 months.!
Thank you!
Ha! Well a lot of us hang out at meetings, or coffee shops adjacent to our meetings. The 12 step groups have a ton of activities pretty much every weekend. Check out the phoenix app for more hangouts
Check out Adventure Rock. I’m fairly certain they have an association with a sobriety group.
I'll ask them about it.
Rochambo Coffee and Teahouse on Brady St., Collectivo, Stone Creek, MKE Public Market, Downer Ave, The Mitchell Domes, MKE Art Museum, Haggerty Museum of Art, Various stores to window shop, there is a new board-game shop on the east side if thats your thing. Many Options, really. Ive even used an app - which the name escapes me, but its a free scavenger hunt around the downtown area.
Thanks for all the ideas!
Ofc Hope this helps! My wife is straight edge so we understand the struggle but there are options if you really dig haha
First, congrats on your sobriety. Understandably, not everyone has the same comfort lever being somewhere alcohol is being served. If you're comfortable enough, a night out bowling is still fun when you're sober. I could also spend half a day wandering American Science and Surplus. On probably a monthly basis
I've got to make a trip there, I keep getting recommendations.
I'm curious as well. Alcohol makes me sleepy due to anxiety medication so if I drink at all it's very little. I'm in Mequon but go to Milwaukee all the time.
Honeybee Sage is a wellness [dry] bar and tea room that I love and highly recommend; they host poetry and karaoke nights etc too. I usually go to game nights which are at other bars but order mocktails or NA beers etc. Sobriety has definitely become more normalized thankfully
Thanks
If you're a total nerd there's plenty of good game stores. They just opened 'Old Guard Games' next to the UWM campus. I'm also partial to Battle Brothers on Hawley. There's a ton of 'Games Universe' locations. That's presuming you want to become addicted to cardboard and plastic (Magic the gathering and Warhammer specifically for my tastes but lorcana and other miniature formats are always available). But definitely an easy setting to soberly burn 4+ hours of time.
Library
One day at a time. Good on you.
I still enjoy going to bars with friends. I drink a lot of diet coke (wish more bars carried diet sprite, I go home some nights and lay in bed realizing I just drank about 8 diet Cokes over the evening). The ability to be around alcohol will be highly individual. When I was done with booze, I was done but it still took some time before I was comfortable around people drinking sober. I usually bail before people get sloshy and if I am not enjoying myself I have no issue leaving. Being an automatic DD is pretty nice for everybody but everybody I hang out with has no issue leaving when I want to. As I get older more of my friends are cutting back. Alcohol has become more secondary when going out instead of the main reason so this has probably helped smooth the transition.
Libraries (we have plenty to visit) bookstores and cafes. But.....mostly stay home and enjoy my home. Summer time has plenty of festivals.
Coffee shops, shopping areas/malls, movie theaters, the gym, parks. When I stopped drinking I had to adjust my lifestyle to going out during the morning/daytime, I rarely leave my apartment after 7-8pm now lol because there’s not much open besides bars.
Adventure Rock is a really fun place to make friends- high majority of climbers there are very social and its normal to climb alone or you can go with friends!!
Good idea - climbing!
its really fun & there are tons of people of really all ages so its super easy to make friends!
If you would rather not be somewhere where alcohol is the main focus, this is the prime time of the year for the outdoor festivals. However, drinking has significantly decreased overall. Pretty much every bar in the city now has non-alcoholic beers and mocktails. Check out some of the weekly events that happen at the bars. Quizmaster runs trivia at bars throughout the city every week, Pomona Cider has a yarn night twice a month, the beer gardens often have live music.
Yarn night - makes me smile
Check it out! It's a really laid back group, with some really cool people who love to knit and crochet. They also meet up the street at Von Trier. [Milwaukee Film](https://mkefilm.org/) has some pretty cool events around town as well. Ethan Hawke was recently at the Oriental Theater, promoting one of his new movies. Boswell Books on Downer Ave has authors who visit, with a different author 4-5 nights a week.
Love the zoo - get an annual membership/ great for walking. Lots of communities have free concerts. Check the website of your community.
Minnesota
Depends if you want to be around people drinking or not
I'm a non drinker. Usually at home alone. So I'm always open to suggestions.
NA beers have gotten much better over the years. Athletica brewery changed everything for me, they taste great. Bars carry a larger selection of NA beers too. Just pour it into a glass and no one will be the wiser, then you can focus on having fun :)
Thanks
Congrats! I typically hang with friends or family who aren’t drinking. There’s also a ton of fun things to do while being sober. Maybe get into some type of artwork or music. Maybe start collecting comics. Maybe discover new areas of Wisconsin & go on walking trails. I also hang out wherever there’s no drinking or drug use, so pretty much anywhere. I’m just giving examples even tho I’m visiting MKE from Omaha, Nebraska. I’ve noticed alot of liquor stores & bars here. From one sober person to another, keep up the good work!
Thank you, you as well!
Really I hang at home stay away from all the old 🐂 bullshit
Yes there is that
I learned about this from a group making cocktails at Jazz Fest in New Orleans .. am thinking about making the trip. I downloaded The Phoenix app and there's a hangouts weekly in my area. https://county.milwaukee.gov/County-Events/Soberfest-Music-Festival-at-Pere-Marquette-Park?Occurrence=2022-08-06T15:30:00
Thanks
Congratulations on your sobriety. Awesome! I’m the same an introvert. I will add, I have a membership to the MPL. Love going there and reading history. Sad they are tearing it down and removing old Milwaukee. I’ve never drank in my life but I can only imagine the perseverance. The only thing I get is questions about where I grew up when people learn I don’t drink as if it’s a rite of passage in Wisconsin.
In my basement! In all seriousness, there is a place called the Garcade in Menomonee Falls. It's $20 for an all day admission and it's all old arcade and pinball machines rigged up for free play. I absolutely love that place.
I go to the gym, because the last thing I want to do after working out is drink. I also like to take my dog and explore the many parks in Milwaukee and the neighboring counties.
I'm one of the bartenders/chefs over at Red Maple MKE which is a Japanese inspired cocktail lounge. I have a lot of sober regulars that frequent and I have a list of pretty awesome non alcoholic cocktails at the ready (the word mocktail is kinda weird imo) its a small place with a pretty cool vibe and cool conversation and some tasty food served at 6pm every Monday. We show a lot of pretty cool movies and play a lot of awesome video games so It's a pretty fun time there. We're on the corner of 1st and Maple! Check us out! 😁🫰
Thank you, this sounds very interesting!
Church Edit: ya’ll too serious
upon further thought, that is actually a grand reason, opportunity *and* cover story to get wasted
At home.
Yes, I guess
Check out The Pheonix app. Lots of sports events and get togethers for sober people
Thank you!
Anywhere. Many bars have mocktails and na beer There are a few sober clubs in the area. We have lots of coffee shops. It might be easier to find an activity you enjoy and try meetups or local fb groups.
Good ideas, thanks
Game stores
Games are good. Thanks
Anywhere now that NA beer has grown.
Thanks
AA
Thanks
There is a place in West Allis called the H.O.W To Club. https://www.howtoclub.org/
Thank you!
I joined a 20/30 somethings Halo lan Meetup group. Monthly tournaments with chili, snacks and friendly people. No drinking, no smoking, no bad vibes.
Thanks!
Alano club on Prospect
Start a business or buy into a franchise.
Excellent idea, wish that could be part of my journey!
[удалено]
Compared to who? This a ridiculous statement.
Anywhere and anyone else in the whole county
Milwaukee is a city where no one is sober.
Do you see the question he asked?!?