Sober parties have been popping up around NYC, so I tried one

My mind turned to the dissonance. Although the room contained so much of the New York nightlife I know — the lighting, the DJ and the dancer — the energy inside was muted. I had to admit to myself that a light buzz may have enhanced the party for all of us. My friend looked from the dancer to the crowd, and back to the dancer. “It’s a cool scene,” I remarked. I meant it. It wasn’t bad, just different. “Yeah. But look at the two girls behind you.” I pulled off a casual glance. They looked serene, but not joyful. They lightly bopped to the music. “I mean, I guess that’s dancing?” my friend said. She smirked. “It’s sober dancing!” After about 90 minutes, we’d had our fill. We were two old friends looking to reconnect… and we knew just the spot for that. We headed to Maison Premiere on Bedford Ave. and I savored many laughs over — no joke — perhaps the best cocktail of my life. What to expect if you try a sober party I feel mixed about it. On the plus side, the entertainment was good, and I probably cut my drink intake in half that night. I woke up feeling great. But I didn’t love the low energy. After we left, a saxophonist lit his horn on fire and people used it to toast marshmallows. An attempt at shenanigans, but the footage does make me laugh — look how the sober crowd just stands there. There are other ways to socialize while not drinking. One reason social drinking can feel good is because alcohol can trigger endorphins — hormones that give a feeling of wellbeing and play a role in social bonding. Other ways to get that rush include laughter, dancing and making new friends. If I’m looking to bond with old friends or make new ones but don’t feel like drinking, I’d probably take a class or head to the park, a museum or a concert instead. For better or worse, New York is still a drinking town. If you put too much weight on the headlines, you might get the impression that New York City’s culture has changed. But from the looks of things as our Uber dropped us off on Bedford Avenue at 11 p.m. on that Wednesday, the streets were alive and the bars were packed.