8 Alcohol-Free Happy Hour Alternatives
While the traditional happy hour is a great opportunity to socialize and build camaraderie, April is an important time to encourage non-alcohol focused activities to coincide with Alcohol Awareness Month. To help engage our UW community to consider more alcohol free activities together, here are 8 ideas to explore with colleagues and friends.
Work it out with yoga, runs, and more
After sitting at your desk for much of the day, why not add a little movement into your post-work activities. Walk down to the IMA for a Vinyasa style yoga class. Discover a beautiful collection of plants with a jog through the miles of trails at the Washington Park Arboretum. Add some friendly competition through the intramurals sports program at the IMA. There are still a few spots open for spring teams, but summer registration will be here before you know it. Start rallying your team today.
Sip tea or coffee
Looking for a mellow evening with a drink in hand? Visit a teahouse or coffee shop. Tea Republic on University Ave has a wide selection of brewed and milk teas from all around the world! For those who prefer a delicious cup of coffee, the Seattle coffee culture scene provides the opportunity to taste locally roasted, small batch, and fair trade brews. Check out University Zoka for a community-focused shop started by a University of Washington alum!
Relax with guided mediation
Are you new to meditation? Shambhala Meditation Center of Seattle offers an open house for basic meditation at Soma Yoga Studio in Ballard the first Tuesday of every month. Everyone is welcome! Don’t want to travel? Download one of many great mediation apps such as Headspace and find a quite space inside or outdoors.
Lose yourself in a museum or art gallery
Without leaving the Seattle campus you can watch paleontologists carefully expose the skull of 66-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus-rex at the Burke Museum, or explore the upcoming exhibition by artist Demian DinéYazhi in honor of his 2017 Brink Award. Admission to both is free for UW students, faculty, and staff. For UWT faculty and staff, visit TOYTOPIA free of charge at the Washington State History Museum. This exhibits includes vintage arcade games – no quarters needed! It is also home to the floor piano as seen in the movie “Big” with Tom Hanks.
Volunteer together
How can you give back to the local community and bond with your colleagues simultaneously? Volunteer! The UW has a variety of volunteer opportunities to fit every department and interest. Become a valued member of the UW Medicine Team. Support the Burke’s public and research programs, or exhibition openings at Henry Art Gallery. Learn about sustainable farming practices and help support the UW food community at the UW Farm. Or contribute to the beauty of the UW Botanic Gardens.
Walk, talk, and taste
PCC offers both free and pay cooking classes, events, and demonstrations through year, including the upcoming Walk, Talk, and Taste: Spring at the Green Lake location on May 9th. Learn the latest research on what to eat for your health and the health of the planet. These classes fill up, so be sure to browse the class calendar and register in advance!
Paint the town—or a new mug
Paint the Town is a do it yourself ceramics painting studio in University Village. Pick from a range of items and let your imagination guide your painting. There are no studio fees, just the cost of the item. The paint, glazing, and firing are all included. Visit the website for weekday specials!
Partake in “Reading Allowed” events
Attend a live reading at UW Bookstore or join a lively book club discussion. With events multiple nights of week, there is bound to be topics that pique your interest. On April 10th, best-selling author Jonathan Evison shines light on a young man on a search for self-discovery and the American dream with his novel, Lawn Boy. On April 11th, True Grace Book Club will be discussing Fear and Clothing by Cintra Wilson. Check out the events page for the full list of upcoming events!
While we do not need to ban the traditional happy hour, we do need to create more options and opportunities to engage our communities at large, sans alcohol. The ideas included here are just a few out of a multitude of activities around our UW campus. So get out, explore, and enjoy some new activities with colleagues and friends!