A Post Falls-based event company is mixing sobriety and nightlife in the Inland Northwest.

Diversion Events, founded by Bailey Bowerman and Christine Burns, held its first event in Spokane last week at 22Rooms—a downtown Spokane event venue—offering sober or sober-curious people an alternative way to enjoy a night out.

The term “sober curious” derives from a movement or trend that has become more mainstream in recent years, Bowerman says.

“We had seen that this concept have success in larger cities,” Bowerman says. “It’s a movement that questions ‘Why do I need a drink? Why am I drinking today?’”

Burns, who also owns Posted Consulting LLC, a Spokane-based communications company, adds, “It’s more about questioning why we have the relationship with alcohol that we do, and what does that mean for every single person.”

Diversion’s inaugural event was complete with mocktails, a DJ, dancing, a photo booth, and flash tattoos offered by Honey B Studios. The event company partnered with 22Rooms’ neighbor, First Avenue Coffee, which launched its new mocktail menu.

“Mocktails are not an afterthought for them. It’s a main feature,” says Bowerman, who quit drinking two years ago. “I don’t drink for health reasons, but I still want to go out and have the fun experience of looking at a menu, ordering a drink that sounds fun, holding it in a beautiful glass, and sipping it throughout the night.”

Over 80 people had purchased tickets online for the grand opening event, and more were expected to buy tickets at the door, Burns says. Diversion’s next event will take place at 8 p.m. on Jan. 26, again at 22Rooms, which is located at 1011 W. First.

Burns describes the events as having “European nightlife vibes.”

The photo booth and Honey B tattoos are expected to be at the next event as well, Burns says. Diversion is expected to hold one event each month after that, with future events taking place at various locations throughout Spokane and North Idaho, she says.

The company’s first two events were intentionally scheduled to take place during Dry January—a campaign in which people take a month off from alcohol.

“You can honor your body. You can stick to your goals, but you can do that and also have a fun night out dancing to a killer DJ with all of your friends,” says Bowerman. “And then we’re all going to wake up in the morning and feel amazing.”

Attendees of Diversion’s gatherings don't have to identify as completely sober, but they are asked to show up to the events sober.

Since announcing their first event, people have reached out daily thanking them and telling them how alone they felt in their sobriety, Bowerman says.

“There are plenty of people who either don’t drink very much or don’t drink at all,” says Bowerman.

Diversion’s sober nightlife events help fill a void for people who are quitting or cutting back on alcohol but don’t want to miss out on the social aspects that often go along with it, Bowerman says.

“People shouldn’t have to give up nightlife when they aren’t drinking or feel like the odd man out,” she says.

The two have also heard from people that dating can be more difficult for people who are sober or sober curious. Diversion gives those people a space to be around others with similar mindsets, Burns says.

“We’re trying to create something new,” says Burns.

Diversion doesn’t have any employees, Burns says, although her husband and Bowerman’s husband help with tickets at the door and the photo booth.

Tickets for the next event are $25 online or $30 at the door. Tickets include photo booth access and one complimentary mocktail.

Small Bites

Hangry’s LLC, a Spokane Valley-based diner, is opening its third location at the former Lost Boys’ Garage Bar & Grill space, at 6325 N. Wall, in North Spokane. After opening in 2015, Lost Boys’ closed in late November due to high supply and labor costs, the Journal previously reported. Hangry’s was founded in 2019. Its other diners are located at 11923 E. Trent, in Spokane Valley, and at 6902 W. Seltice Way, in Post Falls.

Yogamore LLC opened last week at 304 W. Third, in downtown Spokane, in the space previously occupied by Exchange Publishing, according to a press release. Owned and operated by yoga instructor Anita Doberman, the new yoga studio will offer hot yoga, hot Pilates, cold plunge rooms, chromatic therapy, high-intensity interval training, and more. The facility features Himalayan salt walls and infrared paneled ceilings in each studio, as well as two infrared saunas.