Elixart, The Urban Oasis In The City
By Eliza Maurer
For me, spending my evenings at a bar or nightclub -- an evening fused with expensive drinks, surface-layer conversation, and the dreaded next day, is a thing of the past; instead, I crave depth -- an experience that creates connection, celebrates community, and immerses me in the present. This is a common cultural thread as many of us are looking to find ourselves, rather than escape ourselves.
I feel fortunate to live in a world that is waking up to the world of wellness, as it is now a 4.2 trillion dollar industry and there’s no argument that our society is committed to being “woke”. We are witnessing a global culture shift as people are choosing environments and activities that support health and well-being . According to a report published by Eventbrite, 42% of millennials are drinking less alcohol than they were three years ago, with one in four preferring to spend their money on ‘other things’. A sober generation is on the rise as people are choosing less intoxication, and more inspiration, seeking experiences that dose them with serotonin and dopamine hits, rather than hangovers.
I recently moved from Los Angeles to San Francisco and was amazed that in a city of innovation, these experiences were hard to come by. I took a trip the northern California gem Nevada City, and stumbled upon the pulse of this little mountain town, a community goldmine, Elixart. It was a Tuesday evening at 10pm and this lounge cafe was bubbling with sparkly humans, walls lined with local art, and a dance floor pulsing with smiles.
People gathered at the long redwood bar as humans often do, yet here, instead of serving traditional drinks, the Elixartists served hand-crafted herbal concoctions -- each drink carefully designed to evoke and entice a mood-elevating experience. These exotic herbs sourced from all over the world have been used for hundreds of years for their mood-altering and socially lubricating effects that people often seek out in alcohol, without the side-effects. Finally, a night-life, full of life, sans alcohol. As I sipped and savored my saffron spice latte and sank into the moment, I realized that this place was exactly what so many of us are craving. It was if they had taken out all the darkness of a nightclub or bar, and turned it to light.
Fast forward to the present day where Elixart has now opened the doors to an urban oasis in the heart of the city and I have the privilege of being a part of the team as Community Director. Manifested. Missions aligned.
Located inside Onedome, an interactive and immersive art space, we share an ethos to cultivate connection through experience. Elixart’s mission is to empower others through the transformational power of plants -- to inspire a culture that is fully awake and fully connected -- to ourselves, each other, and our planet.
We now offer a ‘Weekly Wind Down’ every Thursday from 6-8pm -- a health-forward happy hour featuring live music from international and local musicians, as well as Friday night ‘Resonance’ from 9-11pm featuring underground djs and musicians playing a variety of mid-tempo flavors, both of which are free to the public. We recently up-leveled the sensory experience by bringing in RawDaddy foods for a plant-based pop-up serving organic, seasonal, and sustainable food.
Together, rooted in purpose, we are inspired to create a sanctuary in the city. Come join us and experience what it feels like to have your senses feel fully alive.
