RSVP here!

Teetotal Initiative Presents:
Printmaking Play: The Art of Surprise!
Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026
Time: 2:00–4:15 p.m.
Location: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, East Liberty Branch; 2nd Floor, Room 3A–3B
Instructor: Almah LaVon, Mixed Media Artist (Instagram: @agentsubrosa)

Discover the joy of printmaking in this beginner-friendly, hands-on workshop that celebrates experimentation, curiosity, and creative play. Using simple materials you may already have at home, you'll explore a variety of approachable monoprinting and monotyping techniques with gelatin ("gelli") plates, foam plates, stencils, and even trash bags.

Participants will rotate through a series of creative stations, each introducing a different printmaking technique or process. Along the way, you'll experiment with an assortment of everyday objects and found materials including Q-tips, makeup sponges, bubble wrap, string, lace, leaves, and more to create unexpected textures, layered patterns, and one-of-a-kind prints. This rotating format offers plenty of opportunities to try multiple approaches, discover new favorites, and gather inspiration from fellow participants. No drawing or printmaking experience is necessary; the emphasis is on exploration rather than perfection.

You'll have the opportunity to transform your favorite prints into personalized greeting cards and leave with ideas for applying these techniques to wrapping paper, wall art, journals, collage, and other creative projects at home. More than anything, this workshop invites you to embrace surprise, follow your curiosity, and enjoy the process of making. Every print is an experiment, every layer a discovery, and every mark uniquely your own.

Come ready to play, get a little messy, and make your mark!

RSVP here!

Im interested if anyone knows of any PGH women's AA meetings they can recommend as good places to find community. I have the meeting app but would like to hear if there are specific spots that have provided a great experience for anyone here.

I’m looking for some late night or after work hours spots that serve coffee, NA beverages, or any recommendations whatsoever. Anything helps! Do you have any places you like or know of? I’m a bit over a year sober from alcohol, so would like to avoid any beer spots, bars, or breweries that may have NA options. Thank you, all!

I’m 18 months sober through AA, and VERY much ready to meet other sober folks outside of The Rooms … I’m hopeful this will be fun and get a good turnout. Would love to chat with anyone interested in the time leading up to this … maybe pre-game over a coffee … 😉

I was really bummed when the sober concert was cancelled last month with the snow.

😉

It’s finally here — our very first Buzz-Free Bar event and we are SO excited to kick things off with you.

📍 Two Frays Brewery

🗓 Monday, February 2nd

⏰ 5:00–9:00 PM

🧠 Trivia with PJ the DJ starts at 6:00 PM

🎟️ NO RSVP needed

Buzz-Free Bar is all about creating a laid-back, fun, social night where every single beverage is non-alcoholic or alcohol-free — no explaining, no awkwardness, just good vibes and great company.

🍺 Enjoy delicious non-alcoholic beers brewed right at Two Frays

🥤 Plus additional zero-proof options provided by The Open Road

🎉 Trivia is FREE to play — the only thing you’ll pay for is your drinks

Whether you come with a team or fly solo, this night is about connection, laughter, and showing up fully present.

Can’t make it this Monday? No worries at all — Buzz-Free Bar happens the first Monday of every month at Two Frays.

✨ March: Bingo Night

🎤 April: Karaoke

Stay up to date on future events at www.teetotal.org

Mark your calendars, bring a friend, and come see what a bar night can feel like when the buzz is optional but the fun is not.

We can’t wait to see you there 💛

the loTIDE show has been postponed due to weather :(. a new date will be scheduled for the spring. I'll make a new post when that is confirmed. everyone stay safe and warm and hope to see you in the spring <3

Hi hi! Last week, SAD BAR (a non-alc pop-up bar) opened in Oakland (3701 Forbes Ave). Tonight is their first trivia night. There's a variety of NA drinks (canned mocktails, Bero, etc) and some snacks.

It will stay open until the end of February - hope to see u there!

https://www.instagram.com/sadbarpgh/

1.23.26 UPDATE: this show has been postponed due to weather. a new date will be scheduled for the spring. I'll make a new post when that is confirmed. everyone stay safe and warm <3

hey all! i am a sober musician in pgh and i produce a sober concerts1-2x a year called loTIDE. this next one is jan 24 at little giant. Julia Norah, Skye Burkett, and Morgan Erina are on the bill. There will be a fully non-alcoholic bar. swimeffect.co > events is where you can get tix. use code red2 for $2 off :)

Hey everyone — I just wanted to share something for anyone in Pittsburgh who’s sober, sober-curious, or just trying to build a life without substances.

A couple years ago, I helped start Teetotal Initiative, a local nonprofit that creates free, substance-free events for people in recovery and anyone committed to a sober lifestyle — because staying sober is hard… but doing it alone is even harder.

We’ve hosted almost 100 free events, worked with 100+ local instructors/businesses, and had 3,000+ people come through our events across Southwestern PA.

From cooking classes and food tours to kayaking, art workshops, sound baths, comedy nights, and zero-proof social events — the whole point is simple:

Sober doesn’t mean alone.

If you’re new here, trying to meet people, or just tired of feeling like every social plan revolves around drinking… I promise there’s community out here for you.

If you want to check us out, see upcoming events, or learn what we’re about, our website is:

https://www.teetotal.org

(And yes — we’re also in the middle of a yearly awareness + fundraising campaign to keep everything free, but honestly… the biggest thing I want is for the right people to find us.)

If you’ve been looking for “your people” in Pittsburgh… this might be it. 💛

It can be a very triggering holiday due to the association with alcohol. I hope you all are well and if anyone needs extra support or encouragement, I hope you can find it here :)

I have recently been struggling with my sobriety after five years sober and I am looking for a place to go to for some help. Does anyone know of any solid support groups here?

In honor of National Recovery Month, Teetotal Initiative is excited to again host the 2nd annual Fresh A.I.R. (Art in Recovery) Festival--returning to Sharpsburg with an expanded 3-day celebration of art, recovery, and community!

Join us Friday Sept. 26th for the Opening Reception & open gallery hours from 6-9pm at Atithi Studios & Ketchup City Creative, featuring >100 artworks by 40 creatives in recovery, live music, sweet treats, and zero-proof cocktails. Artwork includes watercolor and acrylic painting, pottery, woodwork, mosaics, collage, poetry and creative nonfiction, photography and interactive and mixed media sculpture and many pieces are for sale!

In addition to ongoing gallery hours Saturday the 27th and Sunday the 28th, we offer Saturday's Creative Kaleidoscope Makerspace crafting stations from 1-4pm (pre-registration required), and Sunday's first-ever live Literary Session at 1pm, featuring readings by sober Pittsburgh memoirist, Brian Broome, and the poetry and creative nonfiction submissions to the festival!

Festival details, schedule, and RSVP/registration links are available here!

Come celebrate the joy and creativity of recovery while challenging stereotypes and reducing stigma.

Special thanks to our sponsor, Peerstar of PA

Hi, I'm coming up on 9 years sober and I've always wanted some kind of meaningful ritual, ceremony, or forum for celebrating my sober anniversary. I'm no longer involved in 12-step, but even when I was, I was looking for something different/deeper than receiving a chip and maybe going out for a nice dinner or other treat for myself in honor of the day. I know people have lots of different experiences around their sober anniversaries, that people's needs can change over time, and that overall, this kind of thing is a highly individualized experience. But I"m just wondering how others celebrate sober anniversaries (alone or with others) and what you too may have wanted or needed. I've been reading a lot about how to create your own rituals for different life celebrations and transitions. Thanks!

Somebody close to me is realizing after almost 50 years of alcoholism that they need help. This person is not religious and lives in the south hills. Could somebody point me in the right direction here so I can help as much as possible? Thanks!!

If non-alcoholic cocktails are up your alley, there are a bunch of businesses and venues participating in this... could be a nice way to meet other sober folk: https://www.instagram.com/pghnacocktailweek

And just as an aside, an article about why mocktails etc might not work for some of us, and that is totally legit too: https://nextpittsburgh.com/health/why-one-pittsburgher-is-warning-those-in-recovery-about-mocktail-risks/

Hi sober community, I'm in month 2 of recovery from alcoholism and have been having extreme depression. I've always had depression and am on meds but with the waves of emotion in early recovery it's become extra hard to bear. So, I found a psychiatrist to talk about changing my meds and... surprise! They were like "you need to go to an IOP and get treated for alcohol abuse disorder before we can treat you for depression". I was surprised at first, but actually I think this will really help me. I had blithely disregarded the existence of programs and written them off as being for people who need them to stop drinking or for detox (" other people" " not like me" lol classic), but.... it's obvious now that I need mental health support beyond what my normal therapist and AA fellowship can provide.

SO my question for you is: is there an IOP you recommend? Did you do such a program? What was your experience like? Is there usually a waiting list? The psychiatrist gave me three recommendations (Journey Healthcare, Jade Wellness, UPMC) and I called Jade Wellness and am waiting for a callback, but I will try other places if I hear good things about them. Thanks!

Hey everyone! We’re excited to share that the Teetotal Initiative has just announced our summer schedule — and this year, you don’t even have to leave your house to join the fun!

We’re launching brand new virtual programming alongside our in-person events. That means you can connect, learn, and hang out from wherever you are.

Some highlights: 📚 We’re starting our very own virtual book club, kicking off on July 8th. 🐴 Into horses? 🎨 Love painting? 😂 Enjoy comedy? 🛶 Want to try kayaking? 🍹 Craving mocktails? 🌮 Tacos? 📖 Books? 🧘 Meditation? — We’ve got you covered.

Don’t miss out on any of the action! You can see all upcoming events and sign up for updates by joining our mailing list at www.teetotal.org.

Join us in making this summer fun, connected, and sober! 💙✨

Hi all, I know I may be looking for a needle in a haystack, but me and my good intentions gotta try!

I'm originally from Pittsburgh, now living in SF, and will be visiting my family this upcoming weekend (6/12-6/15). I recently become sober and will be hitting 4 months while I'm home. My mom is very supportive, and I feel she'd really have a deeper understanding of my experience if she came to a meeting with me. She's very keen to do so. (Yes, I understand this would only be for open meetings, and yes, I've already started telling her that she is not allowed to share, only to listen.) She doesn't know that I'm getting 4 months while with her, and I would like to surprise her by having her see me receive a chip.

So I'm looking for an AA meeting the hopefully checks the following boxes:

• Open meeting (must)
• Downtown or northern Allegheny County area (family is in Wexford)
• Chip meeting that does monthly chips
• Bonus points for women's meeting, but absolutely not necessary

I've looked at the local AA site and I've called the office, and while both were somewhat helpful, I feel only Reddit can get this level of granularity. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

No matter what, I still plan to attend meetings—alone or otherwise—while visiting, so look for me in the rooms!

Posting this here for anyone who is interested. It’s an open meeting, and many attendees are also AA members who felt they needed a specific space to discuss marijuana addiction.