Notes from the Bottleshop

By Nora Elder

As I sit and gaze out of the front windows of Orangily SoBro, I’m full of warm, cozy thankfulness for having found a little gig that is so much more than a little gig. The 3- to 4- hour blocks I spend here are always so peaceful, sweet, and productive.

Especially inviting at twilight!

On our busier days, I love hearing folks’ stories, helping them prepare to host events, making suggestions, and making a mental log of their taste profiles. I’ve learned so many names and faces and dogs (!!) and stories, and the fact that the majority of those stories revolve around people’s evolving relationships with alcohol, wellness, and balance makes the time here even more meaningful.

On our quieter days (like today, upon which it is weirdly warm for December and absolutely drenching outside), I tidy and tag inventory, and when that’s done I sit and write, read, or knock out work between customers.

I get to pick the music.

I mean, how could you not want to stay a while?

Before I started writing this post, a coaching client of mine dropped by to deliver a hug, a card, and a loaf of chocolate bread.

Then, while writing those first two paragraphs, two customers—both of whom I’ve met before and whose names and tastes I know—came in one after the other. We shot the shit: I learned how the former’s baby announcement to her family went (joyously…and they all, even the drinkers, loved the non-alcoholic wine she brought!). The latter shared his excitement to get home and have a kava drink after being called into work on his day off.

This place is also home to numerous community events, conversations, and spontaneous gatherings of friends. I love inviting people here, because the space itself invites you to sit down, get cozy, and open up. For a place with a core value of “Privacy” it really draws you out…but we’ll never pry, never poke. We’re just here to listen, to suggest, to help you entertain, and to support you and cheer you on.

Our entrance, with an important message and a familiar little face on the foyer table!

I’m not an owner, but I feel a definite ownership over this place. I care how it looks, how it feels when you walk in, whether you have a good visit, whether we have what you’re looking for. This sense comes from the fact that working here feels SO aligned with my self-advocacy work, as well as the fact that the owners Kris and Andee have given me so much freedom and support via use of the space to do my work.

Ope! I buried the lede!

So, this was basically me taking a long time to announce Work…In Progress, a monthly evening conversation about work, and to tell you why I’m so excited to host it here at Orangily.

Work…In Progress is meant to provide a space for people who work to come talk about that work. Yes, I want people to bring their questions, their challenging situations, and their frustrations. I also want people to bring their celebrations, their wins and their successes. Many of us spend the majority of our waking hours getting ready for, on our way to, at, on our way from, decompressing from, or thinking about work. So it only makes sense to gather folks who want to talk about their experiences with work to step through challenges, coach each other, support each other, and build some skills along the way.

Each session, attendees will have the opportunity to write down a question, challenge, or topic and drop it into a hat (or bucket, or whatever…I haven’t found the receptacle yet). We’ll then spend an hour workshopping as many of these as we can. I’m sure our agenda will grow and change as the event continues. I’m excited for that.

Quick highlights:

WHO: Anyone who wants to talk about work. Full-timers, part-timers, and those who are job-searching are all welcome.

WHEN: The third Wednesday of each month, from 7-8pm, beginning January 21st

WHERE: SoBro Orangily, at 1051 E 54th St. in Indy

WHY: Because venting to our coworkers only goes so far. Because everyone needs support and an outside perspective. Because work is hard. Because work can be very good, and it can also be very, very challenging—and we need a space for it all.

HOW MUCH?: Free.

I am so, so jazzed to merge my two jobs in this way (yes, two. I did drop the museum gig, if you’ve been following along. More on that later.). If you’re in the area and work looms large in your life and your mind, join me in my favorite little third place and let’s talk it out.

And yes, there will be drinks.*

 

---

 

*NA, of course.