By Kaitlin Motley
Review Staff Intern
The District isn’t your typical late night lounge.
Don’t be fooled by the stylish mood lighting, mingling groups of young adults sipping drinks around the bar, or the pool tables and High Definition televisions.
Instead of buzzing neon lights, a sign on the wall reads ‘helping you experience the best of life;? aside from a fog machine, the air is distinctively clear. And nowhere on the menu is a drink ‘dry? or ‘dirty.?
The District, located on Baldwin Road, is a smoke-free, alcohol-free coffee lounge and concert venue that also offers life enrichment classes like Anger Resolution, Healing for Women, and Boundaries in Relationships.
The former Proper School building was remodeled by Mt. Zion, a Christian faith community, as an outreach program.
‘Literally 40-percent of people abstain from alcohol,? Mt. Zion Minister Rich Nowik said.
‘I wanted a genuine cool alternative to drinking, something I could be proud of. I wanted a place I would want to go to.?
The lounge houses five pool tables and five HD televisions and offers a wide array of coffee drinks and smoothies for those 18 years and older. The stage area is often open to youth 16 and older, and hosts both local bands and bigger names like Family Force Five, a Christian group that drew a crowd of nearly 500 earlier this month.
‘The District has something for everyone,? Nowik said. ‘The enrichment classes actually change your life. I’ve known women who take the Healing for Women class and are different people now.?
Starting in the fall, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday are open lounge with life enrichment classes upstairs. Fridays have a college night atmosphere with karaoke, concerts, and dancing. Second and fourth Saturdays of the month are ‘everyone events,? where Nowik said guests play games like Mexican Train, monopoly, and cards and hang out in the lounge.
Sundays draw religious youth to a young adult service with worship, music, and Scripture.
‘It’s a good place for people to go to just chill and hang out without booze,? Rochester resident Alex Kolanek said.
‘If you ask people, they’ll tell you about the big stuff. It’s easy to get caught up in ‘wow, 400 people?,? Nowik said. ‘For me it’s been some of the small conversations, the moments, the captures of time that help that one person; that’s more what the District is all about. It’s the little things that make the difference.?
For more information and their weekly schedule, visit www.thedistrictvenue.com.