A New Wave of Social Clubs

Community healing experiences over exclusivity

As I spend less time on social media, I’ve noticed a new wave of social clubs emerging in response to post-COVID pandemic social isolation and post 2024 election anxiety and stress. People who have lived their lives primarily online for school, work, and social interaction are seeking and creating spaces, events, gatherings, and meetup groups focused on positive social interactions, human connection, friendships, and community healing.

The goal: Make new friends, feel better, and socialize without spending a lot of money.

When I think of social clubs, two types usually come to mind: a sports or activity-focused activity group like run club or dodgeball league, or exclusive members-only clubs that value clout, access, and privilege.

In Basque country, there is a cultural tradition of gastronomic societies “txokos” where members gather in and cook meals for their friends, families, and fellow members.

inside the San Francisco Buyer’s Club in the 1990s, photo via EdRosenthal.com

Social clubs can enact real, meaningful change and collective healing.

In 1991 the global AIDS/HIV pandemic was sweeping through the gay community, Dennis Person started the San Francisco Buyer’s Club to make medical c*nn*bis accessible and give pain-relieving palliative care to the community suffering, along with Brownie Mary, who famously made infused brownies for patients. The SF Buyer’s Club was the nation’s first public medical c*nn*bis dispensary. It started as a social club with the intention of providing pain relief and medicine to its community, and for free for those who couldn’t afford it.

More importantly, the SF Buyer’s Club was a space for people to gather, socialize, not feel isolated, and care for one another. As a result, Dennis Person, Mary Rathburn, and others co-authored California Prop 215 in 1996, which legalized medical m*r*j*ana and paved the way for today’s legal c*nn*bis market.

These days, c*nn*bis social clubs are popular around the world as secret access in places where the plant is still not-yet-legal. In places like Los Angeles and West Hollywood, consumption lounges are springing up to create third spaces for people to consume and socialize. But I find that in the haze of smoke and sales, they’re missing a certain special magic.

What’s the special sauce that makes this new wave of social club so enticing? Keep reading…

Vol. 49 // In this Issue

• Tiny Bee Concert 7/20

• A New Wave of Social Clubs

• Upcoming Events

• Gardening Club

You’re Invited!

7/20 – Secret Life of Bees + Tiny Bee Concert, a special educational workshop, local honey tasting, and immersive musical experience with local bee-tender Marvin Jordana, sound healing musician Rita Oliveria. Hosted by Mogu Magu x Apis Sonora. | Northeast Los Angeles

A New Wave of Social Clubs

A new wave of social clubs and activities designed to meet new people, socialize and do a fun activity to get off social lurking and doomscrolling and enjoy living life IRL. No membership fees. Pay what you can sliding scales. The ones with ticket fees or donations to participate go directly towards supporting each other in the community. The special sauce is authenticity.

Inclusivity versus exclusivity. There’s more to do than getting high in a haze of smoke in a beautiful place. There’s intention, education, activities, and authentic connections that tap into something deeper that we’re all yearning for – collective healing.

Hot Girl Walk encourages walking for mental wellness and empowering self-confidence with branches hosting walks in communities all over the world. Silent Book Club with over 2,000+ chapters in 55 countries where introverts get together to read together in silence. Cake Picnic is a gathering for the love of cake where bakers bake and bring a cake and everyone eats.

If those feel overwhelming, small group hangs and hyper local experiences are filling my cup lately. Whatever size socializing feels right for you, there’s something about finding your people that makes life in the midst of anxiety-ridden chaos extra sweet.

Haul from the W**d Underground free plant and seed swap n sesh

Here’s a few local super rad, accessible and inclusive social clubs worth checking out.

• El Sereno Social Club, sharing what’s good in El Sereno, a neighborhood in Northeast, plus community events likea summer jazz series, vintage flea markets, native garden tour, Gay Taco Tuesday, filmmaker and mom meetups, supper clubs, and more. Hosted by Andrew Rayas. | Northeast Los Angeles

• Jiji’s Jazz Club, live jazz and open jam sessions hosted by Tída Norasingh. Every last Wednesday at The Resident. | Downtown Los Angeles

• Herb Club LA, reconnect with nature, native plants, bioregional herbalism, founded and hosted by Andrea Jimenez. | Los Angeles

• Mogu Magu, a culture, food, and c*nn*bis collective with monthly gatherings inspired by the Daoist hemp goddess of longevity. Co-hosted by Chef Wendy Zeng and Christina W. | Northeast Los Angeles

• W**d Underground, home grow and gardening enthusiasts, meetups, resource sharing, and community Discord channel. Co-hosted by Willy Christie and Christina W. | Los Angeles

• Mahjong Underground and East Never Loses (hosted by Angie QQ), mahjong playing and learning clubs. | Los Angeles

• Chillspaces, a place to amplify your chill hosted by Geraldine Mae Cueva, the chillanthropist and Pinay Fresh podcast host. | Los Angeles

• Bud & Blossom Society, a garden club with a secret stash. Lazy luxury for the lit and like-minded. | Grass Valley, Northern California

Any other good social clubs we should check out? Share it with us and drop it in the comments!

---

Upcoming Events

• 6/30 – Elevated Sound Bath, guided meditation and sound bowl journey with Sacred Sounds By Devon, hosted by THCnTecho | Los Angeles

• 7/3-6 – Pink Jesus Ice Cream Socials (multiple dates + locations) get a taste of the Humphy Slocombe x Sonoma Hills Farm Pink Jesus ice and visit with one of my favorite c*nn*bis farms. Say hi to Joyce at High Seas in Costa Mesa, Erba in West LA, Rise in Pasadena, Xzhibit in Bel Air, The Woods West Hollywood, and Sespe Creek in Ojai | Los Angeles // Orange County // Ojai

• 7/4 – Emotional Release Walk, a healing, peaceful FREE walk, talk, and create together hosted by CannaBossBabe Ishqa Hillman | Long Beach

• 7/4 - Red, White & Blue Dream, live music along with 6 craft, family-run c*nn*bis farms hosted by Blue Dream Studios. | South Los Angeles

• 7/5 – Ice Cream Social, infused ice cream and fresh baked cookies hosted by Big Pete’s at The Artist Tree Lounge. No ticket required! | West Hollywood

• 7/6 + 8/3 + 9/7 – Manila Sound, a Filipino American Backyard Disco with Filipino food, original Pilipino music, and popup vendors at Benny Boy Brewing | East Los Angeles

• 7/10 – Talk Terpy to Me, a 710 celebration and meet and greet with Christina W. and Chef Wendy Zeng, hosted by Grown Womxn Good W**d. | Sacramento

• 7/11-27 – California State Fair Cannabis Oasis, on-site sales and consumption this year will be at state fair in the former Raging Waters park. CA Cannabis Awards show will be on July 12 (I’m presenting an award!). Meet you there next to the funnel cake cart? | Sacramento

• 7/20 - Latin Jazz at the Park, free outdoor concert at El Sereno Park featuring live set from Yocoya hosted by El Sereno Social Club. Bring a blanket, maybe a bottle of wine. | East Los Angeles

---

Big healthy c*nn*bis plant growing next to squash plants

Gardening Club

How are your plants doing? At this stage, your plants should be in veg state. Growing big, leafy fan leaves, getting bushy and taller by the day. My other plants in the back garden with lots of all day sun are looking good.

My mom’s plants are alive! Her plants, and two of mine, started flowering early and are sprouting one and three leaves (see photo below). It’s not getting the correct sunlight and/or there is a light at night that is messing up its natural cycle and making it flower early. But since we’re growing for fun and not for optimal harvest, it’s okay, we’re going to let them continue to see what happens.

Maintenance During Veg Stage

From July through August, deep water about once a week or more frequently during high, extreme temperatures about 90 degrees F. Allow the soil to fully dry out between watering, it can handle being dry for a couple days. If leaves start to droop slightly, it’s thirsty. If the plant wilts and falls over, it’s overwatered.

Keep an eye out for any potential pests like grasshoppers, gophers, or mites that might snack on your plants. If you notice your plants start to grow little flower buds that hang downwards at the “v” on the stem, you might have a male plant.

Move your male plant away from the female plants, either indoors and keep as an ornamental house plant. You can still eat the leaves but unless you want to make seeds, pull out the males and compost them.

This is NOT what your plants should look like. These two plants are not getting adequate light. You’ll see the single leaf on the left, and three leaf on the right.

---

Happy gardening friends!

XOXO, Christina W.