She’s serving some of mother’s little helper.
The owner of a Prospect Lefferts Gardens brewery welcomes pregnant women and new mothers to her monthly “Bumpin’ Ain’t Easy” party, happening next on Aug. 23, where she will pour non-alcoholic cocktails that actually help with breastfeeding.
Island to Island Brewery and House of Juice owner Danii Oliver, who popped out her second child just over two weeks ago, said she wants to offer expectant and new mothers a place to let loose because she knows what it feels like to be cooped up at home.
“It’s something that I wanted to do for a very long time,” she said. “Back a few years ago when I was pregnant for the first time, I found it difficult to not be able to go out and go out healthy at the same time.”
Traditional bars and clubs often bar pregnant women or anyone with kids, making moms feel ostracized, said Oliver. She wanted to provide a safe space where they could enjoy a night out while still staying healthy.
“I wanted to create space to allow women to get out, get dressed, feel good about themselves and connect with other people,” she said.
The Aug. 23 party, the fourth Oliver has hosted at her Rogers Avenue taproom, is likely to be even more bumpin’, because August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month, and local doulas and midwives have publicized the event, she said.
“We’ve gotten a lot of feedback, it’s the most social media-shared event that we’ve ever hosted,” said Oliver. “I suspect it will be even more successful than the last.”
The “Bumpin’ Ain’t Easy” drinks menu includes concoctions that help mom and baby stay healthy, including a banana-based smoothie with yeast and vitamins that are known to boost lactation. Other mocktails are made with pregnancy superfoods like fenugreek, brewer’s yeast, and spirulina, which all help with lactation and milk letdown, said Oliver.
And if a new mama wants a splash of rum in her drink, Oliver has plenty behind the bar.
“Women have the choice to do what’s best for them. It’s a personal choice, whether a mama wants to have a drink or not,” said Oliver. “We don’t judge.”
The afternoon is focused on moms, but the guest list is open to everyone, said Oliver.
“A lot of men have been extremely interested in the party too,” she said. “They feel the frustration of women wanting to go out, and when I tell guys about it they immediately save the date.”
The monthly parties give Oliver an opportunity to mingle with new moms and to see some of their little ones grow up.
“We have honorary babies who have been customers since birth,” said Oliver. “I’m really excited that it’s continuing, and is well accepted by the community. I will continue to host them regularly, especially now that I’m a new mama.”
Bumpin Ain’t Easy at Island to Island Taproom [642 Rogers Ave. between Parkside and Clarkson avenues in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, (646) 769–0490, www.islan
