Soft Bar + Cafe, Greenpoint’s non-alcoholic venue concept by “Summer House” star Carl Radke, will host a spring equinox–themed dance party on March 30, marking the launch of a new nighttime event series titled “Soft Beats.”
Guest DJ Maddi Reese of Bravo’s “Southern Hospitality” is set to open the inaugural event.
Radke, who opened Soft Bar in September 2025 as part of his sobriety journey, told Brooklyn Paper the series aims to expand the venue’s programming into the evening hours.
“We’re going to be doing these live, fun DJ sets, but the whole point is just to bring the community together and create a space for people to connect,” Radke said. “We really haven’t done much nighttime programming at Soft Bar.”
Reese, who is also sober, has been open about her journey and has performed at venues across the country.
With warmer weather approaching, Radke said the timing felt right to introduce the new series.
“I think a lot of people in this neighborhood want to come out at night, especially as it gets warmer,” he said. “They want to dance, and they want to meet people.”
He added that while the venue has focused on daytime and regular service since opening, the new programming is intended to bring an alcohol-free nightlife option to the neighborhood. The event will feature the space’s variety of soft cocktails and pickleback shots from Rally Pickle Juice for “vibes without the hangover.”
“We’ve been open for regular service, but we wanted to bring some nightlife to the neighborhood and create a fun, alcohol-free space for dancing,” Radke said. “We’re just hoping people come out and have a good time.”
Non-alcoholic nightlife concepts like Soft Bar + Cafe are part of a growing shift in the city’s social scene, as younger drinkers and sober-curious consumers look for alternatives to traditional bars. Radke previously told Brooklyn Paper that the “sober-curious” movement has been gaining momentum, with Gen Z drinking less than previous generations and more venues expanding mocktail menus or opening alcohol-free spaces altogether.
Establishments across New York have begun dedicating full drink lists to spirit-free options, reflecting what Radke described as a wider change in how people socialize — one where “people still want the experience of going out … it just doesn’t always have to have alcohol in it.”
“Soft Beats” will take place every Friday night from 9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. at Soft Bar + Cafe, located at 200 Banker St. in Greenpoint.
