For many adults, the workweek may feel like one long countdown to the weekend.
But for the members of School Night Social Club, a Tulsa-based community group built around early-evening crafts, karaoke and service projects, a night out with friends no longer has to wait until Friday to be both fun and “responsible.”
Founded by Jacqueline “Jackiez” Gonzalez, School Night Social Club celebrated its first anniversary Aug. 26 at the Hunt Club with Hot Glue Happy Hour, one of the club’s signature events centered around arts and crafts.
Gonzalez started the group last year while looking for more ways to connect with people during the week, with the name itself growing from the familiar disbelief that sometimes greets plans Monday through Thursday: “What, on a school night?”
“I think a lot of people associate going out on a weeknight (with) the idea that it has to be a rowdy evening,” Gonzalez said. “When really it can be a positive experience and still get you in bed by 10 p.m.”
Gonzalez, who operated a makerspace in Boston before moving to Tulsa in 2019, keeps a community craft table stocked with free supplies, such as paint, coloring pages, bracelet making supplies and whatever else she has accumulated throughout the month. Attendees can also bring their own projects or simply sit down and make something from what is available.
The activities, she said, are meant to be approachable and give people a chance to work with their hands while leaving plenty of room for conversation. It was also important to Gonzalez that drinking not be at the center of the gathering.
“I was kind of over the events that are just about sitting around with alcohol and a charcuterie board,” she said. “I just really wanted to center other activities.”
Some gatherings have also involved making sandwiches for organizations like Tulsa Food Not Bombs or helping a local cat rescue. In December, attendees made cards thanking Downtown Tulsa Partnership ambassadors and staff.
Gonzalez said those service events can be especially useful for people who want to contribute to their community but may not have the time to commit to a regular volunteer schedule.
One such person was attendee Nick Rethford, who said he first joined School Night Social Club through a volunteer event earlier this year. Since then, he said the gatherings have expanded his friend group and introduced him to people involved with other organizations across Tulsa.
“Everyone’s so inclusive and so welcoming,” he said. “I’ve gained resources, but I have also met tons of new people.”
The anniversary gathering also featured Red Dirt Relief Fund, an Oklahoma nonprofit that provides emergency financial assistance to music creators facing accidents, injuries or other crises that prevent them from working.
Executive Director Katie Dale said the organization wanted to help support the club and give some of their old merchandise a second life through upcycling.
“People are here doing crafty things, so we thought we’d join in,” Dale said. “It’s a happy place to be.”
As School Night Social Club enters its second year, Gonzalez said she hopes to continue expanding its service projects while keeping gatherings accessible and easy to drop into.
“We don’t have to just live for the weekend,” Gonzalez said.
Sometimes, it turns out, there’s still plenty of life left on a Wednesday night.
Finding third places in Tulsa
This story is part of the Tulsa Flyer’s series on third places around the Tulsa metro — spaces and groups where people are creating community outside of home and work. Help us write more stories on the third places that already exist and where they should be by filling out the form below.
Gabriella Bock is a Tulsa Documenter and freelance contributor to Tulsa Flyer.
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