It’s no secret that sober curiosity has been a buzzing topic in recent years. We see it first-hand right here in Hudson County where dozens of bars and restaurants serve up a variety of mocktails and non-alcoholic options. As many people rethink the role substances play in their lives and opt for a healthier lifestyle, the process can feel isolating. We sat down with Annie Ferro, founder of the Sober Curious Community here in Hoboken to get the scoop on the ever-growing sober curious scene. Read on to learn more about the Sober Curious Community here in Hudson County, New Jersey.
Photo Credit: Annie Ferro
How it Started
On March 4th, 2025 Hoboken resident, Annie Ferro virtually sat down with us (on her seven-year sobriety anniversary, in fact) to tell us the story of how it all began, her creation of the Sober Curious Community, that is. Annie started this journey at the age of 25. She was in the middle of a busy phase of her life as she was in the middle of nursing school while simultaneously working in the high-stress restaurant industry when she had a bit of an awakening. After some health issues and the general struggle of being a busy 25-year-old, she began to reach clarity that alcohol was no longer serving her.
Photo Credit: Annie Ferro
As an extroverted, social person, Annie felt like drinking was just a casual go-to social lubricant that was no longer feeling the way it used to. She noted that while this was never a problem, per se, she caught herself in the throws of a back-and-forth cycle of drinking, feeling like absolute you-know-what, and constantly balancing on and off moderation leaving her in a cycle of shame. Annie had been monitoring her own feelings, mentally and physically and while no one had to intervene, Annie wanted to stop for herself.
Read More: Alcohol-Free Activities in Hoboken + Jersey City
Annie shared that this process was difficult and her sober curiosity led her to sit in on a handful of AA meetings where she was able to see things from new perspectives and listen to others’ experiences (though to Annie felt it a little too “black-and-white” noticing the grey area she, herself fit into). This would later inspire Annie to create her own group, the Sober Curious Community, where ending the cycle of drinking wasn’t met with shame or focusing on having a “problem” but by creating a safe space for people to explore life without substances.
Annie candidly told HG that as she settled into her sobriety, she began to be vocal about it on social media, and sure enough, the messages came pouring in. Friends and people from her hometown began reaching out in agreement with similar intrigue. “They were all over the repetitive cycle/bad habit yet still wanted to be social,” Annie said. Through these conversations, she found that so many people felt the same: realizing that drinking was no longer serving them, but for some reason, couldn’t cut down on it — even though they wanted to.
As time went on, people began to confide in Annie with similar experiences. She used to think to herself: “I wish I could just get all of these people in a room together to show them that they all feel the same.” Annie continued to work hard as a nurse and even earned her health coach certification but in the midst of it all, she still wanted to do something more to connect her fellow sober-curious friends and colleagues. After some serious talks with a friend about starting her own sober curious support group, the lightbulb went off and she knew it was time to make this vision a reality. It was then that the Sober Curious Community was born in July of 2024.
About The Sober Curious Community
Photo Credit: Annie Ferro
Annie started the Sober Curious Community with one clear mission: normalizing sobriety. She wanted to create a safe space that emphasizes there is nothing wrong with someone who wants to stop drinking. She noted that people often think that there needs to be a bad, traumatic event, or serious problem to be sober, but that is simply not the case. People can stop drinking just because it doesn’t serve them, still be social, and manage the pressure to drink. Shame free.
The Sober Curious Community meets every Wednesday via Zoom at 8PM ET. The meetings are led by Annie and feature discussions of various topics such as dating, navigating the holidays, identifying values, and how substances may be preventing you from aligning with those values. Together, the group shares stories and brainstorms scenarios to help members feel more prepared when in an alcohol-centric scenario. Annie also noted that this group does not only have to be for alcohol but other substances too.
The group has guest speakers who share their journeys about drinking more intentionally, less, or not at all with a wide variety of experiences. Meeting attendees are for anyone and everyone, at any point in their journeys. Annie says the meetings are similar to group coaching mixed with a little bit of the 12-step structure. Most importantly, Annie emphasizes that everything about the Sober Curious Community remains anonymous and is a completely private space, no questions asked.
Another important element and message of the Sober Curious Community hones in on the fact that just because someone stops drinking does not mean they can’t do the same activities they used to do. Annie, herself even said she still enjoys going to breweries and wineries with her friends, it’s just a matter of practice, and learning that life doesn’t have to be dull or any less exciting because you get sober. She is even starting to take the Sober Curious Community out on the town, hosting events like mocktail hours, DJ sets, fitness sessions, and other small-scale meet-ups that don’t have to involve alcohol. Normalizing that those who choose not to drink do not need to be or feel excluded.
See More: Where to Get Mocktails in Essex County, New Jersey
Within the teachings of Annie’s gatherings, she prides the process on being designed to build self-esteem and confidence to stand in your own skin and body and say “I don’t drink and it’s ok and I’m not going to make someone else feel like something is wrong with me.” Ultimately, the Sober Curious Community is something Annie wishes she had for herself back in the day — which we think is the ultimate act of paying it forward to the community.
To keep up with all the group and learn more about upcoming events, follow @sobercuriouscommuntiyy on Instagram. People can also connect with Annie directly at @_anniepharaoh.
*It is important to note that the Sober Curious Community is not the equivalent of a detox program. If you or someone you know needs to seek help contact SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration national hotline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Are the Direct Energy Refunds Legit? We Asked the City of Hoboken + PSEG
Early spring sun is thawing much of Hoboken, but the impacts of a cold winter are still being felt by several residents around town. Well, for some, it wasn’t even the effects of a cold winter; it was simply being overcharged by their electricity provider. At the start of 2025, locals were overcharged due to a billing error from a previous electricity provider. Now, The Hoboken Girl learned residents in Hoboken and the rest of New Jersey should expect higher energy bills this summer. Read on to learn about what’s behind the increase in costs and how to make sure your bills are calculated correctly.
The Hoboken Renewable Energy Program
City Hall previously shared that The Hoboken Renewable Energy Program would help the environment, and possibly lower energy costs for residents. It’s part of the City’s goal of reaching net-zero energy by 2030, as established by Hoboken’s Climate Action Plan. Through this program, PSE&G still distributes electricity to Hoboken customers, but residents buy the electricity supply through the Renewable Energy Program. Residents have the option to choose to have 100% of their electricity derived from renewable sources.
As of the last electricity auction on August 21st, 2024, Hoboken reported the Standard Offering of 20% additional renewable energy was less expensive than the Basic Generation Service with PSE&G by 2.56 cents/kWh. That does not include the additional 20% of renewable energy. According to the City’s findings, the average resident enrolled in the Standard Offering program would be paying about $12 less per month. However, prices are subject to change.
Read More: Is a Starbucks Reserve Coming to Uptown Hoboken?
This program started in March 2022. A contract with IDT Energy was signed and the new contract term begins with residents’ meter reads in December 2024 and ends with meter reads after October 2026, per the program’s website. Hoboken residents can opt in or out of the program online, or even switch between the different renewable energy options available through the program.
With this program, Hoboken created a so-called buying pool for electricity suppliers. Through this buying pool, residents could get lower energy supply prices from a third-party supplier compared to what PSE&G currently charges. The only change the resident sees is with the monthly bill. There is no change in service and PSE&G continues to, “provide electricity through the same wires, maintain the energy infrastructure, and respond to emergencies.”
Billing Issues
In January 2025, members of Hoboken City Council shared they received several complaints from locals about high energy bills. Clean energy provider IDT Energy has just started providing services to Hoboken residents beginning with meter reads in December 2024. The contract with IDT Energy ends with meter reads after October 2026.
“Hoboken Residents have reached out about super high bills from 3rd party electric suppliers,” Councilman Paul Presinzano shared on Threads on January 13th, 2025. The image showed a bill that compared the $299.85 cost to the PSE&G cost that would be $206.76.
In a newsletter posted on January 15th, 2025, Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher asked if anyone who opted into Hoboken’s third-party renewable energy program got a high PSE&G bill. Tiffanie found many residents were charged higher rates, up to 21.5 cents/kWh or more, despite being enrolled in the plan with locked-in rates.
“IDT Energy attributed this to a ‘system error’ and so far is issuing refunds by check to those who have reached out,” Tiffanie writes. “Some residents previously on Direct Energy (the prior supplier) weren’t switched to IDT Energy, leaving them charged at Direct Energy’s higher rates. Others who opted into the Basic Plan were incorrectly charged Standard Plan rates or higher.”
A spokesperson for the City of Hoboken told Patch Hoboken, "The city recently became aware of December overbilling of certain residents during the transition period from Direct Energy to our new clean energy provider IDT Energy Services. Direct Energy, the City's previous energy provider, is conducting an audit, contacting affected residents via letter, and issuing refunds to any residents who were affected by the end of the month. According to Direct Energy, the average overbilling was approximately $23. Residents will not be contacted by phone, email, or in person and will only be contacted via letter. If you believe your account was overbilled, please contact Direct Energy 1-866-968-8065 or email aggregationsupport@NRG.com."
HG received a statement from the City of Hoboken, saying “The City is aware of previous concerns regarding energy bills…Direct Energy, the City’s old energy provider, has already issued refund checks following a previous billing error that was since resolved.”
Energy Supply Costs Increasing in 2025
While some receive billing errors at the start of 2025, energy costs could be going up for the entire state of New Jersey later this year. On February 12th, 2025, the State Board of Public Utilities announced the results of the State’s 24th annual electricity auction for Basic Generation Service (BGS). It will result in higher costs for electricity supplied to “most residents and small and/or medium-sized businesses” by NJ’s four regulated Electric Distribution Companies (EDCs). Those four companies are Atlantic City Electric, JCP&L, PSE&G, and Rockland Electric Company. The annual auction determines the cost of electricity for most New Jersey residents and many businesses for a year-long period starting June 1st, 2025, per the State.
Starting in June 2025, the average monthly energy bill is projected to increase between 17% and 20% depending on the service area, according to the Board of Public Utilities. In the press release, the NJBPU shared: “The state’s four regulated EDCs do not earn a profit on the cost of the electric supply secured in the auctions. These costs are passed through directly to ratepayers.” The breakdown of those costs can be found online.
“While energy prices are rising statewide, Hoboken residents enrolled in the City’s Renewable Energy Program continue to benefit from stable, lower rates,” said Marilyn Baer, a spokeswoman for the City of Hoboken. “The City’s current program, now with IDT Energy, currently provides approximately an 18% savings on supply costs for those enrolled in the Standard Offering. Additionally, the program’s rate is fixed through October 2026, ensuring long-term price stability for residents.”
A spokesperson for PSE&G told HG, “We work hard to keep customer bills as low as possible while providing safe, reliable affordable energy. For example, we manage project costs, negotiate to get the best available price on goods and services, and plan in advance to pay for future needs at today’s prices.”
How To Make Sure Your Energy Bills Are Correct
If you are a PSE&G customer and notice your energy bills are higher than normal, contact PSE&G. You can call 1-800-436-PSEG (7734), log into your account online, visit a customer service center, or visit the website pseg.com.
When it comes to saving energy, there are a few ways to get started. Sealing doors and windows, covering window air conditioning units when not in use, and using a smart thermostat are some of the ways PSE&G suggests saving energy. The company also has home energy assessments, rebates, and discounts to help its customers save both energy and money.
See More: North 2 Shore Festival 2025 Dates Announced
Follow @thehobokengirl on Instagram + TikTok to stay in the know with all of the local news, sign up for our weekly newsletter here, and check out our events calendar.
