Two local women entrepreneurs joined forces to host a community gathering that blended mindfulness, creativity, and philanthropy.
The Sip & Sound: Holiday Mindful Mixer, held on Saturday, November 16 at The Portal in downtown Utica’s Bagg’s Square, raised funds for the Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. (CFLR) — an organization dedicated to supporting recovery, prevention, and resilience across Central New York.
The evening featured Cristi Kaido, founder of The Mindful Mixer and author of a new holiday recipe book designed to offer celebratory, alcohol-free alternatives during the holiday season. Kaido led guests through a mindful mocktail demonstration and sipping experience before Chelan Vanno, founder of The Portal, guided participants into a restorative sound journey with gong and meditative instruments.
A portion of every $50 ticket — along with proceeds from book sales ($360) — was donated to CFLR, supporting its mission to build a community of recovery and wellness.
“Cristi’s vision for alcohol-free celebration perfectly aligned with The Portal’s mission of creating spaces where people can connect more deeply to themselves, each other, and the community,” said Vanno. “Together, we wanted to show that mindfulness and joy can coexist beautifully during the holidays.”
“This collaboration was about conscious celebration,” Kaido added. “By bringing
mindfulness to something as simple as a drink, we remind people that connection
and presence are the real ingredients of joy.”
CFLR CEO, Cassandra Sheets shared, “We’re so grateful for this collaboration and for The
Portal’s continued efforts to bring wellness-centered experiences into our community.”
