The Sparkle Queen of Atlanta, Sarah Mincher
When you ask someone to be interviewed, and they answer, “SPARKLE PUMP,” you know you’re in for an interesting conversation. This playful answer was given to us by famed Atlanta socialite Sarah Mincher. A party planner, successful blogger and glitter enthusiast, Sarah Mincher has made a name for herself in the Atlanta social scene by throwing uniquely elegant soirees, and providing witty commentary for female ATLiens. Her blog, Sorry Darlin, has seen huge success since its inception and continues to grow with each bubbly anecdote. Covering everything from pop culture to lip gloss, her enthusiasm, positivity and uniquely witty writing style has won her the adoration of Atlanta.
This same energy can be found in her success as a party planner. Her attention to detail and focus on creating a communal experience, produces the perfect coalescence of fun and entertainment. Throwing beer in a bucket and putting on your Carlie Rae Jepsen playlist is technically a party…What Sarah throws, is the equivalent of a public neighborhood bloc party. An event where quality outweighs quantity, and everyone leaves with a yearning for more.
Meeting at Noni’s off Edgewood (get the Castro when you go!), Sarah immediately greeted us with the warm embrace you would expect from your great aunt Irene. Her approachability and talent for making people feel welcome was immediate and engrossing. I was impressed with her unabashedly upbeat personality and candidness. It evoked the sense that her blog persona and her offline persona are one in the same, giving her writing an even more intimate semblance. Throughout the interview she never hesitated, nor retracted her answer to any question. What you see is what you get, and for us, it was exactly what we were hoping for.
AA: How did a political science major from Kennesaw state end up being one of Atlanta’s elite socialites?
Sarah: “I initially wanted to pursue a law degree. I always had a passion to fight for the underdog and fight against social injustice. At the same time, I also had a passion for community organizing, and towards the end of college I started getting involved in events and nightlife and realized I had a skill/passion for it. I may still go back for to pursue a law degree, but for now I think it is better to follow my passion.”
AA: Do you think your education factors into what you do now?
Sarah: “Politics is just interaction between two different parties. So in that respect I still use my knowledge from college in planning events. And then I can also say like, ‘Yeah I have a degree, I can party, I’m not a dumbass…”
AA: What prompted you start the Sorry Darlin blog? Was it a general interest in blogging, or was there a particular event that sparked this?
Sarah: “I studied abroad in England during college and got really inspired by the event scene, some of the blogs and the overall sense of community. Years later when I moved back I got into this really serious relationship for a year, and we ended up breaking up. As we were breaking up I said, ‘Sorry Darlin, I want to be myself!’ And that just stuck with me. You should be your own sparkly self and don’t conform to social norms. After that I started helping my friends plan and organize events and once I realized people were enjoying my ideas, I just kind of organically fell into it. I felt then, and still do today, that most events are marketed towards men, when really they should be marketed towards women. Because guys will always go where girls are (100% accurate), but girls care. They care about the venue, door fee, flyers, music. One of my goals for the blog, and the events, is to make it female friendly. I just want girls, even if I don’t know them, to feel comfortable there and have a great night out with their friends. And guys will follow…”
AA: Seeing as this is a blog about the finer points in Atlanta. Where is your favorite ATL spot?
Sarah: “The Virginia Highlands is one because they have great shopping and restaurants. Whenever I have friends in town I always take them there. I love the Sound Table and the space they opened up right next to it, Space 2. I just love some of the things that are going on in the city…I like 529 and also the Earl. It’s a great place to see a band and sit in a booth and catch up with my girls. But there is a time and a place for everywhere. I’m not the type of person to say I will never go to a certain area. But Little 5 and East Atlanta…those are my stomping grounds.”
AA: What is your favorite ATL spot to eat?
Sarah: “The Graveyard. Their sweet potato fries, and Twisted Turkey sandwich are my favorite. I also like Holy Taco…They have a chicken heart taco! I tried it once, and it’s like meat gushers. I counted them and there were 7 hearts in my taco. And then I started thinking about 7 chickens dying and I was depressed for almost an entire day. But besides that they have really good tacos and it is definitely one my favorite places to go.”
AA: I’m sure in your endeavors you get hit on quite a bit by a male admirers. What is the best/worst pick up line you have ever heard when you were out?
Sarah: “The best is when somebody tells me they like my writing or my work. That is always flattering. The worst…(hesitating as if there has been quite a few) Once a guy told me that I looked like a prettier version of Sarah Mincher. I was like, I am Sarah Mincher…ASSHOLE! But truth is girls never really get tired of being hit on. We would rather be approached by guys then nothing at all. But I am always good about saying, I’ll be right back, and then never coming back…”
AA: What sort of vibe you are planning these events?
Sarah: “I am now focused more on quality over quantity. Before I was doing events all the time, but now I try and just do one awesome event every 4-6 weeks. I just want them to be really fun dance parties where people can still talk over the music. I try and have something extra at all of them, like food, or a performer. For a long time I had a cotton candy vendor at all the events. I have had drag shows and burlesque at some of them, I’ve even had some mini improv shows at some of them. Just something more than cheap drinks and one DJ. Girls notice these types of things and I think it gives them some incentive to come back. I just want people to come and have fun and make sure none of it to come across as obnoxious.”
AA: If you were deserted on a remote island, what is the one album would you take with you?
Sarah: “Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt, because that my anthem growing up. It was one of the first things I ever purchased myself and it just brings back a lot of good childhood memories. You know there are just albums that you relate to, and I just related to her. She was going through a break up and she was just a role model. And I still listen to it when I’m in a bad mood or just trying to get amped up!”
AA: If you could fight anyone in the world, who would it be?
Sarah: “Ramona from The Real Housewives of New York. I have never been so annoyed by anyone on television in my life! Girls will know what I am talking about.”
AA: If you were a circus performer, what act would you perform and why?
Sarah: “I would be the girl who rode horses and did all types of tricks. They always get to wear really sparkly outfits and I have always loved horses. Or the lion tamer, because they wear really cool hats. Maybe if I could just morph them all into one ensemble that would be great. Then I could just pull it all into one act with a monkey on my back while I breathe fire. Maybe the bearded lady too…I would be the whole circus!”
AA: What can we expect next from Sarah Mincher and Sorry Darlin?
Sarah: “The Miss EAV Pageant on August 13th at the Graveyard. I am toying with the idea of doing an adult prom sometime in October. I have had a lot of people say, Sarah, you should do a serious, real kitchy prom. I am also working on a book that will be a free downloadable book once I’m done at the end of October. My working title is, Things Not to Do On Facebook and Other Things Your Mom Would Have Told You if She Grew Up With Twitter. Its all about social networking for females.”
“But as I get older, really my passion is writing and that is what I am focused on right now. I love doing events, but at some point you have to ask yourself what lasting impact am I having? So writing is really what the brand is evolving towards. I still want to sponsor events and be involved in that, but I am kind of getting off the nightlife scene. I just want a new challenge in my life.”
AA: If you could see into the future, where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Sarah: “I see myself still being in Atlanta with a book published. Maybe a pet??? I haven’t had a pet or a boyfriend in so many years! I’m working on some commitment issues right now…Hopefully I might have some cats. I used to have three separate cats, but I had to get rid of them because I cannot handle it. Ya know, they are always starring at you and I’m like, what do you want??? Actually, maybe a dog because you get more out of them. I never really felt gratified with cats, or fulfilled as a pet owner. I swear there is a cat conspiracy out against me. Cats give me a self esteem complex.”
AA: If you could summarize your life in one word, what would it be?
Sarah: “Adventurous! I’m always active and trying to do things that I could potentially write about. I’m independent and am always on my own little adventure. I definitely have an adventurous spirit.”
AA: What is the one thing you hope fans take away from Sorry Darlin?
Sarah: “Positivity and female empowerment. In the future my writing will switch more towards self worth and life fulfillment. I just want it to be an upbeat and positive part of the Atlanta internet. I don’t want to be another negative site online. I would like to make a girl’s day a little bit better, or maybe just a little sillier. I just want to be a nice little corner of the internet for girls.”
AA: In the future when you are older and the thrill of the party is gone, where would you retire and how would you spend your time?
Sarah: “Well, I would have one place in the city for sure. Then probably a farm somewhere, with horses! I love the city, but I actually feel more at home away from the city. Yes, definitely a large farm with horses and other animals. But no cats! They have it out for me…it’s something in the cat community. And family will always remain the most important thing in my life.”
Sarah’s passion and drive for her endeavors was clearly evident throughout the entire interview. She answered each question with the cool confidence of strong empowered woman. I noticed afterwards that throughout the interview, Sarah made no mention of money or a paycheck she had received from her efforts. The attention was always attentively on building a sense of community and creating an atmosphere of ease and entertainment.
I was also struck by her focus on providing an outlet for the female population in Atlanta. In a cultural scene where many aspects are geared towards men, she has made it her mission to facilitate a comfortable environment for women. I loved her quote of Sorry Darlin being a, “Nice little corner of the internet for girls.” This I felt struck at the core of what she is trying to accomplish in all of her endeavors. And even though it is geared towards females, there is plenty of room for guys to learn from her candidness.
In the end I was most impressed with her positive, upbeat personality, and unwillingness to compromise with her overall vision. We are very excited to see what Sarah Mincher has in store for the future through both her party planning and her writing. In the future, I can see her popularity growing. But no matter how many magazine covers she will grace, she will still embody that same passion for creativity, community and unwavering desire for all things that sparkle
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