When Sharonda and Dwight Ware moved from Washington, D.C., to Huntsville seven years ago, they quickly discovered there was plenty to do in their new city.

Finding it all was another matter.

Concerts might be on one website, comedy shows somewhere else, and some of the best events were discovered the old-fashioned way: somebody knew somebody who knew what was happening.

So the couple, together for 30 years and married for 26, decided to create the resource they wished they had.

Chocolate Rocket City began as a website for finding events centered around Black music and culture and has since grown into a social platform built around a bigger mission: helping people find their place in Huntsville.

“It’s a platform that consists of four channels,” Sharonda told 256 Today. “The channels are social media, podcasts, in-person events and the website.”

And the name?

The Wares brought a little of their old home to their new one.

“We moved here from Washington, D.C., which was known as Chocolate City, and then we moved to Rocket City,” Sharonda said. “So we combined the two names and created Chocolate Rocket City.”

Finding your people

Sharonda’s work with the FBI brought the family to Huntsville. With three children, the Wares found plenty of resources for family activities, but discovering the R&B, hip-hop, jazz, comedy and other events they enjoyed required more digging.

Then friends started asking the inevitable question: Why didn’t you tell me about that?

Chocolate Rocket City became the answer.

But the Wares soon realized finding something to do was only part of the challenge, particularly for newcomers who hadn’t yet found their circle.

“What if you can’t get word of mouth because you don’t know anybody yet?” Sharonda said. “How do you start meeting people?”

That question led Chocolate Rocket City beyond simply promoting events and into hosting them.

The Wares held their first coed happy hour in December 2023 and began building gatherings around something simple: actually meeting the other people in the room.

Their events include name tags and some type of introduction or icebreaker designed to get people talking rather than simply occupying the same space.

For the Wares, that’s an important distinction.

“I’m sad when I hear people say they’ve been here three years and they don’t have any friends,” Sharonda said. “That’s you going to work, coming home. That is not a full life.”

‘The power in showing up’

The couple said Huntsville’s cultural offerings have grown alongside the city, pointing to new music initiatives, live performances and a growing collection of entertainment venues.

But they believe there is still work to do at the individual level to help newcomers break through established social circles.

“We want people to come out and we want them to show up,” Dwight said. “We believe that there is a power in showing up.”

After all, the person at the next table could become a friend, client, mentor or something more.

“You don’t know who you’re going to meet,” they said. “You don’t know if you’re going to meet your next mentor, your next client, your next spouse.”

Their “Every Ware We Go” podcast has extended that mission, introducing listeners to Huntsville business owners, community leaders and others shaping the city.

And what are the Wares hearing from them?

“Excitement,” Dwight said.

As Huntsville attracts companies and workers from around the country, the Wares believe creating a community where those newcomers want to stay is increasingly important.

“You can have the best job, you could be making the best money,” Sharonda said. “But if you don’t have a community, if you don’t have any social life, you may not want to stay.”

Big experiences, Rocket City-sized

One thing the Wares particularly appreciate about Huntsville is its size.

After living in Washington, they enjoy being able to see nationally known musicians and comedians in venues where the performers may be only feet away.

“I like the intimacy of the city,” Dwight said.

They pointed to Campus 805, Stovehouse, Lowe Mill and Levity Live among the places where they’ve found the kind of experiences that can be much harder, and more expensive, to access in larger cities.

“People always talk about what they don’t have and they don’t appreciate what they do,” Sharonda said. “I’m from New York, born and raised, lived in D.C. for 20 years. I’ve seen where you can have the whole world but not be able to ever go out because you’re always commuting and you’re always working and you’re always tired.”

Their advice for Huntsville newcomers is appropriately uncomplicated: Get out of the house.

“If you want to meet people, you need to go outside,” Sharonda said. “You have to be in a place, in a space, and be willing to speak to people.”

Try meeting one or two new people each time. Talk about the event, the food, the weather or whatever else provides an opening.

“Strangers aren’t strangers anymore once you talk to them,” she said.

And while Chocolate Rocket City intentionally highlights Black culture, the Wares are equally intentional about making clear who is invited.

Everyone.

“We welcome everyone,” Dwight said, “because chocolate comes in all flavors.”

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