🍬 Sugary Scoop: Empathy Project

Welcome to the Sugary Newsletter by yours truly.  🎉 😊

🍬The Scoop 🍬

• WHAT’S NEW?

• THE SUGARY EFFECT

  • PAST EVENTS

• UPCOMING EVENTS

• AND DON’T SAY I DIDN’T TELL YOU ABOUT…

• ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

WHAT’S NEW?

With a heart full of excitement (and some butterflies, truth be told), I am elated to share the blossoming of a seed sown three years ago during the pandemic -

The Empathy Project: A Heartfelt Movement from Sugary with Love

Those of you who've been with me on this journey might recognize the word empathy from the T-shirt I frequently wear. That singular word embodies the compassion, perspective, and understanding that I felt was sorely missing in our conversations during the 2020 elections and I had an idea to change things for the better.

From the wise words of Simon Sinek,

It's with this spirit that I chose the word "empathy." Its simplicity resonated. It's meaning profound.

The overwhelming response to those T-shirts in 2020 - selling out 300 of them within a week - showed me that I wasn't alone in this sentiment. This wasn't just a small endeavor. It resonated on a larger scale, hinting at the possibility of evolving into a movement centered around empathy.

But how does one encourage empathy without imposing a particular viewpoint or cause? Empathy thrives in spaces of genuine interaction, where we can understand without being forced to align.

Taking a nuanced approach, I had an epiphany: the word “empathy” has seven letters. Why not collaborate with seven unique artists, each designing an iconic T-shirt linked to a charity they're passionate about?

And as of now, 6 incredible artists have come onboard, with hopes of one more joining very soon.

Furthermore, our vision has been recognized and amplified with Do Good Points Foundation agreeing to be the foundational backer of The Empathy Project.

This alliance is the realization of a three-year dream, transforming a personal passion project into a full-blown movement thanks to DK who connected our values to do more good in this world and I wouldn’t be making this announcement without his vision and support.

So now, dear friends, as someone who's always aimed to make NYC feel a bit more like home for all of you through events and heart-to-heart chats, I humbly invite you to be a part of The Empathy Project. Together, leading with empathy, we can carve out positive spaces even in challenging times.

To champion this cause:

• Consider donating through our Do Good Foundation platform HERE

• Share this newsletter within your circles, amplifying the message of empathy near and far.

• Don't worry, we'll have pre-orders for the Empathy T-shirts very soon.

Also, if you possess insights or resources that could enrich The Empathy Project, please reach out and I'd love to chat.

Let's wear our hearts on our sleeves, literally and figuratively, and make a difference in our beloved city and beyond.

THE SUGARY EFFECT

Empathy: What It Is Not (Part 1)

Since we’re on the topic of empathy, one of the things I notice is that people often get sympathy and empathy confused.

Whereas, sympathy is more about feeling compassion or sorrow for another's situation, empathy is more about sitting with another’s situation and experiencing it as if it were your own in order to better relate with that other person.

There is a natural distance when it comes to sympathy in that you feel for someone’s cause but there's a clear distinction that their struggle is not yours. In the case of empathy, you’re deliberately trying to get closer to a situation and earn a deeper ability to relate to it.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been to gatherings and people ramble on and on about how they are concerned about this cause or that occurrence. The thing is that thoughts and prayers rest comfortably in the realm of sympathy, and all too often in these exact conversations, I hear empathy being used interchangeably without any further indication of deeper thought or action, and it simply isn’t correct.

When the women of Iran made the news for standing up against an oppressive regime that would see their voices muted forever, many people of course felt bad for them, but far fewer took the time to go beyond that feeling and sit with the gravity of it, to really understand why the women felt such a need to express their opposition in such a glaring way.

Again, many people were sympathetic to what was happening, far less were actually empathetic….but you couldn’t tell based on the language circulating along with cocktails and conversation.

When you’re empathetic, you’re invested and the tendency is not to sit idly by. You feel inspired toward an idea that has personal meaning to you and you’re much more likely to take action.

I’ve definitely experienced the power of empathy in my life and it’s had a profound effect on how I look at the world and how I try to show up for the people and causes I have built that deeper connection with.

More about this in Part 2 of Empathy in my next newsletter.✨

PAST EVENTS

Art Bath Fundraiser - About 50+ of you turned out to support this worthy cause. As a result, I’m so proud to announce that we met our goal and raised $20,000 to sustain Art Bath’s programming for the remainder of the year and into next season. Congratulations to everyone involved and to everyone who dared believe in this dream…you’ve helped tangibly contribute to the fabric of the cultural brilliance of this city.

And TICKETS for Fall 2023 Season just went on sale! (seriously…don’t say I didn’t tell you)

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sunday, Sept 17th @12:00 PM - Sugary’s Sweet & Simple Picnic (Central Park)- After the success of the first picnic to open the summer season, we’re hosting a final hurrah as the leaves begin to change. Come join us for a large gathering of the community as we bid adieu to Summer and say hello to Fall! _{(Social Battery Level: High Extrovert - Crowd Size 100+)}

Thursday Sept 21st @7:00 PM - Uncharitable Movie Premiere (Midtown) Last month I hosted an advance screening the documentary Uncharitable. Well, the star studded premiere is now upon us and I’ve been offered limited free tickets to send some of you to the main event! Who wants ‘em!? _{(Social Battery Level: MEDIUM Introvert/Extrovert Mix - Crowd Size 100+)}

Monday, Sept 25th @7:00 PM - Sugary Restaurant Take- Over Perry Club (West Village) - Join us for an intimate evening as we take over the top floor of my friend Brandon Fay’s amazing Italian restaurant. And for this occasion Brandon has offered a CRAZY deal exclusively for the Sugary Community…$35 (plus tax and 20% tip) for an abundance of passed apps (vegetarian friendly...except for the famous meatballs) and unlimited beer/wine. Only 20 spots. See you there! _{(Social Battery Level: LOW Introvert/Extrovert Mix - Crowd Size 20+)}

_{(Space is very limited for each of these events so if you’d like to attend to any of these events, please hit the RSVP button below sooner than later!)}

AND DON’T SAY I DIDN’T TELL YOU ABOUT…

Uncover NYC's Hidden Magic at the Revelation Rally!

Calling all adventure seekers,

One of the things that makes New York City so incredible is the unexpected gems you find beyond the usual event listings. You just have to know where to look, and trust me, you might stumble upon pure magic.

Well, mark your calendars for Saturday, September 23rd, because there's an extraordinary event happening, and it's all thanks to a gentleman named Franz Aliquo aka the "Supreme Commander."

This visionary individual is known for stirring up some delightful chaos. We first teamed up for the wildly successful Zombie Tag at the Met (making a comeback in October stay tuned), and now, Franz has cooked up something truly one-of-a-kind.

Introducing the Revelation Rally—an overnight, costumed, team-based, competitive scavenger hunt/rally on electric vehicles with two wheels or fewer (think bikes, scooters, etc.).

Participants gather in groups of 2-8 people, playfully referred to as "cults," and embark on a quest across the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, and maybe even a smidge of Manhattan, late into the night. Their mission? To hit checkpoints, solve riddles, and discover hidden objects.

Now, let's be crystal clear—it's not a race against the clock. In fact, speed is entirely irrelevant. Instead, it's all about your creativity, teamwork, and unwavering commitment.

Intrigued? You should be! Having teamed up with Franz before, I can guarantee this evening will be like no other.

So, if you and your adventurous friends are up for the challenge, don't wait!

Click the link below to register and get ready for a one-of-a-kind adventure across our beloved city.

https://withfriends.co/event/16711653/revelations

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Joey Dosik

This incredible multi-instrumentalist artist hailing from LA is a dapper crooner with a soulful spirit and a vintage sound that seems tailor made for vinyl.

A velvety smooth, vocal delivery reminiscent of the yesteryear stylings of Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye, ensures that it’s not long before anyone listening is captivated by the talent of this charming gentleman.

With fans, such as Leon Bridges and Quincy Jones, and regular collaborations with incredible artists such as Vulfpeck, Moses Sumney and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, it’s obvious Joey’s going places.

I’ve personally featured Joey in my music showcases, and I can tell you from personal experience the kind of impact this man has on his audience.

He’s a magical guy and definitely an artist you should keep on rotation for your playlists when you want to settle into a relaxed, feel good groove as his sound washes over you like a warm blanket on a brisk evening.

Running Away (popular track)

Inside Voice (lesser known track)

It’s You I Like (new release)

Thank you for taking the time to read to the end!

I hope you found something inspiring and meaningful in my content and until next time, explore the possibilities of NYC.

-Sugary

🍰🍭🍩🍦🍫🍪🍨🧁

PS. Don’t be shy and hit reply and tell me how you’re doing!