🍬 Sugary Scoop: Hold'em or Fold'Em

Welcome to the Sugary Scoop, my free biweekly newsletter where we help you see and experience the magic of NYC that I love so much through curated events, experiences, artists, and community stories.

Let’s get to this week’s Scoop!

🍬The Scoop 🍬

• UPCOMING EVENTS

• WHAT’S NEW?

• THE SUGARY EFFECT

• PAST EVENTS

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

• ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

• NOTABLE NYC HAPPENINGS THIS WEEK & BEYOND

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 18th @2:00pm (Wash Sq Park): Unsent Letter Project Launch - Our Unsent Letter mailbox is going out! Drop by for some light refreshments and volunteer to help support this amazing project. Follow the project on IG for details as it unfolds _{(Social Battery Level: Medium Ambivert - Crowd SizeUnder 10)}

May 27th @7:00pm (Flatiron): Secret Wellness Soiree - We’ve set up an exclusive evening for our community members to preview one of the hottest social wellness clubs set to open in NYC. We’re keeping this one very secret, but think saunas, cold plunges, wellness programming to explore at your leisure while enjoying a full complement of light refreshments to savor the evening _{(Social Battery Level: High Extrovert - Crowd Size Under 80) *Sugary Paid Member Exclusive}

June 8th @1:00pm (Soho): Summer Rooftop BBQ: Celebrating Sugary 100 - Our Summer season kicks off with an epic rooftop BBQ in a private penthouse. Indulge in some amazing grilled meats and sip on some crafted libations as we look towards a robust summer season in style and celebrate our 100+ Sugary members . _{(Social Battery Level: High Extrovert - Crowd Size 60-80) *Sugary Paid Member Exclusive}

_{(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!)}

WHAT’S NEW?

100 Strong.

When the membership program was first launched, we had a goal to hit 100 members by May 15th.

I am so excited to let you know that we crossed the 100 member mark in the first week of May, a full week and a half ahead of schedule.

With this new milestone we have also launched our private WhatsApp group which will serve as the new “Candy Shop” for exclusive events for Sugary paid members.

We’ve also begun putting the new found resources to work, be it in the form of practical equipment for events, a fresh look design on our newsletter(coming soon) and even complimentary libations to share amongst event attendees. We’ve even started setting aside a fund to support more ambitious projects that we couldn’t do without your support.

One thing is for sure, we can’t wait for you all to experience what we have planned in the coming months!

As I look ahead towards our next milestone of 250 members, I feel emboldened by the early support the community has received and I can’t wait to grow together.

To celebrate our 100+ members, we’re going to host two member-only events:

• Private Wellness Soiree (think breathwork, hot sauna/cold plunge)

• Summer Rooftop BBQ (private penthouse with full grill)

Want to attend but not a Sugary member yet?

PS. Today is the last day to take advantage of the early-bird pricing. The subscription will double tomorrow!

THE SUGARY EFFECT

Hold ‘Em or Fold ‘Em

Recently, I met up with a community builder that had asked for my help in trying to attract more attendees and help to grow what had been built.

Going into this meeting, I was honestly excited about the convo especially since one of my things has always been to support the notion of community be it my own or others.

I had prepared a bunch of ideas I felt could help in the war effort so to speak and set out to meet this individual at a quaint cafe in the West Village.

We sat down and after the customary exchange of pleasantries we started talking about the challenges in the building of this specific community.

Hearing what was presented, I could feel an enthusiasm welling up in me because I really felt I knew some of the answers that would crack this code.

Eagerly, I presented my thoughts like an elementary school kid desperately raising his hand to be called upon.

The more I spoke though, the more I could see the person’s demeanor and posture begin to shift…and it was not in a positive way. It felt more and more like giving the punchline to a presentation and…crickets.

I cut my offering short and just asked if something was the matter and the response I got was something that surprised the hell out me…

…I’d managed to somehow convince this person to shut down their community.

DEFINITELY not the outcome I was expecting.

I tried to scramble for alternative perspectives, searching for ways in which to offer encouragement between the lines of practical truths culled from the many years of experience in putting on events and building community…but it was to no avail.

This individual made up their mind and doubled down on their decision…

I was horrified by this result. I could feel the heat behind the back of my ears.

Sensing my discomfort, the soon-to-be ex-community builder tried to assure me that I didn’t do anything wrong, and that if anything, I helped bring clarity sooner rather than later that this was definitely no longer for them.

So even though I felt bad in the moment, my thoughts ended up being constructive even if they didn’t FEEL constructive.

In reflecting on this moment in the days that followed, a few things became rather clear:

Clarity means different things to different people - Where I saw possibility, another will see insurmountability. You never know what your input will yield and it may not always match your expectations. And that’s totally OK. Sometimes it just works out that way.

Building community is not a casual pursuit - it’s gonna require a certain stubborn determination, a focus on consistency and a willingness to go above and beyond to fight for what you’re creating every step of the way. It’s important to know the difference between a hobby and something you wish to scale. I think what this individual was looking for was something of a magic bullet that could solve their issues instantly and what it actually was involved much more work than they were prepared to commit to.

There’s actually bravery in knowing when to quit - Courage exists not only in pressing on despite the odds but it can also be in knowing when to cut your losses if the path you’re walking on no longer aligns with your version of reality…even if you have nothing else prepared to replace it in the interim. In this particular case, the writing was on the wall and this individual was staring down the barrel of what would be a lot of investment for incremental gain and frankly knew they’d rather spend their time on other things. Ain’t nothing wrong with that.

As I took the long walk to my next meeting, I scrolled through my own sea of to-dos for the week ahead, the increasing expectations of the community and of course the ubiquitous disembodied voice of DK barking in my head about this and that deadline…

…yeah…maybe this isn’t for everyone 😅

Everybody loves the idea of building community, but it’s no small feat. I’m reminded of that picture that show the work you see as the tip of the iceberg and the work being put in the actual iceberg that you don’t see beneath the surface. Most times things don’t go as you plan and you’ve gotta be scrappy to persevere in the long run.

Fostering a community can be wonderfully rewarding but the path to get there is fraught with challenges.

Know what you’re getting yourself into, bow out if you must, endure if there’s nothing you’d rather be doing.

I think you know my choice 🍬 😇

PAST EVENTS

May 8th: Knick/Pacers NBA Playoffs Viewing Party - Nearly 40 of you joined us for a thrilling game as we cheered on the hometown heroes to victory all while chowing down on some ridiculously good fried rice, ginger wings and scallion pancakes!

May 9th: Zeshan Bagewadi Album Preview Listening Party - A handful of you joined us for a rare preview of Zeshan’s forthcoming album “Oh Say Can You See” and it was magical.

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

Maker’s Hub

There’s something brewing in Greenpoint…rather printing, cutting, etching and so much more.

Here in one spot, artists can spend the day “making things”, utilizing any of the wide array of high tech machinery available to manifest creative vision into a physical product.

Founded by my dear friend Anmar El-Khalil, who ditched his high stress corporate life in order to lean into his passion for design and creating, Maker’s Hub was envisioned to be a haven of creative possibility for artists as well as a sustainable community for the exchange of ideas and collaborative touch points.

Despite all its new-fangled and high end machinery, Maker’s Hub is a true diamond in the rough, prioritizing community and accessibility over profit.

For the foreseeable future the company has made a rare commitment to presenting an affordable price point aimed primarily at just covering costs (the space itself, materials, repairs, etc…) in order to allow more artists to embrace technology to fuel their creations.

So, whether it’s laser etching a custom coaster, embroidering your next amazing apparel pattern, or printing a dark chocolate poop 💩 emoji (yes I am not joking on this one), Maker’s Hub is the place to be…

…a place for dreamers.

…a place for creators.

…a place for Makers.

For the Sugary Community, Maker’s Hub is offering a one time 50% discount for your one-day pass to be used between June 1st - July 1st*

Register for your 1 day pass (50% off) HERE

Use code: THELEELACAT

*code is only valid from June 1st - July 1st, no exceptions.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Rai Thistlethwayte

This pleasantly mercurial Aussie phenom is one of those rare artists that I refer to as a “generational talent”.

The front man for Australian hit band Thirsty Merc of early 2000’s acclaim, Rai is a virtuosic musician, singer and songwriter of the first order.

I first encountered Rai in LA mid 2014 attending a non-descript private music showcase he set up somewhere in the basement of a lounge in downtown LA.

That night I experienced lighting in a bottle.

Only thing was, that lightning burned so hot that it melted the bottle and has since escaped, striking the world periodically wherever, whenever and with whoever he so chooses.

I have delighted watching how Rai moves in the world. It’s certainly not like you and I. Whereas most artists are preoccupied with advancing their brand or notoriety, Rai seems quite content in just “being” come what may.

There’s really no predicting what Rai will do next, and I think he honestly enjoys that dynamic thoroughly as he plays with his audience across social media and unannounced releases of truly random yet utterly creative (albeit sometimes bizarre) creations.

And in case you were ever to doubt the man simply because he doesn’t march to beat of your drum, one performance will render you devastated by a virtuosic ferocity rarely experienced.

Though Rai is an established artist, he has never lost that independent artist spirit and so I am choosing to cover him because artists like him deserve far greater recognition even if it isn’t THEIR focus at all.

So, take in the artistry of Mr. Thistlethwayte and next time he’s in NYC again, hopefully he’ll grace us with his unbridled soulful artistry which is nothing short of magnificent.

San Francisco Street (most popular song)

Chase the Clouds (lesser known song)

Berlin Wall (another amazing song)

NOTABLE NYC HAPPENINGS THIS WEEK & BEYOND

5/16 @9:30am - Fabrik Breakfast Club x Make Art in the Morning: Join us for a very special edition of the Fabrik Breakfast Club as we officially open the doors of Fabrik -- featuring art gurl and Fabrik Founding 50 Member, Meagan Mahaffy. Think morning workout class, but for your artistic side! - RSVP HERE

5/17-24 @Varies - Gather has partnered with @aigany hosting 12 Gathers during @nycxdesign Festival. Workshops include: Floral Designs, Modern Kintsugi, Cathartic Poetry, Meditational Calligraphy, Power of Scent, Interpretive Dreams and so much more! - RSVP HERE

(Use promo code: Sugary for $15 off any workshop)

5/22-25 @Varies - In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, local sommelier Eun Hee Kwon is collaborating with three great BK restaurants to raise money for some NYC-based AAPI nonprofits. Pop-up dinners will be held at Nowon, Nudibranch and The Monkey King, with a wine program featuring Asian American made wines. RSVP HERE

Mon/Wed/Fri: Peoplehood - 60-minute guided group conversations. RSVP HERE

(Use promo SUGARY redeemable for a complimentary first Gather ($45 value)

EMPATHY PROJECT

Support the Empathy Project by purchasing any of the items from the collection. Be a part of a unique initiative that empowers seven diverse artists to create one-of-a-kind empathy-inspired t-shirts. These shirts serve as iconography tied to our identity, promoting compassion-driven societal impact. 

Each artist picked a 501(c)3 charity of their choice to donate a portion of the sales of their t-shirt design. Your purchase also empowers voices, amplifies the message of empathy, supports charities, and elevates storytelling within our communities, all while building a network for compassion-driven societal change. Join us in making a lasting impact through art and empathy.

You can check out and purchase the 7 different empathy tees HERE

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!