🍬 Sugary Scoop: Membership Launch + Party

Photo By Juan Patino Photography

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 🍬

• WHAT’S NEW?

• THE SUGARY EFFECT

• UPCOMING EVENTS

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

• ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

• EMPATHY PROJECT

• NOTABLE NYC HAPPENINGS: WEEK OF 4/15

WHAT’S NEW?

Sugary Social Membership is LIVE!…only what is it?

So this week DK and I are excited to launch our pilot membership, Sugary Social to all of our subscribers.

It’s been a long time coming and we’ve really put in a lot of time to try and make this among the best in-class memberships you could possibly consider being a part of.

We’re doing this because we felt there was a real need for an authentic and intentional place to feel a sense of community paired with a diverse portfolio of events that focus on, as I say, “everything you’re naturally curious about once the laptop closes.”

We also wanted to cultivate a more sustainable ecosystem so that we could continue serving our community at the standard we established as a baseline for all our events.

Without further ado, here are the top 5 reasons why you should join:

1. Exclusive Access: Be the first to know and the first to go. Our members will enjoy priority access to a curated selection of Sugary events that embody the spirit of NYC's art, music, and cultural scenes.

2. Member-Only Events: Access special events that are only available to members, from secret concerts to rooftop parties to intimate gatherings, making you feel like a VIP at the coolest spots in NYC.

3. Community Warm Intros: Conscious curated connections for both personal and professional reasons from my rolodex of connections I’ve made in NYC for 20+ yrs.

4. Delectable Discounts: Get discounts on everything from cocktails to fun workshops, making the membership pay for itself after just one night out.

5. Birthday Love: We love celebrating birthdays. Get access to special perks and freebies on your special day.

Click HERE to see the rest of the membership features!

All of this for just $10/month or $99/year (Early bird pricing until 5/15)

Plus, if you sign-up today, you get a complimentary invite to our big Spring Event on 4/25: A Sugary Sweet Social (RSVP below)

THE SUGARY EFFECT

Photo By Adam Ninyo Photography

What We Stand For

You know, as we get ready to launch our Sugar Social membership, it kinda occurred to me that there are honestly so many “members only” entities that you could be a part of.

Of late, it seems there have been a sudden potpourri of new fangled membership clubs and communities that have popped up, likely in reaction to the dearth of IRL social interaction in wake of the pandemic that was.

The advent of our community and resulting membership came as a natural progression of my own personal journey more so than in response to COVID though the timing is surprisingly apt.

With the introduction of the membership tier, the aim is to work WITH the community to build something unique that we all believe in TOGETHER.

Rather than sorting through the endless offerings that exist, I thought it more useful to let you know WHAT WE STAND FOR versus what others are/aren’t.

These are the values that make our community what it is:

Unreasonable Hospitality: Our events are all about service. I always say, if the event ever becomes more about a brand / vanity versus those attending, you’ve lost the narrative. In the words of my dear friend Will Guidara, we practice “Unreasonable Hospitality” in service to our community. We won’t get everything right, but boy will you feel our effort and likely appreciate how much we actually care.

Essence Over Appearance: Our events prioritize meaningful quality and thoughtful engagement over mere spectacle. Character matters more than wealth and status, as we focus on depth and genuine experiences rather than optics. Unlike many exclusive communities fixated on superficial criteria, we champion true community spirit and believe that genuine connections are paramount.

Expert Curation - Believe it or not, I've connected with over 30,000 people across New York City in the past 15 years (iPhone contacts to prove it). This vast network and deep experience are the foundation of our core value of expert curation. It's through these numerous interactions that I've gained a unique insight into the diverse tapestry of NYC, allowing me to carefully craft a community that reflects the city's dynamic spirit and authentic character. This expertise ensures that each member adds to the vibrancy and richness of our gatherings, making every connection count and weeding out the bad apples.

Life Giving: The primary goal of our community is to add to your life. Have you learned something new, experienced something magical or unexpected, gained new perspective, met quality people, or left just feeling inspired…this has always been my aim for the events I design for members of the community.

These key points are what our community and membership stands for. If you believe in me, if you believe in the vision of this community, consider making the modest commitment so that we take this first step together to create a sustainable community that is truly worth defending.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Apr. 19th @7:00pm(Midtown West): Kara-Spring-oke Night - Join us for an evening of karaoke as we once again revisit the global songbook indulging in our own inner American Idol _{(Social Battery Level: MEDIUM Extrovert - Crowd Size 30-40)}

Apr. 21st @6:30pm(SoHo): Amadeus Screening - A 40th Anniversary Screening. Quite possibly one of THE greatest movies ever and definitely in my top 5 of all time. Yet, surprisingly so many folks have never seen the film which blows my mind (and yes I’m dating myself, but a movie this good, I don’t really care). Join us as we screen this epic semi-fictional tale surrounding the genius of Mozart in an intimate private residence. _{(Social Battery Level: MEDIUM LOW Ambivert - Crowd Size 20-30)}

Apr. 25th @6:30pm(Tribeca): Sugary Sweet Social - Our inaugural members community event. An evening of great company celebrating the partnership we are building with the closest members of our Sugary community. Complimentary pass for Sugary Social members and friends. _{(Social Battery Level: HIGH Extrovert - Crowd Size 75 -100)}

Apr. 28th @3pm (Central Park): The Great Spring Picnic - We’re teaming up w/ Hello Friends and Sequoia to ring in picnic season in EPIC fashion. Join us for possibly one of the largest if not THE largest picnic in NYC this season. RSVP HERE _{(Social Battery Level: RIDICULOUSLY HIGH Extrovert - Crowd Size 500-1000)}

_{(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…

Unsent Letter Mailbox Project

Some months back, I was attending an event and happened to meet an absolutely wonderful person (as I do) and connected with her on the spot.

Her name is Sofia Kavlin and as fate would have it, a few months later I found myself sitting right next to her at a completely different event!

We both appreciated the serendipity and resolved to grab tea. Sofia expressed that she was a reader of my newsletter and thought that what I was doing was fascinating and wanted to share some of what she was working on to see if there might be collaborative potential.

We met at this charming little nook of a tea cafe called Paquita in the west village and had a truly inspiring chat.

Turns out Sofia herself was a creative experience designer and took it upon herself to conduct a social experiment. Her theory was that, “Everyone has things that go unsaid…What we decide to share and keep private depends on which moral constructs we interact with — what is socially acceptable and what is not?”

To that end she fashioned a wooden mailbox and went into a public area inviting the people of NyC to write an anonymous “unsent letter”. with a simple prompt of “I want you to know that…” In turn, they would also be allowed to read a letter from the pool of anonymous missives.

Within just a few hours across a couple of days she received over 50 letters and they covered a spectrum highlighting topics that are perhaps deemed too taboo in the cultural sphere to ever be “sent”; (I.e. death, grief, jealousy, betrayal, forbidden love etc..).

In many ways this reminded me of PostSecret but much more catered to the NyC experience.

I was instantly captivated and we explored ways in which we could collaborate to expand the scope of this project which seeks to connect us further through shared stories of the human experience that largely go untold. It’s deeply cathartic and endlessly insightful.

And so I’m pleased to announce that we will be partnering with Sofia to expand the Unsent Letter Project.

On May 18th, we’ll be at one of NYC most iconic plazas with mailboxes 📬, ready to receive your messages. We will also be providing an email and mailing address if you cannot be there in person to drop off your message.

I encourage you to participate in this wonderful social experiment, it is but the beginning of a larger vision of which further details will be unveiled in the coming months!

Stay tuned, ‘cause it’s about to get interesting…

Message from Sophia if you’re interested in helping with this project:

Hello! We’re looking for someone to help design and manage our social media strategy.

Responsibilities include:

• Creating engaging content that aligns with the project's vision

• Promoting the project to broaden its reach

• Designing and managing the online submission form

Ideal candidates have a passion for community building, a knack for storytelling, and an understanding of various social media platforms. If you're ready to help us create a meaningful online presence that mirrors the depth of our offline project, get in touch! (email: [email protected])

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

DJ Shu-G

A great DJ is composed of several elements…a deep historical/current understanding of their genre(s), a meticulous attention to flow/form, and a unique personality that shines through the mixes.

Enter DJ Shu-G.

I first discovered this phenom while I was scrolling across TikTok.

It was a very scroll pausing moment.

Picture this, a smartly dressed Brooklyner in a sparse yet elegantly appointed living room complete with the requisite wisp of an incense trail. The aesthetic feels meditative, Asian, and classy.

And once the mix began playing, everything else faded into the background.

Why? Because Shu-G’s mixes reveal such a deep knowledge and appreciation for hip-hop, R&B, funk & soul canons that you never know what he’s gonna throw into the mix. His creations are chock full of rarely played tracks that he blends effortlessly with fan favorites and people in his comments section regularly take it upon themselves to try and guess all the songs he used in that particular mix. For enthusiasts of the genre, it’s like Christmas every time he releases content.

And don’t even get me started on the transitions…man…smoother than the finest butter.

Elegant is the only word that I think fits. You can just sense the care and intelligence that went into Shu-G’s creations. The guy doesn’t miss and it feels so effortless even though it’s obvious so much was put into it all.

Most of Shu-G’a mixes are meant for that chill out type of mood but every now and then he’ll mix up a few bangers just for fun to break things up a bit.

But yeah, such an incredible viiiiiiiiiibe, my God…it just makes you want to sit back, relax, possibly smoke a joint even and appreciate the fact that there’s so much great music in the world.

This man is on the rise quickly so I urge you to get familiar with him even quicker…it won’t be long before he enters a new stratosphere of recognition…and for good reason.

80’s 90’s R&B Jazz Classics (most popular song)

Bobby Caldwell Sampling Mix (lesser known song)

A Tribute to the Queen of Soul (newest song)

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

NOTABLE NYC HAPPENINGS: WEEK OF 4/15

Thurs 4/18 @6:00pm - Led by Community x Fabrik x Generalist World: Community IRL Event in NYC - RSVP HERE (free)

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!