Welcome to the Sugary Scoop, my free weekly 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.

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On Wednesday September 10th, I will be producing the USA debut concert for R&B recording artist Hillari at Racket NYC.

The 20 year old phenom is making waves all across Europe with her deeply soulful delivery reminiscent of the artistic stylings of H.E.R. and Lauryn Hill paired with memorable lyricism and an incredible stage presence that is utterly unforgettable.

I first brought her out in late February and everyone I put Hillari in front of she leveled with her talent and charisma. 

Her management was so thrilled they invited me to produce her inaugural debut in the States…

…and I gladly accepted.

It will be an honor to sow the first seeds of her legacy on September 10th before a crowd of 700, New Beginnings as Hillari says.  

Go big or go home right?

And in 3 to 5 years I predict, she’ll have her first guest feature at the Garden.

This risk is worth going all in on and will be a return to my roots in a manner of speaking, championing incredible artists on the rise.

Why is this important for me to ask my community to support something like this?

Because one of the key stated values of the Sugary Community is “to create in real life experiences, using art and culture in the broadest context to create a sense of community connection in the city”.

That evening I wish to commune with all of you through Hillari’s artistry.

I hope that you will join me in supporting this extraordinary new artist.

Feet don’t fail me now…game on.

(If I have already reached out to you independently regarding tickets, no need to use this link)

Sugary

THE SUGARY EFFECT

Phenom, Faith and Fervor: An Observation on Belief

In the wake of such a major announcement regarding the massive upcoming concert I am producing for Hillari, there is at least a reasonable question people will ask which is, 

“Why would you risk so much for a young up and coming artist?”

Because to me it’s actually the only sensible thing to do in a nonsensical world.

The bigger risk I think is sitting back and NOT getting behind artistry that speaks to you.

If you love an artist, then love the artist. 

Say it with your full chest, but as they say, “More than Words” right?

Take a stand for the artist you believe in.

We don’t support new artists like we used to. Labels do the bare minimum, streaming services don’t pay, and social media is not about authentic discovery anymore.

As a result what we get predominantly is an ever aging set of legacy acts that are “bankable” and a landscape of carbon copy watered-down replicants that fit an industry made standard that scrapes the bottom of the barrel when it comes to true creativity.

So where does that leave new talent and how do our bold new voices from the next generation actually get heard?  

There are a number of factors of course, but from my experience, everyone can play a contributing role and there are a few things I’ve learned about navigating your belief that has served me well:

Hillari is not just any up and coming artist, she is a phenom.  Exceptional right from the moment your eyes and ears experience her artistry.  Her artistry is at a certain level that is self-evident.  And she’s just 20.  I felt it the moment I saw her perform and with artists like this, when you know you just know.  

And at that point you just gotta go with your gut.  That’s what gets you through the next part of this.  Faith that what you felt was real.  Even if other people don’t see it yet. It’s okay, it doesn't matter.  The courage of conviction as they say right?  Not convinced that this is THE crucial life blood for a new artist to feel?…I once got behind a no name artist just outta university that was a phenom and had faith that I had witnessed someone remarkable worth backing…I bet the farm on this artist…that someone…was Jon Batiste.

Then comes the work.  Extraordinary effort for extraordinary talent. Because the odds are stacked against artists all the time. The fervor to get behind them to buy a ticket early out the gate, to post about them on socials, to cheer louder than the next person…or to personally sell out a 700 person debut concert…whatever your level of investment, every bit counts.   

I’ve always believed in the power of art to move people. Artists are the source of this and MUST be protected.

Call me a hopeless romantic in this regard, but I still believe in a world that celebrates and uplifts artists. And by leaning into what resonates with us through artistry, it helps the artist but believe it or not, we’re ultimately helping ourselves. 

I’ll leave you with this quote…

“The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable.” — Kurt Vonnegut

See you in September…

(If I have already reached out to you independently regarding tickets, no need to use this link)

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PAST EVENTS

July 8th: Write to Read Salon - About 15 of you joined us for a very special edition of our salon series.  This one was themed, “Letters to My Ex” and definitely came with something to say. 

We also broke everyone up into small groups to read and discuss the letters in greater intimacy before nominating one of the letters from each group to be read off in front of the entire room.  I gotta say it really worked well because people felt they had a chance to get to know one another better while discussing the letter which helped them to relate better to one another. 

The cherry on top so speak was recording artist Chris Saunders who came in and capped off the evening with a wonderful short set to help everyone decompress.  My take away is that we really hit on something special here and going forward the salons will be conducted in this manner.

July 17th In Good Company x Bonding: Summer Edition - Just over 75 of you joined us at the brilliant home of one of our wonderful members to experience an expansive evening of connection. 

With an open heart and open mind, we collectively spent the evening, daring to connect with fascinating people from all walks of life so that we might continue to enrich our experience together in NYC by investing in each other. 

We also partnered up again with the Matchbox app for a whimsical frenzy of connection midway through the event.  The energy was palpable and further confirmation that AI when used properly and through a human lens can actually elevate an experience in a positive way.  See you in the Fall!

NOTABLE NYC EVENTS, HAND-PICKED BY SUGARY

Every event is hand-picked by Sugary and analyzed through our signature methodology to help you find your perfect cultural match in NYC.

Monday 7/21

Tuesday 7/22

Wednesday 7/23

Thursday 7/24

Friday 7/25

Saturday 7/26

Sunday 7/27

THE SWEET & SALTY

Preoccupation w/ Occupation: An NYC Pastime

Let me set the scene, you’re at a party and you see someone you know (or hell even a totally new person).  You walk up to him or her and the intent is to catch up.

Within 5 seconds of the conversation or less, someone asks some form of “how are you doing?”  and the answer typically is…

Can you guess it? I bet you can…

I’ll give you just another second to think about it…

And the answer 9.5 out of 10 times is…

“BUSY”

Don’t believe me?  Try it out at the next gathering that you attend.  My bet is that you’ll notice that nearly everyone (including yourself) has pretty much the same general response.

Being “busy” has almost become the colloquial password so to speak to qualify you as a prospering member of the NYC community.

We seem to have a compelling desire to let everybody know just how much we’re up to.  This is usually paired by some micro gesture or expressive motion for added emphasis on just how real our struggle is.

To not be regarded as being busy is almost like being branded with the scarlet letter in NYC, a disqualifying trait that has you walking these lonely streets akin to a leper seeking human touch.

There seems to be a desperation in letting people know that we are making moves and that our own personal NYC story is sure to pay off eventually.  

This need for validation along with a low key attempt to elicit implied empathy/acknowledgement is rampant these days.

Hustle culture has permeated the bedrock of our social interactions.

Now I think it’s totally fine that you are able to share what you’re up to personally and professionally when asked in a social encounter, that’s not the part that I’m concerned about.  

I just think that we should try at least to get away from the idea that it is a badge of honor that we are always and forever in a losing rat race, barely treading water. 

In thinking about writing this piece, I know I am just as guilty as the next person.  However, because I have noticed this trend in myself and in others, I have come up with more creative ways to give my updates and continue to tinker with it.

Instead of “Aw man, things have been so busy” I’ve migrated towards a different approach to a response instead opting for “ I’ve been keeping active with xxxxxx” I then follow up with an effort to get further engagement either with a question such as, “one of the things I’ve discovered along the way is xxxxxx…” or “I wonder if you any thoughts yourself on the matter based on your own expereince…”

At first this might seem just like semantics…replacing “busy” for “active” etc… but there is a subtle difference.  I am conveying what I’ve been up to without seeking validation or acknowledgement for my challenges.  

By also following up with a question that engages the other party, I move it away from a “whose busier and more oppressed vibe” to a vein of more engaging conversation rooted in reflection and welcoming in counsel.

If I’m the one doing the asking, I like to short circuit this conversational script by premeptively saying something to the effect of, “I know you’re probably crazy busy…” and then filling the rest in with something that will break this line of thought and branch it into healthier territory such as, “…what has kept you sane when it’s been the most intense for you, what helps you to decompress” or “…has there been anything that you’ve read, heard or seen that has really grabbed your attention lately (I also have one in the chamber in case the other party doesn’t have one)?”

If you can, I urge you to have fun with this and try to not have “being busy” as to opening salvo to all your interactions.

Assume it is par for the course and dare to move on to more fascinating lines of conversation.

Support for the Unsent Letter Project!

The Unsent Letter Mailbox is a grassroots storytelling movement creating anonymous spaces for vulnerability and radical honesty in New York City.

Over the past year, we’ve hosted 19 park installations, 9 salons, we've seen countless people in public, and received over 1000 unsent letters capturing the full spectrum of human emotion and has captured the attention of press outlets such as Secret NYC, NBC Nightly News and the Kelly Clarkson Show.

Apply for the Unsent Letter Curator Program 

We’re rolling out the ULM Curators Program! We're looking to onboard five born storytellers with a curiosity for what makes us human. This program is meant to make anonymous storytelling accessible across boroughs in NYC and abroad, and if you have experience facilitating community events and salons, you're the person we're looking for.

This is a chance to:

✧ Bring a high-impact storytelling experience to your community

✧ Curate and champion anonymous voices

✧ Be featured across our IG, Substack, and site

✧ Join a growing collective of narrative bridge-builders

Applications are open now.

Deadline: July 30

Launch: August 1

If you've been waiting to bring something beautiful to your corner of the world and spread genuine human connection, apply here. 

unsentlettermailbox.com/curator-program

Join The Unsent Letter Mailbox as a Social Media Intern!

The Unsent Letter Mailbox — an NYC-born art project that lives at the intersection of anonymous writing, emotional healing, and urban play — is growing FAST. We’re looking for a volunteer content collaborator who wants to grow with us.

You:

• Are emotionally fluent and creatively intuitive

• Know how to make something stop the scroll without screaming

• Love language, letters, and soft power

• Want to build something you can be proud of

We:

• Have been featured on NBC + The Kelly Clarkson Show + Secret NYC

• Are planning scavenger hunts, secret salons, and continued urban pop-ups

• Are small, self-funded, and full of momentum

• Will give you full credit, mentorship, and future paid work if things align

This is 3-5 hours a week. Remote is cool. And vibes are everything.

If you're curious, email [email protected] or DM @unsentlettermailbox on IG! 

Call To Gather

‘Call to Gather’ champions creative play as essential for health and wellness; fostering mental, emotional, and social well-being. They believe everyone is a maker, and that its through shared creative experiences human beings build trust, collaboration, and can develop a deep sense of community.

Gather Artists are all highly experienced in their craft, providing quality creative sessions from a wide range industries for individuals to begin to explore their creative potential, heal, and connect - ultimately igniting personal and collective transformation in community.

Start your creative play HERE (use discount code: Sugary)

Connect IRL. Experience Fabrik.

Get in touch with NYC’s brightest communities and make new friends.

Fabrik is a home for communities and where everyone has a place to belong. With spaces designed to feel more like your living room than your office, Fabrik’s 'third spaces' are vibrant hubs where you can come together in real life, explore interests, forge meaningful connections, and enjoy a sense of community.

Sign-up here to experience a free trial at Fabrik.

Weekly events at Fabrik HERE

Othership offers immersive sauna and ice bath experiences that help human beings feel good now. A sanctuary for social self-care to move you from city buzz to inner calm.

Dive into the largest performance saunas in North America, experience otherworldly ice bath spaces and connect in an intimate amphitheater-style tea lounge surrounding a cozy fire place for socializing.

Expect towel-waving performances, aromatherapy, guided breathwork, visualizations, and somatic release to help you shift your state and regulate your emotions, in a world that can’t be regulated.

The founders of Othership have gifted us a New York 2 for 1 Deal. Get yours while they last!

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