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.

Let’s get to this week’s Scoop!

Oh man, where to begin. Well…I’m alive. How about that? 

Also, a moment like this mandates a moment to reflect and take stock on how to move forward in a sensible way.

First and foremost, Community Week 2025 will happen but we’ll be approaching it more as a soft launch in prep for a larger roll out in 2026.

What this means in practical terms is that it will be a lighter touch than previously planned, less bells and whistles, fewer partners but ultimately we aim to have it executed well and that will be the aim above all. Starting smaller isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

The Hillari concert is absolutely popping off and as of this writing we’re nearly sold out which is super exciting.  I ask you all to join me in witnessing the rise of this incredible r&b artist as she makes her USA debut that I have exclusively produced in partnership with IDAP Music and Samsung. 

Tickets can be purchased HERE while they last. 

You want to be a tastemaker? Here’s your chance.  Be early to something and come witness history and see what it means when truly deserving up and coming artists get the platform they deserve!

THE SUGARY EFFECT

And just like that, I ended up hospitalized.

Full stop on life as I know it.

That’s how quickly it happened.

And while I’m not sure I like this particular storyline, it’s an interesting one and at least I’m not cancelled this season like SJP.

Nope, the show goes on and I’m honestly thrilled that it does because honestly I missed you all.

First time I ever missed a post but when you’re hooked up to 3 IVs, have a tube shoved down your nose and other places I probably shouldn’t mention, it kind of breaks up your creative flow a bit.

I’ll spare you the gory details (that’s for another post and besides with the picture above, you can already probably imagine the horrors that were…I promise you it was worse than that…), but safe to say it was the scariest moment of my life.

Why?

Because it was the first time I’ve ever personally experienced the idea of actually not knowing how this was all gonna end.

You break your arm, you get a flu, you know the path forward is difficult but generally speaking there’s a certain self assurance that you’re gonna ultimately be alright.

Not this time…for me August 12th through about the 16th (17th - 18th I felt I was coming out of the woods) had me honestly questioning every hour on the hour whether 2025 was gonna be the unexpected curtain call I never asked for.

Scariest moment of my life thus far.

As I’ve turned the corner on this thing I’ve gotten a lot of questions asking how I felt about what happened, and my answer is clear on this one.

I am curiously focused and optimistic.

What you get most from a moment like this is a greater sense of perspective and for me it honestly feels like a new lease on life (let the eye-rolling cliches commence).

I’m just honestly happy to be around and to have felt the love from the community during this challenging period.

I spout endless soapbox speeches about community and connection all day long, and so I can’t tell you how much it meant to hear from so many of you, to feel the power of community reflected back in the realest of ways in one of my darkest of times (not even my parents know this happened).

A few specific thank you’s are in order:

To Mona Mouallem, I probably owe you my life. That’s such a weird thing to say and actually mean it. But without your bulldog approach to advocating for me medically and a near encyclopedic knowledge of the hospital system + a variety of maladies, who knows if this newsletter gets written today…or ever again.

To DK Kim, thank you for holding it down for the Sugary community and pretty much handling all affairs while I was down and out. The support is truly appreciated and essential for the integrity of the brand. Even more grateful that you did it out of love and not just a sense of obligation.

To Jillian Kelleher, thank you for being an emotional support system. For the ups and downs of it I felt your sincere concern through it all, and that’s just as important as any task requiring handling. It was emotionally arresting and heart expanding.

To James Calizaire, among my oldest friends, appreciate your consistency and being a bedrock of support throughout my weeklong “adventure”. You wore the most hats in the group…and they all suited you.

To Nadir Ahmad, thank you for your perspective expanding advice and for your insightful acumen. I’ll wax poetic with you any day. Also, you actually saw the WORST of it…thank you for not flinching at a real life scene from the exorcist.

To Andy Choi, thank you for your concern and adopting the role of doting family member…I finished all the soup and it was fantastic.

To Bharat Chopra, thank you for offering me your gorgeous home to heal in. The most gracious of staycations before transitioning back to regular life.

To Manny Blackett, every time I need you I know I can count on you. And you never disappoint. Reliable as ever and I appreciate that so much about you.

To all the folks that donated to help me with the financial burden of this experience, I am indebted to you all. Give me a moment, but I’ll be reaching out to you all individually to express my gratitude. You know who you are and more importantly, I know who you are.

There will be much more to say in the coming months, lots of reflections and lessons learned, but for now let me end this entry with a wish…

That you all take stock of not only your own health but maintain and nurture the connections to those closest to you….from the authority of personal experience, I can tell you…there’s nothing more important when all is said and done.

So grateful to be with you today.

PAST EVENTS

August 18th: Othership Williamsburg Community First Look - About 75 of you joined us for a very special evening for a 1st look experience at Othership’s brand new location in the heart of Williamsburg. Though I wasn’t present (and in the hospital) I was getting constant updates and the feedback was tremendously enthusiastic.

August 28th: Wine, Women & Wisdom Event - Over 30 of you joined us for this incredible evening of conversation paired with a remarkable sampling of wines from our friends at Cab Franc Forward which provided an insightful and tasty look into the varietal.  Between the mingling and small breakout groups with conversational prompts provided throughout, the women who attended had a real chance to forge new connections through conversation with a pairing of cab franc.

Are you a Sugary Member yet? Join the 175+ member community that gets you access to member-only events, special event perks, discounts and more

NOTABLE NYC EVENTS, HAND-PICKED BY SUGARY

Welcome to the inaugural edition of The Sweet List—our newly standardized events newsletter built with complete with a color-coded Trust System, clear Time & Place formatting, crystal-clean social-battery icons, concise one-line value props, bite-sized “Your People” profiles, Free 🆓/Ticketed 🎟️ markers, and curated experience icons to help you zero in on the perfect vibe.

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

Sing With The Stars

If the world is a stage, let it be a Broadway stage.

Or at least that seems to be the philosophy of Sing with the Stars (SWTS) a weekly karaoke gathering at Baby Grand LES that encourages attendees to sing their hearts out…with a professional backup singer of theatrical pedigree joining you along the way.

It is in essence Broadway meets karaoke, reimagined and elevated.

The brainchild of Harry Welchel, this series has been quickly growing in popularity and echoes a similar concept to the divey piano bar haunts that entertain endless requests for Suddenly Seymour, Music of the Night and other singalong theatrical songs of celebrated repute.

Only in this case, gone is the piano accompanist replaced with a more versatile vocal companion that can harmonize with you, trade verses, carry you through an entire song and sing backup parts at your command.  These professional singers have credits that range from Hamilton, to Wicked to the Book of Mormon and many more legendary productions.

Also, there are a healthy offering of mainstream song options as well for those less familiar with Broadway canon.

What SWTS loses in charm to the piano bars it gains in versatility and an all around good time.

Single admission “Crowd” passes will get you in and a chance to sing, Group admission “Stage” passes will get you a guaranteed slot to sing beyond standard admission.

Definitely be prepared for theater heads that know certain songs as if they were auditioning for the part but also there’s an encouraging communal vibe to the whole room which at any point is between about 50-75 folks that enthusiastically cheer for each other no matter the selection.

This recommendation comes at an auspicious time because SWTS is about to launch an ambitious new night on Sept. 12th at a new 300 person venue at Aura 57 which will have a more modern nightclub feel to it (picture above is of their regularly scheduled weekly Monday gatherings).

To RSVP to this special event, please follow this link HERE (and use the promo code SUGARY)

I think if you’re looking for a novel new way to enjoy karaoke, this is definitely something to check out.  

So shine up your best Sondheim and polish that pizazz…curtain is in 5 and we all love a good show.

For the Sugary Community please use code “SUGARY” for preferred pricing on your ticket to the Sept. 12th event.

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 

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! 

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

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!