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

What’s new this week?

The Return of the Candy Shop WhatsApp Group

So back when I started this newsletter, I had created a series of WhatsApp groups that were associated with our community.

When we embraced the texting notification model and made it primarily an exclusive feature for our members, we kinda bid farewell to those groups, figuring it was redundant and people would get tired of receiving overlapping notifications.

However a funny thing happened along the way to connecting with all of you. Even though we had discontinued the use of the WhatsApp groups and a most of our members had switched over to our new model, the groups themselves never fully went away even though I stopped updating them. People still found a use for having them and some people even preferred it. 

So in observing this phenomenon, I have decided to bring back the WhatsApp group model. With a few adjustments (see below).

We'll still keep the texting outreach because some of you have expressed that it is very helpful, but I think that having this home base of sorts is actually beneficial and helps many of you to connect with each other better as well as stay up to date with what is being planned.

So stay tuned while I reboot this aspect of our communicae.

Here are the new house rules for the Candy Shop chat…

1. I post news/updates, Sugary events + events that don’t make The Sweet List in time.
2. Sharing outside events does not imply personal attendance or involvement.
3. Contribute. Post events but…LIMIT SELF-PROMOTION.
4. Dialogue allowed…but use good judgement. Less is more.
5. Impropriety or harassment of any sort WILL NOT be tolerated. IMMEDIATE BAN.

I’m really excited about bringing this back!

If you would like to join…reach out HERE I’ll be sure to add you.             

Sugary 🍬

And 1…

So…I guess I AM a sports fan.

But not as a diehard fan…

No no no no, I wouldn’t dare insult the truly devout who’ve invested blood sweat and tears year after year to make that claim versus my three week crash course.

But in the last few weeks, I’ve felt something…

…something familiar.

The power of culture to drive social impact.

I now know and acknowledge sport as being among the most important of cultural avenues in achieving that.

If you were in these NYC streets following Game 5, hell even if you were watching it on your feed thousands of miles away, you’d know the energy I’m referring to.  It was palpable, it was unvarnished and it literally enveloped you.

No one could escape it, but more importantly…

…no one wanted to.

When I was in the streets, a random kid came up to me without any kind of fear enthusiastically holding up his hand for a hi-five.

I saw people helping each other get into elevated positions so that they could hype the crowd up further.

Strangers bought each other food and drink just so they could help each other keep the party going.

All this, while our cities' numerous anthems (because NYC can’t just have one iconic anthem) played on repeat, echoing in mismatched tempos from every car, every makeshift boombox and corner of the city.

Start spreading the news?… no need to worry about it Chairman, the news has already gone viral.

This moment told a universal truth…

…people are desperately looking for meaningful ways to connect.

And that ends up being the key word…MEANINGFUL.

What’s the shared struggle and sentiment that we ALL can get behind?

Sure in the worst moments we as a society have had to live through together, it’s compelled via tragedy.

But what about when it’s representative of our best moments, where inspiration guides us toward a shared unadulterated joy, what then?

I’ll tell you what…it’s powerful stuff.

Psychologists call this “collective effervescence“.

And especially nowadays, we’re desperate for something positive. 

And culture is the perfect vehicle for this type of phenomena.

Why do you ask?

Because to me it seems culture has the capacity to distill and concentrate a shared sentiment, channeling it into a collective unadulterated expression. 

There’s a word for it…

…INSPIRATION.

The Knick’s journey leading to the final buzzer of Game 5 united a city and rallied everyone who’d ever experienced an underdog’s journey (which basically means EVERYONE).

This feels just like the way a song could galvanize an entire populace to “don’t stop until they got enough" or a scene from a film that just “had you at hello”.

Different medium, same effect.

When something resonates within culture, it speaks to something much deeper within all of us.  And it is in that moment of realization that we ignite the powder keg of shared emotional release with passionate coalescence fanning the flames outward.

The wave of sentiment overwhelms our constructed social barriers and crashes forth with imperious determination.

And before we even fully register what’s going on, we’ve somehow transcended politics, ideologies, and divisions managing to find ourselves on the other side…alive, vulnerable and oddly unified.

I know NOTHING in this world that has the capacity for this kind of eloquent yet formidable power.

And it doesn’t end there…

If you’ve been watching the World Cup and the content surrounding it, you’ll see the ripple effect of this collective effervescence in full effect.

Foreigners and Americans unified under the international banner of soccer which in turn opens the possibility for foreigners to explore the excess and grandiosity of the American way of life be it Costco, the concept of free refills or ranch dressing.

Hell, just as important, Americans are feeling genuine appreciation from a global audience for the first time in what has felt like a very long time.

and somehow this was all made possible through the culture of sport.

It’s healing.

It’s necessary.

It’s time.

Will I graduate to a diehard fan of a sports team down the line?…

…unlikely.

I still naturally gravitate towards the creative...it’s just who I am.

But do I have a newfound appreciation for the role sports play and how it can be just as powerful as any of the other aspects of culture?…

…abso…freakin’…lutely.

So the next time I receive an invitation to attend a watch party, catch a live tournament or even perhaps participate in an event with laughable athleticism, rather than a polite decline, I might just say…

…Game On.

Sugary 🍬

The Great Big Game Show

Call it nostalgia, but for as long as I can remember, the presence of the TV game show has been ubiquitous. Back in the 80’s and 90’s, turn on any major cable channel during the hours of 10 a.m. to about 1 p.m. as well as from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m on specific days and you'd find some version of some game show promising instant riches if you were to just follow along and play they're a little game.

That's exactly the fantasy that the Great Big Game Show brings to life.

Located in the heart of Times Square, this immersive experience puts guests on a real game show set complete with flashing lights, sound effects, buzzers, giant screens, and a live host who keeps the energy and a feverish pitch from start to finish.

People are split into teams and compete through a series of fast-paced mini-games inspired by the spirit of classic television game shows. You will find many of these game options derivative of some of your nostalgic favorites across the years (i.e. Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, etc…).

As a result the experience traverses the realms of trivia, strategy, quick thinking, teamwork, physical challenges, luck, and problem-solving, ensuring that there's something for everyone. Every show features five or more rotating games from a selection of about 15 possible games, meaning no two visits are exactly alike.

The games are easy to learn, the hosts guide players every step of the way, and the format encourages laughter as much as victory. In that sense, The Great Big Game Show strikes a nice balance between friendly competition and collective fun.

When I went for my first experience with the Joust community, I really didn't know what to expect but right from the get-go it was really easy to hit the ground running and the live host was charismatic enough to carry the experience through.

Whether it was cheering teammates on, trash talking the competition, celebrating unlikely victories, or discovering hidden talents among friends, by the time the game show ended I found myself absolutely wanting more.

And despite the kitschy-ness of it all, the result is less like attending an attraction and more like stepping inside your own episode of a game show moment where all the lights are on you (and your team).

So spin the wheel, build a tower, roll the dice or bet all your points on a category called “Japanese Anime”.  No matter what, the Great Big Game Show will make sure all your actions seem larger than life.

Deal or no deal?

Sugary 🍬

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

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!