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!

So you may have noticed that the last events newsletter looked a bit different.

I figured after about 3 reminder mailings about the Sweet List moving platforms, it was time to get back to “newly” scheduled programming.

Specifically, I’m taking a sample of my picks for the week and highlighting them.  Just a few to whet your whistle.

This is meant for you to get a bit of a preview as to just some of what is contained within the Sweet List which is now where my curated events list lives.

Hopefully these recommendations resonate with some of you and that you feel inspired to go out and experience something new in our wonderful city and also consider joining the Sweet List and support my effort to cheat weekly gems to add to your social activity crown.

You’ll also notice that I have added a new dedicated section that focuses on highlighting communities within NYC that are doing amazing things bringing folks together through social interests.

I may add an additional section to this bi-weekly email but for now those are the more immediate additions and I hope to enjoy them!

Let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions.

Our @sugary.nyc Instagram has launched. Don’t forget to show us some love and give us follow!

And comment "community" on our latest post for premium access to the Sweet List events app.

🍬 Sugary

Unsent Letter Mailbox Presents: The Ex Files - Are you crying over your ex? Stop. I mean it. We've got just what you need.

We're doing an ex-inspired anti-valentine's day event. Think: Ex-inspired cocktails, sardonic improv inspired by your very own unsent letters, jazz music trio, and a paper shredder ritual to shred those bad boys (or girls) to the ground, and walk away FREE PEOPLE. RSVP HERE.

A Lunar New Year Potluck - We're we are partnering with Smith + Parka, Essex Market, Borderless, Chinatown Social, and Dumpling Dude for a MASSIVE potluck with a short program, dumpling making led by the one and only Dumpling Dude Lenny, and select food and drink vendors to enjoy!

Each contribution is designed around a core Horse-year quality—inviting guests to eat with intention and step into 2026 together for huge celebration of momentum, courage, and forward motion. RSVP HERE.

Take the Night! (A Karaoke Takeover) - It's on at the top of March, Chris and Sugary are literally TAKING OVER Baby Grand in the LES and we're inviting all our friends and friends of friends to come and join in an epic night of singing and spirit!

Take the stage in front of a packed crowd of your peers and bring that American Idol spirit as we belt the night away while partaking in a full service cash bar and some additional snacks we'll provide along the way.

We look forward to welcoming you and your best rendition of your favorite songs. Let's claim this night as our own and make it unforgettable!! RSVP HERE.

The Mandarin Stallion

2026 on the Chinese zodiac marks the Year of the Horse and as it happens, it ends up apparently being “my year”.

By parallel association, within the Western Zodiac I happen to be on the cusp of Scorpio and Sagittarius. The cusp of revolution they call it. A song of fire and ice or so they tell me.

Now, I’m personally not much of a believer in horoscopes, zodiacs, or astrological what nots.  If I’m being honest I might even be a tad dismissive of them. 

I can’t tell you how many times friends and acquaintances alike who subscribe to these beliefs have assigned nearly or even completely contradictory/inaccurate characteristics that were apparently so clearly part of “my sign”.

To illustrate what I mean:

Them:  

Are you an intense introvert? No but you’re an outgoing explorer!

You just love keeping secrets right? But no you are brutally honest!

You’re possessive correct? No but you love your freedom.

Me:  

Yes.

So in summary, I’m apparently a soaking wet horse with a split personality disorder gallivanting under the stars of Pluto and Jupiter, perpetually on fire.

Well at least the stories are interesting right?….

That said, since my destiny has already been apparently preordained, at the beginning of this year I had a novel idea…

Why don’t I just lean into it?

I may not believe it, but hey, I most certainly believe in manifesting things in life so why not do it while the star and the spirits are apparently working in my favor?

Armed with this newfound assertion, I quickly looked up the characteristics that this Year of the Horse is supposed to embody and the following is my interpretation, what I intend to do about it and how it just might relate to you:

So will this Asian thoroughbred manifest a bountiful destiny? I suppose it remains to be seen but I’ll tell ya what…I think this is gonna be a really interesting and fun year because I’m setting it up that way.  

Honestly regardless of what you may believe, the key is to bend whatever storytelling aligns with your version of truth and have IT serve you versus the other way around.

Belief is a powerful force and if you can use it to take your first step, the following steps will quite literally be putting one foot in front of the other, galloping towards the life that was always meant for you…

Giddiyup…

🍬 Sugary

Big news: The Sweet List is now a full mobile app.

Same hand-picked events. Same social battery levels and "Your People" descriptions. But now you can actually filter by what matters to you instead of scrolling through a wall of text every Monday.

Plus we're no longer limited by newsletter character counts, which means more events, more opportunities, more options for your liking.

What's changing:

What's staying the same:

Free premium for a week: Follow us on our new IG @sugary.nyc and comment "community" on our latest post. We'll auto DM you a access code for free premium access.

We just dropped 42 vetted events for the next few weeks.

IFC Center’s Oscar Nominated Shorts Program

You know, I’ve been wanting to write something about this series for sometime but just year after year, there was always something else to write about that was more pressing and the timing just never aligned when it came to the newsletter.

So I’m so happy to FINALLY be able to share what has to be one of my favorite annual film series that occurs every year right before the Oscars.

IFC always offers up the series in 3-4 parts: live action narrative, documentary (may have a part A and B), and animated shorts.

The thing I love most about this series is that it’s like a sampler platter at a restaurant.  A little of this mixed with a little that , each category within itself is such a medley of diverse global film making that it’s honestly a feast for anyone that appreciates storytelling .

All of the selections are typically between 10-30 minutes each and you get the five nominees of each category per screening.

Honestly if you have the constitution, you could theoretically watch all the series back to back in one sitting which I can and have done before.  

Because there’s so much variety and never really feels like it gets old like there’s always something new right around the corner.

Come Oscar time, everyone is always scrambling to check out the 10 main films that are being nominated for best picture because it’s the largest category and it’s the easiest to find.  

But IFC has made these usually elusive categories so much more accessible and it’s honestly so much fun to explore these fun size bits of cinema that are in a class of their own.

If you have time, and you are a cinephile like me, definitely carve out a little bit of time in your calendar to catch this series before the big day.  I promise you it’s worth it and will add so much color to your cinematic conversations for award season and beyond.

🍬 Sugary

This update is moving to our events bi-weekly rotation. so look for this in next week’s mailing.

Community Week is happening this May. If this resonates with you, there are three ways to help:

Donate: Even small contributions add fuel to a fire that's already burning. Link HERE.

Bring programming: If you're part of a community, host events, or have ideas for activations during Community Week, reply back. We want to hear from you.

Sponsor or partner: If you or your company wants to be part of something that's actually building social infrastructure in NYC, let's talk. Reply to this email.

This is collective action that we’re excited to build together with you.

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

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