TOP 10 LIST: Amazingly, People Are Still Opening New Businesses

This week has been equal parts opportunity and despair (THAT debate, and now Trump tests positive for COVID!). Fortunately, I also see green shoots of rejuvenation all around me. I remain upbeat about the future.

Most exciting of all has been discovering the many ways everyday people are tapping into their creativity and ingenuity to dig themselves (and us) out of this pandemic.

Applications for new U.S. businesses are rising at the fastest rate since 2007. The jump may be one sign that the pandemic is speeding up “creative destruction,” the concept describing how new, innovative businesses often displace older, less-efficient ones, buoying long-term prosperity.

WSJ, Sept 26, 2020

Fingers crossed this trend has legs and some of these new businesses stick. I am certainly seeing it firsthand on the restaurant and gallery fronts where there have been so many closings and yet, surprisingly, new businesses are opening as well.

Scroll down for the week’s Top 10 List, strong on hospitality and entertainment.
1. INDOOR DINING is back/OUTDOOR made PERMANENT in NYC
Newest: Private Rooftop Whisky Lounge, o.d.o. by ODO (39 East 13th Street)

Chef Hiroki Odo opened o.d.o by ODO last week. Rodrigo Padilla and I checked it out last night.

  • This private, very chic, whisky lounge located on a sixth-floor penthouse in Greenwich Village offers stunning views and both outdoor and indoor seating.
  • They serve a collection of rare Japanese whiskies from the House of Suntory (their partner in this endeavor), including some from Odo’s personal collection. Each 2-hour seating comes with an assemblage of small bites and 6 whisky cocktail samplings.
  • It’s on the spendy side at $200 per person plus tax and tip (just over $500 for the two of us).
  • Much as I would like to, I can’t unequivocally recommend the whisky lounge. For the price, it needs a few tweaks. On the drinks side, I’d like to see a greater range of cocktails e.g., a Japanese Manhattan.
  • However, keep in mind that while I am fairly knowledgeable about cocktails, I am not particularly educated about Japanese whisky brands nor am I an omakase expert.
  • For those who are in the know on Japanese whiskies and omakase dining, I would say this is worth checking out.
  • Email for reservations: whisky.reservation@gmail.com
BARs/RESTAURANTs are increasingly JAMPACKED – especially downtown!

My favorites this week were the Garden at the Standard East Village and Peasant (taken over earlier this year by Marc Forgione, with front-of-house run by his sister, Cara).

But the most popular spot downtown, if the lines are any indication, is So Sarap NYC, a Filipino BBQ pop-up on the Lower East Side. At least 100 people in line on Sunday.

Standard Garden
Peasant, Nolita, NYC

Does anyone remember all those articles about how we’ll NEVER go back to restaurants because we’re all so happily cooking and baking at home? As recently as July, the NY Times ran a piece titled, “I’m Not Ready to Go Back to Restaurants. Is Anyone?” SO, SO WRONG!

2. More Boozy News: Big Shout Out to Veuve Clicquot (Source: HighSnobiety)

Veuve Clicquot partnered (for the second time) with one of my favorite artists, Yayoi Kusama, for this limited-edition gift box and bottle of La Grande Dame 2012.

  • The gift box and bottle ($195) are available now. Visit VeuveClicquot.com for more info.

I also want to thank all the bartenders who are keeping me pleasantly buzzed these days. I’ve never seen so many great cocktails created in such a short period of time.

And, most importantly, still immensely grateful to Miley Cyrus for inspiring me to dial back the drinking to no more than 2 cocktails per outing. I am indeed now waking up each morning, “feeling 110%.”

3. MEET THE OWNER: leo fitzpatrick, PUBLIC ACCESS GALLERY

I read about this new gallery on ArtNet, did some research, and dashed over to St. Mark’s Place to check it out. It is a gorgeous, intimate space with a great vibe. The inaugural show is of Mark Gonzales’ work of boards and drawings. The drawing I especially loved was – unfortunately (for me) – already sold.

I didn’t know Leo until we met last Friday but we have a shared passion for street/skater art. And we both got our start collecting through Aaron Rose’s Alleged Gallery. Leo also has a long-standing association with Supreme.

Per ArtNet:

Former Marlborough director Leo Fitzpatrick opened a subterranean space at 8 St Marks Place, the Champs-Élysées of the East Village. The dealer and actor, who famously broke out playing Telly in the Larry Clark film “Kids,” has long called the neighborhood home. The gallery is called Public Access, and the first show is of Mark Gonzales, the skateboarder, and artist who came up in the Alleged Gallery scene, and has had solo shows at Franklin Parrasch and appeared in group shows at Luhring Augustine and Hauser & Wirth.

Wet Paint, ArtNet News
4. Moschino Milan Runway Show courtesy of Jim Henson creations (Source: Jamie Dwyer)

Absolutely adore this. Major thanks to Jamie Dwyer for putting on my radar! Plus kudos to Jeremy Scott, Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, and Alex Winter for giving us this wonderful runway show filled with marionettes instead of models. If you have a few minutes to spare, watch the video and keep an eye on the front row for Anna Wintour and Edward Enninful (British Vogue). SIMPLY FABULOUS!

5. “Concerts in Your Car” – drive-thru is the trend!

A new socially-distanced drive-in concert series called “Concerts in Your Car” is about to debut at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. Staged by CBF Productions, the inaugural show features Tower of Power and kicks off on October 16. Other acts to follow include The Beach Boys, Aaron Lewis & Sully Erna, and 311. (Source: All About Arizona News)

ALSO: The World’s largest drive-thru animated light show (Source: KTAR News)

Returning to Arizona for the Holiday Season, Illumination of Light will be set up in Glendale and Tempe in early November.

6. State Fairs 2020: Drive-Thru only Food Experiences

Arizona and Texas canceled their state fairs this year BUT both States are still hosting drive-thru versions of their annual fairs’ food experiences.

  • In AZ, demand was so high, an additional weekend was added. People still had to wait for hours in their cars to get fried funnel cake, turkey leg, and Indian fry bread.
  • At the Big Tex Fair Food Drive-Thruin Dallas, people actually ran out of gas while waiting in line for up to 5 hours!
7. What’s up with all the sporty cars in NYC lately?

Anybody else noticing this or am I imagining this as a trend?

I see – and hear – so many sporty cars around town. Ever since the pandemic hit.

  • Sighted most often: Honda Civic Type R’s, BMWi8’s (which are being discontinued despite being BMW’s best selling sports car), and Dodge Challengers.
  • Yet I haven’t found any statistics to back up my observations. The only somewhat relevant finding is that in NYC total vehicle collisions have more than doubled, from a low of 4,000 in April to nearly 10,000 in the month of August.

NEWEST: Ferrari just launched their brand new 200 mph Portofino M. And it looks amazing (of course!).

8. Global Survey: online behavior in Retail, Banking, Entertainment (Source: ForgeRock)

ForgeRock, a leading provider in digital identity, released a new global report: “The New Normal – Living Life Online.”

The study polled 5,000 consumers in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Australia, and Singapore to understand how consumer behaviors and preferences have evolved since the start of COVID-19 restrictions and how they plan to purchase and engage with the world in the future.

Key findings:

  • Nearly half (45%) will use more online services post-pandemic
  • Tolerance for poor digital experiences is thin and many won’t hesitate to switch apps or abandon shopping carts for something that’s easier to use and delivers a better overall user experience
  • Consumers 65 and older have embraced digital lifestyles, with 31% planning to only shop online after stay-at-home restrictions are lifted
  • One-third of consumers ages 18-24 say they won’t return to stadiums or theaters; instead, they plan to keep watching sports, concerts, and movies online
  • Singapore and the U.S. led in registering for new apps and online services, German respondents favored in-person activities more than any other region surveyed

Based on the survey findings, consumers will continue to engage online for entertainment, retail and banking after the pandemic. However, for at least two-thirds of consumers, healthcare visits and grocery shopping will revert back to in-person activities, likely due to the personal nature and quality of the experience. Other activities, such as education, might best be served in a hybrid model.

ForgeRock

The full findings of the report can be found here, including regional insights specific to the U.S., the U.K., Germany, Australia and Singapore.

9. Has anyone checked out Tend Dentistry? They’re on fire!!

It’s a technology-driven dental startup that’s recently been popping up on my Instagram. They’ve been raising money hand-over-fist from a stellar roster of investors including the founders of Allbirds, Harry’s, and Warby Parker. They’ve raised an additional $37 million as of 10/1/20 bringing their total to $73 million.

They initially launched in October 2019 before shutting down in March for the pandemic.

Highlights of the business from their 10/1/20 press release:

  • In 2021 Tend will expand from five existing locations in New York to over 20 metros starting with Boston and Washington DC.
  • Within 30 days, after reopening in June, new patient appointments had recovered by 85%. As of late September, Tend’s revenue has recovered by over 150%.
  • Their innovative approach to oral care infuses hospitality elements into the patient experience with offerings like visit customization and price transparency. They also offer sleek waiting areas, “Netflix in your chair” with your favorite shows queued up before you arrive for your appointment, and Bose headphones.
  • Tend’s co-founder and CEO is Doug Hudson, former CEO of SmileDirectClub. Before that, he founded two medical care companies that were acquired: Hearing Planet and Simplex Healthcare.
10. Why I’m weaning myself off Facebook: Sick of the divisiveness (and the redesign looks shitty too)

A largely ignored internal memo to senior executives at Facebook in 2018 explained: “Our algorithms exploit the human brain’s attraction to divisiveness.” Left unchecked, the algorithms will feed users “more and more divisive content in an effort to gain user attention and increase time on the platform”.

Jeff Orlowski, director of the documentary The Social Dilemma
The Guardian, 9/27/2020
And with that, it’s a wrap

Wishing everyone a great start to pumpkin season. I’ve noticed that Loreley, the restaurant/beer garden across the street from me, is getting humongous deliveries almost daily. I investigated and found they turn pumpkins into individual kegs. Hollowed out and pumped full of beer, each pumpkin turns into a beer gourd. Immensely popular as you can imagine.

Also on deck for this weekend: a trip upstate to Cold Spring to visit the private Magazzino Italian Art Museum. Fall foliage and amazing art – what could be better?

I will report back on this and more next week! In the meantime, have a great weekend everyone!

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