Good Morning & Hello Friday.

It was Omicron’s week! I’m pretty sure we’re ALL going to get it. But the good news is, those who are vaccinated and boosted seem to have very mild symptoms (at least the people I know). Jim Cramer of CNBC, who got Covid this week, and Scott Morrison (PM of Australia), both talked about how we’re now at a point where we have to learn to live with Covid as an endemic. And that means assuming a certain degree of risk. More people are getting on board with that line of thinking based on what I’m picking up from mayors and governors around the country. I’m not hearing anyone (even in the most Democratic parts of the country) pushing for additional mandated shutdowns (see #1, 2, and 3 below).

It was also TikTok’s week. Besides topping Google as the most visited website in 2021, TikTok is also in the process of opening 300 ghost kitchens (delivery only) offering some of the top food hits from the platform, e.g., baked feta pasta or smash burgers (#7).

Next week, I’ll be doing a best/worst of 2021 with predictions for 2022. This is last year’s. I was wrong about a few things but spot-on about others, e.g., I did not buy into all that nonsense about ‘we’re all going to be baking bread and never returning to restaurants.’ Of the 5 things I wished for personally for 2021, 3 came to pass but I failed to make it to another State Fair or go on another Nat Geo trip. But it’s looking good for both for 2022!

And just a heads up on the vibe this week, I’m covering some topics that are a little more serious and gloomy than what I normally write about. But that’s what’s on my radar as we close out the year.

1. [watch] My take on all things Omicron +++

2. We’re all going to get it! But I refuse to freak out about it

“You can’t stop it. There’s going to be an ‘assuming the risk’ moment. I’m triple vaccinated and I’ve never had a cold as weak as this.”

Jim Cramer, CNBC Dec 20, 2021

[watch] from Scott Morrison, Australia’s Prime Minister (2 mins)

“We have to learn to live with it. We are moving beyond a culture of mandates to a culture of responsibility. If you don’t get vaccinated, you are likely to get very sick and even die from the virus.”

Scott Morrison, Australian PM

And with that, I believe we’re close to putting it behind us, moving from pandemic to endemic. Will we have to get annual shots? MOST LIKELY! But shutting down our businesses and isolating ourselves for 10 days for something that is weaker than a cold? NOPE! Get vaccinated, get on with life.

3. Subway Jam-packed with Workers who do not have the luxury of working from home (approx. 20% of the workforce)

1. Last Friday at 5:15pm, I made my way uptown, on the subway, to an early dinner. I noticed that my subway car was filled with service and construction workers (and one lone lawyer based on his briefcase).
2. It was not lost on me that the people on my train did not have the luxury of working from home whereas all the office types at the jam-packed fancy restaurant where I was having dinner, were spoiled in that they could decide where they would zoom in from, be it home or someplace more exotic, anywhere it seems but the office!
3. Bottom line: It’s absurd that people can claim to be terrified of catching covid from their co-workers at spacious offices but have no qualms about catching it from anyone at a jam-packed restaurant or bar. And businesses are too terrified of their workers to call them out on it.

4. “workforce housing” moving ahead way faster than “affordable housing”

1. Not a new concept but over the last couple of months, “workforce” housing has been popping up in my newsfeed with great frequency. Workforce housing developments also seem to be getting greenlit and moving ahead at a much faster pace (and with more investors) than “affordable” housing projects.
2. Why? Perhaps because everyone is impacted by “worker shortages” and recognizes that housing costs have outpaced worker salaries?
3. “Affordable housing,” on the other hand, has long been associated with homelessness. Read any article about why there are so many homeless people, and the first thing that comes up is “they are homeless because there is not enough affordable housing.” That not only stigmatizes the term “affordable” housing, but based on my research, it’s also largely untrue. See #5 below.

5. Homelessness: Affordable housing is not the solution when mental illness and substance abuse are rampant

1. 2.5 to 3.5 million individuals experience homelessness over the course of a year.
2. Mental illness had preceded homelessness in about two-thirds of the cases. (Source: Psychiatric Times)
3. Substance abuse was the single largest cause of homelessness for single adults (reported by 68% of cities).
4. Addiction can cause job loss and loss of housing. The National Coalition for the Homeless found 38% of homeless people are alcohol dependent, and 26% are dependent on other harmful chemicals. (Source: Addiction Center)
5. The combination of mental illness, substance abuse, and poor physical health makes it difficult to maintain employment and residential stability.

Believing the mentally ill on the streets and in subways just need more government housing is delusional. What’s needed is mental health care facilities and it should not be left up to the mentally ill homeless to decide if, when, or for how long, they want to stay in treatment. Unfortunately, this problem will likely not be resolved any time soon. Why? Because there are too many grifters in and around local government who are making too much money off this situation. It’s in THEIR best interests to keep people homeless which means keeping them addicted and seriously mentally ill.

6. Gen-Z (especially males) are giving up on college: 66% don’t see the value (Source: Instagram 2022 Trend Report)

1. Almost two years into the coronavirus crisis, many high school seniors have dramatically changed their likelihood of attending a four-year school, down nearly 20% to 53%, from 71%.
2. Even before the pandemic, families were starting to question the return on investment. A majority now say affordability and dealing with the debt burden is their top concern, per The Princeton Review’s 2021 College Hopes & Worries survey.
3. A majority of high school students are now applying to colleges with lower sticker prices. One-third are applying to colleges closer to home.
4. In 2020, 500,000 would-be college students opted out entirely. The fall’s incoming freshmen dropped 13% from a year earlier. (Source: CNBC)
5. Per Brookings Institution, the 13% decline has been driven largely by a drop in total male enrollment, which was over seven times larger than the drop in female enrollment. Their research also indicates this is a global trend, not US-specific.

7. TikTok Kitchen Will launch 300 delivery-only (ghost) restaurants in March 2022

1. TikTok Kitchen will kick off in March with menu items including Jenni Häyrinen’s oven-baked feta pasta. This was the most searched dish on Google for 2021. One of the versions on TikTok has over 1.6MM likes.
2. TikTok is partnering with Virtual Dining Concepts, run by Robert Earl, the restaurateur behind Planet Hollywood and Buca Di Beppo. Founded in 2018, Virtual Dining Concepts runs several delivery-only ghost restaurants for celebrities and influencers, including YouTube celebrity MrBeast (who runs his own virtual restaurant business, MrBeast Burger), Guy Fieri, Steve Harvey, Mariah Carey, Tyga and others. The company also has a partnership with Barstool Sports.
3. TikTok will be giving a cut of its Kitchen profits to the creators of those recipes on its platform. This seems really murky to me. How will they decide whose recipe to credit. There are so many versions on the platform and the originator’s version may not be the best or the most popular.

8. Did everybody get their personal dining review from resy? (Rodrigo, you get a shoutout!)

This Is VERY FUN!! Thanks, Resy, for reminding me of all the great dining experiences I’ve had at restaurants over the past year!! You also reminded me that I haven’t been traveling. NEXT YEAR, however, watch out – it’s looking super international.

9. Natiivo Austin: Luxury Condos zoned as HOTELS (by airbnb) partners with IndieWalls artists for Texas-inspired decor

1. Natiivo, a sold-out condominium complex built in partnership with Airbnb is streamlining the rentals approach with built-in home-sharing management and hotel amenities.
2. Natiivo is also partnering with NY design consultancy Indiewalls to decorate the building with work created by 12 Texas artists. The multimedia works will appear throughout the building, as well as in a top-floor gallery. (Source: Culture Map Austin)

So many trends happening here!!! Interesting that the developer chose to partner with AirbnB – zoning the building as a hotel for short or long-term rentals. Additionally, bringing in the Texas-based artists makes it cooler and more appealing to younger buyers/renters.

10. stylespotting: Uptown, Downtown, All-Around town

1. This may be my top style and fashion discovery of 2021 (and I’ve had some great ones this year). I spotted this fabulous young woman on 5th Avenue, on my way to the MET. I had to sprint to catch up with her. She was not only cool, she was very gracious in letting me snap pics of her amazing hair (and outfit).
2. HYPERCOLOR: my top hair trend for 2022.

1. Over-sized, chunky shoes and sneakers: another major trend for 2022 (also spotted at the MET).
2. Anyone know this brand? Looks a bit like Converse but not sure. If anyone recognizes it, please let me know.

1. Spotted this amazing coat at an artists’ panel discussion at Zurcher Gallery off the Bowery.
2. Again, I can’t make out the label but the fabric and the adornments (buttons primarily) on the back of the coat are fabulous.

And that’s a wrap for this week.

Again, strange end of year with Omicron lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce the minute we let our guards down. That said, I refuse to huddle at home. I am, instead, so looking forward to a fun, celebratory Xmas Eve dinner in Chinatown followed by a fabulous Xmas Day lunch at Shun Lee West. And here’s a TIP for anyone visiting NYC, check out Ian Schrager’s fabulous Disco Tree outside The Public, his LES hotel. Super cool. Until next week, my friends, wishing you all a great Holiday Season.