Good Morning and Hello Friday.

Big thanks to my friend Richard Degnan for inviting me to check out the Field+Supply Makers Fair up in Kingston on Saturday. MAJOR trend scouting and celeb spotting! (#2 below).

Then on Sunday, I was woken up at the crack of dawn, by the sounds of engines popping. At first, I thought it was those pesky, insanely loud souped-up cars and ATVs that often take over the Bowery on the weekends. But it seemed a little early for those guys. At around 8 am, I got up to investigate. WHOA! It was a commercial shoot for Red Bull F1 open-wheel racing (#5 below). So cool and so LOUD!! [But not as loud as the gunshots I heard earlier, at 3 am, also from the Bowery. Watch the video for more details.]

And finally, an update on that Benjamin Moore/NY Rangers pop-up situation from last week’s post. They opened the pop-up on Tuesday. It’s to celebrate Rod Gilbert (“Mr. Ranger”) who recently passed away. I asked why they selected this neighborhood and the best I could gather was that they want to attract younger fans. Let me just say, this is possibly the LAMEST pop-up ever. It’s totally corporate and stuffy and absolutely no fun. I doubt anybody from this neighborhood will turn into a Rangers fan based on this experience.

[watch] VIDEO: weekly trend recap

2. Field+Supply Makers Fair: Kingston

NOT NEW, BUT NEW TO ME:

1. Founded in 2014 by Brad Ford, Field+Supply is a modern makers craft fair that takes place twice a year along the Hudson River at Hutton Brickyards in Kingston, NY.  It’s a celebration of craft and community with delicious food, live entertainment and other fun activities for the entire family. It’s very gay friendly, dog friendly, and kid friendly. It’s Brooklyn on the Hudson.
2. The biggest fashion trend? Jumpsuits for women (see below).
3. Best two vendors: Hetta (Nordic glogg) and Maison Bergogne (pics below).

Many of my retail friends attended over the weekend (especially those working in home furnishings). However, this is a great fair for anybody working in trends or marketing. It’s super cool on multiple levels: the vibe, the vendors, the attendees. And again, thank you Richard for putting it on my radar and for inviting me to attend with you, Jourdan and Lily.

3. Trendspotting: best street-style looks

NYC streetstyle ALWAYS delivers. Be on the lookout for more goth-style and despite the naysayers, Balenciaga is hotter than ever.

4. Squid Game Effect: White Slip-On Vans up 7800% (!!!!)

HERE’S THE SCOOP:

1. Squid Game is #1 in over 90 countries. The competitors’ matching green jackets and white Vans shoes have now become synonymous with the show.
2. Variety reports that green and white tracksuits have become instant bestsellers on Amazon since the show’s premiere in September, while Sole Supplier reports that white slip-on Vans have seen a 7800% spike in sales over the same timespan.
3. Google Trends data shows that over that past 30 days, the Squid Game costume was the most popular Halloween search in the United States.

5. Red Bull F1 Open-Wheel Racing Hits the Bowery

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnobz6cDt7I

HERE’S WHAT I’VE UNCOVERED ABOUT THIS EARLY MORNING RED BULL RUN:

1. This is the build up for the US Grand Prix which will be in Miami in 2022. After NYC, Red Bull Racing headed to Dallas.
2. Driver, according to online sources, is Checo Perez but based on what I saw on social media, he was in Istanbul.
3. Car is Honda (but engine is Renault).

Next stop: Texas

THIS was totally worth waking up for – only sorry I didn’t get up earlier for better footage. And big thank you to the British Red Bull Racing street crew for getting me a great viewing spot!!

6. NYC car ownership up 40%. Explains all the overturned vehicles???

HERE’S THE SCOOP:

1. In Manhattan alone, new car registrations rose 76% and in Brooklyn, registrations climbed 45%.
2. Between sidewalk restaurants taking up road space and the e-bike and scooter boom, it’s wild on the streets.
3. But it’s not just in NY, it’s nationwide. Austin TX, for example, is seeing record road fatalities with speed the primary factor.

Along with everything else unruly these days, traffic is totally out of control. I’ve finally given up my Citibike membership. Traffic is just too willy-nilly. E-bikes, scooters and cars are no longer satisfied with the streets, cars and motorcycles have taken over bike lanes and even sidewalks! All traveling at top speed and more times than not, going against traffic. I’m surprised there aren’t even more accidents.

7. While on the topic of bad behavior, Anyone else getting gross messages on Instagram?

Drives me batsh*t crazy to see Instagram roll out the welcome mat for icky porn solicitations (I get dozens daily!) but they suspend my account for posting a nude sculpture from a museum show.

1. Instagram has threatened to suspend my account on several occasions because I’ve posted images from artists who deal with the body, e.g., the above sculptures by Gagosian artist, Dan Colen from his retrospective at the Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo.
2. Instagram is not, however, perturbed that they deliver millions of gross pornographic messages to their users EVERY DAY. I get so annoyed I report and block them but Instagram clearly has no interest in stopping them. They must be getting a cut from these porn accounts.
3. But Instagram’s days may be numbered as it faces the same fate as Facebook, i.e., aging out and attracting fewer younger users. Per a new survey of 10,000 young people from Piper Sandler, Snapchat is #1 with teens (35% share) followed by TikTok (30%), then Instagram (22%, -300 bps Y/Y).

8. Onto something more pleasant: It’s Ice Rink Time!

THE SCOOP:

1. The Cosmopolitan’s rooftop ice rink (in the Boulevard Pool space) will open Nov. 16 through Jan. 2, 2022. They’re transforming that whole area into a holiday “wonderland.” Additionally, they’ll create a holiday village with firepits and a new dining area called The Chalet. Holiday films will be playing above the rink on the resort’s 65-foot marquee.
2. NYC’s Rink at Rockefeller Center, will open on Saturday, Nov. 6. And they’ll be offering “proposal packages” for couples interested in creating very public “pop the question” moments!
3. Bryant Park’s Winter Village is another goodie. And it’s opening earlier (Oct 29). It’s also NYC’s only free admission ice skating rink.

9. Boise Entrepreneur Week: taking food/beverage startups from the farmers market to the supermarket!

HERE’S THE SCOOP:

1. Now in its 6th year, Boise Entrepreneur Week’s Trailmix Pitch Competition allows early-stage entrepreneurs to compete for a chance at winning a $25,000 grand prize and shelf space at Albertsons, with $5,000 going to the runner-up.
2. The seven finalists include Naughty Fruit (a spiced dried fruit inspired by the founder’s Mexican family heritage), Roots Chips (handmade, gluten-free, all-natural Idaho potato chips sourced directly from their family farm), ERTH Beverage Company (small-batch, honey sweetened functional beverages), Chicana Foods (gourmet salsa company founded by three first-generation Mexican-American sisters), Cocoa Bombs LLC, Free Spirits Beverage Company (micro-craft batched non-alcoholic beverages), and Three Sisters Artisanal Meats (makers of authentic, old world, artisanal chorizo).

LOVE the concept of “take it from the farmer’s market to the supermarket.” And EVERYTHING sounds delicious (although I am partial to those artisanal meats). Congrats to all these amazing start-ups for making it to the finals. I can’t wait to follow up to hear who won the grand prize.

10. NEW APP ALERT: SmartHop. For the 91% of U.S. trucking companies that operate six or fewer vehicles

HERE’S THE SCOOP:

1. The SmartHop AI-powered app now available on the Apple Store and Google Play store, enables truckers to find the most convenient, high-paying loads right from their phones.
2. SmartHop targets the 91% of U.S. trucking companies that operate six or fewer vehicles. Its platform provides load booking services, back office support, routes to optimize revenue, and lower fuel and insurance prices for small carriers and owner-operators to help them compete with larger rivals.
3. CEO Guillermo Garcia said SmartHop, which started in 2021 with 50 workers, has tripled its employees after opening new offices in New York City and Bogota, Colombia. Backers include NY-based Union Square Ventures and RyderVentures, a venture capital fund led by Miami logistics giant Ryder System.

If this company operates as efficiently as it claims, this is a total game changer. Great concept.

And with that, it’s a wrap.

GREAT WEEK. Too many highlights to pick just one but I must say social activities have really ramped up. I’ve particularly enjoyed seeing friends from around the country who are visiting NYC.

But I would be remiss if I did not do a special shoutout to David Moreland. He made our Oktoberfest dinner at Blume/Hutte doubly fabulous when he starting singing. He brought the house down with his rendition of “Roll out the Barrel” among other Oktoberfest classics. SO FUN!!

And that is it, my friends. This coming weekend and early next week some MAJOR cocktailing going down. Temple Bar is reopening, helmed by some of the best mixologists in NYC. I’ve also been invited to the preview of the Chapel Bar which sounds HEAVENLY!! Plus hitting up (twice) the new restaurant at the Great Jones Distillery. A busy week ahead and you will read all about it next Friday!