How the Union Square Partnership puts on the ‘best food event’ in New Yorks’

September 12, 2018 by Leave a Comment

The 23rd annual Harvest in the Square will

As Harvest in the Square, a fundraising event put on by the Union Square Partnership and a favorite of foodies in the area, gears up for its 23rd edition later this month, patrons and sponsors alike reminisce on the good it has done for the neighborhood and look toward the park’s promising future still ahead.

These days, the partnership funds the park’s repairs, seasonal plantings, and seating area additions, but it also focuses on providing the neighborhood with a series of free programs year-round. From cooking demos with some of the city’s best chefs to outdoor concerts and film screenings, the organization offers events to maintain Union Square’s booming reputation, all free of cost.

This year’s Harvest in the Square will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 20. Tickets start at $125, or $150 on the day, and can be purchased at www.harvestinthesquare.nyc

Read more here.

Filed Under: Cooking, Events, Heard on The Street, Local Market Buzz, Trending Now Tagged With: , , , , ,

Amazon Go expands its reach to New York City

September 11, 2018 by Leave a Comment

“Amazon Go is headed to New York City, the company confirmed last week, though it did not provide a timeline for opening or specify where in the city the store would be located.”

“Amazon Go requires customers to scan a QR code before they enter the store, then utilizes finely calibrated cameras and shelf weights to track what they’ve grabbed off the shelf before they leave. The company has opened three Go stores in Seattle, including one that opened just last week, and plans to open locations in Chicago and San Francisco.”

“Competitors are also hot on Amazon’s heels, with Microsoft and numerous startups racing to implement cashier-less technology. Some companies, including AiFi, have said they’re able to cover large stores as well as small ones, thus opening up availability to supermarkets as well as c-stores.”

View more here.

Filed Under: Heard on The Street, Local Market Buzz, Openings, Shopbuzz

Pita bread is simple to make and worth the wait.

September 11, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Homemade pita bread is so much better — and easier — than you might think

” (…) Given the current renaissance of Middle Eastern cuisine, it seems a good time to master the bread that is the traditional accompaniment to so much of that food. Because if you’re going to make or source all the excellent stuff that you put inside a pita, it seems a bit mournful to use the store-bought bread — often stale and tasteless as cardboard — when it’s so easy to make it yourself.”

“And watching the pitas rise in the oven, a few minutes worth of culinary magic, is a trick that never gets old.”

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Filed Under: Global Market Buzz, Opportunities, Trending Now

New Bars and Restaurants Opening in NYC this Fall

September 10, 2018 by Leave a Comment

“The summer is coming to a close, but a new slew of bars and restaurants are just starting to open. As the temperature starts to cool down, make your way to one of these new spots for great food, drinks, and atmosphere. Whether it is an expansion of an old favorite or a brand new take on the New York restaurant scene, here are 18 bars and restaurants to keep your eye on when they open their doors this fall.”

“Recreation is a new bar from nightlife hitmaker Jon Neidich, whose Happiest Hour and Tijuana Picnic are popular party spots in the city. It’s set to open in the upcoming Moxy NYC Downtown hotel, located at 26 Ann Street, in September.

As with Neidich’s Slowly Shirley, a 1940s-themed basement bar, Recreation has a very deliberate throwback concept. The 5,000-square-foot space is meant to look and feel like a 1980s house party, equipped with skee-ball and an arcade machine with classics like Ms. Pacman, Centipede, and Donkey Kong. There’s also Twister, with a twist: Instead of a mat, the colored dots for this truly nonsensical but enduring game are painted on the floor.”

View more openings here.

Filed Under: Events, Local Market Buzz, Openings Tagged With: , ,

How to Create Facebook In-Stream Video Ads

September 7, 2018 by Leave a Comment

“Because Facebook in-stream video ads interrupt what people are viewing, your video needs to capture your audience’s attention quickly.

One way to do this is to tell a story and make the narrative something that your audience will respond to. If the first 5 seconds of the story grabs their interest, they’ll likely want to know what happens at the end. To go one step further, include a call to action so people can visit your website to find out what happened next.

Another tactic is to show something that’s a shock/surprise in the first 5 seconds. Teach your audience something, make them laugh, or say something controversial and explain it (if it’s appropriate for your brand). At the beginning of the video, explain the problem and promise a solution.

Consider using text overlay for viewers who are watching your video with the sound muted. This may also be a good solution if you don’t have the resources for an expensive media production. You can create a video slideshow instead.”

Read more here.

Filed Under: Opportunities, Shopbuzz, Trending Now Tagged With: , , ,

NYC’s Newest Viral Food Is the $75 Smoked Watermelon ‘Ham’

September 7, 2018 by Leave a Comment

The latest viral food to hit NYC has a lot in common with ones of the past: The smoked watermelon “ham” at Duck’s Eatery is one thing (a fruit), but when it’s sliced, dramatically looks like another (meat). Chef and co-owner Will Horowitz says that after videos from several food sites collectively racked up nearly 100 million views, the $75 product is sold out until November. “We’re getting a request every minute or two,” Horowitz says. “I had to set up an auto-reply on our email.”

See more here.

Filed Under: Heard on The Street, Local Market Buzz, Trending Now Tagged With: ,

Williamsburg’s Butler Bake Shop has launched a second location in DUMBO

September 6, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Butler Bake Shop DUMBO - interior and view

“Just like in Williamsburg, Butler Bake Shop features an aesthetically pleasing design with brass tabletops, sleek steel elements and bistro-style chairs (it’s ok, you can pretend your in Paris for a while). But with its prime location on the corner of Dock St, dare we say it’s more beautiful than the original – I mean, just look at the Brooklyn Bridge showing off in the distance.”

See more here.

Filed Under: Events, Openings, Retail Spotlight

Dunkin’ Donuts Invests $100 Million in Brand Refresh

September 5, 2018 by Leave a Comment

A Dunkin' Donuts store in New York.

“The coffee and doughnut chain plans to unveil 50 U.S. test stores this year that aim to make it easier for customers to grab coffee on the run with dedicated pickup areas, digital kiosks and expanded drive-through windows that prioritize orders via mobile app.
Dunkin’ is launching the redesigned store concept to keep pace in the hot competition over coffee. McDonald’s Corp. and Starbucks Corp. also have attempted to cater to on-the-go customers ordering through mobile apps. More than half of Dunkin’s $100 million investment will go toward store equipment to aid the on-the-go beverage strategy. The rest will go toward technology infrastructure and training.”

See more here.

Filed Under: Global Market Buzz, Heard on The Street, Operations

Email Marketing Remains A Prime Promotional Tactic

September 4, 2018 by Leave a Comment

“With the rise of social media and texting, some saw email as a communication vehicle that would eventually disappear. However, this mode of messaging is still an inescapable part of everyday life.

“Email was also cited as the preferred contact method to receive an offer from brands, cited by 50% of respondents, though older consumers felt this sentiment more strongly.
It was still first choice across age groups but was lower among those 18 to 24 (32%) and 25 to 34 (44%). Oddly, Adobe did not break out ages over 35. Taken as a whole, 55% of that older group preferred brands contact them through email.

View more here.

Filed Under: Global Market Buzz, Local Market Buzz, Operations

Irving Farm Underscores its New York Nativity with New Name and Brand

September 4, 2018 by Leave a Comment

LES Irving Farm-1

“New York City-based Irving Farm Coffee Roasters is now doing business as Irving Farm New York, a name change that was launched earlier this month in conjunction with an updated brand and website — all inspired by the city in which the company was founded.

Irving Farm opened its first cafe in 1996 on Irving Place in Gramercy Park. Two decades later, there are eight retail spaces across Manhattan — with additional locations in the works — as well as a roasting headquarters and another cafe in Millerton, New York.”

“We have updated both our voice and aesthetic through typeface, imagery, copy, and material pallets,” said Popoff. “These updates affected all packaging (cups, bags, mugs), in-store signage, and a full website refresh. Essentially all imagery and written copy was updated to reflect the new brand direction.”

Read more here.

Filed Under: Heard on The Street, Openings, Operations
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