WeWork Ventures into Coffee Retail with Bluestone Lane Partnership

WeWork coffee bar

“The popular co-working and office space provider WeWork today unveiled Made by We, a public retail concept that includes a full cafe from New York-based and self-described “Australian-inspired” coffee chain Bluestone Lane.

Located at 902 Broadway in the heart of Manhattan’s Flatiron district, the Bluestone Lane bar stands at the center of the new concept from WeWork umbrella company The We Company, which signaled an intention to open more retail locations in the future.

While the Made by We location includes 100 bookable individual workspaces and meeting spaces for groups, it varies from other WeWork locations in that a subscription or booking is not required to enter.

In addition to Bluestone Lane, there are other vendors within the retail space offering items like snacks, apparel and digital accessories. Bluestone Lane said it is including its full extensive coffee and espresso drinks menu, along with its freshly prepared toasts, and grab-and-go items including gluten-free pastries from Husk Bakeshop.”

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Impact of Min Wage Increase / NYCHA Survey & Results

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See here NYCHA Survey and Results on Minimum Wage Increase

Key marketing trends on Instagram

The Top 2018 Instagram Trends for Small Business

2018 Instagram Trends

If your business has an Instagram presence or if you’re thinking about starting one this year, here are some of the top statistics, updates and trends from 2018.

  • Instagram had about 800 million worldwide users earlier this year. That number has since grown to over 1 billion.
  • In fact, the app has more than 1 billion downloads on Google Play alone.
  • 95 million photos and videos are uploaded to the platform daily.
  • 53 percent of those who use social media have an account on Instagram.
  • And 61 percent of Instagram users said they used Instagram more often this year than they did during the previous year.
  • It’s also especially popular with young people. 50 percent of Gen Z social media users are on Instagram.
  • And it’s popular with consumers who are willing and able to spend; 31 percent of adults on Instagram earn at least $75,000 annually.”

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Dark Chocolate Oreos Are a New Permanent Flavor Hitting Shelves Soon

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“Oreo‘s newest flavor isn’t as crazy as their usual offerings—and even more surprising, it’s here to stay.

The beloved cookie company announced on Wednesday that Dark Chocolate Oreos will become a permanent flavor hitting shelves next year. The brand decided to announce the news timed to the upcoming winter solstice, the day with the shortest period of daylight (so the darkest day of the year), on Dec. 21 even though the cookies won’t hit stands until Jan. 2.

The new treats come with a dark chocolate creme—”made with real cocoa” as touted on the packaging—sandwiched between their classic chocolate wafers.”

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Green Giant Debuts Riced Cauliflower Stuffing

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“Thanksgiving will always be a day of over-eating, but there are ways to make your meal a smidge healthier and still enjoy all the holiday favorites. Our kitchen team has come up with plenty of paleo, keto, and vegan-friendly Thanksgiving recipes, if you follow one of those particular diets. And now, Green Giant is throwing low-carb eaters a bone with their new Riced Cauliflower Stuffing.”

“Green Giant confirmed the new, healthy side will be coming to select retailers in November, and will roll out nationwide in January. According to the brand, it is “an ideal way to cut carbs and reduce calories by 45 percent.” Best of all, it can be cooked in just eight minutes, making meal prep ridiculously easy.”

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

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.”

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Black Seed Nomad opened a fourth location for the bagel shop

Black Seed Bagels NoMad - bagels

The menu balances traditional offerings with more adventurous combinations, from smoked salmon with cream cheese to buffalo cauliflower and beet-cured lox. Other must-try options include the Miami Vice (turkey melt with Swiss cheese and dijon mustard), Milk & Honey (ricotta, apple and honey), and The Combo (loaded with meats and pepperoncini peppers). Did we mention the pizza bagels, served open-faced with melted mozzarella and  pepperoni?”

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Restaurants Near the Steam Pipe Explosion Are Losing Tens of Thousands of Dollars

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“Flatiron restaurants are losing tens of thousands of dollars in the days following the steam pipe explosion in the neighborhood — an incident last week that sprayed asbestos throughout the area and forced dozens of buildings to evacuate.

Taj II, a two-floor lounge and popular private events space on 21st Street, is in its fifth day of closure since the explosion on Thursday morning. Operations director Christopher Collins canceled several private events over the weekend, including a bar mitzvah, and two brunch services that would have had more than 400 people at each. He lost more than $100,000 in the process, he says.

Besides restaurants and other businesses, the steam pipe explosion impacted residents in the area, many of whom still couldn’t return home by Sunday night. Though only minor injuries were incurred with the incident, many people are fearful of the longer-term health impact. The city and ConEd, which operates the pipe, has yet to figure out what caused the explosion.”

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Inside Danny Meyer’s New Sky-High NYC Restaurant

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“Whenever world-renowned restaurateur Danny Meyer walks into someone else’s dining establishment, he takes immediate note of how the place affects his mood. “Even before I’m ooh-ing and aah-ing at the light fixtures and the bar, the tabletop design, all the decisions that most restaurateurs labor over, I’m just asking myself how I feel,” Meyer says. “You either feel good or you don’t—you can tell within a second.” It’s that keen ability to read and riff on the elements of winning restaurants that the hospitality mogul has again demonstrated with the newest addition to his empire, Manhatta.”

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MeMe’s Diner

header Their Success . . . There’s something to be said about taking an age-old concept like a diner and reinventing just enough to meets our modern culinary demands. Back in the 1400’s when Leonardo Da Vinci famously expressed “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Meme’s diner on Washington Ave in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn was most certainly not his inspiration. What did however spawn from that idea is the feeling you experience while dining at Meme’s. Their menu is sophisticated yet straightforward. Daring while self restrained. And comforting while modern. With classic menu items like Parmesan style chicken cutlet with greens to a mouth watering Patty Melt, not only will your taste buds be excited but your experience will be refreshing.

For dinner, be sure to try the Meatloaf or Crispy Noodle Salad. If you’re a side lover like myself, do not leave before ordering the Crispy Potatoes, which are spot-on-delicious (Hint: ask for a side of “Comeback Sauce”)

Weekend brunch fans? You do not want to miss this menu. Of course, there are the staples like a classic breakfast sandwich, which is offered on a potato bun with baked eggs, cheese sauce (cheese sauce!), greens, and bacon. Or the Breakfast Plate with everything you know any love about filling your belly on a Saturday or Sunday morning. One thing you wont don’t to leave without trying is the Meatloaf Sandwich. This monster throws down a slice of their classic meatloaf topped with a fried egg, on garlic toast with bbq sauce and crispy shallots.

Don’t blink at their cocktail menu either. Their eloquent soft-spoken bar, which blends effortlessly into the space, serves up unobtrusive classics like Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, or Negronis. Meme’s wouldn’t be Meme’s though if it didn’t put a little flair behind their work. For this, try the Cosmopolitan, a cocktail that would have Annabelle Bronstein coming back for seconds.

Takeaways . . . The classic diner we all grew up loving has been declining in numbers over the years. Meme’s is brining it back in all the best ways. The menu is extremely inviting with subtleties that elevate dishes to a new level. It is refreshing, while offering top-notch hospitability in a dining space that is welcoming to the point where you might just stay for another round. Bottom line- everyone needs a Meme’s in their life.

Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 5pm – 11pm, Saturday: 10am – 3pm, 5pm – 11pm, Sunday- 10am – 5pm

Location: 657 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Phone: (718) 636-2900