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Category Archives: Arts

Afternoon Tea Makes a Quiet Comeback

A new trend has emerged in our increasingly fast-paced world, specifically in New York and Los Angeles: elaborate afternoon tea. Teahouses are a sanctuary from the outside world, an escape from social media and digital devices, and customers are drawn to the nostalgic quiet over the hustle and bustle found in coffee houses.

Across both cities, elaborate afternoon tea services have become a main attraction at over a dozen venues, each offering a unique experience. From the “Classic” prix fixe tea service at Brooklyn High Low to the British charm of Rose Tree Cottage in Pasadena, afternoon tea is experiencing a resurgence. Even modern additions, like Tea Around Town’s double-decker bus offering sightseeing with organic Earl Grey, add a contemporary touch to this timeless tradition.

The formal and intimate setting offers an ideal venue for conversation; many places don’t allow devices at the table. As Mary Fry, owner of the Rose Tree Cottage in Southern California, explains, “You cannot be watching the Dodger game and having tea. It’s a time to calm yourself and enjoy conversation with family and friends and bring yourself down to where your brain should be.” Fry’s husband, Edmund, is originally from England and he goes as far as wearing a tux and tails when he serves customers.  

Tea salons are growing in popularity among the 20-30-year-old crowd, who appear in fancy hats or fascinators. Whether it’s the historic charm of The Plaza Hotel or the modern minimalism of Floating Mountain Tea House, afternoon tea is making a quiet yet profound comeback in the bustling metropolises of New York and Los Angeles.

U.S. Museum Workers Unionizing Despite Labor Movement Slump

National union membership has reached historic lows; according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 10.3% of employed Americans are members of a union. And yet, over the past few years, workers at more than ten American art museums have formed unions to improve their wages and conditions of employment. In 2020, some 250 curators, stewards, conservators, guides,… Continue Reading

Trading Card Business Goes to Fanatics

Topps, the trading card business that paired Bazooka bubble gum and baseball cards over fifty years ago, has been bought by Fanatics, the sports memorabilia company. The sale valued Topps’s sports and entertainment sectors at just over $500 million. Topps lost its 70-year-old licensing agreement with Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association… Continue Reading

Celebrate Women Virtual Conference

Celebrate Women Virtual Conference

“Surviving (and Thriving) in Unsettling Times.” That is the theme and topic of the 15th annual Celebrate Women virtual conference set to begin on Friday, March 19, 2021. Alison Levine, American mountain climber, sportswoman, explorer, leadership consultant and best-selling author, will deliver the keynote address. Levine was team captain of the first American Women’s Everest Expedition,… Continue Reading

Broadway Ticketing Reworked by NY-based Company

Broadway Ticketing Reworked by NY-based Company

Jujamcyn, the company responsible for the operations of five Broadway theaters, has signed a deal with New York-based SeatGeek. Many theater and performance spots are planning ahead for post-COVID reopenings. For Jujamycn, part of its new strategy included a major rework of its ticketing system. SeatGeek, a well-known sports industry player, is using its contract… Continue Reading

A Struggling New York City Café and Theater Get Help from Famous Friends

The West Bank Cafe is a New York City staple, particularly in the tight-knit performing arts community. It is in the Café’s basement theatre, known as the Laurie Beechman Theater, where the first “Sunday in the Park With George” rehearsals were held and Joan Rivers did her last standup routine. But the once-bustling eatery and… Continue Reading

Supporting Local Businesses This Holiday Season

There is nothing typical about the 2020 holiday season. Celebrations have been curtailed, guest lists have been tightened, and shopping options have been limited. New Yorkers, however, ever resilient and resourceful, are finding ways to keep the holiday spirit alive and support local entrepreneurs and businesses in the process. Primarily organized on social media, these… Continue Reading

New York’s Inaugural Black Restaurant Week Raises revenue for Black-owned Eateries

All of New York City’s businesses are hurting in the wake of the global coronavirus pandemic. The number of Black-owned businesses in general fell by close to 40% during the crisis. Diners, restaurants, and eateries have been particularly hard hit. Black-owned restaurants across the City have seen revenue fall as much as 80% since March… Continue Reading

Social Media Steps in to Rescue New York City Bookshop

Social Media Steps in to Rescue New York City Bookshop

The Strand, New York’s most legendary bookstore, is breathing a sigh of relief, for now.  In late October, Nancy Bass Wyden, the third-generation owner, turned to social media as a last ditch effort to keep from permanently closing Strand’s doors. A typical day sees about 300 web orders; the influx of online orders following Wyden’s… Continue Reading