Tags archives: lower east side

  • Here's a kind-of-a-shocker: Ultra-hip social marketplace Tictail's brick-and-mortar flagship is that it's not profitable. Tictail Market is the brand's one and only storefront, located in Manhattan’s Lower East Side — and surprisingly, the IRL store makes less in revenue than even many of the e-commerce site's online independent sellers. "The [brick-and-mortar] store makes about $50K a month; rent is $17K. Salaries and expenses bring us close to $8K, and that about covers it," co-founder Carl Walderkrantz admits to Forbes readers. So why is it important for an e-commerce site that pulls in millions of shoppers a week to offer an in-person experience that doesn't generate significant profits? Is it just to be able to flaunt kickass storefront gifs? (Courtesy of Tictail NYC) Walderkrantz says that while the "future is moving toward online, the joy of shopping is still synonymous with an in-person experience" for many customers. And in the tradition of other successful sites like Warby Parker, Bonobos and Away and less-that-lucative storefront was the best way to guarantee local awareness. Photo courtesy TicTail "Tictail Market literally put us on the map in this city," says Walderkrantz, adding that it gives the brand "street cred." Originally, the DIY e-commerce site was developed as a means of giving entrepreneurs the ability to build online shops. Photo courtesy of Tictail It is now touted as the 'easiest platform for discovering emerging bran[...]
  • What Leslie Feinberg and Brooke Siem of NYC's Prohibition Bakery find most fun about baking amazingly delicious alcohol-laden cupcakes is doing something that makes people happy. “There’s very few people who are incorporating boozy cupcakes into a sad occasion, Feinberg says with a laugh. “It’s always a good time. It’s always a positive experience.” Their magical cupcakes even helped to bring Leslie Feinberg and her boyfriend together. "He was actually one of our first customers," she shares. Before they started dating, in the early days of Prohibition Bakery, Feinberg delivered to her now-boyfriend's job. "He knew that if we delivered cupcakes I would have to hang out with him, she chortles. "So I delivered to his job and I told everybody that it was his birthday, which it was not. They all sang to him and it was wonderful." In retrospect, Feinberg remembers it as a pretty adorable moment. "One of his co-workers said, “Dude, she definitely likes you, she says. "I would say within weeks we were dating." Now isn't that sugar and spice, and everything nice! Click on link below to find out more about this boozy baker’s most prized fashion items after the jump. Jacqueline Colette Prosper, @yummicoco Hoodie  Oddly enough, this hoodie is kind of one of my favorite things. I got this at an event when I was still bar tending, in the very early days of the bakery. I was working at a terrible gastropub in Murray Hill, and I went to a Jameson event, where the[...]
  • In association with Art for Progress (AFP) Déjà vu art exhibition, the group will host three exciting events during the two week show that features 14 international artists. Following up a fantastic opening night on October 30th, AFP will host an evening of unamplified sounds from its talented stable of musical artists at the space on Thursday, November 6th at 7:00PM. Barry Komitor, AFP’s Arts Education Program Manager and a teaching artist, will play an acoustic set followed by Jeremy Danneman from Parade of One. Plus, a surprise special guest performance. On Sunday November 9th, Art for Progress will host a brunch titled, Drones, Donuts and DJ’s from noon to 3pm at NOoSPHERE Arts. On opening night, artist Essam’s drone installation garnered much attention as people approached the space on Houston Street and experienced the actual sound from an approaching drone. As guests approach the space on Sunday the 9th, they’ll also hear the rich, full sound of analog beats (vinyl) being spun by DJ’s Bruce Tantum, Gatto (AFP’s founder & director) and Brett Crenshaw. And let’s not forget the donuts! Other than ice cream, donuts are one of the most loved foods in America! So, join us for brunch and enjoy a prominent topic of conversation, quality analog music and of course, donuts! Although we’ll be sad to see the exhibition close on November 12th, it will be an exciting evening as we host an artist talk from 6pm-8pm with NYC based artists Essam and gilf! We [...]
  • New York City Non Profit to host Michael Alan’s “Living Installation” Friday, November 9th at ABC NORIO Art for Progress (AFP), a NYC 501C (3) nonprofit, is proud to announce its hosting artist Michael Alan’s “Living Installation, Family Misfit Healing” on Friday, November 9th   at ABC NORIO in NYC’s Lower East Side. The epic art performance piece which has been featured in The Huffington Post, Marie Claire, Gothamist, Hyperallergic and many others, is the creative genius of artist Michael Alan. As described by Alan, The Living Installation Project is a human activist art mission. The main goal is reinforcing that humans are living installations by creating a space for people to open up, come together and are all equal through the process of creating art. After 8 years of creating performance art, Michael Alan was recently severely injured and suffered major spinal damage as well as a concussion. His injuries have affected his ability to walk and perform. Despite his physical challenges, the Living Installation Project will return November 9th @ ABC NORIO for a special 8 hour healing show. Family Misfit Healing: No matter how different and odd we all might be we all have the power to heal. Alan while healing after intense spinal surgery will team up with 7 performers to create a world based on acceptance and growth. A strong dynamic family portrait will be born, created from scratch. The 8 hour mega show, a true experience/happening, will be an escape where guests can d[...]