May 2024

April showers bring... May TRENDS. Let's get into them.

• Did your favorite chef make the cut? The 2024 James Beard Finalists were released.  
• Another major list recently dropped, too: The New York Times’ 100 Best Restaurants in New York City. 
• The new $20 minimum wage for fast food workers has already caused a stir in California.  
• Taylor’s new album won’t be the only thing on repeat. Her viral favorite cocktail will be, too. 
• Reconsider the phrase ‘Chili Crunch’ - Momofuku Goods might just hit you with a cease-and-desist.  
• Trader Joe’s private labeling ethics come under fire.  

• Hospitality brands take accessibility head-on.  
• Americans are spending BIG on travel. Worldwide, a study just found that Gen Z-ers are spending nearly half their income on it. 
• The wellness travel craze is expanding into sexual wellness. 
• 4-hour hikes with 6 almonds to sustain you? One woman’s experience at The Ranch Malibu goes viral.  
• Sending love to you and your wallet. For the first time in 15 years, higher fees are coming for the Trusted Traveler Programs.  
• Plan accordingly. Esquire released their annual list of best hotels.  

• Low-rise has gone too far. Cracks are back, people. 
• Is it time to get off the apps and "swipe" in real life? Speed dating events are up 63 percent compared to 2022. 
• Just when we thought the Taylor/Travis hype was dying down, the Chiefs player is launching a music festival. 
• It was only a matter of time before AI made it into our playlists (with Spongebob, no less???) but now copyright is in question.  
• Shocking news: Meghan Markle is launching a cooking show.  
• If they can’t make it, no one can. The Golden Bachelor heads for divorce  

• Silver and steel are having a moment. 
• Unexpected colors are trending for spring style. 
• Here’s your official reminder that the Met Gala is on May 6th. Here’s what you need to know. 
• Fast fashion? Hard pass – especially after the latest documentary on the topic.

•  Clone Wars – gone digital. TikTok is getting closer to launching its photo-sharing app that sounds eerily similar to something else... 
• The poke is... back? Facebook said it saw a 13-fold spike in “poking” over the past month, with more than half of all pokes being sent by users between 18 and 29 years old.  
• Poor, poor guy from “Are We Dating the Same Guy” Facebook group tries to go to court.  
• Oh, to be young and online. The internet’s latest influencers are under ten years old  
• Note to self: do not get tax advice from TikTok  
• Brands went all out on influencer programming for Coachella. Kourtney Karashion essentially brought Erewhon to the desert at Camp Poosh, Poppi bet it all on Alix Earle for their Lemon-Lime soda house, and Nudestix even hired an influencer celeb chef – Chef Bae – to take people behind the scenes.