Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of Midtown’s gems below.
Kenya Powell
I host runway shows, pop-up shops & networking events. What sets me apart from others is I focus on all aspects of fashion not just the boutique. I also can dress sizes S-4x so I have something for all shapes and sizes! Read More>>
Devika Kundu
Now, as I stand on the cusp of graduation, I am filled with excitement and anticipation for the road ahead. Armed with a newfound perspective and a relentless drive to make a difference, I am ready to unleash my creativity and leave my mark on the world—one design at a time. Read More>>
Sara Fulmer
Intrigued, I decided to start consulting in the gift area. I saw the lack of better-designed gifts and toys. Being a designer for over 20 years, I was lucky enough to travel around the world scoping out the latest trends. I wanted to do the same for the gift industry. Read More>>
Ananya Singh
At 34, Ananya stands as a paragon of the adage that dreams have no expiry. With roots firmly planted in the Indian academic soil, where she competitively secured her Bachelor of Fine Arts at the College of Art, University of Delhi, and her Master of Fine Arts at the Maharaja Sayajirao University, her aspirations soared high and wide, crossing oceans to global platforms such as the Jenesys Youth Exchange Programmed in Japan. Read More>>
Aaron Nelson
Embarking on the creative journey has been a rollercoaster of challenges and triumphs. Navigating the winding road of self-expression has often meant confronting skepticism from those who don’t fully grasp the depth of my creative pursuits. Balancing the dreamer’s spirit with the practicalities of life, from financial concerns to societal expectations, has been a constant tightrope walk. Read More>>
Nic Mac
King Mac’s Workshop was founded by my father who is now in heaven back in December of 2020. My Dad was my first customer who wanted a resume made from scratch based on his work experience. I will never forget the amazed look he had on his face once I handed him the finished product. He was very pleased with my work. Read More>>
Katherine Nichols
I’m the author of Southern suspense with heart and humor. My novels include The Sometime Sister and its sequel, The Substitute Sister, as well as The Unreliable, Trust Issues, and False Claims (the first of the Lucy Howard mysteries). The second in the series, Canceled Policies, will be out in October. Read More>>
Jamie Johnson
My name is Jamie Johnson. I graduated college in 2019 where I was a 2-time all-American in basketball despite the all-American status, I had no offers or agent. Started drills to dreams on YouTube to document my journey and inspire others after 2.5 years got my first offer in Georgia but was cut 3 months later came home for one month and went to Mexico on my second contract. Read More>>
Paul-Lou Lemieux
I started with a film school in France for 3 years in the south (NICE) – which brought me on the 4th year to the city of New York. I’ve been filming or even acting since I was a kid and have always been interested in the commercial aspect of things and how things walk together. That makes me want to do business and support the art (film) industry. I guess it comes from my parents: my mother is an artist, and my father is a business owner. Read More>>
Mila Pearson
I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I can’t remember ever promoting my craft throughout my freshman year of college, but my peers would see me doing nails, and that small interaction turned them into clients. With consistency, I quickly developed skills that take most people double the time. Once I began to get down to the timing aspect of completing an acrylic nail set, I fell in love with nail art. Read More>>
Darren Paltrowitz
Growing up on Long Island — Bellmore, New York, to be more specific — in the 1980s and 1990s, you are less than 40 miles from New York City. You have this existence where you are close to the pulse of everything cool and happening, yet you are in the suburbs. I didn’t like “Lawn Guyland” much when I grew up there, but eventually chose to move back years of living in Midtown Manhattan, Harlem, and Hoboken. Read More>>
JoAnn Herold
I started my career as a STAR at McDonald’s. That meant I wore the Hamburgular costume and gave the birthday parties. That experience instilled a love of working with iconic brands and serving others. Read More>>
Lauren Brown
I’ve loved art ever since I was young. My parents encouraged this habit and enrolled me in animation and other arts classes, which is where I first fell in love with animation as a medium. Read More>>
Rochelle (Ziqiong) Cao
When I was a kid, my dad always liked to rent DVDs to watch the Jurassic Park series together. That’s the first live-action CG combined film I can remember watching in my life. When I was in middle school, I remember my family went to watch the first Avatar together. Read More>>
Lee Mohler and Robin Andrews Smith
Yes. It has been a smooth but adventure-filled road as we discovered the technical difficulties of running an online business. Humor and the ability to laugh with one another as the stress of our learning curve rises is a core value now. Read More>>
Veronica Kelly
Music has always been a part of my life. I grew up loving old-school 1940s and 1950s movies and jazz. My family is from Cuba so music, culture, and style come with the territory. My mother was raised in New York for schooling, which took her into Mowtown Records in LA, and thus my music love-affair began. Read More>>
