Hey Party People!
August 2023
Happy August! I hope you’ve been enjoying the last few weeks of summer, but all my Fall people rejoice, our time is almost here! In this newsletter, take a look back at July with me, learn about 5 new spots in Denver (that haven’t hit socials yet!), and what we’ve all been waiting for… spilling the influencer tea.
A Look Back at July
July started with the opening of one of my new favorite bars Ay Papi. Tucked away in a small corner in Cherry Creek, Ay Papi boasts elevated, Latin deco vibes. My videos made a big splash on both IG & TT, but I got absolutely ROASTED in the comments for my pronunciation of Ay Papi.
Note to everyone reading this: “Ay” is pronounced “eye”, learn from my mistakes! And let me take this opportunity to say if anyone knows a great Spanish teacher, please send them my way!
July also started with one of the coolest partnerships I’ve had to date. I’m dying to tell you all what it is, but my lips are sealed for the time being. All I can say is that she’s a world traveler. 👀
My Environmental Studies and Political Science degrees came out to play this past month with a visit to the Blue Bear Farm at the Colorado Convention Center, and attending the inauguration of the new Denver Mayor, Mike Johnston. It’s wild to see these two fields of study come back into my life after having a job that doesn’t remotely tie into them. However, staying engaged and involved in local politics has always been a passion of mine. For me, caring for your community is one of the best things you can do and I plan to care for this Denver community for many, many more years :)
July in Photos:
5 Denver Spots That Haven’t Hit Socials Yet
Below is a list of places that have yet to open in Denver, or that have opened rather quietly…
Clairette is a new French cocktail bar with Mediterranean small bites. It opened at the end of June and is located in Wash Park. Looks like the perfect spot for some pre-dinner drinks or to catch up over some specialty cocktails.
They are having their grand opening THIS weekend in Denver on 8/19. And while they are a chain (eye roll I know) their interior is absolutely STUNNING.
Wolf & Wildflower is a woman-owned wine bar located just outside of Denver in Wheat Ridge. Opened in late July, it's beautifully decorated and they have everything from curated wines to craft wine seltzers.
Ok… you caught me, I did share this spot on my TikTok, but it’s still a hidden gem! Located in the Dairy Block, and only here through September, Konbini is a Japanese market and an art installation all in one.
THE DEVIL’S DRINK AN UNDERWORLD SPEAKEASY
Set to open in late August, The Devil’s Drink is a new speakeasy located in the Kasa Comma hotel in LoHi. The Devil’s Drink will feature bevvies with fun Devil-esque names. Perfect for the upcoming spooky season.
RayRay’s Top Performing Videos
Promo Codes - here to help you save some cash
Local Denver skincare company. I use their CBD skin products daily and my skin is glowing. Buy here! Use Code RAYNAKING15 for 15% off your order
A food, wine, & sprits festival taking place September 7th and September 9th. Buy your tickets here! Use Code RAYNA23 for 10% off tickets for both 9/7 AND 9/9.
Sensatia Cabaret read my last newsletter & loved the shoutout, so they wanted to send out a discount code for my friends here :) Use Code Sensatia10 for 10% off your tickets
Influencer Tea
The Two Groups
Let’s set the scene. Whenever someone asks me about the Denver influencer community, I start by explaining that there are two different groups, the foodies and the lifestyle influencers. Both groups have wildly different experiences.
In my experience, while foodies may be happy with a free meal in exchange for a post, most lifestylers are interested in some sort of payment. I want to add a disclaimer here because, of course, it is way more complicated than that and as creators we are constantly trying to figure out our boundaries & how to ask for our worth.
I think it ultimately comes down to the fact that lifestylers are selling a brand— their brand— while foodies are selling food and dining experiences. As someone who toes the line of both lifestyle and foodie, I’ve had the opportunity to make friends across both groups & learn from both sides. One thing that has stood out to me is the difference between sharing within these two groups.
Getting started in influencing has a lot to do with getting connected to the influencer community and relying on the support of your fellow creators. For example, a fellow creator posts a collab with a brand/restaurant you are dying to work with and you reach out to ask if they would be willing to connect you with the company's PR person. The response you receive changes largely on the person you’re asking. But in my experience, the lifestyle influencers are way more willing to share their contact than the foodies are. Of course, it depends on the situation and person, but generally speaking, the lifestylers are sending you their contact and offering to do an email intro.
I’ve yet to crack why this is the case, but I can tell you that as a creator we sometimes feel that experiences are limited and that our contacts are coveted. However, because I work on both sides of the conversation, as the creator AND as the PR contact, I’m here to say that there are enough experiences to go around. I would be OVERJOYED if a creator I worked with sent me a list of contacts that they know would love to work with one of my clients. Make my job easier, please!
Influencing is a weird job, and so new to all of us, but I can confidently say that we are all only going to get better by uplifting each other, rather than keeping to ourselves. And always remember the golden rule: sharing is caring.