"Initially, vaccine distribution in New York City made a bacchanalian season seem possible — for a brief while some restaurants even felt like parties — until the Delta variant cooled things down again. Nevertheless, New Yorkers found ways to celebrate on their own terms, even if slightly more muted than what had been initially pitched. Over the past year, Solid Wiggles — a boozy jelly cake company — has been a beacon of hope, ushering in a fun new way to celebrate in these bizarre times." - Emma Orlow