Club night meets cake decorating at new Long Island event series
Lauren French, of Wantagh, puts the finishing touches on her cake during Frost & Flow, a class where participants learn to decorate cakes to the soulful sounds of contemporary R&B. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
In their other lives, they fly planes, manage Wall Street accounts, work in software and business analysis, study social behavior and broker real estate. On a recent night in Huntington Village, these 18 women — some strangers, some friends and family — came together to do something far more relaxing: learn to decorate cakes to the soulful sounds of contemporary R&B.
The class, Frost & Flow, is the third in a new series of cake decorating events cooked up by Ta-Tiana Smith-Furman, who has been making imaginative and elegant custom cakes through her microbakery company, Broke Scholar Baker, based in Westbury since 2009. She started baking with her late grandmother and went pro as a college student trying to make extra cash. Now her bespoke cakes practically sell themselves on TikTok.
Lauren French, of Wantagh, practices her icing designs. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
But running a solo cottage business can get lonely.
"As a newish mom, I was craving community," Smith-Furman, 35 and mother of a 2-year-old, explains. "So I created classes for myself and others, to freely explore what brings them joy, centered around music and something sweet to eat."
For the decorating part, Smith-Furman brings the prebaked mini-cakes — on the February date they were heart-shaped vanilla bean with a layer of pink frosting — piping bags ready-filled with icing, changeable frosting tips and other simple tools, plus a buffet table’s worth of edible pearls and beads. She provides different icing patterns for practicing rosettes in handy Lucite frames before going to town on the cakes.
But Frost & Flow is more than just acquiring icing techniques. It is a night out, complete with light bites like local craft pizzas, pasta, salad and beverages, including wine, and music provided by Mariana "Canela the DJ" Gómez.
Mariana "Canela the DJ" Gómez plays music during the Frost & Flow cake decorating class in Huntington. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
The event space, The Huntington Loft, was decorated in pink, red and white for the Galentine's Day-themed February evening, complete with fresh flowers dotted along the long activity table, and a balloon-festooned backdrop for Instagram-worthy pictures.
Taimese Revell, 35, an IT project specialist from North Babylon, was a repeat attendee. "I came to the Christmas one because I found it through TikTok," she said. "So I wanted to bring friends. I love Ta-Tiana’s energy. She’s amazing."
Lauren French, of Wantagh; Olivia Wills, of Freeport; Tiffany Farmer, of West Babylon; and Taimese Revell, of North Babylon, show off their cakes during the Frost & Flow class. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
Revell brought members of Inside Out Impact, a Baldwin-based health and wellness nonprofit, including Lauren French, 36, of Wantagh, a Wall Street account manager.
"We spend a lot of energy focused on physical, mental and emotional wellness. This is part of social wellness," said French. "And we love supporting Black-owned businesses."
Katienna Betts, 53, of Huntington, came with two of her daughters, Nisa Betts, 26, and Shayla Betts, 29. "Mom found it," said Shayla, a human rights coordinator for AHRC. "We have started putting things in our calendar to do together and this was a new one, and since we are adults, why not have a glass of wine?"
Her sister, Nisa, a real estate agent, agreed. "Crafting, dinner, all this good stuff; it is right up our alley," she said.
Tiffany Farmer, of West Babylon, and French dance to the music with cakes in hand. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
The event started at 7 p.m. with arrivals trading their coats for pink aprons, pizza and wine. By 7:30 p.m., the decorating practice began with guidance from Smith-Furman and her cousin, Tiara Smith, 35, who drove out from Queens to help. "I’m the roadie, and proud of it," Smith said as she set up the balloons for the photo backdrop and hung coats.
Zania Rogers, 35, was trying to keep up with her mom, Ivy Rogers, 65, both of Queens. "This is the first time we are actually doing a class together," Rogers said. Then she laughed. "I’m a makeup artist, but you could say I am struggling right now."
As attendees moved from practice to their actual cakes, vibing and singing along to Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu and other R&B artists, Smith-Furman made the rounds, taking over to demonstrate as the participants leaned in to watch.
Janell Haynes, of Mineola, and Tiffany Phoenix, of Bayside, prepare to ice their cakes. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
There were near disasters — "My whole bag exploded!" said Shayla Betts. "But Ta-Tiana was so supportive." — a lot of laughter, and in the end, some very pretty cakes to take home, each with the unique stamp of its maker. New acquaintances admired each other’s work and exchanged contact information.
Best friends Gabriella Madden, 28, a pilot, of Hicksville, and Kiana López, 27, a Long Island Rail Road block operator from Valley Stream, snapped Polaroids of their cakes. "It was really cute," López said. "We don’t get to see each other that often because of our jobs so it’s good to have something like this."
For Ta-Tiana Smith-Furman, cultivating community is exactly the point. "I want to bring people like you together," she told the participants during her introduction. "It’s about celebrating the small moments. You deserve moments like this."
Frost & Flow is $120 for two hours; supplies and light bites and beverages are included. Next event, "A 'Bridgerton'-inspired Cake & Sip" is Feb. 27 from 4 to 6 p.m. at East Rock Coffee Shop in Garden City. For March dates and to book private parties, visit brokescholarbaker.com.
