Pietra Communications

12/04/2025

A night to remember.

Rebecca Rau Jewels unveiled the highly anticipated THEN & NOW Collection to a full, and at moments standing-room-only, crowd at the Jill Newhouse Gallery during NYC Jewelry Week. Collectors, editors, buyers, and tastemakers gathered to experience a breathtaking fusion of ancient artifacts and contemporary fine jewelry, brought to life by fourth-generation art and antique dealer turned visionary designer Rebecca Rau.

With 12 extraordinary pieces, several created exclusively for the exhibition, the debut transported guests through centuries of craftsmanship.

“Each artifact in the collection is unbelievably storied, having lived countless lives before reaching my hands. It’s a privilege to transform them into fresh, provocative jewels while honoring their histories and distinct beauty. Seeing the jewelry pieces resonate so deeply with guests of the opening was incredibly moving. THEN & NOW is about transformation, and it was a pleasure to see it made an impact on all who attended.”
—Rebecca Rau

The debut marks Rebecca Rau Jewels’ arrival in New York, and a bold new chapter for a designer reshaping how we connect with history through adornment.

Read more: https://www.pietracommunications.com/portfolio/rebecca-rau-jewels-nycjw-launch/

12/03/2025

Numbers inform. Stories transform.

When it comes to creating real social impact, statistics alone rarely move people to act...but stories do.

In advocacy and nonprofit work, attention is the most valuable resource, and the organizations that win it aren’t the ones with the biggest numbers. They’re the ones that tell the most meaningful stories.

Whether you're trying to raise awareness, drive donations, or inspire action, storytelling turns abstract issues into real experiences that people can feel, share, and support. Storytelling isn't optional; it's your strongest tool for impact.

12/01/2025

This year’s competition proved once and for all that it’s not the water; it’s the craftsmanship. Starship impressed judges with their small-batch, perfectly balanced New York–style bagels and bold creative schmears… and they made history as the first bagel shop ever to become a James Beard Award finalist.

But the spotlight didn’t stop there. BagelFest celebrated incredible talent from across the country and around the world, highlighting sourdough innovators, high-hydration experimenters, and regional flavors pushing the bagel universe forward.

Huge congratulations to all winners for elevating the art (and joy!) of bagels everywhere. Proud of this community and the craftsmanship that makes BagelFest the biggest and most exciting bagel competition in the world.

Dig into the full Food & Wine story to see why 2025 was its boldest, most flavorful year yet: https://www.foodandwine.com/starship-bagel-best-bagel-in-america-bagelfest-2025-11856946

11/20/2025

Rebecca Rau Jewels is officially making waves! National Jeweler just spotlighted the debut of Rebecca Rau’s Then & Now collection, an extraordinary fusion of ancient artifacts and contemporary fine jewelry design.

From 1,500-year-old Sasanian amethysts to Saxon-era fittings and medieval Fede rings, every piece is a wearable piece of history reimagined through a modern, artistic lens. As a fourth gen art and antique dealer at M.S. Rau, Rebecca brings her deep knowledge, global sourcing experience, and love of storytelling into each unique jewel.

The exhibition opens tonight with a special reception at Jill Newhouse Gallery. There is a collection tour tomorrow for those registered on NYCJW, and the public viewing this Friday and Saturday during NYC Jewelry Week.

If you’d like to attend the launch or book a tour, registration is now open. Read more: https://nationaljeweler.com/articles/14466-rebecca-rau-jewels-debuts-with-then-now-collection

A huge congratulations to Rebecca on this stunning feature and unforgettable brand debut!

11/19/2025

Two Washington bagel shops went to the big leagues! Watch KING 5’s feature on Pacific Northwest talent competing at New York BagelFest:

We love to see Washington flavor ranked on the national stage! https://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/foodnews/2-washington-bagel-shops-compete-in-national-bagel-fest/vi-AA1QAZdR?ocid=BingNewsSerp

Washington's Backyard Bagel placed third in the "Rising Star" category at the national Bagel Fest.

11/19/2025

Rebecca Rau Jewels is headlining Art Daily today 🔥Who else is coming to the launch party tomorrow night.

THEN & NOW debuts this week at NYC Jewelry Week at Jill Newhouse Gallery, where ancient history meets modern design. Rebecca’s inaugural collection transforms original artifacts dating from 1200 BC to 1880 AD into one-of-a-kind, wearable works of art.

From the Hand-in-Hand Ring with a rare medieval fede motif to the Protectrice Necklace, the Green Flame Necklace, and more, each piece preserves its original form while being reimagined with contemporary gemstones and exquisite craftsmanship.

Jill Newhouse Gallery, Upper East Side

Launch Reception: Tomorrow, Thursday, 5–9 PM

Public Hours: Friday 11–6, Saturday 11–4

Want to see the jewels up close (and meet Rebecca!) before the crowds?

Send me a DM for details on the press preview tomorrow. Hope to see you tomorrow night to experience these beautiful jewels in person. ✨

Read more: https://lnkd.in/eN2MSb5j

11/19/2025

New York Post just dropped the ultimate bagel bombshell:

The “Best Bagel in America” is… not in New York.

At BagelFest 2025, the judges crowned Starship Bagel from Dallas–Fort Worth as this year’s Best Bagel, and New Yorkers are feeling the schmear. Even the People’s Choice Award went out of town to Baltik’s Bagel in Richmond, VA.

As founder Sam Silverman told The Post, this is the wake-up call NYC didn’t know it needed. The bagel world is evolving: bold new recipes, sourdough upstarts, and rising stars from across the country are reshaping what a “perfect bagel” can be. Since 2019, BagelFest has grown from a Bushwick gathering into a full-fledged industry event with demos, tastings, classes, competitions, business growth, and some friendly rivalry. That’s the beauty of it: BagelFest pushes the industry forward.

Congrats again to all of this year’s winners, and to the NYC shops ready to come back swinging next year. Allison Lax, thank you for writing this hilarious article--love it! The bagel wars have only just begun. 🥯⚔️

Read here: https://nypost.com/2025/11/19/lifestyle/nycs-best-bagels-not-as-good-as-those-in-texas-experts-claim/

And in print today!

Wait — what the hole?

11/19/2025

New Orleans is officially on the bagel map!

Huge congratulations to Flour Moon Bagels for being featured in NOLA.com after shining at this year’s New York BagelFest. From hand-rolled dough to that perfect "New York meets NOLA" chew, Flour Moon continues to prove that world-class bagels can come from anywhere, including in the fabulous Louisiana.

So proud to see their craft, creativity, and flavor getting the national love it deserves. Read the full feature: https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/eat-drink/flour-moon-bagels-best-festival/article_57d188a3-fbfd-4e43-be85-20dc1922963e.html

A Mid-City favorite for bagels gets a special recognition

11/18/2025

New York, avert your eyes. Dallas just beat us at our own bagel game. Time Out New York says we may never fully recover.

Read the article here: https://www.timeout.com/usa/news/a-dallas-bagel-won-the-best-bagel-of-the-year-competition-in-nyc-this-weekend-111825

11/18/2025

The world’s biggest celebration of bagels hit Citi Field this past weekend, and FOX 5 caught every delicious moment. From vendors across the U.S. to the ultimate “Best Bagel” showdown, the vibes were unbeatable.

Watch the full segment to see the winners, the crowd, and the bagel love in full swing: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/new-york-bagelfest-2025/vi-AA1QAR8w?ocid=BingNewsSerp

BagelFest rolled into Citi Field over the weekend. FOX 5 NY's Stephanie Bertini has the story.

11/18/2025

Rebecca Rau Jewels has been featured on AIDI.org for the debut of her THEN & NOW collection, a fusion of ancient artifacts and contemporary fine jewelry. From 1200 BC relics to modern gemstones, Rebecca’s work bridges centuries of history, craftsmanship, and storytelling. This is such a beautiful spotlight ahead of her official launch during NYC Jewelry Week.

Read the full feature here: https://aidi.org/rebecca-rau-then-and-now-historical-jewelry-debut-2025/