W42ST Issue 60 - The Gifted Issue by W42ST Magazine

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ISSUE 60 DECEMBER 2019

THE wit GIFT US, h lo ED IS to ve SUE you FRO , XOX M O

I'M F REE!

As the Preferred Bank of Hudson Yards, Wells Fargo is proud to sponsor Shine On, a dynamic mix of artistic light and music installations. Stop by the Wells Fargo Lodge, located just outside Vessel, all season long for a variety of whimsical holiday experiences perfect for the whole family. The fun continues inside at the Wells Fargo Star Stations on Level 2 and 4 of The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards.

TH E WE L L S FA R G O LO D G E

H u d s o n Ya r d s P u b l i c S q u a r e a n d G a r d e n s 11/29 – 12 /12 360º VIDEO EXPERIENCE CAPTURE A ONE-OF-A-KIND 360° VIDEO U N D E R T H E W H I M S I C A L L I G H T S O F T H E LY R A

12 /13 – 12 /26 SELFIE COOKIES T R Y A D E L I C I O U S C O O K I E D E C O R AT E D W I T H Y O U R S E L F I E

12 /27 – 1/5 I N T E R N AT I O N A L H O T C H O C O L AT E B A R S A M P L E D E L I C I O U S H O T C H O C O L AT E F R O M A R O U N D T H E W O R L D

T H E W E L L S F A R G O S TA R S TAT I O N Level 2

11/29 – 12 /28 | FRI DAYS & SATUR DAYS H O L I D AY P H O T O O P C R E AT E A N D M A I L A C U S T O M H O L I D AY C A R D

T H E W E L L S F A R G O S TA R S TAT I O N Level 4

11/29 – 12 /28 | FRI DAYS & SATUR DAYS GIFT WRAPPING

D O N AT E T O F E E D I N G A M E R I C A© F O R G I F T W R A P P I N G S E R V I C E S

#ShineOnHudsonYards

IMAGINATION IMAGINATION TAKES TAKES FLIGHT FLIGHT AT ATTHE THEINTREPID INTREPIDMUSEUM MUSEUM

Photos: Rob Tannenbaum; Christine Butler; David J. Batista;

Discover Discoverhistory historyand andscience sciencethrough throughour ourexhibits exhibitsand andinnovative innovativeprograms. programs. Visit VisitIntrepidMuseum.org IntrepidMuseum.orgforfora full a fullschedule scheduleofofevents. events.

25% OFF

Membership in December! Code: W42ST-DEC19

INTREPID MEMBERS GET MORE!

Give the gift of Intrepid this holiday season! Receive a special 25% discount when you become a member or give the gift of membership. Use code W42ST-DEC19.* For more information, contact membership@intrepidmuseum.org or 646.381.5030, or visit us online at IntrepidMuseum.org/Membership. *Offer valid through December 31, 2019 up to the Family + Caregiver level.

ALSO ON DECK INTREPID ADVENTURES December 7 & 8, 21 & 22, 28 & 29 Intrepid Adventures are enrichment programs designed to provide children ages 5–12, their siblings and parents/caregivers an opportunity to have fun and learn together. Free with Museum admission. Register in advance.

NAVY CAKES: A SLICE OF HISTORY Dig in to Navy Cakes: A Slice of History, a new exhibition that celebrates these epic sweets and the hard work of the sailors who created them. Explore recipes, photos, artifacts and historic footage that tell the stories of the elaborate confections baked onboard Intrepid and the submarine Growler. Free with Museum admission.

OPERATION SLUMBER December 7 & 14; January 18 & 25 Spend a night aboard Intrepid ! Get exclusive access to the ship and Space Shuttle Pavilion, and sleep among the aircraft, just like enlisted sailors once did. Reserve your spot today! Call 646-381-5010 or email groupsales@intrepidmuseum.org.

DISCOVER EXOPLANETS: THE SEARCH FOR ALIEN WORLDS In Partnership with the Queens Public Library Through January 26, 2020 This traveling exhibition provides an introduction to the search for habitable worlds beyond our solar system and features multimedia activities. Free with Museum admission. Discover Exoplanets was developed

CAMP INTREPID At our full-day camp program, history and STEM come together! Educators help campers think critically, question the world around them and explore topics related to the history and science of our collections while having fun doing it! Weekly or daily dates are available starting in February. Learn more at IntrepidMuseum.org/Camps.

by the Pace Science Institute’s National Center for Interactive Learning (NCIL) in partnership with NASA’s Universe of Learning. This project was made possible through support from NASA, under cooperative agreement number NNX16AC65A.

KAMIKAZE: BEYOND THE FIRE An immersive multimedia experience reveals the history and impact of kamikazes. Through ﬁrsthand accounts and artifacts from the United States and Japan, learn about the young men on both sides of the devastating attacks. Free with Museum admission.

PIER 86, WEST 46TH ST & 12TH AVE intrepidmuseum.org Free Museum admission for U.S. military and veterans with valid ID, CUNY students and faculty (with current ID) and visitors with electronic beneﬁts transfer (EBT) card and valid photo ID through the Museums for All program. 2019 © Intrepid Museum Foundation. All Rights Reserved. Except as permitted under applicable law, this work may not be copied, published, disseminated, displayed, performed or played without permission of the copyright holder.

STRICTLY LIMITED ENGAGEMENT NOW PLAYING THRU JAN 12

one in two BY

DIRECTED BY

(Sugar in Our Wounds, Fireflies)

(Ain’t No Mo’)

DONJA R. LOVE

STEVIE WALKER-WEBB

JAMYL DOBSON, LELAND FOWLER, EDWARD MAWERE

WITH

Use code W42 and save!

TICKETS

DEC 3 - DEC 8

DEC 11 - JAN 12

Visit w42st.com/oneintwo to enter to win a pair of tickets to one in two. THE NEW GROUP at The Pershing Square Signature Center • 480 West 42nd St. • 917.935.4242 Learn more at TheNewGroup.org. The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation is a generous supporter of The New Group’s 2019/20 25th Anniversary Season.

Programming is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Community engagement in partnership with National Queer Theater.

JOIN AS A SUBSCRIBER NOW TO SAVE

PHOTO BY SERGE NIVELLE.

The New Group’s productions are supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

Charlie Brown knew it. So did Buddy the elf. George Baker needed a little convincing. And the Whos of Whoville – they loved Christmas more than anyone. But it took a little girl and a mean, green outcast to remind them that the holidays have nothing to do with expensive presents under the tree. What are your gifts, and how do you use them? This month, I’ve met a compassionate butterfly farmer, a plant whisperer, and at least two people determined to give their time and talents to those in need. Happy holidays, friends, may

CONTENTS December Edition

40 16

your month be filled with joy.

Ruth Walker Editor

PEOPLE

10 WEST SIDE STORY

THE TEAM THAT BROUGHT YOU W42ST

PUBLISHER PHIL O’BRIEN

EDITOR RUTH WALKER

FOUNDING EDITOR SIMON KIRRANE

SENIOR ART EDITOR LEE CAPLE

phil@w42st.com (646) 267-9028

AMBASSADOR HERSHEY MILLER

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR SANDRA MANGAN

ruth@w42st.com (646) 847-9645

sandra@w42st.com

PARTNERSHIP DIRECTOR DREW DARGIS

lee@w42st.com

drew@w42st.com (646) 896-9562

CONTRIBUTORS

DANE LACHIUSA KRISTEN JONGEN CLAUDIA CHUNG SOPHIA STRAWSER

CID ROBERTS MICHAEL MUÑOZ ELIZABETH DURAND STREISAND CHELSEY HILL

MARK LANHAM RACHEL FLYNN CLAYTON HOWE KRISTIN CAMPING NATE BOZEMAN

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be used without written permission of the publisher ©2019. Please note: Every effort has been made to avoid errors, misspellings, and omissions in this publication. However, if you spot one please accept our sincere apologies.

A lifetime in the music business ... and then the really creative work began.

13 EVENTS

Our pick of the big events you MUST see this December.

15 SOBER IN THE CITY

Sometimes it feels as though you’re making no progress at all, right?

16 BUTTERFLY GUY

25 GIVE SMART

You want to give to the homeless, but you don’t want to give cash ...

27 MODEL BEHAVIOR

Meet the woman who started volunteering early – at age five!

28 GIFT OF LIGHT

Reclaiming vintage cameras for a hipster new life.

45 FOLKSWAITING

Street photography – wrapped up warm.

Some people go home to feed their cats. Stephen Smith goes home to feed his caterpillars

58 GALLERY

20 PLANTS TRENDING

66 LAST WORD

Why millennials are so hooked on plants – and how to get started.

It’s the internet – in print!

The meaning of Christmas – from the creator of The Grinch!

GRATITUDE TO OUR BRILLIANT, VISIONARY PARTNERS

Their commitment keeps W42ST free for everyone else to enjoy. Please support them with your love and your business 34th St Partnership

Domus

Fresh From Hell

Intrepid Museum

NY Botanical Garden

Riverbank

555TEN

Ensemble Studio Theatre

Gotham Mini Storage

Jadite Picture Framing

OrganizeNY

Scruffy Duffy’s

The Marshal Title Boxing

AKA NYC

Fine & Dandy

Grand Central

Mark Fisher Fitness

Ousia

The Ainsworth

Wells Fargo

Baire Hair Removal

Fountain House

Partnership

MCC Theater

Pekoe Group

The Artist Co-op

WNET

Barcade

Gallery

Hafetz & Associates

New Victory Theater

Perdition

The Dyksterhouse Team

Yaakov Bressler

Compass

Frank M Burke

Hell’s Creative

November 19

The Press Lounge

Productions

SPONSORED BY LOGO HERE

OUT

32 THE WORM TICKLER

Broadway stars who do more than sing, act, and dance.

34 ALL I WANT ...

Once upon a time, three performers gave up their Christmas Day to entertain us.

37 PIE TOUR

The politest town in America.

EAT

39 DAYLIST

A musical tour of Hell’s Kitchen, in the company of a sommelier.

40 THE KITCHEN GAILY Stuck for giftsperation?

45 PLAYLIST

An actor chooses his go-to places to eat, drink, and play when he gets off stage.

56 LIVING

46 ON LOCATION IN HK

Inside the apartment where J. Lo installed her pole ... and other stories.

55 HEY NEIGHBOR!

A neighborhood poke master finds his new home.

56 HOME COMFORTS

Counting down the 12 days of giftmas.

STYLE

60 FIT GIFTS

Anything your favorite gym bunny could wish for.

63 SOLO CELEBRATION

Claudia’s spending Christmas alone this year – and she’s totally OK with it.

PETS

64 WAGGING TALES

Two pages of Hell’s Kitchen’s most handsome pets. Get involved by emailing waggingtales@w42st.com.

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WEST SIDE STORIES BIO

Jill Herlands started making jewelry from her W42nd St apartment after her daughter had left for college. She now has 54.5k followers on Instagram, caters to an international clientele, and has been featured in Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, Paper, and Nylon (and W42ST). jillherlands. com JILL’S HK Rustic Table, W42nd St 10th/11th Ave Blossom du Jour, 9th Ave 43rd/44th St PS Kitchen, W48th St 7th/8th Ave Cara Mia, 9th Ave 47th/48th St Five Napkin, 9th Ave - 45th St Housing Works, 9th Ave - 49th/50th St MAD Museum, Columbus Circle

DIGITAL EDITION

WEST SIDE STORIES

IMPERFECT

BEAUTY

Artist Jill Herlands sees perfection in the rough and the raw … and is happiest when creating chaos with fire and metal Interview Ruth Walker Photograph Cid Roberts I was in the music business for most of my adult life Then I got married and had a daughter and stopped working to raise her. My daughter went off to college in 2014 and I said: “It’s time for me to find something really interesting to do.” I’d always liked to take things apart and put them back together, but I never knew how to solder or anything that would really make it permanent. So I taught myself to solder. I picked up this little handheld torch in my kitchen and said: “Oh my gosh! This is what I was meant to do.” I bought metals and started experimenting. I remember the very first piece I made It was a very basic, sterling silver band with a rose quartz bezel set on the top. I’m obsessive So after about three months I’d built up this huge inventory, because I was doing this every day. And somebody said to me: “You should post to Instagram.” I didn’t like social media at the time. I was like: “Whatever ... I don’t know.” But the response was almost instantaneous. I sold that first ring and I’ve built up over 54k followers. It just took off. Don’t call me a jewelry designer I’m an artist. A piece speaks to me because it’s a loner. It’s its own thing. It can’t be duplicated and I believe it takes on the personality of the wearer.

I use only precious metals Gold, sterling silver, bronze or platinum. And I love working with concrete. The stones I use are all raw and rough – moissanite, quartz from Brazil. I don’t like polished – it’s the imperfection that makes it perfect to me. I’ve been in this apartment for 11 years My daughter was accepted with a scholarship to middle school uptown. We were in the Financial District for a while and I said: “Let’s head up, to be closer to her school.” I happened to be reading the New York Times classifieds – when they still had that – and I see this listing: “42nd Street, two bedrooms ...” I walked into this space and it was very 1970s, with glass blocks and little rooms, and I said: “Oh, this is my apartment.” Hell’s Kitchen is still a neighborhood Even though it has changed drastically, there are still the little mom-and-pop stores. I walk down the street and it’s: “Hi,” to the deli guy, and the cleaners … where else does that happen in New York? It doesn’t. I will never leave here. The history is one of the most fascinating and alluring things about this neighborhood To think this was the kind of place that you stayed away from! No one wanted to come here. So when I saw that little ad, I said: “That’s where I want to be.” Because

DIGITAL EDITION

it has a history – it has a past – and I want to be a part of making its future. Where I hang in HK Rustic Table makes the best granola I’ve ever had. We order from Blossom du Jour a lot, and PS Kitchen – we’re going toward veganism because my daughter is a very strict vegan. I love Cara Mia, and Five Napkin, of course, which has great poke. Housing Works is wonderful. And MAD Museum is an unbelievable place. I’ve been there for shows, but my goal is to have my jewelry there. My happy place … Is my studio. I get up in the morning, I have my tea or my coffee and I’m up here working, seven days a week. I got a drill press for my birthday I’d rather have tools than shoes – and I’m a big shoe person! Next, I would love a rolling mill, so I could melt down my scrap and make my own silver sheet. Then I want a new set of Fretz hammers. There are 50 different kinds of hammers – they’re the best you can get. But I don’t put much stock in holidays, birthdays, or anniversaries I want to be treated nice every day. And you don’t have to give me flowers. Just love me. That’s it. That’s what makes me happy.

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What’s On

NEWS December 2019

Winter’s Eve

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Entertainment, food tastings, and a tree lighting ceremony at Lincoln Square and Columbus Circle mark the official beginning of the New York winter. And, since we all know how fierce it can get, bring along a new or gently used coat to the event on December 2, and donate it to New York Cares’ Coat Drive. winterseve.nyc

The astrophysicist brings his StarTalk series to The Town Hall on December 16, in which he manages to miraculously bridge the intersection between science, pop culture, and comedy with clarity, humor, and passion. thetownhall.org

John Waters

The cult film maker spreads Yuletide profanity and perverted piety in his holiday one-man show on December 16 at Sony Hall. He’ll be asking questions including: “Is Prancer the only gay reindeer?” and “Has Santa ever been nude?” sonyhall.com

Seth Rudetsky’s Broadway Jessie Mueller and Megan Hilty join the host for music and intimate, behind-the-scenes conversation at The Town Hall on December 2. thetownhall.org

Alvin Ailey

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre returns to the New York City Center for its holiday season, performing diverse works and world premieres, shining a particular spotlight on social issues. The season begins with an opening gala on December 4, continues with a young audience special on December 5, and ends on January 5. alvinailey.org

Lioness

An all-women collective of musicians living in New York City comes together at Jazz at Lincoln Center on December 4 to celebrate past and present women of jazz. jazz.org

ILLUSTRATION: DANE LACHIUSA

Paige Turner

The Showbiz Spitfire and superstar of drag dons her jingle bells and prepares to get her stockings stuffed in this holiday special at the Green Room 42, featuring songs by Bing Crosby, Barbra Streisand, and Mariah Carey. thegreenroom42.poptix.com

42FT

Cirque Mechanics brings its

Handel’s Messiah

The New York Philharmonic gets its Hallelujah on starting December 17. Expect soaring solos, instrumental fireworks, and Baroque brilliance in this beloved holiday tradition. nyphil.org

Grand Horizons Christmas Spectacular

High-kicking candy cane and toy soldiers bring the holidays to life every year in this classic New York season at Radio City Music Hall, with up to five shows a day. rockettes.com Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels to the New Victory Theater – gasp in wonder at a man so strong he juggles trees, and at an acrobat so light she floats on air! And on December 10, there’s a special family circus skills workshop for ages five and up. newvictory.org

Harry Connick Jr

The crooner plays a three-week residency at the Nederlander Theatre, starting December 7,

DIGITAL EDITION

performing the music of Cole Porter, accompanied by a 25-piece orchestra and a multi-media backdrop. harryconnickjr.com

Mariah Carey

What would the holidays be without Mariah? All we want for Christmas is her – preferably in her sexy little Mrs Santa outfit. She returns to NYC for a one-night-only concert on December 15, at Madison Square Garden. msg.com

Jane Alexander, James Cromwell, and Michael Urie star in the new Second Stage production of a play about a long-married couple settling into retirement – when suddenly one of them wants out. Previews begin December 23. 2st.com

Michael Feinstein

The singer returns to his New York home for a holiday special from December 23 to 30, including Christmas Day. We challenge you not to be awash with festive spirit when he delivers classics like ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.’ And it wouldn’t be the holidays without one or two surprises. 54below.com

Conversation. Not talking points.

This is what news looks like.

SOBER IN THE CITY

Quilting a life Maybe you can’t see the progress. Maybe it feels too hard. But, trust Kristen Jongen – if you’re doing the work, it’s coming together

wenty years ago, I signed up for my first yoga class. I didn’t know anything about yoga, except that my muscles were stiff, and I’d heard it would be a great way to stretch. Additionally, I’d been having panic attacks and read that it would help to calm my nerves. I found a local class called Iyengar yoga. It was before the invention of athleisure, so when the class description said to wear something comfortable, I showed up in loose jeans and a T-shirt. Together, my classmates and I learned about body positions called asanas. We were moved into precise alignment with our teacher. We held each pose for up to five minutes before moving on to another position. I liked it well enough and went twice a week for two years. I thought this was yoga. After two years, my teacher left town and gave me a referral to a new instructor. I signed up for her class called Vinyasa II. At this point, I’d invested in sweat pants but was still unprepared for what was to follow. Once warmed-up, the new teacher played seductive Middle Eastern music from a CD. She then guided

us through something I’d never done before. She connected the previous years’ fixed postures into a moving routine. I was shocked. As the exotic tunes hummed, we moved in tandem with each other. Together, we bent and twisted and hovered the ground only to jump into variations of “flow.” I was so exhilarated; I thought my heart would explode. I had no idea that the isolated movements would add up to something beautiful. When I started, I didn’t realize that yoga was more than the sum of its disjointed parts; I didn’t know it could be more than work: I didn’t expect it to be fun. Fast forward to 2019, and I am celebrating my eighth year of sobriety. During my first years, I was only focused on the primary foundational notions of not drinking, taking direction, and working the 12 steps. My complicated, messof-a-life demanded simplicity: don’t drink; go to meetings; call your sponsor. I thought this was sobriety. I had no idea there would be freedom on the other side. I didn’t know that a 24-hour period of white-knuckling it would build

IMAGE: JULIO NUNYO

“When the class description said to wear something comfortable, I showed up in loose jeans and a T-shirt.”

DIGITAL EDITION

About

KRISTEN

An internationally recognized author, artist, and motivational speaker, Kristen has written and published two books. She is the voice behind Soul Soup Inc, inspirational books, prints, and greeting cards. Follow Kristen on Instagram @KristenJongen, If you’re having difficulty with drugs and alcohol, find support meetings at nyintergroup.org

a micro-muscle that would make it easier the next time. I didn’t know that one day would lead to two days, and several days would lead to months, and those months would lead to legitimate years. I didn’t expect it to work. My favorite part of middle age is reaping the rewards that only time can deliver. Who knew that hardfought transitions would suddenly, randomly, inexplicably smooth out into moments of wisdom? Who imagined that continually “showing up” for myself would lead to a perch from which to see my path? Not drinking is different from being sober, and yet it is all recovery. An asana is different from a vinyasa, and yet it is all yoga. Whether it is the nose-to-thegrindstone task of raising children, or building a business, or recovering from addiction, if you’re like me, you won’t see progress coming. You will get myopic about the individual crops you are hovering over, and be unable to imagine the profound landscape of a remarkable life quilting itself together. I thought I was in it alone; yet the co-creation in a recovered life is not about only healing me for my own sake; the quilt that it creates is also intended to keep others warm. The rogue optimism of The Universe still overwhelms my pragmatic sensibilities. She is the ultimate artist. She collects all of our broken bits and unapologetically insists on creating beauty.

“MOST PEOPLE GO HOME TO FEED THEIR CAT. I FEED MY CATERPILLARS.” Nothing to see here … just a guy with a butterfly farm in his basement Interview Ruth Walker Photographs Cid Roberts

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The GIFTED

ISSUE

tephen Smith is trying to figure out why butterflies resonate so much for him. “I assume it’s because I love change, being someone who was closeted as a child,” he says. “A lot of people liken coming out to becoming a butterfly or going through a metamorphosis, and I really wonder if that’s what it’s about.” However, even he admits that his passion for the giant insects is somewhat extreme. For standing in front of me, wearing a Wonder Woman T-shirt and with painted fingernails, is a man who raises butterflies in his Hell’s Kitchen basement. “I just finished raising monarchs and black swallowtails,” he says proudly.

“I’ve always described myself as a butterfly because I’m very flighty. And if you pin me down, I die.” “And I’ll show you my little chrysalis … isn’t that a sweet little thing?” It kind of looks like a dead leaf, if I’m honest, but I go with it. “He was really exciting for me to raise because he started off mimicking bird poop. Then he went beautiful green with eye-spots on his back that made him look like a snake. Then he went green and looked like a tree frog. And right before he pupated, he went bright, fluorescent orange. It was crazy.” This particular fella, he goes on to explain, was particularly partial to sassafras – a plant that was once used to make root beer until we discovered that too much of it can be carcinogenic. But caterpillars? They love the stuff. So every day, Stephen would go out foraging for it. “Believe it or not,” he says, “in Central Park they’ve got it a ton of it.

DIGITAL EDITION

HELL’S PANTRY

This page (clockwise from above): A small selection of Stephen’s collection; a tiger swallowtail caterpillar’s final instar (each stage of their development is called an instar); a spicebush swallowtail fourth instar; releasing a Monarch butterfly in Clinton garden.

DIGITAL EDITION

The GIFTED

ISSUE Left page: A spicebush swallowtail chrysalis; a black swallowtail caterpillar’s final instar.

“I love being out in nature and try to forage as much as possible. Everywhere I go, I’m squatted down, peering at the ground. I carry little plastic containers and anything I find I’ll take home. I’ll study it. I’ll learn about it. I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, let me grab this plant because I need it for my caterpillars.’ “Most people go home to feed their cat. I feed my caterpillars.” He raises them from eggs, he watches over them as they pupate. Then, when they eventually hatch, he sets them free. Born in Miami, Stephen went to high school in upstate New York, and was always bringing some kind of wildlife home. A snake one day. A turtle another. A bunch of frogs. A scorpion, caught using a black light at night in Arizona (because it makes their exoskeleton glow). “If it was capturable, I would do it. My mom was like, ‘Stephen! Get these caterpillars out of my bedroom!’” He’s studied ornithology, lepidopterology, marine biology, “but about 90% of everything I’ve learned is self-taught,” he says. Which means he’s killed a few things, accidentally, along the way. “It really breaks my heart because everything deserves a chance to live. Every egg. Every caterpillar is precious. Even apple seeds! I can’t help it.”

He always thought he’d end up in the rainforest, hunting for birds of paradise and exotic butterflies, and naming new species. But that option wasn’t available for him at college in Tennessee, so he studied acting instead, and traveled the world with cruise ships and Disney. But that passion for nature is in his blood. “My father’s an environmental scientist and he works on ways to protect the environment and bring energy to people. So he’ll be somewhere like Tunisia, putting in water turbines for a town that’s never had power before. And I love the idea of doing things that actually help the community as well.” While releasing butterflies in Clinton Community Garden, on W48th St 9th/10th Ave, he’s noticed a nice little pipevine plant that comes up every year. It’s the sole food source for the beautiful pipevine swallowtail butterfly, he explains. “So I thought it would be really cool if I could get hold of some of those eggs, raise them, and release them to the garden. “Everyone’s worried about the bees, but we should be worried about anything that pollinates our plants, because, without the plants, the entire chain goes and we snuff it. If you see butterflies in an environment, it tends to mean that environment is healthy. As soon as it gets too polluted, butterflies can’t live. So

when you start to see them go, you know you’ve got a problem.” His own collection, meanwhile, is staggering, covering the walls and shelves of his apartment. He has a huge Madagascan sunset moth that is about 13 years old, and whose fluorescent pink and orange wings still gleam with life. And several birdwing butterflies – the largest in the world. “I collect feathers too. Some of my most prized possessions are my argus pheasant feathers – the fact that nature can create something like that, it blows my mind. I collect shells, stones, rocks, crystals – I fill my world with beauty until my partner says, ‘You don’t have to cover every single square inch of your room!’” Does anyone think he’s ever so slightly … odd? “Yeah, a lot of people do,” he laughs. “Even my partners have been constantly surprised at how weird I can be.” He adds: “I’ve always described myself as a butterfly because I’m very flighty. And if you pin me down, I die.”

10 WEIRD BUTTERFLY FACTS • Butterflies taste with their feet. • The collective noun is a flutter. • They can’t fly if they’re cold. • Most butterflies only live for two to four weeks. • Some moths can fly 25 miles per hour. • They eat poop and rotting flesh (yes they do!) • They also drink turtle tears. • From hatching to pupation, a caterpillar increases its body size 30,000 times or more. • The zebra longwing butterfly is not only poisonous – its caterpillars eat their siblings. And don’t get me started on something called pupal rape! • Give them some tasty fermenting sap or rotting fruit and they’ll get good and drunk. Hic!

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DIGITAL EDITION

The GIFTED

ISSUE

TALK DIRTY TO ME Millennials are having a hot and heavy love affair with plants – here’s why

re plants the millennials’ answer to the puppy? They’re something to care for – to tend and raise and watch grow. But they don’t die if you leave them alone for a week in P Town. They won’t rip up the furniture if you go back to Brooklyn with that Tinder date instead of taking them out to pee. And you never have to worry about your landlord’s rigorously policed “no pets” policy. Or vet bills! Blame it on the increasing number of people who are delaying starting a family (even a dog baby is a commitment, guys!) or a more general wellness trend (matcha tea and crystals, anyone?). Whatever the reason, green-thumbed Americans spent a record $52.3 bn on garden paraphernalia last year, a quarter of which is attributed to 18 to 34-year-olds, whose spending on plants has grown faster than any other age group since 2014. Paul Thompson’s obsession started simply enough: with a single, easy-to-care

Interview Ruth Walker

“They really do have very interesting qualities and personalities and needs. They’re not furniture. Yes, they’re decorative, but they’re living things. So you need to treat them as such.”

for pothos plant when he first moved to New York. “It’s called a golden pothos, they’re very common, and they grow really easily.” It was just Paul and pothos for the longest time. Then he moved apartment and got a little more space, so a few more plants moved in. “That kind of started my passion for it,” he says. “I got more and more and then, when I moved to Hell’s Kitchen, I was like, ‘Oh, I have more space and better lighting,’ so I’ve just been growing my collection since then.” Succulents and cacti line the window sills. There are some splendid ficus plants on stands. A magnificent orbifolia. A beautiful, dark-leafed ZZ Raven. Whale Fin sansevieria. And at the center of this urban jungle, a Monstera adansonii he calls Sonya Blade (after the Mortal Kombat character). They all have personalities. “This little guy here …” he says, referring to one plant. “She’s kind of over here hanging out .…” he says of another. There’s an Alocasia

Opposite: OK guys, quick fire question: what plant is on Paul’s T?

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The GIFTED

ISSUE Left: Hmm – do you go for size or substance with your succulent?

named Poly, Diana, the Bird of Paradise, Frank, the fickle Fiddle Leaf Fig. “They really do have very interesting qualities and personalities and needs. They’re not furniture. Yes, they’re decorative, but they’re living things. So you need to treat them as such.” And while those babies are gleaming with health, he admits it’s been a journey. “I mean, I definitely killed some plants,” he admits, “and some were more finicky than others. So it’s a learning experience. And for some it’s a bigger learning curve than others. But I think it’s an enjoyable learning curve, because when you see them do well and develop, it’s so rewarding.” And, along the way, he’s met a

community of other plant parents online to share knowledge and heartbreak and swap babies. “There’s all the hustle and bustle out there, living in the concrete jungle,” he says, to explain the passion. “When I can surround myself with plants, I get a little bit of an oasis. And for a lot of people, especially millennials, this is their way of getting back to nature. “There’s such an amazing diversity of plants out there, and they’re so resilient and so interesting in terms of how they develop, how they grow, how they react. It’s really fun to see them mature and see them grow. I don’t know what I’m going to do when some of these get really big.” For a first-time plant parent, he advises first understanding the light in your apartment. “There are definitely some plants, like the ZZ plant, that are lowlight tolerant. So they can do really well in dark corners or indirect light. “The snake plant – Mother-InLaw’s Tongue – that’s really good because it’s native to Africa, so is used to really dry soil. So if you’re someone who travels a lot or just happens to forget to water them, they’re fine. They almost thrive on neglect.” If you’re determined to keep cacti, you’re going to want maximum direct sunlight. But then, he says, you

can kind of leave them alone. Other tips? A little horticultural charcoal helps keep the pests away. Cinnamon is a great natural fungicide. And don’t overwater. “Don’t assume that, just because the top soil is dry, that the rest of it isn’t,” says Paul. “That’s why you should stick your finger into the soil about an inch or two. If it’s wet and it sticks, don’t water it. But if it’s really dry then it’s a good time. During the summer, watering every week is good for most things. As it gets colder, maybe a week and a half to two weeks.” And don’t forget the drainage. “As long as there’s drainage,” he says, “you can’t really hurt the plant too much.” Feed them. Water them. Drain them. They’re not so different from puppies after all. @plantmepaul

PLANT SHOPPING WITH PAUL Daniela’s Flower Shop Broadway - 150th/151st St “They have really good prices, pretty good variety, and they’ll deliver. They’ll also re-pot your plants for free.”

The Flower District W28th St - 6th/7th Ave “There are lots of different shops – I’ve bought some pretty good stuff there.”

Brooklyn

Greenery Unlimited (91 West St) is really good, and so is Sprout (59 Grand St). And there’s Chelsea Garden Center (which moved from 11th Ave to outposts in Red Hook and Williamsburg).

Chinatown

Rooted was in Brooklyn, but now they’re at 191 Center St. There’s another good place in Chinatown called Dahing (289 Grand St).

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The GIFTED

ISSUE

COLD COMFORT

What can you give the homeless when you don’t want to give cash? Mark Lanham asks; Jan Conklin of New York City Relief answers About

MARK

Mark Lanham is a writer and performer, whose show Anything Helps documents his own decision to reject passivity about the 70,000 homeless people in New York City. A simple choice – buying a big pump-top thermos and

ML: I’m thinking that the holidays are an especially hard time for people here who are experiencing homelessness. JC: Right. Homelessness is hard even in the best of times, not to mention when it gets cold and the snow starts to fly. The stark reality of their situation becomes more obvious when you see them bundled up and sitting on the sidewalks. Most sit on cardboard – and that’s a strategic choice. The cardboard provides some insulation from the cold concrete. ML: It strikes me that during the holidays, when most of us are spending time with family, these folks are pretty isolated. JC: Yes, most don’t have the support of family we often take for granted. At New York City Relief, one of the most important things we try to provide is a sense of belonging. ML. For those who see people on the streets and wonder what the right way to help is, what is your professional opinion?

JC: I always recommend gift cards. McDonald’s. Starbucks. Panera. Places like CVS pharmacy. Some people worry that giving cash might support substance abuse. The gift cards are a great alternative. You can even enclose a greeting card, which adds a personal touch. Write a short message of hope. We may not be able to save the world, but we can give someone hope, even for today. I also tell people to carry socks around with them. Good pairs of socks are the thing we get the most requests for. ML: Something else we take for granted, right? Having clean socks to put on. JC: Absolutely. Another thing to remember is that nonprofits like New York City Relief count on 40% of their donations coming in around the holidays. In my own family, we’ve shifted from buying presents for each other to supporting charitable organizations. A gift to a worthy charity made

DIGITAL EDITION

serving coffee one-on-one to Union Square’s homeless – puts him on a path that explores the true nature of charity—why we give, and why we often hold back. It will be performed as part of the International Human Rights Art Festival on December 15 at The Wild Project, 195 E3rd St (bit. ly/marklanham)

in a loved one’s name can do far more good than buying them one more sweater. ML: I know you guys depend on volunteers to carry out your mission. How can people become NYCR volunteers? JC: We always need volunteers to staff our buses. It’s a great way for both individuals and organizations to give back, and signing up is easy. Just go to newyorkcityrelief.org/volunteer. ML: I know I see people out on the street daily in my commute around the city. Are there other ways people can connect with them and provide support? JC: Yes. We have some great downloadable resource cards on our website (pictured below). You can print these out and hand them to people. They include information on where to get free meals, and a weekly schedule of when and where our buses will be. And you can follow us on Instagram: @nyc_relief. We alert our followers when the city is experiencing freezing cold temperatures. Information on citywide warming stations is made available when the city declares CODE BLUE. Being willing to guide someone to the nearest location is critical. ML. For first timers, it can be hard to bridge that communication gap and approach someone who is experiencing homelessness. Any advice for novices? JC: Remember they’re people, too. The fact that they’re currently homeless doesn’t reduce their humanity. And for the rest of us, our humanity depends on how we treat the least of these. newyorkcityrelief.org

For all the gifts you bought, the news you brought, the good fights you fought, the inspiration you gave, the trust you showed, the patience and GRACE you demonstrated in these 17 years (!!) of DOMUS, we are SO THANKFUL TO YOU! Thank you for starting as customers and turning into friends and making us part of this community. We could not ask for a better "family"! Happy Holidays to you and yours. Luisa and Nicki

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The GIFTED

ISSUE

W LIFE love

LETTER “I saw children my own age starving, homeless, and alone. It broke my heart.”

IMAGE: PHIL O’BRIEN

Witnessing poverty and hunger in Mexico at the age of five changed the course of Rachel Flynn’s life

hen I was five years old, my parents took me on vacation to Mexico. It was there that my young self first became aware of the problem of hunger in the world. I saw children my own age starving, homeless, and alone. It broke my heart. I was impelled to help them. So, every day for a week, I collected the chocolates the housekeeping staff had left on my hotel pillow. At the end of our stay, my parents brought me back into the city, and when the children ran up to me, I gave them a chocolate. It was an experience that changed my life – and the way I view the world – for ever. Back home in Minnesota, I couldn’t shake the memory. I began to immerse myself in volunteerism, working with Feed My Starving Children, an organization that packs and sends food around the world. I devoted time to Feeding America, and Second Harvest Heartland, my local food bank. But I wanted to do more. So when I was 15, I became the youngest certified speaker at Second Harvest, visiting schools, community events, and the MN state capital to talk about childhood hunger. After graduating high school, I moved to NYC to pursue my modeling career and began volunteering with Metro World Child, an organization working with inner city children in New York and overseas. I want my life to be a love letter to children in need. I want to inspire the world to see that need and ask themselves how they can be of service. New Yorkers are known for chasing our dreams. I know it’s easy to get caught up in the superficial. On the other hand, when we take the time to put someone else’s needs before our own, it puts life in perspective. It even goes as far as to cultivate thankfulness in our own lives. What’s more rewarding than that?

About RACHEL

Rachel Flynn is originally from Savage, Minnesota, and moved to NYC at the age of 18 to pursue modeling. She’s worked with designers including Rebecca Minkoff, Cole Haan, Flying Tiger, and Helen Yarmak. When not modeling, she works at Oslo coffee shop, on W42nd St - 11th/12th Ave. Follow her on IG @rachel__flynn

DIGITAL EDITION

The GIFTED

ISSUE

THE GIFT OF

LIGHT Giving second life to a found object started out as a hobby for Chris Henry – now it’s much more meaningful than that Interview Ruth Walker

Photographs Phil O’Brien

n old Miller High Life beer can. A vintage railwayman’s flashlight. An art deco clock. And a multitude of ancient cameras … their insides removed and painstakingly replaced with the intricate workings of a lamp, complete with Edison bulbs where the flash or lens once was. Chris Henry started converting vintage and found objects into lamps as a way to fill his time between acting jobs. “I think my grandfather was a big tinkerer,” says Chris. “He spent a lot of time in his garage messing around with all kinds of things; always repairing things. He just liked to work with his hands and I’m along those lines. I’ve always liked feeling like I’m busy. So, this little world of mine was a kind

of therapeutic side trip for me, with acting being so unpredictable. “I had some downtime and made one of these lamps for myself. Then I gave one as a present to somebody and it just sort of started there. People would see somebody’s lamp and say, ‘Where’d you get that?’ Then I started getting people wanting commissions.” But it’s more of a labor of love rather than a business, he says. “I just love light. I’ve always been attracted to the texture of it. And, being in theater, I’ve always been interested in lighting design. “I’m also a bit of a dumpster diver. I love going into junk shops and secondhand stores and markets and fairs. And I’m also really into photography. So I just kind of blended those worlds.”

“I’m a bit of a dumpster diver. I love going into junk shops and secondhand stores and markets.”

DIGITAL EDITION

The GIFTED

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He doesn’t do much to the objects themselves – he likes the beat-up, been-lying-in-a-corn-field-for-20years look. “I just give it a little switch and a replica antique cord, and an Edison bulb.” And then he lets their natural beauty shine. Literally. Occasionally, he’ll feel a pang of regret as he’s pulling out the original workings of a beautiful camera on to the table of his Hell’s Kitchen apartment. “As an amateur photographer, I was initially like, ‘Oh, this feels really weird destroying the camera.’ But then I got a little more philosophical, thinking, ‘I’m giving it second life.’” The craft also has a meditative quality, which helps keep him sane between those sometimes scarce acting jobs. “I love that part of it. I

“It’s about sharing something of me, and spreading the light.” just go into this meditative state. I can work on these all night and feel like an hour went by. “And I always say I have a lifetime guarantee with anything I sell,” he adds, “because it’s not about the money so much as sharing something of me, and spreading the light a bit, giving people some positive energy in their spaces.”

About CHRIS

Chris sells his work through Etsy, craft fairs, and the Upper West Side’s Grand Bazaar. Follow him on IG @hankshandmade

DIGITAL EDITION

OUT

The

GIFTED 7

Yes, they can sing, dance, AND act. But there’s more – much more – to these performers with hidden talents Words Elizabeth Durand Streisand Illustration Chelsey Hill 32

DIGITAL EDITION

t turns out some of our favorite Broadway stars have gifts that extend far beyond singing, dancing, or acting. These giants of the stage are not only triple threats; they can cook, paint, and analyze genetic neuron development better than the rest of us too. WTAF?

Paul Dabek

The Illusionists “I have a bit of a flair for carpentry and building things,” Paul Dabek reveals. But not every project has gone smoothly. “In my teenage years I built a particular illusion (a cabinet that would magically switch me for my assistant) that inadvertently locked my assistant inside it. It had to be wheeled off stage and dismantled with a screwdriver to let her out in time for the curtain call.”

Angie Swan

American Utopia The American Utopia band member likes to be in the kitchen. “Besides performing, I absolutely love to cook. I’d always make a point to pick up regional spices and seasonings while on tour last year, so my pantry is full of local goodies,” she explains. “I really enjoy cooking Italian and Asian cuisines. However, breakfast is my forte. I like to make an anchovy, caper butter toast with a poached egg and parsley garnish. Savory breakfasts for me!”

Matt Walker

The Play That Goes Wrong “I am a neurobiologist by day,” Matt Walker says. (Yes, you read that correctly!) “I study the genetics of

OUT neuron development up at Columbia University. I use microscopic roundworms to study the sensation of touch, which involves stroking the worms with the tip of an eyebrow hair – so I guess you could say my ‘hidden talent’ is worm-tickling.”

Opposite: Check out those hidden talents

Jorrel Javier

The Lightning Thief Swan isn’t the only one with a culinary flair. “I’m a very good cook,” Jorrel Javier explains. “I was seven years old and I was hungry, but my sister was asleep and I didn’t want to wake her up – so I went to the kitchen and made myself an omelet, recreating the steps that I saw my dad do countless times. And since then I’ve just cooked. I cook for myself, for friends, for family. Food is my love language.”

“I study the sensation of touch, which involves stroking worms with the tip of an eyebrow hair – so I guess you could say my ‘hidden talent’ is worm-tickling.”

Kerry Butler

Beetlejuice “My unexpected gift is painting,” Kerry Butler reveals. “My sister-in-law is an artist. One day I started painting watercolors with her, and became addicted. It’s something that brings me peace, makes me forget about any problems. When I was a child, I’d sit by myself for hours making little cartoons. It’s funny how you let go of

things that bring you joy when you grow up. I’m so happy that I got back in touch with my artistic child.” Butler’s paintings don’t only bring her joy, however. She raised money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS by selling her original paintings at the Broadway Flea Market earlier this year.

De’Lon Grant

Come From Away “My most prominent, non-theatrerelated talent is photography – the irony being that most of the photography work I create is portraits or headshots of other actors and artists,” De’Lon Grant explains, before noting a nice plus to his particular skill. “One of the best benefits is that I can update my own headshots on a regular basis free of charge.”

CJ Eldred

Rock of Ages “Surprisingly I have a very gifted arm. Everything from throwing baseballs, footballs, frisbees, skipping stones and beer pong,” says CJ Eldred. “I discovered it (or I should say my dad did) when I was around three or four. I could toss just about anything way harder and farther than he expected – so he would play catch with me for hours and had to get a catcher’s glove or else I would bruise his hand.” (Surprisingly, he never put this to use with sports as he played defense on the football team!)

About ELIZABETH

Elizabeth Durand Streisand is the CEO of Broadway Roulette, the fun and easy way to see Broadway shows. Pick a date and number of tickets, give some info about what you like (and don’t!), and spin the wheel for a surprise show matching your criteria – all for just $49/ ticket weekdays and $59/ ticket weekends. And now you can add a brunch or dinner reservation to your spin! broadwayroulette.com

DIGITAL EDITION

OUT

CHRISTMAS three The secret about Santa, dreams of Donny Osmond, and other ghosts of holidays past

ang your stocking, pull on your Christmas sweater, and OD on eggnog. Jim Caruso, Billy Stritch, and Klea Blackhurst are spreading Christmas cheer for all to hear.

DIGITAL EDITION

On a favorite present as a child

JIM: It was 1971, and I wanted a Spiro Agnew watch in the worst way. So I got one. None of the other kids had a clue what the hell it was about, but for some reason, I thought it was hilarious. I still do! (Note: Spiro was Nixon’s Vice President.) BILLY: I grew up in the country with

Below: Billy, Klea, and Jim got the holiday sweater memo.

OUT two sisters and a brother and one year we got a trampoline, which made us the most popular kids in the neighborhood. KLEA: A bearded, talking GI Joe. That same Christmas, my sister, Nanette, got a Baby Tender Love. That sums us up nicely.

The one thing we wanted but never got

JIM: I grew up an only child, so I would beg my mother for a sibling every year … until she was well into her 80s. I would go so far as to leave adoption agency contact numbers on her desk. I remember watching the Osmond Family Christmas Specials with tears in my eyes. They seemed to be having so much fun and I was envious of the bond they had personally and professionally. And they all played banjo and tap danced. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that? KLEA: A Rolex. I only got as high as a Seiko.

Christmas when it airs on TV. The lovely message about the true meaning of Christmas, mixed with Vince Guaraldi’s brilliant and moody score, never fail to get me in the mood. BILLY: I really love White Christmas. The music, the story, the whole 50s VistaVision look has always appealed to me. Another one I love is a movie called Sun Valley Serenade. It features the Glenn Miller Orchestra and has a great score as well. KLEA: A Christmas Story. I love the way the dad curses, and the Bumpus hounds.

“I remember watching the Osmond Family Christmas Specials with tears in my eyes. They seemed to be having so much fun.”

On holiday traditions

JIM: For the past ten years, Billy, Klea, and I have been performing A Swinging Birdland Christmas during Christmas week. I look forward to it like I can’t tell you. I decorate my apartment early, so when we rehearse around my piano, we feel appropriately merry. Then, on Christmas night, we exchange presents in the dressing room, including our bass player Steve Doyle, and drummer Daniel Glass. After the show, we convene somewhere swell for Christmas dinner. It’s the big family holiday I yearned for as a kid.

On favorite holiday movies

JIM: I never miss A Charlie Brown

On favorite holiday songs

JIM: My mother loved ‘Joy To The World,’ and passed that appreciation on to me. I also admit to getting a little weepy over the lyrics to ‘Hard Candy Christmas,’ by Carol Hall. The resolve of ‘Me, I will go on’ gets me every time. BILLY: ‘It came upon a midnight clear’ is my favorite carol. And, for a popular song, you can’t beat Mel Torme’s ‘The Christmas Song.’ KLEA: ‘It Happened In Sun Valley.’

On learning about Santa

KLEA: One year I really wanted a pair of K2 skis. I’m sure a rich kid at school had a pair and I thought they were just terrific. My mother kept telling me the brand wasn’t important when it came to skis. But I was adamant. I really, really wanted those K2s. So my mother told me Santa wanted me to pay half. I saved up and I got my skis Christmas morning. About a month later, my mother said that Santa felt really bad about the arrangement and asked her to give me my money back.

DIGITAL EDITION

the person I’d love to meet under the mistletoe KLEA: It is, was, and always will be Donny Osmond.

On the greatest gift

About

THEM

Jim, Billy, and Klea will be having a Swinging Birdland Christmas every day (including Christmas Day) from December 21 to 25 (birdlandjazz. com). Their holiday album, Christmas at Birdland, is on Club44 Records and is available on Amazon.

JIM: It came from Liza Minnelli when we were performing Liza’s at The Palace on Broadway. She gave us all silver cufflinks engraved with the first name of the character we were portraying. I played Dick Williams. You can imagine the comments when I wear them. BILLY: I received a very beautiful watch one year that I still wear. And I still treasure the memory of the very first tuxedo my grandma gave me when I was about 16 and starting to perform. We went to Saks Fifth Avenue (in Houston) and she brought me a beautiful Bill Blass tux that was not inexpensive. She loved giving it to me and I loved wearing it. KLEA: Curiosity. Also a ukulele made out of a cigar box.

And the worst

JIM: The book Cooking For One. If that isn’t depressing, I don’t know what is. BILLY: One Christmas back in the early 1980s, piano key scarves were a pretty big deal. I think I received five of them that year from different people. You really only need one, or perhaps none. KLEA: Oh, I love them all. It’s a gift!

On Secret Santa (with just $10 to spend)

JIM FOR BILLY: Ten dollars? Yikes. Is anything ten dollars? Over the 30-some years we’ve been best friends, I’ve given Billy most everything I can think of, from a quiet-close garbage can to a Karen Carpenter T-shirt. Perhaps a pair of socks with Mel Torme’s face? Billy for Klea: I’d buy Klea something organizational, like a cool notebook or tape dispenser. Maybe $10 worth of multicolored paper clips. Something personal like that. Klea for Jim: Easy. For Jim, whatever costs $10 at Ralph Lauren. Maybe if I hit an outlet store, I’d get lucky? One time I did get a pocket T-shirt at the outlet for $10. I didn’t know Jim then, but I wore it with pride for years.

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THE BOISE

As he continues his pie odyssey of the country, Clayton Howe stumbles into the politest Trader Joe’s in America

othing says the holidays like a slice of pie … and potatoes? Since we chatted last, I’ve been clear across this country AND to Canada. First stop: Boise, Idaho. City of … “TREES” is what the airport sign said. I thought it’d be potatoes, but trees it is, thanks to a series of tree-dotted trails along the Boise River Greenbelt. While getting all my necessities at Trader Joe’s made me feel a bit closer to home, I still experienced confusion and a little discomfort with all the smiles and greetings. Not to mention the countless banter at the corner of aisles. “You go first.” “No, you first.” “No, no, I insist, you go.” “Are you sure?” “Yes, I’m sure, PLEASE JUST GO.” Ah politeness. “What are you doing here … did you get lost?” asked the woman at the liquor store when I showed my ID. It was in that moment I knew: Boise doesn’t see a lot of out-of-town visitors. They were VERY curious to know why someone from New York would show up there.

Above: Pie delights from Vancouver and Boise. Below: Clay grabs a coffee before showtime.

The only moment of fear was when my Uber driver quoted his grandfather: “A polite society is an armed society.” Mountains paint the beautiful backdrop of Boise, and the place is quite diverse, with people from all over, speaking various languages. And they’re VERY friendly. And although I saw little to no police presence, it feels safe. Could be that be the armed society …? I strolled into the Boise Pie Co – THE spot to taste pies downtown. The state fruit is huckleberry, so huckleberry pie it was. And it was delish! Such a great crust – light and flakey, with a slight hint of cinnamon. The filling was slightly tart yet sweet. Now, I know you guys love lists, so here are some fun facts from my visit: 1. It’s pronounced BOY-SEE, not boy-zee. 2. In Idaho, it is illegal to ride a merrygo-round on a Sunday.

“When I showed my ID in the liquor store, it was in that moment I knew: Boise doesn’t see a lot of out-oftown visitors.”

3. Nearly a third of America’s potatoes come from this state. The second national tour opened Waitress in Vancouver. I stopped by Aphrodite’s Organic Pie Shop and tried a slice of the Strawberry Rhubarb Pie. I’ve never had strawberries in pie, but yes. Yes. YES. I just didn’t expect it to taste THAT good. This holiday season, as I reflect on the past year and focus on love and gratitude (those two words that seem to be overused and undervalued as of late), I find it easier to access those feelings with less baggage in my life. Literally. For this tour I’ve packed one checked, one carry-on, and one personal bag. Which leaves me with less choice on what to wear and more choice on what to feel. Sometimes we cover up our feelings and thoughts with material items (I know I’m guilty of it) and when you take those away, there is time to reflect and appreciate. As a result, I’m learning to just be. Happy, thoughtful, grateful, anything. Enjoy the moment for what it is, and continue through life. Isn’t happiness what it’s about after all? There will be more pie tasting coming up through snowy, wintery Canada next month. Happy Holiday’s Hell’s Kitchen.

About CLAYTON

Clayton Howe is the creator and host of the Entertainment(x) podcast and is currently on tour through the US and Canada as Earl in Waitress.

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PEOPLE

An actor’s

daylist 10am

Little Pie Company, W43rd St - 9th/10th Ave So many places in HK have come and gone and I tend to frequent the few that remain from when I first moved here. I knew about this place before I’d even had an apartment in the neighborhood. The classic sour cream apple walnut pie is my comfort food. I have to be careful about how often I indulge, though. Sometimes it’s enough to grab coffee in the morning and take in the aroma from the kitchen.

11am

IMAGE: CID ROBERTS

Dramatists Guild Foundation, W40th St - 8th/9th Ave Hidden behind Port Authority in a nondescript building, this gem of a space is designed for

creative work. Set up like a big, comfy living room (complete with baby grand piano), it’s a perfect spot to germinate ideas, rehearse, and collaborate. It’s rare to find a place so dedicated to the artist, and the staff are incredibly welcoming. Of course, it’s in demand, so you have to book well in advance.

3.30pm

Frisson Espresso, W47th St - 8th/9th Ave Like many writers I know, I can’t write at home – there are too many distractions. This small coffee shop with big windows sits on a rare quiet block. It serves some of the best coffee in the area, and the simple wooden tables and chairs make it comfortable enough … but not too comfortable. Good for getting work done. I like that it feels like a neighborhood place, rather than a chain.

7.30pm

Nizza, 9th Ave - 44th/45th St This new-ish restaurant sits on the footprint of the old Studio Coffee Shop, which was where I had

breakfast every day for basically the first four years I lived in a building almost directly across the street. So, admittedly, there’s some nostalgia that brings me here. But it really is one of my go-to restaurants, with some of the best Italian food in Hell’s Kitchen. My girlfriend is a vegan and they have plenty of options for her as well. The roasted cauliflower with pine nuts and currants is like candy.

9.30pm

Birdland, W44th St - 8th/9th Ave I try not to take for granted that there are some historic places just steps away from where I live. Birdland is not only a great place to see some of my favorite jazz musicians from around the world almost any day of the week, but the year-old Birdland Theater downstairs, showcasing some of Broadway’s best, has become my creative home. The iconic open-mic, Jim Caruso’s Cast Party is a Monday night staple and is a must, whether you’re just watching or signing up to take the mic.

Jason Kravitz is an actor, writer and producer who grew up in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC. This is his second stint living in Hell’s Kitchen, the first being when he moved to NYC 25 years ago. Aside from TV, theater, and voice-over work, Jason regularly performs his completely improvised, one-man cabaret Off the Top! at Birdland Theater, including Sunday, December 8 at 7pm.

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EAT

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EAT

HOW TO WIN THE

HOLIDAYS The world’s best gift giver, Michael Muñoz lets you in on his secret

ing it with me now! “It’s the holiday season … with the whoop-de-do and hickory dock, and don’t forget to hang up your sock!” I love everything about the holidays, from the shopping to the hustle and bustle, the smell of pine on every corner, and even the drunk Santas. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Some people have a love language of touch. Others use words of affirmation. And some people (like some of my exes) have none at all. Mine is giving gifts. I’ve always had an inherent knack for finding the perfect something. Listen, I get it. It can be a lot of pressure, especially if gift-giving and joy-spreading aren’t your specialties. Not everyone is a natural-born elf. But perhaps your big, gay, neighborhood foodie can help alleviate some of your woes and have you shining brighter than a menorah during Chanukah. There’s an old Shaker tune you may have heard. It goes … “’Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free, ’tis the gift to come down where we ought to be. And when we find ourselves in the place just right, ’twill be in the valley of love and delight.” What I love about this particular song is the emphasis on simplicity, knowing you

Photograph Kristin Camping are exactly where you are supposed to be in life, and reveling in any kind of love and delight around you. But what if you’re already at a loss? Well, I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love the gift of food. Let’s say you have a fun ugly holiday sweater party on the calendar. Or maybe you need something for that neighbor who always watches your cat. Why not whip up some super simple and wallet-friendly Reindeer Chow? All you need is:

Opposite: Our big, gay, neighborhood foodie can’t wait for Christmas!

6 cups of Cinnamon Chex 1.5 cup white chocolate chips 1 cup very crushed peppermint candies 1 12oz bag of Christmas M&Ms 1 Pour the Chex in a large bowl. 2 In another vessel, melt the chocolate chips in 20-second intervals in the microwave until smooth. 3 Pour the melted chocolate over the Chex and work quickly to stir it in until it’s all combined. 4 Spread that out on a sheet pan lined with parchment and let it cool. 5 Add the crushed peppermints and M&Ms and, voila! You’re done. An instant, made-with-love gift. 6 Put it in a cute tin or fun baggies and give them to everyone. People will be talking about your “cooking” for days, your sister-in-law will hate you for feeding it to the kids, and your Aunt Bernice will think you’re the most adorable thing since Garfield the cat.

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About

MICHAEL

A home-trained cook and university trained performer, Michael makes food fun and accessible through his blog,

The Kitchen Gaily. And things get downright saucy in his podcast In Yo

Mouth.

Now, what about your bestie or your girlfriend/boyfriend? These are people who I’d imagine love spending time with you, so why not create a date night in a box? Pick up awesome wine (try the Ninth Avenue Vintner on 9th Ave - 46th/47th St). For cheeses and bread, there’s the Pantry at Amy’s Bread (on the same block, across the street) and get your fancy meats from Sergimmo’s (9th Ave - 35th/36th St). Don’t forget to top it off with some great jams, gherkins, or whatever your heart desires (also from the Vintner or the grocery store). Head to Delphinium (W47th St - 8th/9th Ave) for a cute candle. Lastly, order some fun elf onesies online in both your sizes and, for less than $60, you have a gift that will win you all the points, and perhaps get you some holiday lovin’ too. At a loss for your parents who live in Minnesota? There’s a website called Goldbelly that delivers the trendiest food on Instagram to anywhere in the country. Now you don’t even have to carry a present on the plane and that Piecaken mom saw on Kelly & Ryan can be all hers. No matter what or how you celebrate, if I can leave you with one thought let it be this: you’ve already gone the extra mile just by thinking of the person and doing something with them in your heart. So pour yourself a glass of dairy-free, alcohol-filled egg nog, turn on that Netflix crackling fire, and find yourself in that place just right. Happy holidays to you and your kin. Dona Nobis Pacem.

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PEOPLE

A sommelier’s

Playlist La Boîte

11th Ave - 51st/52nd St I like to spend my weekends exploring new wines and new flavor combinations ... on my couch, in front of my big screen. La Boîte spice store makes it so the furthest I have to go for a taste of the exotic is the dining room table.

Down the Road

9th Ave - 47th St This place reminds me of one of those bars on Bourbon Street that you TRY to pass … but you always get dragged in. They air UFC fights and they have Sunday Ticket, which means I have the chance to see my precious Saints go marching in.

Mercedes Club

W54th St - 10th/11th St Fall is full-blown tasting season for most importers and distributors. Sometimes after a few of those in a day, I’ll find myself a little worse for wear before the night shift. Some cardio, a quick weight session, a dip in the pool, and I’m ready to tackle the PM.

Nykkei (American Izakaya)

9th Ave - 55th/56th St Kilo’s baby sister is a breath of fresh air for the neighborhood. A low-key vibe, high-quality food, an off-beat sake list, and, of course, great wine.

Pocket Bar

W48th St - 9th/10th Ave Back or front, really. Both places are relics of a bygone era, not long ago, when going out was more about the social and less about the media.

Playlist

IMAGE: PHIL O’BRIEN

Coffee and TV - Blur Whiplash - Metallica Simon Says - Megan Thee Stallion Sweet 17 - Dirty Beaches Both Ends Burning - Roxy Music New Orleans native, LJ Hollins is a beverage consultant at large, and the sommelier behind the irreverently quirky wine list at Kilo, 9th Ave - 55th/56th St. The Action Bronson Show alum discusses two things close to his heart – Hell’s Kitchen, and music.

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PEACE ON EARTH Stop for a moment. Take a breath. Wrap up warm. The shopping for the gifts and the

food can wait. “Peace,” says Elie Wiesel, the writer and activist,” is our gift to each other.”

@NATEBOZE #FOLKSWAITING

Photographs Nate Bozeman

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Confessions of a

LOCATION SCOUT Trespassing, explosions, and strip clubs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this is the story of how movies find their home Interview Ruth Walker

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LIVING

ost of the publicity surrounding the movie Hustlers centered on J. Lo’s pole dancing moves. But keen-eyed New Yorkers were more interested in checking out her kick-ass apartment. This is what money buys a hard-working girl in the city, we thought. City views. Terrace. Doubleheight windows. And a living room big enough to practice your carousel swing all day long. And the location? The luxury 420-story building at One West End, in Lincoln Square, which played the role of stripper Ramona’s swanky apartment without breaking a sweat. At least for four days of filming.

“I showed up, they threw me a beeper, gave me car keys to some rented car, and said, ‘Go find us an apartment in Hell’s Kitchen.’” “I was so excited about the job,” says location scout Susan Pazos, “because I loved the article in New York magazine it was based on. It was the Robin Hood story … but with strippers. “Then your job is so much easier when you have a face like Jennifer Lopez fronting the whole thing, so you toss her name around every chance you get.” The location brief was for “gritty stuff” like strip clubs, as well as rooftops with a view, “which our neighborhood is perfect for,” she says, “because you’ve got all those low tenements then, boom! The city right behind you all sparkly.” She looked all over the city for a penthouse that could work as Ramona’s apartment – and found it at One West

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LIVING

This page: City views, double-height ceilings, and luxury finishes made the apartment a nobrainer as Ramona’s penthouse (left) in the movie Hustlers.

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End. “I went straight to the marketing team that was working for the building. They showed me a couple of different apartments – one was a little lower on the scale. Then I offered them a price and they took it.” The filming process included prep, a day and night of shooting – then clean-up, making sure they left the place exactly as they found it (no stripper shoes left behind the sofa or lipstick stains on the sheets). “The art crew goes in there and photographs everything meticulously,” says Sue, “to make sure that they put everything back exactly the way it was; doing any patch-ups because, inevitably, some wall will get a ding or two. “I do know that they had to bring in a tanning machine,” she adds, “which probably weighs three tons. It’s these two big guys trying to go in through the front door with this thing. She [Ramona] is like, ‘Over here.’ They have a big, boozy party. They’re opening presents. There were some really fun scenes in there.

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LIVING Champagne popping and ‘we’re a family with money.’ That’s the big scene.” A freelance location scout, Sue says she got into the business as “a fluke” back in 1998. “I was desperate for money,” she says. “I didn’t go to film school, but I knew people who were working behind the scenes, set decorating and art department jobs. I just started calling everybody I knew and one girl passed my name along.” A woman called her back. “Do you know anything about locations?” she asked. Sue said no. “‘Do you know how to work a camera?’ I said, ‘Yes,’ kind of lying. ‘Do you have a driver’s license?’ ‘Yes.’ She said, ‘Great. Start tomorrow.’ I showed up, they threw me a beeper, gave me car keys to some rented car, and said, ‘Go

find us an apartment in Hell’s Kitchen.’” It was sink or swim. A baptism of fire. But fortunately, it turned out Sue had a knack for the gig. That show was called Trinity, and she found a great old apartment with all the original moldings, old furniture, books. “It was three episodes,” she says, “and they canceled it right before Thanksgiving, so everyone was out of a job. But by that time I was in the loop.” Since then, she’s worked on pretty much every Law and Order spin off (including the original), Vanilla Sky, New Year’s Eve, and Kinsey. Most recently, she’s scouted for Men in Black Four, HBO’s Plot Against America, based on the Philip Roth novel, the Ben Stiller-produced Escape at Dannemora, and another J. Lo vehicle called Marry Me – a romantic comedy co-starring

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DADA An exhibition of work by Dan Romer and Dane LaChiusa. Friday December 13 • 6:30 - 9:30 PM at The Artist Co-Op. 500 W. 52 nd st. 3W. One Night Only. Event features DJ Paddy Boom Formerly of The Scissor Sisters, and Burlesque show by Olive TuPartie. Artists: danromerart.com • pablomatisse.com

LIVING Owen Wilson. Key scenes will be shot at Madison Square Garden and the Hammerstein Ballroom. The locations in most popular demand – and toughest to find – are the classic New York stoops and brownstones. Period places with original fixtures, original moldings. “The mayor’s office will block out certain neighborhoods in the city – in Brooklyn or the West Village or Brooklyn Heights for example – because there’s just been too much filming there. People keep going back to them because they’re perfect.” Which means she’s always on the look out for something unique, wherever she goes. “I make notes all the time,” she says. “I grab a card if I’m out to dinner at some place and I feel like it could be great for a project. “And I’m a trespasser. I was scouting Hamptons houses for Marry Me, and a lot of these places you can’t see from the road. So you have to drive right up their long driveway to get a peek at the house. If I think it’s right, I’ll backtrack and slip a flyer in their mailbox.” So, let’s just say I’m interested in renting out my apartment as a location … what’s the going rate? Will I be able to retire early on the cash I make? “It depends,” she says, “on how long they’re going to be there, how much involvement there is. Is there a chase scene? Is someone supposed to jump off the roof? Is there going to be an explosion? FBI just did an explosion scene at Manhattan Motor on 51st and 11th. They had to get a light position on a building two blocks up – on 8th or 9th Avenue – to shine on to 11th Ave so they could get a shot of the car going right off the roof. That cost them at least $25,000 to do.” But most often, she says, it’s the people she meets that make the job most interesting. “You walk down the streets, you walk down the avenues, and you see the beautiful facades, but you never know what’s going on behind those doors, who works the building, who’s the doorman, and what’s the story of the super who’s been there for 20 years.”

LOCATION HK The Hustler (1961) The classic starring Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason shot its key scene – that epic pool game – at the old Ames Billiard Academy, on the second floor at 160 W44th St - 7th Ave. It was dirtied up to look deliberately seedy. The pool room eventually closed its doors in 1966 and the corner site is now home to Good Morning America. Another pool hall that featured in the movie was McGirr’s Billiard Academy, in the basement of 709 8th Ave - 45th St. And Arthur’s Pool Hall, where Fast Eddie gets his thumbs broken, was shot around Piers 92/94. Sarah Packard (played by Piper Laurie) lives in an apartment on W56th St - 8th/9th Ave, and Eddie picks up a bottle of Scotch on his way to her place – the liquor store is on the north-east corner of W56th St - 8th Ave. Another scene sees the pair walking past the Parisien restaurant, on W56th St - 9th Ave. That restaurant is now Bricco. Klute (1971) Detective John Klute (Donald Sutherland) is investigating the disappearance of a scientist and gets involved with Bree Daniel, a hooker played by Jane Fonda, whose apartment is at 441 W43rd St - 9th/10th Ave. Conveniently, The Sanctuary, her local disco is just a few doors east, at 407 W43rd St (now the Westside Theatre). Taxi Driver (1976) Robert De Niro plays the disturbed (“Are you looking at me?”) New York City cab

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driver Travis Bickle in a movie that was largely filmed in Hell’s Kitchen. Locations include stretches of W57th St - 11th/12th Ave, which served as the cab depot. Many scenes take place in a pre-Disney Times Square, and the Show & Tell porn theater, at 737 8th Ave - 46th/47th St was demolished years ago. The coffee shop where Travis meets Betsy (Cybill Shepherd), on 8th Ave - 58th St? That’s now a Duane Reade. Raging Bull (1980) De Niro’s Jake LaMotta lives in the Bronx, where all the interior apartment scenes were shot, but the exterior is 447 W56th St - 10th Ave. Fame! (1980) Director Alan Parker is said to have planned to shoot at the Performing Arts school on W46th St - 6th/7th Ave. However, the Board of Education was concerned with the cursing, sex, and drug use in the movie’s script so denied the request. Scouts later found replacements for interior scenes at Haaren High School (on 10th Ave - 59th St. now part of John Jay College). For exterior shots, the abandoned Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, almost directly opposite the school, stood in. The famous ‘Fame’ musical number, meanwhile, was shot on W46th St in three days, featuring 150 background actors and 50 professional dancers. However, the song hadn’t yet been written, so they danced to Donna Summer’s ‘Hot Stuff’ instead #toptrivia #yourewelcome

Sleepers (1996) Kevin Bacon, Jason Patric, Brad Pitt, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, and Minnie Driver star in this crime drama set in Hell’s Kitchen. However, because the neighborhood had been so radically redeveloped since the 1960s, when the film is set, location filming moved to Brooklyn. There are some exterior shots closer to home – namely McHale’s restaurant, which once stood on the corner of W46th St - 8th Ave, and a brief scene at the Market Diner, which stood at the corner of 11th Ave - 43rd St and is now a luxury apartment building. Flawless (1999) Homophobic Walt Koontz, played by Robert De Niro, suffers a stroke that leaves his vocal cords paralyzed. His therapy? Singing lessons from his pre-op transgender neighbor (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Both live, according to the script, in a rundown Hell’s Kitchen tenement. However, a building on Avenue A - 13th St stands in. Ash Wednesday (2002) Edward Burns and Elijah Wood play a pair of Irish American brothers in a movie set in Hell’s Kitchen in the early 1980s. Locations include the Washington Jefferson Hotel, on W51st St - 8th/9th Ave; the Landmark Tavern, on 11th Ave 46th St; and The Gaf Bar, W48th St - 9th Ave.

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LIVING apartments, mostly from websites like Streeteasy or with my broker friend. There were a lot of options and it was very confusing. Also, we were kind of in a hurry to find an apartment as we only had a month to move out. So, to simplify everything, we each wrote down the three things we were seeking. She wrote storage, cleanliness, and gym. I wrote view, cleanliness, and quiet neighbors. Based on that, we narrowed our options down to two, checked them both, and applied within a week. The broker experience: My best friend’s husband is a broker and he was helping me out with lots of great options. We ended up signing the lease without him as it was a rental building (we got some gifts for him as a thank you).

Hey

neighbor!

After moving seven times in ten years, all within Hell’s Kitchen, how could Ray Park ever leave the west side?

Ray Park

Profession: I’m founder and owner of Red Poke restaurants, which has two locations on W43rd St - 9th Ave and W53rd St 8th Ave.

IMAGE: PHIL O’BRIEN

Moving from: A studio at 271 West 47th St (The Biltmore). To: 21 West End Ave - 60th/61st St. It has great views of both the city and the Hudson River, plus good amenities. Why?: I recently got married and we

Above: Storage and a view – plus day care for Ray’s dog Hodoo (which is Korean for chestnut).

were looking for a bigger place in a quiet area. My first link with Hell’s Kitchen was back in 2005, when I was hired as a floor manager at Bann Restaurant. At that time I lived in Astoria, then Harlem, but I moved to Hell’s Kitchen in 2007. Since then. I’ve moved seven times, between W45th St and W57th St. And now I’m doing business here. It obviously shows how much I love it. My budget: Around $4k for a onebedroom apartment. Lessons I learned along the way: My wife and I checked quite a few

DIGITAL EDITION

On the check list: We wanted a good gym and outdoor BBQ place. Also, we were planning to have a dog and they have an on-site dog day care center. What sealed the deal?: My wife’s top check list item was storage and mine was a view. The unit we saw had both and we applied right away. Our favorite thing about living on the west side: There are so many great options to eat, especially Aria, Udon West, and Sake Bar Hagi. It is close to Central Park and the Hudson. I guess I’m used to being here!

VITAL STATS 21 West End Ave - 60th/61st St # stories: 48 # units: 616 When built? 2016 Amenities: 24-hour concierge, bar and café, dog park, doggy day care, playroom and workshop, fitness center, indoor pool and spa, lounge with outdoor terrace, club room, golf simulator, screening room, library, and wine tasting room. Pet-friendly? Definitely – it has onsite dog care center.

LIVING On the first (and second) day …

We’re real supporters of the Nomad store Maison 10, run by two Hell’s Kitchen cuties. Not only is the curated collection of jewelry, homewares, candles, and gifts beautiful, 10% of all sales go towards a charity of each artisan’s choice. Our favorite buys this month include the Kenichi turquoise throw by Karrie Dean (right). Kenichi is her son’s middle name, and is Japanese for “healthy first born son.” The chosen non profit is the International Rescue Committee. The cool KOOKOO clock (left) wakes you up with original recordings of birds and animal sounds as well as Christmas and children’s songs – you choose. The makers have chosen Housing Works as their holiday non profit. $170 (throw); $100 (clock), maison10.com

12 days of

GIFTMAS Deck the halls and sing fa-la-la-la-la – we’ve picked out the perfect presents for home lovers On the fourth day … My true love decided they needed to save some money, so they picked up this adorable metallic bank in the shape of a balloon bunny. Pigs are so passe! $54, delphiniumhome.com

On the fifth day …

My true love was inspired by the December issue of W42ST, and the interview with Paul Thompson (read it on p20, green-thumbed friends). So they ordered a snake plant from The Sill, which comes complete with detailed care instructions and a choice of planter color. $33, thesill.com

On the third day …

The gift of light (and scent) comes courtesy of the fine gentlemen at Fine and Dandy, who have created a luxurious candle line. Each fragrance is named after a fabric, and they’re produced close to home in New Jersey. So they have eco props too! $30, fineanddandyshop.com

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LIVING

On the sixth day …

The sensual, curvy Chelsea sofa is inspired by the New York City neighborhood, home of designer Karim Rashid (before he skipped up north to Hell’s Kitchen, of course). My true love was really breaking the bank with this one … From $4,749, boconcept.com

On the seventh day …

My true love needed a drink. All this gift buying is thirsty work. Ethan + Ashe’s Alkemista collection is an ingenious way to make delicious cocktails without all the mixing and mess. The Alkemista bottle acts a little like a teapot – just add the blends (rose lemon gin, house bitters, orange ginger) to your chosen liquor and, boom! A ready-made party! From $10, domusnewyork.com

On the ninth (and 10th) day …

My true love was getting chilly. And, frankly, bored of all that shopping. So they wrapped up in soft, strong, Japaneseknitted beanies, tie-dyed in New York for added style; suuuuuper cosy, double-face socks (perfect for hiking … or just frigid New York days), and an easy-to-wear, cotton scarf, created using plant dyes. Then they said to themselves: “I like these – I’m keeping them all for myself!” $29 (socks); $69 (scarf); $79 (beanies), november19market.com

On the eighth day …

Laetly scarves are made right here in NYC, from deliciously soft and warm merino wool – always a wise choice. $75, laetly.com

On the 11th day …

We sat down to a festive feast, served on appropriately stylish dinnerware. Gail Sarasohn’s break-resistant melamine plates will survive even the worst post-holiday battle with the rellies. $9.99, plateshoppe.com

On the 12th day …

Living in the urban jungle calls for an appropriate rug – this one was made without harming a single endangered species. Hurrah! From $312, burkelman.com

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GALLERY

#W42ST Hashtag your Instagram pics and they could star in the mag!

To those who ran in the marathon last month, we salute you. To those who voted, you rock! And if you or your dog dressed up for Halloween, thanks for the entertainment. We love you (you cheeky devils). Did you know that anyone can be featured on these pages? Just tag your images #W42ST and you could be the one whose photograph ends up in the next issue.

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GALLERY

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STYLE Beats Studio 3 headphones

I said I’d never use them when I got them as a special with my laptop, and now I’m That Girl – moving one headphone slightly forward on to her cheek in order to hear if the barista got the almond milk part of my order. They’re amazing for working out because they stay put no matter what you are doing (hits play on Ariana Grande). $349.95, beatsbydre.com

HAPPY FITMAS! Got a friend who obsessively calorie counts? Or someone who just lives in athleisure? This is Sophia Strawser’s gift list for all the Brendas in your life

ou know that person who is checking their fitness tracker midChristmas dinner? “You picking up your

fork 12 times didn’t burn any more calories, Brenda!” We love them, but finding the perfect gift for them can be a tad exhausting. That’s where I come in.

Lifesum fitness app

Now this gift is for the Brendas who have openly said they want to be tracking their food or are already a Lifesum user but need a premium account. Do not just gift someone a food tracking subscription when they have not showed interest. That is just asking for a Christmas Day blow-up. What I like most about Lifesum is that it rates your days. So if you eat too much fat or too many carbs, it gives an overall rating to represent that. It also has plans such as “Vegan for a week” or “keto” making it an awesome way to start a trendy diet or a lifestyle you’ve been meaning to dive into. I don’t think it offers enough on the free version, so if you’re going to do it, just commit and pay for the subscription. $45, lifesum.com

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Apple Watch or Fitbit

Empty wrists are soooooo out, and Brenda knows that. A smartwatch is great for anyone, but for fitness lovers it’s a must to keep up with calories burned and step count. $199.95, fitbit.com

Tickets to Popsugar’s Play/Ground Have her open a weekend pass to Popsugar’s fitness festival in NYC next summer. The whole event is Instagramable, bright pink, and all about empowering females. It’s a great way to gift an experience compared to a material thing. From $50, popsugarplayground.com

STYLE Theragun

Anyone else seeing the countless Theragun subway ads? I’ve used one of these once and I was walking on air. Weeks of tension from cycling were lifted from my calves in roughly two minutes. Think about those who are long-distance runners, lifters, hikers, etc – this gift will keep them happy. Your wallet maybe not as happy, but that’s beside the point. From $249, theragun.com

Yoga Club

I’m not one of those people who lives in workout clothes, but this is a great gift for those who do – you know those types of Brendas who only do yoga and somehow still have the waist of a 1940s movie star? A pair of leggings, a sports bra, and a top arrive in the mailbox every month – and the quality is amazing. I’m just a bit of a minimalist when it comes to clothes, and jump from studio to studio, so no one is catching on to my repetitive gym outfits. But yoga Brenda needs a handcrafted box of workout clothes every month just to keep her spot at the front of the studio. $79, yogaclub.com

LL Bean leggings

Nope, not Outdoor Voices or Lululemon, but LL Bean. You read that right. With winter upon us, the walk to and from the gym is becoming worse than the workout. These leggings are the perfect thickness to keep all of us Brendas warm, blocking the wind but breathable in class. And these beauties are my first ever pair of leggings to have that good old thigh pocket. Life changing. As of now, I store tater tots there, but maybe I’ll try my phone in the future. $79, llbean.com

Muscle Box

Apparel, workouts, and goodies? This personalized subscription will keep any fitness lover happy, no question. It’s a nice combo of everything from clothes to snacks, plus it costs a hard $20 less than some other fitness boxes. $22.99, musclebox.me

Birchbox workout hair box

One of the best gifts I’ve ever received was a year’s subscription to Birch Box. Now it has a “workout and go hair kit,” which came with R+Co shampoo and conditioner, Bumble and Bumble dry shampoo, a small brush, Oribe Restyling Spray, and a few other post workout helpers. For me, travel-sized products are perfect for my gym bag because I’m already kind of a bag lady (think mom-of-four coming out of Target). I have curly hair, so I need to add moisture to my hair instead of dry shampoo, but for the average straight-haired gal or guy, this kit has them set up for success. And you can buy the single box without investing in a subscription. $38 (value $122), birchbox.com

Foam roller

You can find these bad boys on Amazon and, as simple as this gift might seem, anyone who spends any time being active will worship you for it. Any brand, any type, just let them roll it out. From $6.99, amazon.com

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I hope you enjoyed reading this article, Mom, and can’t wait to see these in my gift pile this Christmas. Until then @SophieStrawser

’TIS THE SEASON

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STYLE

TABLE FOR ONE, PLEASE

This year, Claudia Chung will be celebrating the holidays solo … it’s a gift to herself

plan to take a walk around Central Park on Christmas Day. It will be beautifully kissed with winter and mostly empty. I plan to eat something simple, delicious, and decadent for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And I plan to write a little, read a little, but mostly I plan to rest alone this holiday season. When the whole world is hush, silent, and frozen, even in New York City – the busiest city in the world – to be alone during the holidays is a gift. A moment in time when you can do whatever you want. Some people think it’s sad, but the stigma of being alone for the holidays is outdated. Our everydays are so crowded, stimulating, and chaotic, a few days of indulging in one’s self sounds like heaven to me. I’m taking this moment as mine. Everyone else will be busy with families, on ski trips, or sunbathing on the beach, so no one will even notice when I unplug and disappear for a bit – go off the grid. When I return, I will be there to give the world my undivided attention.

Really, it’s not just a gift to me, but a gift to everyone else around me as well. I remember going to a Christmas Eve party one year with my then boyfriend. We fought all night. Some of the guests were racists and everyone got wasted. Merry Christmas! But before we entered the hell that was this particular party, we passed a beautifully decorated restaurant and spotted a man eating alone. I felt sorry for him. I wanted to hug him and give him a pep talk. But, secretly, I think envied him. Here was this man looking like an Edward Hopper painting when everyone else was trying to live a Rockwell one. When I was younger, before middle age hit me like a gust of wind, I loved Norman Rockwell’s Saturday Evening Post covers. I had three metal posters above my writing desk for years. It was all so clever and animated. This is how I envisioned life to be. Then I got older, wiser, and made peace with the world. Now I’m an Edward Hopper lover.

IMAGE: ILONA LIEBERMAN

“Here was this man looking like an Edward Hopper painting when everyone else was trying to live a Rockwell one.”

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About

CLAUDIA

Claudia Chung is a writer who moonlights as a school teacher. She is currently working on a book of essays and stories on the trials, tribulations, and the funny in being a young widow.

Rich in color, a little contemplative, but always serene. That next day, on Christmas Day, aside from planning to ditch my boyfriend, I thought of the man eating alone. “Well, at least I’m better off than that guy!” I thought. But was I? I was hung over, miserable, and poor after buying all those gifts. And that guy had looked so damn peaceful. This year, I’ll give thanks to that man who inspired me to take back the holidays, albeit many, many years later. I won’t have to think about anyone but myself. My hair can be a tangled mess. My lips can be smeared with chocolate instead of lipstick. And my shirt can be stained. To me, this is freedom. And the only time I’m not on a schedule, with high demands from other people, is during the holidays. And while I’m so lucky and grateful to have generous people offering me a seat at their family table, I’m OK on my own. A table for one suits me just fine. Happy Holidays. And if I see you walking alone on Christmas Day, I’ll give you a knowing wink.

PETS

Wagging Sophie

Humans’ names: Carrie and Bryan. Age: 12 years old. Breed: Pit bull mix. What makes me bark: I love to bark while playing. It sounds super ferocious but I only do it with people and dogs I love the most. Three words that describe me best: Lovebug, happy, goofball. Confession: I absolutely love everyone and will roll over on 9th Avenue for belly rubs, or an incoming dog (the smaller the better). Once I do my plant and roll, I know I’m going to get the attention I deserve. Instadog: @sophiethelovenyc

Enzo Payne Humans’ names: Bill and Vikki. Age: Seven. Breed: Shih Tzu. What make me bark: The delivery man. Three words that describe me best: Patient, loving, opinionated. Confession: I prefer prime grade steak.

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Luna Human’s name: Betsy. Age: 15 months. Breed: Labrador retriever. What makes me bark: When someone has bagels. Three words that describe me best: Such a diva. Confession: I love to eat my human’s shoes.

tales Ellie Human’s name: Brenda. Age: Two. Breed: Miniature Schnauzer. What makes me bark: Chasing dogs, birds, and squirrels. Three words that describe me best: Shaggy, eyebrows, needy. Confession: I revenge pooped and the victim was my “grandma’s” boyfriend when he stayed over. He stepped in it. Instadog: @idreamofellie

Pepper Human’s name: Alex. Age: 11. Breed: Havanese/Poodle. What make me bark: Punks on their skateboards. Three words that describe me best: Sassy, territorial, but most importantly, HUNGRY! Confession: I act tough but I’m actually a big wuss.

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PETS These camera-happy cuties took a time out for a quick Q&A with W42ST

Take a

bow-wow

So many of you have contacted us, asking how your own happy hound or cute kitty can be included in Wagging Tales. Well, we’ve heard your pleas, duly considered them, and thought, hey, what the heck, why not? (We must have been barking mad not to have thought of it sooner!) This all means, of course, that you can now send us the finest photograph you can find of your furry best friend, answer the questions below, then cross your paws you’ll be included in our monthly column of local canine (and kitty) celebrities. Your name: Pet’s name: Breed: How old? What makes your pet bark or purr? Three words that describe them best: Naughty confessions (dish the dirt – not literally, of course!): And are you an Insta-animal? Send it to waggingtales@w42st.com and we’ll do the rest.

LAST WORD

“He puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” Dr Seuss, How The Grinch Stole Christmas

ot since Scrooge had the world seen an anti-holiday villain like the Grinch – a mean, grouchy creature who lives on Mount Crumpit with only his loyal dog Max for company. Hot on the heels of his success with The Cat in the Hat, and taking a stab at the increasing commercialization of Christmas, Theodor ‘Dr Seuss’ Geisel finished the story in a matter of weeks, saying it was the easiest book of his career to write … perhaps because the character was, at least in part, inspired by himself. He said in 1957 – the year of the

book’s publication: “I was brushing my teeth on the morning of the 26th of last December when I noticed a very Grinch-ish countenance in the mirror. It was Seuss! So I wrote about my sour friend, the Grinch, to see if I could rediscover something about Christmas that obviously I’d lost.” Later, his step-daughter, Lark Dimond-Cates, confirmed the comparison in a speech: “I always thought the Cat was Ted on his good days,” she said, “and the Grinch was Ted on his bad days.” In the original books, the Grinch was black and white. The slime green color came later – in the 1966 animated

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special, and was apparently inspired after the animator Chuck Jones rented a car that was painted an ugly shade of green. That show was narrated by Boris Karloff and featured Thurl Ravenscroft, the voice of Tony the Tiger, singing ‘You’re a Mean One, Mr Grinch.’ In 2000, Jim Carrey played the character in a Ron Howard film, and last year, Benedict Cumberbatch became the latest actor to play the character, in a 3D animated feature. It was the final adaptation released during the lifetime of Dr Seuss’s widow, Audrey Geisel, who was executive producer of the film, and who died on December 19, 2018, six weeks after the film’s release.

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This holiday season, come one, bring all!

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Photos: Maike Schulz

Now thru January 5

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