2009 vs. 2019: Amazing To See How Far We’ve All Come!
And big thanks to Cindy Gallop from whom I shamelessly stole this 2009 vs. 2019 idea.
Cindy has a great post on LinkedIn about the significant milestones she’s reached with her business from 2009 to today (as well as her ongoing funding difficulties).
My post is more frothy and has a bit more of a “magical mystery tour vibe” about it. It’s very much intended for my nearest and dearest, be they friends or people in my network. And I must add, how impressed I am to see how far we’ve all traveled from 2009 to today. And I’m using travel metaphorically to include career trajectories, personal journeys as well as actual distances and places.
And one final note. My posting schedule will be a bit erratic over the next few weeks as I finish up personal and co-op projects (I’m the treasurer of our building and need to wrap it up before I head to South America next month).
In the meantime, Happy New Year.
Please Scroll down for a look-see at where we’ve been and where we’re headed.
2009:
We had recently moved the Zandl Group offices to Bushwick to save money (and because it was pretty cool)
We thought we were all set but then the other shoe dropped. The Dow lost 54% of its value and clients were struggling to survive (including us).
I had also bought a fabulous place in Long Island City at Arris Lofts.
I met so many amazing people there – and many are STILL best friends.
The loft was a huge 3-bedroom and as the economy kept getting worse, I moved the business to Arris and downsized from Brooklyn.
Fortunately, I had also kept my place on the Lower East Side and ultimately moved back there in 2012, selling Arris shortly thereafter.
Some of the Arris Loft crew:
Tom Knotek and Dan Hallman (Dan now lives in Buenos Aires).
Also at Arris:
Juan Sierra now lives in Berlin. Teaches Jivamukti yoga.
I was doing lots of biking back then and always loved Governor’s Island .
RANDOM FACT: In 2009, every time I got on the ferry to Gov Island, I paused to enjoy this “word” piece by artist Lawrence Weiner. 2 years ago, his daughter bought an apartment in our building and now is my neighbor on Rivington Street! Isn’t that weird?
Brad and I often biked on Gov Island.
In 2009, while we were biking out there, he randomly encountered Anne Marie Russell, who was a friend of his from Tucson where she headed up the Tucson Museum of Contemporary Art. As of 2019, she has just opened up the splendid new Sarasota Art Museum where she also serves as Executive Director. Big congrats!
Sharon Lessard, another biking pal from my Gov Island days
In 2009, when this photo was taken, she was VP of Store Design at SuperValu and living in Minneapolis. Now in 2019, she’s ascended the ranks to Senior Director, Global Store Design & Development at Under Armour. She’s now living in Baltimore (when she’s not in Shanghai!)
Shane Graber, then VP of Marketing at Bacardi in Miami (a client in 2009).
Shane has since moved on to launch Graber Realty Group. Real estate has always been his passion and he is, without a doubt, one of the best realtors in Miami
Spotted while on another Bacardi project in Santa Barbara:
Michael Jordan getting into his Bentley
At Joe’s Pub with David Skeens (maybe seeing Bridget Everett?)
My friend Mike Jackson is in Everett’s band, Tender Moments, and he was performing that night.
ANOTHER WEIRD FACT: I was at Joe’s Pub this past Monday (Dec 30th 2019) with my friends Rodrigo and Elliott seeing Sandra Bernhard.
My friend, Mike Jackson, on guitar
and there was this….
Brandi Moody (then Stansbury) with her longtime Facebook friend
Jamie Dwyer
Gonzalo de la Pezuela (who may have still been at Bacardi)
RANDOM SIGHTING.
At LA airport? Following Levi Johnston (Sarah Palin’s then son-in-law). Sarah Palin was undoubtedly a precursor of the Donald Trump style of politicking.
And with that, we’re all caught up and ready to move on to 2019.
2019: 10 YEARS LATER
Annette McEvoy and I start a new tradition in January 2019
This is my once-a-year trip uptown. Nothing is more glamorous than the Carlyle Hotel (top pic was taken in January 2019) and bottom pic was taken in December 2019.
The new Sister City Hotel from the Ace.
My new neighbor on the Lower East Side. I LOVE everything about this property. If you prefer cool and minimal over fancy-pants, this is the hotel for you.
JEFF BEZOS HAD QUITE A YEAR.
I visited the Explorer’s Club with Atlas Obscura just as Jeff Bezos’ shenanigans with Lauren Sanchez became public. Lots of jokes abounded about just how much of an explorer he’s turned out to be.
DRY JANUARY
January 2019 was my first experience with Dry January – and I am doing it again starting today. Another tradition I will absolutely continue from year to year.
Note this neighborhood bar, Listen, riding the sober curious trend for all its worth.
little nip and tuck
Went under the knife on February 2 with my favorite surgeon, Dr. Hidalgo.
Pic on left is one week afterwards and pic on right is one month afterwards. Since then I’ve also added botox every four or five months.
Poets of the Lower East Side (Valentine’s Day)
The always glamorous Rodrigo Padilla
At the Carlyle. Post Armory art fair.
Heading off to Columbus for trend day.
The Brant Foundation opened their new building with a stellar Basquiat show.
A great example of the trend to private family museums.
Am checking out the new Faurschou Foundation tomorrow. It’s recently opened in Greenpoint Brooklyn.
Jens Faurschou is a Copenhagen-based art collector and art advisor. He is the founder of several art-related institutions around the world.
Laetita, wonderful friend, feeling happy.
As she should since she managed to snag us an “ungettable” table at Adda Indian Canteen, the hottest Indian restaurant in Long Island City. That French accent works wonders every time.
Female entrepreneurs dinner.
Our very own “Chief” private network of female executives. This was held chez moi and participants included Jinal Shah, Sheila Patel, Laetitia Longuefosse, Sheri Radel Rosenberg, Tracy Luckow, Annette McEvoy
HUDSON YARDS finally opened.
I LOVE it although I will be the first to admit that retail is challenging (here as elsewhere). But I do love the vibe here, no matter the naysayers.
Supreme and I are once again neighbors.
We were neighbors when my office was at 270 Lafayette. Now they’ve moved to the gorgeous Germania Bank building on the Bowery. Fabulous store and one of the few doing a gangbuster business.
One of my favorite Ludlow House peeps:
Aleksandra! Sadly, for us, she’s gone on to bigger and fancier things. We miss her but keep up with her jetsetting ways on Instagram.
Palm Springs for Desert X
BUT found Slab City and the Bombay Biennial way cooler – and then got stuck in the sand. $1000 in towing taught me that not all SUV’s are created equal.
From Palm Springs to Bentonville Arkansas for Crystal Bridges.
Thanks to Karen Stone Talwar and Adventures in Art for a wonderful art experience.
Frieze is my favorite art fair in NYC.
It first entered the NYC market in 2012 and I’ve been attending ever since. Besides the art, it’s always great for fashion and people watching.
Dean & DeLuca RIP.
This was so sad. They opened this stunning casual restaurant called Stage in the Meatpacking District in April. It was shuttered a couple of months later. And I’m positive this build-out ran them several million dollars.
2019 got us all thinking about climate change.
And it’s also when I became viscerally opposed to receiving online orders in huge boxes like this – one lipstick (that is no longer available in store) came in this gigantic box. Really Sephora?
Essex Market moved to this fab new space.
And I discovered Nordic Preserves. Kudos to Annika Sundvik (the founder) and a true pioneer in the neighborhood (she opened the coolest bar, Good World, on Orchard Street in 1999 before any of the current crop of restaurants and bars populated the area.
Reconnected with so many friends this year
Michael Quinn and Rebecca Cole have both added immeasurably to my life.
My neighbor, artist Jimmy Wright.
He has been a fixture on Freeman Alley since 1980. Absolute pioneer in this neck of the Lower East Side for over 40 years. Inspiring!
Former high school friend from Australia
Visiting NYC, with her husband, from their home in Venice Italy. Kiki also gave me the best insider’s tour of Venice when I was there a few years ago for the Venice Biennale.
Robert Cameron happily came into my orbit thru a LinkedIn connection.
Brad had an amazing show in Minneapolis.
And he reconnected with a friend and former bandmate from high school, Tim Drake.
Beyond The Streets NYC.
This was THE show of the season. Blew the Whitney Biennial out of the water.
PRIDE NYC
It was the year of the pop-up.
Bigger and more fabulous than ever. Virgil Abloh of Vuitton LOVES them. This one was at Rivington and Ludlow.
Another major Virgil Abloh/Vuitton pop-up – this one in Soho
Another pop-up that I loved: Beams from Japan at Nordstrom Men
The chanel No 5 pop up at the Standard Hotel by the Highline
Complete with skating rink and snowy chalets, is tops in my books.
Not quite a pop-up
But Neighborhood Goods curates brands for 3-6 month duration. They’re like a department store for pop-ups?
It’s in Chelsea Market and GREAT! Worth checking out.
It was the year of immersive, multimedia Instagram-centric art experiences
SuperReal at the Cipriani event space downtown took it to another level.
Artechouse is another immersive, Instagram-worthy experience.
They’re calling it an innovative digital art space dedicated to 21st century artists and audience. It is one of the best I’ve seen.
In July I started my cross country adventures
And it began with Brad’s show in Minneapolis.
And I finally got to meet Neely Tamminga
I have been fan-girling her for years – so smart and so gracious and helpful. Connecting with her is the epitome of what makes social media so magical.
Loved Tulsa.
Great food, art, and entertainment. Have to thank Jack White of the Raconteurs for putting the city on my radar.
He had a gig there, loved it, bought a house – and then raved about it online.
Denver
Great street art and the Ramble Hotel is awesome. Otherwise, not crazy about Denver. I think my friend, Nick, liked it better than I did.
Boise!!
AMAZING. I would come back here in a heartbeat and totally understand why so many young people are moving here. Great spot to celebrate my birthday with my State Fair posse.
Then onto Salt Lake City.
Besides Spiral Jetty, which isn’t really in SLC, the highlight has to be Salt Lake City’s world famous collection of free family trees, genealogy records and resources.
Erika’s family tree and Texas history is mind blowing and Sister Bennett (below) was an angel.
Tennis, my favorite sport, underwent a radical change
Lots of drama passing the baton with so many players on their way out while those on the way up are killing it. Interestingly, not much happening on the guys’ side.
Equinox has opened their first hotel – at Hudson Yards.
Governor’s Island one of NYC’s Hidden Gems – NO MORE!
Not so hidden anymore but if you go early and rent a bike, it’s still fun.
Views of the harbor and Lower Manhattan are unbeatable.
Also, the art fairs on the island are wonderful and worth checking out.
What’s NOT worth checking out is their horrendous “Glamping”experience (see pic below)
NYC loves rooftop bars
My personal favorite is Last Light at Sister City on the Bowery. It attracts the coolest and the youngest, fashion crowd,
The 80’s are back.
Crime is up, arrests are down, people don’t feel safe.
The Guardian Angels and Curtis Sliwa to the rescue.
My favorite Broadway show ever.
The Oklahoma re-do by Daniel Fish is HOT! It’s also a New York Times Critic’s Pick and the #1 Theatrical Event of the Year according to Time.
And I have to thank these two so much for taking me for my birthday: thank you Shawn and Rob!!
Celeb sightings
Oddly, at the opening of Flippers, a souffle pancake restaurant from Japan.
I was in line with Daym Drops who has over 1MM followers on YouTube and is a regular on the Rachael Ray Show PLUS Bethenny Frankel, an original NYC Real Housewife. And because she was filming for her blog, I ended up on it with her.
This is an old pic with Nancy Silverton that someone sent me last year.
I just love it and I love Nancy Silverton. We got to meet her through Life Is Beautiful. So i owe a major thanks to Luciana Ramsey and Cherie Flanagan for making this happen.
NEW TREND ALERT: MARATHON READINGS.
Fran Lebowitz, Josh Baer, Flavin Judd, and more gathered for a marathon reading of Donald Judd’s interviews at the Judd Foundation (former home/studio of the artist). FANTASTIC! We’ll see more of this! I can’t believe how quickly three hours flew by.
I’m now one of Robs10KFriends!
Thank you Jenny Rickard for making this happen! I was interview #2951.
Huge fan of Caveat (the place for intelligent nightlife).
The Inconvenient Talk Show was one of the funniest nights ever – I can’t recall when I laughed so much. “Gonzo comedian [Rollie Williams] plays a rode-hard Al Gore interviewing comedians and real scientists about climate change.”
MoMA reopened. 30% more space.
Visited recently with Bruce Bromley
Trans sales staff, a very chic trend we’ll see more of (this at UZ Cosmetics)
Yayoi Kusama Thanksgiving Balloon
One of my favorite artists and the first female to create a balloon for the Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Seventy-year olds are still rocking out.
Some more successfully than others. I’m a huge fan of Patti Smith, not so much of Bob Dylan or Mick Jagger.
LOTS OF PARTIES!
My Holiday Party returned in 2019 after a one-year absence.
Amanda’s annual holiday shindig always rates a 10 for style.
Michelle’s 2020 Clarity party
Complete with a psychic reader and an astrologist was a major hit and Alex, the reader, was spot on!
Wrapping up the year
The NYC Architecture Cruise
One of the best things to do in NYC. Highly recommend – so happy Dean and I were able to book it while he was here in late December.
Pre-NYE lunch with MMQ
Made even more fun playing UNO after lunch at Floret (Sister City restaurant).
And finally, on Dec 30, rodrigo, elliott and I saw the brilliantly funny (and scathing) Sandra Bernhard at Joe’s Pub.
WOW!! And Andre Leon Talley was there wearing a giant red puffy coat. And Sandra got up from signing autographs and doing fan selfies to give Rodrigo a big hug. That was MAJOR!
AND WITH THAT….
It’s over and out and I am wishing you all a very Happy New Year. My mantra for 2020 is to stay optimistic, forward-looking and ever so grateful for all that I have. That includes my health, my fun, interesting life and most especially I am grateful for all the people in my life who I love and who I know love me.