Craig Mack Robinson

WHAT WOULD THE TITLE OF YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY BE?
The Spaghetti Western.

WHAT CAN’T YOU TRAVEL WITHOUT AND WHY?
Two things I can’t travel without: a Bluetooth JBL or Bose speaker, and an Oxford thin robe. The speaker to take wherever—it’s good to have a soundtrack to your surroundings. The robe is for instant comfort and style instead of the terry cloth shower robes; easier to maneuver, and great to take to the pool

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION AND WHY?
So far Salina in the islands of Sicily; fresh seafood and Volcanic views. No interstates, just fresh air and genuine people.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON IN NYC?
Lately, my favorite Sundays are experiencing new neighborhoods and cultures in Brooklyn. It feels like no end, and there is always something new to see, eat and drink.

IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ONE PERSON TO SHOW YOU “THEIR NEW YORK CITY,” WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
Big Bird! Since Sesame Street was my first inspiration to come to New York as a child, I think that would be fitting. Nothing is very shocking to New Yorkers but I think we would turn some heads. He seems like a nice guy.

WHO OR WHAT HAS INSPIRED YOU RECENTLY?
I find inspiration in my daily life, whether it be an educational conversation with one of our clients to a new record that dropped.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE NYC RESTAURANTS? WHAT DO YOU ORDER THERE?
My go-to pizza joint hands down is Rubirosa on Mulberry Street. The crust is like having pizza in the ’70s. I get the Rubirosa Special, which is pepperoni and meatball. Veselka is another go-to spot—good for friends and family, no fuss; easy simple Ukraine specials. I get the borsch soup, red, hot and a lot of it. Great perogies! I like yuppie food as well, but for that, I go to Brooklyn. Neverending amazing restaurants. Evelina On Dekalb is my new favorite. It is the sister restaurant to Aurora.

WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO SPOT IN NYC FOR DRINKS?
For cocktails I still like Bemelmans—good interior, nice staff and you always run into good old friends. I love the Manhattan there. For a long good rock ’n’ roll night, I go to Beauty Bar—good times and great oldies. Punk and disorder to ’50s and ’60 garage.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE BRUNCH SPOTS?
I like Knickerbockers on University—big banquets, piano player, great place to wear tweed, and everyone minds their own business.

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR ART FIX IN NYC? DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE ARTIST?
I appreciate all scales of art, so I can frequent pop-ups and the LES, or take my kids up to the Met, and, depending on the exhibition, tell them what I know about some of my favorite artists.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE LATE-NIGHT HANGOUTS IN NYC AND WHY?
Club Room at the Soho Grand is still my favorite. Especially taking your friends out from other cities and countries, they all love it. Chic, but cozy.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR UNDER-THE-RADAR MUST-DO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NYC VISITORS?
Joe Shanghai’s for dumplings and Chinese massage in a basement down in Chinatown.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE NYC STORES AND WHY?
Well, I make all the clothes I wear, except casual clothes, and for that, I like KITH in Brooklyn—cool street and hip hop gear; a lot of red and good music. Super over the top attitude and pretentious staff, but fun nonetheless. Pearl River for Chinese no-name T-shirts. Rough Trade Records in Williamsburg for its good selection of Records, new and used.

WHAT MUSIC ARE YOU LISTENING TO THESE DAYS? WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MUSICIANS?
The Ramones, Ritchie Valens, Post Malone, and Lana Del Rey—all good to get the job done, long albums that don’t disappoint.

WHAT ALBUM OR SONG WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOUR PERSONAL SOUNDTRACK TO NYC?
Everyone’s talking at me, the theme song to Midnight Cowboy.

WHEN YOU THINK OF NYC, ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR EMOTIONS OR MEMORIES THAT IMMEDIATELY COME TO MIND?
Yes. Moving to NYC with one bag—on the Greyhound Bus, Port Authority, New Year’s Eve, 1995. One of the most exciting and scary memories of my life. I knew no one.