Nick Poe

WHAT WOULD THE TITLE OF YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY BE? 
Nick Poe by Nick Poe.

WHAT CAN’T YOU TRAVEL WITHOUT AND WHY? 
Headphones, because I like to listen to podcasts everybody else finds highly boring.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION AND WHY? 
Mexico. It’s hot and there are tacos.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON IN NYC?
Playing chess in the park and getting a deep tissue massage at Zu Yi Spa.

IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ONE PERSON TO SHOW YOU “THEIR NEW YORK CITY,” WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY? 
A helicopter pilot.

WHO OR WHAT HAS INSPIRED YOU RECENTLY? 
My friends nonstop, always doing and making beautiful things. 

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE NYC RESTAURANTS? WHAT DO YOU ORDER THERE? 
Time Café—coffee, eggs, green juice; Odeon–steak au poivre, spicy chicken dumplings; Gene’s—shrimp Di Lombardo; Dimes–cod or green pozole; Blue Ribbon Sushi—yellowtail hand roll with yuzu kosho, gomae; Fanelli’s—burger, mashed potatoes, spinach; Joe’s Pizza–pepperoni pizza.

WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO SPOT IN NYC FOR DRINKS? 
I don’t go to bars much but sometimes Clandestino or LeCouCou. Also Amsterdam, Toad Hall or Blue & Gold for pool. 

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE NYC BRUNCH SPOTS; WHAT DO YOU ORDER WHEN YOU GO? 
Time Café, for smoothies, eggs, and greens… Otherwise, I like BBAR on 4th Street when it’s nice out—great garden and spacious.

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR ART FIX IN NYC? DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE ARTIST? 
Perhaps Comedy Cellar. Comedy is the highest art. For visual stuff, there are too many. I love the Judd foundation as a place. For people, Morandi might be my favorite painter. Love me some Gordon Matta-Clark. Haris Epaminonda is one of my favorites. List is long… 

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE LATE-NIGHT HANGOUTS IN NYC AND WHY? 
I’m a grandma now and try and get to bed, but if you find me out late it’s probably at a restaurant or a friend’s place. Or at my studio working or just playing pool.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR UNDER-THE-RADAR MUST-DO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VISITORS? 
Rent a Citi Bike and get lost. Bike is the best way to see the city. Maybe any city.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE NYC STORES AND WHY? 
Chess Forum is an important institution/landmark we should all support. For clothing stuff, probably Dave’s on 6th ave for $40 Levis. I like thrift stores, Salvation Army has a giant warehouse in midtown. Paragon is cool. Too bad Tent & Trails closed. Patagonia for its boxer briefs and thermals. The Commes des Garçons store is always good for some inspo. Marni, Acne, and Prada stores are usually pretty cool, too, even if usually just for looking. 

WHAT MUSIC ARE YOU LISTENING TO THESE DAYS? WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MUSICIANS? 
Recently played includes Arthur Russell, Young Thug, Charlie Parker, Popcaan, Wayne Shorter, Letta Mbulu, 2pac, Samir & Abboud, Jeremih, Liam Bailey.  

WHAT ALBUM OR SONG WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOUR PERSONAL SOUNDTRACK TO NYC?
How about “Touch” by Daft Punk…

WHEN YOU THINK OF NYC, ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR MEMORIES OR EMOTIONS THAT COME TO MIND? 
I have strong memories from childhood of being half-asleep in the car returning to the city from time away. I recall vividly keeping my eyes closed as I felt the energy changing as we reentered Manhattan. The pattern of orange light cycling through my eyelids as we passed through the city night. The vibrations and sound of manhole covers and bumps in the roads. The rich scent of the city. Home again, without looking.

PHOTOGRAPHY Victoria Cohen