New York - Day I

My plan to fly to NYC started off with an invitation from the producers of That Championship Season who wanted to use a portrait I took of actor Brian Cox for the show’s playbill. Our studio manager Bill had flown out a week early to scout some shows and fill the week with interesting things and fun people. I landed about 11pm EST and got caught up in a streak of adventure and took a gypsy cab into the city. We were staying the week with good friend and Broadway producer Jeffrey Kent in his Carmine St. brownstone in the West Village. 

THURSDAY

Thursday morning we got up early and jumped on the F train and head over to a meeting Bill set up with Dan Sumari and the guys at The Life Long Friendship Society. The LLFS boys brought photographer Steven Baillie to the meeting and we talked about some photography projects at the trendy Coffee Shop off Union Square in Manhattan. Later that day we headed over to SOHO to visit Hans Neleman, photographer and owner of Win-initative. We were fortunate enough to meet Hans’ wife Tessa and their three beautiful children. We talked a little shop and Hans shared that WIN will be offering video clips soon.  Bill added a little insight on the needs of the television production companies he’s worked with in the past and what they might be looking for. As Thursday evening approached we got ready for the theater and I put on a pair of dress shoes and it dawned on me that it had been almost 2 years since I had slipped out of my California beach tuxedo; designer jeans, a graphics T-shirt and some designer tennis shoes that were a new take on some old 70s-80s high-tops. Bill’s friend actor and musician Billy Kay hopped the train into the city to catch up, see the show, and say hi to Brian Cox whom he had acted in the Brian Singer film L.I.E..  We kicked off the night with and invitation from curator Nayla  Hadchiti to the opening of the Tomory Dodge show at the CRG Gallery.  At CRG we met up with a good friend Lenny Steinberg who is an avid art collector and one of my favorite Venice beach neighbors.  We got to the theater and the show was great, the cast is amazing! Brian anchored the show and Jason Patrick, Kiefer Surtherland, Chris Noth and Jim Gaffigan gave equally compelling performances. After the show I went backstage to Brian’s dressing room. Much to the surprise of the stage manager, I apparently broke the rules and brought an entourage. Well I guess since we were with one of the producers of the show it makes it ok? Brian was gracious and as entertaining in person as on stage. We chatted about doing another shoot soon and he talked about being delighted to be on Broadway. Jeffrey joined us after the show and we made our way over to Robert, a spectacular restaurant that has a unbelievable view of the city and overlooks Columbus Circle. If your catching a Broadway show make sure to reserve a table by the window to watch the city sparkle under a great meal and breathe. Said our goodnights and took the subway home at 2am and crammed in some Z’s before sun up Friday.