ZACKERY MICHAEL

WHAT WOULD THE TITLE OF YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY BE?
RIP David Bowie, and other interesting thoughts…

WHAT CAN’T YOU TRAVEL WITHOUT AND WHY?
My Leica M6. I know if the meteor hits the earth, it will still take a picture.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION AND WHY?
I think Italy has to be it for me, so far… I love the culture, I like that Italians have no interest in learning English and the food is absolutely unreal.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON IN NYC?
I’ve been trying to be Upstate every weekend in a body of water or waterfall. But when I’m not, it usually goes—ice coffee, brunch with pals, [insert optional cultural experience], afternoon beers with pals, dinner, bed. I always have a suitcase that needs to be packed or unpacked, but I probably don’t bother.

IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ONE PERSON TO SHOW YOU “THEIR NEW YORK CITY,” WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
Robert Frank. He saw the beauty and decay of the city in the most wonderful way. He also has a great sense of humor.

WHO OR WHAT HAS INSPIRED YOU RECENTLY AND WHY?
I’ve recently been shooting a lot of street photographs on film. I took a long hiatus from documentary work in NYC. But shooting it on film has made it fun again. I also started walking to work every day from Brooklyn to Manhattan. You can see a lot of cool and inspiring shit on a two-hour walk at 7am in NYC.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE NYC RESTAURANTS. WHAT DO YOU ORDER THERE?
St Anselm for a steak, Suzume for Ramen, Collette for a burger, Cerveceria Havemeyer for Tacos, El Almacen for Paella.

WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO SPOT IN NYC FOR DRINKS?
Iona in Brooklyn is my watering hole. It’s the closest thing to a proper pub you’ll find in NYC (or the USA?). My favorite fancy spot is St Mazies. They have live jazz/bluegrass etc. every single night. If you’re with a gf/bf in NYC and are trying to impress them, this will work. Also, Hotel Delmano is always a great hang.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE BRUNCH SPOTS?
Cafe Mogador is a must do. I also love Walter Foods for a proper Bloody Mary. Dudley’s, and The Smile are also solid.

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR ART FIX IN NYC? DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE ARTIST?
NYC has the best museums, which I definitely take for granted. The Met, MoMA, the Whitney, BAM, just to name a few. But that’s common knowledge. I’d say, try and catch an event or book release at Dashwood books. That place always has well-curated artists rolling through. Keep an ear out for cool exhibits coming up. One of the cool things about NYC is that some of the best shows aren’t in a traditional gallery.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE LATE-NIGHT HANGOUTS IN NYC AND WHY?
If I’m really gonna go for a textbook NYC hangover, I visit the three dive sisters of Avenue A—Sophie’s, Josie’s, Lucy’s. All great bars. I like bars named after girls, apparently. If you’re still alive at 3am, then go do Karaoke at SingSing on Ave A.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR UNDER-THE-RADAR MUST-DO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NYC VISITORS?
Take the water taxi, it’s the best $3 you’ll ever spend. Go to Coney Island and talk to the locals there on the boardwalk—they are real New Yorkers. Korean BBQ in K-Town, the Cloisters uptown is amazing, very underrated. If you’re adventurous, you can walk from the Cloisters all the way down to Battery Park on the West Side path. Stop off along the way for drinks or food wherever. It’s only 12 miles, don’t be lazy. Dinosaur BBQ in Harlem is always a stop I make.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE NYC STORES AND WHY?
Saturday’s NYC, 10 ft Single by Stella Dallas, and Rue St Denis (RIP). I mostly shop at vintage shops, if I shop at all. I’ve been wearing a denim tuxedo and a leather jacket for a year straight now.

WHAT MUSIC ARE YOU LISTENING TO THESE DAYS? WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MUSICIANS?
I mostly listen to old music, anything from Sam Cooke to The Rolling Stones. Right now I think the new Arctic Monkeys record Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino is a modern masterpiece; I’ve had it on repeat. Also, the new Miles Kane record, Coup de Grace, is a fucking banger of a record.

WHAT ALBUM OR SONG WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOUR PERSONAL SOUNDTRACK TO NYC?
It’s always different, but I’d say NYC is most interesting when you’re not listening to music. Everyone is always on their phones with their headphones in, it can be isolating. I like listening to the sounds and vibe of the city. Try that soundtrack on for size.

WHEN YOU THINK OF NYC, ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR EMOTIONS OR MEMORIES THAT IMMEDIATELY COME TO MIND?
NYC has been my home for so many years now. But I guess it’ll always hold that feeling of having no limits. I come from a small town where there wasn’t shit going on and I always felt held back. I always have viewed NYC as a place where if you’re not getting what you want, then you’re doing something wrong, or not trying hard enough. It’s the greatest.