Never Stop Learning

I‘VE ALWAYS BEEN a big proponent of getting my learn on. Hell, the natural urge to get out and discover NYC’s latest and greatest is what landed me at InsideHook in the first place.

Even now, eight years after first planting my flag on Gotham’s shores, I’m still picking up new tricks for getting the most out of the city every day — whether it’s tips on properly kitting out my crib or the best table around on which to enjoy a massive steak and a nice red with clients.

And of course it never hurts to look good doing it, so we partnered on a handy video with our good friends at GANT to showcase some of my favorite New York finds, the scoops I picked up from each, and the top-shelf gear that carried me through in high style.

School’s in session – join me, whydontcha.

HOMEPOLISH

THE SKINNY
Disruptive interior design firm combining top shelf taste with startup ingenuity.

THE LEARNINGS

• When founder Noa Santos speaks, listen — he didn’t just make the Forbes 30 Under 30 for nothin’
• Layering framed pics on a shelf creates nice depth — best if the frames are consistent and the pics of varying sizes
• Mixing and matching adds character to a wall — think gilded frames sharing real estate with taxidermy
• Quality art doesn’t have to break the bank — check out the cheeky limited-edition prints from SF gallery Spoke Art as proof

THE LOOK

DRIVE 495

THE SKINNY
Golf and training center where coaches help refine your swing and physique in the same session.

THE LEARNINGS

• An hour in a simulator with a quality coach is better than 10 trial-and-error trips to the links
• Turns out the big ball (medicine) can be as important to your game as the small ball (golf)
• -130° Celsius feels exactly like you think it would — but it’ll have you walking out feeling positively refreshed after a hard session

THE LOOK

TRUNK CLUB NYC

THE SKINNY
Stately brick-and-mortar home of the formerly online-only clothing concern where ace stylists will pour you a dram, pick some quality duds, and send you on your way looking dapper and feeling fine.

THE LEARNINGS

• When it comes to the choosin’, tell these folks what you like and then let them drive — expert help’s what you came for, after all
• Have that drink — you’d be surprised how much it helps you relax and opens up the dialogue, and an open dialogue leads to a more stylish you
• Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone — one of the best things about working with a stylist is that they’ll choose things you wouldn’t for yourself, with compliment-inducing results

THE LOOK

AMERICAN CUT

THE SKINNY
Happening steakhouse from award-winning toque (and all-around excellent guy) Marc Forgione boasting steaks every bit as on point as the city’s classic haunts with none of the stuffy pretense.

THE LEARNINGS

• Ask for one of the two corner booths — room to stretch out with your clients and talk shop just outside the bustle of the main dining floor
• Order Option One: the Tomahawk Steak, 42 oz. of USDA Prime from the famed Creekstone Farms in Arkansas City, Kansas, dry-aged 21 days and given the most expert char you’re likely to encounter in NYC
• Order Option Two: the off-menu burger, a house blend of prime brisket, short rib and dry aged rib-eye grilled briefly and then topped with Brooklyn Lager beer cheese and bourbon-caramelized onions
• When ordering wine, go for a Château Musar from Lebanon — a cult fave among oenophiles stretching their geography, and a great pairing with both steak and burger

THE LOOK

THE GORDON BAR
AT THE SIXTY HOTEL

THE SKINNY
Cozy cocktail den tucked inside one of Manhattan’s hippest auberges where museum-worthy artworks line the walls and the bartenders pour a mean negroni.

THE LEARNINGS

• Whether with a date or solo (though preferably with a date), a drink here is best enjoyed in front of the roaring fireplace
• The Gordon sports a pretty modish crowd, so use a visit as an excuse to break out that fashion-forward getup you’ve been “saving for the right occasion”
• Speaking of excuses, a visit to the Gordon also makes a great one to grab a key to one of the SIXTY’s newly renovated suites boasting private balconies overlooking the city bustle and nicer sheets than you’ve got at home

THE LOOK

THE SPECIFICS