Natalie Kates-Ferri

WHAT WOULD THE TITLE OF YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY BE?
My favorite quote from Auntie Mame “Life is a banquette, and most poor suckers are starving to death!”

WHAT CAN’T YOU TRAVEL WITHOUT AND WHY?
Iphone with a couple of great audiobooks downloaded.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION AND WHY?
Rome and the Amalfi Coast. What makes it special? The sense of majesty created by humans (Rome) and nature (Amalfi Coast).

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON?
Stroll through the Lower East Side Galleries with a Juice Press in hand.

IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ONE PERSON TO SHOW YOU “THEIR NEW YORK CITY,” WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
Jeffrey Deitch for sure! Because Mr. Deitch can connect the dots on how New York subculture became pop culture. I would love to hear his accounts of meeting Warhol and the downtown artist scene in the ’80s.

WHO OR WHAT HAS INSPIRED YOU RECENTLY?
I am inspired by the long overdue light being shined on contemporary African art, artists of color, and how people of color are taking prominent roles at museums—i.e. Alexandria Smith has an amazing exhibition at the Queens Museum, Nina Chanel Abney at the Norton Museum, and Larry Ossei-Mensah was appointed senior curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Detroit.   

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE NYC RESTAURANTS? WHAT DO YOU ORDER THERE?
I stick to the classics that never let me down. At Indochine, I order spring rolls and spicy beef salad. At Odeon, I order steak frites.

WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO SPOT IN NYC FOR DRINKS?
I like Public by Ian Schrager on the Lower East Side. In Midtown, I adore Casa Lever surrounded by Warhol paintings.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE BRUNCH SPOTS?
Café Cluny in the West Village is the best! I always order (depending on the season) homemade granola or steel-cut Irish oatmeal.

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR ART FIX IN NYC? DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE ARTIST?
Everywhere from my personal art collection to public art to museums. There are so many options to access art, you just need to stop staring at your smart devices and look around. Do you have a favorite NYC artist? I would get in trouble if I answered this. LOL.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR LATE-NIGHT HANGOUTS IN NYC?
I’m in bed by midnight.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR UNDER-THE-RADAR MUST-DO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NYC VISITORS?
Water taxis are a great way to see the city. I highly recommend city bike rides on the West Side and FDR parks.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE NYC STORES.
INA, Housing Works Thrift Store, and TopShop.

WHAT MUSIC ARE YOU LISTENING TO THESE DAYS? WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MUSICIANS?
I’m a total ’80s kid at heart and still listen to New Wave and alternative ’80s. Recently, I downloaded the xx and Kittball Konspiracy Vol. 8.

WHAT ALBUM OR SONG WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOUR PERSONAL SOUNDTRACK TO NYC?
“Deep in Vogue” by Malcolm McLaren.

WHEN YOU THINK OF NYC, ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR EMOTIONS OR MEMORIES THAT IMMEDIATELY COME TO MIND?
Street style, and the sense of optimism in knowing that if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere!