Weekend (un)filtered
ARJAN SINGH, Jolie
CULTURE & LEISURE • Friday Routine
ARJAN SINGH • co-founder • Jolie
Neighborhood you live in: Lower East Side
It’s Friday afternoon, how are you rolling into the weekend?
One of my favorite activities is having a good conversation — with an old friend or someone new. I’ve noticed that I tend to have more of these on Fridays, and ideally not just one, but several. If the weather’s nice, I love sitting in the backyard of Saturdays NYC on Crosby Street, which is also a nice nostalgic trip for me (it was my first job when I was 16). I also love Flynn McGarry’s newest café and home goods store, Gem Home. It just opened last weekend on Mott Street. The library style tables in the back are perfect for a catch-up, and the apple lovage juice is my new go-to drink.
Any restaurant plans?
I’m looking forward to returning to Le Veau d’Or. The meal was excellent and classic, true French food. Some new places I’m curious about: Bar Oliver, opening tonight by the team behind MIMI, and also the just-opened Smithereens in the East Village, as I love seafood.
How about a little leisure or culture?
I recently went to the Collectible design fair that opened up at WSA the first week of September. The fair is originally from Brussels, and this was its first time in New York. As much as I love art, I prefer a design fair — they’ve always felt less showy to me, more about the craft. I was excited to see my friend Ian Felton’s furniture there. I also went to the Air concert at the Beacon Theatre and thought the set design was so cool and the concert so soothing on a Tuesday evening. What I’m overdue on is an off (or off-off) Broadway play, if anyone has a recommendation.
Any weekend getaways?
I recommend an extended weekend getaway to Copenhagen, where I used to live. Believe me, a weekend trip is possible. Take Scandinavian Airlines SK910 Thursday night from Newark, arriving in Copenhagen at 7:15a, and do the following:
Have a cheese hotdog with raw onions, fried onions, pickles, chili ketchup, mustard and remoulade immediately upon arrival (yes, I know it’ll be early)
Rent a bike or use their version of Citi Bike, Donkey Republic, and just bike around town, people-watching, stopping to pop into stores or grab a coffee
Spend some time on Værnedamsvej and try the juice of the day at Italo Caffé and an ice cream at Østerberg Ice Cream
Go for a classic Danish lunch at smartly dressed (both in design and crowd) Restaurant Møntergade ... paired with schnapps, of course
Have dinner at Baka d’Busk — super fun and incredibly tasty, and all plants everything
Take the 12:25p flight on Monday back, working from the plane, arriving in NYC at 2:55p.
What was your last great vacation?
Rome. L’angolo Divino 1946 wine bar. Ask for Massimo, the owner. Great wine, great food, even better conversation with him. Then, head two minutes down the road to Ristorante Camponeschi for a drink with locals. Continue on another two minutes down the road to Pierluigi for an upscale seafood dinner.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I think I was wrongly invited to a private intimate dinner by Hesse Flatow gallery this summer. The space happened to be down the block from where I live in Amagansett, so I decided to stop by, unsure if the invite was for real or not. I’m happy I did, because I fell in love with this painting by Delphine Hennelly the moment I walked in. I knew nothing about the artist or the work itself, just that I knew I wanted it.
What product or service do you always recommend?
It’s not a product, but I’d call this a service for yourself. And I recommend it often: Take yourself out to dinner. Solo. At the bar. And put your phone away.