The Essential List: Devin Brook
Tacos, tequila, club sandwiches, 100-year-old delis, soup dumplings… when it comes to sustenance, Devin Brook is into the good stuff, food that speaks to the LBB team on a personal and gluttonous level. He even once opened his own bar and event space in his hometown of Manhattan - although he’s a west-coaster by birth.
By day Devin is managing partner at creative studio Brand New School, which just announced the hiring of creative director JP Rooney.
We tapped Devin for a truly bi-coastal Essential List.
Lifestyle
o Place of birth: Los Angeles
o Hometown: Manhattan
o Staycation: I’ve been travelling a ton, so being home is staycation
o Vacation: Anywhere with an eight+ hour time difference. In 2019 I’m going back to Nepal to trek and visiting a friend at an artist’s residency in Switzerland.
o Pet: Eventually one of these incredibly ugly/cute things. It’ll need a winter parka.
o Place of work: Brand New School
o Place of workout: Cycling across the GW Bridge and up 9W, or the gym when the weather dips.
o Side project: A while back two friends and I opened The Wooly, a bar and private event space in downtown Manhattan.
o Mode of transport: Bike, yellow cabs and my feet. Walking in NYC never gets old.
o Bonus Travel Essential: A gift for the niece and nephews
Culture
o Artist: Daniel Richter and Peter Doig for their insane uses of colour
o Musician: Joy Division, Neil Young, Dr. Dre
o Commercials / music video director: Dougal Wilson
o Film director: Kubrick
o Photographer: Ryan McGinley
o Film: A Clockwork Orange
o Series: The Leftovers
o Music Video: Anything Chris Cunningham
o Board Game: Monopoly
o Book: Just finished Shoe Dog
o Podcast: Here’s The Thing
o Newspaper (off or online): Google News aggregates everything I need in one place
o Magazine: New York Magazine, but only for the crossword puzzle
o Bonus Culture Essential: Record collection
Food and Drink
o Breakfast: I’m damn close to replicating the omelette at Petit Trois…soon
o Restaurant: Barney Greengrass
o Cheap bite: Miznon
o Working lunch: NY = Amelia’s club sandwich, LA = Trejo’s tacos
o Favourite Dish: Ribs at Hillstone
o Signature Dish: Roast chicken and the omelette
o Snack: Peanut butter and banana, almonds, Oreos
o Guilty Pleasure: Chocolate cigar from Moishe’s
o Bar: Walker’s
o Booze: German pilsner or tequila
o Not Booze: Seltzer
o Bonus Food: Soup dumplings
o Bonus Beverage: Mexican Coke
Kit
o Phone: iPhone X
o Computer: MacBook Pro
o TV: Samsung 55”
o Headphones: Airpods and Beats noise cancelling – daily vs. flying
o Camera: Leica and my iPhone
o Soundsystem: Rega and Sonos
o Pen / pencil: Sailor pen and our BNS pencils
o Where you document an idea: Notes
o Casual Clothing: Jeans and a t-shirt
o Smart Clothing: Slacks and a t-shirt
o Collection: Records
o App: It’s so obvious, but Accuweather saves me all the time
o Website: hbogo.com
o Work program: Chrome
o Digital work tool: Chrome
o Analogue work tool: Chrome
o Morning grooming / makeup essential: Wash, rinse, repeat
o Bonus Kit Essential: Garrett Leight sunglasses
