New York doesn’t ease you in. It swallows you whole.
I flew in on Thursday night for a work project and was staying at a friend’s apartment while they were out of town — they’d kindly offered me the space. Almost immediately, the city served up a classic New York moment: the elevator broke. Normally, not a big deal, except in this building, each apartment occupies an entire floor, so the elevator opens directly into your home.
Luckily, I had the back entrance key. After hauling my suitcase up the stairs, I decided I deserved a reward. I picked up a bottle of fine red from a shop around the corner, along with something to eat, and headed back upstairs.
In the lobby, I ran into a young neighbor who had recently moved upstairs. He was locked out, his iPhone dying. I invited him up. In a true Carrie Bradshaw moment, we opened that bottle of wine and talked for hours. Somewhere between sharing stories, I learned he was an heir to a billion-dollar real estate empire, which explained the duplex in Tribeca at 25. That's the thing about New York: it collapses the distance between people, mixing classes that would never otherwise meet.
The next morning, I was running around New York, preparing to produce a campaign for the opening of Kinn Studio — a Los Angeles fine-jewelry brand launching its store on Bleecker Street. Last year, I decided to give a portfolio career a real shot. I had spent years in traditional full-time roles, working 9–5 and building brands, but I never felt fully secure. After going through a layoff, alongside challenging personal chapters, including divorce and health issues at different points, I realized one income stream wasn’t enough to make me feel financially safe. So I started consulting fractionally.
I wanted more stability, yes — but also more creative expansion. The ability to work across projects. To learn faster. To build something diversified and intentional. Savoir Agency became my second consulting client. They are an LA-based experiential agency producing bespoke activations for brands like Good American, Love Wellness, Garage, and more.
Our client, Kinn Studio, brought us on to conceptualize and produce their New York store opening. Kinn is a fine jewelry brand known for 14K solid gold pieces set with ethically sourced diamonds, designed to be worn every day rather than reserved for special occasions.
The store itself was designed like a jewelry box. And when you think of a timeless jewelry box, what comes to mind? A wind-up music box with a ballerina spinning inside. That’s how the concept was born.
To bring it to life, Savoir framed the entrance with soft drapery and placed a real ballerina on a pedestal at the center of the space, slowly spinning as guests walked in, like the figurine inside a classic music box. A butler welcomed guests and served champagne and tea from a silver tray.
We didn’t want the story to stay inside the store. So we took it to the streets of New York and made the city part of the performance. We created a narrative around two “off-duty” ballerinas, fresh out of rehearsal, running through downtown in puffer jackets and moon boots, carrying a large poster and handing out tickets to “the show”: Kinn’s grand opening on February 14th.
The weather was freezing, and I knew that we had to keep our girls warm. We ordered them fleece-lined leggings and Uniqlo Heattech to stay warm. The result was a stunning street campaign shot by Dusan Jovic that captured passersby’s attention and drove them to the store.
As the weather warmed and the week progressed, I dined at one of my favorite restaurants, The Corner Store, where classic American cuisine meets bespoke presentation. Every detail there feels intentional. From waiters in tailored suits bringing fresh-cut lemons, limes, and cucumbers for guests’ water on silver trays, to a digital check at the end of the meal that lets you pay on your phone, splitting the bill proportionally or covering only your own items.
I learned that Or’esh, a new Mediterranean restaurant from the Catch Hospitality Group, the team behind The Corner Store, was opening the following week. I couldn’t miss it. Led by Michelin-starred chef Nadav Greenberg, the menu honors his Moroccan-Israeli heritage.
Or’esh is derived from two Hebrew words: Light (אוֹר) and Fire (אֵשׁ). In modern branding, those elements suggest presence and transformation, but here, they’re literal. At the heart of the restaurant is a custom-built grill, where nearly everything is cooked over live fire. We started with Jerusalem bagel and dips, and golden hamuli kadayif — warm, textured, layered — before moving on to grilled branzino and lamb kebab. The meal ended with pistachio vanilla cheesecake and their signature cardamom soft serve, compliments of the kitchen.
Kinn Studio’s grand opening took place the following day, and I headed back to the street to spend time with our off-duty ballerinas. During the five hours I spent overseeing the activation on Bleecker Street, I ran into four people I knew, including my former LA neighbor and one of my closest friends with her partner and kids. That’s the beauty of New York.
When I’m asked what city I like more, I always say that in New York, the adventure finds you, but in Los Angeles, you have to find the adventure. In just ten days, I made new friends, produced a brand activation on the coldest day of the season, dined at chic restaurants where reservations are nearly impossible to secure, and genuinely had a great time - all while operating on very little sleep.
And now, before I wrap, a few favorites that earned their place.
Worth the Shelf Space
ARMRA
I’ve been taking ARMRA for a while now, mainly for immune support and recovery benefits. Travel, freezing campaign production days, late dinners… it all adds up, and I need something that supports my baseline.
Their single-serve travel sticks are what came with me to New York. No bulky containers. More space in the suitcase. My favorite flavors are Blood Orange and Peach Persimmon.
Bellway Fiber
Most of us don’t get enough fiber. Travel only makes that worse. Different restaurants, irregular meals, and less routine. Bellway is one of my favorite clean brands. It’s well-formulated, made with organic psyllium husk and real fruit. My favorite flavor is Strawberry Lemonade.
And with that — back to the bigger picture.
This trip reminded me that happiness is about balance — building a life expansive enough to hold both ambition and adventure, structure and spontaneity. And when you’re doing work that energizes you, the lines blur in the best way. Business becomes connection. Strangers become friends. Ten days can feel like a full season of life.
In retrospect the dots connect.
