The Essential List: Devin Brook

The managing partner at Brand New School loves the good stuff when it comes to food and drink - but is still in need of the perfect ugly / cute pooch

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