Topher Grace
Best known for portraying Eric Forman on the TV series That ’70s Show, Grace had no formal acting training and was discovered by chance. Now with a host of movie roles to his credit, including Valentine’s Day and Spider-Man 3, the 34-year-old actor will star in the ensemble cast of The Big Wedding, due out this spring.
New York neighborhood: The West
Village.
Why I started acting: Girls. A lot of the
girls in high school were in the spring musical, so I
signed up, and the creators of That ’70s Show were
in the audience. The good news is I got my first job;
the bad news is I never hooked up with any of the
girls.
Proudest career moment: Paul Weitz (who
directed me in In Good Company) pushed me to do
his new play Lonely, I’m Not. I was nervous because
I’d never done professional theater. Even though
That ’70s Show used to beam out to millions of
people, it was more nerve-racking to perform live
for 400.
Preference of stage, TV, or movies: On
my first day of my first film, Traffic, I asked Michael
Douglas about the difference [among acting
genres]. He said, “It’s all really the same thing.”
That made everything easier.
Cause closest to my
heart: The Art of Elysium, which facilitates artists
visiting hospitals with critically ill children.
Favorite New York memory: I was honored to host
Saturday Night Live. Walking home after the
afterparty, I was literally whistling.
Eric Hutchinson
Singing into a tape recorder as a kid in the DC area and hoping to grow up to perform like Michael Jackson, 32-year-old singer/songwriter/musician Hutchinson realized he could make a career of his passion when he played a bar in LA and it wasn’t just his friends in the crowd anymore. Hutchinson released his breakthrough album in 2008 and is currently touring to promote his latest album, Moving Up Living Down, released in April.
My New York neighborhood: Lower
East Side.
Why I love New York: It’s always two steps
ahead of me.
Greatest musical influence: The Beatles.
They were like a religion in my house growing up. My
dad quoted them like scripture. My mom quizzed me
on which Beatle was singing each song.
Words of
wisdom for someone starting out in the music
business: Play an instrument. Write your own songs.
Don’t give up.
This decade: I want to headline Radio
City Music Hall.
Cause closest to my heart: City
Harvest. I love food, and I want to help people [in need]
to be able to eat.
People would never guess: I’m
obsessed with fantasy sports.
Rules to live by: Eat
everything. Don’t finish books you’re not enjoying.
Never count other people’s money.
Jay Galluzzo
A former private equity executive, Galluzzo, a partner at entrepreneurial development firm Tricera Partners, cofounded the indoor cycling concept Flywheel Sports in New York in February 2010. With fitness as a lifelong passion, the 38-year-old is responsible for Flywheel’s operations, marketing, technology development, and strategic planning; he has recruited top talent in the industry to expand the brand to 15 locations nationwide.
New york neighborhood: Soho.
Why I love New York: It’s where I’ve built my life, my family, and my
business. There is no more exciting place in the world.
Best career
advice ever received: You have to be smart and build loyalty by
treating people the way you want to be treated.
Words of wisdom for
young entrepreneurs: Go for it. Solicit advice and help from all
channels, but trust your gut. And don’t be discouraged by mistakes—
they are the best learning experiences.
Favorite New York memory:
The first time I walked out of the train tunnel into Grand Central Station
at age 9, I was mesmerized and connected. And my 2002 wedding at the
Rainbow Room—such a classic New York City venue.
Cause closest to
my heart: I’m passionate about Children’s Rights, an amazing team of
advocates that fight for the rights of children in state welfare/foster
systems.
People would never guess: I’ve officiated three weddings.
Living the good life is… Being able to surround yourself with people
you love and respect; and setting your own schedule.
Jon Alagem
Last year 30-year-old UPenn graduate Alagem decided to forgo his short-lived career in finance to start his own company, Trendabl, described as Instagram for fashion. Launched with famous fashion names as founding members—such as Diane von Furstenberg, Michael Kors, Mary-Kate Olsen, and Brad Goreski—the photo-sharing platform allows users to take or upload images, post them to the network, and tag them according to brand, price, and availability.
New York neighborhood: Hudson Square.
Trendabl resonates with New Yorkers because... New York
is a constant source of inspiration for fashion—the burgeoning
fixation with street style is evidence of that and has fueled the
interest in personal style. Trendabl brings users’ unique
fashion sensibilities to your fingertips while also creating a
social-networking style experience.
Why i love New York:
There’s an energy that’s indescribable. Here I feel constantly
motivated every day, something I’ve yet to experience
elsewhere.
Words of wisdom for young entrepreneurs: If
you have an idea, don’t wait; start building.
Cause closest to
my heart: DJ AM Memorial Fund.
Three words that best
describe me: Food. Tech. Food.
Thrillist Founders 30-year-old Lerer and 32-year-old Rich devised the concept for their brand targeted to young, urban males right after they’d graduated from UPenn. Then, living in New York, they saw the need for a trusted city guide for their age group. They started developing content, buying domain names, and sent out the first Thrillist e-newsletter to 600 people on May 4, 2005. Now, they’ve expanded to 20 cities, acquired Jack Threads (a menswear e-commerce flash sale), and launched Thrillist Rewards, which bridges editorial and e-commerce with content-driven deals.
Ben Lerer
New York neighborhood: Soho.
Words of wisdom for
young entrepreneurs: Don’t hope…. Nothing is going to
get handed to you. If you want it, go get it.
This decade: I’d
like to see Thrillist Media Group be recognized as a
paradigm for what a modern media company looks like.
Cause closest to my heart: The East River
Development Alliance, a nonprofit that offers opportunities
in public housing developments.
Three words that
best describe me: Enthusiastic, fun, pizza.
Adam Rich
New York neighborhood: Chelsea.
Why I love New
York: You can find anything here.
Best career advice
ever received: Success is 10 percent your idea, and the
other 90 percent is execution.
Secret of success:
Treating every day as your chance to do something great,
and seeing that through.
Favorite night hot spot:
Cliché maybe, but still Le Bain rooftop.
People would
never guess: The first CD I ever bought was by PM
Dawn, and I still listen to it.
Rule to live by: Do it now.
Jordy Cobelens
With an interest in timepieces instilled in him by his father, Ton, a watch distributor in the Netherlands, 29-year-old Amsterdam native Cobelens learned the trade and then honed his skills in business school before founding TW Steel with his father in 2005. As CEO, Cobelens is charged with developing the brand—known for marketing affordable, oversized watches—into a global leader. He also launched two side ventures: his record label JC Records and artist management organization Steel Entertainment Group.
New York neighborhood:
Midtown.
Why I love New York: I love the sheer vibrancy
of the city. It has such an amazing energy. It really inspires
me, and crucially it’s an international hub, making it ideal
for business.
On the family business: My father has a
passion for design, and I bring the entrepreneurial
flair—we’re a great team!
Words of wisdom for young
entrepreneurs: Our time here is short; you really just
have to follow your dreams. If you believe in what you’re
doing, then you’ll find a way to make things work. That
doesn’t mean you won’t fail from time to time, but as long
as you keep learning, you can evolve.
People would
never guess: I travel all over the world, but I have a real
fear of flying.
Three words that best describe me:
Passionate about life!
Living the good life is... Being
able to get a step closer to fulfilling your dreams, no
matter how big or small, on a daily basis.
Thomas Pastuszak
Working in restaurants to pay off college loans while studying neurobiology and classical piano at Cornell University, Pastuszak realized he was more passionate about food and wine than medicine. Influenced by restaurateurs Danny Meyer and Drew Nieporent and sommeliers Robert Bohr, Rajat Parr, and Richard Betts, Pastuszak decided to follow in their footsteps, hoping to make his own mark on the industry. Well on his way toward that goal, he revamped the wine menu at Colicchio & Sons, and now the 27-year-old is wine director at NoMad, the newly opened restaurant in The NoMad Hotel.
New York neighborhood: Fort Greene,
Brooklyn.
Why I love New York: It’s the cultural epicenter of the
world and home to the most thriving food and wine scene in
existence.
Words of wisdom for young professionals: Pursue
what you feel most passionate about—not what you’re prescribed to
do.
Proudest moment: Opening day of NoMad. As a wine team, we
built our wine cellar and stocked it with 10,000 bottles—within two
days. I had never before felt such a tremendous sense of accomplishment.
People would never guess: I’m not above drinking wine
from a box.
This decade: I want to redefine the role of the sommelier.
I hope to etch out a niche in the food and wine culture where the
sommelier is a host, a hospitalitarian, and more.
Paul Jarrod Frank, MD
A New Yorker since birth, the director of 5th Avenue Dermatology Surgery and Laser Center always wanted to be a doctor. With his mother convincing him that people care more about their skin than many other health issues, he focused on dermatology and today is an expert in minimally invasive cosmetic surgery. Author of Turn Back the Clock Without Losing Time (Three Rivers Press), 43-year-old Frank launched his own product line, pfrankmd skincare, in 2005.
New York neighborhood: Carnegie Hill.
Why
cosmetic dermatology: It’s the perfect combination of art, technology,
and medicine.
Why I love New York: It is the ultimate melting
pot of style, culture, and people.
Best career advice ever received:
Guide your patients’ care as if they were family.
Secret to success:
I keep all aspects of my life in perpetual motion. Standing still is
moving backward to me.
My fashion style: Classic with an edge.
Cause closest to my heart: The Andrew Golkin Memorial
Scholarship Fund for underprivileged high school students, named
after one of my closest childhood friends who passed away on 9/11.
People would never guess: I am an excellent roller disco skater.
Rule to live by: Appreciate everything you have, while maintaining
the drive to always achieve more.
Sam Nazarian
Hotelier, nightclub operator, and SBE Entertainment Group founder and CEO, 37-year-old Nazarian is bringing his hospitality empire to the East Coast with his first Manhattan establishment; the SLS New York will open on Park Avenue South in 2014. Known for originating popular venues like Katsuya by Stark and Hyde Lounge, Nazarian—already one of the largest nightlife operators on the West Coast—is also expanding his successful franchises in Las Vegas and Miami.
New York home
base: Gansevoort Park Avenue or the Crosby Street Hotel.
New
York allure: New York has always been a part of the larger plan
for SBE, but we needed time to mature our brands and let their
relevance grow nationwide. Now, we’re delivering a proven
lifestyle experience across hotels, restaurants, and nightlife.
Why I
love New York: The energy, the pace, the attitude.
The secret of
my success: Persistence.
Words of wisdom for young hospitality
professionals: You must truly love the art of hospitality and
have that innate passion for serving and entertaining people—and
be humble while you do it.
Most proud of… Being a part of a
company that’s innovating the culture and DNA of hospitality.
People would never guess: I have an immense passion for
global politics.
Rule to live by: Always be courageous.
Shawn Reilly
The 34-year-old Pittsburgh-area native has always had a life plan: business degree, bartending license, culinary degree, and restaurant ownership. Although he temporarily detoured from the plan as a young professional trying to make it in New York City, a friend encouraged him to pursue his dream, and My Belly’s Playlist was born. The delivery-only, fine-food sandwich shop in the Financial District features a daily changing menu of 10 sandwiches for $10 each.
New York neighborhood: Hell’s Kitchen.
On his concept: In
Pittsburgh we put French fries and coleslaw on sandwiches, or we mix
ham with barbecue sauce and put it on a hamburger bun, so I grew up
with a less conventional idea of sandwiches.
Menu inspirations: Any
and everything: a seasonal fruit or vegetable (pickled ramps in the
lobster rolls); a twist on a classic (kimchi on a cheesesteak); traveling to
different cities, countries, people’s homes.
Why I love New York: The
energy, the cultures, the food.
Words of wisdom for young culinary
professionals: Spend time learning in as many kitchens as you can.
Execution and implementation are as important as your idea. Perfect
your craft so you can execute your idea successfully.
This decade: I
hope to incorporate a local farm into my list of vendors.
Cause closest
to my heart: Toys for Tots. My best friend from growing up supported
it. He passed away in a tragic accident, and I like to keep his
memory alive by keeping up his generous tradition of giving.
Since launching EMM Group in 2006, New York nightlife impresarios 34-year-old Remm and 35-year-old Birnbaum are responsible for hot spots including flagship nightclub Tenjune, as well as Abe & Arthur’s, SL, Catch, and Lexington Brass. The pair has branched out to the Hamptons, Hoboken, and soon South Beach, and their yet-to-be-named 20,000-square-foot venture on the Bowery—a combination bakery, restaurant, lounge, and live-music space—is slated for completion this fall.
Mark Birnbaum
New York neighborhood: West Village.
On my career
choice: After living across the street from the World Trade
Center during 9/11 and losing my best friend to cancer in the
same month, I realized that life is too short, and you should do
what you love.
Why I love New York: It’s got the best of
everything—opportunity, excitement, entertainment, food,
and culture.
Words of wisdom for young hospitality
professionals: Make yourself known and irreplaceable,
hustle, and never be afraid to go for it—whatever “it” is.
Causes
closest to my heart: The Lustgarten Foundation for
Pancreatic Cancer Research, Friends of the Israeli Defense
Forces, and Happy Hearts Fund.
Best new discovery:
Jerusalem. I just went for the first time this summer—amazing.
Rules to live by: Live life every day to its full potential, and
never compromise your morals for anything.
Eugene Remm
New York neighborhood: West Village.
Why I love New York: People can come here with nothing, and through hard
work and dedication, they can succeed.
Best career advice
ever received: “Stay humble, work hard, and always keep the
pedal down and push forward.”—Stephen Hanson, founder of
BR Guest Hospitality.
Words of wisdom for young
hospitality professionals: Check your ego at the door.
Realize that this is a business, and don’t treat it as something
you do just for fun.
Favorite New York memory: The Giants
beating the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
Cause closest to my
heart: Sports is Life, a basketball charity I started this year in
Brooklyn for at-risk teens.
People would never guess: I
didn’t eat out at my first proper restaurant in New York City
until my mid-20s.
Rules to live by: Be proactive, and always
raise your consciousness in every aspect of life.
