Richard Boch
Occupation Writer and Artist
Hometown New Hyde Park, Long Island
Current Residence "Downtown will always be my heart and home."
Artist, writer and lifelong New Yorker—Richard Boch is all these things and more. The former doorman of the legendary Mudd Club, Boch has more than a few stories to tell, many of which are chronicled in his book, "The Mudd Club." Today, you can find Boch working on a series of page paintings, which incorporate phrases from his writing, and continuing work on his next book, which, as he puts it, is about "adventure and misadventure in club land—sex, drugs, music, art— all of it!" Stay tuned. But for now, read about Boch's favorite New York go-tos for art, books, drinks, and more.
WHAT WOULD THE TITLE OF YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY BE?
We've Been Friends Forever.
WHAT CAN'T YOU TRAVEL WITHOUT AND WHY?
My passport, drivers license, E-ZPass, MetroCard, and ATM card. Without at least one of those, I'd be staying home.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION AND WHY?
Paris. When I get in the taxi at de Gaulle I feel like I can breathe.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON?
Pretty much nothing… unless I'm on a deadline or planning a Tuesday Night Party in the Club Room [at Soho Grand].
IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ONE PERSON TO SHOW YOU "THEIR NEW YORK CITY," WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
Jane Friedman, the director of Howl! Happening in the East Village. She's been in NYC longer than I have and she's still out running around day and night.
WHO OR WHAT HAS INSPIRED YOU RECENTLY?
The Bruce Nauman show at MoMA. It's very funny stuff, and beautiful in a way that's different.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE NYC RESTAURANTS? WHAT DO YOU ORDER THERE?
The Omai salad at Omai, the enchilada suizas at Lupe's, the salmon at Sant Ambroeus, and breakfast at the Soho Grand.
WHAT'S YOUR GO-TO SPOT IN NYC FOR DRINKS?
Bowery Electric upstairs before a band downstairs, or B Bar [& Grill] across the street.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE BRUNCH SPOTS?
I gave up brunch because I'm hungry on the weekends as soon as I get up!
WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR ART FIX IN NYC? DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE ARTIST?
Chelsea Galleries or MoMa or The Whitney or the Brant on the LES. Deitch Projects in SoHo, too. Currently, I love Walter Robinson, Pat Place, Curt Hoppe, Scooter LaForge, Gary Kanner, and Julie Wilson along with the photographs of Kate Simon, Bobby Grossman, Bob Gruen, Marcia Resnick, and Allan Tannenbaum. The Polaroids of Patti Smith are pretty good, too. I'm sure I'm forgetting someone. Oh Right… Basquiat and Nauman.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR LATE-NIGHT HANGOUTS IN NYC?
I prefer a late-night party to a hangout.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR UNDER-THE-RADAR MUST-DO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NYC VISITORS?
I'd rather not say so that they remain under the radar.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE NYC STORES?
Barneys, Uniqlo, Bookmarc, Kiehl's, Raffetto's, and Porto Rico coffee, all for wildly different reasons.
WHAT MUSIC ARE YOU LISTENING TO THESE DAYS? WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MUSICIANS?
I listen to everything from Xeno & Oaklander, Bush Tetras, and Faith, to early Jefferson Airplane, Motown, and Punk.
WHAT ALBUM OR SONG WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOUR PERSONAL SOUNDTRACK TO NYC?
Talking Heads album Fear of Music. The song "Life During Wartime" in particular.
WHEN YOU THINK OF NYC, ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR EMOTIONS OR MEMORIES THAT IMMEDIATELY COME TO MIND?
Love, joy, youth, and sadness in no particular order.
PHOTOGRAPHY Kate Simon
Lupe's East L.A. Kitchen
110 6th Ave, New York
Note "The enchilada suizas."
Sant Ambroeus
259 West 4th street, New York, NY
Dine at Sant Ambroeus in West Village NYC for old-world Milanese authenticity. The Pâtisserie and espresso bar is popular for breakfast and lunch.
BOOKMARC
400 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014
The cleverly titled Bookmarc stocks international fashion and design magazines, making this a one-stop-shop for those in the know.