Risa Chu

The best part of working for Party Earth was getting to check out all the different types of places, from super chic lounges to appropriately dirty dive bars, all of which had their own unique vibes. There’s no place better than New York City for that kind of diversity. It was also great speaking with the managers and PR people to find out some of the stories about the spaces, whether it was about the history of the venue, or just recapping the antics of the patrons.

While wandering the city at 2am, my friend and I ran into a socialite friend of his who’s one of those permanent golden ticket holders. He brought us up to the Le Bain rooftop where the stunning city view distracted me from an introduction to someone I later found out is a “kind-of-a-big-deal” social media entrepreneur. Oops. After spending twenty minutes staring at the view like a tourist in Times Square, we eventually made our way back downstairs to the party. My first thought was that someone needed to ease up on the cleaning products, until I realized the chlorine odor was emanating from a Jacuzzi at the side of the room, where people were splashing around in everything from party dresses to birthday suits. After a cocktail-aided contemplation period of whether or not to jump in, I realized that I was either in this for the full experience, or I was going to go home wishing I had baptized myself in the Le Bain pool. Not wanting to be an outcast, my friend and I agreed it was necessary to strip down and join the congregation. Despite the resulting ride home in damp clothing, the experience of half-naked swimming with New York’s finest socialites and hipsters is not something I’ll soon forget.

I’d have to say strangely enough that I’m somewhere between an Adriana and a Jonah. New York culture is unique in that hipsters and party princesses can intermingle seamlessly, which is perfect considering my inclination toward the offbeat combined with my love of the glitzy side of the city.

My perfect day in the city would involve waking up on a beautiful summer afternoon in either the Standard or Gansevoort Hotel. This would be followed by rounding up my best girlfriends for a low-key, Bloody Mary-fueled brunch in one of the Lower East Side’s many brunch bars. After that I’d take a walk in Central Park and maybe stop at the MET for some culture and to check out the latest display on the rooftop. That would be followed by a long nap, dinner at Hotel Griffou, lounge hopping in the Meatpacking District with stops at SL and Le Bain, all topped off with a nightcap and late-night snack at Rose Bar.