look book

The Look Book Goes to a Literary Launch Party

The Whitney Review of New Writing, Whitney Mallett’s culture periodical, held a party at Frog Club.

Photo: Frankie Alduino
Photo: Frankie Alduino

Amy Dewan (pictured above)
Lawyer, Bedford-Stuyvesant

Did you have a good day before you got here?
I went to Burlington Coat Factory to look for something to wear. It was really crazy there. The checkout line was all around the perimeter — like, in a spiral. I almost thought about stealing. Obviously, I didn’t do it, but I wondered if maybe I could leave the money in a box and walk out. I’ve been buying a lot of stuff recently because I just submitted my application to transfer my bar credentials from Maryland to New York. My outfit is an “I’m going to be a lawyer in New York” acquisition. I’m leveling up because life is gonna be different soon.

Did you come with anyone tonight?
My good friend Elon, who is the DJ. Most of my friends are artists. I don’t really have any lawyer friends, or at least close lawyer friends. I like to write and make art too, and I’m also a DJ. I kind of feel like everyone’s an artist, in a way. I mean, I know some people just don’t have the inclination, but it’s such a human thing to want to make art, and I would consider many things art. I consider myself an artist even when I’m taking a nap, you know?

Maya Martinez

Writer, Sunset Park

Isaiah Davis

Artist, Chelsea

Whitney Mallett

Writer and editor, Chelsea


What book are you currently reading?

Lauren Berlant’s On the Inconvenience of Other People. It’s from ten years ago — or four years ago. [Ed. note: It’s from 2022.] Given I’m supposed to be an authority on literature, people might be like, Oh my God, she hasn’t read that yet? But I think it’s fine to be public about all the stuff I’ve never read.

Tom Jackson

Editor, Bedford-Stuyvesant

Taylore Scarabelli

Writer and editor, Lower East Side


Have there been any readings tonight?

No readings. It’s strictly schmoozing, which is nice because if you’re having a bigger launch, it’s kind of intense to do a reading. Not everyone can hear you. Also, there are just too many readings. I want to read at home in the privacy of my bathtub.

Trey Taylor

Editorial director and perfumer, South Bronx

Drew Zeiba

Writer and editor, Chinatown

Candystore

Poet, Crown Heights


How’s the party going?

It is very hot and sexy. There are a lot of beautiful people here. The bar is very small, so it feels kind of crowded. My drink came in a frog cup, which was cool. It felt like a weird surprise to be drinking out of a ceramic frog.

Liara Roux

Writer, Chinatown

Gala Prudent

Artist and creative strategist, Prospect Heights

Naveed Hussain

Creative coordinator, Lower East Side

Liam Creamer

Musician, Bushwick


You’re working as a server tonight. What’s the crowd like?

Since Frog Club is in the West Village, I always assume the people are going to be very millennial. And the crowd is very millennial, but I mean that in the best way possible. These people have lived here awhile and seem wise and have something good to say. They are people who are stable.

Roselee Goldberg

Chief curator, Gramercy

Devin Hentz and Zaïre Diop

Stylist-writer and first-grader, Crown Heights

Baldassarre Ruspoli

Artist, Chinatown

Steven Phillips-Horst

Comedian, Ridgewood

Arjun Ram Srivatsa

Animator, Gowanus


What brings you here?

I contributed to the last issue. I wrote about the misuse of music in public, specifically the mind-numbingly bad soundtrack they play at Crunch Fitness in Tribeca. The first song I ever heard there was an EDM tropical-house cover of “Mr. Brightside.” The front-desk person told me they can’t turn off the music.

Chase Mathey

Botanist, Ridgewood

Photographs by Frankie Alduino

Maya Martinez

Writer, Sunset Park

Isaiah Davis

Artist, Chelsea

Whitney Mallett

Writer and editor, Chelsea


What book are you currently reading?

Lauren Berlant’s On the Inconvenience of Other People. It’s from ten years ago — or four years ago. [Ed. note: It’s from 2022.] Given I’m supposed to be an authority on literature, people might be like, Oh my God, she hasn’t read that yet? But I think it’s fine to be public about all the stuff I’ve never read.

Tom Jackson

Editor, Bedford-Stuyvesant

Taylore Scarabelli

Writer and editor, Lower East Side


Have there been any readings tonight?

No readings. It’s strictly schmoozing, which is nice because if you’re having a bigger launch, it’s kind of intense to do a reading. Not everyone can hear you. Also, there are just too many readings. I want to read at home in the privacy of my bathtub.

Trey Taylor

Editorial director and perfumer, South Bronx

Drew Zeiba

Writer and editor, Chinatown

Candystore

Poet, Crown Heights


How’s the party going?

It is very hot and sexy. There are a lot of beautiful people here. The bar is very small, so it feels kind of crowded. My drink came in a frog cup, which was cool. It felt like a weird surprise to be drinking out of a ceramic frog.

Liara Roux

Writer, Chinatown

Gala Prudent

Artist and creative strategist, Prospect Heights

Naveed Hussain

Creative coordinator, Lower East Side

Liam Creamer

Musician, Bushwick


You’re working as a server tonight. What’s the crowd like?

Since Frog Club is in the West Village, I always assume the people are going to be very millennial. And the crowd is very millennial, but I mean that in the best way possible. These people have lived here awhile and seem wise and have something good to say. They are people who are stable.

Roselee Goldberg

Chief curator, Gramercy

Devin Hentz and Zaïre Diop

Stylist-writer and first-grader, Crown Heights

Baldassarre Ruspoli

Artist, Chinatown

Steven Phillips-Horst

Comedian, Ridgewood

Arjun Ram Srivatsa

Animator, Gowanus


What brings you here?

I contributed to the last issue. I wrote about the misuse of music in public, specifically the mind-numbingly bad soundtrack they play at Crunch Fitness in Tribeca. The first song I ever heard there was an EDM tropical-house cover of “Mr. Brightside.” The front-desk person told me they can’t turn off the music.

Chase Mathey

Botanist, Ridgewood

Photographs by Frankie Alduino

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The Look Book Goes to a Literary Launch Party