Amber Martin ↑
Singer, Hell’s Kitchen
What brings you to Café Carlyle today?
I’m here to see my friend Rufus! We’ve been friends for about 18 years. He’s on my album, and we sing a duet on a song he wrote for my record, which I brought tonight on vinyl to give to him. But he doesn’t know it yet.
Can you tell me about your outfit?
I don’t mean to be a name-dropper, but I’m friends with Parker Posey. I was at her house upstate visiting and she goes, “I got something for you. Come upstairs.” And so I ran upstairs. We’re both southern girls and we’re both just a couple years apart and we’re both Scorpios, so she’s like my sis. She throws this caftan at me and goes, “This is for you. It’s a red-carpet look.” And I’m like, “Well, thank you, Ms. Pose, I’ll take it.” And so I put it on and then she goes, “No, no, no. It needs something.” And she’s giving me accessories and I’m like, Golly! So now what am I going to give her? My love and affection? But she’s a very generous friend.
Emmet McDermott
Hospitality entrepreneur, Greenwich Village
Rufus Wainwright
Singer-songwriter, Los Angeles, California
What goes on in the downtime between your performances?
It’s quite an undertaking to do five shows in a row, so I need to rest my voice. For the first three days, I didn’t leave the hotel, just ordered room service and watched TV and ate jelly beans and M&M’s. But I ventured out today and went to the Frick, which was incredible.
Peter Vaz
Environmental consultant, Carroll Gardens
Jim Hedges
Curator and collector, Los Angeles, California
Jazeel Syed
Management consultant, Woodstock, Georgia
Who are you here with tonight?
My wife. We’ve been married almost 39 years. We fell in love, and we pretty much got engaged and married within eight weeks.
Judith Fishman
Board chairman, Brooklyn Heights
Jill Pearson
Producer, Toronto, Canada
Jeanluc Constant
Private-wealth adviser, Upper East Side
How’s life on the Upper East Side?
We moved here from Michigan mainly for work. My wife was a captain for the Detroit Lions cheer team, and she finished out her career. Then we had kids, and I genuinely believe raising kids in the city is awesome. They’re exposed to different elements and the highest of highs to the lowest of lows.
Bradley Patchett
Broadway actor, Bushwick
Tina Vaz
Director of arts and design, Carroll Gardens
Madeline Brock
Stay-at-home mom, Upper East Side
Have you been here before?
Yes! I had my daughter in May, and my mom was staying at the Carlyle for a month. I’d been cooped up for two weeks, and at week three we were like, “Let’s go to Café Carlyle to see a show.” Now that I’m looking back at it, that’s actually insane. My daughter slept the entire show and woke up so bright-eyed and bushy while we were two martinis deep.
leonita Gashi
Event planner and actress, Chinatown
Noah J. Ricketts
Broadway and television actor, Lower East Side
Margot Hauer-King
Hospitality entrepreneur, Chelsea
As a bar owner, where do you like to go out?
I love a dinner at Raf’s, and I have a real soft spot for the Boom Boom Room. It’s having a bit of a comeback.
Sam Golub
Business owner, Sunnyside
Mary Elizabeth Hahnfeld
Real-estate investor, Houston, Texas
Anne Tait
Retiree, Sag Harbor
How do you spend your time?
In the summer, it’s all about my garden. There’s no grass; it’s all pebbles. It’s low maintenance. I have a little pool. It’s very charming.
David Bator
Managing director, Toronto, Canada
Photographs by Frankie Alduino
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If you prefer to read in print, you can also find this article in the December 29, 2025, issue of
New York Magazine.
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If you prefer to read in print, you can also find this article in the December 29, 2025, issue of
New York Magazine.