TCQ&A: Patrick McGrath

The rules: Answer as many of the 48 questions as you like (but a minimum of 15, and you must answer #1–4). Please limit most answers to the general geographic area.

1. How long have you lived in the area? Where did you move from? Where are you originally from? From London. Moved from Toronto to Washington Heights. In area 34 years.

2. Married? Partnered? If so, what’s his/her name and occupation? Married to theatre director.

3. Kids? Pets? No kids or pets.

4. Where do you live? In the Financial District.

5. What do you do for a living? Writer. [He’s underselling himself. He’s the acclaimed author of AsylumSpider, and other novels. “An atmospheric tale from a master of the grotesque,” wrote the Guardian in its review of his latest, The Wardrobe Mistress, just out in the U.K.]

6. The best deal around: Dinner at Edward’s on W. Broadway.

7. Most-frequented restaurants: Edward’s, Odeon, Acqua in the Seaport, lobster joint [Luke’s Lobster] on South William.

11. Most delicious cocktail: Hendrick’s martini, Bobby Van’s, 25 Broad St.

13. I can’t resist popping into: TJ Maxx on Wall Street; James Perse on Church Street.

14. The last non-essential item I bought: White suede shoes online.

15. When I walk into my apartment, the first thing I see that I bought around here is: Wine glasses from Pottery Barn, Broadway and Houston.

16. I’m so glad the number 2 train is in the neighborhood, because without it I’d have to take a cab.

17. How I stay fit: The gym in the building.

19. What’s the area’s best-kept secret? The lobster joint on South William, also Royalty Wine Merchants, same block.

20. A recent enthusiasm: Lincoln in the Bardo, novel by George Saunders.

24. Rainy-day activity: Premier league soccer on NBC Sports Channel.

27. I’ve never been to Staten Island and I don’t know why.

28. I’m sorry, Bouley, but I won’t be coming back.

29. How does Trump stay in business?

30. I tend to take out-of-towners to: Stone Street.

31. I wish I lived in…. The Mohawk Building (or anywhere on Duane Park).

32. My very favorite spot: Hudson River at Vestry Street.

33. Pet peeve: SCAFFOLDING!

34. If money were no object, I’d have a view over both rivers and the harbor.

35. A doctor I’d recommend: Nora Lansen, One Medical.

36. My most memorable celebrity sighting: Bowie in Puffy’s.

37. A local celebrity I’d like to run into: Harvey Keitel.

38. The most romantic spot around: Ulysses, Stone Street, 3 a.m.

39. Tribeca could use more beatniks and fewer bankers.

40. If I could change one thing about the neighborhood: Tear down that scaffolding, Mr. Mayor!

42. A business I miss: All the lost bookstores.

43. My best Tribeca story: The bad lieutenant having a really hard time controlling a very small puppy one Sunday morning on W. Broadway.

46. Proof that change is good: the Hudson River waterfront.

47: A new building I admire: the Oculus. A new building I don’t: The new New York Law School building.

48. Best reason to go AboCa: Visit Grand Central.

49. If I couldn’t live here, I’d live in…. Morocco.

50. I wish you had asked me about: Tribeca and 9/11.

Recent TCQ&As:
Logan Levkoff
Edward Burns
Ben LeBlanc
Jacob Weisberg
Clinton Kelly

 

3 Comments

  1. Is it too late to ask him about 9/11? I want to hear what he has to say about it.

  2. Very entertaining interview

  3. I’m looking for a time machine so I can have a drink with Bowie at Puffy’s.