Drew Thomas (pictured above)
Senior finance associate, Hell’s Kitchen
Are you having fun?
Honestly, this is the most Gossip Girl–esque thing I’ve gotten to do in my life. I’m on the governor’s campaign team, so I started the night checking people in. But by 9:30, I was freed and finally got to be Blair Waldorf — in this insane venue, all the lights, camera, action. Right out of the gate, Schumey won, so that was a good palate cleanser, then Tish, then I saw Erik Bottcher, my City Council member for Hell’s Kitchen. He’s famous because he’s 40 and just really, really handsome and tall. My staff sometimes teases me, like, “Oh my God, it’s your husband.” So that was fun. But I also saw two people I had ghosted. Traditional New York gay hoopla.
What was it like working for Kathy Hochul?
Really relaxed. She doesn’t add any drama or stress or b.s. We have this cringey whiteboard in the office where we put one question for the team a day, and she even walks up and answers it with an Expo marker. It’s disarming.
Carlos Plaza
Community-affairs director, Elmhurst
Amara Balan
Book editor, West Village
What brings you here?
I was invited to the black-tie National Book Awards soon, so this was a test run for my fancy-event persona. I’m glad I dressed up. I ended up chatting with New Jersey governor Phil Murphy about how the Giants are doing.
Anicia Gillespie
Consultant, Hell’s Kitchen
Eugene Resnick
Deputy communications director, Astoria
Jay S. Jacobs
State-party chairman, Laurel Hollow
What do you do outside of work?
I collect historical documents. I’ve got the last letter Lyndon Johnson ever wrote — which was to me on the day he died. I also have Franklin Roosevelt’s first paycheck as president, one of Harry Truman’s canes, and one of Winston Churchill’s cigars.
Jen Holder
Entrepreneur, Rosedale
Cindy Fu
Life-insurance agent, Chinatown
Naomi Gneco
Software engineer, Lower East Side
Julio Pérez
Journalist, Astoria
Cierra Smith
Deputy communications director, Harlem
Chéla S. Wallace
Educator, Harlem
Paul Adler
Real-estate attorney, Nyack-on-Hudson
Bump into anyone you know tonight?
Yes. I’ve been involved in Democratic politics for 46 years now, so this is Old Home Week for me, my Academy Awards red carpet. I saw my unlikeliest friend, former Republican state senator Nick Spano. He’s supporting the governor, so we had a hug, a kiss on the cheek.
Kim Best
Community advocate, Bedford-Stuyvesant
Rose Graham
Assistant principal, Canarsie
Jenifer Rajkumar
State Assembly member, Woodhaven
Carolyna Corey
Party-affairs coordinator, Carroll Gardens
How was working on the campaign?
I got starstruck every time I saw the governor in the office. I’m 23 and not good around people with a Wikipedia page. I saw Harry Styles face-to-face this year, and I froze. Recently, Hillary Clinton was ten feet away from me — froze up again.
Bailey Street
Paralegal, West Village
Lily Marrone
Political coordinator, Turtle Bay
Carlos Plaza
Community-affairs director, Elmhurst
Amara Balan
Book editor, West Village
What brings you here?
I was invited to the black-tie National Book Awards soon, so this was a test run for my fancy-event persona. I’m glad I dressed up. I ended up chatting with New Jersey governor Phil Murphy about how the Giants are doing.
Anicia Gillespie
Consultant, Hell’s Kitchen
Eugene Resnick
Deputy communications director, Astoria
Jay S. Jacobs
State-party chairman, Laurel Hollow
What do you do outside of work?
I collect historical documents. I’ve got the last letter Lyndon Johnson ever wrote — which was to me on the day he died. I also have Franklin Roosevelt’s first paycheck as president, one of Harry Truman’s canes, and one of Winston Churchill’s cigars.
Jen Holder
Entrepreneur, Rosedale
Cindy Fu
Life-insurance agent, Chinatown
Naomi Gneco
Software engineer, Lower East Side
Julio Pérez
Journalist, Astoria
Cierra Smith
Deputy communications director, Harlem
Chéla S. Wallace
Educator, Harlem
Paul Adler
Real-estate attorney, Nyack-on-Hudson
Bump into anyone you know tonight?
Yes. I’ve been involved in Democratic politics for 46 years now, so this is Old Home Week for me, my Academy Awards red carpet. I saw my unlikeliest friend, former Republican state senator Nick Spano. He’s supporting the governor, so we had a hug, a kiss on the cheek.
Kim Best
Community advocate, Bedford-Stuyvesant
Rose Graham
Assistant principal, Canarsie
Jenifer Rajkumar
State Assembly member, Woodhaven
Carolyna Corey
Party-affairs coordinator, Carroll Gardens
How was working on the campaign?
I got starstruck every time I saw the governor in the office. I’m 23 and not good around people with a Wikipedia page. I saw Harry Styles face-to-face this year, and I froze. Recently, Hillary Clinton was ten feet away from me — froze up again.
Bailey Street
Paralegal, West Village
Lily Marrone
Political coordinator, Turtle Bay
More From This Series
- The Look Book Goes to the Luar Fashion Show
- The Look Book Goes to the U.S. Open
- The Look Book Goes to East Hampton Library’s Authors Night
