Our June uberchic, Nathana, was shopping for fresh produce at the Union Square Green Market. She kindly agreed to an interview as she was walking from stand to stand purchasing her favorite fruits and veggies.
AskaNewYorker: So, you are a lifelong New Yorker?
Nathana: Yes, I grew up in Brooklyn, home of Nathan’s and Junior’s cheesecake.
AskaNewYorker: And now you live in Manhattan?
Nathana: Yes, once you cross that river, you never want to live anywhere else. It’s now to the point where I say to my friends, “The market is so good; I should really sell my apartment.” And even they know to respond, “But where would you go?” Like there is nowhere else on earth to live. No other city, state, country.
AskaNewYorker: What did you do this morning?
Nathana: I spoke to Peter Koppelman about refinancing my apartment – he’s one of the hottest mortgage brokers in NY and just got me the best deal and saved me a fortune. Peter researches the best deals for Home Mortgage Acceptance Corp. (212) 739-0428. He’s super connected to make the process painless. I can barely leave the island.
AskaNewYorker: So what goodies did you find at the market today?
Nathana: A big bunch of fresh asparagus, wonderful fresh shallots, tender baby lettuce, some herbs — the basics.
AskaNewYorker: What’s your favorite veggie?
Nathana: That’s a hard one! Can you ask me about fruit? I do have my favorite fruits – passion fruit, pomegranates, Concord grapes, cherries, lychees. But you did ask about vegetables – so many I love – yellow squash is tasty.
AskaNewYorker: So, you like food?
Nathana: Who doesn’t? But, food is my business. For the last 24 years, I have been doing marketing and public relations and a large proponent of my clients are food based — consumer and foodservice companies, I’ve represented terrific food products over the years. One of my most delicious clients to introduce to the NY market was — Creme Cremaillere Ice Cream. www.cremecremaillere.com. Cafe au Chocolate, the Coffee with Chocolate Espresso pieces is my personal favorite.
AskaNewYorker: Interesting beauty mark I see on your neck, do you have
a nickname for such a mark?
Nathana: It’s where God kissed me.
When I was a little girl my big sister called it my coffee mark – since I loved coffee flavored everything – yogurt, ice cream, candies, drinks, she said I drank coffee and it leaked through. I believed that for quite awhile.
AskaNewYorker: Where are you eating tonight?
Nathana: Tonight, I’ll dine at Montebello on 56th Street between Park and Lexington, great pastas and veal and salads and a beautiful atmosphere, very romantic. It’s one of my favorite restaurants in the city. They have an incredible wine list. Actually there will be a wine tasting in July that will benefit young women who are breast cancer survivors. Call Montebello (212) 753-1447 to register.
AskaNewYorker: Have you ever thought about becoming a leg model? 🙂
Nathana: Blush.
AskaNewYorker: With no ring on your finger, I assume you are single. What kind of guys do you date?
Nathana: I like a man who is like a good mustard: spicy, but sweet.
I date men who understand who they are, what they want and where they are headed. Also, I’m looking for someone with a lot of depth, personality and passion. Someone I can really sink my teeth into. Wait a minute, I forgot, are we talking about my ideal man or my ideal shrimp dish?
I love having an active life. I love to dance and do pilates. I am an avid hiker, bicycle rider and tennis player, and have been known to horseback whenever there is a horse around. And so many men are couch potatoes; I have enough vegetables in my life.
AskaNewYorker: May I ask what the uberchic carries in her purse?
Nathana: Could you embarrass me a little more? I think not. It’s an eyelash curler. I’ve been doing my make-up en route forever. So I’m used to curling my eyelashes with this gizmo in cabs, subways and in elevators. It’s so d-class to apply one’s make-up in a public venue. It’s probably my worst flaw. Now you know.
AskaNewYorker: Tell me about Nathana Josephs Public Relations?
Nathana: I have a marketing communications company, which helps companies and the individuals within them get their messages out. Whether it’s creating identities, or image campaigns, I’ve represented major companies San Pellegrino water to L’Oreal with national campaigns. I started my agency in 1989 when I was 6.
AskaNewYorker: But what do you “do”?
Nathana: First I analyze my clients’ current communications and strategies. Then it’s like going to a shrink — together we clearly delineate the objectives. A program could include special events, marketing materials, publicity, direct marketing, sponsorship, a multitude of exciting options. We do what it takes to get our clients in the news.
AskaNewYorker: Those are pretty funky sunglasses, where did you get them?
Nathana: In New York you have to know where to shop.
AskaNewYorker: I love glasses; they are my favorite accessories. There is a great place called “Eyes on Avenue U”, in Brooklyn. (718) 336-0600. They have tons of designer frames, for a fraction of the price in Manhattan. Great service, great eye care, it’s worth the schlep. These are Prada Sunwear – they are perfect for city streets, not too dark but they cut major glare, also they are super light and have hinges – they feel great – I forget I have them on.
I also got a fabulous pair of Armani frames for less than anywhere in the city for distance and some great red Cynthia Rowley frames for reading. You just take a book on the Q train to Avenue U.
AskaNewYorker: You take the subway to Brooklyn for glasses?
Nathana: Oh it’s worth it. I bring a book to read. And the neighborhood is so cool. You get to walk around a real “neighborhood” it’s totally ethnic — great Asian markets with the best produce, and Russian shops with delicacies and a real Italian pizzeria, homemade sauce — it’s nothing like the pizza in Manhattan. No Starbucks, Gap, Duane Reade in site.
A real New Yorker knows where to shop. Where to get whatever you are looking for at either the best price, 12 midnight or within a 3-block radius of where you currently are.
