Julian Shapiro-Barnum’s Anything-Can-Happen New York
The host of “Recess Therapy” and “Celebrity Substitute” on the movie theaters, bars, and burrito spots that make New York feel gloriously unpredictable.
Julian Shapiro-Barnum grew up in Brooklyn, left, and moved back the day after he graduated college. His shows — “Recess Therapy” and the upcoming late-night show “Outside Tonight” — are basically love letters to the strangers he passes on the street.
He describes his favorite kind of New York day as “a spiral towards blissful insanity,” the kind of day where plans fall apart and the city just drags you along for the ride.
For Co-Sign Vol. 005, he shares the places in NYC where anything can happen.
THE CO-SIGNS
Vol. 005: Julian Shapiro-Barnum
Cobble Hill Cinema — 265 Court Street, Cobble Hill
I grew up going to this theater. It is old and has magic in it. My favorite place to see a movie.
Su’juk — 216 Greene Avenue, Clinton Hill
Best vintage ever. Hand-picked and carefully curated, I love the owners and staff alike.
Formosa — 43 Underhill Avenue, Prospect Heights
My favorite dumplings and the aesthetic is immaculate. Get them pan-fried if you know what’s good for you!
Rialto Grande — 644 Franklin Avenue, Crown Heights
Best bar for a mess around with friends. Anything can happen after Rialto Grande. Sexy without trying.
Lincoln Station — 409 Lincoln Place, Prospect Heights
My favorite coffee shop in Brooklyn! Perfect energy and has amazing food.
Eyval — 25 Bogart Street, Bushwick
EAT HERE. This Persian restaurant has some of the best food in the city and I crave it constantly.
Frog — 358 Marcus Garvey Boulevard, Bed-Stuy
This bar has live music, food pop-ups, great wine, and pool! Frog is a party.
Ogliastro — 784 Washington Avenue, Prospect Heights
Best brick oven pizza in the city. Comfort food to me. I’ve been eating there since I was 11!
Bklyn Burro — 200 Brooklyn Avenue, Crown Heights
You want a good ass burrito? Go here. It is fast, affordable, and maybe the place I eat at more than any other. I’m a burrito snob and they pass the test.
Dean CrossFit — 66 Rockwell Place, Downtown Brooklyn
The best gym in the city. Everyone who goes is a gem and everyone who works there ROCKS. If you want to get a good workout, take a class at Dean Crossfit. You will not regret it.
Naval Cemetery Landscape — Williamsburg / Navy Yard
This place is simply unlike any other spot in Brooklyn. It’s like stepping through a portal into the countryside. Go sit there for hours.
Margot — 69 Lafayette Avenue, Fort Greene
Yum, yum, yum. Margot is my go-to spot for a nice dinner. The menu evolves and changes. I always have something that sticks with me for a long time.
Son Del North — 177 Orchard Street, Lower East Side
Second burrito rec! GOOD LORD is this good. I will go out of my way for this burrito, and I couldn’t recommend their steak burrito enough.
Unnameable Books — 600 Vanderbilt Avenue, Prospect Heights
My favorite local bookshop. It’s open until 11 at night! What other book shop does that?? Go here on a date!
Julian’s Google Map of NYC →
THE CITY INTERVIEW
How did you end up in NYC and what made you stay?
I’m from here! I grew up in Brooklyn. When I was 10, I moved to Philadelphia, then went to college in Boston, and the day after I graduated, I moved back. There’s no other city like Brooklyn.
How has living in NYC shaped your sense of self, your creative practice, or your worldview?
All of my work is very inspired by NY. I’ve always been so interested in the stories of strangers. Walking around the city makes me curious beyond belief, and all of my projects hinge on me cashing in on that curiosity. My show “Recess Therapy” is so inspired by my own childhood here, and my latest show, “Outside Tonight,” [debuting in June] is a late-night show set on the streets of NY.
What’s one thing people consistently misunderstand or get wrong about NYC, and what do they miss out on because of it?
Every issue people have with NY is true. I think its problems are part of the reason I love it. I love how bad it smells, how chaotic and overstimulating it is, how cold the winters are. The bad is what informs the good. Ying and yang. The awful of New York informs and highlights the bliss.
On your best days, what does living in NYC feel like?
A perfect day in NYC is a quest, or a romp, or a spiral towards blissful insanity. My favorite days here are ones where things seamlessly trail into each other. I’ll bike to Chinatown to meet a friend, run into another group, end up in Prospect Park on a picnic, blink, and we’re at a bar, or a restaurant, or a concert, or a house party. The borders between activities and places are thin. When does Bushwick end and Bed Stuy begin? I’ll never know. I love a Saturday for this reason. I love a summer night.
Describe the soul of NYC in three words.
Unpredictable, packed, curious.
CO-SIGN WORLDWIDE
The sexiest hotel you’ve ever stayed at:
This little cabin in the woods in Madrid! I wish I could remember the name!
The most beautiful place you’ve ever visited:
Belize. The most insane waterfalls you’ve EVER SEEN.
Overrated destination:
LA. I don’t even want to have this conversation, but I do not want to be there ;)
Underrated destination:
Segovia. They have a freaking ancient aqueduct!!!
A destination, hotel, or experience still on your bucket list:
I’m DYING to go to Albania. The beaches look insane.
The greatest city in the world right now:
NEW YORK CITY BABY!
A place you’ve gatekept — until now:
Honestly, the Naval Cemetery Landscape is something else…