Still on vacation
GEETIKA AGRAWAL • Vacation with an Artist
WORK • Tuesday Routine
GEETIKA AGRAWAL • CEO/founder • Vacation with an Artist
Neighborhood you work in: Prospect Lefferts Garden
Neighborhood you live in: Crown Heights
It’s Tuesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
We work with travelers and master artisans in over 60 countries, making us a 24-hour operation. We just wrapped up a Zoom call with an internationally celebrated Balinese batik artist, who is finalizing a few details about their VAWAA — a seven-day private experience in their studio learning batik and visiting iconic temples like Borobudur, A UNESCO Heritage site. The rest of the day, we’re busy supporting guests from different countries as they embark on various VAWAA experiences worldwide this summer.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Ceramics and printmaking are two of the most popular options amongst VAWAA travelers, so today we’re chatting with a new ceramics artist in Japan and a printmaker in Mexico City to develop their itineraries. We also just got some great feedback from our first travelers who spent three days learning marquetry in Sorrento, Italy, with third-generation inlayers and cabinet makers, so we’re excited to debrief our community about their experience in our next weekly newsletter. You can join our mailing list to receive the (free) newsletter.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Bungalow in the East Village is getting a lot of hype for good reason. I just had the most incredible meal there with friends. We especially loved the spice-roasted pineapple. I’ve followed chef Vikas Khanna for a number of years, and I’m hoping that I get a long layover in Dubai on an upcoming trip to Southeast Asia so I can visit his other restaurants.
How about a little leisure or culture this week?
I just learned about Happy Medium Art Cafe in Greenpoint and I’m excited to visit for the first time. Live figure drawing is such an inspiring way to get back into my drawing practice, but it can be hard to find studio time in the city. I can’t wait to get back into it in such a beautiful and social environment.
What NYC store or service do you love to recommend?
My membership to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has been my best purchase of the year for several years running. It’s a ticket to peace every time I need to escape the clamor of the city. Afterwards, I might stop by Cheryl’s Global Soul in Prospect Heights for brunch, or I’ll pick up a few things to cook for dinner at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket.