Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
>> ON THIS EPISODE OF
HOW I ROCK IT,
JOHN VARVATOS BRINGS
ROCK AND ROLL BACK TO THE
BOWERY.
>> WE BUILT THIS STORE IN THE
ASHES OF CBGB'S.
I'M GONNA TRY TO KEEP THE MUSIC
ALIVE HERE.
>> THEN, WE'LL TEST-DRIVE A
VINTAGE PORSCHE WITH THE URBAN
OUTLAW MAGNUS WALKER.
>> I DON'T ASK PEOPLE WHAT THEY
THINK.
I JUST DO WHAT I THINK FEELS
GOOD.
>> AND THE ODD WORLD OF MAGICIAN
ROB ZABRECKY.
>> I CROSS MY FINGERS THAT THEY
GO, "WHAT AM I SEEING?
WHAT IS THIS?
WOW."
>> AND CELEBRITY CHEF
MARCUS SAMUELSSON IGNITES THE
HARLEM FOOD SCENE.
>> IT'S ALL RACES, ALL
IDENTITIES, ALL RELIGIONS.
BUT THE FOOD TIES US TOGETHER.
>> I'M BARON DAVIS, AND THIS IS
HOW I ROCK IT.
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
I'M BARON DAVIS, AND THIS IS
HOW I ROCK IT.
WE'RE GOING BEHIND THE SCENES
WITH THE ICONS AND TASTE-MAKERS
OF MEN'S STYLE.
JOHN VARVATOS MADE HIS NAME AS A
DESIGNER OF HIGH FASHION WITH
ROCK AND ROLL FLAVOR.
SO WHEN THE LEGENDARY MUSIC CLUB
CBGB'S CLOSED ITS DOOR IN 2007,
IT MADE SENSE THAT VARVATOS
WOULD TRANSFORM THE LOCATION
INTO HIS ICONIC BOWERY STORE
AND KEEP THE CLUB'S PAST AND
ITS MUSIC ALIVE.
>> THIS IS A PRETTY BIG NIGHT
FOR US HERE.
WE'RE CELEBRATING, WITH CHEAP
TRICK, 35 YEARS OF THEIR
LIVE AT BUDOKAN ALBUM.
I'M A MUSIC JUNKIE, AND I LOVE
FASHION.
AND I'M BLESSED WITH THE ABILITY
TO SOMEHOW MIX MY TWO BIG
PASSIONS.
I'M JOHN VARVATOS.
I'M A FASHION DESIGNER.
WE'RE AT 315 BOWERY, WHICH IS
OUR STORE IN NEW YORK CITY.
KIND OF A HERALDED PLACE HERE IN
THAT IT WAS FORMERLY THE HOME OF
CBGB'S.
CBGB'S WAS A MUSIC VENUE.
AND IN THE LATE '70s, IT REALLY
BECAME THE BIGGEST PUNK CLUB IN
THE WORLD.
IT'S A PLACE THAT I CAME TO SEE
THE RAMONES, TO SEE THE
TALKING HEADS.
IF YOU PLAYED CB'S, EVEN THOUGH
IT WAS A [bleep]HOLE, YOU WERE
IN A SPECIAL PLACE.
FIVE YEARS AGO, IN THE KIND OF
ASHES OF CB'S, WE BUILT THIS
STORE.
BUT I FELT THAT I HAD TO HONOR
WHAT WAS HERE.
SO I'M GONNA KEEP THE MUSIC
ALIVE HERE.
I GREW UP IN DETROIT IN A VERY
SMALL HOUSE WITH SEVEN PEOPLE,
ONE LITTLE BATHROOM.
AND MY WAY OF KIND OF ESCAPING
ALL OF THAT WAS TO LISTEN TO
MUSIC.
AND I STARTED ALSO FOLLOWING
THE STYLES OF THOSE ARTISTS AS
WELL.
IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE WAY THEIR
CLOTHES TOLD A STORY ABOUT WHO
THEY WERE AND THE ATTITUDE THAT
THE CLOTHES PROJECTED.
AND I REALLY STARTED TO THINK
ABOUT CREATING MY OWN STYLE.
SO FOR ME, A LOT OF IT REALLY IS
DETERMINED BY, WHAT IS YOUR
MESSAGE?
WHAT DO YOU WANNA BE KNOWN FOR?
IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO
MY BRAND.
THIS IS A BIG NIGHT FOR US.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE FRIENDS WITH
CHEAP TRICK.
THEY WANTED TO DO IT HERE IN THE
BOWERY, WHICH IS PRETTY GREAT.
VERY INTIMATE.
IT'S NOT THE BIG STADIUM KINDA
THING.
THIS SHOW IS PART OF SOMETHING
CALLED THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE,
WHICH MEANS ONCE A MONTH, MY
VISUAL TEAM HAVE TO COME IN HERE
TO TURN THIS INTO A CLUB.
HOW DID IT FEEL, SOUND CHECK?
>> GREAT.
>> YEAH?
>> YEAH.
>> IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT STAGE
THAN WHAT YOU GUYS NORMALLY
PLAY ON, BUT...
WE'RE ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY FROM
THE SHOW STARTING, AND
THE BAND'S VERY PSYCHED ABOUT
DOING THE SHOW.
IT'S NOT JUST ANOTHER SHOW FOR
THEM.
I HAVE A RADIO SHOW ON SIRIUSXM.
THIS SHOW IS GONNA BE RECORDED
AND BROADCASTED ON SIRIUS.
AND THE TAPE THAT WE DO TONIGHT
WILL BE PART OF THAT.
SO I WANNA KNOW HOW THEY'RE
FEELING.
SO WELCOME TO NEW YORK NIGHTS.
I'M JOHN VARVATOS.
I'M HERE WITH JESSE MALIN
AND OUR VERY, VERY GOOD FRIENDS
CHEAP TRICK...
>> HELLO.
>> CELEBRATING, TO THE DAY, THE
RECORDING OF LIVE AT BUDOKAN.
CHEAP TRICK ARE THE ULTIMATE
AMERICAN POWER POP BAND.
YOU GUYS PLAYED AT CBGB'S ONE
TIME BEFORE.
>> YES, WE PLAYED IN THE PAST
HERE.
>> EVERY GENERATION KNOWS
"MOMMY'S ALL RIGHT, DADDY'S
ALL RIGHT."
>> I LOVE THE SHIRT.
I KNEW OF JOHN BEFORE I MET
JOHN.
BESIDES THE DESIGN STUFF, HE'S A
ROCK GUY.
HE'S A DETROIT GUY.
HE KNOWS MUSIC.
>> YOU KNOW, WE'RE GETTING
CLOSE.
WE'RE 15 MINUTES AWAY FROM THE
BAND WALKING TO THE STAGE.
THERE'S ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT OF
BUTTERFLIES RIGHT BEFORE WE
START THE SHOW...
>> NOW, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO,
YOUR HOST, MR. JOHN VARVATOS!
[cheers and applause]
>> BUT I'M GONNA TRY TO DO MY
BEST TO SAVE PART OF THE
HISTORY...
HEY, EVERYBODY.
WELCOME TO A MONUMENTAL EVENING.
AND NEVER TO TRY TO BE CBGB'S
BUT TO BE JOHN VARVATOS THAT'S
KEEPING MUSIC ALIVE ON THE
BOWERY IN NEW YORK CITY.
[upbeat rock music]
♪ ♪
IN THE END, I THINK WHAT THIS
SPACE FOR ME IS IS ABOUT GIVING
BACK.
ALL THESE PEOPLE COMING TO SEE
THIS--MY MUSIC ICONS ONSTAGE,
WHEN I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF
THIS, IT'S THE MOST MAGICAL
THING THAT'S EVER HAPPENED TO
ME.
I HAVE TO PINCH MYSELF THAT THIS
IS MY LIFE.
>> MAGNUS WALKER HAS BECOME A
CULT ICON FOR CUSTOMIZING HIS
PERSONAL FLEET OF VINTAGE
PORSCHE 911s.
THE BRITISH ROCK AND ROLLER
DOESN'T LOOK LIKE YOUR AVERAGE
PORSCHE RESTORER, BUT HIS
SIGNATURE STYLE AND CUSTOM
MODIFICATIONS HAVE EARNED HIM
THE NICKNAME "THE URBAN OUTLAW."
>> YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO DO THINGS
MY OWN STYLE, MY OWN WAY, AT MY
OWN PACE, MY OWN TIMELINE.
I DON'T ASK PEOPLE WHAT THEY
THINK.
I JUST DO WHAT I THINK FEELS
GOOD.
MY NAME IS MAGNUS WALKER, AND I
GOT A PASSION FOR PORSCHE.
THE PORSCHE 911 IS THE SECOND
LONGEST-RUNNING SPORTS CAR IN
HISTORY.
ULTIMATELY, I'M DRAWN TO
PORSCHES 'CAUSE I LIKE TO DRIVE.
I'M KNOWN FOR CUSTOMIZING EARLY
'65 THROUGH '73 PORSCHE 911s.
AND CURRENTLY, I OWN 14 OR 15.
I COLLECT THEM, I RESTORE THEM,
I DRIVE THEM.
MY PORSCHE DESIGNS ARE SORT OF
SELF-TAUGHT, "GO ON GUT" FEEL.
THIS IS MY LATEST BUILD,
THE '72 911T.
YOU'LL NOTICE A THEME OF FIVE
DRILLED HOLES.
IT'S ALSO PICKED UP ON THE
CENTER HOOD FOR THE GAS CAP.
AND IT'S ALSO PICKED UP ON THE
FIVE HOLES THAT ARE DRILLED INTO
THE DOOR HANDLES.
BECAUSE IT'S A HOBBY, THESE ARE
NOT CUSTOMER CARS.
THERE IS NO DEADLINE.
IT'S THE FREEDOM TO SORT OF DO
WHATEVER I WANNA DO WHEN I
WANT TO DO IT.
[upbeat rock music]
♪ ♪
LOVE AFFAIR WITH PORSCHES
STARTED AS A TEN-YEAR-OLD KID.
MY FATHER TOOK ME TO THE LONDON
OLD SCHOOL MOTOR SHOW IN 1977.
AND I SAW A-A WHITE MARTINI 930
PORSCHE TURBO.
SO THAT WAS MY DREAM CAR AS A
KID.
I ACTUALLY WROTE A LETTER TO THE
PORSCHE FACTORY STATING AS A
TEN-YEAR-OLD THAT I WANTED TO
DESIGN FOR PORSCHE.
THEY EVEN WROTE BACK TO ME
BASICALLY SAYING, YOU KNOW,
"CALL US WHEN YOU'RE A LITTLE
BIT OLDER."
>> MAYBE FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO,
I WAS ON SUNSET BOULEVARD,
DRIVING IN ONE OF MY OLD 911s,
'70 S.
AND UP AHEAD, I SAW THIS
ORANGE-COLORED 911 ST.
SO I STARTED CHASING HIM.
AND THE GUY PULLS OVER IN FRONT
OF THE 7-ELEVEN.
THIS GUY GETS OUT, WHO KIND OF
LOOKED LIKE A HOMELESS GUY.
AND I THOUGHT, "WELL, THAT GUY
JUST STOLE THAT CAR."
TURNS OUT THAT'S MAGNUS WALKER.
HE'S A COLLECTOR.
I'M A COLLECTOR.
AND I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT HE'S
GOT GOING ON IN THIS LABORATORY
OF HIS DOWN HERE.
BUT--BUT I WANT TO FIND OUT.
WOW.
VERY NICE.
IT IS BEAUTIFUL HERE.
WOW.
LOOK AT THIS STUFF.
THIS IS ALMOST A '73 MIRROR, BUT
NOT QUITE, RIGHT?
>> IT'S ACTUALLY A '74,
LEFT AND RIGHT MIRROR, YEAH.
>> '74, RIGHT.
THAT--THAT WAS MY FIRST 911,
A '74.
>> OH, IRONICALLY, IT WAS MY
FIRST 911 TOO.
>> A LOT OF GUYS DON'T MAKE THE
CARS AS NICE AS THESE BECAUSE
I-I THINK THEY'RE MISSING THAT
ARTISTIC EYE.
>> STYLE IS NOT ONE OF THOSE
THINGS THAT CAN BE TAUGHT AT
SCHOOL.
YOU EITHER HAVE STYLE, OR YOU
DON'T.
I BUILT THEM MYSELF.
AND I OCCASIONALLY SELL.
YOU KNOW, I HATE--TO BE HONEST,
I HATE SELLING.
BUT MY WIFE ALWAYS SAYS YOU CAN
ONLY OWN SO MANY.
>> [laughs]
HE'S LIKE THIS MAD GENIUS,
WORKING IN A CAVE, CREATING
THESE BEAUTIFUL CARS.
>> I'M MOST RELAXED WHEN I'M
BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A PORSCHE.
THE MAGIC THEN BEGINS.
>> ♪ ONE, TWO ♪
♪ ONE, TWO, THREE, WHOO! ♪
♪ ♪
>> WOW.
>> ♪ I WANNA SEE THE LIGHTS ♪
♪ PUT ME TO WORK TONIGHT ♪
♪ THE ONE WHO MONEY PAIN ♪
♪ I'LL WORK UNTIL HE RISE ♪
>> WHAT IS NICE ABOUT THIS CAR
IS IT REALLY DOES STAND OUT IN A
CROWD.
>> UH-HUH.
YEAH, YOU'RE GONNA HEAR THIS
COMING.
YOU'RE GONNA SEE IT COMING.
>> YEAH.
>> WE OPENED IT UP ON CITY
STREETS IN A WAY THAT I PROBABLY
SHOULDN'T TALK ABOUT MORE THAN
THAT.
>> WE'RE HAVING FUN, RIGHT?
>> THIS IS FANTASTIC.
♪ ♪
THIS THING IS A MONSTER.
HE DID HAVE ME A LITTLE AFRAID
ON THAT DRIVE.
I THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT WE MIGHT
BE FLYING OFF THE BRIDGE AND
INTO THE WATER.
[chuckles]
>> IT'S GOOD TO SEE PEOPLE THAT
ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT I'M
DOING.
YOU KNOW, SPIKE AND I BONDED
OVER A SHARED PASSION AND LOVE
OF ALL THINGS PORSCHE.
BACK IN 1977, I DID WRITE A
LETTER TO PORSCHE.
AND THEN, 35 YEARS AFTER I WROTE
THAT FIRST LETTER AS A
TEN-YEAR-OLD, IRONICALLY, I GOT
A SECOND LETTER JUST LAST MONTH
FROM PORSCHE BASICALLY SAYING
THEY WERE GLAD TO HAVE ME IN
THE PORSCHE FAMILY.
IT ALMOST BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY
EYE 'CAUSE IT JUST FELT SPECIAL
TO BE PART OF THE FAMILY.
YOU KNOW, I'M JUST THAT REGULAR
GUY FROM SHEFFIELD WHO
FOLLOWED MY DREAMS TO AMERICA
AND NEVER TOOK NO FOR AN ANSWER.
AND IT FEELS REALLY, REALLY
GOOD.
>> THE TARGA FLORIO WAS THE MOST
DANGEROUS CAR RACE EVER CREATED.
RUN FROM 1906 TO 1977, THE RACE
WAS A 450-MILE ENDURANCE TEST
THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS, CLIFFS,
AND HAIRPIN TURNS OF SICILY,
ITALY.
FOR THE FIRST 50 YEARS, THE RACE
WAS DOMINATED BY THE LIKES OF
FERRARI, ALFA ROMEO, AND
MASERATI.
THEN IN 1956, ONLY 11 DAYS
BEFORE THE RACE, A SMALL GERMAN
COMPANY NAMED PORSCHE
INTRODUCED ITS FIRST RACING CAR,
THE 550 SPYDER.
PORSCHE HAD NEVER WON A MAJOR
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
BEFORE.
BUT THE LITTLE PORSCHE TEAM SENT
THE BRAND-NEW SPYDER DOWN TO
SICILY TO TAKE ON THE ITALIAN
GIANTS.
IT WAS DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH.
WHILE THE 550 SPYDER HAD A
SMALLER ENGINE THAN THE ITALIAN
RACE CARS, IT WAS ALSO LIGHTER
AND MORE AGILE.
THIS ENABLED ITS DRIVER TO
MANEUVER AROUND WINDING MOUNTAIN
ROADS FASTER THAN THE
COMPETITION.
PORSCHE WON THE TARGA FLORIO BY
MORE THAN 15 MINUTES, EARNING
THE 550 SPYDER A NICKNAME
THAT STUCK, "THE GIANT KILLER."
AFTER FIVE MORE WINS, PORSCHE
NAMED THE 1966 911 CONVERTIBLE
AFTER THE FAMOUS RACE.
AND THAT'S HOW TARGA GOT ITS
NAME.
>> FOR A MAGICIAN, THE BIGGEST
TRICK OF ALL IS DOING SOMETHING
COMPLETELY NEW.
ROB ZABRECKY UNDERSTANDS THIS
BETTER THAN MOST.
HE HAS TRANSFORMED HIMSELF FROM
AN INDIE ROCK BAND FRONT MAN
INTO A MAGICIAN WHO RIDES THE
FINE LINE BETWEEN ODDITY AND
BRILLIANCE.
>> ALL MY LIFE, I'VE BEEN TOLD
THAT I'M DIFFERENT.
I PUSH HOW DIFFERENT...
TO A FAR EXTREME.
MY NAME IS ROB ZABRECKY, AND I
AM A FULL-TIME ENTERTAINER IN
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
TODAY'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S
THE 45TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF
MAGICAL ARTS AWARDS SHOW RIGHT
HERE AT THE ORPHEUM THEATRE.
AND I'M NOMINATED FOR STAGE
MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GONNA WIN.
I DON'T REALLY WANNA KNOW.
I-I TRY TO PUT THE THOUGHT OUT
OF MY MIND.
I FEEL LIKE A NERVOUS LITTLE
KID.
I MIGHT GET THE PRIZE, OR I
MIGHT NOT.
THANKS.
FOR ME, MAGIC IS AN ART FORM.
AND I THINK THE WHOLE
INTERESTING THING ABOUT ART IS
RECOGNIZING WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT,
AND IF YOU ARE DIFFERENT, TO
SHARE THAT WITH PEOPLE.
I LOVE THE DADA MOVEMENT AND
THE SURREALISTS.
AND I LOVE MUSIC.
AND PUNK ROCK HAS HAD A VERY BIG
INFLUENCE.
THE IDEA BEHIND PUNK ROCK IS
THINKING FOR YOURSELF AND
INTERPRETING THINGS THROUGH
YOUR EYES AND NOT BY THE WAY
THAT YOU'RE TOLD TO DO
SOMETHING.
SO I TAKE ALL OF THESE THINGS
THAT AFFECT ME IN LIFE, AND I
TRY TO RECHANNEL THEM THROUGH
PIECES OF MAGIC AND THEN TAKE
PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR EVERYDAY
LIVES.
AND FOR THAT 20 MINUTES, I
CROSS MY FINGERS THAT THEY GO,
"WHAT AM I SEEING?
WHAT IS THIS?
WOW."
[rock music]
♪ ♪
THE ORPHEUM THEATRE IS VERY DEAR
TO MY HEART.
THE MARX BROTHERS PERFORMED
HERE.
JUDY GARLAND PERFORMED HERE.
LOU REED'S COMING UP HERE.
SO FOR ME, JUST BEING HERE IN
THIS AMAZING THEATER IS MAGIC.
AND KNOWING THAT I'VE HAD A
LITTLE THING ON THAT STAGE
SOMEWHERE, IT'S JUST DELIGHTFUL.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
[indistinct chatter]
♪ ♪
>> ROB DOES HIS OWN MATERIAL,
YOU KNOW?
HE'S VERY WEIRD AND RANDOM AND
UNIQUE.
BUT HE'S ALSO A VERY SHARP AND
VERY FUNNY.
SO ANYTIME YOU CAN FIND SOMEONE
THAT'S DOING THEIR OWN THING,
YOU'VE GOTTA KEEP WATCHING THOSE
PEOPLE.
[cheers and applause]
>> AND THE NOMINEES FOR STAGE
MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR ARE...
>> THE MOMENT WHEN YOU'RE
NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD AT THE
ACADEMY OF MAGICAL ARTS...
>> MIKE CAVENEY...
[applause]
>> THERE'S SO MUCH PRESSURE.
EVERYONE'S GOT EXPECTATIONS.
>> POP HAYDN...
>> YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE STANDING
ON THE EDGE OF A BUILDING.
>> AND ROB ZABRECKY.
[applause]
>> IT MAKES ME REALLY NERVOUS.
>> AND THE WINNER IS...
ROB ZABRECKY.
[cheers and applause]
>> IT'S REALLY NICE TO BE
RECOGNIZED FOR WHAT YOU LOVE TO
DO.
AND IF THERE'S A TRINKET AT THE
END OF IT THAT SOMEBODY GIVES
YOU BECAUSE THEY LIKED WHAT YOU
DID, THAT'S AMAZING.
I LOVE YOU.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
[cheers and applause]
>> HERE WE GO.
BIG SMILE.
>> I LOVE PERFORMING.
AND FOR ME, PART OF THE REASON
THAT I LIVE IS BECAUSE I LOOK
FORWARD TO THE NEXT PERFORMANCE
IN LIFE.
AND WINNING THIS AWARD TONIGHT
JUST TELLS ME THAT I'M DOING
SOMETHING RIGHT.
>> HE'S WON TWO JAMES BEARD
AWARDS, RECEIVED THREE-STAR
REVIEWS FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES,
AND WAS THE GUEST CHEF OF THE
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION'S FIRST
STATE DINNER.
BUT FOR MARCUS SAMUELSSON, HIS
PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IS
MAKING A HOME AND A BUSINESS IN
HARLEM.
[hip-hop music]
[horn honks]
>> BEING A CHEF, IT'S A JOURNEY
ABOUT GETTING TO KNOW YOURSELF
AND STAYING OPEN CONSTANTLY.
WHEN I CAME TO NEW YORK, I SAW
MYSELF AS A SWEDISH GUY.
ETHIOPIANS SAW ME AS AN
ETHIOPIAN.
A BLACK MAN SAW ME AS A BLACK
MAN.
COOKS SAW ME JUST AS A COOK.
ALL RACES, ALL IDENTITIES, ALL
RELIGIONS, YOU'RE DRAWN AND
PULLED INTO THESE COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT WORLDS.
BUT THE FOOD TIES US TOGETHER.
IT'S FOR EVERYONE.
MY NAME'S MARCUS SAMUELSSON.
I'M A CHEF, I WORK HERE IN
HARLEM, AND REALLY PROUD OWNER
OF THE RED ROOSTER.
WHEN I DID ALL THIS RESEARCH FOR
THE RESTAURANT, I STARTED TO
READ ABOUT THE HARLEM
RENAISSANCE.
I FOUND THIS BAR ON 138TH AND
SEVENTH AVENUE.
IT WAS CALLED THE "RED ROOSTER,"
AND THE STORIES IN THERE WERE
JUST INCREDIBLE.
WILLIE MAYS USED TO GO AFTER A
GAME, OR NAT KING COLE WENT
BEFORE A GIG, OR THE
POLITICIANS USED TO COME.
BUT ALSO IT WAS THE LAYMEN--THE
POST OFFICE WORKER, THE BUS
DRIVER.
I WAS LIKE, "WAIT A MINUTE.
I KNOW THE ARTISTS OF TODAY.
I KNOW THE POLITICIANS.
I KNOW LAYMEN.
THAT'S IT.
THAT IS THE PLACE I WANT TO
CREATE."
>> TONIGHT, IT IS LATIN NIGHT.
IT'S TUESDAY EVENING.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE FUN AND
FLARY.
>> THE MUSIC'S GONNA TAKE OVER
AROUND 8:30, 9:00.
BUT UP UNTIL 8:30, YOU KNOW, WE
GOTTA DO WITH THE FOOD AND
OLD-FASHIONED HOSPITALITY.
WELCOME.
>> HEY.
>> HOW ARE YOU?
>> I'M GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?
>> HI, I'M MARCUS.
HOW ARE YOU GUYS?
WHEN I CAME TO STATES, IT WAS
VERY CLEAR TO ME THAT I WAS NOT
BECOMING THAT FRENCH CHEF THAT I
THOUGHT I WOULD BECOME BECAUSE
FRANCE MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO ME
THAT YOU CAN'T BE BLACK AND BE
A CHEF.
THE BEAUTY OF BEING A HARLEMITE,
A NEW YORKER--WE ARE VERY
OPEN-MINDED PEOPLE.
ONCE YOU GET OFF JFK, YOU'RE AN
AMERICAN BASICALLY.
BEHAVE, AND YOU'RE AMERICAN.
I LOVE MY COMMUNITY, AND I LOVE
LIVING IN THIS COMMUNITY AND
WORKING IN THIS COMMUNITY.
HARLEM IS VERY STYLISH, AND--
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> HARLEM IS VERY STYLISH,
RIGHT?
YEAH, YEAH, EXACTLY.
THAT'S A COOL BIKE.
THAT WOULD BE PERFECT IN FRONT
OF MY RESTAURANT.
>> SHE'S FAMOUS WHEN SHE'S
OUTSIDE YOUR RESTAURANT.
>> YEAH.
>> I'VE TAKEN MANY PICTURES
OUTSIDE.
>> THAT'S THE RED ROOSTER BIKE.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL SEE YOU LATER.
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
RED ROOSTER IS MORE THAN A
RESTAURANT.
WE WANT TO PRESENT SOMETHING
THAT IS OF HARLEM BUT WITH A NEW
TOUCH TO IT.
WHEN SOMEBODY COMES IN AND
THEY'RE LIKE, "I HEARD IT'S THE
BEST SOUL FOOD IN HARLEM," THE
FIRST THING I'M GONNA SAY IS,
"ACTUALLY, IT'S NOT THE BEST
SOUL FOOD IN HARLEM.
THE BEST SOUL FOOD IS RIGHT UP
THE STREET HERE."
BUT WHAT MARCUS IS ALL ABOUT IS
AMERICAN COMFORT FOOD WITH A
GLOBAL TWIST TO IT.
>> FOOD HAS ALWAYS TAKEN A
CENTRAL PLACE IN MY LIFE.
MY GRANDMOTHER WAS CONSTANTLY
COOKING.
IF YOU ENTERED HER KITCHEN AS A
KID, YOU HAD TO WORK.
YOU WANT TO GRIND YOUR SALT.
SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BOURBON
RIGHT THERE, RIGHT?
EXCELLENT.
SO COOKING FOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN
IN MY DNA AND WHO I AM.
SO MUCH OF OUR PROFESSION AND A
PERSON OF COLOR'S PROFESSION IS
VERY SIMILAR.
COOKS WERE ANONYMOUS.
IT WASN'T EVEN A PROFESSION IN
AMERICA UNTIL 1977.
PEOPLE OF COLOR WORKED IN THE
BACK.
VERY FEW GOT VISIBLE.
SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE AN OPEN
KITCHEN.
IT'S A CELEBRATION OF LABOR AND
HARD WORK.
>> THE CLOSER THAT WE GET TO
SHOWTIME FOR OUR LIVE BAND THIS
EVENING, OF COURSE, THE MORE
INTENSE IT GETS.
>> IT'S ABOUT BUILDING A
CRESCENDO, ANTICIPATING THE
EVENING.
DID YOU LOSE SOMETHING?
>> THE VINEGARS.
>> OH, YOU BETTER FIND IT THEN.
>> FIRE NUTS, FIRE DEVILED EGGS.
>> OKAY, SOUNDS GOOD.
>> THE BEAUTY OF A RESTAURANT IS
PEOPLE WANT TO FORGET THEIR HARD
DAY, AND THEY WANT TO CELEBRATE,
BE VIBRANT, EXCITED, BE LOOSE.
>> WELCOME, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN, TO RED ROOSTER.
WE GOT JOHNNY MAMBO & FRIENDS.
WE GONNA GET THIS FREIGHT TRAIN
ON ITS TRACKS.
[jazz music]
♪ ♪
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
>> THIS IS WHAT HARLEM IS TODAY.
IT'S A MYRIAD OF PEOPLE AND
CELEBRATION.
WE'RE ALL AMBASSADORS.
AND WE GOTTA CARRY THAT
AMBASSADORSHIP.
IT'S A SENSE OF PRIDE.
I GOT INSPIRED BY A LOT OF
PEOPLE THROUGH THIS VERY
COMMUNITY.
I GET IT EVERY DAY.
INSPIRE, ASPIRE, YOU KNOW?
HAVING IMPACT AND CHANGING THE
FOOTPRINT OF THIS CITY AND HOW
WE EAT.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE ROOSTER
THE ROOSTER.