Demmi Choo on living in West Village
Posted by Wei Min Tan on August 6, 2020
Demmi Choo is a client and friend who lives in the West Village, Manhattan’s coveted neighborhood with tree-lined streets, boutique shops and many local, independent restaurants. Being in West Village makes you forget you’re in Manhattan. The feel and vibe of West Village is more like that of a small European town. Here, Demmi talks about living in West Village.
Where do you call home?
Home can be a tricky concept to define, especially for immigrants, expats and third culture kids. Growing up as a Singaporean-born expat in Beijing, China, then moving alone to NYC as a young adult, I’ve always had the feeling of being an adaptable outsider. Many people are surprised when they learn that I did not grow up in America.
I’ve been so lucky to call my cozy West Village apartment home for the past five years. This is the first apartment I’ve lived in by myself, and I feel like the size, view, and location are perfect for my lifestyle as a young woman working in NYC.
What do you do for work?
I work at Brand Bureau, a creative agency, as their Creative Operations Manager. While most of my work has to do with finance and spreadsheets, I feel privileged to work alongside talented coworkers who are responsible for the design behind so many cool restaurants and hotels both local and abroad!
What do you do for fun?
I love hosting people at our apartment, and have regular dinner guests. My friends are constantly demanding my Sichuan fried chicken, so it’s great having a nice open kitchen for entertaining. I also enjoy sunbathing along the Hudson, which is just a short walk from my apartment, when the weather cooperates.
Shopping in SoHo, which is a dangerously close fifteen minute walk, is another “hobby” of mine.
What are your favorite restaurants in the West Village?
I love Tacombi, which is right on my block, for casual drinks and tacos any night of the week. Besides that, I also love Via Carota for Italian food. I once sat next to Jake Gyllenhal while eating there for dinner.
I absolutely love sweets, and Big Gay Ice Cream, Milk Bar, and Morgenstern’s are all within walking distance. Location, location, location, am I right?
Biggest perks of living in WV?
Being in close proximity to so many great restaurants, bars, and shops in one of the safest neighborhoods in the city makes me feel like I have the best of both worlds. The West Village can almost feel like a suburb during the day, but really comes alive in the evenings. I love the brownstones, the local businesses, and the fact that my apartment is on the tenth floor of one of the tallest buildings allowed within my building zone 😉
Any downsides to living in WV?
It’s an expensive neighborhood, and taxes are high, but I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else!
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