How Our Leads Spent Their Year Indoors

Like almost everyone else, IxDA NYC was managed from our apartment offices, couches, and closets this year. Our incredible team of leads learned new recipes, restored furniture, and read a few books while juggling their day jobs and planning events for the IxDA community.

Jeni Bulcock captured her culinary escapades on Instagram with The Isolation Cafe. Her cocktail for the IxDA community is one shot of Rhubarb and Ginger Liquor by Edinburgh Gin Distillery, topped up with sparkling water, and garnished with a blackberry and a basil leaf.

Jonathan Berger was first to his home bar, being just an arm’s length away from his workspace. While sipping his post-work cocktail, he has been making his way through The Power Broker, Robert Caro's incredible biography of Robert Moses. “He was an absolute and total bastard,” Jon says, “But, from a design perspective, his story and impact on the city is fascinating.”

Audrey Cabatan restored a pair of mid-century chairs in her Park Slope apartment. After moving back to the city recently, she and her partner came across the chairs at Dutch Oven Finds in Ridgewood, Queens. She ripped off the worn fabric and replaced it with a forest-green goat leather.

Brian Hochhalter and his kids have put the “we” in we work — from home. “This year, we learned co-working is for workers of all ages.”

Francisco Hui started appreciating afternoon walks around the neighborhood. Indulging in brief moments of blue skies, changing foliage, and face-mask-filtered-fresh-air.

Because no cohesive narrative can quite describe 2020, Nathan Gao decided to not try entirely. He opened up some board games at home and spent some extra time with his cat, Calvin. Once the pandemic let up a bit, he spent his time exploring his neighborhood where he discovered a quirky Japanese izakaya.