During this time of isolation and social distancing, we reconnected with some of our GREATEST friends around the world to reminisce about their respective city and the places they miss the most. We caught up with the likes of Julien Boudet, Heron Preston, Zoe and Mike of Eckhaus Latta and more, all of whom have shared their go-to spots spanning New York, Los Angeles, Amsterdam and Paris.

JULIEN BOUDET, NEW YORK
Globe-trotting photographer <a href="https://www.goat.com/editorial/julien-boudet">Julien Boudet</a>, currently quarantining in Belgium, recalls what he misses the most about the Big Apple.

Where are you at the moment?
I am currently in Brussels, but I am based in New York.
 
What are the places you miss back home?
I miss getting my cappuccino at La Colombe on E 4th St and Lafayette at around 7:30am, early enough before the line gets too long. I would go there by myself and plan my day or week in my notebook so I can start things off properly.
Another favorite of mine is the Strand Bookstore. I really miss getting lost in there and spending hours finding new books to read or looking at photography and architecture titles. It is definitely an inspiring space!
Last but not least, I miss having dinner in the Mercer Hotel—in the lobby, not the restaurant—with my good friend Ruba, having long conversations about many, many different topics. I feel very comfortable there and it's fun watching people walking in and out of the hotel. Very often you’ll find paparazzi waiting outside to capture celebrities staying there, especially during NYFW.
 
What do you miss the most about your city?
In New York, I miss the energy a lot. It is definitely my favorite thing about the city. When I’m back home In Paris, I miss sitting at a terrasse in a cafe, drinking coffee and observing people passing by.
 
What item do you have at home that best reminds you of a sentimental moment out in your city?
For New York, it would have to be my basketball shoes: <a href="https://www.goat.com/sneakers/silhouette/air%20more%20uptempo">the Nike Air More Uptempo</a>. They remind me of these cool pick-up games with friends &nbsp;and strangers.
 
Where is the first breakfast, lunch and dinner spot you’d go to?
I would get my breakfast at La Colombe as mentioned before, lunch at Cafe Mogador and dinner at Cacio e Pepe.&nbsp;
 
La Colombe, 400 Lafayette Street, NY 10003 
Strand Bookstore, 828 Broadway, NY 10003 
Mercer Hotel, 147 Mercer Street, NY 10012 
Café Mogador, 101 Street Marks Pl # 1, NY 10009 
Cacio e Pepe, 182 2nd Ave, NY 10003

HERON PRESTON, NEW YORK
Multi-faceted creative <a href="https://www.goat.com/editorial/heron-preston">Heron Preston</a>, best known for his eponymous fashion label, reminisces about his favorite New York spots.

What do you miss the most about your city?
Living here without fear.
 
What three places in your city do you miss visiting and why?
I can't wait to visit the dog park with my dogs Boo Boo and Bambi. I really miss being outdoors and so do they! When it comes to food, I miss Mr. Chow and Nobu the most. I’ve been cooking at home but there’s no way to recreate Mr. Chow’s. I also miss the picnics at Prospect Park.
 
What have you realized you’ve taken for granted now that you have had time to reflect? 

I’ll be more grateful for staying at home and appreciating my house. I’ve spent so much time fixing it up, buying new furniture, deep cleaning it, spring cleaning and getting rid of things that had just been piling up because I simply had no time or energy to get rid of it. It's also especially tough being stuck in Brooklyn. I’m really missing the beach and the parks around my parents' home in the Bay Area where I grew up.
 
Mr. Chow, 324 E 57th Street, NY 10022 
Nobu, 195 Broadway and 40 W 57th St, NY 10019 and NY 10007 
Prospect Park, 450 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

ZOE LATTA, LOS ANGELES &amp; MIKE ECKHAUS, NEW YORK
Zoe Latta and Mike Eckhaus, the bicoastal duo behind fashion label Eckhaus Latta, have selected a diverse mix of places in both LA and New York respectively.

What do you miss the most about your city?
Zoe: I like how big LA is, to the point where it feels like a continuation of a bunch of small towns that are next to each other—and share resources—but have their own vibe.
Mike: The energy. New York currently feels like the set of a post-apocalyptic film.
 
What three places do you currently miss going to?
Zoe: I miss my friends and their houses, the beach and Speranza.
Mike: I miss my studio in the Garment District, the streets of Chinatown and aimlessly walking around Downtown New York.
 
Where is the first breakfast, lunch or dinner spot you’d go to?
Zoe: Not really a restaurant, but I miss the Hollywood Farmers Market so much.&nbsp;
Mike: Honestly, at this point, anywhere. But my favorite would be either Marlow &amp; Sons or Prune. My body aches thinking of them.&nbsp;
 
What have you realized you’ve taken for granted now that you have had time to reflect?
Zoe: The library and the postal service!
Mike: The subway.
 
Hollywood Farmers Market, 6333 West 3rd Street, CA 90036 
Marlow and Sons, 81 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11249 
Prune, 54 East 1st Street, New York, NY 10003 
Sperenza, 2547 Hyperion Ave, CA 90027

TACO, LOS ANGELES
From missing LA’s sunny flea markets to all things Lakers, Odd Future’s <a href="https://www.goat.com/editorial/taco">Taco</a> highlights how he’s going to appreciate his city once this is all over.

What do you miss the most about your city?
The people, the run-ins, restaurants, flea markets and all of my friends.
 
What item do you have at home that best reminds you of a sentimental moment out in your city?
Anything Lakers. I grew up a die-hard Lakers fan.
 
Where is the first breakfast, lunch or dinner spot you would go to?
I want to tell you, but I don’t want to give up my secret spots.
 
With all this time at home to reflect, what one place do you think you’ve taken for granted?
All of it was taken for granted until now. The weather, the food, the people. I have no choice but to treat it differently. I have to take advantage of this city a little more.

GUILLAUME PHILIBERT, AMSTERDAM
<a href="https://www.goat.com/editorial/guillaume-philibert">Guillaume Philibert</a> of Filling Pieces, currently at home in the Dutch capital, shares with us glimpses of his routine before the lockdown.

What do you miss the most about your city?
I live in Amsterdam and the city is still very empty around eight or nine in the morning, especially during summer. Catching the sunrise and seeing the houses along the canal reflected in the water is a beautiful scene—anyone who has gone to Amsterdam probably knows what I’m talking about.
My routine walk through the city to the office is something special to me, but the simple things like grabbing a croissant and coffee on the way is probably what I miss the most.
 
What item do you have at home that reminds you of a sentimental moment out in your city?
I have a stack of ripped-off posters from a Filling Pieces campaign we did last year. The entire city of Amsterdam was covered with these posters that featured Nick Goulden, who was the face of that campaign. I still have to frame them.
Other than that, I keep a collection of miniature canal houses in my kitchen. You get these when you travel a lot with KLM, the Dutch airline. I write down the name and the place of the destination I am travelling to each time they give me one as a reminder of every trip. It really reminds me of getting back home after a long trip and being happy to see my family. During this time, it reminds me even more how grateful we should be to be able to travel and see the world.
 
Where is the first breakfast, lunch and/or dinner spot you’d go to?
I would get breakfast at Moak Pancakes, have lunch at my friend’s spot The Avocado Show, buy a vanilla filled chocolate cookie from Van Stapale and probably have some Israeli food at Bardak for dinner.
 
What have you realized you’ve taken for granted now that you have had time to reflect?
I'm not able to play tennis at the moment. I used to play when I was really young and recently picked it up again. I’m playing at a very low-key-but-beautiful tennis club in the middle of a residential area in the East side of Amsterdam, Tennis Club Linnaeushof.&nbsp;
Other than that, I will probably go out more. Normally after a long week of work, I like to stay home but now that I’ve finished Netflix, I will be out more.
 
Moak Pancakes, Jodenbreestraat 144, 1011 NS Amsterdam 
The Avocado Show, Daniël Stalpertstraat 61, 1072 XB Amsterdam 
Van Stapele, Heisteeg 4, 1012 WC Amsterdam 
Bardak, Ferdinand Bolstraat 12, 1072 LJ Amsterdam 
Tennis Club Linnaeushof, Linnaeushof 46, 1098 KM Amsterdam

RHUIGI VILLASEÑOR, LOS ANGELES
From his home in LA, RHUDE’s <a href="https://www.goat.com/editorial/rhuigi-villasenor">Rhuigi Villaseñor</a> shares the places and things he misses during this time.

What city are you currently in?
I’m currently in LA.
 
What do you miss most about your city?
Angel’s Tijuana Tacos is one of my favorite spots in North Hollywood.
Bel Air is the perfect place to drive in the morning for a nice big breakfast.
Something I miss is late night drives with Jay Z’s Reasonable Doubt playing in the background.
 
What have you realized you’ve taken for granted now that you have had time to reflect?
I have taken time for granted. Time with people and time being present. So much of my work is focused on the future and I forget to live in the moment.
 
Angel’s Tijuana Tacos, 6148 Vineland Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91606

PHOTOS: Paul Quitoriano / Aaron Miller

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