LENNY KRAVITZ DOES NOT BLEND IN. WE'RE SITTING IN Bemelmans, the iconic piano bar at the Upper East Side's historic Carlyle Hotel. Here, things are done properly. Have been since 1947. Waiters wear white coats. Cocktails, served exclusively in etched crystal glasses, arrive on silver trays. Fancy little bowls full of fancy little bar snacks adorn the tables. Murals by Ludwig Bemelmans-of the Madeline children's book fame-decorate the walls. And some of the country's most celebrated jazz pianists still play the black and whites nightly. It is a place completely synonymous with old-school New York City glamour. It's also maybe the last place you'd expect to spot a certified rock god during daylight hours.
But this is where Kravitz wanted to meet, so here we are. It's 3:00 P.M. on a very rainy Yom Kippur; the remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia are battering Manhattan outside, and the sparser-than-usual crowd is almost entirely drinking martinis. Kravitz, who is staying at his daughter's Brooklyn apartment while she's holed up in his Paris home, looks like he beamed in straight from 1975. Tailored brown-leather jacket, turtleneck, flared trousers. His signature locks are pulled half back, and gold rings wrap around a few of his fingers. He orders a hot green tea.
This story is from the Winter 2024 edition of Esquire US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Winter 2024 edition of Esquire US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
ALOHA
Unless you're Pharrell Williams. Hawaii and Hong Kong may seem far removed from each other-culturally and geographically-but Pharrell doesn't see it that way.
Canali Chills Out
The iconic Italian brand may be known for tailoring, but its effortlessly casual clothes are a welcome evolution
I Am a Wellness Asshole Now
The only thing more excruciating than soaking in a tub of freezing-cold water is telling people it actually works.
ON DECK
A preppy staple and occasional punchline), the boat shoe is ready for its latest turn in the spotlight
UP,UP,AND AWAY
Breitling’s weird, wild, and wonderful new watch is inspired by a 1999 balloon journey around the world
the man who broke breaking
Breaking (aka breakdancing) is making its Olympic debut in Paris this summer. Victor Montalvo, the top American competitor, is fighting for not only a GOLD MEDAL but also the SURVIVAL of the sport.
THE RAP-MUSIC PARADOX
I love, revere, and respect women. So how can I listen to music that demeans them?
HOW I THREW MY FIRST PUNCH
After a lifetime of running from confrontation, I took up boxing at age 40. In the ring, I finally discovered what it was like to deliver a blow and to take a few on the chin myself.
THE SECOND COMING OF THE POLITICAL CONVENTION
For the first time in decades, at both the Republican and Democratic national conventions this summer, we're at risk of honest-to-God politics breaking out
the BEST BARS in AMERICA 2024
SOMETIMES YOU JUST WANT TO SETTLE IN.