How to Be Outside, Inside with Michael Brun
The proud ambassador of Haitian culture shares his NYC restaurant picks along with some great options for a morning or sunset jog.
Photo by Marlon A King.
The entire globe is caught up in World Cup fever and one of the countries that has captured the collective imagination of football lovers everywhere is Haiti. It was their first appearance in over 52 years, and even thought the proud Caribbean nation didn’t make it past the group stage, they displayed spirited performances against Brazil, Scotland and Morocco.
For this edition of How To Be Outside, Inside, we connect with one of Haiti’s most accomplished cultural representatives, Michael Brun. He’s a Grammy-winning, platinum artist and producer who’s worked with elite talent like Ed Sheeran, John Legend, and J Balvin. He’s also the founder of BAYO, a progressive platform and event series celebrating Haitian creativity, culture, and community.
We checked in with him for his favorite NYC dining spots along with his preferences for downtime, city runs, and of course, World Cup football viewing. Check them out below:
Okayplayer: Where do you go in NYC when you want to be outside without being outside?
Michael Brun: This is all gonna be about food because I think NYC is the best city in the world to eat. Bon Pâtés is my favorite pick Haitian pâté when I’m on a walk towards Prospect Park. Tera Mera has an amazing chai and the balcony is a vibe, and L’apartment 4f for a chocolate croissant.
Where do you go when you want to be around people but not with people?
Prospect park is probably my go to for people watching. Also, I like Brooklyn Bridge for a jog in the morning or at sunset.
What does your perfect NYC day look like?
Probably a BAYO show day. I usually have an early morning walk to get a coffee and zen before the madness starts. Then there’s show prep and rehearsals with our surprise artists and dancers, and getting calls from friends and family in town who are coming to the show. Then a quick bite in the afternoon. Show time and afterparty in the streets with the Rara.
Lastly, for World Cup viewing, where are the best places in NYC to watch Haiti and the other exciting teams play?
To be honest, any Haitian restaurant or bar will be a vibe. Cafe Erzulie is always poppin. Also love Lakou Cafe, Rebel, Bunnan. Try them all.
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