DISTRICT PROFILE: Ivy Brown
July 30, 2016
Name: Ivy Brown
Title: Gallerist
Organization/Business: Ivy Brown Gallery
Social: @ivyjeannebrown
What do you do, and how did you get here?
I represent artists and have a private gallery in the Meatpacking District.
I found this place in 1985 via the Village Voice, it was a very different neighborhood then.
What do you love about Meatpacking?
The way you can see the sky, the low slung buildings and the old architecture, the people.
If you had 15 minutes, how will you spend it in the neighborhood?
If you had a few hours, how would you ideally spend the day?
I would go to the Hector’s Cafe, Chelsea Market, the High Line, The Whitney and meander.
Where do you go to escape the crowds? People watch?
I go to Soho House to escape at odd hours when it is not busy. My place is the best for people watching, the tip of our building is an excellent vantage point though my office window is pretty darn good too.
Where will you recommend for a great cocktail or bite?
I like Catch, Spice Market, Fig and Olive, the Standard Hotel or Bubby’s. There are many really good places in this neighborhood.
What’s your most memorable moment or experience in Meatpacking?
Since I have been here for so long and the neighborhood was so different in the 80’s and early 90’s we used to BBQ on the side walk and open the fire hydrant in the summer to cool down. We once took our entire apartment and put it on the roof, TV, lamps, couch, bed, everything and had a party, it was memorable. Our electrical box used to be in the basement where Manhole and Hell Fire Club were located, we once lost our power on a cold winters night and I had to go down in my pajamas to see what was going on, I spent a fair amount of time waiting for the emergency ConEd man, I tried to act casual and when I told Lenny the manager that the chain link spider web wall was nice, he told me it held 2 people. Ah, the old days!
Of all the personalities you can think of (whether you know the person or not), whom would you want to grab a drink with?
Hector, the owner of Hector’s Cafe.
What should we know about you outside of work. Hobbies, life, that sort of thing?
I am a humanist and love people and animals. I cherish that we can live and work here. I am a yoga rat, been practicing for 28 years and it has served me mentally and physically. I had to learn to cook when Florent closed, not sure I will ever get over the loss of that place.