WHY DO YOU LIKE AND COLLECT MATCHES?
I've always been a collector, some might call me a hoarder. As a kid I collected basketball cards and Pokemon cards, as an adult I collect restaurant menus, hotel pens and matches. For me it's a way to trigger a memory, kind of like when you smell something or hear a song that reminds you of a specific time or place. Matches are one of those things that I won't always look at even though they're on display, but periodically I will walk by and stir the bowl I keep them in and a specific box will stand out, resurrecting a memory from when I collected it.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE ONES AND WHY?
Of the ones I have on display presently, I really like the new @theplazahotel's Champagne Bar matches. My dad and I didn't really do nice things growing up (it was all boys, we went camping or fishing)... so it was a treat when he visited me in NYC recently and we sat down for a few drinks at The Plaza Hotel. We both took a box of matches and I was surprised when they handed me a box with a floral design specifically designed for The Champagne Bar, it was a special memory commemorated by a special box. A simple box from a classic New York location—@theodeonnyc. I was going through a tough time earlier this year and my friend, John, and I popped in and it was one of those times where a friend stepped up and was a great friend. The box itself is simple, much like the act of being there for a friend, but sometimes even the simplest things carry great significance. A similar story, but much more elaborate set of matches came from @monkeybar_ny when I joined my dear friend, Laurel, for lunch. She's one of those friends that knows the best places that aren't the current trendy spots but are classics that are impossible to get a seat (my first time at @thepolobar was with Laurel). Based purely on aesthetics, I really like the ones from @fouquets.newyork NYC, @americanbarnyc and @barprimi. Some of my favorites aren't from restaurants but from fashion brands. I like the @cafeleondore and @rowingblazers matches, they were simple and acquired in a less traditional way.
WHEN AND HOW DO YOU LIKE TO ENJOY YOUR MATCHES?
I enjoy them on display. I don't use the matches because once you strike them, you mark the strike strip or if you use a match inside a book, it loses its shape. This ideology probably comes from my days of collecting basketball cards where if it isn't in pristine shape, it isn't worth collecting. Perhaps I should change that. I have a generic set of matches dedicated to lighting candles, but the collected matches are now decor!
