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Here’s what everyone writes about Peter Davis: Born uptown. Interned at “break the internet” Paper magazine (before there was an internet) because they supported legalization of marijuana…and later worked there. Went on to write for New York Times, WSJ, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Out on style, society, and celebrities. More recently edited the elite uptown magazine, Avenue; helped launch a younger competitor, Scene, as editor.
And most in his traditional “uptown/downtown” demimonde of art/fashion/media/culture would agree with the Guest of a Guest intro to an interview: “Peter Davis is quite possibly the most well-liked gentleman making the party rounds these days…what we admire more than anything … is his very approachable and down to earth demeanor, as well as his passion for culture from all walks of life.”
But what’s not yet part of the universal Peter Davis bio is the adding of digital to the uptown/downtown domains he’s already taken. Davis has quickly mastered not just the mechanics of social media (Twitter and Insta followers through the roof, both @PeterDavisNYC) but the culture. It’s the kind of living the legions of millennials calling themselves “influencers” — with a few thousand followers and the same number of selfies but no interest in or insight about anyone else — can only dream of.
He’s working in new business models with new titles as Brand Ambassador for Surf Lodge, a Montauk hotel, as well as Greats Brand (sneakers) and Thorsun swimwear. This summer he launched a beautiful visual magazine 57, about just 57th street in New York for a real-estate developer, and is working on an entirely visual “appazine” the details of which have not been released.
All this is against the backdrop of his life: reports from the Kanye mosh pit, weekends in Southhampton, naming his new puppy, and his consistent, vocal support of gay rights, women’s rights, gun control, and more.
Towleroad spoke with him about what it takes to make it in New York City and in general and how being openly gay has been important and a matter-of-fact proposition.
