21 questions

Justin Bond Prefers the 1980 Movie to the Present Scenario

Name: Justin Bond
Age: 46
Neighborhood: East Village
Occupation:Singer, songwriter, gender variant deity. Can be seen next Saturday in two Halloween extravaganza shows at Joe’s Pub.

Who’s your favorite New Yorker, living or dead, real or fictional?
Edna St. Vincent Millay, artist, libertine, beauty.

What’s the best meal you’ve eaten in New York?
A poached-salmon dinner cooked by the filmmaker Ricky Leacock in a Soho loft in
1987 comes to mind.

In one sentence, what do you actually do all day in your job?
No two days are the same, but I always start out with a cup of coffee and some oatmeal on my fire escape — hopefully my workday begins with a good idea or two 

Would you still live here on a $35,000 salary?
I think I may already.

What’s the last thing you saw on Broadway?
The opening night of Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking was beyond. She’s the funniest person I ever met!

Do you give money to panhandlers?
If they’re entertaining. I work for my money in much the same way.

What’s your drink?
Pineapple juice.

How often do you prepare your own meals?
Daily.

What’s your favorite medication?
Incense, candles, and soft, pillowy lips.

What’s hanging above your sofa?
Well, what’s hanging above my bed is far more interesting … I have gold framed icons of Jean Genet and Joan Didion created by Machine Dazzle, who is an amazing artist and a Pixie Harlot. Jean and Joan are my dream catchers. I’m most inspired by brazen intellect and subversive eroticism.

How much is too much to spend on a haircut?
If you have the money, the sky’s the limit. Fortunately, I have Jason Devastation. He charges me a reasonable rate and is very good-looking.

When’s bedtime?
Usually eight hours before I get up.

Which do you prefer, the old Times Square or the new Times Square?
I like living in the present, but I’m not above nostalgia. I definitely prefer the 1980 movie to the present scenario.

What do you think of Donald Trump?
I wish he had better taste in architecture, although his hair is quite a feat of
derring-do!

What do you hate most about living in New York?
I miss being keyed in to the change of seasons.

Who is your mortal enemy?
I don’t have any enemies.

When’s the last time you drove a car?
When I was visiting my family in Maryland over the summer. I got a speeding ticket, obviously.

How has the Wall Street crash affected you?
I don’t think it has. I didn’t have anything to lose. I did get a great song out of it — “The New Depression.” It’s on my new EP, Pink Slip.

Times, Post, or Daily News?
Times.

Where do you go to be alone?
I close my eyes.

What makes someone a New Yorker?
Desire, effort, and the willingness to plug your latest EP whenever possible.

Justin Bond Prefers the 1980 Movie to the Present Scenario