Name: Joey Arias
Age: 50
Neighborhood: Greenwich Village
Occupation: Singer, appearing tomorrow at Town Hall, with portions of the proceeds benefiting Lifebeat.
Who’s your favorite New Yorker, living or dead, real or fictional?
Andy Warhol.
What’s the best meal you’ve eaten in New York?
At Indochine, the Amok Cambodgien: filet of sole with coconut milk, cabbage, and lime leaves, steamed in a banana leaf.
In one sentence, what do you actually do all day in your job?
All day I spend e-mailing and listening and singing to my favorite tunes, and the gym, a must.
What was your first job in New York?
My first job was being a salesgirl at Fiorucci, the store that used to be on 59th Street.
What’s the last thing you saw on Broadway?
Last thing I saw on Broadway was Pee-wee.
Do you give money to panhandlers?
Yes, I give money to this one panhandler who sits on 12th Street and University. He gives me suggestions.
What’s your drink?
Red wine, any Cabernet.
How often do you prepare your own meals?
Four times a week. One piece of tuna flooded with garlic and jalapeños.
What’s your favorite medication?
My favorite medication is sex!
What’s hanging above your sofa?
I have a mirror over the sofa. Are you peeking at me?
How much is too much to spend on a haircut?
$100 is too much … lol.
When’s bedtime?
I go to bed at 4:45 a.m. every night.
Which do you prefer, the old Times Square or the new Times Square?
New Times Square. It’s much safer, and they saved all those beautiful theaters … The hookers are still there. Yeah!
What do you think of Donald Trump?
I think Trump is a pompous bastard but a real businessman. [And I] like his hair!
What do you hate most about living in New York?
I hate the way rents have skyrocketed. Ridiculous!
Who is your mortal enemy?
Stupidity.
When’s the last time you drove a car?
Twenty-seven years ago.
How has the Wall Street crash affected you?
I don’t play Wall Street. The money is under my bed … in a faraway land.
Times, Post, or Daily News?
Daily News, the people’s paper.
Where do you go to be alone?
I go to Rhinebeck to disappear. There, no one will hear me scream.
What makes someone a New Yorker?
To be a New Yorker you have to contribute and work hard and keep the dream alive. AND ride the Cyclone roller coaster every summer.
