FFNY Quick-Takes with Nina Tarr
Welcome back to Quick-takes, where we spotlight the creatives in the FFNY circle. Today: Nina Tarr — comedian, DJ, and actress bringing the laughs and the late-night heat.
A Note From FFNY:
It’s feeling like a whirlwind — and also, like the year is just beginning.
I saw Susan Miller from AstrologyZone say May is when the 2025 year really starts and it’s feeling that way.
I’ve got sledgehammers waking me up at 7AM sharp, so my brain’s been a bit rattled but I’m still feeling hyped all around about feeling in the frequency or the flow of it all.
Orders are finally going out (thank you for the patience!), and I truly couldn’t be doing any of this without the help of friends — which, if I had a bumper sticker for life values or morals or idk what you call it, mine one liner would definitely read: “I get by with a little help from my friends.”
The new pieces are looking gorgeous thanks to Thomas Bert at Print Positiv and Alan from Version Tomorrow — who’s making the nicest eco blanks I’ve seen anywhere and we’ve been looking far and wide before deciding to launch FFNY as a real brand.
We’ve got crisp black and white tees, and more summer whites on the way. We debuted a few at our first pop-up (thank you Andy Griffiths!) So check the SITE over the next week or two.
Whatelse? -Friends From New York instagram had its first viral post. I shared a Mary J. Blige performance of “Reminisce” from In Living Color, and instagram is going wild. So thank you, Mary. Now how in the world could we get to Mary and bless her with a FFNY crewneck!?
The BIG news for This Week is:
If you’re in LA Friday, May 9th, we’re throwing a Dance Party at the iconic Genghis Cohen — one last dance at their 42-year-old Fairfax location before they move to a new home.
We’ve got the best DJ’s on that side of town, and we’ve created a collab commemorative tee we’re giving away free to the first 25 guests!
So come get loose! Get your tickets and lets have some FUN!
Ticket link HERE
Now, for this week’s Quick Takes — meet Nina Tarr.
Comedian, DJ, Actor — she’s a true force with the kind of humor and energy I admire so much. I love celebrating women doing their thing in this dream city.
Read on, and I’ll see you in LA May 9th — and back home in NYC soon.
—love Heidi -FFNY
What’s your go-to spot in NYC when you need a little hit of inspiration?
La Monte Young’s Dream House in Tribeca. It’s so magical.
What’s the last thing you heard or saw on the streets that inspired you?
Any rollerblader in Manhattan. A true dare devil, an urban Evel Knievel. Extremely inspiring.
What are some of the biggest differences between doing comedy in New York vs. LA?
New York is a live performance town and I feel like there’s a huge desire to witness on stage performance, which is a big reason why I moved to New York.
You’re incredible at impressions — what’s your secret to embodying so many different types of people?
I’m deeply crazy. Nah, just a little - I’d say just listening intently. Paying close attention to details in somebody’s speech pattern or dialect or the way they tell us story, their mannerisms. If you add all those up, then it’s not too difficult to embody somebody whether that be a fictional character or a real person.
Someone holds a gun to your head and demands a joke — what do you tell them?
Pull the trigger… but I’ll rig it so confetti flies out of my skull.
As a creative, what’s the hardest part about surviving in NYC today?
The rent prices.
Any advice for someone trying to make it right now?
Make stuff that you yourself like. You got to be your own first fan. Be patient, like really patient. If you enjoy what you’re doing, nothing is a waste of time.
If you could walk the streets of NYC with any cultural icon from history, who would it be and why?
This is a little too on the nose but Fran Lebowitz. I’d love to walk in a heavily gentrified neighborhood in New York and just go full on roast mode with her. We’d be like the two cantankerous old guys in The Muppet Show who sit in the balcony and heckle people.
In your opinion, what does NYC need more of right now?
A climbing gym… JUST KIDDING! Why are there so many?? Honestly, we need more dollar slice pizza spots.
What’s your New York City soundtrack or song?
Anything Velvet Underground or Lou Reed… but more specifically “I’m Waiting For The Man” by Velvet Underground
Pizza, bagel, or ______? What's your ultimate New York bite?
Pizza of course!!!
New York is...
Loud and smelly but I love it.
Any projects you’re working on right now that we should know about?
A few shorts films I’m cast in. Keep an eye out for Pocketman, PERIOD, Pretty Good and two feature films, Bright Side of Life and Love New York.