‘The Steeple Times’ asks New York based journalist Peter Davis: What’s on your mantelpiece?
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
Be nice to everyone.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“Just let it go”.
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2015?
The Republican Party.
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
Being young enough that I didn’t have to pay taxes.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
A cure for cancer.
Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the banking crisis?
It makes me anxious and gives me a headache.
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
I’m not a fan of the word “hate.”
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
The Coalition for the Homeless, Love Heals and the Human Rights Campaign.
The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?
To each their own iPhone.
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
Living and dead: Andy Warhol, J.D. Salinger, Banksy, Martin Margiela, Donald Robertson, my sister Minnie Mortimer, my best friend Steven Mackinney, my other best friend Tatiana von Furstenberg, my 6-year-old niece Tuesday Gaghan, my goddaughter Antonia Steinberg, Cindy Sherman and Gilda Radner.
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
I would eat at Diner in Williamsburg – my favourite restaurant on the planet. They change the menu every day so I’d have whatever the chef served me.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
When you feel like getting drunk.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
A cup of tea though I prefer coffee.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
My own because I’m in charge of the guest list.
Who is the most positive person you know?
My 6-year-old niece, Tuesday Gaghan.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
Candy.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
My initials: DFD IV [Peter’s real name is Dwight F. Davis IV].
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
A ‘66 Mustang convertible or a ‘73 Ford Bronco.
Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
I don’t know how to type.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
A portrait that Donald Robertson painted of me on a pizza box that was in the window of Bergdorf Goodman.
Peter Davis was born and raised in Manhattan. His articles have been published in titles including the New York Times, Vanity Fair, The Wall Street Journal and Vogue.
Follow him on Twitter at @PeterDavisNYC.
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