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Jun 11, 2023

Blade Passengers at the Aqua Lounge in New York: Photos

Christopher Gravagna (pictured above)Entrepreneur, Long Island City

Where are you headed?I’m going to Southampton with friends. We’ll go to Surf Lodge and Gurney’s in Montauk, but we’re staying in Southampton. I used to own 1Oak, so I know a lot of people out there.

Do you take Blade a lot?Yes, because my time is valuable and I value my time.

So what kind of entrepreneur are you?I own a company called the Gravagna Group, and I’m big in the health-and-wellness space and the private-debt space. The health-and-wellness brand is Kinrgy — I own it with Julianne Hough. Little bit of a name-drop.

Robbie Ladov

Business-development manager, Flatiron District

Katherine Keogh

Vice-president of finance, Gramercy Park

Marcy Simon

PR-agency founder, Upper East Side

How early do you show up for the flight?

At least 15 minutes before to either finish my work or partake in “rosé all day” — they serve you wine in little sippy cups so it doesn’t spill. They also give you these branded slap wristbands; I tend to give those out to a lot of people. I always bring them to Barry’s for my instructor’s daughter.

Michael Gooch

Executive, Turtle Bay

Bebegol Lari

Director of marketing, Lower East Side

Had you ever flown on a seaplane?

No, and it was really windy outside. The plane and the port were shaking; we had to wait ten minutes to get on. So it wasn’t the most comforting mode of transportation for a neurotic Jew like myself. I was having this thought like, If the plane crashes, somehow I’ll be the only one to survive.

Celeste Routh

Podcaster, Washington, D.C.

Lydia Chen

Senior project coordinator, West Village

Lauren Abramowitz

Cosmetic dermatologist, Tribeca

Ben Birke

Flier-experience associate, Merrick

Mac MacLean

Flier-relations handler, Greenwich, Connecticut

Kimberly Schoeck

Executive assistant, Prospect Heights

Robert Goldburg

Summer associate, Nomad

How long have you been using Blade?

I heard about the Uber of helicopters like five years ago. And then I saw someone wearing the hat and was like, Oh, that’s real, gotta try that out. The first few times you Blade, you want to wear the hat. You’re like, This is such a major flex. You want everyone to know you’re Blade-ing. But then you realize people who Blade all the time don’t wear them. So now I couldn’t imagine wearing the hat. I would cringe.

Esjona Kadiu

Station manager, Bensonhurst

Devin Odell

Liquor-company founder, Dallas, Texas

Alex Chantecaille

Chief commercial officer, Tribeca

Alora Truesdell

Pilates instructor, Dallas, Texas

Ryan Neinstein

Plastic surgeon, Upper East Side

What was your morning like?

I got up at 4:30 a.m. to read for half an hour. Then I went to the gym with my personal trainer for an hour. Then I saw patients for two hours and then I made my way to the Blade lounge to go see my family in East Hampton. I got there ten minutes early. I’m all about time optimization.

Shyloh Wilkinson

Station manager and flight attendant, Flatbush

Robbie Ladov

Business-development manager, Flatiron District

Katherine Keogh

Vice-president of finance, Gramercy Park

Marcy Simon

PR-agency founder, Upper East Side

How early do you show up for the flight?

At least 15 minutes before to either finish my work or partake in “rosé all day” — they serve you wine in little sippy cups so it doesn’t spill. They also give you these branded slap wristbands; I tend to give those out to a lot of people. I always bring them to Barry’s for my instructor’s daughter.

Michael Gooch

Executive, Turtle Bay

Bebegol Lari

Director of marketing, Lower East Side

Had you ever flown on a seaplane?

No, and it was really windy outside. The plane and the port were shaking; we had to wait ten minutes to get on. So it wasn’t the most comforting mode of transportation for a neurotic Jew like myself. I was having this thought like, If the plane crashes, somehow I’ll be the only one to survive.

Celeste Routh

Podcaster, Washington, D.C.

Lydia Chen

Senior project coordinator, West Village

Lauren Abramowitz

Cosmetic dermatologist, Tribeca

Ben Birke

Flier-experience associate, Merrick

Mac MacLean

Flier-relations handler, Greenwich, Connecticut

Kimberly Schoeck

Executive assistant, Prospect Heights

Robert Goldburg

Summer associate, Nomad

How long have you been using Blade?

I heard about the Uber of helicopters like five years ago. And then I saw someone wearing the hat and was like, Oh, that’s real, gotta try that out. The first few times you Blade, you want to wear the hat. You’re like, This is such a major flex. You want everyone to know you’re Blade-ing. But then you realize people who Blade all the time don’t wear them. So now I couldn’t imagine wearing the hat. I would cringe.

Esjona Kadiu

Station manager, Bensonhurst

Devin Odell

Liquor-company founder, Dallas, Texas

Alex Chantecaille

Chief commercial officer, Tribeca

Alora Truesdell

Pilates instructor, Dallas, Texas

Ryan Neinstein

Plastic surgeon, Upper East Side

What was your morning like?

I got up at 4:30 a.m. to read for half an hour. Then I went to the gym with my personal trainer for an hour. Then I saw patients for two hours and then I made my way to the Blade lounge to go see my family in East Hampton. I got there ten minutes early. I’m all about time optimization.

Shyloh Wilkinson

Station manager and flight attendant, Flatbush

Thank you for subscribing and supporting our journalism. If you prefer to read in print, you can also find this article in the July 31, 2023, issue of New York Magazine.

Want more stories like this one? Subscribe now to support our journalism and get unlimited access to our coverage. If you prefer to read in print, you can also find this article in the July 31, 2023, issue of New York Magazine.

Christopher GravagnaWhere are you headed?Do you take Blade a lot?So what kind of entrepreneur are you?Robbie LadovKatherine KeoghMarcy SimonHow early do you show up for the flight?Michael GoochBebegol LariHad you ever flown on a seaplane?Celeste RouthLydia ChenLauren AbramowitzBen BirkeMac MacLeanKimberly SchoeckRobert GoldburgHow long have you been using Blade?Esjona KadiuDevin OdellAlex ChantecailleAlora TruesdellRyan NeinsteinWhat was your morning like?Shyloh WilkinsonRobbie LadovKatherine KeoghMarcy SimonHow early do you show up for the flight?Michael GoochBebegol LariHad you ever flown on a seaplane?Celeste RouthLydia ChenLauren AbramowitzBen BirkeMac MacLeanKimberly SchoeckRobert GoldburgHow long have you been using Blade?Esjona KadiuDevin OdellAlex ChantecailleAlora TruesdellRyan NeinsteinWhat was your morning like?Shyloh Wilkinson
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