The New York Diet

Graffiti Goddess Claw Money Starts With a Bagel, Finishes with Champagne and Cupcakes

Photo: Melissa Hom

Now that she’s retired from the graffiti game, Queens-born Claw Money (whose signature claw you’ve seen all over the city and on Ecko apparel) says she has “like, 10,000 jobs.” In addition to designing her own line and finishing her second book, Shady Lady (it’s about eyewear), she’s the fashion director for Swindle magazine, a coveted brand consultant, and the wardrobe supervisor for a top-secret VH1 pilot. So how does she get into work mode? “It’s not a good day,” she says, “unless you start it out with a bagel.” As she prepped for a party launching the sneakers she designed for Nike, she told us what the rest of her days entailed.

Saturday, October 20
I slept a little late and made poached eggs over bialys with a side of grits. I love grits. For lunch I had a roast-beef hero with melted cheese, Russian dressing, and cole slaw from Perusso’s Deli in the Bronx where my boyfriend lives. It’s the only place to get sandwiches.

For dinner I went to JG Melon and I got a burger and cottage fries. They don’t call them French fries because they’re round. The burger is everything a hamburger should be: juicy and cooked to perfection.

Sunday, October 21
I got a toasted everything bag with cream cheese from Pick a Bagel. Ess-a-Bagel is my favorite, but they are hu-mungous. It’s like a bagel and a half.

I had my publicist’s bridal shower, and I got catering from FreshDirect — chicken skewers with a salsa dipping sauce, a crudité platter, and all these different little mini brioche sandwiches: smoked salmon with some dill cream, roast beef with horseradish sauce, and turkey and mozzarella. I actually made mozzarella and tomato and ate that with a baguette from Eli’s. I was drinking Champagne like a crazy person — mimosa with Veuve.

I had leftovers from the party because they were like “Get this crap out of my house.” I think I had four cupcakes for dinner.

Monday, October 22
For breakfast/lunch I had a bagel and lox, tomato, and onion from Pick a Bagel.

Monday night I had dinner at Lil’ Frankie’s for Danielle Levitt’s birthday party — she’s one of New York Magazine’s illustrious photographers. We had thin brick-oven pizzas and ravioli and a cheese plate, and some Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wine.

Tuesday, October 23
I had an egg and cheese on a roll.

I had a late lunch/dinner meeting at Viang Ping — pad Thai with chicken.

Later that night I had a slice of pizza on the quick.

Wednesday, October 24
For breakfast I had the Dunkin’ Donuts pumpkin muffin. I wait for it every year, that and the pumpkin latte from Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks. Then I had a chicken tahini hummus pita from Push, a Mediterranean place.

Dinner on Wednesday my lovely fiancé made me chicken breast sautéed with Cheddar cheese and broccoli rice and steamed asparagus. Then I had a King Cone — it’s a Drumstick prepackaged ice-cream cone.

Thursday, October 25
I had an egg, cheese, and ham sandwich on a roll.

For dinner we’re having Vietnamese spring rolls and flank steak over watercress from Bao Noodles. I’m going to my friend’s with a bag of food. She got us some Champagne, and we’re going to drink some before the Nike event, where there will be Champagne and cupcakes. Since I work so much, I’m happy to have someone serving food. It could be White Castle or the finest caterer in the land; I’m usually the one standing by the table hovering.

Graffiti Goddess Claw Money Starts With a Bagel, Finishes with Champagne and