One of the world’s top chefs, JEAN-GEORGES VONGERICHTEN is a multiple James Beard Award winner and the restaurateur behind 17 renowned restaurants around the world, including Jean-Georges, Spice Market, and the Mercer Kitchen. In his "Fast Food" column in every issue of CITY, he whips up a speedy new spin on über cuisine with an easy, yet decadent twist. Go to www.jean-georges.com

Photographer MICHAEL DAVID ADAMS makes his first appearance in CITY, collaborating with makeup artist Viktorija Bowers on “The Dope Show” (page 96). A painter turned photographer, Michael cites Marilyn Manson as the major influence behind the shoot. “We looked for the different variations in his style throughout his career,” Michael says. “I think we can all find a connection with the different ways he expresses himself.” Michael’s work has also been featured in World Style Muse and Croatian Cosmopolitan

Born and raised in Düsseldorf, ANDREA MENKE began styling in the U.S. in the early 90s, contributing frequently to CITY, as well as Elle and Vanity Fair. In this issue, she shares the ringmaster’s hat with photographer Daniela Stallinger on “Send ’Em In” (page 78), bringing her self-taught eye for style to a rather unusual arena. “The shoot was a complete circus,” Andrea says, citing an uncooperative monkey as one of her greatest on-set challenges—“we only managed to get a few ribbons onto him.”

“In the end it came down to the contrasts and the colors,” says photographer YOSSI MICHAELI of his first shoot for CITY, “Blue Monday” (page 64). “I found myself in a blue hotel and I wanted to go with an idea that would enhance the blue of the environment.” A native of Tel Aviv, Israel, Yossi spent several years in Brazil studying photography and learning Portuguese. He’s shot for Trace, Planet, and
H. Stern, and splits his time between New York City and
São Paolo.

KELLY MCMASTERS loves fascinating people, homes, and books, and she proves it this issue with her profile of jewelry designer Joan Hornig (page 38) and feature on interior designer Tessa Bakker’s 1701 Hudson Valley fieldstone (page 118). Kelly has written for Domino, The New York Times, Time Out New York, and Metropolis, and moonlights as a creative writing teacher at Columbia University, where she received her MFA in non-fiction. Her memoir, Shirley, is due out in March 2008 from PublicAffairs

“The words of the day are inspiration, history, and thoughtfulness,” CITY Market Editor WHITNEY ROBINSON says of evaluating products, which might explain the selection of “The Growth of Luxury” (page 110), “’Tis The Season” (page 50) and “Please Do Not Touch” (page 72). Motivated by an infinite curiosity, he is determined to discover the “updated classic,” the “true original,” and the “essence of a brand.” Whitney spent much of his youth between Philadelphia and New York City, where he currently resides with his beloved standard poodle, Fritz.