Untapped Contributor: Luke Kingma

Every week, we highlight one of our 300+ Untapped Cities contributors worldwide. This week, we’re featuring Luke Kingma, our Sunday in Chinatown columnist based in New York. Luke’s latest project for Untapped Cities is his Google Glass project, My NYC, which offers readers a chance to explore the city and tell a story using the new technology.

What’s your “day job”?

I’m a copywriter at VaynerMedia, a digital ad agency based in Flatiron.

What’s your favorite Untapped spot in your city?

The Golden Mall in Flushing – pure, blissful dining in a cramped, underground basement packed with incredible food stalls.

Favorite piece you’ve written for Untapped?

BBQFilms’ American Psycho screening sent my “giddiness gauge” flying, and the write-up was just as fun.

What’s your favorite Untapped place you’ve visited while traveling? Where do you want to visit next?

When I was in Hanoi a few months ago, we were whisked away to a series of “illegal” night clubs on the river by a local. It was well after midnight, when the police ordinarily shut down the city’s bars, but our night had just begun.  I’ve become quite obsessed with oceanic Scandinavia over the past few years. I think the next logical step in this relationship will be a trip to the Faroe Islands.

What’s your favorite obscure fact about your city?

One of the main reasons sheep were removed from the Sheep Meadow was to protect them from hungry New Yorkers during the Great Depression. Better to take care of the sheep than the people I guess?

Craziest thing you’ve ever done?

Getting into my rental car in Iceland having absolutely no idea how to drive stick at the time, and subsequently learning in some pretty perilous (albeit breathtaking) conditions. I did a photo-essay of the churches of Iceland on Untapped Cities.

Best Celebrity Sighting?

I was in an American Apparel a few years back (West Village I believe) when the store was shut down so Beyonce could come in. They let me stay, and I kind of just gazed in awe. She didn’t buy anything, which was a bit anti-climactic.

If you could be any animal what would it be?

Though it would demand the sacrifice of my brain and many vital organs, I’d like to float endlessly on the sea as Turritopsis nutricula, the immortal jellyfish.

What are some of your favorite websites?

I spend the majority of my time online jogging through my favorite Subreddits on Reddit. Beyond that, I’ve really been enjoying Medium for long form journalism and The Hype Machine for music discovery.

Check out the Sunday in Chinatown and get in touch with Luke @LukeKingma. Join our community of Untapped Cities contributors around the world by contacting us here.