COZY ZONE with Ben Weber

Ramy Eletreby is a cozy zone personified. He is a Southern California-based writer, a performer, an applied theater practitioner and my dear friend. On a recent visit to New York from L.A., Ramy and I grabbed breakfast at Qathra on Cortelyou Road in Brooklyn and talked radio, censorship, and gay vibes.

Erica Reinsch is my co-worker, my work a cappella group co-founder, my friend, my neighbor, and a beacon of light. We have a magnificent time musing about sexy arts administration while munching on rice balls from the Arborio King in the back yard of Sycamore. Our cozy microphone set up attracts the attention of the evening's bar-goers who eventually get up in our zone. Enjoy!

Courtney Boddie is one of my bosses and one of the bosses of the educational theater universe. She is an actor, educator, improvisor, master storyteller, and inspired lover. Courtney invited me to a spot she calls "The Arboretum" in southern Prospect Park where we chatted about car drama, the risk taking in art making, and reworking the paradigm of love and relationships. It was an honor to get cozy with Courtney Boddie. Please enjoy this beautiful and epic conversation.

I met Ariana when we were both just kids at a Summer theater camp based on the Northwestern University campus. Our paths continued to spiral around each other: we both went to NYU, we both practiced the comedic arts, we both feel things very deeply. A few weeks ago, I ran into Ariana on the street. I told her about Cozy Zone. She invited me into her bed. Indulge now in this exquisite episode.

If you've ever received one of her personal emails, you'll know that Erika Atkins is an Arts Administrator, Performer, Teaching Artist, and one who "Gets things done."

But Erika Atkins is far too intricate a being to be defined solely from her email signature sobriquets. To me, she is a colleague, a friend, and a life adventurer seeking love, intimacy and proximity to boy bands.

Erika curated a beautiful picnic for us in Central Park and we chatted frankly about relationships, gender, and adult entertainment. If you're an Erika Atkins fan, you gotta step into this cozy zone.

I'm inspired by the way Zachary Wager Scholl lives his life. He is a performer, dog walker, food aficionado, educator, and activist. From the brief time I've known Zach, I would assert that he is a present and generous friend, a thoughtful and communicative lover, and an enthusiastic and athletic adventurer. This is an excellent episode. Drink deep!

Oh Jamie Roach. You are a charming man. Full of joy and generosity, love and light! You took me to the New York Insight Meditation Center, we got food at Bombay Sandwich Co. and cozied down on the High Line.

It got super cozy! It rained! It stopped! You told me the most incredible story about Thailand.

And we devised an amazing sensory media dome called Fiminini (Feemeeneenee, Fee Me Knee Nee) brought to you with a generous grant from The COZY ZONE FOUNDATION.

Every Sunday, I march down Rugby Road with bags full of frozen food scraps to deposit them in the local compost bins and give a goofy grin to the local compost girl.

Lisa Giordano sits in the reading chair of her Greenpoint loft as we discuss dreams, art, communal living, and (yes indeed) compost!

Learn about enneagrams.

Bask with me in this beautiful life!

Max the Boy.

Bather. Burner. Brother. Big Boner.

Bay Area Native. Mechanical Engineer. Lover. Co-conspir-ART-or.

Max, you're moving to Australia. I'll miss you so much. This cozy zone is a very precious gift.

Thanks for the papes.

I love you so much.

Can't wait to talk soon.

On Saturday June 6, 2015 I spent the day in one of my coziest zones: FIGMENT NYC on Governors Island. On Side B, I spread my cozy zone wings!

I meet up with Ryan Ong, FIGMENT NYC greeter and producer of REVIVAL, an event that encompasses "Yoga, Dance, Sunshine, Art, Community." Check it out here: http://revival.community/

I wander into Building 110 where I'm doused with the history of Governors Island.

I chat with Bomjin and Judy about biking and their favorite cozy spots. Judy likes The Little Red Lighthouse in Washington Heights.

Finally, I discuss art and music with some real live National Park Service Rangers.