Prince Chenoa’s East Village

chenoaCourtesy of Prince Chenoa

During the three years he’s lived in the East Village, Prince Chenoa has been keeping the neighborhood’s rebel heart alive. Born Peter Robinson, he originally made his name with his Prince Peter Collection. Though his edgy t-shirts have been featured in high-fashion glossies and more than a few tabloids — adorning the likes of Lil Wayne, Susan Sarandon and Katy Perry — these days his energies are devoted to being creative director of “Lovecat,” a fanzine for models and the artists who love to chase them. Last weekend, he jaunted to Miami Beach to debut the latest issue to the sun-dipped Art Basel crowd.

Prince Chenoa, as he now prefers to be called, said that the magazine’s aesthetic, which borrows from punk fanzines of the pre-Internet era, was inspired by the East Village’s “cool rock ‘n’ roll vibe that still feels nostalgic of the punk rock days.” The result is a bit “messy, dirty and provocative,” he said — “[produced] on newsprint so we stand out among all the glossies, kind of like an East Village kid would.”

So where does this East Village kid hang out?

Favorite live-music spot
Lit and Mercury Lounge are great to hear cool bands [that are] new and upcoming.

Favorite vintage shop
I love this place on Seventh Street between Avenue A and First. I can’t think of what it’s called but it’s a hole-in-the-wall spot and prices are very good. It’s next to Butter Lane, so it’s a perfect shopping treat — buy some cool vintage finds, then grab a delicious cupcake.

Favorite breakfast
7A Cafe because you can get breakfast 24/7, or The Bean for coffee.

Best dinner
Bowery Bar has amazing truffle fries, and Lil’ Frankie’s is the best Italian food in the East Village.

Favorite place for late-night conversation
The Bowery Hotel lounge. I always run into people I know there, or meet new amazing people. It’s a great place for a late-night tea. We did an entire “Pretty Woman” shoot with [model] Nicole Trunfio at the Bowery Hotel and on the Bowery, which was amazing. The East Village played the perfect backdrop because the Bowery still feels a little dirty even though it’s getting [gentrified]. It’s the only place where you can have a major hotel and a methadone clinic in the same spot. I always thought that was so interesting.

Favorite East Village icons
I’m very inspired by a lot of the past generation’s icons who dwelled in the East Village, like Debbie Harry, Madonna, Andy Warhol, Basquiat, the Ramones, Sid and Nancy. Also clubs like CBGBs, the Pyramid Club and Fillmore East where everyone from Hendrix to Jefferson Airplane and Pink Floyd played.

Before we let the Prince go, we ask him our last question. Did you choose the East Village, or did the East Village choose you? “I think we chose each other. It was love at first sight.”