The former New York Knick took select winners of a Topo Chico contest to three of his favorite spots in the Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens neighborhoods on Oct. 12.
Julius Randle's farewell to New York City looks something like this: chicken tacos, shopping a Brooklyn-grown menswear brand and vintage records. Wash it all down with some Topo Chico and it's hard to know if those are goodbye tears or if that water's just spicy!
On Oct. 12, Randle brought select winners of a contest run by Coca-Cola-owned Topo Chico to his favorite spots in the Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens neighborhoods. The Topo Chico Discovery Tour with Julius Randle started at Taqueria Al Pastor & Bar. Guests were served Randle's go-to order of pollo tacos with a side of chips and salsa and Topo Chico Twist of Lime.
The former New York Knick, who is joining the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of a larger trade deal, shook guests' hands and fired up some chicken behind the counter with the restaurant's staff. Guests had their fill of tacos and loaded onto a luxury bus, where Randle announced the tour's second destination: Brooklyn Circus, the Brooklyn-born menswear brand and boutique.
Randle first discovered Brooklyn Circus through a friend who was visiting Brooklyn from Randle's hometown of Dallas, Tex. "He was over here probably just being a tourist, walking the area, finding the deeper cut spots," Randle said. After coming across Brooklyn Circus, his friend recommended Randle visit the store.
Speaking from inside the store, Randle answered a few rapid-fire fashion questions. The last thing he bought and plans to wear all the time? Shearling coats. "Those will come in handy in Minnesota," he said, noting they were gifted to him. He also bought leather overalls he plans to wear when he moves. Something he bought that he never wears? "A lot," including a fur coat he will (maybe) finally wear in Minnesota.
The third and final stop on Randle's Discovery Tour was Black Gold Records, the Court Street record and coffee shop wedged between Frankie's 457 Spuntino and F&F Pizzeria. As guests walked inside, "Change Clothes feat. Pharrell" by Jay Z blasted from the speakers.
Randle explained on the bus ride over to Black Gold Records that he enjoys wine, records and other things that "age well." To hype himself up for a game, he plays "Champagne Poetry" by Drake, though "it depends on the type of mood I'm in" and how far into the season he is. "I find myself sometimes listening to classical music before games, or R&B. I'm a big R&B guy," he said.
The last record he bought was by Frankie Beverly, and the song that will always remind him of New York is... not "Empire State of Mind."
"You hear that everywhere you go in Times Square," he said of Jay Z and Alicia Keys' song. "I'm a big Jadakiss fan. Jadakiss' "We Gonna Make It." My son loves that song, too."
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