Nickel City Gritty: Jackie Wrafter
One of the things that I love most about Buffalo is that if you have an idea, and you execute it correctly, it will become wildly popular and take off like a rocket.
You might have heard of Wrafterbuilt...I actually interviewed Sean last year for my NCG series. Their "headquarters" is in a building on Allen/Elmwood in Buffalo. Recently, their attention shifted from Wrafterbuilt to Acme Cabinetry and Sean and his wife Jackie had this beautiful building that was just screaming to have some life brought into it.
Jackie had a master plan to turn the second floor into something different. After a thorough brainstorm session, Georgette was born. Georgette is an event space, studio, venue, etc. for any kind of party that you could imagine. It's the perfect space for photo shoots (I had my 5 year blog shoot there!), parties, art shows, performances, and everything in between. I have been to a few events at Georgette and each and every one has been unique and cozy and intimate and you feel like you are in a really special place.
Hanging out inside of the space, you can see just how it reflects Jackie and her personality- it's classic, quiet, understated, and beautiful. She was such a pleasure to interview!
Please listen to her playlist while you read about her minimalistic style, attachment to cats, and love of skin care.
This is Nickel City Gritty, and this is Jackie Wrafter of Georgette.
Tell me all about Georgette.
Georgette became Georgette when we decided that we wanted to put Wrafterbuilt on the back burner and pursue other things and I knew that I wanted to do something with this space. I wanted to kind of make it like an Airbnb type of situation, and really make it home-like. But then when I realized just how much money that was gonna cost I was like, "Oh, I can't do that." So I still knew that I could rent this space out, I knew that something could be done and it could be really cool, so I actually got together with like 12 friends who are successful business owners and creative people and we all sat down together and came up with this plan and this blueprint just by brainstorming ideas and organizing them. Erin Habes actually put it together for me. After three or four hours I had this blueprint and was like, "Okay, we're just gonna rent this space out as-is and we're gonna make a few upgrades and we're gonna brand it and it's good to go." And it has been! Like a week later I did the website and everything was all set. The name Georgette is my mother's middle name.
How would you describe your personal style?
My personal style is probably like minimalist but, like, always having a stain on your shirt. *laughs* Like I'm trying to be crisp but I always get food on me all the time...and also dog hair. That's basically it!
If you didn't have to sleep, what would you do with your extra time?
Oh my god, I always wish I didn't have to sleep because I could sleep nine or ten hours a night, and I oftentimes do. Not lately, but I'm like a good nine hour night, and I always think that's way too much time. In my spare time I would just do everything that I didn't have time to do during the day. Actually, I probably would still procrastinate e-mails...I don't know what I would do. Probably just realistically watch The Office, cuddle my cat, and lay in bed...like I do normally!
Do you have a favorite article of clothing?
I have, like, favorite articles of clothing "of the moment." Like, you know when you get something new and think it's the best thing you've ever worn and want to wear it for two weeks straight? I do that. And then it will cycle. My favorite item of clothing for the past two or three years has been this shirt from Once And For All. I bought five of these shirts. They're fucking awesome. Molly is so amazing. That shirt, I have it in black and white, I have five of them. It's a deep V and it's a tank top and goes really deep in the back and it's like a tunic...it's the best shirt. I like to keep my wardrobe really small. I've been moving into a new and different style, so if I'm going to keep changing, I want to keep it small and fresh.
What is the best thing that happened to you last week?
Let's see...I have to look at my calendar because I don't remember last week...I barely remember what happened yesterday. Oh okay...the Pride Parade. Friends of mine were in the parade and pulled me into it. It was mortifying because I hate attention but when I realized that this block was the very end of the parade route, I was like, "Oh, okay this is fine!" It was really cute that they came and got me and made me dance in the parade even though I don't think I moved because I was terrified *laughs*
When do you feel the most confident?
Probably when my skin looks good, that's when I'm the most confident.
Do you have an intense skin regiment?
Yeahhhhh...so when my skin doesn't look good I get fuckin pissed because I'm like, "This is NOT supposed to be happening!" I do so much, it's become like an addiction. This is what I spend all of my money on...that's why I don't have any clothes because I spend all of my money on skincare. It's like a weekly thing. I've always been into skin care.
"I want to be more like a wolf."
-Jackie Wrafter
What is your spirit animal?
I feel like spirit animal isn't politically correct anymore. An animal that I'm most like is a cat. I want to be more like a wolf.
Two completely different animals!
Yeah! I just like that they are like fearless and loyal and family oriented and pack oriented and I feel like I tend to be such a loaner and like shy and quiet and I want a pack. I want a community. I enjoy being by myself most of the time, but I wish I was a little bit more outgoing. I definitely need my down time, though.
What would you name the autobiography of your life?
Oh my god, that's so scary. Nobody is gonna read this book *laughs* I would have to self publish it! It's gonna be like 12 pages. It would be more like a pamphlet! It would be like "Like...What..." And, what else do I say all the time? I say "like" all the time. Wait, the name of my autobiography would be, "Like, Fuck This Shit." That would be it!
What is on your playlist?
I'm really bad with music, so I mostly listen to talk radio. I listen to a lot of podcasts, audiobooks, a little bit of Stern, and that's about it. I do listen to some music, but it's like few and far between. Let me check my recently played list...okay, so there's David Bowie, Drake, Phil Collins, Frank Ocean, and then I also listen to some weird obscure French bullshit.
What are some of your favorite bars or restaurants in Buffalo?
Oh man, this is a tough question. I feel like there's places that I really love that are like my favorite places that I never go to because I mostly go where it's convenient for me to go. The place that I go for drinks the most is Billy Club, it's in between my space and my house so it's perfect, but it's also a nice atmosphere and a lot of people that I know hang out there. I basically don't go to any other bars on Allen anymore, mostly because I've thrown up in all of them, and Billy Club is pretty new so I haven't thrown up there yet *laughs* And then my new favorite is Casa Azul...they've taught me that you just fuckin order what's on the menu and trust it, even if you've never heard of it or are scared of it, just say fuck it and get it. It's so good, the tacos are amazing...the best tacos in town. I've been doing a once a week sushi thing, so I like Kuni's. The place is so elevated and the food is so beautiful.
What is one of your favorite smells?
My favorite smell of all time is probably basil. When I'm at a store I smell the basil even if I'm not buying it, I love the smell of it!
If you could have one super power, what would it be?
I would want to talk to animals. Like, I'm obsessed with my cat and would love to be able to communicate with him, and I would just also like to tell forest animals not to be afraid of me and that I'm not gonna hurt them, you know what I mean? You know when you're walking through the woods and there's like deer running around?
You'd be like the ultimate Disney princess!
Yaaaassss that would be amazing! Like if birds were just chilling in my room.
How would you describe yourself in five words?
Oh god, this is so embarrassing. Okay, so A. embarrassed *laughs* Ummm....in five words. Okay, so we've got embarrassed....ugh, I don't know a lot of words so this is hard! Ummm...always hungry. Probably quiet. And not only am I quiet but I like quietness around me, I hate loud noises. Ughhh, I've gotta sound cool, too, but I'm really not! Ummmm...anxious? And then let's get one positive in there...how would I want to be described? I would say....thoughtful. Which is just another way of saying quiet.
If you would only eat three foods for the rest of your life, what would they be?
This is super easy because I pretty much eat three things. Sparkling water, lattes, and wine.
Soooo, those are all drinks.
But I feel like that would sustain me! Okay, so to eat, let's see. I live in Buffalo, so chicken fingers, with the Frank's, cheeseburgers and pizza.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
That's a great question and I'm currently figuring it out. When I grow up I just want to be a self sufficient entrepreneur.
And a wolf.
And a wolf. With a little bit of cat mixed in.
If you would like to book Georgette for an event, please visit her website! It is located at 69 Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo.