ON RYAN ANDERS WHITNEY
On Location: (where do you call home?) - Mexico City! Instagram: mister_whitney
On Occupation: (What do you do to pay your bills?) - I'm an Urban Geographer with a focus on creating cities that are better for cycling and walking. In Mexico City I work for an academic from the University of Toronto in partnership with a local municipal government department called Laboratorio para la Ciudad. Here I investigate the rapidly changing urban landscape in Mexico City as it evolves to be more inclusive of cyclists and pedestrians. I am preparing to begin a PhD at University of Toronto in Urban Planning starting in September 2016 on Latin American urbanism with a specific focus on Mexico City and Buenos Aires.
On Love: (What do you believe about love, romance relationships?) - I believe that they're beautiful yet incredibly challenging. They give you the chance to see yourself, and someone else, for who you/they really are. A rare and powerful opportunity.
On Beauty: (What is your beauty/grooming ritual? Do you have any products you can’t live without?) - I love to take baths - in fact, I rarely ever take showers anymore. I usually do a clay-based mask once a week along with a facial exfoliation. I use sweet almond oil nightly as a facial moisturizer. I have a beard and do a quick trim daily and treat it with a combination of oils once a week.
On Style: (What’s your uniform? What do you wear to make yourself feel up to meeting the challenges of the day?) - I love style. Generally I like to wear solid colors - especially blue or black - but also venture into bright colors depending on my mood. My clothes are always form fitting; I really don't care for a baggy fit unless it's part of a specific look. Generally I prefer winter clothing to summer as I love to layer.
On Philosophy: (What’s your guiding belief?) - I suppose most of us could benefit from being a little less serious and self-involved.
On Vacation: (Where do you go to recharge and relax? What makes that place special?) - There's no single spot that I always return to; I like to explore new places. However, there are specific cities that I love and will likely always return to: Montreal, Mexico City, Madrid and Buenos Aires being among them. A favorite quick holiday in Mexico is to leave the city for a temazcal, which is essentially a pre-hispanic sauna. They're amazing. My favorite part is when you have to apply aloe vera on the skin directly from the plant.
On Transportation (How do you get around? What’s your preferred mode of transport?) - My bike and I are inseparable. If I can't bike for some reason (usually only because of rain or distance), I nearly always prefer to walk. If I can't walk or bike, I Uber or take the metro.
On Reading: (What’s your favorite book, magazine, poem?) - I don't read anything specific on a regular basis outside of work. In fact, during my spare time I rarely read at all. Instead I like to go running, cook, explore a new neighborhood, check out the latest restaurant, attend events, travel and involve myself in social activities.
On Dining: (What foods can’t you get enough of? Do you have special dishes you like to prepare at home or favorite restaurants? - I love anything fresh, avocados and raspberries being my favorite. I've been eating a lot of Mexican food over the past three years living in Mexico, which is awesome. My all time favorite cuisine, however, would be most definitely be Italian. I can't get enough. Ever.
