schon schön

 

For five years now, the restaurant “schon schön” has been in the Lindengasse 53, in the 7^th district of Vienna. A mixture of shop, hairdresser, toque-winning restaurant and cocktail bar which attracts a friendly and colourful mélange of guests. I sat down for a glass of wine with Hermann Seiwald, co-owner, who answered my questions about good food, parties and gay life in Vienna.

How did the idea come into existence to open up a restaurant?

After a few difficult years as a self-employed actor, I decided to put into practice my plan B and my long-living dream: an own restaurant. After many brainstorming sessions with my partner at the time, Claudio Studer, a hairdresser, and our friend Silvia who is active in the fashion business, we decided to open up a mixture of a restaurant, shop and hairdresser. Soon we had found a location in the heart of the trendy 7^th district – and we started it! That was almost five years ago. 

What is the concept of “schon schön”?

To bring together the desires of shopping, beauty and good food. In our shop, we offer selected goods, currently for example from the innovative Berlin label “Stoffrausch”, among others. Often, friends also bring jewellery from New York or Paris. It is a mixture of Streetwear and extraordinary fashion. As mentioned, Claudio will give you a great haircut and styling. And then, of course, there’s the good food. A meeting place for friends and colleagues – for open people who appreciate the nice things in life. 

Your table has been, among others, awarded with a Gault Millau toque. What is so special about the food you serve?

We work with daily fresh and high quality products. We make everything ourselves, also pasta or chips. On the menu, you’ll find classic as well as creative dishes – and although the menu card is not too large, we always try to offer a variety. Also special orders or vegetarian alternatives are never a problem. Over lunch we offer a comparatively well-priced lunch menu that is very popular among the architects and advertisers from the offices in the area. In the evening, the dishes are more expensive, but also produced elaborately – and attract the gourmets in Vienna. And all of this in an elegant but still cosy atmosphere, at a large collective table for all guests. It’s as if you’d be giving a sophisticated dinner for friends. 

There is a cocktail bar in the basement – where, often, there is not only the afterwork feeling but a club atmosphere. Is the “schon schön” also a party location?

The cocktail bar is now open five instead of three days a week. As it is our smoking area and we offer many cocktails, it is always a popular meeting point for the guests after they have had  their meal. We also have DJs and – more and more – Jazz sessions by the known Ulrich Drechsler (next date: 9^th December, from 8.30 p.m.). Two or three times a year we also throw parties, such as our party on Halloween, the „Blutrausch am Oktoberfest“ („Bloodlust at the Octoberfest“). The next party will take place in Mai – when “schon schön“ will be celebrating its 5th birthday.

When you have an own restaurant, it probably is difficult to go out to other places. If you manage to, where do you go to in Vienna?

Of course, most of the time I’m pretty clamped at the restaurant – and often, we party with friends at our cocktail bar then. However, if we find the time, we love to go to the Camera Club on Saturdays, which is just around the corner – when the Homo in Heaven parties by Tamara Mascara and Edgar Retro take place. Then also as drag queen, all dressed up for a glamorous party night.

You’re often also seen styled as drag queens. Can guests expect to be served the toque-awarded menues in a dress and high heels?

Originally, that was also part of the concept. But we soon found out that it is more than unpractical to carry plates through the restaurant until the morning hours in high heels. But at our special events, we always do that – and from time to time it can happen that guests will have their food served like that, which is always responded to very positively. 

Gay in Vienna: curse or blessing?

Neither nor. I have been out for the last 25 years. You can live here comfortably and I have never had problems by being gay. Vienna, after all, is a capital city and metropolis, and I left all the insecurities back in the countryside years ago. Also, I am an entrepreneur, employ people, I contribute to society and pay enough taxes – I am a citizen like everybody else, people should bear that in mind. Of course, there are restrictions here and there but it takes two to tango. If somebody has a problem with me being gay I find that this is rather their problem than mine. I can say Vienna is a good city to live in as a gay man. 

Definitely a place to be, check it out!

For more informations: http://www.schon-schoen.at/

 

 

Interview with Mel Merio

Your new album Lovemore is out now. What should we expect? 

Good electro-pop! All songs were produced by my longtime friends Christopher Just and Larry Tee. People who know me very well, so it is also a piece of me you'll get! 

Lovemore, an allusion to the harder times we live in? 

Of course, it's all about love! Only love can strengthen each of your own qualities. I do not understand why you should always respond to hate with hate and war with war. I myself have a very positive attitude, and believe that if you respond with love to the negatives, the world can change for the better. I don't wanna close my eyes, but give as much love as possible. But the most important thing is: learn to love yourself! 

You have lived 3 years in New York City, how did it come to it? 

My good friend and producer Larry Tee invited Christopher Just and me to make an album with him there. Of course we immediately said yes. At first it was a lot of fun and adventure but it was soon reality and hard work. It was an incredibly great and important experience though and I have never regretted the move from Vienna to New York City. 

Not many have the opportunity to live in NYC. So directly comparing, what are the pros and cons of living in New York and Vienna? 

The advantage of a life in Vienna is of course the quality of life. I mean the quality of air, water, the cleanliness of the streets and that you can get everywhere relatively fast. A disadvantage is of course the widespread bad mood of the inhabitants. But under the surface there is often a surprise! The advantage of NYC is the openness and friendliness of the residents. There is also a great mix of the cultures. NYC has a positive attitude to life and you get the feeling that "everything is possible". A disadvantage is all the dirt in the city and the widespread superficiality in people. 

Has New York changed you? 

Absolutely! Surprisingly, I've become much calmer. Of course it was a stressful time in my career, with the album that we have produced and the many appearances in Clubs. So I've spent more free time to relax and to listen more to me and whats really important in life. But NYC has given me an incredible amount of energy! 

Not only since your appearances at the Vienna Life Ball for the Austrian AIDS relief, you have many loyal, gay fans. What do you think the gay community appreciates so much about you? 

I can not answer what the gay community likes so much about me. But I have always had a great affinity for gays. My first poster was from the pet shop boys, the first boy I fell in love was gay, even today, most of my friends are gay. I simply love and appreciate them. Perhaps they appreciate the many male energy I have in my performances on stage. Or perhaps my outfits, I hear often compliments about my style from them. In any case I'm glad for the unconditional love they give me and I am grateful for each and everyone! 

You are also famous for your, sometimes, unusual and extravagant style. What criteria do you have, when you are looking for clothes? Do you have a favourite designer or some style idols? What's the philosophy behind your style? 

In clothing it's all about authenticity for me! The style must fit you, that's why I have no style idols at all. And there is also no favourite designer, allthough there are so many great ones. But I always prefered vintage fashion. My mother also has a vintage shop. So it is almost like a ritual that I go for a visit to her with an empty suitcase and come with a full one back home. I try to spend not very much money for clothes. I prefer to invest it in travel and dinner with friends, etc. So my philosophy about fashion is: Always be true to yourself and don't try being someone else, then you do everything right! 

When you are in Vienna, where do you love to spend your evenings most? 

It may surprise many, but I'm really not that party-person anymore. I am so often in clubs when I have gigs, so I love to relax! Preferably with yoga or medidation and I love it so much to walk through Vienna with my best friend's dogs. But what I do like to do on evenings is having dinner with good friends. But never more than 6 people, so you can really pay attention to everyone! My absulute favorite restaurant in this regard is the Restraurant Bankok in the Neustiftgasse. 

What music do you love to hear, apart from your own? 

Music is very important to me and of course I appreciate not only mine and what friends produce. It depends very much on the mood, but my all times favourites are definitely the Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode, and Management. 

After your new album Lovemore, what are the next plans in your career? 

I just moved to London. Together with Christopher Just I have founded the record label Lovemore Records there. And I'm already working on my new album. It will be a mantra album. For this, we take 5000 years old Hindu prayer songs and mix them with 80s/90s synthy pop. I think it will be very exciting. 

Your message to the world? 

love more!

Check out: http://www.melmerio.com/

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