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Kyota Umeki Preserves a Piece of East Village History
He designs every charm, trinket, and piece of clothing in Star Shop, reflecting his DIY and personal approach to the store’s uniqueness. The shop thrives on word of mouth, and at times, Umeki even makes the @starteam.eastvillage Instagram account private, reinforcing his belief in keeping the shop grounded in community rather than the internet’s spotlight. For this cover story, we paid a visit to the shop where Umeki reflected on its roots, his love for the neighborhood, and how he’s keeping the spirit of Tompkins alive — one star-emblazoned piece at a time.
Where are we?
Welcome, office. My name is Kyota, and we're at the Star Shop.
What’s your morning ritual?
I really like city-biking downtown. That always gets my focus right, and helps me think of all of my tasks for the day.
What do you eat for breakfast?
If I stop at a deli, usually a cinnamon raisin bagel toasted with cream cheese and jelly, plus an iced coffee with milk and two sugars. I’m back into using the Dunkin Donuts app to get free coffee and really good deals.
What inspired you to start Star Team?
Definitely everyone I grew up skating with at Tompkins. Those are my day ones, they motivate me the most. They remind me of how fast things change and let me know how important it is to stay active. We created this environment where we can try anything.
And what about the shop?
All of my friends who hang out there motivate me. I think it’s important to have a lot of people observing changes in you, whether they're good or bad. These peers shape who I am and the community I’m trying to build. I have nothing without the friends I hang out with.
If you weren’t running the Star Shop, what would you be doing instead?
Probably making pastries. I love cafes. A pastry shop with my own coffee mix is definitely a later goal.
The day before our one-year anniversary, my friend was like, ‘You’ve never slept at the store.’ So I ended up crashing behind the counter that night.
Is there a place in NY that’d break your heart to see disappear?
So many food spots. A lot of my favorites closed during the pandemic. I can’t even name just one.
What's your favorite part about the stuff you sell?
It’s like a gift shop for Tompkins. We sell East Village gifts, charms, bracelets and clothing I design.
Where’s this bench from?
Yeah, this bench is the original from Tompkins actually, before they renovated a couple years ago — it has like ten layers of olive paint on it. Steve Rodriguez drove it here and gifted it to me after we opened. It's probably the most important artifact in the shop.
And you grew up around here, right?
Yeah I was born and raised like three blocks away. My parents still live there. I went to high school on 12th street and spent every lunch break at Tompkins. That community is still a big part of my life. I don’t think I’d be able to have this going the way it is now without them.
What year did you release your first piece of clothing?
Maybe like 4 or 5 years ago. We started with screen-printed t-shirts, but the pants were the first product to really take off. It’s wild to see the star logo everywhere.
What’s your favorite part about people visiting the store?
Honestly, meeting people who don’t even skate but are still into the brand. We have a very niche audience.
Do you think people learn about the brand more through word of mouth or social media?
I think it's mostly word of mouth. I like to keep the Instagram page private. It keeps things more subtle and surprising when people actually come into the store or see it in the street. It feels more special when people find us in person. A lot of brands blow up online, but I want the shop to be a place people experience when they walk in, not just through a screen. I'm more proud of my shop than my website design.
What’s one of your favorite interactions in the store?
I like when like 15 of my homies pull up just to chill. It’s always at maximum capacity, just hanging out, watching TV, drawing and kicking it. It feels like the main menu of a game before we all accomplish our missions.
Does the shop remind you of places you used to go growing up?
For sure. It’s like the skate shops I used to hang out at, like Labor on Canal Street. I’d spend hours there, just chilling. It’s cool to see the reflection doing the same here.
What’s the wildest thing that’s happened here?
The day before our one-year anniversary, my friend was like, “You’ve never slept at the store.” So I ended up sleeping behind the counter that night. I had to do it. I got some work done too.
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Meet John Campbell, The Proud Scot
Where were you born?
London (to Scottish Parents!) and grew up in Glasgow.
Where do you feel most comfortable?
Who’s answer isn’t their bed or a nice soft sofa to sink into?
What quality do you think defines you most?
I’m energetic, fun, funny and assertive.
What do you look for in a companion?
I’m up for anything, adventurous, spontaneous and funny.
What is your biggest weakness?
I can’t remember anyone's names and I’m always disorganized.
What is your biggest strength?
My tenacity.
What has surprised you most in life?
That I’ve not been found out yet!
What does your perfect day look like?
Tennis in the morning, guitar practice in the afternoon, coffee and cake, jogging in the park, sunshine and then scrabble with friends in evening or off to a music gig.
What is your favorite color?
I’m a simple person: brash, and primary colors.
Who is your favorite fictional character?
Wile E Coyote.
What is your favorite food?
Growing up poor in Glasgow meant food wasn’t really a matter of choice and the food my Mother ate was grim! However I’d be happy now with a bowl of tapioca pudding.
What quality do you dislike most in someone?
Being a Tory.
What is your earliest memory?
Walking down the street, aged 3 with my mother to buy a toy car. Shortly after this I was taken away from my mother to live with my aunts.
What is your biggest luxury?
My new £40,000 Campervan.
How do you show someone you love them?
A cup of tea in the morning and fixing things. My wife says my love language is fixing little things around the house to make her life easier as she can be quite clumsy.
What is your biggest achievement?
Staying out of prison, I reckon. I left school with no qualifications but went in to get a maths degree. So I believe everything comes back to when I turned my life around at 19 years old and decided to go back to school.
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"Chaotic, Hilarious, and Probably Tragic": Aurora Perrineau on New Netflix Series 'Kaos'
AURORA wears DRESS by JEAN PAUL GAULTIER, SHOES by RICK OWENS
After catching up with her most recent work, I talked to Perrineau about the show, which offers a modern take on the classic romance myth, Eurydice and Orpheus. From episode one, Jeff Goldblum's track-suit-wearing Zeus is tormented by an ancient prophecy predicting the end of his reign. As his world unravels, viewers are transported from Crete, to the underworld, and back.
Though Perrineau didn’t know much about ancient Greece before reading the script, she credits director Charlie Covell for making the stories accessible. She says that’s the genius of their retellings — you don’t have to know about the mythology to understand the plot, but there will be some extra nods for those who do.
Below we talk our crushes on David Thewlis, dystopian landscapes, and putting Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet on the moodboard.
I just binge-watched Kaos.
No way!
Yeah I loved it! How does it feel to finally see audiences interacting with the show?
Amazing. It's been a long time coming since we wrapped, although we did add some scenes in 2023 before the strikes. We were in this strange period of waiting around. But, I think the show couldn't have resonated better with audiences — they seem to be enjoying it. Of course, you’re not going to have a fan in everyone, especially with something a bit more offbeat and odd, but it's doing what we hoped it would: reaching the right people. That’s been really cool.
Can you give us some insight into your character?
I play Riddy, short for Eurydice. She starts off without much agency, but over time, she goes on a journey to find her voice and figure out who she really is. That leads her to something much bigger than herself.
You often star in fantasy settings that mirror reality. Do you think it’s easier for people to digest truths about our world when presented in these ways?
Definitely. It’s easier and just a little more entertaining. This format gives you enough distance from real-life that the darkness isn’t felt right away. There’s a fantasy element, and then the deeper meaning hits you later on.
Do these particular roles somehow find you?
Let me tell you, I audition for a lot of different genres, but for some reason, fantasy and horror have always worked out for me. I think a lot of it has to do with being a person of color. As someone mixed-race, it’s easier for people to see you in a fantasy setting — they don’t feel the need to explain why you’re there. There’s no backstory like, This parent did this, and that’s why she looks like this. That, and these scripts just resonate with me more.
Do you see aspects of yourself in Riddy?
I often play very sarcastic characters, which is me for sure. But I’ve also noticed a pattern where the roles I’m drawn to often feel like younger versions of myself. In Westworld, my character felt misunderstood and had to figure out how to stand up for herself. That really resonated with me.
That journey to finding your agency is so important.
Exactly. When you're a young woman, it's hard to stick up for yourself and say how you feel because you don't want to offend or put yourself in an uncomfortable position. That's where you see Riddy in the show, she is so unhappy for so long, but she's let herself get there because she can't speak up for herself.
When you took on the role, did you know Riddy’s storyline? Were you into Greek mythology before reading the script?
I didn’t know much about Greek mythology, but I’d heard the story of Eurydice and Orpheus — especially with Hadestown being so popular. I also knew Zeus and the other major gods, but nothing in-depth.
Now that filming is done, are you happy to be back in LA?
I wasn’t ready to come back! I had this amazing trip through Greece, Amsterdam, and London for the premiere and press. I definitely could’ve stayed longer, but my dogs are here.
Was it surreal to visit Greece after being a part of the show?
That trip was super exciting, I felt like such a nerd. I was taking a million photos and sending them to the cast group chat, as if any of them needed to see a really fuzzy picture of the Theater of Dionysus or Zeus’ Cave.
I’m sure they appreciated it. You can tell the cast was really close just by watching.
I’ve had fun on every project, and kept a friend or two each time, but on Kaos, the cast as a whole was the closest. Everyone was lovely, and we had such a blast. We still talk all the time, even though most of them are in Europe.
I also heard you had a little crush on your co-star, David Thewlis.
[Laughs] Since I was young and saw Harry Potter, I’ve had a huge crush on him. I made the mistake of telling a few cast members, but even if they kept it secret, it was obvious. I couldn’t speak to him, didn’t make eye contact — it was so strange! But he was an amazing sport about it, and finally came up to me and said a bunch of really kind, complimentary things. That made me feel like, Ah, I don't have to be a freak around you anymore. I did not admit to the crush, but I know he knows.
I can’t judge. Every Harry Potter fan would act the same.
Yeah, if you watch the show, there's at least one person from that cast you're going to crush on.
Multiple people for me. I also love Killian Scott. There are so many great actors and characters in the show, but if you had your choice, which figure from Greek mythology would you want to play?
It's so funny, because this is the opposite of what I keep saying I want to play, but I do have a fascination with Athena. The Goddess of War would be an insane role. But I'm pretty sure she was a “good guy,” and I really want to play a villain. I'm always playing a character who’s doing things for the greater good, which is fun, but I’d love to explore something darker.
I’ll be rooting for you, even if you’re a villain.
[Laughs] Thanks!
Is there anything specific you’d want people to take away from your character in Kaos?
While watching the show, audiences might be like, should Riddy be with Orpheus or with Caeneus? But, in the end, you see that you should be rooting for her to be on her own, and take on her own power. That's an interesting lesson: to know that you can be alone, do things by yourself, and that you're strong enough without having a partner, whether it be a man or woman, it doesn't matter.
Are there any films or songs that help you get into character?
I probably need to get a new answer, but Denzel Washington in Training Day is like, there you go, that's my bad guy role, that's what I want to do as an actor. Also, Kaos takes a lot of inspiration from Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet, which my dad stars in. Anything he's done, I'm in awe of. A big learning lesson has been watching how he's handled the business, and his roles. And then music wise, I'm not a radio person, so I listen to the same thing over and over again. Right now I want to say it's Frank Ocean's Blonde and then Stranger in the Alps by Phoebe Bridgers. Those are my very depressing go-tos when I'm working.
Those are classics.
You can’t go wrong, so it's fine. You can listen to them till the end of time.
What got you into acting in the first place?
My parents were actors, so I just thought that's what you did, and only later found out you didn't. I acted for a while when I was young, but quit and was an equestrian for 14 years. I thought that's what I would do with my life. Then, I started modeling, and got away from horseback riding, because I couldn't really do both. I didn’t feel creative enough as a model, but I liked certain elements of it, and the idea of putting on clothes to become a different character. So I tried to get back into acting, and it was slow, but I did a lot of training and kept at it.
I didn’t know you were an equestrian; has that influenced your acting career in any way?
It’s similar to acting in that it’s competitive, but horseback riding is singular, it's just you. The intertwining element involves always wanting yourself to perform better. In both careers, it’s more so about competing with yourself than others. Also, horseback riding was all consuming because you have to train all the time, and I feel the same about acting.
What do you like to do when taking a break from work?
I’m trying to get back into horseback riding because it’s great for my mental health. I also love road-tripping. During the strike, I traveled around America in a van, seeing new landscapes and cultures. It’s become my biggest hobby.
Do you believe in “cosmic significance”?
Oh god, this could be a whole other interview. I really believe in the karma of the universe and that things are happening for a reason. If you're seeing something again and again, I don't think that's a coincidence; everything and everyone is connected in a certain way. It's funny to think that it's just so black and white.
And has anything happened to you recently that's felt like fate?
From a work perspective, I often play characters that happen that have a parental problem. They're either disconnected from their parents, or holding some kind of resentment towards them. I have no idea why that is, because my parents and I have a great relationship, but it's a role that I love to play. It's such an interesting concept, and it seems to keep coming back to me.
Maybe it's a psychological thing, like we want to understand what we don't see in our own lives.
Yeah, that's probably part of it.
Do you have any goals for the coming year?
I would love to do a movie, but I want to get into something fully character driven. A lot of times I play characters that have a physical element to them, where they're fighting or something, so I'd like to do something without a lot of frill, and see how that goes. Personally, I would like to be a little kinder to myself. I think I struggle with that.
