Meet the Members: June edition

For the next edition of the series on our North American Houses' Instagram feeds, Meet the Members, where we get to know some of the members around our Houses, we meet members who work outside the traditional 9-5 office format, from photographers to travel experts.

MIAMI: Patrick Chin

Patrick Chin is a travel and lifestyle photographer

What’s your favorite spot in your local House and why?
I love the Library on Ocho. Most days I'll hide up there to get work done for a few hours because it's beautiful, quiet and has a killer balcony view.  

Favorite indulgent item from any of the House menus? 
The Key Lime Pie at the Miami house or the Sticky Toffee Pudding at the London houses. I have a major sweet tooth, so I really love all of the desserts that I've tried, but those I crave even when I'm not there.  

Where do you want to travel to this year and why?
My family and I have been trying to find time to go spend a month or two hitting Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Not sure if we'll be able to make it happen this year or if we'll wait and do it next year but that's a bucket list kind of trip for me. I want to really linger in each country and take it all in like a local.

What’s a favorite destination that you keep going back to?
It's cliché but I absolutely love New York. I take every chance I can get to work in the city. And then a little closer to home, but I'm a big fan of Atlanta. The Atlanta food and drink scene is amazing and I love how diverse the city is. I feel at home in Atlanta.

Interested in being featured or want to recommend someone? DM @sohobeachhouse and let us know

NEW YORK: Tamara Pridgett

Tamara Pridgett is the fitness editor for Popsugar, a NASM-certified trainer and All-American sprinter

Favorite indulgent item from any of the House menus? 
A classic cheeseburger and fries.

Where do you want to travel to this year and why? 
There are so many places I want to visit and this is a great reminder to make it happen. Colombia, Brazil and Oaxaca are on the top of my list. 

How do you maintain a work-life balance? 
I actually don't. I feel like my work and life are often intermixed which is sometimes a good thing and sometimes not the best. There are waves when I'm all work and minimal fun. Then there are moments where I'm more present (but still working), and that’s what I’m working on being better at. 

What’s a favorite destination that you keep going back to? 
Arizona. I grew up there and didn’t love it but now that I’m older, I appreciate how calm, open, restorative and beautiful it is.

Interested in being featured or want to recommend someone? DM @sohohousenewyork and let us know

CHICAGO: Paul Octavious

Paul Octavious is a photographer, videographer and founder of art-inspired supper club series Eye Eaters Society

Has there been a specific event at the House that you’ve loved? 
The Disco New Year’s party was by far one of the best themed parties I have ever been to.

Where in the city would you want to take a first-time visitor? 
The Garfield Conservatory. It’s one of the oldest plant conservatories in the country and the glass structure is beautiful.

What’s something you’ve produced that you’re proud of? 
I have a supper club I started about three years ago called the Eye Eaters Society. It started out as an event I came up with and hosted at Soho House. After that I just workshopped the idea and now 16 dinners later it’ a thing people love to attend.

Interested in being featured or want to recommend someone? DM @sohohousechicago and let us know

TORONTO: Tara Salloum

Tara Salloum is a content creator and creative lead at Counter Culture Agency

What’s your favorite spot in your local House and why? 
The patio is everything. I'm all about soaking up the sunshine and I love working up there when the weather's nice. 

Where do you want to travel to this year and why? 
I'm off to Paris in July and my husband is meeting me there. We haven't planned anything yet, but I'd love to go to Portugal. I like the mix of history and modern life, so I'd love to visit Lisbon. 

How do you maintain a work-life balance? 
You can't pour from an empty cup, so I'm big on work-life balance. I try and work out 5 times a week (I mix it up between boxing, HIIT, pilates and yoga) and also find myself relaxing when I do my skincare routine. I've been using a crystal gua sha every night and it's life changing. 

What’s a favorite destination that you keep going back to? 
France, there's just something about the country that I love. There's the hustle and bustle of Paris, but you can also relax in the South — dining al fresco on a lavender field in Provence with a good bottle of wine? Le paradis!

Interested in being featured or want to recommend someone? DM @sohohousetoronto and let us know

DETROIT: Marina Goldi

Marina Goldi is a photographer and co-founder of 48HRS, a digital curated travel guide.

What do you love about your home city? 
The history and the people. There's just this energy here that you can’t find anywhere else — you immediately feel connected to everything and everyone around you and feel humbled and energized at the same time. 

Where do you want to travel to this year and why?
Everywhere and anywhere. I’m dying to get to Mexico City and Norway. Mexico City for the culture and art scene, Norway for the design and scenery and both for the culinary tours. 

How do you maintain a work-life balance?
It’s not easy living the freelance lifestyle, it takes a lot of discipline and self-motivation. I’ve learned that mental and physical wellness is the foundation for being able to take control of my life. So investing time in myself throughout the day — whether its buying myself that cup of coffee, taking five minutes to meditate or finding time to see family and friends — is a priority to keep me level-headed and feeling fulfilled. 

What’s a favorite destination that you keep going back to?
In the US, it’s New York City and Charleston. I’ve always said my heart belongs to New York City and my stomach belongs to Charleston. I've never felt more alive and myself then when I am in New York, and I go five times a year. I go to Charleston at least once a year, I love everything about it. It teaches me to slow down and enjoy the southern heat and long conversations on the patio.

WEST COAST: Sam Cooper

Sam Cooper moved to Malibu from Australia in 2010. He is the co-owner of Venice restaurants Great White and Gran Blanco.

Has there been a specific event at the House that you’ve loved?
Halloween two years ago with the rollerdisco takes the cake, for sure.

Aside from Soho House, what’s a place in LA or Malibu where you’ll always take a visitor?
I just opened a new restaurant in Venice called Gran Blanco. It’s right across from our cafe Great White and directly under the iconic Venice sign, so naturally I would always take people there.

Where do you want to travel to this year and why?
Peru for backcountry trekking and skiing.

How do you maintain a work-life balance?
My restaurants are both a block from the beach so it all pretty much blends into one awesome lifestyle.

What’s a favorite destination that you keep going back to?
Italy, because I can eat my weight in pasta at night and still stay afloat in the water the next day.

Interested in being featured or want to recommend someone? DM @sohohouselosangeles and let us know