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upbringings into their new family. “When we were in Malibu, it was two hours past Maxwell’s nap and Sean was on the beach playing with him and they’re just covered in mud and sand,” Rachelle recalls. “For Sean, it’s really important that he has that with his son; that’s what he had with his mom. For me, I really want to have family dinner every night, probably because I had it myself, as a time for us to all connect as a family.” One thing that they’ve firmly agreed on, however, is that New York City is an incredible place to raise a child. Though the family spends most weekends out in Montauk when they’re not traveling, they’ve made the West Village their home base. “I love that it’s so convenient, that there’s so much social interaction, intellectual opportunity,” Sean enthuses in his even way. “I grew up in Malibu and I’d be very scared to raise my kids in the suburbs. Kids get bored and they get up to things and they have to drive…so I’m super excited about raising a child here. New York at its best exposes one to every walk of life. That’s unbeatable education.” One of the biggest surprises that struck Rachelle when she moved to New York a decade ago is still the aspect of the city that delights her the most. “New York almost feels like more of a community than anywhere else I’ve lived. I know who my neighbors are, we run into people on the street every day—that would never happen as regularly [in Nebraska],” she says. “It’s very much the neighborhood I’ve always wanted for my children.” New York also brought them together for the first time, at a mutual friend’s party. As Rachelle tells it, they subsequently got together to network and discuss business—though Sean’s account is a little different. “I didn’t think it was a business meeting. I thought this woman was stalking me,” he deadpans. “Are you serious? That’s not very nice to say,” Rachelle says, admonishing him lightly. “…in a good way,” Sean finishes. “I definitely thought it was a business meeting,” Rachelle retorts. Whatever their original intent, one hour became five, paving the way for a whirlwind romance, a dreamy Hamptons wedding 1.5 years later, and the family they have today. “I always knew I wanted children, and I wasn’t necessarily planning on it happening right away, but I know the moment I knew I wanted a family with Sean,” Rachelle says. These days, Rachelle and Sean find great pleasure in taking Maxwell to walk the High Line, run rampant in the parks along the Westside Highway, and explore the city’s many restaurants and museums. “He oftentimes falls asleep in them,” Sean admits. “The museums are really more for us.” Of course, there’s always hopping on the wooden swing that sways from their living room ceiling. Sean had installed it as an homage to legendary early-20th century architect Stanford White, who designed the Washington Square Park arch and who also had a swing in his apartment. “I didn’t think of it this way [then], but it’s hopefully emblematic of our take on life
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that things don’t need to be so formal or regimented,” Sean says. “There’s no reason why you can’t have a swing in the house. Maxwell seems to have gotten the message. “He’s becoming more of a rascal,” Rachelle says. “We’ve started calling him ‘Dennis the Menace’—because he bears a striking resemblance to the character in both looks and mannerisms.” Soaking up the joys of toddler life apparently includes a penchant for drawing on the walls, too. “The more I tell him to stop, the more he laughs,” Sean says. “I try very hard to be stern, but it’s virtually impossible for me to not [laugh] along with him.” Rachelle is due on November 15th, and soon enough Maxwell will have to begin adjusting to life as a big brother. “We show him photos of himself as a baby, but he has no idea what’s about to hit him…” Rachelle says, amusement twinkling in her eyes. Sean nods. “Right now it’s all about Maxwell, and Maxwell really likes it that way.” When you see how at ease and in sync Rachelle and Sean are with each other, you can’t help but wonder what their secret formula is for keeping it light and loving, especially given the demands of their work lives. Sean, for one, believes it’s easier when everyone’s working toward the same goal, whether or not you know what that is. “We talk about work but we also talk about our lives,” he says, “and it’s all kind of the same—meaning we’re thinking about something that’s work but happens to be part of the giant puzzle of life.” Rachelle points to their upcoming London trip as an example of how they roll; what started out as a research project for Sean’s new restaurant at the Marlton has morphed into a joint business trip for Guest of a Guest as well as a family getaway with Maxwell to visit friends. In other words, their union is a bit of a work-life hybrid (to a point). ”We both have a lot of ambition, we both have control of our own companies… I love hearing at the end of the day what Sean’s doing and hopefully he loves hearing from me.” Come late fall and early winter, they’ll have to coordinate their busy schedules with more skill and patience than ever. As the new baby arrives, Rachelle will be juggling a full redesign of Guest of a Guest, launching a mobile app with which users can contribute to GofG’s events coverage, and expanding internationally beyond the site’s four stateside locales. At the same time, Sean has his eyes set on opening The Marlton’s restaurant sometime this month, after which the hotel will formally open its doors. Oh, and he’ll also be opening another property, The Ludlow, at the end of the year in the Lower East Side. The city’s most laidback power couple seems ready, willing, and hopeful about integrating their next child into their big adventure without slowing down— or at least not by too much, anyway. Sean has a way of describing his days with Maxwell now that we expect will soon be fully applicable to their new baby-to-be: “I like the idea of him growing up just being with us. He’s on our team. We enjoy having the life that we’ve always had and just bringing him along with us.” www.newyorkfamily.com