From our community:

Meet Katherine Lewin

Each week, we check in with a different member of Thingtesting's community to ask what brands they've spotted, what they're testing, and take a peek into their recent reviews.

This week's feature is Katherine Lewin. Katherine is the founder and owner of Big Night, a store dedicated to curating dinner party essentials. Read on to discover the brands she's spotted and everything else in her current rotation.

Know a tastemaker who loves new things? Submit their name here.

COMMUNITY FEATURE

Hi Katherine, please introduce yourself.

Hello! I’m Katherine Lewin. I’m the founder and owner of Big Night, a dinner and party essentials shop based in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

What are some brands you’ve recently spotted?

D.S. & Durga makes my go-to fragrances, and I just saw that they re-launched their Pistachio perfume. I need to know what that smells like.

Taion. I recently discovered Taion, a Japanese brand that makes luxe-feeling, sleek, packable down puffer jackets and vests. It’s a cold-weather upgrade that makes winter in NYC more bearable.

ABC+. I was just in Los Angeles, and kept seeing this new tinned fish line everywhere! Look out for its debut at Big Night soon :)

Carleen makes one-of-a-kind pieces from vintage fabrics. I love knowing I’m the only human in the world wearing my Carleen coat.

Kaweco. I’m picky about my pens, and I love this short, chubby, sporty-chic ballpoint.

What's a brand you've recently tested?

What are your top three hosting must-haves for dinner parties?

Plenty of snacks, plenty of wine, and a candle just for the occasion.

What else is in your current rotation?

When I’m not thinking about Big Night or what I’m making for dinner or my next dinner party, I’m planning my next restaurant visit and/or travel destination. Speaking of which, I just got back from a short stay at Hotel San Cristobal in Baja, and please don’t tell anyone else and ruin the secret, but it is truly a magic place.

Who are some spotters in your community that you look to for new things?

So many! I’m always inspired by other shops and shop owners, like Shannon Maldonado of Yowie in Philly. Anna & Garrett behind Cool Stuff NYC always know about new things happening around the city. Claire Mazur & Erica Cerulo, the women behind the podcast A Thing Or Two, always have the best of the best recommendations, in every category. Desert Vintage is a constant source of delight and inspiration.

Spotted on my kitchen counter...