What did you think you were going to do growing up?

Since I'm still growing up, I originally thought I was going to be one of those Wall Streeters who retired at 35!  Out of college I was the first person hired at a brand new trading firm at the end of the 90's, caught the end of the greatest bull market in history, helped the firm grow to 50 traders, and then poof, just like that the tech bubble burst, volatility left the NASDAQ, and I had this grand idea to move to California while the market repaired itself.  I thought I'd take a year or two off then return to NYC, then within a month the Trade Center happened and I never went home.

How did you get your start in the nightlife world?

It happened almost by accident.  While I was working for an A-List actor, I befriended an actor named Simon Kassianides who had just moved to LA from London, and to pay the bills he was DJ'ing around town.  We connected musically (no one at the time was playing European produced vocal house in nightclubs), so we started a Monday night at The Standard on Sunset.  We played the music we liked and realized we were slightly ahead of the curve as it didn't really catch on, but from there we did a Sunday pool party at Mondrian where the music worked much better in the daylight.  It felt like you were at Cavo Paridiso in Mykonos.  Acting now pays the bills for Simon but I got stuck in muck!

What was the coolest party you've ever went to? What made it so memorable?

As a club kid in NYC, ending up at Twilo or Soundfactory dancing until daylight and walking home has left the most indelible of party memories.  It didn't matter if you were with your friends or not, club culture was freer then, you made new friends just going out in NYC.  People went to dance and forget about work or their problems, not to show off.  I think the irrationality following 9/11 changed all of that.

What about the coolest party you've thrown? What made it such a good night?

It’s hard to pin down just one, but the opening and closing parties at Paul & Andre were pretty legendary.  We opened on a Friday night in February in the pouring rain, and 500 people showed up, and many waited for a while to get in.  There were a lot of hijinks I can't really mention, but let's just say people let loose.  The closing party was much the same, we had more people than could fit in the room, and kids were literally coming though the skylights in the smoking patio to get in. People still talk about those parties, you can't pin down exactly what it was but it was a time and place that makes a lot of people still smile.

If you had 24 hours and $24 to take someone around LA, where would you take them?  

I'd start them out at the lookout on Mulholland where you can see the entire basin, then I'd drive west on Mulholland.  I'd hit the beach at Point Dume, then catch the sunset in Venice grabbing a beer at Venice Ale House.  Drive the 10 towards downtown at night, pop by Chinatown to and since I've already run out of beer money, have some food and cocktails at my bar General Lee's. Wow $24 really doesn't go very far these days!

What's the one piece of style advice you can give you anyone, anywhere in the world?  

A good hat goes a long way!

Talk about the watch you got, why did you pick it? What's your favorite thing about it?  

I chose the Orient Conductor.  I'm really into its timeless design - I know the it will be stylish 10, even 20 years from now.  I drive a 1985 Mercedes Diesel with over 400,000 miles on it and I like it more than brand new Audi's I've had in the past.  I've had the car for 8 years and can't see myself giving it, or the watch up anytime soon!

What is something the public would never guess about you?

That I played Division 1 football.  People see my size but don't see the aches my body still has from playing.

Where's the most beautiful place you've ever been?

Sedona, Arizona is absolutely magical.

If you could go anywhere, anytime past/future/present - where would you go and why?  

That's easy, I'd check out NYC and LA 100 years in the future...I really want to know if we humans make it on the planet!  We will either be under water or have figured out how to be true shepherds of the planet.

JB Moresco is a nightlife/hospitality consultant and bar owner based in LA.  You can follow him on social media (twitter and instagram) @jbmoresco and his bar @generalleesLA.  You can also keep up with @hwood_roosevelt on twitter where he directs entertainment programming for various outlets and events.