Living with Legends: Hotel Chelsea Blog

Dumbest Writer Ever Visits the Chelsea

I've been ignoring Chuck Klosterman's book, "Killing Yourself to Live," and the hundreds of cookie-cutter reviews it received.  Finally, Ed Champion writes an inspiring review. 

"...but the hell of it is that Klosterman is too dumb and too indolent a writer to actually do the legwork. He doesn’t bother to call up the Hotel Chelsea in advance to find out what happened to Room 100 (the room where Sid Vicious stabbed Nancy Spungen), let alone track down any of the surviving employees who might have had some insight into how the infamous couple lived. Instead, he berates Chelsea manager Stanley Bard for politely telling Klosterman that the Cheslea didn’t want to be involved with Klosterman’s story (perhaps because Klosterman is utterly dumb, ignorant and tactless in his approach, asking the desk clerk point blank if anyone has stayed in Room 100, a room that was long ago turned into an apartment). So what does Klosterman do? Like a small child denied his second scoop of rocky road, he badmouths both Bard and the Chelsea."

Ed's review gave me an ideal.  All of those other important blogs have had their "Hot Babes This" and their "Hot Babes That" contests all summer long.  Now, that Fall is fast approaching, it's time for us to have a contest: The Dumbest Writer to Ever Visit the Chelsea.  Send your nominations along with a short reason stating why that particular writer should win the title of DWEVC to "chelblog at yahoo.com."  I"ll post a list of nominated writers on the blog.

Dan Bern - No Room at the Gramercy

The Chelsea Hotel may not have been musician Dan Bern's first choice (thanks to Ian Schraeger the Chelsea is now the only choice), but it sounds like he had an OK time. 

What do you do?
i write songs & travel around singing 'em and make records from time to time.

When did you visit the Chelsea?
summer '97.
What made you decide to stay at the Chelsea?
it was 3 in the morning and the gramercy had no rooms.
What inspired you to write "Chelsea Hotel?"
a brand-new romance.
Do you think there is a creative energy in the Chelsea?
seemed like it.
What's the best thing that has ever happened to you at the Chelsea?
young flesh, and the krispy kreme across the street.