Living with Legends: Hotel Chelsea Blog

All Tomorrow's Parties: June 5 - June 11, 2006

Monday, June 5, 10:00 p.m.
Filmmaker Anders Bramsen's short film "Slough Poem 1" will premiere at the Brooklyn International Film Festival. Slough Poem 1 is an anti-drug picture. An electric look at  the silence before the storm. A Cocaine poem. The horrifying experience of mind-altering substances.  The video documents the last hours of the twentieth century, capturing downtown and suburban Copenhagen, Denmark. Footage shot on New Years Eve 1999/2000.  Read the interview with Anders.
Brooklyn International Film Festival, Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn NY

Tuesday, June 6, 5:30 p.m.  World Premiere Screening
NewFest 2006: The 18th New York Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Film Festival will present the world premiere of Craig B. Highberger's new documentary, Jack Mitchell: My Life is Black and White.  The film examines the life and work of a celebrated photographer of major creative and performing artists, whose career spanned more than six decades.  Highberger is also the author of Superstar in a HouseDress: The Life and Legend of Jackie Curtis.
AMC Loews 34th St Theater (at 8th Ave) NY NY

Tuesday, June 6, 10:30 p.m.
Susanne Bartsch and Kenny Kenny invite you to Happy Valley Tuesdays. DJ Alexander Technique & Junior Sanchez.  downstairs: DJ Ryan & DJ Jaques Renault & The Monthly Look Party.
shows: The Dueling Bankheads; Lady Ace & Vertigo Project.  hosts: Sophia Lamar, Miranda Moondust, Miranda Moondust, Kim Aviance, Theodora & Amanda Leopore. door Andrea.
14 EAST 27 ST

Wednesday, June 7, 11:00 p.m.
The Countess and the C.U.N.T. Rock Revolution featuring Ms. Amelia performs. We've heard that they are one of the most exciting bands around.
Mo Pitkins, Ave. A between 3rd & 4th, NY NY

Thursday, June 8, 11:00 a.m.
Don't forget to listen to Gerald Busby's internet radio show, "Collaborations."  You can listen live on Tuesday, or listen to archived shows on Wednesday and Thursday.

Saturday, June 10, 2:00 p.m.
Fans of  Kubrick's "2001 A Space Odyssey," (screenplay written by Kubrick and former Chelsea Hotel Resident Arthur C. Clarke) may enjoy checking out some of Kubricks other films being screened as part of the Stanely Kubrick Retrospective.  Killer’s Kiss, 1955, with Frank Silvera, Irene Kane (a.k.a. Chris Chase). Kubrick wrote, directed, photographed, and edited this low-budget New York noir about a boxer’s relationship with a nightclub dancer. A discussion with Chris Chase follows the June 10 screening. Museum of the Moving Image (35th Ave at 36th St, Astoria,Queens) $10 per screening

Sunday, June 11,
We know many of our neighbors are fond of going to the conveniently located R.U.B. for mouthwatering barbecue, but today, if you journey to the East you'll find the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party in full swing. The event features pitmasters from across the country, as well as R.U.B.'s own Paul Kirk.
Madison Square Park, btwn 23rd & 26th St. and 5th & Madison Ave., NY NY

Bring Back The Old Rent Receipts

Well if this doesn’t beat all!  First Stanley Bard raises our rent here at the Hotel Chelsea, and we could almost accept that, but now take a look at what he’s done to our rent receipt.  He’s replaced this beautiful old-fashioned one that made us proud of our place of residence, with a soul-less computer printout.  (Well, I guess the old ones a computer print out too, but still.)  The old one lovingly itemized each overpriced phone call, and even thanks us for choosing this lovely landmarked building – one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.   The new one may as well say: Pay or Die! (Could this be a harbinger of a new corporate order? Are we to be ground beneath the wheel of “progress” on our way to yuppie-condohood!!!)  Bring back the old receipts! (Click on the images to enlarge.)

Party Recap

Welcome New York Times readers.  Here's Ed Hamilton's "Slice of Life," party recap.

If you ever plan on entertaining a bunch of bohemians, skip the crudites and order more sushi.  We’re still trying to finish off all of those damn vegetables. 

The blog’s first-anniversary party was held in Thomas Wolfe’s old room, now occupied by the photographer Julia Calfee, who was kind enough to let us borrow it for the event.  Even Robert Lambert and Dave Linter gave up their lobby spots to drop by.  Highlights include Robert’s cell phone going off constantly (whoever it was no doubt thought he was still in the lobby), and Dave, who walks with a cane, announcing loudly as he exited, “I need a wide berth, here!” and scaring a couple of Brooklyn bloggers, who didn’t know that he has a sense of humor, half to death.

The painter George Chemeche, commenting on the aging bohemian population of the Chelsea, said that every time someone dies, he figures he’s going to be next.  But anyone can see he’s still got a lot of life left in him.

Befitting the creatively charged atmosphere of the Chelsea, there was at least one scene, theatrically staged, between two artistic rivals, but the principals have asked us not to discuss it until 50 years after their deaths.  (Rest assured, an account will be found in my papers!)

Robert Lasner of Ig Publishing went home with the door prize, a bottle of Makers Mark, for answering the most Chelsea Hotel trivia questions.  Winning question: In what room did Sid kill Nancy?

The real highlight of the party didn’t come, however, until most everyone had gone home.  The Irish lady who was staying next door in the transient room popped her head out and told us how nice it was that there were still hotels like this left.  She drank a glass of wine with us and showed us her room – the other half of Thomas Wolfe’s old suite – and what should we discover there but the fashion designer Charles James’ ancient drafting table!!  Readers of the blog know that, not having enough room, we set this table out many years ago, with a note attached describing what it was.  We’ve been wandering ever since who might have retrieved it, and now we know: Stanley Bard!  He has it nailed into a bookshelf, so no one else can ever again throw it in the trash.  The party pics are here.

SLAMMIN! HOT BABES AT THE CHELSEA

A reader of our blog wrote in with the query: “Have you ever written about the Prostitution Ring which is allowed to operate freely here at the Chelsea Hotel?”

            Well, no, we haven’t, chiefly because we didn’t know of its existence. 

            But it sounds quite exciting, actually: Pimps sporting gold teeth and Stetson hats flashing switchblades, payoffs to the mob, politicians caught with their pants down.  It’s getting so damned boring around here.  Bring on the Ring!

            As evidence in support of his allegation, our reader attached these two complaints posted by dissatisfied customers on Craigslist:

THIS IS A TOTAL BAIT AND SWITCH.  JUST CAME FROM THE CHELSEA HOTEL.  NOT THE GIRL IN THE PIC.  WASTE OF TIME.  SERVICE SUCKED!  POSTS UNDER THE NAME CARLIE, BLACK HAIR TATOO ON HER BACK.

REVIEW: SLAMMIN! HOT NEW SEXY BABE: I went to the Chelsea Hotel last night to see this girl.  It was not her!  Pics are 150% fake!!  Don’t xpect to be seeing the girl in the pic or you will be disappointed!.

            Gee, prostitution is a ripoff.  What a surprise.  Contact the Better Business Bureau.  But seriously, folks, just wait ‘till I get my hands on this Carlie!  This unscrupulous little tart is ruining the reputation of our grand old hotel.

            I want you to note, however, that nowhere in either of these complaints is there any reference to any sort of Ring, Prostitution or otherwise.  Carlie is surely a free range prostitute, unassociated with our proud Chelsea Prostitution Ring, which, for the record, is the finest in the city.

            Like everything else about this hotel, our ladies of the evening do tend to be a bit seedy, their beauty a tad faded.  Still, they’re guaranteed 150% SLAMMIN! HOT!  And what’s more, the service sucks!  (Is that good or bad, by the way?  Just wondering.)  Give us a Ring, why doncha?

Who is Seymour Stern?

Earlier this week I noticed that a photograph taken at the Chelsea Hotel in 1971 had been posted to Flickr.  So I sent an e-mail to the photographer, Mark Goldstein, and inquired about the photo.  Below is his reply.
These photos were taken in 1971 when I brought director Nicholas Ray to visit my friend Seymour Stern who lived at the Hotel Chelsea in NYC. Nick and I came down from SUNY Binghamton to see Alan Lomax and film a party of folk musicians and friends at his apartment in the city.  Seymour was an author and film critic who focused on the works and person of D.W. Griffith.

Seymour was also godfather to Nisi Jacobs, daughter of Ken and Flo Jacobs. I studied cinema under Ken who hosted visits by Seymour to SUNY Binghamton a number of times. I came to consider Seymour a friend and a mentor, often visiting him at the Hotel Chelsea when I was in NYC and frequenting a nearby automat for a bite with him.

You can find more on Seymour Stern in the extensive article “Seymour Stern: American Film Critic, Guardian and Prophet” including Ira H. Gallen’s recap of his own visit to  Seymour’s room at the Chelsea.

You can find more on Nicholas Ray at the Internet Movie Database and the film we were working on in Binghamton, “We Can't Go Home Again”. Two of my photos of Nick were featured in the book “Live Fast, Die Young: The Wild Ride of Making Rebel Without a Cause” by Lawrence Frascella and Al Weisel published 10/05. Those two photos and a few others can be seen on the Amazon site . And more of my Nicholas Ray photos can be seen on Flickr.

Chelsea Hotel on Current TV

  Current TV, a national satellite and cable channel, will be airing a tour of the Chelsea Hotel later this evening.  The show is scheduled to air at 7:31 p.m EST/4:31 p.m. PST.  The show was shot in April.

Wannabe Rapper Chicks Visit The Chelsea

Here’s a clip from the rap chick search that we wrote about back in February.  Watch it for yourself and see if you can spot the next Queen Latifah or Foxy Brown—or whoever the hell is hot in rap right now.  http://legends.typepad.com/rap.mov  (The movie takes a couple of minutes to download so be patient.)

Here’s an interview with the elusive and mysterious Craig Koven, producer of the proposed show. Notably, he follows the trend of off-the-wall answers to our question about the creative spirit of the Chelsea.

What do you do? A week? Net? or Gross?
What inspired you to pitch a reality show about rap chicks? Stumbled into it.  Best friends with Marley Marl, a living Hip Hop Legend, for 15 years.  He makes records and I handle the Judaism... LOL.
Which girl was your favorite Rap Chick and why?  I love all women...  its unrequited love.
Have you been involved in any other video projects here at the Chelsea? As far as ur concerned? No
How long have you lived at the Chelsea? I have no Mother, Father, Sister, Brother, Aunt, Uncle, Nephew, or Niece... The Chelsea is my only family, I've lived here on and off for over 17 years.. Lately 
about a year.. Its very expensive, but I thrive here.
What's your best/worst Chelsea Hotel moment? Still waiting for that.
Do you think the Chelsea has a creative spirit?  I don't speak for buildings only for myself and whoever pays me to represent them.. I  don't speak for anyone unless I have authorization.  Even then, you  might wanna throw in coercion, before I reveal my secrets.