Living with Legends: Hotel Chelsea Blog

An Australian Speaks Out!

A blog reader from Australia writes:

Yah got to Fight for your Right to PAAAAAAARTAY Girls and Gals of the Chelsea!!!  Even we poor souls of bohemia in Australia have been hit with the tar brush of Gentrification.  You would have thought such a young country would have wanted to celebrate their youth, but no, we are the Nanny/ Pop state - most are caught up with the great capitalistic dream of owning stuff - Not owning their lives!

I am afraid I know little about the day to day of your trials and tribulations but I have just read the blog bit about the new plans to give the place better rest rooms….beware are my thoughts that is where it starts.  People are getting in at the bottom and working up… (lol)

Ho Hum, Just Another Nude Girl in the Elevator

Film producer Michael Hausman reveals that while checking into the Chelsea Hotel Milos Forman encountered a nude girl on the elevator -- or at least a new girl.  This caused him to stay five years.

Jobriath Tribute

Past residents of the Chelsea Hotel continue to inspire the youth of today.  Austin-based band okkervil River's lastest effort "The Stand Ins" features an awesome tribute to Jobriath entitled "Bruce Wayne Campbell Interviewed on the Roof of the Chelsea Hotel."  (Unfortunately, the video of the interview was removed from youtube.com)

We Are Not Responsible

Sorry lady, but we do not run the Hotel!

See you in court soon. I stayed at your hotel on saturday april,26,2008. There was no manager there my room was infested with bed bugs, which i was bit in the face. I paid 300.00 for the nigth and had to leave and go down the block to another hotel. at 2:30 in the morning.Your employee gave me a letter head from your hotel stating that the manager would put my money back on, BECAUSE I HAD TO PAY THE OTHER HOTEL 250.00 AND THAT WAS A DISCOUNT,BECAUSE THEY FELT SORRY FOR US WHAT HAD HAPPENED. Iam making a big deal out of this just because you arent honest. By the way the news will know about this too.

PS: thank god for cell phones I will bring my pictures with me to court.

Behemoth of the Chelsea: RIP Johnny 1997-2008

Sadly, Johnny, our four-footed friend and neighbor at the Chelsea Hotel passed away yesterday.  Johnny, who, in true Chelsea gender-bending fashion, was a female. She was 11 years-old, ancient for a Newfoundland.  Johnny was a true Chelsea institution, and we will miss her intoxicating aroma in the elevator, as well as her immovable carpet-like presence in the middle of the lobby.  May we all meet Johnny again someday, in that great multi-species bohemian flophouse in the sky.  Neighbors have been informally stopping by Willem's apartment to express their sympathy. (The photo is from Johnny's birthday celebration earlier this year, and she says she did not  vomit up that cheesecake!)

Star Lounge Bouncer Attacks Chelsea Hotel Resident

On Thursday, September 18, a longtime resident of the Chelsea was attacked outside the hotel by a bouncer working for Star Lounge.  The attack allegedly occurred when the resident stepped out of a cab that the bouncer thought had parked too close to his motorcycle (presumably the same one that wakes us all up at 4 in the morning, though the bouncer has lately had his muffler fixed, so it hasn’t been as bad as it once was).  Since we were unable to contact the resident, we are not in a position to comment on the exact nature of the assault. Why should any of us have to put up with such an attack in what is essentially the front yard of our home?
            Of course, we have our own security team now, members of which guard the front door, seemingly 24 hours a day.  And so, you might ask: where were these gentlemen when this attack was taking place?  Surely we can count on them to protect our physical well-being when a dispute arises.  Well, one of these guards was indeed present, but he reportedly took the bouncer’s side, and joined him in berating the resident!

     All of which leads to the obvious question: if these guards are not here to protect us, why are they here at all?  We’ve always done fine without them, even through the bad old days of the seventies, eighties and nineties, and now crime in NYC and the Chelsea neighborhood is down to its lowest level ever.  Or is there some illegal activity that has occurred, or is occurring, in the hotel that we haven’t been told about?

            Whatever the case, Star Lounge is a tenant of this building, subject to the rules imposed by the management of the Chelsea Hotel , and their employees need to be held to a higher standard of civility than appears to be the case at the present time. -- Ed Hamilton

The Second Time is Farce

Historian Sherill Tippins, whose history of the Chelsea, "The Dream Palace" is due out soon, wrote in to remind us that history reapeats itself:

Thomas Wolfe wrote this at the Chelsea Hotel. It's remarkably appropriate this week:

    "On October 24 [1929], in New York, in a marble-fronted building down in Wall Street, there was a sudden crash that was heard throughout the land. The dead and outworn husk of the America that had been had cracked and split right down the back, and the living, changing, suffering thing within--the real America...began now slowly to emerge. It came forth into the light of day, stunned, cramped, crippled by the bonds of its imprisonment, and for a long time it remained in a state of suspended animation, full of latent vitality, waiting, waiting patiently, for the next stage of its metamorphosis.
     "The leaders of the nation had fixed their gaze so long upon the illusions of a false prosperity that they had forgotten what America looked like. Now they saw it--saw its newness, its raw crudeness, and its strength--and turned their shuddering eyes away. 'Give us back our well-worn husk,' they said, 'where we were so snug and comfortable.' And then they tried word-magic. 'Conditions are fundamentally sound,' they said--by which they meant to reassure themselves that nothing now was really changed...
    "But they were wrong.  They did not know that you can't go home again. America had come to the end of something, and to the beginning of something else"
                                                                                  --Thomas Wolfe
                                                                                  "You Can't Go Home Again"

CHING HO CHENG: A RETROSPECTIVE

Ching ho Cheng lived at the Chelsea Hotel during the 70s and counted many of its most fabulous and creative residents among his personal friends including: Henry Geldzahler, Larry Rivers, David Hockney, Vali Myers, Richard Bernstein, Charles James and Dee Dee Ramone. Shepherd Gallery is pleased to present Ching ho Cheng’s first retrospective and their third exhibit of his works. This retrospective features works from his psychedelic period in the late 60s to his gouache shadow pieces, torn abstractions, and alchemical works in the 70s and 80s. The opening reception for the exhibit is Thursday, Sept. 25, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. The exhibit runs through November 15. The Shepherd Gallery is located at 58 East 79th Street, NY NY.  Click here for the invitation.

Ching’s sister Sybao is compiling a catalogue of Ching's work.  The book will feature the work of many of his friend such as Vali Myers, Mati Klarwein and Ira Cohen along with personal stories and photos.  If you have any photos or art work or personal stories to share please e-mail [email protected]

Additionally, Man-lai and filmmaker Sam Bassett will use the opening reception as an opportunity to interview those who knew Ching ho Cheng.

(Photo: Ching ho Cheng in his Chelsea studio.)   

 

Ethan Hawke Calls Changes at the Chelsea Hotel “Heartbreaking”

In the most recent issue of Chelsea Now, former Chelsea Hotel resident Ethan Hawke bemoans the present state of our august institution.  “It stands as some relic of a time when things were more authentic and more personal,” he said.   And no surprise, he calls for the return of Stanley Bard and his son David.   Good to know that he’s on the same page as the rest of us.  Now if he would just fly a banner out of his window too.  Thanks for your continued support.

   

Imperiled Desk Clerk Juan Gaviria Testifies Against Tenant in DHCR Case

We, as tenants, count on a certain amount of discretion from the staff.  We have to come and go through the lobby every day, of necessity coming into contact with a large number of staff members, and, for our own personal reasons most of us do not want our movements to be monitored.  We want to know that if we’re having a bad hair day, the maid or the engineer is not going to call Page 6!  The hotel frequently plays host to high profile media personalities, who have a very understandable expectation of privacy.  These stars will stay elsewhere if they come to feel they can’t trust the staff.

            We here at Legends have the utmost respect for the hotel staff.  It is our belief that  the tenants and staff must stick together in these times of trouble, as both camps are under assault from the minority shareholders, who want to end the old order at all costs. In an ongoing case at the DHCR, many hotel employees were pressured by the minority shareholders to get them to testify against the tenant in the case.  Almost without exception these staff members—union and non-union alike--stood up to the pressure, refusing to inform on a tenant, who, like them, is merely standing up for his or her rights, and for this we applaud their courage and conviction.

However, on Sept. 5, Juan Gaviria, a desk clerk/manager, testified against the tenant in question.  We can’t help but consider this a serious breach of trust.  A reasonable person couldn’t be blamed for concluding that Juan is monitoring his or her business, observing his or her comings and goings, and won’t hesitate to testify against him or her in court.

If  Juan was pressured into testifying, perhaps by the threat of loss of his job, that is truly regrettable.  On the other hand, when asked if he had been coerced, Juan reportedly said no, that he wanted to testify.

            Well, be that as it may, we bear no ill will toward Juan.  But whatever his motives in testifying, residents need to be aware of what he’s doing so that they can take the necessary steps to protect themselves and their privacy. -- Ed Hamilton

23rd Steet Gusher

There was a big gusher on 23^rd St. near 7^th Ave. this afternoon.  We rushed out there with our camera but they had turned it off before we got a picture.  Several businesses on the block are without water.  As of 1:30 it’s still on at the Chelsea, but it is looking nasty and brown and is due to be cut off soon. Stock up on Poland Spring at the Aristocrat Deli thirsty bohemians.

RIP Vinnie Scoglio 12/13/83 - 8/9/08

We hung out with Don, Jess, Vinnie, Joey & Richard (all members of The Traumas) when they stayed at the Chelsea Hotel back in April.  They were all really cool and totally loved the hotel and were excited to be able to afford to stay at this awesome place.  I think that the only thing that would have made them happier would have been to get the opportunity to play a gig in NYC.  (They were in town to attend a concert.) They even gave us a copy of their recent CD which really rocks and reminds us of The Ramones.  We were saddened to learn from Don that Vinnie recently died.  Most of the time that we were hanging out with the group Vinnie was busy writing in his song book, but he seemed like a really great guy and he wanted to know a lot about the hotel. 
Don had this to say about Vinnie:  "Even though Vinnie didn't have much to say and was writing in his journal/songbook most of the time, he didn't miss a word and was happy to meet a fellow writer that was living as a writer in a hotel that 90 percent of the music/books/poems and art that we are into have graced. We never got to play a show in NYC yet we kept true to ourselves and the Chelsea spirit and things were really taking off. He was older than his 24 years and must have been dealing with some heavy stuff however the Vinnie I knew was a quick wit, with a great since of humor and a very ironic world view. He was our Lou Reed, Jim Morrison, Iggy Pop and John Lennon all rolled into one thing that was not a copy but a channel for what music should be and that all the "IT" bands of today seem to have lost...or never had. While I subscibe to the don't mourn the loss, celebrate the life ideal, I can't help feel such loss for a great friend and a very talented writer/songwriter."

(Photo: The Traumas in their room at the Chelsea Hotel earlier this year.)

A Fan Of The Chelsea Sends a Love Letter

To All the Beautiful Ones At The Chelsea,

        I finally got the chance to walk through the halls and walk up and down the stairs of The Chelsea Hotel. I sat in the lobby for a while, looking at the beautiful paintings and sculptures. I admired the old furniture and sat in many of the chairs to have different views of the lobby. When I walked up and down the stairs, I found I was not only in a special place Historically, I was in an Art Museum. The beauty of the paintings, the light from the top of the roof, the railings of the staircases spiraling up and down a beauty in itself.  The quietness, the ambience, I felt good to be inside and to see the circles of pictures dangling from the sky it seemed, I was in awe. The colors of the circles, of the paintings on the wall and I saw this for free. I could picture books being written behind the numbered doors, I could picture more paintings and artworks of all kinds being created as I walked high and low. I am inspired to create Art. How could anyone want to change such a beautiful apartment building. I know The Chelsea has tenants come and go, but why should it end? Does this wonderful place have to change. Sure, transients are welcome, that is a pleasure. To deny new tenants is a sin. It is a slap in the face to any lover of all the Arts. Can anyone come to The Chelsea and practice a play, dance a dance or sing a song. Is there anyway to stop what should'nt be happening? We need this. Our city needs The Chelsea the way it is. I cannot accept it changing. For I dream of living in The Chelsea but is that only what it is, a dream to me? I don't want this to happen. Is there anything I can do to help? I want to preserve its beauty. I want to see the inhabitants happy in their home. I want to know new tenants are moving in and staying awhile or longer. If there is something I can do to help The Chelsea stay the way it wants to be. Please let me know. Good luck with your fight, don't give up. I believe The Chelsea will survive. Thank you for reading this. Thank you for letting me walk through your halls and sit for a spell in your lobby. Oh what a spell The Chelsea has on me.

                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                                                Catherine Leone
(Photo: Claiqre)

Divided Loyalties: Manager Andrew Tilley Testifies Against Tenant In DHCR Hearing

The Chelsea’s new general manager, Andrew Tilley, has expressed an openness to discussion and a willingness to work with tenants to address their concerns in this time of uncertainty, and for this he should rightly be praised.  Yet on Friday, Sept 5, Tilley was downtown in the offices of the DHCR, testifying against one of these very same tenants!
          We have nothing against Tilley, per se: we need someone to oversee the operations of the building, and he seems like a decent, competent guy.  On the other hand, he’s supposed to be working for us--the tenants--as we’re the ones paying the rent that ultimately pays his salary so he can go home and kick back in his nice house in the burbs.  Why, then, is he doing the dirty work of the minority shareholders in this case by attacking a tenant who is only standing up for his or her rights?

Although, unfortunately, I can’t go into the details of the DHCR case at this time, one thing I would like to point out is that Tilley was not manager at the time that the key incidents with which the case is concerned were taking place.  He has no first hand knowledge of these incidents whatsoever.  Far from being called in to testify about the neutral facts of the case, Tilley was called in for the sole purpose of besmirching the tenant’s character, and he did so by dredging up another, unrelated incident.

This raises a serious issue of trust: is Tilley going to act like he’s taking our concerns about evictions, repairs and construction seriously, and then turn right around use the information we’ve given him in the course of these discussions to stab us in the back?

            We understand that Tilley has divided loyalties here, and is essentially serving two masters, but there must be a better way to mediate between the demands of these two warring camps.  -- Ed Hamilton

An Experimental Animation Showcase

Rosebud Pettet stopped by the Hotel recently to let us know about an upcoming screening at the Anthology Film Archives. Rosebud was the "spiritual wife" of former Chelsea Hotel resident and the great experimental filmmaker Harry Smith.   She is also close friends with many notable artists and Chelsea Hotel residents past and present. Oddly, the hotel denied Pettet's request to leave a few postcards for the event in the lobby. I thought the new Hotel management wanted to help promote the work of the artists connected with the Chelsea.

AN EVENING OF EXPERIMENTAL ANIMATIONS: KAMouflage Films are the work of artist/filmmaker Kirt Markle and his collaborator, Rosebud Pettet. These films have been described as “Dazzling…reminiscent of the later work of Harry Smith.” Rosebud, Smith’s close companion for 27 years, says, “Harry would have loved these…” All films are from 2007/2008, and will be screened on video.  Saturday, September 13, 7:00 p.m., 32 Second Avenue, NYC.  Admission: $8.00

Longtime Employee Fired After Signing Confidentiality Agreement

We have some bad news to report: Yakov Shtromandel, a longtime employee of the Chelsea Hotel who recently acted as interim manager of the hotel after BD Hotel’s dismissal, has himself been abruptly fired.  The new manager, Andrew Tilley, gave no reason for Yakov’s termination.  (As New York is a Right to Work state, and Yakov was not a member of the union, Tilley is not required to give a reason.)  Yakov, a friend to many of us at the hotel, will be missed.

Suspiciously, however, the day before he was fired, Tilley had asked Yakov to sign a confidentiality agreement.  This is the sort of thing they make you sign in Hollywood so you won’t be able to spill the beans on the big star’s illicit affairs after they can your ass.  Yakov, however, didn’t feel he had any reason to be suspicious, because as far as he knew he was an employee in good standing (he loyally fulfilled the thankless job of interim manager at a time when the hotel was in a state of chaos, for instance).  But apparently Tilley and Marlene Krauss thought he knew too much.

Reportedly, Yakov was not the only employee asked to sign the agreement.  Several other employees were asked to do so last week as well.  Although we don’t know how many were asked to sign, the ones we do know of have at least one thing in common: they are non-union employees.  (Union employees can’t be fired at will.)  Could this mean that more firings are in the works?  Non-union employees include: Jerry Weinstein, Robert Rabara, Shefi Kowashnick, Faina Latsnelson, and Juan Gaviria among others.

The threat of firing is usually enough to keep workers from ratting out their bosses, so it stands to reason that if Tilley thinks he needs these confidentiality agreements, it’s because he knows he will no longer have the threat of firing to hold over their heads.  (He’s not asking it of the Union employees, since he can’t fire them so easily anyway.)  Our advice to non-union employees: don’t sign the confidentiality agreement.

Since Andrew Tilley, through his attendance at the Tenants Association Meeting,  has shown himself to be open to discussing issues of importance with Chelsea Hotel residents, we think that concerned residents should ask him the following questions:

1. Why was Yakov abruptly fired?

2. Does he plan to fire other employees?

3.  What’s up with the confidentiality agreements?

Many of these workers are part of the Chelsea Hotel family, and I believe we have a right to know the answers to these questions.  -- Ed Hamilton

Hard Rock Hero Caught Between Scyla and Charibdis

As Observer reporter Chris Shott points out, new Chelsea Hotel manager Andrew Tilley has found himself in a precarious position, attempting to make nice with the tenants while at the same time carrying out Marlene Krauss and David Elder's harsh project of evictions.  Talk about divided loyalties. Luckily, I guess his past experience qualifies him for the unenviable task of being caught between a ROCK and a HARD spot!

Bite Me Chinachgook

As I've mentioned before on this blog, one of tragedies of the ouster of the Bard family is that the Chelsea is no longer fulfilling its historic mission of nurturing new artists.  I have absolutely no interest in  being one of the last Mohicans.  And in the spirit of conciliation, Debbie and I will gladly give up our room in the Hotel if the following two conditions are met:

1. The return of the Bard family to a management role. No matter what you think of  Stanley, he is the man who created the (recently much compromised) creative vibe of the Chelsea and maintained the hotel as a haven for artists for 50 years. None of us would be here if not for him.

2. An end to the current ban on new permanent residents. This is the only way to guarantee that the Chelsea continues to remain a vital artistic community in the years to come. (Transient guests are important, as they help liven things up, but in and of themselves they don’t constitute a community.) The best way to achieve this is to bring back the Bards.

Ed Hamilton

Support for Chelsea's Continued Existence

A blog reader writes in to wish us luck in our struggle to preserve the Chelsea's historic legacy.

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for your Hotel Chelsea blog. I try to stay at the Chelsea whenever I come to town, and I love being able to check up on what is happening there when I am back home.  I fell in LOVE with the Hotel Chelsea the minute I stepped through the lobby doors.  I have never felt more at home than I do within the walls of that great building, which is not an exaggeration by any means. I admire the effort that the tenants and admirers of the hotel are making to keep its legacy intact.  As you know, it is more than just a structure, but instead a symbol of creativity and community.  I am a twenty-three year old with a degree in Film/Video and a love for writing.  I feel like the Chelsea is a place for people of my generation to look to for comfort in knowing that there will always be a place where artists are not only welcome, but can also come to flourish creatively.  Once again, thank you for everything you and those around you are doing to maintain the integrity of the Chelsea.  I guess I just wanted you to know that your efforts go beyond just the confines of New York City, and are appreciated by those who hope that the Chelsea lives on for generations to come.

Stephanie Class

Thanks for writing.  We'll do our best to ensure that the Chelsea remains a welcoming place for new generations of artists in the years to come.  Of course to achieve this goal will involve restoring the Bards to their management role and allowing new permanent residents to be admitted to the hotel.  Anything less and the Chelsea will become a merely a hollow shell of its former glorious self.