Living with Legends: Hotel Chelsea Blog

Mystery Management of the Chelsea Hotel

Things are getting very confusing around here.  How in the world are we supposed to sort out these clues?  First we received this e-mail from Director of Operations Arnold Tamasar on March 22, 2010:

Ed,

Although we did not get off to a great start I wanted to wish you all the best.

The Hotel Chelsea will always have a place in my heart. I will take and cherish all
my fondest memories of the culture which exists here at the Chelsea. It is a remarkable place…and I will miss it.

Arnold Tamasar

Maybe somebody sent him some knickers in the mail.  We didn’t care one way or the other because we still had our beloved David Elder to take care of us.  However,  we recently came across this picture of  what purports to be a  good-bye card for Elder:

 

To complicate matters further, how does the recent visit to the Hotel by David Bard fit into the puzzle? 
 
(Photo: The Smoking Nun)

Mistress Marlene, won’t you please enlighten us?

Stonewall Veteran and Drag Performer Stormé DeLarverié Wants to Come Home to the Chelsea

Matt Nestel of DNAinfo has written an illuminating article on the recent plight of our friend and neighbor, gay rights activist Stormé Delarverié.  Hospitalized for dehydration last month, Stormé—famous for the independent and assertive spirit that led her to throw the first punch at Stonewall—was subsequently transferred to the psychiatric ward at St. Vincent’s, and then to a nursing home in Brooklyn.  Hopefully, Nestel’s article will bring this unfortunate situation to the attention of people in a position to aid Stormé.  Though she’s 89 years old and need a little bit of help, Stormé is of sound mind and body and by all accounts ready to come home.  We look forward to her swift return to the Chelsea.

  Another problem that Nestel draws attention to is the disposition of Stormé’s personal effects.  Stormé possessed an archives of documents and memorabilia relevant to both the early history of drag performance and to the gay rights struggle, as well as a collection of art works by early Chelsea Hotel residents.  Though in the article minority shareholder Marlene Krauss disavows all knowledge of the whereabouts of Stormé’s possessions—some of which may have been “misplaced” when Stormé’s room was cleaned during her absence—we suggest that she take a more active role in guaranteeing the safety of this material.

    Concerned friends and neighbors can visit Stormé at The Oxford Nursing Home,
144 South Oxford St., Brooklyn New York.  (Photo from Bring Back the Bard's blog)

Ciaran Dwyer and Band on an Island Send a Tribute to the Bards from the other side of the pond

Irish musician Ciaran Dwyer writes to the blog, "Recently i wrote a ballad that we will be including as a b-side on a 7" single that will be released in April (The song Back Disco from our record will be the A-side), Its an acoustic tune called "Chelsea Bards" and i have included a verse in the tune about the Chelsea and Stanley. Its very rugged and raw. We spent the guts of that day in front of the window drinking beer in the Whitehorse tavern. Then after a short visit to Village wines, we made our way back to Room 325 and laid this down in one take." You can listen here: http://www.mediafire.com/?wgdt1xmzgzy

The Mighty Stef is also on the ballad.

"Chelsea Bards"

Blisters on my feet signal another night, that I should have stayed at home, shouldnt have gone outside Theres murder in my local, wanted posters on the wall, Have you seen this man?
I shouldnt have come home at all.

Avenue A, What happened today? Its true what they say, that you only appreciate something, when you are far, far away.

To Crazy Village nights, under New York City lights, All the times we fell,back to the Chelsea hotel To the sights we never see, The things we'll never be, Tonight my friends we're free, On stools in the bowery.

Lying on an unmade bed, whistling Tom Waits, In a Chelsea hotel room at 23rd and 8th Keep up the good fight , put Stanley back behind his desk Because a home without a fire, is a cold, cold place at best

Avenue A, I walked you all day.
And then In Doc Hollidays, we put Hank Williams on the jukebox and drank the rest of the night away.

To Crazy Village nights, under New York City lights, All the while we fell,back to the Chelsea hotel To the sights we never see, the things we'll never be, tonight my friends we're free, on stools in the bowery.

We Cant find the Whitehorse, you know we never can, but when we get there eventually, We'll have a whiskey for Dylan (Thomas) One for Liam Clancy, one for Ronnie Drew, one for her who cant be here, and one for me and you.

Avenue A, I'm leaving today. Its true what they say, That you only appreciate something, when it gets taken away

To Crazy Village nights, under New York City lights, All the times we fell,back to the Chelsea hotel To the sights we never see, The things we'll never be, Tonight my friends we're free, In New York City.

Band on an Island - facebook