Living with Legends: Hotel Chelsea Blog

A Call For Activists to Rally Around Storme Delarverie

Kudos to all of the people who are spreading the word about Storme's remarkable life via blogs, twitter and email.  Currently, the NY Times story is #15 on the most e-mailed article list.  Keep spreading the word.

UPDATED BELOW -- In the midst of this week-end's gay pride festivities, we should not forget those who have fought to make these freedoms possible.  As pointed out by Manny Fernandez in his NY Times article, for the first time since its inception, Stonewall activist Storme Delarverie was unable to attend Sunday's Gay Pride Parade.  Storme's longtime friend, Lisa Cannistraci, owner of the lesbian bar Henrietta Hudson, says:

“I feel like the gay community could have really rallied, but they didn’t."

“The young gays and lesbians today have never heard of her, and most of our activists are young. They’re in their 20s and early 30s. The community that’s familiar with her is dwindling.”

While Storme suffers from some dementia, she is physically strong, and, as we've mentioned previously on this blog, we would like to see her return to live out her days among her friends at the Chelsea Hotel.  In the meantime, it's important for people to continue to keep visiting Storme and to continue to watch out for her well-being. A JASA official, Leah Ferster, is quoted in the article as saying that Storme is allowed to be taken outside of the nursing home for walks and such.  There's a park less than a block away from the Oxford Nursing Home, and even the opportunity to go for an hour's walk there would no doubt mean a lot to Storme.  (Photo of Storme at Gay Pride in 2005 via SVA)

UPDATE: In a statement on their website The Stonewall Veterans Association challenges JASA's assertion that they were unaware that members of the community wanted to take Storme out of the nursing home for special events. Here's the SVA statement: "Storme likes the happening that a story exposing his sudden plight as of the past few months, came out on Gay Pride weekend; however, does not like the underlying reality that he was deprived of partaking in his organization's "41st Annual Conference & Stonewall Veterans Reunion". That was held on Saturday, June 26th at the New York Gay Center. The SVA had all arrangements necessary but no one was given the 'ultimate permission' from JASA though they were well aware (unlike the denial in the story). This is the first time that Storme missed the meaningful SVA event and a reunion with other Stonewall vets!"

Doctor Marlene Krauss, Magnetize Thyself!

Having failed to make a killing in the hotel business, Chelsea Hotel minority shareholder   Marlene Krauss, an ophthalmologist, seems to have gone into the more promising field of mental health care.  The following is from the website for her latest venture, the Sychordia Center, which employs a technique called NeuroStar TMS Therapy to treat depression:

Our Center

Let us care for you

Sychordia is located at 50 East 72nd street in the nicest location we could find, it is decorated with soothing colors like yellow and pale green; nothing to jolt you like red. We have herbal tea and cookies to relax you and make you feel at home and if you tell us the songs that make you feel good, we will play them for you. We work long hours to make it convenient for you to visit us since we are open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. 7 days a week. Our office is near Central Park so you can go for a stroll after your treatment or you can go to the Whitney Museum. In your present mood, you might not be able to imagine that you would want to do this, but we hope we can help you to the point that you will. You are with us for 40 minutes while you are getting your treatment and this may be a good time to watch your favorite movie; funny ones are best. We will pause it for you to continue at your next session. You can look at our educational DVDs if you want to see masterpieces at the Louvre or learn how to make sushi. Studies have actually shown that your mind might be more receptive to what you see and hear while you are getting TMS treatment so we want to fill it with things that bring you the kind of joy that you can carry with you. We feel that these little touches combined with our excellent medical care and leading edge technology just might make your life a lot better.

What, no radio waves from outer space?!  You must be slipping, Marlene.  Or, maybe not.  TMS, in case you wondered, stands for “Transcranial  Magnetic Stimulation.”  Finally, some good news for all our readers who have been depressed by what Marlene has done to the Chelsea Hotel.

(Photo: God's Helmet from Discover Magazine)  

Article on New Boutique Hotels in New York Fails to Mention Chelsea

Here's an article on six new mid-town boutique hotels.  Hmmmmm, let's see now: Distrikt, Eventi, Fashion 26, Hotel Indigo, The Mave, and The Strand.  Funny, I don't see any mention of the Chelsea here.  What's the matter Marlene?  Failed?

Iconic Eatery "Florent" Celebrated in Documentary

For 23 years Florent was home to the wild and wacky denizens of the meat packing district. Long before the area was infiltrated by models and hipsters Florent was the lone outpost of cool in the area. Like the Chelsea Hotel, Florent became an organic community of like-minded individuals for whom the resturant was a home away from home. Also like the Chelsea, in the middle of this decade, Florent came under attack by forces of greed. Rather than submit to outrageous rent demands Florent Morellet closed the beloved eatery in June 2008. For those of you who miss the old place David Sigal has released a new documentary on the beloved eatery: "Florent: Queen of the Meat Market".  The documentary includes appearances by the Chelsea's own Christo & Jean Claude. 

Thursday, June 24 at 8:00 pm. (Tickets are pricey but food from Florent's original menu will be served.)    Other Florent coverage on this blog:  Florent Has A Similar Spirit, May 2005;  Trivia Master of Florent Stumped, June 2006; Holiday Wish List, December 2008

Chelsea Hotel Still Standing (Barely) On Three-Year Anniversary of Bard Ouster

Today marks the three-year anniversary of the shameful ouster of the Bard family.  Although the Chelsea Hotel is presently in disarray, we feel confident that plumber’s daughter Marlene Krauss’ reign of failure will soon be over.  While the Bard family showed a profit year after year, since their ouster the hotel has been loosing money hand over fist.  Rooms sit empty and un-renovated, or are rented for peanuts over the internet to clueless tourists with no sense of the hotel’s proud tradition.  The only tenants remaining in the retail stores are those that the Bards brought in, as no business person in his or her right mind would rent from Krauss and partner-in-slime David Elder.  Most recently, Elder, who fled to California under cover of darkness, has been excavating the basement in a desperate attempt to find  Piri Thomas’ money.  Good luck with that.  Meanwhile, despite new manager Tamasar’s new round of eviction proceedings, there’s still no boutique hotel and plenty of permanent residents left.  The dedicated activists of the Chelsea Hotel continue to fight for the return of the Bard Family.  For those keeping score at home, the card now reads:

 

BD Hotels & Glennon “Gigi” Travis – 8 months

Andrew “Picadilly” Tilley - 7 months
David Elder – 13 months

Arnold "crapper czar" Tamasar – 1 month and counting down to blast off

Stanley Bard – 50 Years

 

Two year timeline is here:

Belgians Encounter Warhol Impersonator at the Chelsea Hotel

In 1988, one year after Andy Warhol’s untimely death, Catherine Colard and her friends came over from Belgium to do a report on the surviving Warhol scene.  According to Colard, their search for former Factory regulars began at the Sotheby's sale of Warhol belongings and memorabilia. Continuing to the Chelsea Hotel, they found Warhol Superstar Viva & Allen Midgette in residence.  In the photos below, Colard poses in clothing handmade by Allen Midgette, who in turn poses as Warhol.  Midgette’s designs were inspired by both Warhol’s art and by American Indian culture.  You can find more photos on Catherine's facebook page.  Finally, check out Catherine and her friends hanging out in the famous historic lobby. Some things never change. 

Thomas Wolfe Suite Now Available for Steamy Video Shoots

How's this for proof that Chelsea Hotel minority shareholder Marlene Krauss has finally done as she said she was going to do and activate the historic spaces of the Chelsea Hotel. Check out this video that was shot in Thomas Wolfe's suite. You'll notice former tenant/photographer Julia Calfee's photograph hanging on the wall. And, it also looks like one of her small rugs is still on the floor. So much for the boutiquing of the Chelsea. Theophilus seems to think he's at a Ramada Inn.

THEOPHILUS LONDON "I WANT YOU" (OFFICIAL VIDEO) dir. VASHTIE from va$htie on Vimeo.

+++++

A question that we can't answer: Who's in charge of the Chelsea Hotel?

A gentleman who manages a historic building in Washington DC enjoyed his stay at the Chelsea and would like to come back again.   He just had one small problem which you can read about below.  It turns out that he has the same question that we do: who's in charge of this hotel.  Maybe somebody can get this cleared up.  That is, if there is really anyone in charge.

I found your Chelsea Hotel Blog and just had to share a little frustration and ask if you knew if anyone is actually in charge of the place.  I stayed there back in November and received a parking ticket while my car was in front of the Hotel waiting to be parked.  I found the ticket when my car was brought back the next morning and the valet told me to give it to the Front Desk.  Based on my overnight stay, I was less than confident this would resolve the issue, but figured it was my best bet.  Obviously, they did nothing with the ticket and I received a nice note from the City of New York asking me to pay the ticket. 

After several calls to The Chelsea I was informed “Arnold” had to deal with it, but Arnold seems to be some sort of mystery man who’s voicemail is so full that it can no longer receive messages.  After a few more futile attempts to track down Arnold I finally made it through to him and he gave me his email address.  Wow, I thought, this might actually work.  Long story short, I just paid the fine City of New York $125 for the few minutes my car was parked in front of The Chelsea Hotel and now I hope my credit card company will simply reverse the charge for the night’s stay. 

As a Rock-N-Roll fan and someone who professionally manages historic buildings in Washington DC, I was really excited to stay at the famous/infamous Chelsea Hotel while in town to see Springsteen at the Garden.  Based on a very short stay, I can say I would love to visit the place more, but it is simply a shame the place is so disorganized and obviously not well cared for.

Keep up the good fight!

(Name redacted)

(photo: nycpix)

Star Lounge Goes Supernova, Implodes, and Becomes the Crackless Black Hole of Clubland

In case you didn’t notice, Star Lounge is no more, its basement space gutted, transformed into a dark, dusty, rubble-strewn cavern.  As we celebrate the long-awaited demise of this despised blight upon the Chelsea community, it’s time to look back upon the events leading up to the closure.  

With the club devolving into several nights of hiphop a week, complete with the inevitable battles spilling out into the street, on February 8, 2010 , Star Lounge owner Charles Ferri appeared before the licensing subcommittee of Community Board 4 with a request to renew his liquor license and transfer it to fellow club runner Noel Ashman.  There, Ferri ran into the proverbial buzz-saw of community opposition.  The subcommittee recommended the license transferal, but with a number of stipulations designed to make the club a better neighbor.  Ferri’s request was scheduled for a vote by the full board, when Noel Ashman—perhaps unable to abide by the stipulations, or fearing further community flak—apparently pulled out of the project. Star Lounge battles grew worse .  At this point Ferri, apparently fed up with the whole club game, quickly tried to transfer his liquor license to a club runner named Carlos Narcisse at a licensing subcommittee meeting  in April 2010 .  Fearing an attempt at an end-run, the community activists turned out to make sure that the stipulations agreed to at the earlier meeting were included in the new license.            
     Things got somewhat quieter at Star Lounge in the next month, as Ferri—realizing he would have to placate residents in order to sell his club—hired a new security firm to police the club.  However, at the full meeting of Community Board 4 on May 5, 2010, the board recommended DENIAL OF THE LIQUOR LICENSE.

So that’s where things stand now: after a spectacular flame-out, Star Lounge is now a black hole, devoid of music, liquor, crack, and related debauchery.  Most likely, the Chelsea Hotel's new management will try at some point to con another club runner into opening some kind of liquor-serving establishment in the basement, but hopefully he will have enough sense to take his business elsewhere. The music is over, Lounge Lizard King, turn out the lights.