Space and the City
Posts tagged NYC
CBGB NYC WTF?
Aug 2nd
You know, New York is just fine. There’s plenty of all night eatieries. Some of my nearest and dearest live there. But let me state, definitively, that New York has NOTHING on Houston if it allows a homeless shelter to take over CBGBs. I mean, sure, it’s one thing that we can’t keep The Abyss or The Vatican or The Aquiarium or any club owned by a Murrah open. But, on the other hand, none of these places were the heart of the heart of the start of punk music.
I don’t mean to sound harsh, but perhaps the Bowery Resident’s Committee could find someplace less important to New York’s New Yorkness to put a few dozen more beds for crackhead recitivists. The BRC is not a poor little non-profit. It is a $25 Million a year operation, with over $15 million coming from the city and state. The BRC rents the entire bulding on that block of Bowery for $16k/month – and they then turn around and charge CBGC $19/k for less than half of that space. They refuse to negotiate with CBGB (even though the club says it has the money it owes) and is going to kick them out when their lease ends this month.
So, if you think that this is lame, I encourage you to take a minute and sign the petition to get the BRC back at the negotiating table with CBGBs.
In Manhattan
Feb 18th
in a few hours i’m off to the airport, and as the bootleg copy of stankonia that i bought in times square plays i can’t help but think that, all and all, i’ve enjoyed my time here. i’ve been living the sort of ultra-trendy life that i ocassionally fancy. the people i’ve been here with have taken me to the chi-chi-est resturants and got me past the velvet rope at the hottest clubs. truth be told, however, i miss the unassuming spirit of my houston routine. i’ve been gone for what seems like weeks, and i’m looking forward to resting and recuperating tomorrow (thank you presidents day). i’ll be back – i didn’t get to see the met, the un building, or even step foot in central park. (sidenote for dre – there’s an aircraft carrier here to – which i also didn’t have time to see).
random ny observations: every club, resturant, bar, subway station, etc. has a dj – and there must be some sort of requirement to play rappers’ delight, because (seriously) i heard it in nearly every place i stepped foot here. (never ment to make your daughter cry, i apologize a trillion times).
goal #1 for stay in new york: see woody allen: i didn’t see him, however we happened to run into jerry o’connel (sliders, stand by me) more than once.
Manhattan
Feb 17th
cold cold cold. i spent the afternoon wandering around the city filming. traveling by cab, subway, and (mostly) foot. it was a whilrwin tour of all the places you see on tv – i hit battery park, the statue of liberty, the NYSE, the world trade center, rockfeller plaza, and of course the fabulous questia new york office. it was about 30 degrees outside – thank goodness i bought a beanie at the airport. because i was walking around talking to myself (into the camera) i fit right in – it was great to see so many parts of the city – i think i might come back some day.
i’m reviewing my film right now and its coming out better than i thought it would – go me.
Manhattan
Feb 16th
its the close of my second full day in the city, and the last day of the national college media convention. tomorrow i have the day off and plan to use it seeing the sites. for the past 8 hours i’ve been on my feet talking about questia, broken only by a short break during which i walked ten blocks to our new york office to do some filming. needless to say my feet hurt and i am contemplating whethor or not to hit the town this evening. last night went to a party attented by executives at all the top ny publishing houses. it was held in the campbell apartment, a chic out of the way bar in grand central station. i actuall say it on the travel channel before i got here
after that we headed to a resturant and then (because there were so many of us) grabbed a limo over to the hudson bar (last time people in our group were there, they ran into tom cruise – two months later he ditched nicole – coincidence? i think not). note to people traveling to new york: the drinks here cost twice as much as they would if they were made with liquid gold – take care.
goal # for stay in new york city: see woody allen: uddate: though i haven’t seen mr allen yet, one in our party did happen to be standing there when don king got out of his limo.
Manhattan
Feb 14th
its evening one of my first trip to nyc. i’m in town for the national college media convention, where i’ll be working at the booth and doing some filming. i’m staying in a hotel a few blocks from times square (which is at once both the smallest an most expensive room i’ve ever stayed in. it reminds me of the old 97′s song ‘broadway’ – “In a hotel room that costs as much as my apartment/ i can watch the working class go down”) right now i’m dressed in all black (as i’m told is the only way to attire oneself in manhatten) and contemplating whethor or not i should leave my room and go venture around the city.
goal #1 for stay in new york city: see woody allen.
