Living with Legends

Hotel Chelsea Blog

recent posts

about

Remembering Arthur Weinstein

UPDATE:  Blog BrooklynVegan has posted a very nice tribute to Arthur.

Yesterday (7/9/08) the Chelsea Hotel lost a dear friend in Arthur Weinstein.  In keeping with tradition, his Arthurweinstein life and artistry will be celebrated today, Thursday July 10, at noon at the Temple just to the west of the Chelsea Hotel.  Please join his family and friends to remember Arthur. 

Expressions of sympathy can be left for his family courtesy of Room #210.

(Photo: Arthur in his studio, Jan 2007)

Luke Jorger and Indigo Toledo’s Chelsea documentary features an interview with Arthur.
Click here to watch the video — http://www.archive.org/details/IndigoToledoIndigosChelsea_0

Sam Bassett sent over this photo of Arthur which he took a few months back.
Artw

Posted in

24 responses to “Remembering Arthur Weinstein”

  1. luke Joerger Avatar
    luke Joerger

    A true legend. Taken way too soon. In it’s short span a life we can only wish we led. Arthur will be missed. He was The King of the Night.

    Like

    Reply
  2. Old & Crabby Avatar
    Old & Crabby

    Arthur was a unique and special person. His friends included people from all walks of life. He gave one of the more memorable interviews in Abel’s recent documentary. My heart goes out to Coleen and Dahlia during this diffcult time.

    Like

    Reply
  3. Miss H Avatar
    Miss H

    Oh my God. What happened? A great guy, with a wonderful family. My love to Coleen and Dahlia.

    Like

    Reply
  4. brooklynvegan Avatar
    brooklynvegan

    Arthur Weinstein, RIP

    Art passed yesterday, after a courageous fight with cancer. Known to everyone with clout in the nightclub industry, Art was a familiar face for a few decades. He owned and operated some of the best clubs in history. The World,…

    Like

    Reply
  5. Brad Hudson Avatar
    Brad Hudson

    A wonderful friend.
    A devoted father and husband.
    A true Artist.
    I will cherish the memories of having known you over the last 22 years.
    My god bless you Arthur,
    I’m sure heaven has a Stoli waiting for you.

    Like

    Reply
  6. Vorago Joe Avatar
    Vorago Joe

    Oh man. Arthur, I’m really going to miss you, my friend. You were one in a million. Thank you for all your thoughts and inspiration. Rest well, and give ’em hell on the other side. Can’t wait to see you there.

    Like

    Reply
  7. Peter Frank Avatar
    Peter Frank

    G-d rest your soul, Arthur my friend.
    The World was yours and you made it
    mine.
    Peter

    Like

    Reply
  8. Michelle Andres Avatar
    Michelle Andres

    Arthur was an amazing and kind individual. Anytime I’d visit Dahlia he took the time out to talk, play and take the cutest pics of my daughter. The sweetest family Ive ever met must be the Weinsteins. i love them.

    Like

    Reply
  9. Marlina Avatar
    Marlina

    Arthur Weinstein was like a second dad to me. I lived with him and his family a few years. And they treated me like a second daughter, and for that I will never forget them. Arthur had a tough guy image but on the inside was a kind and generous person. He made me a part of his family, invited me over all the time, to all events, family get togethers. Whenever i had a problem, i could go to Arthur and talk to him about it, he would always tell me a story that related to the situation. He would console me when i was upset. He would offer a homeless man his las 20$. He was the kind of man who loved Art, loved his family, and loved his daughter greatly. He was larger then life, had an amazing personality and could make you laugh instantaneously as he walked through the door with a funny comment.
    Within 60 years on this earth, he lived many many lifetimes. These were a tough couple of months for Arthur and his family, including friends. But Arthur was loved so much he had people over and visiting him everyday in the hospital or at home. He was truly loved by so many, and he is a lucky man to have had so much support and love around him at the time of death, durring his illness, and throughout his life.
    Arthur was the kind of guy who went to my dads funeral to show support for me and my mom and he didnt even know my dad. Thats the kind of man Arthur was. He will always be in my thoughts and prayers.
    I have this one lasting image that i want to share, last week Arthur was at home and bed ridden, i had been taking care of him that day. He couldnt talk, and barely write, he was weak from chemo. However when i was leaving the apartment i said to him “Arthur I love you” and he lipped the words “i love you too.” I just am happy to have had that moment with him, and so many more over the years.
    I love you Arthur and may you rest in peace.

    Like

    Reply
  10. Scott Taylor Avatar
    Scott Taylor

    Almost every night at Enchanted garden where I was a bartender (a club in Queens owned by Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager) I would overhear people pestering Steve to take them with him, Steve’s reply would always be the same “I can take 3 maybe 4 but any more then that they might not let me in”, I thought wow, what club could he possibly be afraid to actually not get in , I ask one of the other bartenders where are they going , he looked at me like I was clueless and said HURRAH’s,, I thought wow who ever created that place must be a genius. even Steve is kissing his ass,,Cut to 6 month’s later and its Studio 54’s 2nd night open , I’m working behind the main bar and about half way through the night this guy saunters up to the bar with what I could only describe as a relaxed coolness’ he says to me “stoly and tonic” I get him the drink and say that’s $3;50 please, he turns and shoots me a look like I just ask him to stick a needle in his eye and say’s “what for” I said, for the drink, slightly agitated he replies ,” do you know who I am?” at that point in the night had heard every story in the book why people did not want to pay for drinks, and I was a bit over it, so I looked him dead in the eye’s and said “no who the FUCK are you” He looked at me in a warm friendly manner and said ‘I m Arthur I own Hurrah” I nearly shit, wow it was him ,the guy ,the one Steve respected, I said shit your right you don’t pay for drinks around here ,and from that point on our camaraderie and friendship began’
    when I became aware that he was married about to be a father I was in awe of him, he showed that you didn’t have to be a suburban dush bag and drive a station wagon to be considered a “family man” he instantly became my role model
    they say in life everyone has one true love, well I think the same can be applied to friendship, and he in my life had been that one true friend , sure I have other friend’s and will continue to make new one’s but none will ever have the same importance or be as special as he was to me.over 30 years we had been through allot together, illegal clubs ,legal clubs,, all types of adventures, but what was constant though out was his caring and love for me that always showed, he was like my father ,brother and son all wrap up in one person,, I miss him dearly,But the good news is that people only die when you forget about them, and any one who had contact with Art will never forget him Iv now tagged him in my mind as the “Immortal One”,,, at that Art would have said “SHUDDdddd DUPppppppp your making me sick…
    I Miss Ya Buddy :0)
    Your forever in my heart
    Posted by Scott Taylor

    Like

    Reply
  11. "John The Greek" Avatar
    “John The Greek”

    Arthur Weinstein a man with a giant’s and a spirit of a god!
    Arthur, until we meet again, thank you for what you gave us.
    “John The Greek”

    Like

    Reply
  12. Joni Daidone Avatar
    Joni Daidone

    I met Arthur 23 years or so ago at The World, and though we never exchanged more than a few words each night, he always welcomed us into his club, gave me a huge smile and hug, made sure we had free drinks and made us feel welcome. No one could throw a party like Arthur. He epitomized cool in every possible way — from music to art to fashion to bringing together the most creative people in the city — to just being himself. He brought together Neil Young, Bowie, Debbie Harry, Devo, the list goes on and on. The best DJ’s in the city. And of course, his gift for lighting. I know he’s not going to rest in peace but create something even more fabulous in the next life. My thoughts are with his wife and daughter and all those whose lives he touched.

    Like

    Reply
  13. Arielle Avatar
    Arielle

    I worked as a cage dancer at the limelight for several years in the early 90s. My nightly ritual was bringing Arthur his Stoli and listening to his legendary nightclub stories for hours in that DJ booth. “Get to work,” and “Even I could dance better than that!” he would yell at me pretty much every night… His mix of serious and sweet always rubbed me the right way, he really was a true pal for many of my “formative years.” I’ll never forget you my friend xx AJ

    Like

    Reply
  14. Andra Avatar
    Andra

    will miss Arthur with all of my heart.
    So many beliefs I have, and accomplishments I have achieved, I can attribute to Arthur, usually telling me off for having a stupid idea, but his guidance has had a major influence on my life.
    Arthur took me under his wing when I was still too young to be at Limelight.
    He taught me who was ok, and kept me from leaving the club with many a degenerate. He taught me how to roll a joint with one hand and your jeans. We spent several Christmases together at limelight wondering why we were the only 2 people there, feeding the mice popcorn and just talking. Arthur would say “The beat on this is amazing” and turn the soundsystem on to play something and tell me to go sit in the middle of the limelight dancefloor so I could really hear the base. He’d sit up in the booth and put on the lightshow.. so I could have the full experience.
    When it came time for me to leave NY behind and finally go to college, he gave me the push I needed to go. I was really torn on leaving NY, and considering staying at limelight and pushing off another semester. Arthur looked at me like it was the most ridiculous thing he ever heard, and said “Go out and see the world honey, NY will still be here. Storefronts will change, nothing else ever really changes. There is nothing for you here now. Stop complaining and just go”
    When my own father died. Arthur was the first person to make me laugh.. with his dry blunt sense of humor. I had come back from college, we were sitting in the office at palladium. I told him then that I guessed he would have to be my dad now. He said fine, but then I better get back to college and not to spend a second longer than I needed in NY, and not to get caught up with my degenerate friends and their bullshit when I was home.
    In many ways Arthur was the one stable father figure in my life. He loved his wife Colleen truly. I loved hearing about his family, mine was such a mess.
    I hear his words leave my lips so often when I am giving advice.. “There is no excuse for not going for whatever you want in life. If you fail .. so what”
    The “NY will still be here” I use that one often for friends who are on the fence about moving somewhere they’d rather be.
    I cannot in this moment sum up all the wisdom Arthur has taught me .. the one I can think of are that life will always unexpected, crazy, and that you better roll with the punches and not take it to seriously if you want to make it. Dont buy into bullshit. And always laugh…

    Like

    Reply
  15. sirensongs Avatar
    sirensongs

    Classic Arthurian wit: One of the many mornings, coming from one of innumerable after hours, we stumbled out into the dawn. Someone cried aghast, “oh my god, it’s MORNING!” Arthur didn’t miss a beat, and mumbled “Morning Becomes Elektra.” A nightclub king who knew his Greek tragedies and could riff like that at 6am, one of a kind. With love and respect from Kathmandu, Nepal.

    Like

    Reply
  16. Zoe Hansen Avatar
    Zoe Hansen

    I met Artur twenty three or four years ago, I walked his dogs with my friend as we lived close to eachother, he had a lovely family. He was always a good kind man, who knew how to throw great partys. My question is, does anyone know what happened to his brother Marty? Knew him a long time ago and my friend Connie & I were wondering what happened to Marty. Thank you for touching all of the people who knew and cared for you Arthur, you will be missed.

    Like

    Reply
  17. brian saltern Avatar
    brian saltern

    Art. This city won’t be the same without you. Your wit. Your style. Your humor. My heart goes out
    to Colleen and Dahlia. I’m very, very sad. You’ll be missed. love ya, — B

    Like

    Reply
  18. Tom Savarese Avatar
    Tom Savarese

    We were friends from day one. I carry you with me, always. The memories, the music…Hurrah!
    Tom Savarese

    Like

    Reply
  19. Marlina Avatar
    Marlina

    To Zoe Hansen who asked about Marty Weinstein Arthur’s brother. I wanted to let you know that Marty Weinstein Passed away three weeks prior to Arthur, and he also died from cancer, he had brain, bone, and lung cancer. Henry Weinstein, Arthur’s dad also passed away this year.
    Arthur is survived by his daughter Dahlia, his wife Colleen, his mother Renee, and his youngest brother Robert Weinstein.
    To view Arthurs tribute site, you may go to http://www.myspace.com/arthurweinstein
    of facebook page Which is under his first and last name.

    Like

    Reply
  20. DENNIS KELLY Avatar
    DENNIS KELLY

    I JUST LEARNED OF THE LOSS OF A GREAT GREAT FRIEND AND HUMAN BEING ,, MY HEART TO COLLEN AND DAHLIA ,, I NEW OF HIS ILLNESS ,, BUT REGET AND ALLWAYS WILL,, NOT HAVING TO SHOOT THE SHIT WITH THE MAYOR OF CHELSEA ,, ARTHUR WEINSTEIN I LOVE YOU ,, YOU WERE MY FRIEND AND MENTOR ,, I WILL CRY INSIDE EVERY TIME I CAN QUOTE YOU AND THE ANTICS OF THE LIMELIGHT ,, ARTHUR ,, THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER YOU ! YOUR FRIEND AND PUPIL .. DENNIS KELLY

    Like

    Reply
  21. jahnbon Avatar
    jahnbon

    From personal experience: he was one of the club owners who always paid the musicians. ’nuff said.

    Like

    Reply
  22. rodrigo Llano Avatar
    rodrigo Llano

    After some busy days, just today i checked the chelsea blog and found this sad news..
    Last winter, Arthur found me looking his pictures hanged in the 2nd floor hallway, my video camera follow his stories and his personality for some minutes, invites us to his workshop-office-house and share us some moments .
    The love form the images and some words in spanish connect us.. his incredible work put a mark in my imaginary work.
    Arthur .. thanks for invite us to know your and your inspirations…
    From Chile … with my respect for his family…
    Rodrigo Llano

    Like

    Reply
  23. Tish cindric Avatar
    Tish cindric

    I am another Arthur Weinstein fan and night club graduate from Hurrah in the 70’s to The World in the 80’s. But my boyfriend and I loved the Continental the best because of the pure illicit vibe of the garage, and Arthur standing out front in his cool vintage jackets and his great head of hair, meetin’ and greetin’. We always exchanged words with him and so, I felt he was in some way a friend of mine. I have always thought of all those nights he created for us to enjoy. For all my friends long lost, that enjoyed those nights with me, I send my sincerest sympathy to his family. Arthur was an unforgettable part of New York life in those decades. I’ll be sad for a long time. Rest well, cool Chelsea man.

    Like

    Reply
  24. pb Avatar
    pb

    My favorite story about Arthur is while one night up in the VIP room at The World, we were looking out of the window when a limo pulled up. When the doors opened, out came Mickey Rourke with his first wife. Arthur was giddy and turned to me and said; “Paul, I’m going to go get them and bring them up…then I am going to get in the limo with Mick and run around to some other clubs. I want you to “babysit” his wife while we’re gone. Anything she want’s, get her…ANYTHING.” He then proceeded to grab two bottles of champagne at the bar and had me set up a corner for them.
    As Mickey and Arthur drove away…I saw the “magic” that came to Arthur so naturally. An innate sense of style and class that created the “scene” that he was so instrumental in making.
    That was a very important lesson for me in the years that followed. In my own, businesses I never forgot the power that Arthur saw in the “style” of being a club-owner. He knew what “thrilled” people from lighting to the sublime…I will always cherish the memories as well as the times that we shared. This was a very special man.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment