It’s a sorid and sad tale, but poet, songwriter and former Hotel Chelsea resident, Leonard Cohen, is broke and the lawsuits are flying.  From the August 17th issue of Macleans. "Take an iconic artist, mix in missing millions, hints of tantric sex, a lawsuit replete with other salacious details, and a ruptured relationship with a…

Tired of sitting in the dark listening to the hum from your air conditioner because you can’t even turn on a 60 watt bulb to read by or the fuse will blow — then head to the beach where there is plenty of light.  Several new works that capture the charm of bohemia are available…

April Barton, of Suite 303, is no longer content just to be part of the Chelsea scene.  She plans to set up shop at the historic Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. By fall, the Roosevelt will house even more star attractions. Prominent Southern California chef Tim Goodell and his wife, Liza, who recently opened the restaurant…

French actress Julie Delpy, who I’ve often seen living the Bohemian life at the Chelsea, has recently been dumped by her agent.  Perhaps that explains why I’ve seen her in the halls and elevator of the Chelsea, dragging a guitar along behind her and humming John Denver’s "Sunshine." She was trying to keep her spirits…

Chelsea Hotel resident and author Susan Swan dishes out some advice to the wannabe Casanovas at match.com. Born in Venice in 1725, Giacomo Casanova was a soldier, adventurer, spy, novelist—and perhaps the most famous ladies’ man in history. Men often assume Casanova was so successful with women because he possessed some secret knowledge of the…

Since I don’t have an author interview to post today, I checked out the new Google video search technology and found a BookTV interview with Sarah Vowell from a few months ago.  Apparantly, the author was asked if anyone had ever got mad at her because of what she had written.  And her answer: "have…

Former Resident Patti Smith received one of France’s top cultural honors on Sunday. Smith, 58, was presented with the insignia of Commander of the Order of the Arts and Letters by Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres. The ministry, in a statement, noted Smith’s appreciation for 19th-century French poet Arthur Rimbaud, and praised her as…

The upcoming documentary, Factory People, is the first major documentary on the Warhol era since the release of Andy Warhol: The Complete Picture in 2002.  The new documentary will be broadcast on French television in autumn 2005.  Among the Warhol era folks interviewed by the producers was Victor Bockris, the author of numerous books including…