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  • Literary Lights Burn Bright in Former Hawke’s Nest

    Former Hotel Chelsea resident Sparkle Hayter recently played host to Paris in the Chelsea, a party to celebrate the release of Jeremy Mercer’s book Time Was Soft There.  A good time was had by all.  One unexpected highlight of the party for a few Chelsea dwellers was the opportunity to check out the Hawke’s Nest now that it has been vacated.  The one memorable feature was a mural on the ceiling of what is now a bedroom. The mural depicts Jesus Christ and one of his disciples. JC holds a knife in his hand and the disciple has either a bong or a keg tapper in his hand. Don’t ask me.

    Sparkvic754735_2The hostess in red chats with Victor Navasky, former editor of The Nation. Navasky seemed to enjoy himself despite the recent announcement about his job change.
    Ed chugs a budweiser in the background.

    Davidremy Hotel Chelsea Dwellers Caroline Hansberry and David Remfry.

    Joanandbill Joan Morris, Maggie Paley and Bill Bolcom. Joan and Bill are former Hotel Chelsea Dwellers

    AuthorColin Asky and Jeremy Mercer.  Jeremy is great.  He donated a signed copy of his book to the 8th floor library.

    Colin has a film showing Friday, Nov. 11

    Edandthad Ed and Thad Rutkowski
    Thad has a book launch party Friday, Nov. 11

    Sydstraw Syd Straw

    For more photos, visit Sparkle’s Flickr group.

  • Dormority of the Deranged

    Part I:  Garbage Art
    Gallerymsg11085251382Recently, someone came and took a picture of my art work and posted it on the web—the world wide web, that is.  In a transom in the hallway—where there was once a stained glass window (a few examples still remain scattered throughout the Chelsea)—I have mounted two pink, plastic ducks, shampoo bottles that can apparently also be used as coin banks once the shampoo runs out.  I found them in the garbage, and this is my art.  I’m a garbage artist, a practitioner of a little known genre of fine art that generally goes unappreciated, even persecuted, in this philistine world of ours, even here in the Chelsea, where you’d think people would know better.  Garbage art is related to found art, but it’s a more specific sub-genre: found-in-the-garbage art.

    I can give you a few other notable examples.  For instance, one time I found a duck mask in the trash.  This was apparently thrown out by a rich yuppie family with two small children.  The mask was red and yellow, and composed of some kind of heavy rubbery material, rather than the cheap plastic most Halloween masks are made out of, and that’s what attracted me to it.  (It’s just a coincidence, I think, that it was a duck, though of course this species may indeed hold a deeper psychosexual meaning to my unconscious mind.  There was another mask I could have chosen: a pirate, I believe.  It was thrown out in a whole pile of perfectly good toys.)  It may not have even been a duck, come to think of it, but rather some other sort of bird, maybe a hawk, as it had a hooked beak—but it still looked more like a duck than anything. I climbed up on a chair and stuck it high up on a little knob that jutted out from the wall, slightly above and to the right of the family’s door.  It would be like a totem, watching over our hallway, stern and foreboding, ever vigilant—and yet cartoonish, and therefore strangely apropos, expressive of the playful, tricksterish spirit of Chelsea art as I conceive it.  It looked great up there, and I figured the yuppies would appreciate the fact that their cast off toys had been put to good use in the service of art.  The mask remained up for a couple of weeks, and then someone climbed up and ripped it down roughly, maybe jumping from their perch to do so, leaving behind a small scrap of yellow duck flesh that remains to this day. Copyright 2006 Ed Hamilton  (Next Week: More Garbage Art)

  • A Tribute – Arnold Weinstein

    The memorial service for long time Chelsea Hotel resident Arnold Weinstein  (6/10/27 – 9/4/05) has concluded. This is a quick snapshot of the program.

    Bob Dishy and Peter Stadlen — "The Wind in the Willows"

    Paul Sills

    Alice Playten and Scott Griffin
    "The Wake Up Song" from Schlemiel The First

    Robert Brustein — Spoke of his and Arnold’s time together at Yale.

    Mary Testa and Laurence Rosenthal
    "Central Park Goodbye" from The Party

    Charles Prince — Spoke of the spiritual bond he and Arnold shared.

    Estelle Parsons, Andre de Shields and William Bolcom
    "I’ve Got a Lot of Lawn to Mow" from A Wedding

    John Guare — Was Arnold the Last Bohemian?

    William Bolcom and Joan Morris
    "I’ll Be By" from Casino Paradise
    "Bright Red Singing" from The Party
    "George" from Cabaret Songs

    Bob Dishy and Peter Stadlen — Red Eye of Love
    "Don’t you see, Wilmer, life isn’t everything."  (Exit)  Red Eye of Love, Grove Press, 1962

    William Bolcom played as those who had gathered to pay tribute to Arnold left the Walter Kerr.  In attendance:

    Many Hotel Chelsea Dwellers
    Our esteemed proprietor, Stanley Bard
    Editor, The Nation, Victor Navasky
    Writer, Sparkle Hayter

  • All Tomorrow’s Parties – Nov 7 – 13

    Monday, November 7, 12:00
    Public Memorial Service for Arnold Weinstein, long time resident of the Hotel Chelsea.
    Walter Kerr Theater, 219 West 48th Street, NY NY

    Arnold_2 William Bolcom Remembers Arnold
    45 years Arnold and I worked together. Our Cabaret Songs were written expressly for Joan and are done now by all kinds of singers from cabaret to classical — not at the Chelsea though — but our operas took form at the hotel, and so much else. Long may the Hotel Chelsea endure – it’s an oasis in an increasingly cruel and uncaring world, for not only the arts but the human race. Wm Bolcom (Photo: William, Arnold & Arthur Miller)
    Sparkle Hayter Remembers Arnold
    As far as the Chelsea Hotel goes, Arnold was the sage godfather of the hotel and all its sweet little freaks and geniuses. Having been there a long time, he had seen every aspect of humanity in the raw. Little could surprise him, and though he had a bemused cynicism, he was never jaded and rarely judgmental of the people around him. (Political leaders were another matter.)

    Monday, November 7, 9:00 p.m.
    The Eliza Battle will be playing at the Pussycat Lounge. Joining them on drums will be Lisa from the 8th floor. It’s their first public gig. 
    Pussycat Lounge, 96 Greenwich St., 2nd floor, NY NY

    _41158171_dylanhead203_1 Wednesday, November 9, 5:30 p.m.
    Dylan Thomas will be brought back to life on the anniversary of his death. He will read his poem, "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night."  His ghost has been spotted several places recently including at the White Horse Tavern and in Austin, Texas.  The director of a film about Dylan’s ghost, Binda Singh, answered a few questions for the blog.
    1.  What inspired you to make a film about Dylan Thomas’ ghost?
    I was raised in Swansea and still live here. I felt that Dylans’s work was being overlooked by youngsters and felt that a story which might bring him to their attention would help new readers discover him. Hence the decision to use a ‘ghost’ Dylan in a contemporary setting.
    2.  Have you ever visited the Chelsea Hotel?
    No I haven’t, but would obviously love to..one day.
    3. Did you consider filming at the Chelsea?
    No I haven’t. The thought didn’t enter my head until…you mentioned it on your web site. In the movie Dylan haunts the Uni in Swansea….
    Dylan Thomas Centre, South Wales

    Thursday, November 10
    Jnexhibit Jeremy Blake: Sodium Pop can be viewed at the Feigen Contemporary Gallery until November 12. Read the reviews in Time Out: New York and Paper or read about Jeremy’s 1995 visit to the Hotel Chelsea.
    Feigen Contemporary, 535 W. 20th St., NY NY

    Friday, November 11, 10 p.m.
    Book launch party for Tetched, a Novel in Fractals by Thad Rutkowski. Wine and refreshments served.  Guests Hal Sirowitz, Janice Eidus, Cheryl B., Tsaurah Litzky, and Amy Ouzoonian. AHCB#2 highly recommends Tetched.  Thad has a minimalist style somewhat reminiscent of the old Bard of the Bar Room (Bukowski), and, more importantly, he seems to drink like him.  Thad’s funny, compelling, and strangely addictive little stories have a logic all their own and will have you questioning your own place in the universe.  But remember, “You have a choice.  You can wring your hands and become a fairy.  Or you can do what I did.  I found an Asian woman.”  Or anyway, that’s what the main character’s father tells him in Thad’s new book, Tetched, which is out now on Behler Publications of California.  The book reminded me in particular of Bukowski’s Ham on Rhy, especially as concerns the father character, and I highly recommend it.
    St. Mark’s Poetry Project, 131 East 10th Street (at Second Avenue). $8

    Saturday, November 12, 6:00 p.m.
    Wallace the pug’s birthday party.  This annual event held in the lobby of the Hotel Chelsea is not to be missed. Don’t ask how old he is, it’s not polite.  If it’s anything like last year’s party the Veuve Clique will be flowing.  For the humans, not for the dogs.
    Hotel Chelsea, 222 W. 23rd St., NY NY

    If you have a relevant event that you would like featured in "All Tomorrow’s Parties," please e-mail the information to chelblog@yahoo.com

  • Today’s Party

    UPCOMING:
    PANTS DOWN AT THE HOTEL CHELSEA
    We proudly present LTTR #4
    "Do you wish to direct me?"
    Sunday November 6, 2005 4-7 PM

    Daniel Reich Gallery (Temporary Space)
    Programmed by Dean Daderko
    at THE HOTEL CHELSEA, 222 W. 23rd St.
    Room 600 (ground floor)

    LTTR #4 is finally here and definitely OUT! Come by and lay your hands on this hot new issue this coming Sunday at the Chelsea Hotel. Fondle 80 pages of queer content and poke your nose into the crack of your new favorite book. Celebrate with us!

  • Another Satisfied Tourist

    From blogger Peter Me’s Brief New York Stories.
    Peterme_1 12. Hotel Chelsea – definitely grows on you. I’m quite enjoying it here.   Big surprise, everybody who stays here enjoy’s the Chelsea. I wish blogger Peter Me would tell us more.

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  • The New Hotel Chelsea: Too Expensive for Pornographers

    Bob Coulter’s earlier book, “Crazy Babe,” featured photographs taken at the Hotel Chelsea, but Hotel20pictures2011bsmall unfortunately we’re now too upscale (it’s the new management), so he shot his latest book, “Bad Girls Hotel,” at the Carlton Arms.  I have to confess that I have something in common with Coulter.  In the late1980’s, I also thought that the Chelsea Hotel was too damn upscale.  On two separate occasions I stayed at the Carlton Arms.  I will not bore you with my Carlton Arms photos.  Here are the photos from Bad Girls Hotel.  (Photo: Room 11B at the Carlton Arms, which was painted by former Hotel Chelsea guest, Dan Bern.)

  • Mad Man Serenades As Lovers Entwine

    Theresa_pic_1 As soon as I read blogger Theresa Duncan’s clever “Generation Xorcism: Baby Boomer Ghostbusting at the Chelsea Hotel,” I knew she understood the "morphic resonance" of the Chelsea.

    What do you do?

    I am a writer and filmmaker. I made a bunch of video games and was called "the first video game auteur." The first video game I made was "Chop Suey" for 20th Century Fox Interactive, I collaborated with the author David Sedaris, and the music was by people from the legendary D.C. rock band Fugazi. I also made a film called "The History Of Glamour" that was in the Whitney Biennial in 2000, and I also sold it to Canal Plus in France and Channel 4 in Britain, and it played in theaters in Japan, where they loved it. I am making a feature film now about two Upper East Side schoolgirls who kidnap a rock star. It is called "Alice Underground."

    Have you ever stayed at the Chelsea?
    Of course I have stayed at the Chelsea. My boyfriend the artist Jeremy Blake and I stayed there the Jblake first time we spent the night together. I also looked at an apartment for rent there and seriously considered taking it.
    Do you think that there is a creative energy in the Chelsea?
    Probably. There is an English scientist named Rupert Sheldrake who believes that physical locations have a sort of "memory" he calls "morphic resonance." Basically, it says that if someone was creative in a location before in the past, it is easier for someone to be creative there again in the present. It is also verifiably true, as he points out, that if a scientific experiment has worked once before in a certain location it is more likely to work there again than in a new, untested location.
    What Is Your Favorite Chelsea Hotel Story?
    Well, it’s a place that many legends passed through, and I’m very impressed that genius director Stanley Kubrick used to visit sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke’s apartment here when they were making "2001," but my favorite story is the great night I spent with my boyfriend Jeremy Blake there.
    It was in a vast and powerful snowstorm, and we had been dating three months or so. I remember before we went to bed we were making out in the window, looking out at the street filling up with snow, it was almost completely quiet and we were overlooking  the electric Chelsea Hotel sign, and how it was lit up and haloed by all this snow, and I remember later the wild noises that the hotel made late that night, like some madman in the basement playing a church organ made with the hotel’s old radiator pipes.
    Since that night we’ve been together ten years now, and Jeremy has had shows at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum and all over the world and I’ve written some stuff I’m really proud of and I’m about to make this great rock and roll film for kids….And our fantastic night in the Chelsea was the night of fireworks in December 1995 that kicked it all off.
    We moved to L.A. in 2002 for work, but we’ll be back to make my film early next year and I’ve been thinking about us taking a place in the Chelsea for our eight month stay. It’s a good luck place for us and for our work.
    We look forward to your return!

  • Portraits from Eternal Bohemia

    Artist Elizabeth Peyton held her first major solo exhibit here at the Hotel Chelsea in 1993 (Room 828). 62  She has just published a book of paintings, "Elizabeth Peyton Paintings." A review of the book in the recent issue of Publishers Weekly notes, "…Her portraits—whether of Edwardian poet Rupert Brooke, Prince Harry or her friends—seem to emerge from the same timeless, eternal bohemia that the (Chelsea) hotel exemplifies."