Bob Dylan sings Hank Williams’ "Lost Highway," in footage from the 1965 documentary Don’t Look Back. Joan Baez, with whom Dylan had just finished a 10-date American tour – and with whom he was having an affair, by then waning – is visible in this clip. D A Pennebaker’s documentary Don’t Look Back
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Michael D. Jackson’s new plan, "Revolution," which is based on the Stonewall riots will headline the upcoming GAYFEST NYC. Stonewall has been judged by history as the event that kickstarted the country’s gay rights revolution, but in the nearly three decades since it hasn’t exactly made the mainstream lexicon. We’re just asking, who will play Storme Delarverie? Any suggestions! Afterall, she was a key mover and shaker. (Photo: Storme and a friend at the "Factory Girl" premiere. Photo by Linda Troeller.)
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Katy and Becca are planning to visit the Chelsea, the "grime-caked mecca"
that harbored such reprobates as Dylan Thomas and Sid Vicious, and "suck the air from the vents." These young college-bound students have been working for the man and holding gypsy yard sales in order to raise the scratch necessary to bankroll their $300-a-night(!) "search for answers, questions and beauty," that they hope will lead to "exquisite enlightment." Au Contraire, sadly deluded gamins. By your tone of sarcasm, I gather that you think this place is a joke. Let me be the first to assure you that the sorid reputation of our shady establishment is no laughing matter. There are people here, debouched perverts and drug addicts, who prowl our famous lobby on the lookout for fresh meat. If you don’t watch it, you could easily be sucked into their diabolical web of depravity. (You know that movie "Hostel" popular, I’m told among your peers — well, it was based on the Chelsea Hotel.) If you awake from you drug-induced stupor to find yourself chained to bed or in a brothel in Bangkok, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Actually, Katy & Becca, I’m just kidding. The only thing scary about this place is its price. $300 a night! Yikes! Enjoy your stay. — Ed Hamilton
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Attention Hiroya fans! The wild-haired eccentric Japanese painter Hiroya made quite an impression on this Japanese woman when she bought one of his paintings in 1997. Now she would like to know more about Hiroya and would like to get in touch with others who share a passion for his work. She’s also curious as to what kind of person now inhabits Hiroya’s room. Speak up, ya’ll! She also told us that she’s reading Florence Turner’s 1987 book, At The Chelsea
, which is available in Japanese!
My name is (redacted). I am a Japanese woman. I sent this e-mail to ask something about
Hiroya. I have stayed at the Chelsea hotel when I visited New York in 1997.
At the stay, I met Hiroya and I bought his painting. Although I talked with him little, I have remembered him for this 10 years, maybe because of the strong impression of him and his room.Recently, I got to know by hotel chelsea blog that he died. If you know why he died, could you let me know? The blog also said that Hiroya went to rehab program, what does rehab program mean?
I just want to know about him because I think I am responsible to know the person who painted the painting which is still on the wall of my room.
Hiroya is unknown in Japan. That’s why I could hardly find his name in Japanese search engine. I want to know how many Japanese tourists bought his paintings as I did, but I have no way to know it. I also want to know his profile or his life if I can.
Are there any hotels or galleries that still keep his paintings except for hotel Chelsea?
What kind of person lives now in the room where Hiroya lived?
I am kind of an illustrator now.
This has nothing to do with Hiroya but may be the reason why I am attracted by him. -
A short preview of Ira Cohen’s landmark 1968 film, "The Invasion of Thunderbolt Pagoda," out now on DVD via Arthur Magazine, in available online. You can hear Ira tonight, along with minimalist violinist Tony Conrad, at the Swiss Institute, 495 Broadway. $12.00. Recently, Ira was back at the Chelsea to attend the Vali Myer’s party.
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Lindsey Lohan drank 18 whiskeys, slurred “That must be the record,” showed her vagina, and passed out
in a pool of her own vomit at the Chelsea Hotel. Therefore, she had to opt out of the 
upcoming Dylan Thomas biopic. Too realistic for Hollywood I suppose.Even less surprisingly, Sienna Miller has signed on to replace Lindsay in the role of Thomas’s wife, Caitlin. Like many of us around here she has dedicated her life to the shameless exploitation of this fabled flophouse (the Chelsea I mean, home to both Thomas and Edie Sedgwick) and its dysfunctional and damned denizens. We are green with envy because, while Sienna has spent, by all account, only a few hours in the hotel, we have had to endure 12 long, years of Bohemian purgatory, to arrive at less than a tiny modicum of her fame. And she’s not even that famous.
It should also be noted that Sienna seems to have a thing for guys named Dylan. At least this one’s dead, so they can use his real name.
Ah well, make a good one this time Sienna. It’s gotta be hard to mess up a movie about this place!
Ed Hamilton -
The New York Press’s blog reports on the premier party for "The Cake Eaters," which was held last night in the Star Lounge in the basement of the Chelsea Hotel. By all accounts, it was just about as star filled as the premier party for "Factory Girl." Perhaps this also explains all of the uneaten cupcakes that were left on the street outside of the hotel this morning!
Star Lounge in the Chelsea Hotel’s basement. The party was a total bust: no real star power, lots of hangers-on (didn’t realize that large, obnoxious floral prints was the choice of both the scenesters as well as the out of towners). We gorged on some of the cupcakes (get it? cake eaters?), tried to talk to Mary Stuart (Masterson) but were blocked by the over-protective publicist and, then, left.
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Monday, April 30, 1:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Since there’s not enough art hanging on the wall’s of the Chelsea Hotel you might want to venture down to Tribeca to check out the Toast art walk. The studios of more than 100 artists are open to the public. Yesterday we checked out Scotto Mycklebust‘s studio. It was worth the climb up five flights of stairs.
TOAST ART WALKTuesday, May 1, 8:30 p.m.
In the ’70s and ’80s, the relationship between legendary curator Sam Wagstaff, photographer Robert Mapplethorpe and musician/poet Patti Smith was at the epicenter of New York’s revolutionary art
scene. "Black White + Gray: A Portrait of Sam Wagstaff and Robert Mapplethorpe," features interviews with Smith and a bevy of art world luminaries including Dominick Dunne, Richard Tuttle, Eugenia Parry and Ralph Gibson.
Pace Shimmel Center, One Pace Plaza, NY NYWednesday, May 2, 8:00 p.m.
Poetry Reading and projections by Ira Cohen with music by Tony Conrad and Mahasiddhi. $12.00
Swiss Institute, 495 Broadway, NY NY
Wednesday, May 2, 8:00 p.m.
The Living Theatre presents Kenneth Brown’s "The Brig." This is the first production in the Theatre’s new space. "The Brig," was first presented at The Living Theatre at 14th St. and Sixth Avenue in 1963. Wednesday is pay-what-you-can night. No reservations.
The Living Theatre, 21 Clinton Street, NY NYThursday, May 3, 10:30 p.m.
Susanne Bartsch and Kenny Kenny say goodbye to Tuesday and hello to Thursday with Kino 41. Kino 41 starlets: Amanda Leopore, Lady Fag, Moondust, Furey and Andre J. Cine Sounds & Show: TBD . Life is Like a Movie. Stop by every Thursday for your close up.
135 West 41st, NY NYFriday May 4, 12:30 a.m.
If you’re a fan of zombie movies, and who isn’t, don’t miss "Mulberry Street." It’s a debut film by Jim Mickle and it’s part of the Tribeca Film Festival. (Disclosure: Director’s step mom is a friend of the bloggers. She even contributed a post once upon a time.)
AMC Village IV, Theatre 2,Saturday, May 5, Various Times
In 1979, artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude proposed one of the largest public art installations in history: a
“golden river” of 7,500 fabric-paneled gates in Central Park . Transcending controversy, it was finally completed in 2005. Antonio Ferrera and Albert Maysles’ film, "The Gates," chronicles the artists’ 26-year commitment to transform the winter darkness of the park into a garden of light and color.
Various VenuesSaturday, May 5, 3:00 p.m.
Talk on the Wild Side – Leee Black Childers and Tony Zanetta recalling Andy Warhol’s play PORK, which opened
36 years ago tonight at La MaMa. Leee Black Childers and Tony Zanetta recall Andy Warhol’s play PORK which opened 36 years ago tonight at LaMaMa etc and how the Ridiculous Theatre Community of actors and "superstars" of the late 60’s and early 70’s effected the evolution of Glitter, Glam and Punk Rock. PORK was based on tape-recorded telephone conversations between Andy Warhol and Brigid Berlin about her family’s private life. Her mother Honey Berlin, a Fifth Avenue socialite who included the Duke of Windsor amongst her close friends, was livid when she found out about the play by reading a review of it in the New York Times. The play ran for two weeks.
La Mama, 74A East 4th St. NY, NYSunday, May 6, 10:00 a.m.
Property from the 1977 Andy Warhol movie, "Bad," will be sold at auction. This includes the entire
contents of the estate in Riverdale, N.Y. that served as the set for the film.
Stamford Auction, 24 Harbor View Avenue, Stamford, CT -
UPDATE — The date for the recital of Gerald’s music has changed to Monday, May 7, 6:00 – 7:30.
Composer Gerald Busby reveals how he scored his apartment here at the Chelsea. He had a personal recommendation from the great composer Virgil Thomson himself. How’s that for a reference? Think you can top that? Come on over and tell Stanely Bard your story. It is, afterall, harder to get into the Chelsea than into an Ivy league college — which Gerald got into as well. Play the video to learn why Robert Altman chose Gerald as the composer for his strange filmic masterpiece Three Women. Don’t miss the recital of Gerald’s work on
Sunday at 4:30 p.m.,John Stevenson Gallery, 338 West 23rd St. NY NY. If you can’t make the recital, purchase Music of Gerald Busby
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Earlier this wee
k Merle Lister participated in the Spring Housing Forum sponsored by the Chelsea Tenant Action Committee. Merle is encouraging everyone who is interested in housing rights to attend a couple of upcoming rallies. You can read more about the Forum at www.blogchelsea.comOne rally is on Wednesday, May 23 at Stuyvesant Town at 5:00 p.m. and another rally is on Saturday May 5, from 11:00 a.m – 1:00 p.m. at Middle Collegiate Church 50 E. 7th St. The rally is to:
1.Repeal rent destabilization & the Urstadt Law
2. Preserve Mitchell Lama and Section 8 Housing
3. Stop unfair rent increases and harassment
4. Ensure adequate state funding for NYCHA housing
5. Limit rental payments for people living with HIV/AIDS to 30% of income
