Flaming Pablum

Happy Mothers Day

Metal Maelstrom

Check out my buddy C-Monster's review of the new installation atop the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Sounds completely cool. Go check it out!

Cooper Square Dichotomy

As the noxious Cooper Square Hotel further unfurls its wings over the Bowery like a giant robotic moth, I strolled by its gaping maw entry-way yesterday to have a gander. As I did, shoving my slim-lined double-stroller (loaded for bear with my two petulant young'uns) past the sneery staffers, I glanced up its grand stairwell. Incongruously framed by the opening at the top of the stairs was a strange sight. Right in the epicenter of this priapic pillar of avarice was an old fashioned laundry-line. A nice little taste of the old neighborhood flavor, although probably not the first image architect Carlos Zapata had in mind to greet his hotel's patrons. 

Word on the Street

Drifting Falling Floating Weightless

Inspired by my youthful blogging comradette Sybil's post on same, I thought I'd devote a fleeting bit of bandwidth to a guilty pleasure. German synth-popster Peter Schilling's shamelessly Bowie-cribbing "Major Tom (Coming Home)" came out in 1983, when I was but a fresh-faced, gormless and acne-speckled high school sophomore otherwise obsessed with gruffly anti-social bands like the Circle Jerks and Venom. Still in its hotly-contested "golden age," MTV kept this synthy New Wave nugget in constant rotation. At the time, I invariably dismissed it. There was something about Schilling's slightly-clipped English and the fact that the narrative of the song was lifted wholesale from a not-at-all obscure classic rock warhorse ("Space Oddity," if you haven't already figured that out) that just seemed to render it all a bit pointless. Over the years, however, I gradually forgave this track's inherent silliness. I now think that the production is amazing, and when the song builds to its lung-straining fruition (the soaring coming, coming HOOOOOOOOOME refrain), I practically well up and get all emotional. Of course, that might also be the beer talking.

A couple of years ago, my friend Sean Wilsey drafted me to make a couple of mix-discs for the release party of his biography, "Oh the Glory of It All," a bestselling memoir documenting Sean's arduous school days in the 80's. I immediately thought to include this track, nestled alongside the Icicle Works' similarly plangent "Whisper To a Scream (Birds Fly)." I may have my rose-tinted glasses on, but I seem to remember lots of earnest singing-along and wavey arm-dancing as "Major Tom"'s histrionic climax came bleating out of the speakers. Clearly I'm not alone in loving this awkward, goofy little pop song. For more of my credibility-immolating guilty pleasures, click here. In the interim, please enjoy the slavishly of-its-era and endearingly nonsensical video for Peter Schilling's "Major Tom (Coming Home)".

Peter Schilling |MTV Music

Really Rosie

So, as I mentioned here, I went and sat in for the taping of "The Places That Bind," WNYC's panel on preservation and culture in a changing city, moderated by Rosie Perez at WNYC's brand-spankin' new studio, The Greene Space on Varrick Street. It was quite a provocative program, I have to say, but given that it was being taped for radio, the panel wasn't really given that much time to expound on certain points. There are a few topics I'd like to have heard explored a bit more. Audience participation was also encouraged. I raised my hand at one point, but never got called on, alas. Nelson George made some great points and it was illuminating to hear Bob Tierney of the Landmarks Preservation Commission break down a few issues. I have to say, I was quite impressed with Rosie Perez. I can't say I've ever been all that familiar with her work outside of "Do The Right Thing" (where she displayed a tireless propensity to annoy) but she was funny, gracious and insightful throughout. Real estate consultant John Alschuler was in the hot seat for the second portion of the proceedings, and several audience members tried to stick it to him in, but even he made some sound points. There weren't any zingers or moments of genuine friction. No one threw any chairs, Geraldo-style. It was all very civil. Rosie tried to instigate a debate about CBGB (go Rosie!), but no one really took the bait. Hopefully, the full show will be available on their site soon.

Seen on the Streets

The Places that Bind

Photo courtesy of "The Disappearing Face of New York"

For those of you who regularly follow my Vanishing Downtown posts or are as befuddled/confused/sickened/depressed by the metastasizing gentrification of Manhattan, you should come to this event sponsored by WNYC radio! I just got my tickets! Meet me there!!!

Doll Parts

I read a Times article today (via Jeremiah's Vanishing New York) reporting that the New York Doll Hospital on the Upper East Side is closing, following the death of its chief ...er... surgeon, Irving D. Chais. I vividly remember seeing this second-story shop window for years. I can't say I ever went in, although I believe I considered taking an old "Planet of the Apes" action-figure there to be repaired at one point.

The New York Doll Hospital is also of some renown to rock dorks like myself, given that it legendarily inspired the name of New York's own proto-punk institution, The New York Dolls (`Dolls guitarist Sylvain Sylvain and original drummer Billy Murcia worked in a clothing shop across the street). That alone is reason enough to pour one out for the New York Doll Hospital. The surviving `Dolls, meanwhile, are about to release a new album, and having a party at poser-kingpin John Varvatos' sartorial shrine to expensive revisionism to celebrate it tomorrow. Boo hiss.

Sunday Night Lydon