I've never considered this blog to have an overriding theme. That was by design, to afford me the freedom to write about any topic that sparked my interest. Over time, however, certain issues started to gradually define Flaming Pablum. The slow, painful demise of my native New York City's once-thriving network of independent, mom'n'pop record and disc shops certainly edged me in the direction that now guides this blog, but I'd suggest it was one single, specific occurrence that really kicked Flaming Pablum into gear, that being the demise of The Cedar Tavern.
As I've laboriously pointed out in many, many posts on the subject (see arguably authoritative list beneath), the Cedar Tavern was something akin to my second living room. It was the perfect place, ripe for any occasion and any sort of company, cool without being exclusive or sceney and rich with civic history, personal history and personality. I sorely miss it and pretty much lost all faith in humanity when news came that it was gone for good.
It's been about six years since the place closed its doors. Since then, the place was demolished and gutted and rebuilt as a dreadfully shitty condo, but there's been absolutely zero business on the ground floor that the Cedar Tavern formerly occupied.
Until now.
I walked by 82 University Place this afternoon on my way to the hardware store and was surprised to see something new in the window beyond a "for lease" sign. Evidently, the space that the Cedar Tavern once called home is now going to be a waxing salon.
Yeah, that's great. That's just what our neighborhood needs.
People suck.
The story thus far...
Last Word on the Cedar Tavern (not!)
Depressing Cedar Tavern Shot of the Day
Meanwhile, Back on University Place
It's Gone & It Ain't Comin' Back
There is only ONE possible good thing about this development.....it's a bit twisty, so ride with me here.....
IF I understand the waxing phenomena correctly, you have to have some bucks to be able to affortd it (especially if you have it done repeatedly).....
IF I understand the waxing procedure correctly, there is a not insignificant amount of pain to endure....
and IF I understand the history of the Cedar Tavern correctly, there are many spirits still residing there.....
THUS......
EVERY time an overly-folliculed, overly-monied, more cash than brains, Yuppie/Muppie Scum SCREAMS out in pain during the procedure, the spirits of past Cedar Tavern patrons will get a measure of REVENGE on the VERY people who destroyed their/your shrine.
How'd I do?
Posted by: DrBOP | February 24, 2013 at 07:11 PM
And since my mind is experiencing some rarified level of consciousness here this afternoon.....how about THIS flyer about THE STENCIL....
Seems to me in my travels around the city at various times in my lifr, this type of stencil was wide-spread, and ever changing from one period of time to another.
My idea is that, not unlike a couple of other examples, this stencil is NOT of a particular artist, but of an image as a representation of either an artistic style, or more likely a "branding" image for an artist collective/co-op, or even a "movement".
Having proposed this as simply brainstorming the challenge, it may just be the alternative definition of a movement....IF you catch my drift :+)
Break a leg with the hunt!
Posted by: DrBOP | February 24, 2013 at 07:21 PM