*ASHTRAY & 6k (aka VASHTIE & NATHAN) at MAX FISH CIRCA 2002
++++++++++
As I think about the state of our New York City and the obscene raising of rents, it’s hard not to wonder about the fate of so many iconic businesses with die-hard followers that could be compared to the traveling fandom of The Grateful Dead. All that comes to mind (sadly, for a few reasons) is the Kanye line in “Dreamkillers” –
“How you go to New York, what you aint never took a tour there?
What you ain’t know you gotta be rich just to be poor there?”
It’s true. Living in the outer boroughs is almost as backbreaking as living in Manhattan. It wasn’t always this way and unfortunately enough – this is NOT the NEW YORK I (and many others) dreamed of. The New York where starving artists would flock, sell one painting and live happily for a month or so. Working a part-time, living in a rough part of Manhattan and spending the rest of your time partying and working on your craft.
When I heard that the legendary MAX FISH would be closing, a part of me literally died. Not only for MAX FISH, but also THE ROTTEN APPLE itself.
For those of you who are unaware of MAX FISH, it’s colorful bar located in the LES on LUDLOW STREET. You can find the walls adorned with strange art from local artists, a busy pool table, a bathroom worthy of shutting the entire place down and an array of patrons ranging from legendary skaters, artists, the famous and dying unknowns. To some, it was deemed a permanent hangout; something similar to that of “THE MAX” on SAVED BY THE BELL – better yet, the bar on CHEERS. To others, the very mention of the name would leave eyes rolling. I, myself, was not a die-hard visitor – but, a visitor nonetheless. My few memories there and it’s general presence became as NEW YORK to me as the EMPIRE STATE BUILDING…a representation, a shining beacon of the city.
I remember before it’s connecting business, THE PINK PONY, was not the fanciful french eatery it is now – but, a makeshift cafe. I believe they served frozen ice cream and you could walk into “THE FISH” from a connecting back door. Now, it’s just a memory and before long – THE PINK PONY and MAX FISH will be an investors dream property, especially next to that high rise skyscraper plowing down on pre-war buildings.
*VASHTIE & THEOPHILUS at MAX FISH CIRCA 2009
I’m sad about it’s closing, but it’s more than that. It isn’t hard to see that this great city is on it’s way to becoming an island mini-mall. If you walk through Union Square it’s hard not to notice the atrocious sites of corporate stores and chain restaurants replacing locally owned businesses…TGI FRIDAYS, AMERICAN EAGLE, CHASE BANK, etc. No shade to those businesses and their employees at all, they are businesses I support and appreciate – but, I don’t necessarily want to see 10 of them on one block.
As if SOHO wasn’t bad enough. After the death of CANAL JEANS (the massive 5 floored warehouse that carried everything from vintage to army/navy to Levi’s), which would later be reborn into a BLOOMINGDALES, was another nail in the coffin. Not to mention the close down of CBGB’s, and the unsettling replacement of John Varvatos. While the opening of a store might seem meaningless, it actually changes an entire community. Rent is raised; long time tenants and business owners that once added color and life to neighborhoods are now being chased out…how can you compete? These are the people that made New York, New York – and now they’re being chased out by a suit who’s headquarters is actually in Duluth.
*IMAGES OF CANAL JEANS CO on BROADWAY, SOHO.
*BLOOMINGDALES in place of the old CANAL JEANS CO.
I guess the City and the building owners also share a part in all this. I guess the domino effect has started and what else for them to do, but fall in line.
The old “clean up” of New York City has afforded one imperative luxury – safety (and chain stores). I’m more afraid of being on the streets of Downtown Albany than I am of New York City. It’s nice and I know any old school New Yorker will tell me long tales of crime “back in the day”, and yet – I still daydream of being there at that time. The crime had a part in what kept New York raw, fresh and creative. It also kept it’s customs line shorter than it is now, only allowing in the die-hard dreamers destined for the bright lights of New York City and also keeping the strong born and bred moving forward.
The famous Frank Sinatra line said so much about an era now lost under new pavement…
If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere…New York, New York
It wasn’t a place for everyone, which made it even more magical – hell, it even turned my father off in the 70’s when deciding where to settle his family. He took one look at the Bronx, where my Uncle was living, said “peace” and went upstate where some friends had settled. *(His point of not moving there was further punctuated on our holiday visits to the Boogie Down where shoot-outs occurred on the reg).
I grew up roughly two hours from the dazzling grit of NEW YORK CITY, in ALBANY. In those days, there was no internet and no ease of GOOGLE at your fingertips. You learned about other places like Manhattan through experience, stories, magazines and (rarely) television. Those connections were deeper and circumstance played a major role, it was much different finding it on a blog.
My older gay brother would recall tales of weekends spent in THE BIG APPLE; attending raves, LIMELIGHT parties and kicking it with famed party monster MICHAEL ALIG and club kid crew. I can even remember an episode of THE JOAN RIVERS SHOW where she interviewed those famous club kids; featuring a young AMANDA LEPORE. At the age of 8 I knew I wanted to be in New York and imagined my future life – partying with Club Kids, discussing anatomy with Basquiat, listening to Nas freestyle on a park bench, and sipping wine at a Schnabel opening. At 8, I was determined to live the life I had dreamed about and like a pig I would revel with delight in the crime-infested filth. I didn’t dream up department stores, atm lobbies or high end fashion stores on The Bowery.
I ache for that “NEW YORK STATE OF MIND” – young, hungry, relentless, creative, dirty, neon lights, art, freedom. But, we’re here with “EMPIRE STATE OF MIND” – an anthem for the current New York I suppose…but it doesn’t feel New York. It’s too happy, almost jolly, false – with a feeling of an American Express commercial combined with a Sex And The City episode.
That is certainly not the New York that will ever “inspire me”.
Recently in an interview, legendary author and singer PATTI SMITH was asked if it was possible for young artists to come to the city and find the path to stardom that she did. Her response…
“New York has closed itself off to the young and the struggling.
But there are other cities. Detroit. Poughkeepsie.
New York City has been taken away from you.
So my advice is: Find a new city.”
I don’t know what my point was in writing this, I just needed to vent. I’m just sad about the loss of, yet another, great New York City establishment. I guess I just miss the old New York and the long tales of New York that truly inspired me. New York will also be a great city and I don’t want this to be an obituary…I think I’m just looking for hope.
For a while now, I’ve felt like this LCD SOUNDSYSTEM song – “NEW YORK I LOVE YOU, BUT YOU’RE BRINGING ME DOWN”. Check the video and lyrics…
New York, I Love You
But you’re bringing me down
Our records all show
You were filthy, but fine
But they shuttered your stores
When you opened the doors
To the cops who were bored
Once they’d run out of crime
New York, you’re perfect
Don’t please don’t change a thing
Your mild billionaire mayor’s
Now convinced he’s a king
So the boring collect
I mean all disrespect
In the neighborhood bars
I’d once dreamt I would drink
New York, I Love You
But you’re freaking me out
Like a death in the hall
That you hear through your wall
New York, I Love You
But you’re freaking me out
New York, I Love You
But you’re bringing me down
Like a death of the heart
Jesus, where do I start?
But you’re still the one pool
Where I’d happily drown
And oh.. Take me off your mailing list
For kids that think it still exists
Yes, for those who think it still exists
