Chelsea Gallery hop with my daughter. Doug Wheeler’s light installation at David Zwirner. I might go back by myself but this time smoke a big fatty beforehand.
Roy Colmer’s Doors at Lisson Gallery. Black and white images of Manhattan taken from November of 1975 to September of 1976. Thousands of them.
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November 1, 1994
Cindy wanted to smoke some weed and go the Village Halloween parade. Sounds like fun but I’ve got the flu and can barely move.
Ellis, Oswaldo and I had tickets to see Simpatico at The Public. Written and directed by Sam Shepard. Great cast. Ed Harris, Beverly D’Angelo, Fred Ward, Marcia Gay Harden. We met at Acme on Lafayette and lollygagged around. Got there right at 8:00 and it turns out curtains on Saturdays are 7:30 and 10:00. They wouldn’t let us in. The run is sold out (of course it is) so that’s that. We walked over to 2nd Avenue to see Interview with a Vampire but it’s opening weekend so THAT was sold out, too. So we went to Pizzeria Uno. We had a lot of laughs. The three of us sat there and laughed for hours.
Cindy and I went to Sweet Basil’s last Friday. I don’t see a lot of live jazz and didn’t think I’d like it but we had a great time. We sat right under the musician’s noses. I like being so close I can see their fingers move across their instruments. We were on the Blue Note guest list. The cover charge and drinks were paid for. I felt important. When the checks arrived everyone around us started fumbling for their wallets but I just signed it and handed it back. People stopped for a beat and looked at us. Lots of Japanese tourists. The Eurotrash maître d treated us like shit.
My phone rang and when I picked it up and said hello they hung up. Sometimes I’ll call Laura’s number just to hear her answering machine greeting.
Went to the Met with Ann. She’s irritating in regular life but she’s a different person in a museum. It’s her element. She’s brilliant. We went to the Asian galleries and she told me about the Buddha statues. She explained what the hand positions mean and about the dance they’re frozen in. She was equally knowledgeable in the Egyptian galleries. I wanted to throw her to the floor in front of Kharushere’s mummy and have my dirty way with her. Smart is sexy. We sat in Central Park and watched the leaves float down. We saw a terrible sci-fi movie. Stargate. I didn’t want to see it but I’m a bad negotiator. Whenever I see a movie with someone I always defer to them. If there’s something I really want to see, I go alone.
I’m on a temp assignment. I sit in a cubicle and do my boring work and nobody talks to me. I’m lonely. A bunch of them went out after work Friday but I wasn’t invited. The women are all sad Catholic virgins who listen to Barry Manilow albums.
Exile on Pain Street 
I liked Stargate. Sounds like a busy time for you. Good that you got out and had a laugh. I was unhappily at university at the time being stressed by trying to socialize.
It felt like an empty void at the time but now I look back with some fondness. Time will do that. I barely remember Stargate. I did an IMDB search and discovered they made a TV series about it. Shows you what I know.
A surprisingly carefree entry — until the final graf. But that last line is a killer.
I forgot Stargate was a movie first. I think I saw it. Then immediately wiped it from memory.
Just checked IMDB, and the dude from The Crying Game was in it! That’s the only thing I remember, and I’ve been thinking that was a different movie for years. Once thought it was The Fifth Element but every time I watch that (stupid but beautiful film), he never shows up.
Neil Jordan, director of Crying Game, also directed Stargate, which is completely bananas. What is that dude doing in the science fiction genre?!
You say carefree, I say kind of empty. None of these experiences amounted to much at the time. I was still an office temp.
Stargate. Gosh I remember that. Miss these posts! Thanks for boomeranging around again!
I forgot about Stargate’s existence until I read this entry. It turns out they made a TV series out of it. Who knew?! Movie directed by Neil Jordan. WTF.
I think the name is bad. I don’t care about any “star gates.”
I didn’t think about it that way but you’re absolutely right. What a dumb title.
Awww, brilliant. You had a good social life then, and recorded it directly and honestly. All these women you knocked about with, but never anything really complete — but can anyone ever be “complete”? Thanks fr the art too. Reminds me of a Dan Flavin exhibition I went to once in London. It was all neon, and the tubes are very fragile, and just getting them from New York to London cost a fortune. If they break, you can’t replace that combination of gas. And no-one at an airpiort on 9 quid an hour will give a shit.
It was a fantastic social life but I was nothing but an office temp. That’s the best I could do. It dragged me down quite a bit. Girls in NYC want to know how far you’re going and what you can do for them. I was like a vapour of steam.
That art installation is also a lot like James Turrell’s work. So much so that I’m expecting a lawsuit announcement any day now. It’s a blatant copy.
Galleries seem to be the only place were light installations really work! Of course, a billionaire could have one installed in a perfect room in their home, but the rest of us are happy visiting a gallery. A year of B/W photos of Manhattan could be a grand tour of the city! Since I’ve been back in L.A., I’ve had a sort of grand tour of my hometown, but without a camera. I think I’m happier without having physical proof of what I miss.
November 1994 found us moving into a three-story Craftsman home built in 1906! The house’s chief claim to fame, besides its architecture, was that the Go-Gos had filmed a music video in the backyard! (It had a balcony overlooking the pool!) It was a strange time for me, too. One day over drinks I’ll tell you all about it! xoxo
I often wonder what the endgame is with these installations. What do they do after the run is over? It’s not like it can be remounted just anywhere. I don’t want to say it’s a waste of time because I LOVE them. It’s nice to take my daughters. But what’s the point? They don’t even charge an admission!
25 years ago. That’s sobering. I don’t think I have 25 years in front of me. I don’t think I’d want them. I’ll buy the first round.
I am still full of happy drugs, so not too sure of what the pictures are!
But I love this post! It’s not happy-happy and sugar-coated, but it’s not miserable. I guess it’s just life.
I vaguely remember seeing a poster for Stargate. I think it was of a man with an embossed cypher on his forehead, like he’d been whipped by a jellyfish!
And yeah…their could be lawyers sharpening their pencils and crying “plagirism.”
Yes, this is a meandering slice of life. I remember feeling kind of empty and lonely at the time but when I look back I see how I was living. A little bit.
I agree. Smart is sexy.
Always has been. Always will be.
I would love to visit the light exhibit. I’ll bring the weed.
We may have to break up over Stargate. James Spader in that flick was dreamy! Something, something, smart is sexy…
Better bring a bong, too. I don’t have accouterments anymore.
I didn’t realize it but they made a TV series out of Stargate. Still stinks.
I take exception. Stargate was an awesome movie. I think Kurt Russell was in it. And Kurt Russell must not be messed with. I mean, the recollection is wonderful, but let art be art, man. Stargate was super cool. The tv show less so. I’m going to watch that movie tonight with the kids, to show them what real art’s all about…
Stargate ain’t no Escape from New York, which is what a lot of folks wish they could do right now.
Will you be my Kurt Russell?
Come into the light Carol Anne, does anyone not see the Poltergeist reference? wft!! I smoke a big fatty to go to the supermarket, what you need for that installation is fungus my good sir. Glad to see you’re still alive 😉
Alive, yes. But can you call this living? I’m walking into the light.
Smart is the only sexy as far as I’m concerned; beauty is lovely to look at, wealth is tempting, but I can’t imagine being attracted to either of them for longer than it takes to eat dinner.
This is a nice cheery post.
I’d kill to see those photos…
Smart is super-sexy but 0% body fat doesn’t distract, either. I’ll pass on fame. Fame is for fools. But I’d like wealth. Not to buy stuff. Just to be free. I’m not free.
What lovely memories you are giving your daughters. Priceless! Strange times we are living in and I’m living in not so splendid isolation. Stay safe.
Hello, Pat. I wonder where you are?
While being self quarantined in my house, seeing your newest post was a breath of fresh air. Please write more. I don’t think life will be the same after this pandemic. It made me realize how much disposable income we spend on stuff. Our economy is based on bars, restaurants and sporting events, not making necessities for life.
The Art installations with lighting always reminds me of the “Sex in the City” episodes with Michael Baryshnikov. Thanks for the pics. Your daughter looks happy.
I lost Play tickets like that showing up late.
I can tell you MY life won’t be the same! I’m going to complain a whole lot less about that bus ride into the city. My discretionary spending is down to almost nothing. I’ve got the same $60 bucks in my wallet for three weeks now. Unheard of!
$60 cash money? Damn, Brother, y’all are R I C H! 😉 I have $6 US currency in my wallet, but then again, I rarely have a need these days for “folding money.” xoxo