words fail me, so take a look at these photos instead

Posted on May 26, 2009 by Exile on Pain Street

I wish I was enough of a wordsmith to describe how overwhelmed I was when I walked into the Park Avenue Armory to view Brazilian artist Ernesto Neto’s anthropodino, the installation currently running through June 14. If you’re reading this and you live in the area, you really owe it to yourself and to your kids (if you got ’em) to pay a visit. The New York Times called it magical and that’s the best way to describe it.

The Armory is starting a program of “big-room” installations. The Tate Modern in London has had a series of successful exhibits in the turbine hall that require a large open space. New York wants to get into the act and the only space in Manhattan big enough to accommodate artwork of this scope is the Park Avenue Armory. It’s not as sexy as the Tate Modern, but it’s functional.

Neto’s hard-to-describe exhibit uses yards of stretched, translucent Lycra to create forms, labyrinths and weird objects. To wit (clickable pics):

It’s both mounted on the floor and pours down from the ceiling.

Here’s the view as you walk into the beast.

The tunnels are filled with soft white, blue and gold light. The sacks hanging down contain spices—cumin, ginger and cloves—so the fragrances permeate the air.

The wooden lattice work is made to look like bones.

Here’s a large purple sack inside a Lycra enclosure that’s filled with tiny Styrofoam pellets. You can take your shoes off and go inside to relax.

Of course I, child that I am, couldn’t resist.

random NYC pic—Chrysler R.I.P. part II

Posted on May 20, 2009 by Exile on Pain Street

Since Chrysler is back in the news with the announcement that 25% of their dealerships are about to close, I thought I’d do a follow-up post on the Chrysler Building, so you can gauge how precipitous their fall has been.

Once again, I wanted to stay away from pics of the spire that you’re already familiar with, so I took a few lobby shots. Are you ready for some beautiful examples of 1930s-era design? Click on each for a detailed study.

Here’s the signage above the revolving doors that lead out to 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue. Like the outdoor Lexington Avenue entrance shot I posted last week, these have needle-sharp flourishes. They’re polished silver steel and look both elegant and industrial.

The elevator doors have beautiful inlaid wood. The interiors are equally ornate but I couldn’t get past the security guard to get a shot. Before 9/11 you were free to stroll in an out of any building to study the design but now, everything is on lockdown. It’s a shame. The terrorists fucked up my shit.

Here’s a mural that stretches across the lobby ceiling. The depiction is of a slightly elongated, thinned-out Chrysler building painted to match the inlaid wood of the elevators. Studying it gives you a stiff neck but it’s worth it.

This is the lobby. I’m not crazy about how this shot turned out—the lighting is all wrong—but I thought I’d post it anyway.

down home cookin’ down on avenue B

Posted on May 18, 2009 by Exile on Pain Street

Have you ever bitten into a piece of fried chicken that was so succulent and so bursting with flavor that a tear of joy trickled gently down your cheek? It can happen to YOU here:

This is Mama’s Food Shop on East 3rd Street and Avenue B in the East Village. I was visiting my old neighborhood the other night and was glad to see it still in business. I remember when it first opened and how happy I was to have decent fried chicken just three blocks away.

[As I walked the familiar streets I noticed many places that I frequented while a resident are now gone. The Pioneer movie theater closed. Like sands through the hourglass…]

This place is sassy. In addition to Mama’s Chicken (fried, baked or roasted), you can load up on Mama’s Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf or Mama’s Seared Salmon. Each dish is only $11! (One side included. Add a side for just a buck.) They have the best mashed potatoes and mac & cheese on Avenue B. The portions are, shall I say, uniquely American.

Here’s Mama’s logo.

See what I mean? Sassy. Mama’s motto is: “SHUT UP AND EAT IT!” So I did.

random NYC pic—Chrysler R.I.P.

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Exile on Pain Street

This post is in honor of Chrysler Corporation filing for bankruptcy.

Photos of Chrysler Building always feature the beautiful steel tipped apex with the surrounding gargoyles. But the view from street level is pretty special too.

This is a shot looking up from Lexington Avenue. I like the streetlamp on the right. I think it adds to the photo composition. Each morning on my way to work, I walk through the marble main hall of Grand Central Station and then pass this monument. I consider it a privilege. When it no longer gives me a cheap thrill, I’ll leave this dirty old town for good.

Here’s the Lexington Avenue entrance just north of 42nd Street. It’s an awesome site in the early morning light. Click on this pic and have a closer look. The entrance is full of pointy arc deco flourishes.

Here’s a pullback shot of the entrance from across Lexington. The archway looks almost coffin-shaped (to me).

* * *

I would like to direct your attention to the comments section of two posts ago. I wrote a rant about the conspicuously wealthy Tovar family and how jealous I am of their freedom of movement. Well, “Mrs. Tovar,” that old bitch, wrote me a very terse comment. I have to admit, I had it coming.

how to relax on a busy New York City street

Posted on April 24, 2009 by Exile on Pain Street

A fun new idea dreamed up by city planners this summer is to close off sections of main thoroughfares in Manhattan, lay a new surface over the asphalt, set up tables and chairs and create a lovely public space. They place big concrete planters around the perimeter of the area to protect you from potential out of control taxi cabs.

There are sections of Broadway blocked off where you can sit, relax and have coffee or read a book while cabs and buses whizz by just a few feet away going 35+ miles per hour. It’s a crazy idea but it works!

This is my absolute favorite spot. It’s just north of the Flatiron Building in Chelsea. The Flatiron is one of the most beautiful and majestic buildings in Manhattan. When it opened, an architectural critic called it a great battleship steaming up Broadway. Sitting in the sun at its bow and watching all of New York pass by is a very fine way to spend an afternoon. God, I wish I was unemployed again!