Big changes on 23rd street

Today, the New York Post reported that the Communist Party is renovating its headquarters on 23rd Street and renting out some of its space to capitalist commercial enterprises.

Worse, across the street, Stanley Bard has been forced out of his management role at the Chelsea Hotel.  My buddies over at the Hotel Chelsea Blog report that the new management company is the same one that was involved in the conversion of Covenant House into the Maritime Hotel.  The Maritime and the Chelsea are very different kinds of hotels.

The Chelsea hosted some of my favorite artists.  Look at the right sidebar, and you'll see links to some of my posts about the Grateful Dead staying and playing at the Chelsea (they played on the roof!).  Not to mention, Bob Dylan ("I stayed up for days, at the Chelsea Hotel, writing 'Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands' for you.") and Joni Mitchell and David Barton.

I lived at the Chelsea for a short period.  I commented on the Hotel Chelsea Blog today:

I landed in Chelsea after ending a 14-year relationship in August of 2004. My head was spinning, and after a month of sleeping in my office and hooking up randomly when I wanted to sleep in a bed, I walked in to the Chelsea and spoke to Stanley. I described my situation and he said "I have exactly what you need." It was a hot-pink room with a window facing an air shaft. It was quiet, and comforting -- a womb, really. I was finally able to get some sleep and figure out how to reorganize my life. I was a total stranger, and Stanley did this for me. Yes, the front desk lost my absentee New Jersey ballot and I had to get a court order to be able to vote against Bush, and yes, Stanley wouldn't let me leave when I wanted to, forcing me to stay (and pay) for an extra few days, but I'll always be grateful for the way he thoughtfully took me in.

Aside from all that, the loss of the Chelsea as we know it is the symbolic end of the neighborhood we love.

Maybe this is why "Chelsea" has not been illuminated on the sign lately.

Comments

[O' Tim]

Hey now! I'm looking up Deadheads to let y'all know about a new music
blog/forum, /Under the Bridge. /Started by two heads along with other
writers who crave everything from Elvis to Megadeath, /Under the Bridge
/is the place to catch the vibe on what's been, what's now and what
shall ever be. So come on by and read, comment, lurk and have fun with
music from everybody at /Under the Bridge/, conveniently located at
http://wherethevibeis.blogspot.com

P.S. - Link us on your blog and receive a bonus guess in the next
/Trolling the Underground/ contest, where winners always receive free CD
music from the site administrator!

[Yoda]

Hey!

I noticed you've written something about "the family".
I used to hang with them a bit...
You don't happen to know about any forums or blogs related to the ole spinnin' cult do ya?