First- it’s snowing like HELL here. We’re in the middle of a blizzard. I was supposed to see the English Beat & Fishbone tonight, but the show was cancelled due to the weather. Not only was the show important getting together with my buddy Brian- a good friend since the 80’s. We took an adventure out to Bellevue, OH years ago and even visited the Rock & Roll hall of fame. It was with him I penned the first “song” I’d ever written- “Smooth Shoes” and that was after our visit to the Museum with fresh inspiration from Keith Moon’s Blue Platform shoes.
After work closed early today, I started to venture down towards Asbury Park. Only got as far as Clifton, NJ before I found out the show was cancelled. I went back home to push around some VERY HEAVY snow.
I just saw Modigliani- a movie that starred Andy Garcia. Now, I’m a fan on the artist’s work and thought logically the movie would be a biography on the man’s life. It was FICTIONALIZED….. well, nothing could piss me off more. It was “loosely” based on the man’s life, but when one uses those words- loosely- it could mean absolutely anything. I wouldn’t know what was real and what was fake, so I spent 2 hours following a movie on which I seemed to learn nothing. A story whose attempt to show others how painters of the time could react with each other… no thanks. Thumbs down on my end.
Now, back to the 21 Club…..
When you sit to the side of a bar and observe the interaction of people, you really get an understanding of how the world works. I listened to the waiters, who all seemed to appear MUCH older speak to clientele by their surnames. Evidently a Mr. Gil was there.. a famous attorney who I simply nodded as if I knew who he was. What I find facinating is the people who interact with those kind of people. I was told by Miko that he’d worked at another restaurant many years ago and witnessed Salvador Dali do three paintings for the owner. They were given to the man and he could only imagine what they ran for nowadays. One was of Don Quixote- a favorite character of mine.
I love to talk to bartenders, especially the older kind- the ones who have been around awhile. They’re so full of interesting knowledge, facts and stories. Miko told me of the ‘21′ wine cellar which housed bottles by Frank Sinatra, Clinton and other famous personalities. He told me the party I passed in this cozy little room full of red leather furniture, a fireplace and old mahogany tables (imagine an old smoking room)was going to the cellar to indulge in some wine.
I wanted to get up and walk around, but felt a little intimidated and it’s my nature not to disturb others, especially in this environment. There were probably 10 OLD plaques which were recessed into the far wall- the area where Richard Nixon used to sit. Each one had script which was probably done in the 30’s with sharp and witty sayings. I could only view in the distance.
Evidently, business was not what it used to be. They, as well as others, were hit hard by the economy. He told me 12 years ago the place used to be 20 deep at the bar, but has quieted substantially- a benefit to yours truly. I thought it interesting how an outsider like myself might be viewed by the others around me. After all, I wasn’t dressed in your typical black suit and white starched shirt, but had a 1970’s red jacket lined with black velvet , velvet pants and a velvet lined shirt- jacket required. In a place like that I always feel everyone is measuring up everyone. Maybe it’s my paranoia, but I had to try a 21 burger to see what made it different than your average $15 burger- it was twice that….. it’s in the sauce… it’s ALWAYS in the sauce. Oh, and the dirty martinis- they were EXCELLENT and packed a punch. I felt so good afterwards, I had to go back to the Tim Burton exhibit. Under the influence of alcohol, perhaps I’d have a different take on things. One things for sure- I felt a need to learn how to draw after seeing that!
The Tim Burton exhibit was phenomenal. It was the perfect exhibit for the budding artist, showing the foundations of the film maker and his need to be different, especially as a teen. They had memorabilia from all of his movies and over 500 sketches. He’s quite an artist in addition to his film making talent. There are so many things I could say about it, but I think I’ll just have to tell you to GO there. If you visit the MOMA website, I’m sure you could purchase a book which will detail some of it. I purchased one and a pack of cards for those nights I have NOTHING to do…. they may just sit there for the next 10 years the way life is shaping up.
I finished with a long walk from the museum back to Penn Station, some 22 blocks. I was slowed by a brewery called The Heartland Brewery- an old watering hole when I worked in the city. They make the best damn stout in the world called Farmer Jon’s Oatmeal Stout. Brian told me to try Chickhouse Porter- or something like that, but the message was a little late. I’d tried a “Not Tonight Honey Porter” the replacement of that I’d imagined and Red Rooster Ale. By this time, I was quite full, but I started an interesting conversation with a woman a few stools down from me. She’d had this antique box sitting on the bar, which I found VERY interesting. She used it like a handbag, but it was a camera bag- she was a photographer. It’s interesting when you get out during the day- the creatives tend to find themselves at bars…or coffee houses it was my hope that this kind of thing would happen.
I was decorated with a VERY high compliment- that I reminded her of Elvis Costello. The hat, the jacket.. the aura I suppose. I don’t think I could have ended on a better note in the city.
So now it begins…. the second bar on the agenda is called “Bemelmans Bar” at the Carlyle Hotel - 35 East 76th Street. That will be this Wednesday March 3rd. probably between noon & 2pm. The time seems good and maybe we can find something interesting to talk about- a story or two. Anyone who wants to follow, fine by me. You’ll need to check to see if there’s a dress code- 21 club had one. I’ll be the one with the book and I’d love ya to sign it- that’s gonna be my thing. A creative day time bar crawl.. nothing sloppy, just GOOD company and conversation. Hope to see ya next Wednesday!