[kj] Mike' hotel
Alex Smith
gathering@misera.net
Fri, 03 Oct 2003 13:29:23 -0500
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So, just for laughs (and since I don't have to work until this evening and
have nothing better to do until then), I took a walk to go check out Mike's
proposed hotel, the Union Square Hotel (209 E.14th St.).
As I suspected, it's on 14th Street between 3rd and 2nd Avenues. For those
unfamiliar with Manhattan, 14th street is sort've the line of demarkation
that signals the beginning of "downtown". You'll often hear black-clad
hipsters offering that they "NEVER go above 14th street" if they can help
it. That said, it is a neighborhood unto itself....the longest running
east-west street in Manhattan, effectively bi-secting the island. Parts of
it are completely devoid of character, while others host a melange of urband
culture that semebles a veritable casbah, replete with hucksters, haggling
merchants and snake-charmers. The strip Mike's hotel is on is a particularly
colourful one. Back in the early 90's, the editor of a weekly newspaper for
whom I used to write a profanity-strewn music column, John Gertner, lived
about six doors down, and the scourge of the street was a shadowy
delicatessen called "the New Way" (think Georgie-Boy's ominous intonation in
"Clockwork Orange") that was basically a front for a lucrative drug trade
(it wouldn't have been out of the question to run into GG Allin or
then-bedraggled Brit music writer Kris Needs skulking around, looking to
score). I remember attending a party or two at John's place and being
somewhat ill-at-ease when strolling by this particularly lawless edifice.
Those days are long gone, though. The gay moviehouse/sex toy emporium that
used to reside on the corner has been replaced by a squeaky clean pharmacy.
The dreaded New Way Delicatessen has long since been vacated. The area has
been cleaned up and is no longer the fearsome patch of badlands that it once
was. I poked my head into the lobby of the Union Square Hotel, and it seems
perfectly resectable. Don't expect accomodations comparable to the Plaza
Hotel or the Waldorf-Astoria, but it should be perfectly acceptable,
especially given the cheap price.
For those keen on cinematic significance, Mike's proposed hotel is exactly
one city block north of the brothel where Travis Bickle staged a bloody
bullet party in "Taxi Driver" and but one block to the east of where once
stood the Palladium (wherein Michael J. Fox snorted copious amounts of
cocaine in the cinematic adaptation of "Bright Lighs Big City"). Prior to
becoming a big disco in the mid-80's, the Palladium was a concert venue,
where I once saw Devo and Judas Priest (though not the same show). It was
torn down about five years ago, though, to accomodate a character-less
dormitory for NYU students, sadly. If any of you caught the archival art
film, "Downtown 81," this is the neighbohood Jean-Michel Basqiat's character
wanders around in, though it's virtually unrecognizable from its incarnation
in those halcyon days.
In any event, Mike (and anyone else), if you choose this hotel, you'll be
very conveniently located to the venue and a variety of cool spots. I also
live quite nearby, so I'll happily serve as a tour guide of sorts.
Alex in NYC
----------
From: "Alex Smith" <vassifer@earthlink.net>
To: gathering@misera.net, gathering@misera.net
Subject: Re: [kj] NYC hotels
Date: Fri, Oct 3, 2003, 11:34 AM
Hiya Mike....
They all sound pretty reasonable. If it makes any diference to you, the
Union Square is the most conveniently located to the gig venue (also my
neighborhood). I can stroll by and check it out today, if you'd like (and
make sure it's not a total flea-bag deathtrap).
Alex in NYC
----------
From: mike coles <mike@maliciousdamage.co.uk>
To: gathering@misera.net
Subject: [kj] NYC hotels
Date: Fri, Oct 3, 2003, 4:41 AM
OK NYC gatherers, that means you Alex.
Here's what I've found so far.
I'm quite capable of making my own decisions but a little guidance wouldn't
go amiss.
At the moment Union Square looks favourite.
cheers,
colesy
<<The Pennsylvania Hotel $110 /night
a large, moderately priced property, located on 7th Avenue, spanning the
entire block between 32nd and 33rd Streets.>>
<<Murray Hill Inn $116.25 /night
143 East 30th Street
* Cozy 50 room Inn located on a lovely tree-lined street in the quiet
residential neighborhood of Murray Hill. Close to midtown and downtown
Manhattan, within walking distance of Times Square, Madison Square Garden,
Grand Central Station, Macy's, the Empire State Building, shopping,
restaurants and nightlife.>>
<<Ramada Inn New York New York $99/night
161 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10016 US
* Fantastic NYC Location close to all attractions and business centers.
* 5th Ave Shopping within walking distance * NYU * NYU Medical Center only 1
block * Complimentary Continental Breakfast * Great Restaurants within
walking distance * Friendly/Multi-Lingual Staff * Great Location for all
your needs>>
<<* The Union Square Inn $97.50/night
209 East 14th Street
a small boutique hotel with 41 charming rooms, combining a landmark
building with modern decor. Close to Midtown and Downtown,>>
--
Check out our merchandise at http://www.maliciousdamage.co.uk
... and you can find more Killing Joke at http://www.studio-c.co.uk
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<TITLE>Re: [kj] Mike' hotel</TITLE>
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<BR>
So, just for laughs (and since I don't have to work until this evening and =
have nothing better to do until then), I took a walk to go check out Mike's =
proposed hotel, the Union Square Hotel (209 E.14th St.).<BR>
<BR>
As I suspected, it's on 14th Street between 3rd and 2nd Avenues. For those =
unfamiliar with Manhattan, 14th street is sort've the line of demarkation th=
at signals the beginning of "downtown". You'll often hear black-cl=
ad hipsters offering that they "NEVER go above 14th street" if the=
y can help it. That said, it is a neighborhood unto itself....the longest ru=
nning east-west street in Manhattan, effectively bi-secting the island. &nbs=
p;Parts of it are completely devoid of character, while others host a melang=
e of urband culture that semebles a veritable casbah, replete with hucksters=
, haggling merchants and snake-charmers. The strip Mike's hotel is on is a p=
articularly colourful one. Back in the early 90's, the editor of a weekly ne=
wspaper for whom I used to write a profanity-strewn music column, John Gertn=
er, lived about six doors down, and the scourge of the street was a shadowy =
delicatessen called "the New Way" (think Georgie-Boy's ominous int=
onation in "Clockwork Orange") that was basically a front for a lu=
crative drug trade (it wouldn't have been out of the question to run into GG=
Allin or then-bedraggled Brit music writer Kris Needs skulking around, look=
ing to score). I remember attending a party or two at John's place and being=
somewhat ill-at-ease when strolling by this particularly lawless edifice. <=
BR>
<BR>
Those days are long gone, though. The gay moviehouse/sex toy emporium that =
used to reside on the corner has been replaced by a squeaky clean pharmacy. =
The dreaded New Way Delicatessen has long since been vacated. The area has b=
een cleaned up and is no longer the fearsome patch of badlands that it once =
was. I poked my head into the lobby of the Union Square Hotel, and it =
seems perfectly resectable. Don't expect accomodations comparable to the Pla=
za Hotel or the Waldorf-Astoria, but it should be perfectly acceptable, espe=
cially given the cheap price.<BR>
<BR>
For those keen on cinematic significance, Mike's proposed hotel is exactly =
one city block north of the brothel where Travis Bickle staged a bloody bull=
et party in "Taxi Driver" and but one block to the east of where o=
nce stood the Palladium (wherein Michael J. Fox snorted copious amounts of c=
ocaine in the cinematic adaptation of "Bright Lighs Big City"). Pr=
ior to becoming a big disco in the mid-80's, the Palladium was a concert ven=
ue, where I once saw Devo and Judas Priest (though not the same show). It wa=
s torn down about five years ago, though, to accomodate a character-less dor=
mitory for NYU students, sadly. If any of you caught the archival art =
film, "Downtown 81," this is the neighbohood Jean-Michel Basqiat's=
character wanders around in, though it's virtually unrecognizable from its =
incarnation in those halcyon days.<BR>
<BR>
In any event, Mike (and anyone else), if you choose this hotel, you'll be v=
ery conveniently located to the venue and a variety of cool spots. I also li=
ve quite nearby, so I'll happily serve as a tour guide of sorts.<BR>
<BR>
Alex in NYC<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
----------<BR>
From: "Alex Smith" <vassifer@earthlink.net><BR>
To: gathering@misera.net, gathering@misera.net<BR>
Subject: Re: [kj] NYC hotels<BR>
Date: Fri, Oct 3, 2003, 11:34 AM<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
Hiya Mike....<BR>
<BR>
They all sound pretty reasonable. If it makes any diference to you, the Uni=
on Square is the most conveniently located to the gig venue (also my neighbo=
rhood). I can stroll by and check it out today, if you'd like (and make sure=
it's not a total flea-bag deathtrap).<BR>
<BR>
Alex in NYC<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
----------<BR>
From: mike coles <<FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF"><U>mike@maliciousdamage.co.uk</U=
></FONT>><BR>
To: <FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF"><U>gathering@misera.net<BR>
</U></FONT>Subject: [kj] NYC hotels<BR>
Date: Fri, Oct 3, 2003, 4:41 AM<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE>OK NYC gatherers, that means you Alex.<BR>
<BR>
Here's what I've found so far.<BR>
I'm quite capable of making my own decisions but a little guidance wouldn't=
go amiss.<BR>
At the moment Union Square looks favourite.<BR>
cheers,<BR>
colesy<BR>
<BR>
<<The Pennsylvania Hotel<FONT COLOR=3D"#FF0000"> $110 /night <BR>
</FONT>a large, moderately priced property, located on 7th Avenue, spanning=
the entire block between 32nd and 33rd Streets.>><BR>
<BR>
<<Murray Hill Inn<FONT COLOR=3D"#FF0000"> $116.25 /night</FONT> <=
BR>
143 East 30th Street<BR>
* Cozy 50 room Inn located on a lovely tree-lined street in the quiet=
residential neighborhood of Murray Hill. Close to midtown and downtown Manh=
attan, within walking distance of Times Square, Madison Square Garden, Grand=
Central Station, Macy's, the Empire State Building, shopping, restaurants a=
nd nightlife.>><BR>
<BR>
<<Ramada Inn New York New York<FONT COLOR=3D"#FF0000"> $99/night<BR>
</FONT>161 Lexington Avenue<BR>
New York, NY 10016 US<BR>
* Fantastic NYC Location close to all attractions a=
nd business centers. * 5th Ave Shopping within walking distance * NYU * NYU =
Medical Center only 1 block * Complimentary Continental Breakfast * Great Re=
staurants within walking distance * Friendly/Multi-Lingual Staff * Great Loc=
ation for all your needs>><BR>
<<* The Union Square Inn <FONT COLOR=3D"#FF0000">$97.50/night<BR>
</FONT> 209 East 14th Street<BR>
a small boutique hotel with 41 charming rooms, combining a landmark b=
uilding with modern decor. Close to Midtown and Downtown,>><BR>
<BR>
-- <BR>
Check out our merchandise at <FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF"><U>http://www.maliciousd=
amage.co.uk<BR>
</U></FONT>... and you can find more Killing Joke at <FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF">=
<U>http://www.studio-c.co.uk<BR>
</U></FONT><BR>
</BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
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