As we fight this bitterly cold winter, we are comforted by the thought that spring is officially less than two months away, and our thoughts begin to drift to warm days in the park, barbeques with friends, and margaritas on outdoor patios. That being said, we eagerly begin to look forward to shedding those winter layers in exchange for lighter and brighter fabrics.
The prevailing trend of the last few seasons in men’s ready-to-wear is tailored, slim cut trousers and jeans (slightly cropped at the ankle), combined with preppy layers and loafers or oxfords without socks, and this trend continues to predominate the runways. The popular early ‘60s Mod styling shows no signs of slowing down when reviewing the upcoming F/W 2009 collections as well.
However, a few new trends for this season have been noted…
In t-shirts and sweaters, the sizes continue to increase as the decade draws to a close… Fitted tees and sweaters in the earlier part of the decade are rapidly expanding and becoming fuller in the men’s silhouette. A good example of this can be seen below in slouchier styles.
As men’s skinny pants continue to permeate the fashion world unfettered, a slowly emerging trend towards fuller trousers has begun to surface… By Spring 2010, I predict a lot of pleating will finally return to menswear as well. Below are some good examples of fuller cuts in pants.
Another men’s trend that continues to dominate the past few spring seasons is shorts. Beginning with longer lengths ending just above the knee a few years back, the length continues to rise, mirroring styles from the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Whether casual or dressy, shorts are no longer for the playground and the beach.
And finally… The color combo that saturated runways last fall for the upcoming season is yellow and gray. I remember noting Sienna Miller’s dress (as Edie Sedgwick) in Factory Girl in early 2007 during her first tour of The Factory (a flirty mid sixties number), and knew it wouldn’t be long before designers started capitalizing on the visually pleasing combo. Below are some great examples
.
Happy shopping.
~Chuck
“I’m Good, I’m Gone” – Lykke Li
“Courtship Dating” – Crystal Castles
“Paris is Burning” – Ladyhawke
“I Lust U” – Neon Neon (featuring Cate Le Bon)
Perhaps the most interesting collaborative project of the year comes from Super Furry Animals front man Gruff Rhys and electronic producer/musician Boom Bip. Together, these two form the dynamic duo, Neon Neon. Their debut album, Stainless Steel, released earlier in the year is a concept album, and is based on the life of John De Lorean (the engineer/playboy of the De Lorean Motor Company). In fact, the album title is a pun for the De Lorean DMC-12, which features a body made of stainless steel. The album also features guest appearances from familiar faces like Fab Moretti of The Strokes, Spank Rock, and Har Mar Superstar, as well as vintage sythesizers like the Casio SK-5, Korg MiniKorg 700, and Roland SH-101 to create the mid eighties synth-pop sound. When Welsh singer Cate Le Bon lends her sexy vocals to the track "I Lust U," one feels immediately transported back to the age of excess.
“Blind” – Hercules & Love Affair (featuring Antony Hegarty)
“Shut Up and Let Me Go” – The Ting Tings
www.myspace.com/thelongblondes
“Cassius” – Foals
“Lights & Music” - Cut Copy
“L.E.S. Artistes” – Santogold
“I Will Possess Your Heart" – Death Cab for Cutie
“If You Wanna Be A Star” – Walter Meego
“Fire” – The Whip
“Skeleton Tiger” – Tame Impala
The idea for this trip began last April when my roommate/landlord/good friend Dale Stein (a frequent world traveler) suggested I go visit our mutual friend Dana Brüller in Berlin with him in August. Of course, after the financial centrifuge I'd put myself through for the better part of the decade, I protested. I simply did not have the kind of money to drop on airfare (especially with summer European rates), even though we had a free place to stay. Dale insisted that it would be a great experience, and all but begged me to tag along. I held my ground. As attractive as it sounded (especially with how much I loved my European study-abroad ten years earlier), and as much as I really wanted to do it, I knew it just wasn't feasible......until Dale made a suggestion I hadn't thought about. He suggested that he'd pay for both tickets and I could just pay him back an extra hundred bucks a month in rent until I paid it off. This was a fantastic idea. I finally agreed and began to get excited...especially because my other good friend, Elizabeth Dicks, had moved there two summers ago and had come back on occasion and told me how amazing it is.
As we flew over Berlin, I noticed that the trees were a bit less green. It looked as though they may have had a drier summer than usual. The Berlin-Tegel airport was similar to Stockholm in its efficiency and minimalism. Before we knew it, we were on a bus to the Central Train Station (Berlin Hauptbahnhof). There, I bought a 10€ T-Mobile phone card and called Elizabeth (by the way, all pay phones are hot pink T-Mobile phones). Elizabeth arrived within 20 minutes or so, and helped us navigate our way on the S-Bahn and U-Bahn to Kreuzberg (a borough full of history itself, as well as the area we were staying) with a stop-off at the famous Alexanderplatz to see the Fernsehturm Berlin (TV Tower). Finally, we made our way to the Kottbusser Tor U-Bahn stop in Kreuzberg with only a couple blocks walk to Dana's dorm on Adalbertstraße. It was surreal. I'd made it nearly 5000 miles from home (the furthest I've been...even a few hundred miles further than Honolulu in the opposite direction).
The next week was a whirlwind of sight-seeing, shopping (mostly in the touristy Mitte area and hipster Prenzlauer Berg),
and going out... Berlin itself is a city unlike other European
cities... It was virtually destroyed by the Allied Forces as they
closed in on Berlin in the mid '40s, proceeded by a division down the
middle of the city dividing East (Communist Russia) and the West
(Britain, France, and America), and has only been unified for the past
19 years (most all of the wall is now gone with no border or markers as
a way for Berliners to mover forward from the past). There is a
definitive difference between the aesthetics of East and West. West
Berlin is a bit cleaner and more traditionally "European," whereas East
Berlin is a bit more spread out, less ornate, and a bit poorer. To put
in comparison to fellow Atlantans, it would be the difference between
the "niceness" of Buckhead and Midtown versus the "grittiness" of
Cabbagetown and Old Fourth Ward (only amplified on a bigger and grander
scale). Most of the typical European architecture in Berlin was
destroyed, badly damaged, or rebuilt (in some cases rebuilt with a more
modern feel). Berlin feels like a gigantic, spread out Brooklyn with
attitudes to match. It was actually kind of hard to believe I was in
Europe except for the language barrier. The weather was a welcome
change for me. It remained mostly sunny for the better part of the
week with highs in the low to mid '70s with lows in the mid to upper
'50s. It rained (drizzled) only two days, so it was a bit cooler on
those days. Even though the mascot for Berlin is a bear, I honestly
think it should've been a yellow jacket. There is a definite
infestation....worse than flies. However, they aren't as aggressive as
they are persistent around food. Most Berliners brush them away like
flies, unfettered by the potential anger from the bees.
The best part about our stay is that it was Dana's last week in Berlin for the summer program she was attending (a study of Jewish culture in Berlin - which is sadly lacking in Berlin's religious landscape to this day). We were able to meet a lot of her fellow students the night we got there for their last night on the town, as well as their Shabbat dinner the next evening. It was a great group of students of various ages, backgrounds, and countries. It reminded me quite a bit of my study-abroad at Oxford ten years ago. Dana's roommates Marnie and Sheer were excellent hosts, though Marnie moved out a day or two later to her own apartment. Sheer's good friend Valerie came to visit from Israel the day after Dale and I arrived. We immediately clicked with her and did quite a bit of day-time sight-seeing together. In the evenings, we all had wine and dinner at home as Dale was our personal chef and cooked an array of delicious dishes. Later at night, we'd all go out as a group to various nightspots. Sometimes, we'd just grab a beer from a corner market and drink it on the way (oh yeah, you can do that on the street and on the train in Europe). i would be lying if I said it's not expensive for Americans. The conversion rate was about $1.50 = 1
€. However, it's very cheap for Berliners since they're making euros instead of American dollars. A typical beer anywhere costs around 2,50€. Therefore, a good rule of thumb is to almost double any price you see. This is another reason we didn't go to many restaurants, and saved our money for nightlclubs and touristy things. It was refreshing to not be on a time schedule of any sort, as well as come and go at our leisure...the way a vacation should be.
As
the week came to a close, Dana prepared to go to her home city of
Munich, and Dale and I planned to meet her there. The cheapest and
fastest way to travel between the two cities is NOT the train. The train costs about 70
We
arrived in Munich exactly one week after we arrived in Berlin. The two
cities couldn't be more different. Dana lives at the city center on
Kanalstraße a block or so from the Isartor S-Bahn stop and the old
city. Munich is the capitol of the German state of Bavaria,
rich in culture and history. However, like Berlin, it is also a city
of a turbulent past. Munich is clean, touristy, and aesthetically
gorgeous...much like one would imagine it to be. Most of the surviving
architecture can be attributed to Ludwig I
(1825 - 1848) who had a penchant for late 18th century neoclassic
architecture, though there is much left from medieval and renaissance
periods as well. It is also common to see traditional Bavarian dress
in the touristy spots (dirndl and lederhosen). Oktoberfest draws a massive crowd every year. However, on the flipside of the historical beauty lies an ugly recent past. The National Socialist German Workers' Party
began as a small, radical right-wing political group in Munich to whom
no one paid much attention, and quickly increased momentum throughout
the '20s until they gained the majority in the German parliament and
President Paul von Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor in 1933.
Shortly after, The Reichstag Fire Decree
was passed which "amended" the German constitution by suspending civil
liberties for "national security" during this time of "crisis." The
rest is history. The Nazis quickly established headquarters and
offices in many historic buildings and landmarks throughout Munich as a
way of defining the past, present, and future of Germany. As a result,
many landmarks have a dual history. Munich also marred by the 1972 Olympics,
where Israeli competitors were held hostage and later killed by
Palestinian terrorists. Today, Munich is economically booming with
opulent (hedging on obscene) displays of wealth (especially on Maximilianstraße). Englischer Garten
(a large park near the city center) is one of the world's largest
public parks and contains a nudist area (we saw one man in particular
who permanently scarred us). It also contains a beautiful Biergarten
at the Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Pagoda). The weather in Munich is a
bit warmer than Berlin and so are the people. All in all, it was
fantastic to be able to experience the two cities.
To see personal pics of my trip, visit www.myspace.com/chuckjones or www.facebook.com/
Below is a guide to sights, shops, and bar/nightclubs in both Berlin and Munich...
BERLIN
Sights (all hyperlinked for historical reference):
World Clock
Friedrichstraße
(Mitte) - A nightlife and cabaret district in the 1920s that was
destroyed in WWII and later transformed into the main shopping
thoroughfare in Berlin today (much like the 5th/Madison/Lexington
shopping district of Manhattan).
Straße des 17 Juni - Commemorates the 1953 East Berliners' Upsrising against Communism.
Nightlife:
Weltempfänger (Mitte-Tiergarten-Wedding) We went here the first night in Berlin for Dana's program's '90s party. It's a small, cool dance space underneath the main bar/restaurant.
C.C.C.P. (Mitte) These are the only letters outside the door of the club in Mitte (translated to the U.S.S.R. - communist themed). This was the second place we went on the night our arrival (Thursday). I LOVED IT. The DJ played an outstanding blend of '60s, '80s, and current indie. I was very impressed by some of the tracks...especially "Shakin' All Over" by The Guess Who. Unfortunately, Dale was so jet-lagged, he slept right next to the DJ booth (what a compliment to the DJ!). I met a German girl named Sarah who kept trying to wake him up. Thank you Elizabeth for bringing me here!
Monarch - (Skalitzer Straße 134, at Kottbusser Tor, 10999 Berlin-Kreuzberg) We went here the next night (Friday). The original plan was to go to Bang-Bang, but Dana deemed it a bit too hipster and too pretentious. We wanted something a little more laid-back. We found it. Dana brought us to this great space located upstairs from the Turkish Center literally across the street from the Kottbusser U-Bahn stop. The door leading to the stairwell is only marked with Turkish Center-related information. We discovered Friday night is the best night to go as the DJs play an eclectic set of music (mostly laid-back Britpop...though, he did throw in "Turn it Up" by Robots in Disguise to spice it up).
Bang-Bang (Mitte) - I actually didn't get a chance to attend their infamous Friday nights, but I'm sure there are hipsters galore dancing to the latest indietronicelektroneuerave sound. When checking out the Myspace page (click the name), I discovered they actually play a lot of Mod. I'll have to go next time around.
Luzia (Kreuzberg) - This was our most common hangout throughout the trip. It was only blocks away, and very cool. By day, it is a cafe, and by night it's a lounge/bar with a small dance space and DJ booth. Most of the furnishings are antique (including the light fixtures). It maintains a very casual and trendy atmosphere. Most of the music is more of a downtempo kind of feel. It's a nice relaxing place to have a drink.
Roses (Oranienstraße 187, 10999 Berlin-Kreuzberg) - A whole-in-the-wall kitschy gay bar in the heart of Kreuzberg. The bartender is a little firecracker. She'd love you one minute, then turn on a dime the next minute. I felt like I was dealing with someone who had Multiple Personality Disorder. However, it was highly entertaining, and uber-tacky. I loved it.
Barbie Deinhoff's (Kreuzberg) - Another kitschy gay/indie bar with FANTASTIC music. The DJ on this particular night (Tuesday) played lots of '80s and electro (including some obscurities I'd never heard outside my iPod. GREAT!). There are lots of dolls as wall decorations. It's a hot pink theme. For Atlantans, it reminds me a lot of Mary's, only smaller. Elizabeth met her first Berliner boyfriend there (well, he was British, but lived in Berlin). I highly recommend it.
Berghain / Panorama Bar
(click the name for Wikipedia history or go to www.berghain.de for
info). Located in Friedrichshain over the river from Kreuzberg, this
place is insane. I really don't know where to begin... Wow. Um, so,
yeah... Sheer and Dana told us after dinner that we should go to bed
and get up around 2am, get ready, and get to Berghain by 4am because it
would be peak time. WHAT? I honestly didn't believe it. I couldn't
sleep, so Dale and I stayed up chatting and drinking with one of Dana's
program managers, Hannah. Well, we woke them up and were on our way.
The building is a renovated power-plant. It looks a bit spooky and
intimidating walking up to it because there's nothing else around it.
Inside is a multi-level superclub concept. It's seedy. It has dark
areas for casual sex. It has multiple bars. By 6am, the main
dancefloor was pounding with an electro-heavy techno combination and
PACKED full of people. Upstairs in the Panorama Bar are the huge,
semi-Paladian style windows and the music was a bit more
house-inspired. ANYTHING goes at this club, which is probably why it
draws all walks of life. It was truly an experience, but I think I was
a bit too exhausted to fully experience it. By 9am or so, we were on
our way to the popular Sunday Flohmarkt (see below). Needless to say,
we slept most of that Sunday. For Atlantans, if you remember
Backstreet (1976 - 2004 R.I.P.), it is a similar concept (only bigger
and more over-the-top).
NBI (New Berliner Intiative) Club
(Prenzlauer Berg) - Didn't get a chance to attend (which is sad because
I was at the Eberswalder Straße U-Bahn stop twice and it's right next
to it), but this is an indie club that hosts the infamous Berlin Hilton indie gay nights, as well as other notable events like DISKOMAT. Also visit: www.myspace.com/nbiclub.
Shopping:
Garage (Division of Kleidermarkt - Ahornstraße 2, 10787 Berlin-Schöneberg) Located in the West Berlin neighborhood of Schöneberg (which has an interesting history itself... Marlene Dietrich was born there, David Bowie and Iggy Pop resided there for a time, and it was the center of gay culture in the '20s before the Nazi's shut it down in the '30s), Garage is one of the largest thrift stores in Berlin with tons of cool finds. They usually have special deals where you can buy 1 Kg. for 13€.
Colours (Division of Kleidermarkt - Bergmannstraße 102, 10961 Berlin-Kreuzberg) A sister store to Garage in an area of Kreuzberg that very much reminds me of St. Mark's Place in the East Village, NYC. The same sorts of deals apply here as they do Garage.
Kastanienallee (Prenzlauer Berg) - THE hipster street of Berlin. Kastanienallee is lined with tons of independent designer boutiques, as well as cafes and restaurants. The fashion-forward kids are everywhere. GREAT people-watching.
Who Killed Bambi? (Prenzlauer Berg) - One of my favorite boutiques. Fantastic bags and t-shirts! It deserves its own mention!
COS (the location at Neue Sh
önhauser Straße 20, 10176 Berlin-Mitte) - Definitely a guilty pleasure store. COS is the upper-end line of H&M with stores throughout Britain, Belgium, Denmark, The Netherlands, and Germany. In other words, it's like the Banana Republic of H&M (only MUCH more fashion-forward than Banana Republic). Elizabeth introduced us to this store, and God bless her! Even though, it's pretty much mid-line for Germany, it's pricey for Americans with weak dollar against the euro. Dale bought an amazing 3/4 coat that fits him like a glove. Kudos!
Flohmarkt am Mauerpark
(Flea Market at Mauer Park - Prenzlauer Berg) - Sunday mornings never
felt so good....except for the Sunday morning we went. We came
directly from Berghain (as I noticed a few others did as well). I was
sleepy. I was cranky. It was a bit cold and drizzly. However, there
are TONS of great finds. Dana found a cute blue dress from H&M for
only a few euro. I wish I were a bit more awake. I would've taken
advantage of the awesome deals.
Sankt Oberholz (Mitte) - A GREAT coffee shop at Rosenthaler Platz in Mitte. Elizabeth brought us here, and it's her favorite. There's great music, free wifi, outdoor seating to view the bustling Rosenthaler Platz.
BERLIN ONLINE NIGHTLIFE / SHOPPING GUIDES:
[030] - All-inclusive nightlife listings guide (online and paper-based).
ein000 - Comprehensive online and paper-based listing of all Berlin boutiques by city neighborhood.
MUNICH
Sights:
Marienplatz (with New City Hall and Glockenspiel, as well as Mariensäule).
Nazi Tour (Dana gave us our own personal Nazi walking tour... However, there are professional ones offered: http://www.newmunichtours.com/thirdreich.htm
Englischer Garten (with Biergarten at the Chinesischer Turm - see the last paragraph before the listings for hypernlinks).
Nightlife (most are in Isarvorstadt):
Die Bank - Sleek bar with a blended crowd. Good music. I heard a house-y remix of "Bonafied Lovin'" by Chromeo that I hadn't heard before. It's a bit more mainstream than I would've liked, but still a cool spot for a drink.
X-Cess Bar (Kolosseumstaße 6, at Jahnstraße, 80469 Munich) - It has a wall of boobies! Seriously! It's a very small indie dive bar. Wasn't there for very long, but enjoyed the vibe.
Die Registratur - This place is a great indie dance club. It has a fairly large dancefloor and bar area. It has a separate smoking room open to the outside. You get to pick a little trinket at the door to take home with you. How cute. I think Boys Noize plays there this Friday.
BAU - This is definitely Munich's version of The Eagle in Atlanta. However, there were more younger gay guys who weren't quite a "bear-ish" as I expected. The downstairs where the bathrooms are is virtually pitch-black. Proceed with caution. Yikes.
BAR JEANS (Blumenstraße 15, 80331 Munich) - Supposed to be Munich's oldest gay bar. It's across the street from Die Registratur (above). We went there for a drink after we got stamped and waited for the crowd to pick up at Die Registratur. It's a small bar with a quaint crowd. We were enthralled with the gay porn playing at the bar.
Kleidermarkt See Garage and Colours above. The only difference is that it's twice the size and carries traditional Bavarian dress for men and women.
There are tons of tourist shops in the Old City, as well as international brand names. For the "Rodeo Drive" of Munich, you have to stroll down Maximilianstr
"Ahhh... New York... Aren't ya gonna miss it?"
Carrie Bradshaw ushered these very words to the infamous "Mr. Big" in the episode "I Heart NY" from Season 4 of Sex and the City (2001). It couldn't be truer. My love affair with this town spans twenty years now and began when I moved to New Jersey at the age of 13 in January 1988. My stepfather had just married my mother and he was transferred to New York from Atlanta. I wasn't a big fan of Jersey, but I relished the weekends when we'd go into the city. Even the first glimpse of the massive skyline with the prominent World Trade Center would give me chills (I sketched it over and over again...I still have one of the sketches to this day). Of course, these trips would include the more touristy things like Times Square, Rockefeller Center, The Empire State Building, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Grand Central Station, etc., etc., etc. I can even remember going to Central Park on a gorgeous Spring day (complete with a sky full of kites) in May of '88 or '89 (I can't remember which), and glimpsing a cute gay couple holding hands. I remember thinking that I'd have a cute boyfriend someday... Little did I know what a challenging enterprise that would be. Unfortunately, my dislike for Jersey outweighed my love for NYC (since I dealt with Jersey on a daily basis), so I moved back to Atlanta to live with my Dad a year and a half later in July 1989. I would only return to visit my mom for a short Christmas visit later that same year. I wouldn't return again for twelve whole years (in the interim, my mom and stepdad moved to other cities).
My next visit wasn't until Labor Day, 2001. At the time, I was 26, and I was going to visit a guy I dated for some seven or so months before he completed grad school at UGA. Of course, by then, I was an avid watcher of Sex and the City, so I had a completely romantized view of New York. We did some touristy things, and some not-so-touristy things. Three places I enjoyed were XL Lounge (a sleek lounge in Chelsea for the boys, which I'm not sure exists anymore). XL had an ultramodern public latrine in the middle of the bathroom with this divider wall with trickling water fall, but you could see the other person on the other side, which was a bit intimidating. They had hot, shirtless bartenders, and I think I saw the SATC girls on a later episode at the same place. Samantha was checking out the latrine and complimenting "the goods” while saying something to the effect of it being “like a diabetic in a candy store.” I also remember a great place for Sunday brunch called Artepasta (I think it was hedging on Greenwich Village and Chelsea). I just remember they had all-you-can-drink mimosas for $10! A great place for shopping at the time was Century 21, which was downtown directly across from the WTC. I remember stepping outside and looking up and asking Jason (the guy I dated) if we could be tourists and go to the top because I never had the chance to do it as a kid. He said no, so I thought there would plenty of other chances. It wasn't like they were going anywhere. I remember my bag being ransacked at the Newark airport by security when I was leaving a few days later. It was a bit scary because I'd never been through it before. I had extreme anxiety on the flight home, which was bizarre because I love to fly. One week later, as I sat in my tiny cube at Wolf Camera corporate, I watched the nightmare unfold with the north tower on CNN.com. I immediately rushed to the break room to find out was going on. I watched in pure horror as the airliner struck the south tower. A sickening feeling of disbelief ensued as I realized at that moment we were under attack. As the towers fell, it was like I living in an alternate universe. I can't even describe it. All those people… Those symbols of New York (and America, really) that I'd sketched so often as a child....gone.
My next visit came almost exactly five years later in 2006. The 9/11 tragedies became even more real when I saw the downtown skyline with the absent towers. My September '06 trip and my July '07 trip were much more relaxed and exploratory. It was time to do some off-roading. My BFF Christina (who moved there in '05) gave me the inside scoop, and I've become more and more familiar with different neighborhoods throughout the city. Over the past six years, I've had quite a few friends migrate to New York...many of which never came back. As Atlanta becomes smaller and smaller to me (while simultaneously growing bigger and bigger to others), my annoyances with Atlanta have peaked, and I've decided to make the move myself. My goal date is June 1, 2009.
Looking for fun places to go on your next visit to New York? Here are some gems in both Williamsburg and Lower Manhattan I’ve discovered over my past two visits. They are written from an Atlanta perspective, since I haven’t really a basis for comparison. I’ve hyperlinked most places to their respective Myspace pages or web sites where applicable. Enjoy!
WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN:
Metropolitan (GAY)
559 Lorimer St almost at Metropolitan Ave (there's an L stop right across the street)
It's like a Mary's in Williamsburg. However, there's not really a dance space, but it has a bigger outdoor patio. It's more of a hangout. I guess it could be dancey sometimes, but I've never been on a dancey night (I've only been twice, and I think it was during the week). It's a bit strange how much it reminds me of Mary’s. Still, a fun place!
Union Pool (or, affectionately called "U.P.")
484 Union Ave. at Meeker St.
A great blend of The Earl, MJQ, Lenny's and The Local... Great bar area, great outdoor patio, great live music area, and great dance space. It's the best Williamsburg hangout.
594 Union Ave. at Richardson St.
Cool hangout. Much like The Local. Nice little dance space in the back! Very much like UP, though not quite as many ultra-hipsters. More laid back.
212 Berry St. at N. 3rd St.
This place is very much like The Local (albeit a bit more crowded on Friday nights). The have ten billion different kinds of beer (like, bizarre ones you've never heard of). It's fun. I went there on 4th of July after seeing Japanther and Pterodactyl play at 29 Wythe.
221 N. 9th St., between Roebling St. and Driggs Ave.
We went on a Sunday night. Pretty cool place. Every time you order a beer, you get a free pizza! YESSSS.
70 N. 6th St., between Wythe and Kent Ave's...a few blocks from Bedford Ave.
Live music / indie bar / art space. I wanted to see The Presets there back in '06, but it was the day I left. Still, a great place
285 Bedford Ave., between Grand and S.1st St's
Dance club on Beford Ave. I ran into my friend Carrie White from Atlanta a few years back, and she said she spins there on Sunday nights... However, who knows if she still does... Worth a peek.
29 Wythe
29 Wythe at N. 14th
Cool little live music warehouse-type space. Reminded me of lots of spaces in Cabbagetown. They had a great 4th of July party, and only blocks from full view of the East River fireworks.
388 Union Ave, near Metropolitan Ave
Cool little hangout spot to have a few beers, as well as play some '80s arcade games!
McCaren Park Pool
Lorimer St. between Driggs Ave. and Baynard St. (technically Greenpoint)
From June to August, all the hipsters from Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Park Slope, etc. gather in droves for the Free Sunday “pool” parties. It's literally a HUGE, old drained community pool where everyone goes to watch summer shows. Check here for the free Sunday Pool Parties schedule: http://thepoolparties.com/. Otherwise, shows during the week cost $$$.
PLACES TO EAT:
338 Bedford Ave., between S. 2nd and S. 3rd St's
AWESOME Mexican food. I ate their twice. I mean, you can't find good Mexican in New York, but this is as good as it gets!
Fabiane's Cafe & Pastry
42 N. 5th St at Bedford Ave
SOOOO GOOD! Open Air during summer. Good for coffee and people watching. Try their mushroom quiche... FANTASTIC. Though, don't expect the traditional French fluffy quiche... Since Fabiane's is a fusion of Brazil and France, the quiche is more on the runny side...kind of like a casserole. SOOO GOOD.
Phoebe's Cafe
323 Graham Ave., between Lorimer and Leonard St's
Great little indie coffee house / brunch spot. I had the banana walnut waffles. They were quite tasty.
225 Wythe Ave at N. 3rd
Ever wonder if there's a place like Ria's or Radial is in New York? THIS IS IT. I went there just before I had to go to LaGuardia... YUM. I could’ve stayed MUCH longer.
Sunac Natural Food
440 Union Ave near Metropolitan Ave, between Devoe and Keap
24 HOUR NATURAL FOODS AND DELI!!!! It's great to get hoagies in the middle of the night!!
SHOPPING:
88 N. 11th St., between Berry and Wythe Ave's
THE thrift store to shop in Williamsburg. Some things are pricey...others are shockingly not. I found a quite a few things there.
FOR ALL THINGS WILLIAMSBURG, VISIT: www.freewilliamsburg.com or www.thelmagazine.com
MORE GOING OUT/PARTY SUGGESTIONS FOR BOTH BROOKLYN AND MANHATTAN (sign up for this email updates):
OPEN BAR NIGHTS:
www.myopenbar.com (sign up! a great resource for fun things!)
LOWER MANHATTAN:
Thursdays:
Cheeky Bastard at Hiro Ballroom
371 W. 16th St. (Chelsea)
The creme de la creme of indie dance nights in NYC. :ots of Paper magazine, Useless magazine, and V magazine folks.
Happy Ending (GAY indie dance night, weee!)
302 Broome St (LES)
It's kind of a ghostown before Midnight, but after that, LOTS OF CUTE INDIE GAY BOYS DANCING IT UP!!! If I wasn’t so hungover from 4th of July the night before, I would’ve had a blast.
Fridays:
40 Ave. C at 3rd St. (East Village)
MY MOST FUN NIGHT BY FAR! DJ Jess (who's cute as hell, but alas...straight), plays an '80s new wave-heavy night at this whole-in-the-wall East Village bar... The crowd was good! It has changed locations from Rififi since I've been there, but the music is awesome.
152 Orchard St, between Stanton and Rivington (LES)
An indie rock "scene" night. Pretty much all the NYC fashionista-hipster-scenesters gather here on Fridays. Hint: know the bands that are playing before the actual dance party gets started. A door guy may ask you who you're here to see, and just name one of the bands. This is how they keep the frat boys and sorority girls out...
Saturdays:
Crashin' In at Stanton Public
17 Stanton St. between Bowery St. and Chrystie St. (LES)
Lio Cerezo (DJ Oil) who used to live here in Atlanta and spin the Britpop Video Nights at Mary's with Dennis Millay every Monday hosts this night. It's a great party. It used to be located at Galapagos in Williamsburg. You should go!
Sundays:
Sway (the sign outside still reads McGovern's Tavern)
305 Spring St, between Hudson and Greenwich - a little up the street from Don Hill's where infamous MisShapes party used to be.
It has become increasingly hard to get into Sway on Sundays...more and more people have found out about it. As a matter of fact, Chloe Sevigny has been spotted there a few times over the past two years. However, it's dance-o-mania here. Good crowd as well.
PLACES TO EAT (Brunch and Latenight):
Clinton Street Baking Co. & Restaurant
4 Clinton St., between E. Houston and Stanton (LES)
SOOOO EFFING GOOD!!!!! Southern-styled. The best food EVER. You should go.
Punjabi Grocery & Deli
114 E. 1st St., between 1st Ave. and Ave. A (LES)
Open 24 hrs!!!! Hits the spot after a long night boozing and dancing. It’s Indian take-out. Fast, and better than going to Taco Cabana or Majestic at 4am if you know what I’m sayin’..
SHOPPING:
4 St. Mark's Place, Ste. 4, between 2nd and 3rd Ave's (East Village)
A seminal punk-rock boutique. It's kind of like an L5P or E. Atl. boutique, but they have some great stuff you can't find here in Atlanta, so I really liked it. Their skinny jeans fit like a glove.
The Scottish singer/songwriter/producer/remixer is truly a jack-of-all-trades. He scored a nominal hit last year with “Acceptable in the ‘80s,” poking fun at the fashion and pop culture of the period. The video is a parody of many early ‘80s new wave videos, which were often dreamlike and nonsensical (since video was a new medium for music at the time, it allowed for much more creative freedom). The 24-year-old is also known for his producing talents [Róisín Murphy, Kylie Minogue, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and the highly entertaining “Michael Jackson” by The Mitchell Brothers (you should YouTube the video immediately!)]. He lends his clever remixing abilities to tracks by The Ting Tings, CSS, and Jamiroquai. Keep on the lookout for Mr. Harris this year.
The synth-pop musical duo from The Windy City met back in 1999 and shared similar musical aesthetics. The band takes its name from vocalist Justin Sconza (who is HOT as Hell, by the way), when he asked his counterpart (instrumentalist Colin Yarck) to call him “Walter,” which was short for his new alter ego, Walter Meego. The group’s musical style has been described of elements of dance, funk, and post-punk, and they’ve been compared to the likes of New Order, Daft Punk, and Radiohead. Their upcoming full-length, Voyager, showcases a wide range of ability, and features the track, “Wanna Be a Star.” Walter Meego is probably some of the most intelligent electropop goodness in the past six years. Keep them on your radar.
Perhaps my favorite new musical act of the year thus far would undoubtedly be MGMT. The artsy bohemian duo from Brooklyn has produced some of the most innovative sounds I’ve heard this decade yet. Combining elements of garage rock, glam (think Bowie-esque and T.Rex crooning vocals), and a bit of ‘80s synths, and you’ll have a magical combination of rock that transcends time. They’ve already produced a string of catchy singles from the recently released Oracular Spectacular including the mesmerizing “Time to Pretend,” the soulful “Electric Feel,” and the synth-driven “Kids.” I know it’s only April, but I’m almost ready to hand the Best Album of the Year Award to MGMT. Check them out.
Last year, Klaxons were touted as the band to watch by NME, as the cheeky Brit mag proclaimed them the purveyors of the new rave movement. This year, NME has crowned a new band as their lovelies du jour. Foals hail from Oxford, England (which is more than just a University. Oxford is a cool little city…like a miniature London, if you will. I have an undying love for it that hasn’t faded since I studied there for a term ten years ago). Foals provide a clever combination of math rock and dance-punk that creates a captivating sound. Their debut album, Anitdotes, was just released a few weeks ago in the UK, and has already shot to number three. The album’s US release is slated for today. The band caught my attention with their single, “Mathletics” a few months back, and it hasn’t left my “most played” iPod list yet!
Black Kids have enjoyed a whirlwind of success in just six short months. Back in August, they performed for Athens Popfest (Athens, GA), and the festival catapulted them to online fame, as indie music bloggers talked about them non-stop. As a result, they received coverage in The Guardian, Vice, NME, and The Village Voice. They also released an EP titled, The Wizard of Ahhhs that same month, which earned them a stellar review from Pitchfork Media (and contained an outstanding single called “Hurricane Jane”). Since then, they’ve signed a deal with Quest Management (Björk, Arcade Fire), and have received exposure in The New York Times and USA Today. Rolling Stone named them one of the ten best new bands of 2008. Their first official single since signing with Almost Gold Recording was released yesterday and is a newly recorded version of “I’m not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You.” Look for their debut full-length (TBA) to drop in July.
With the F/W 08 shows officially complete (as well as fashion prodigy Christian Siriano crowned as Project Runway’s latest prince), I can now take the opportunity to reflect on the current state of women’s fashion. As I surmised, tops would continue to get larger and more ornate (Edwardian influences with fuller sleeves, larger shoulders, and frills and ties galore). The waistline has (finally) climbed back to…well…the waist. Yes! No more butt-crack (at least for a good ten to fifteen years)! Large width high-waisted belts continue to be an accessory of choice to slim the female silhouette. Trousers range from the form-fitted “skinny” look (which is most prevalent), to high-waisted full-cut (semi-palazzo) styles, to full looks which slightly taper toward the ankle. Pleats have also begun their cyclical revolution featuring high-waisted styles, complimenting the larger Edwardian tops quite nicely. Hair has remained with little change throughout the decade… Retro looks from the 20th century still prevail (with ‘60s and ‘70s styles dominating). The resurgence of bangs over the past few years continues. Below are some great examples of women’s trends in separates for the following year:
First of all, I hope everyone had a great new year. Hopefully, I'll expand the blog in some way during 2008. I'm still in the beta phase, and getting used to having a blog in general. Once I become dedicated, and utilize all the blog's capabilities (as well as my own), I may even create a "real" blog with a better host (wider readership and fewer restrictions).
Now, for the fashion…
As we move into the closing years of the first decade of this new and strange technologically driven millennium, fads and fashions are moving at a pace quicker than ever before, with retro looks being recycled with fewer years between the preceding craze.
Therefore, a good rule of thumb is to never fall victim to an over-the-top, at-the-moment fad (unless you're one of the few who can pull it off and not look foolish when looking back at pictures from this era)… Otherwise, you'll wear it for a few months before it goes back to the vault for another ten years, only to reemerge with slight variations and modifications.
Looking at men's fashion over the past eight years, it is important to note that there has been a shift in the men's silhouette, which mirrors a similar phenomenon in women's trends. The fitted top and full (if not wide-legged) bottom half, which dominated most of the nineties, as well as the earlier part of this decade, has completely reversed itself (as it happened with the seventies/eighties transition period). It is becoming more and more common to find a fitted bottom half with a fuller top half. Color still dominates ready-to-wear men's looks (mostly inspired by the eighties revival earlier in the decade, as well as the neon colors of underground dance culture), though muted colors and earth tones have begun to reemerge over the past few months, and have been shown in both S/S and F/W collections over the past year.
As the winter marches on, the trends of the season for men continue to have a definitive mod look. Inspiration from early sixties mod/late seventies mod revival (as well as early new wave) are more than evident. Slim-fit trousers and denim are most common; with designer denim going into decline as inexpensive mass-market brands offer up-to-the moment skinny looks in flattering styles. Turtlenecks have reemerged this season, as well as plaid patterns (flannel, madras, etc.). The reintroduction of military trends last season remains popular (particularly in shoes). A movement towards oxfords, desert boots, tasseled loafers, wingtips, etc., begins to overtake casual sneakers for the first time in six years or so. Hair moves away from over-styled, straight, flat-ironed looks to more natural waves, curls and free flowing mop-top styles. Below are some great looks as examples. Have fun, and happy winter!
*The below images are credited to one of my online fashion Bibles, The Sartorialist.
In no other year since the close of the ‘90s has dance music made such a powerful comeback. The year 2007 has (in many ways) paralleled 1997 by combining indie rock and electronica. Back then, the pioneers were The Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers, Republica, Underworld, Atari Teenage Riot, Sneaker Pimps, The Crystal Method, etc. These days, there seems to be a repeat performance with the ever-changing genre of dance-punk (as more and more disco beats are added to already synth-laden rock), as well as the proclamation of the British “new rave” movement by NME magazine. Though Britain produced some outstanding singles from stellar bands this year, 2007 really belonged to its continental neighbor, France. In fact, so many excellent tracks were produced this past year, it would take me ions to write… Suffice to say that the below are my favorites, but honorable mentions go to tracks I’ve not listed from amazing bands like Holy Hail, Cut Copy, Chromeo, The Cribs, Scratch Massive, Spoon, Digitalism, Riot in Belgium, Snowden, The Teenagers, and LA Riots (see blog post titled, "I Love the 2000's (So Far)!" for more track listings). I’ve hyerplinked the track to its corresponding YouTube video, as well as listed their Myspace address. Some of the tracks can also be found on my Featured Playlist at Projectplaylist.com, which I’ve also provided a link.
To enjoy some of the tracks from my personal playlist, click HERE.
Also, for a trip down Memory Lane, check out "2006: The Year in Music"
“It’s Not Over Yet” – Klaxons
http://www.myspace.com/klaxons
Probably the most influential band of 2007, these so-called purveyors of the British “new rave” movement offer a lot more than your typical dance-punk outfit. Inspired by everything from apocalyptic notions, to the supernatural and magic, their work references figures like Aleister Crowley, William Burroughs, and Thomas Pynchon. The band takes its name from the Greek term meaning “to shriek” (usually by a loud warning device), which is evident with the rave-style siren you hear in a few of their tracks. “It’s Not Over Yet” is one of the calmer, more melodic tracks on Myths of the Near Future (the critically acclaimed full-length debut), and has a melancholy, but oh so loveable chorus.
“Anyway You Choose to Give It” – The Black Ghosts
http://www.myspace.com/blackghosts
Following the lead of electro-dance-punk producer-duo du jour, MSTRKRFT, Simian’s Simon Lord and The Wiseguys’ Theo Keating record together as The Black Ghosts. Like Klaxons, the supernatural is a big influence on the Brit band’s music-style, but unlike Klaxons, it’s more disco-oriented, and is easily detectable in such tracks as “Anyway You Choose to Give It.” This track is not only extremely danceable, but also highly melodic…the makings of a great pop song.
“Road to Recovery” – Midnight Juggernauts
http://www.myspace.com/midnightjuggernauts
Trailing the success of fellow Aussies, The Presets, Midnight Juggernauts have blasted their way into the dance scene of the the late ‘00s. The trio’s recent full-length, Dystopia, was nominated for a J Award by the Aussie youth radio station Triple J for Australian Album of the Year. With influences like Electric Light Orchestra, it’s no wonder that their ambient melodies layered over disco synths have catapulted their underground success. They have also remixed the likes of !!!, The Presets, Dragonette, and Electric Six. They, themselves, have been remixed by Cut Copy, The Presets, and Wolfmother. “Road to Recovery” is highly melodic and trance-like over a highly danceable disco beat…highly addictive.
“Computer Camp Love” – Datarock
http://www.myspace.com/datarock
Hailing from Norway, Datarock originally released their debut album Datarock Datarock in 2005, but it was re-released this year in North America. The duo’s influences include everything from Talking Heads to the Happy Mondays, but you can definitely hear them channeling early eighties nerd-rock band, Devo in their track “Computer Camp Love.” Inspired by watching 1984’s Revenge of the Nerds, they recorded the catchy tune. When they mention Commodore 64, I had an immediate flashback to second grade (the first computer I encountered), writing cutesy programs in Basic. Datarock has also been lumped into the new rave genre, thanks to Britain’s NME magazine.
“Young Folks” – Peter Bjorn & John
http://www.myspace.com/peterbjornandjohn
The Swedes have always been the tastemakers for the Western World throughout the years. I mean, let’s examine for just a moment, shall we? Abba. Cheap Monday jeans. Gay marriage. Ikea. The Sounds. The Knife…and finally, this year’s latest export, Peter Bjorn & John. The band originally formed in 1999, but it wasn’t until the track, “Young Folks,” with its irresistibly catchy whistling intro first caught the attention of North American indie kids early last year. Since then, the song’s popularity has grown exponentially, and is now commonplace on mainstream radio.
“Nestle In My Boobies” – The Coathangers
http://www.myspace.com/fuckthecoathangers
Words cannot describe how much I love these lovely and talented ladies. Tearing up my hometown of Atlanta, and reeking havoc across the rest of the country, The Coathangers are no sweet girl band. They sing about everything from “shutting the fuck up” to “not touching their shit.” I mean, any band that names themselves after something as horrific as a pre-legal abortion instrument, is bound to have something to say…and these ladies say it…LOUDLY. “Nestle in My Boobies” has an addictive quality (maybe it’s something to do with the extremely catchy lyrical content) that makes you want to replay the song over and over. From the city that gave you The Black Lips, Snowden, and The Hiss, The Coathangers promise to make their mark on the international indie scene.
“The Bomb” – New Young Pony Club
http://www.myspace.com/newyoungponyclub
Perhaps my favorite band over the past year would undoubtedly be New Young Pony Club. Ever since I first heard the sexy track “Ice Cream” last fall, I knew the London-based band would climb to new levels of success. “Ice Cream,” as well as “Get Lucky” were both originally released in 2006, but their most recent single, “The Bomb” was released a few months shy of their full-length debut, Fantastic Playroom, last July. NYPC’s sound is probably most deserving of the term “new rave,” since they combine punk/new wave aesthetics to dancey synths, but they refute the tag. If you could combine the punkiness of girl fronted band, Elastica with the playful dancey-ness of Missing Persons, NYPC would fall somewhere in the middle.
“Lovers Who Uncover” – The Little Ones (Crystal Castles Vs. The Little Ones Remix)
http://www.myspace.com/wearethelittleones
Times are good for LA-based band, The Little Ones. Their harmonic sixties sound has been compared to the likes of The Kinks, The Zombies, and The Beach Boys. They’ve toured with fellow successful indie acts like CSS, Tilly and the Wall, and Kaiser Chiefs. Their single, “Lovers Who Uncover” is an infectious track by itself. However, when Toronto-based duo, Crystal Castles lends their fantastic remixing ability, it becomes a dance floor hit in indie dance clubs the world over.
“First Class Plane” – Rock&Roll
http://www.myspace.com/thenameofthebandisrockandroll
The year in music definitely belongs to Paris. Francophiles all over the world will delight in the emergence of multiple French bands over the past year infiltrating indie dance music. The ironically named Rock&Roll is one such band. Since their 2006 EP release First Class Plane (the cover was designed by Karl Lagerfeld), Rock&Roll continues their momentum towards mainstream success. The title-track is a guitar-laden masterpiece reminiscent of good, old-fashioned seventies rock. Like their Aussie counterparts, Wolfmother, Rock&Roll let’s you know that rock ‘n roll is still alive and well. Be on the lookout for Rock&Roll as models for Roberto Cavalli’s spring-summer 2008 campaign.
“It’s Getting Boring By the Sea” – Blood Red Shoes
http://www.myspace.com/bloodredshoes
Brighton, England is a fantastic city. With all the cultural amenities of its northern neighbor capital city, but with the advantage of the fresh sea air, Brighton is sort of like a London on the beach. Blood Red Shoes just so happen to be from this vibrant little town. However, they think it’s getting boring…so much so, that they wrote a song about it. “It’s Getting Boring By the Sea” is a guitar-heavy track evoking the spirit of ‘90s alt-rock as they croon on not being able to “escape anything in this town.”
“Never Even Told Me Her Name” – Air Traffic
http://www.myspace.com/airtraffic
Piano rock never seems to go out of style. Ask Billy Joel. Ask Elton John. Ask Ben Folds Five. It has an immediate soothing effect you just can’t seem to put into words. Brit band, Air Traffic is the latest installment of the never-dying genre that takes its name from practicing next to a runway and picking up air traffic control signals on their amplifiers. “Never Even Told Me Her Name” is a delightful little ditty that makes you want to scream the lyrics while watching them perform in a dumpy little dive bar.
“D.A.N.C.E.” – Justice
http://www.myspace.com/etjusticepourtous
Destined to be the number one indie dance track of the year, “D.A.N.C.E.” has single-handedly dominated indie dance charts for the better part of 2007. Not bad for French electro house duo, Justice, who are on their way to becoming a household name. Paying homage to Michael Jackson, “D.A.N.C.E.” references “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing),” as well as “ABC.” Together with other catchy singles like “DVNO” and “Tthhee Ppaarrttyy” (featuring Uffie), their 2007 full-length, †, promises to springboard them to mainstream success. Last year, the video for their single “We Are Your Friends” (with Simian) landed them Best Video at the 2006 MTV Europe Music Awards (the thank you speech was famously interrupted by self-righteous rapper Kanye West, who felt he should’ve won the award). “D.A.N.C.E.” was nominated as Video or the Year at the 2007 Video Music Awards, but lost to Rihanna (featuring Jay-Z).
“Myth Takes” - !!!
http://www.myspace.com/chkchkchk
Being one of the purveyors of the dance-punk revival, !!! have made their mark on indie music throughout the decade, especially with 2004’s Louden Up Now, which made them popular with EMO kids across the globe. Their 2007 release, Myth Takes, shows a more sophisticated, intelligent, and mature !!!. The title-track hasn’t been released as a single yet (at least, not to my knowledge), but it is such a great track, I had to include it on the list. There is a definite Johnny Cash quality to the track (the monotone vocals, and the dark new wave-style instrumentation with a slight country tinge). It’s no wonder since Myth Takes was recorded in Nashville. With links to The Juan Maclean and Out Hud, !!! continues to evolve with the changing times, exciting their fans with what’s next.
“I Believe” – Simian Mobile Disco
http://www.myspace.com/simianmobiledisco
Born out of the remnants of Simian in 2005, Brit boys James Ford and James Shaw are the mastermind producer/remixer duo behind Simian Mobile Disco. Though they’ve released several low-profile singles of their own, they are arguably more noted for their acclaimed remixes for artists like Air, The GO! Team, CSS, The Presets, and Klaxons. However, with the success of last year’s “Hustler,” they’ve gained more recognition as artists in their own right. “I Believe” has helped their 2007 full-length debut, Attack Decay Sustain Release achieve international success.
“À Cause des Garçons” – Yelle
http://www.myspace.com/loveyelle
The past two years have been a whirlwind of success for this Parisian solo artist. Yelle’s popularity first rose on Myspace.com when her track “Short Dick Cuizi” (poking fun at Cuizinier of French hip-hop outfit, TTC) began receiving rapid airplay. The finalized version, “Je Veux Te Voir” has been played continuously in Parisian clubs (and clubs around the world). “À Cause des Garçons” is a bit more intelligent and mature than her previous single, but has all the same qualities that make you want to shake that rump. Both singles can be found on her 2007 release, Pop-Up.
“O-hot Brain” – One-Two
www.myspace.com/powerpopuptothetop
2007 seems to be the year of the dance-your-ass-off-powerpop-electro-producer-remixer-ruler-of-the-indie-dance-universe DUO (for example: MSTRKRFT, The Black Ghosts, Simian Mobile Disco, Datarock, Justice, Crystal Castles, Digitalism, The Presets, etc., etc.). To add to the madness is French duo One-Two. However, what sets them apart from the rest of the pack is their ‘60s pop songwriting style combined with electro-funk beats. Their production follows the likes of Phoenix, Zoot Woman, and Air. “O-hot Brain” is a delightful little pop ditty with vocals echoing Talking Heads frontman, David Byrne.
“Cold Hands” – Black Lips
http://www.myspace.com/theblacklips
WARNING... Plot spoiler below. However, I safeguarded the ending for you. This is more of an analysis than a review.
Ahhh… Parker Posey. A true breath of fresh air for my generation. I fell in love with her first leading role as Mary in Party Girl back in 1995, and since then, everything I’ve seen her in has been pure gold (with the exception of Scream 3 and Superman Returns, for which she was the only reason I considered seeing the films). She has mastered her craft in such a way, that every performance is raw, natural, and completely believable by the audience. Her understated comedic style is more than evident in the roles she chooses, and her improvisational skills are impeccable.
I’ve been looking forward to seeing her latest film, Broken English, for some time, and it was finally released in Atlanta last week (only a few weeks shy of its slated DVD release). I knew before viewing the film, that Nora Wilder would be a more serious role for Posey, and I was very interested in seeing how she’d tackle it. I was also very interested in seeing the directorial debut for Zoe Cassavetes, daughter of legendary director and actor John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands (who also stars in the film as Nora’s mother).
The basic story of Broken English is a single woman in her late thirties living in New York trying to understand and cope with her loneliness, while all of her peers seemed to have moved forward. After a series of bad relationship experiences, Nora begins to withdraw into herself, truly believing there is something wrong with her. To the audience, Nora is obviously beautiful, but has become so fragile and numb, that it begins to show up in her appearance (hence the somewhat pallid, vagabond, and haphazard look despite how fashionable she is). She has worked in an excruciatingly painful to watch guest relations manager position at the same boutique hotel for six years, and has settled into a rut in her life.
After hesitantly (but flirtatiously) accepting a dinner invite with one of her VIP guests (a famous, overindulged actor portrayed by Justin Theroux), we begin to see why her luck has been so terrible as she makes every mistake in the book (feeding his ego, trivializing herself and her job, becoming heavily intoxicated, and sleeping with him). Tired of feeling the pressure from her friends and family, she tells them she is dating him…until a celebrity gossip television show reveals he is dating the costar of his most recent film. Crushed, Nora retreats into her self-loathing world. When her mother, as well as her best friend Audrey (Drea de Matteo) encourage her to “kick up her heals” and get out of the house, Nora reluctantly shows up to her irritating coworker’s house party, and after lingering for a few drinks, she decides she has made a mistake and decides to leave. Just as she’s leaving, a charming, impulsive, and assertive Frenchman named Julian (Melvil Poupaud) convinces her to stay and have a drink with him.
At this point in the film, we see the results of negative relationship experiences on Nora’s perception. Julian’s direct and in-your-face approach with his interest in Nora are mistaken for typical male advances to “get her in the sack.” Nora switches to avoidance and cynicism as her defense mechanisms, begins to drink heavily throughout the remainder of the evening, and forces herself to pass out at the end of the night to thwart any attempt on Julian’s part to have sex with her. The next day, she is shocked to see that he stayed the night and wanted to spend the day with her. Throughout the day, we watch Nora’s wall come down as she realizes Julian’s intentions are honest. However, at the first sign of what appeared to be waning interest from Julian, we (as well as Julian) witness Nora plummet into a full-blown anxiety attack, which she has to immediately squelch with a pill. When the fog lifts, Nora realizes Julian has left, so she spends the day roaming New York pondering her life and situation. Upon returning home, she finds Julian sitting on the front steps. He announces that he is leaving for Paris early in the morning, and wants her to come with him. This is the time for Nora to turn her meek complacency into proactive boldness. Instead, fear and feigned practicality take over, and she says she just can’t (because of her job, apartment, responsibilities, obligations, etc.).
The next day Nora quits her job of six years after a micro-managing conflict with her boss pushes her to the edge, and Nora’s anxieties peak. A spiritual medium sees Nora walking by her shop window, and beckons Nora to come inside, using knowledge unique to Nora’s situation. Nora finally decides to take action, and with Audrey’s help, they secure some cheap tickets to Paris through Audrey’s husband (he gives them packages to courier) in order to find Julian, only to discover that Nora has lost his number upon arrival, which sends her into another personal crisis that she tries to numb with pill-popping and alcohol. The next day she decides to relax and enjoy her break in Paris with her best friend, and when the time to leave comes, Nora makes the last minute decision to stay a bit longer…another bold step on her part. Nora uses the time wisely for self-reflection and examination, and by the time her last day comes, she is completely rejuvenated. Riding The Metro on her way to the airport, she sees Julian. The rest is for you to see.
There are some very powerful lines and moments in the movie, which quite honestly brought me to tears on a few occasions. Two of them are when Nora is having lunch with her mother, and Nora’s frankness and feelings fall out of her after her mother’s constant prodding. “I think I must be doing something horribly wrong, but I don’t know what it is,” as well as, “I can’t stand the sight of my own desperation.” Another moment comes when Nora’s alarm goes off signifying Julian’s departure for Paris. She pretends to fall back to sleep as he gets ready to leave. When he sits back down on the bed to try to say goodbye, she grabs his legs and buries her face in them, as if to say, “I can’t bear the thought of losing you now that I’ve finally found you.” Still another moment is when Nora is having drinks with an older Frenchman she met at a bar in Paris, and after he listens to her plight, offers his kind words by saying, “There are some people who are together so they are not alone… Some people want magic. I think you are one of those people.” And finally, when Nora finally sees Julian on The Metro, and his reaction is puzzling, there is an awkward silence between them, and when she gasps in air with the intention to say something to break the silence, she just turns toward the window and musters a fake smile…while at the same moment, you know she’s on the verge of tears.
I’m sure it’s no secret after writing so much about the movie, that it hit a personal chord with me. So much of the film parallels what I’ve been going through the past few years…settling into a job I despise, indulging in self-destructive behaviors, excessive alcohol consumption, relationship disasters, etc. It’s hard to watch your life flash across the silver screen without reacting to it emotionally. However, it’s equally as hard to take the steps Nora took to change her situation. It serves as an inspiration for me, as well as a call to arms to change my life’s current direction. One of the most powerful moments for me is when the fortuneteller calls out to Nora (who Nora initially ignores), “Your father misses you. He knows how lonely you are, and wants me to help you.” Nora turns around with a tear-streaked face. I couldn’t help but think of my own mother who passed away three years ago at the young age of fifty… The movie is just one of many pleas that I hear coming from another place (but I continually ignore) to make a change in my life. Somehow, I need to remove the fear, but I don’t know how.
Broken English serves as a snapshot in time of our modern world. One out of three marriages end in divorce. Marriage itself is a dying institution. Somehow, we’ve lost the ability relate to ourselves, which, in turn, erodes our ability to relate to others. The film’s central issue is Nora’s inability to love and forgive herself…which leads to her relationship follies. Once she faces this challenge, the rest of her life begins to fall in place.
I highly recommend seeing it if you have some free time. To my fellow Atlantans, it is playing at the Midtown Art Cinema next to Apres Diem. It is scheduled for DVD release on Tuesday, August 21st.
The music for the movie is by Parisian electro duo, Scratch Massive (one of the members makes a cameo appearance in the movie).
1979. The Internal Revenue Service forces Studio54 to close its doors. Where did all the celebrities go?
Andy Warhol, Farrah Fawcett, Grace Jones, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Burt Reynolds, as well as countless others were regular guests at a nightclub in Atlanta making ripples in the media. What unlikely place in such an unlikely city would have such a pull? The legendary Limelight nightclub was the place to see and be seen during its peak in 1981-1982. The Limelight’s decadent, wild, and over-the-top reputation earned it the nickname, “The Studio54 of the South.” The concept of The Limelight was the brainchild of notorious club owner Peter Gatien (portrayed by Dylan McDermott in the film Party Monster) after his Limelight in Miami burned to the ground in the late ‘70s. Gatien would later be involved in The Limelight New York controversy surrounding outrageous club kid Michael Alig.
Situated on Piedmont Road across from Tower Place (the only Buckhead high-rise at the time…now a skyline of postmodern condos and office towers dwarfing even Tower Place itself), The Limelight was located next door to a 24-hour Kroger grocery store, spawning the affectionate nickname, “Disco Kroger.” The name still stands to this day, though the multitudes of people who’ve moved to Atlanta over the past twenty years have no idea where the name originated.
The club itself was designed in a manor that now epitomizes ‘80s excess…larger-than-life staircase (lined with live models striking various poses throughout the night) leading down to the much publicized glass dance floor, which, underneath was an aquarium housing sand sharks that swam while you danced (it originally housed a tiger, but was replaced with sharks after noise complaints). The club’s 10K watt sound system pumped out disco, top 40, and new wave dance tracks of the moment, while thousands of spots and mobile lights provided a constant light show. Like Studio54, it was common for confetti to fall at any given moment. Caged dancers would be lowered from the ceiling to the foot of the dance floor (indeed, singer/actress Pia Zadora made her entrance this way). There were also the “exciters” (scantily clad dancers encouraging you to shake your booty). The VIP room in the back provided privacy for celebrity guests, while the curtained booths were havens for sex and cocaine use. And if all of that wasn’t enough, there was also an onsite restaurant, as well as a jumbo Jacuzzi with changing rooms, and finally, a small movie theater with pillows instead of seats.
The scene at The Limelight came in every form imaginable…disco freaks, new wavers, prominent business folk, straight, gay, and everything in between. The look du jour was shiny…(think American Apparel shiny leggings, only with bigger hair and heavier makeup, and twice as many useless accessories). The line could be as long as a four-hour wait, and at times, it extended down Piedmont Road. Denials at the door were common (sometimes just for sensationalism). Dress codes (as well as attitudes) were strictly regulated. The eccentric Gatien would often be perched at his desk in the office reading a novel.
One of the club’s most memorable nights came in June of 1981 when singer Anita Bryant (whose anti-gay stance was well documented during her stint as spokesperson for Florida Orange Juice) was photographed dancing with gay rights activist Russ McGraw. The photo made the pages of Time, Newsweek, Playboy, as well as the cover of The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, and more than 200 other American newspapers. Bryant was furious. Gatien relished the publicity.
By 1983, Gatien moved to New York to open another Limelight, and left the reigns to his brother, Maurice (who according to Guy D’Alema, Gatien’s publicist and photographer) did not want to spend money on The Limelight and lacked creativity. From the then on, The Limelight went into decline, eventually closing in early 1986.
As a child during the Limelight era, my mother (divorced and dating a series of guys until she married my stepfather in 1987) used to go out with her friends from work (Coca-Cola), and I’d hear these stories about a nightclub with sharks swimming around under a glass dance floor in Buckhead. The idea fascinated me (more so because I was obsessed with sharks as a kid). My seven-year-old brain just couldn’t imagine it. Interestingly enough, she did date a man named Guy during the early ‘80s for a brief stint…hmmm.
In the years since (my generation and later), Buckhead has become a business, shopping, and restaurant district …a southern version of Beverly Hills, if you will…not a nightlife destination by any stretch of the imagination. The bar and club scene migrated to Midtown by the mid to late ‘90s. Ironically, I live directly across the street from where The Limelight was located, and I go to Disco Kroger almost daily. Now, World Market (a retailer) is in The Limelight's upper level space, while the staircase going to the lower level leads to an art supply store. Instead of jam-packed night time traffic on Piedmont, we now have jam-packed all-day traffic. At night, it’s a ghost town.
The closest thing we’ve had to The Limelight since its demise was Midtown’s superclub, eleven50 during its first years of business (2000-2003). The marketing agency I would go on to work for a year later was behind eleven50’s opening, and two of the company officer's were also its resident DJs, Richard Leslie and Brandon Sutton (guerilla-styled email marketing helped make the first few months at eleven50 memorable). One of my most fun memories there was Saturday, April 28, 2001 for the traveling Miss Moneypenny's party. I can still remember the giant black and white clock inspired dress The Transformer (a notable drag queen) was twirling at the entrance of the club. The weather was gorgeous. The club was packed. Everyone oozed fashion. My coworkers sequestered the VIP room, which held supermodel, Niki Taylor (who was WASTED, by the way). I made friends with the “Dude, you got a Dell” computer guy. Sadly, the next day Niki Taylor’s car accident was all over the news. In the years that followed, Jared Leto physically moved me out of the way while I primped in front of a mirror by the front door (he was trying to leave and was apparently waiting for me to get out of the way), I watched Justin Timberlake waddle down the stairs to coatcheck with two girls that were SIGNIFICANTLY younger than he, and I got trapped on stage with BT after my friend Brandon stopped spinning (he didn’t tell me he was leaving). BT’s hair was off the chart, and the stupid bubbly girls kept trying to offer me champagne. Finally, I slipped down the side stage steps to escape notice. Let’s not forget drag queens EJ Aviance and Rubayne’s fitting rooms…um, yeah. Promoters Byron Burroughs and Bill Kaelin (Kaelin is now at Bazzaar) brought world-renowned house DJs every Friday and Saturday night. It was incredible…until the khaki pants invasion. Now it’s…uh…Opera, I think?
Nevertheless, none of my experiences at eleven50 (or any other club for that matter) could surpass anything that happened at The Limelight, and I’m jealous of that generation!
If you'd like to read some of the stories from patrons, CLICK HERE.
Some of the outrageous celebrity photos can be found in the coffee table book, Disco Years by photographer Ron Galella. Most of it showcases the disco era in New York, but there are celebrity pics from the Limelight scattered throughout the book.
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Guy D'Alema said:
Great review of the Atlanta Limelight. I am the publicist/photographer that is referenced in that piece. I am also the... read more
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Hi, thank you for the article that you wrote article. A lot of time I was trying to find some... read more
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