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news for you April 7, 2005 A mysterious and yet familiar box arrived for me today at work. I don't know if any of you have had a box full of all of your diaries and correspondence from the years 1987-1992 arrive out of the blue like I did today but I will tell you now that it is a humbling and mind-boggling experience. For all of you in my life during those years - damn! We were letter writers once - thoughtful and real. How I miss those paper missives full of gut-wrenching clarity. February, 23, 2005 I realize there isn't a great
demand for contemporary Madlibs but here goes the start
of a new series... And if you are a grantwriter in the arts you might
appreciate this one. No, I haven't really been
to The Gates yet but I have uploaded new works from the master
of collage January 10, 2005 I have had the same towels
for over 12 years. That can't be right. December 10, 2004 I thought it was rude to step into a crowded subway car before everyone has exited. But I have come to realize that it is far ruder to ask a philospher "So, exactly what do philosophers do all day?" November 20, 2004 I got off the C train at West 4th Street and went downstairs to catch the Brooklyn bound D train. I was tired and bleery eyed. I looked at the LED sign above the escalator going up and I swear to God it said "Pretty Girls Don't Ride the Subway." Thankfully I was not the only one who saw this... And I have no comment as to whether or not I took offense to the sign or not.
November 5, 2004 I want to say something here about the election just because I hadn't realized how much I had put my whole life on hold waiting for this election and am shocked by the sense of personal loss that I am feeling. How could this have really happened? How could none of us been prepared for a Bush win? Were we dreaming or does living in a blue state give you a false sense of security about where this country is heading? Been receiving alot of very thoughful and articulate emails about our collective state of mind and especially enjoyed Al Franken's semi-hysterical Air America promo spot in which he carries on as if Kerry had won the election. We still have our sense of humor and perhaps now we'll push harder back. We are now the "other" marginalized America for sure. As if the lesson from 2000 wasn't enough. August 10, 2004 I found two books in the
street on the way home tonight shorty after having a lovely conversation with
a nice young man from Northern England at a Taco Bar in Park Slope... May 18, 2004 We are now accepting applications for land-art projects on our tiny plot of land in New Mexico (courtesy of Cabinet magazine.) It's so tiny - but reminds us of a certain little machine on a planet far away. We are also considering the extremely short stature of small men running on New York City subway platforms (and also who the "safest" crazy person of many on the train to be near is.) We are also having dreams in which some of our friends are NYPD cops and look totally appropriate that way. And then considering the inherent value of really old friendships. Man they are good. We are also recently confirmed supporters of the "safety in numbers" theory and will from now on refer to "myself" only as We and Us. January 28, 2004 Well you'll be happy know that I have indeed fallen in love! You can't imagine my surprise to find that I am totally gaga for a little intrepid machine called "Rover Spirit" on a far away planet called Mars. Looking at the pix its been snapping up there in Mars sets my heart a-flutter - I'd say that the fact that NASA has managed to land this little bugger on Mars is pretty impressive. But my heart breaks a little knowing the little guy will never come home - such a long distance relationship! So find yourself some of those pictures from Mars - you'll be glad you did. January 9, 2004 Hmmmm I'd like to fall in love - can anyone help me out? (postscript: scratch that) November 18 I have come to believe that listening
to Cat Power in public might help me open up emotionally to strangers. Or
maybe it just makes me have that moony-eyed-near-tears look that seems all
the rage these days around New York City. And while on the subject of things that are making me cranky - who ever told every artists in the world that they should come and make art in New York? Sitting at the front desk of a street level gallery in Chelsea will quickly make you realize how receptionists at galleries got so icey in the first place. I clock about 10 inquiries from artists who walk in the door per 4 hour stretch. It is impossible to know what these people are clutching in their portfolios and slide sheets - so better just to send them all packing. Sad but true. Off to Chicago to get de-crankified -
Happy Thanksgiving! September 27 Yeah, I know - it's been a shamefully long time since I have surfaced here. I am in the process of tranferring bergenstreet.com to a new server and hopefully all will be well in a week or so - the major sticking point being the message boards. June 12 - Many things 1) For all you Rob K. fans out there please point and click here (and I put this here knowing well and good that this website will now be on some watch list somewhere) 2) I intend to post more - head back to my message boards.and columns for news and information. 3) I still have a kitten for which I am under a great deal of pressure to find a home - I love her to pieces but I have one too many animals for my new smaller and noise and cat-non tolerant landlord. Please get in touch if you know of a home. 4) I hate New York for two reasons these days: a) landlords b) the MTA. I just needed to get that off my chest. 5) I attended the first MOB Project here in New York and was very non-plussed by the police presence for something so innocent. Here are the details of MOB #2 for your reading or participating pleasure. Of course I realize that this too will probably get me into trouble with the thought police. June 10 My webmaster says it safe to got back into the pool here at bergenstreet. Its been awhile - I've been offline, bergenstreet has been offline, life in general has been offline and most sadly I have moved. I am not sure how long I expected to conceal the fact that I have moved from my beloved bergenstreet from you all - but the truth is I live on Degraw Street now. It was a heartwrenching move. I am now across the great divide of Flatbush and it feels like another world all together. My only remaining claim to bergenstreet is catching the 2/3 at the Bergen Street stop every morning, So to all of you who visit this website because you live in Prospect Heights I beg you to keep the spirit of bergenstreet.com alive by posting to the message boards and sending me your news of the neighborhood - which I will add to my Heights page. And for those if you who visit for news of me - well it's been a long hard winter but we live and learn. All is well that ends well - greetings to you - please send flowers and candy! xo - Esa March 24 Yup, I guess I am officially a New Yorker now - I ran into Woody Allen today on 5th Avenue and 72nd - it was a brief but memorable moment. He was with his young lady friend talking away as he does - as soon as I saw him my eyes went buggy and he looked at me - probably wondering whata shaggy lookin gal was doing on 5th Avenue. In other news allow me to introduce my newest invention which will surely save many busy single people from themsleves - The Drinker's Friend 2002! March 11 Okay - I have finally added Dumplings to my recipe arsenal - you won't be sorry you tried. If you need technical help email me by all means. 03/03/03 I've been feeling that life has been very vague lately, vague threats of war, vague signs of the end of this long hard winter, vague unease. I wondered if I had anything left in me. How's this: 9:30 am on 7th Avenue and 23rd Street, I spy a rough looking white guy (the kind of guy I would guess starts fights after one too many beers) walk up next to a blind black guy at the cross walk and I hear him say "May I walk you?" and offers his arm to the blind guy as gently as he would to his prom date long ago. And then a big smile from the blind guy and they walk off chatting, arm and arm. Yeesh. I actually started to cry. It's those tiny little moments that make life in city full of surprises and so lovable.
February 21 Man I wish I was Jet Li, then all my problems would be solved. Really, all of them. January 7 Greetings and salutations for the New Year! One of my resolutions for 2003 is to get back into writing a bit more often - promise. My friend Bill has me shamed with all is entertaining musings. We may even have one of those fine bergenstreet Mad Lib contests real soon. Otherwise I need to make my Chelsea-ass write some more about art - I may even start a little Chelsea gossip column soon (e.g. I bumped into Laurie Anderson and her little dog at Bottino take-away last week and she said "Hi!" - no really, she said hi to me) it's a funny scene over there in the epicenter of the big bad art world. It's especially fun to watch art handlers trying to stuff gigantic paintings into trucks and hoist enormous sculptures off flat beds with little more than a large rubber band. Make sure you check out 26th Street in the coming weeks - lots of sparkly lights, neon and those flashy refelctive bits you see at used car lots. Happy NewYear ya'all and keep checking in! November 14 I can't join in because I am no longer a "blogger" or however they like to say it but this site with bloggers arranged by subway route is pretty damn entertaining - makes me remember just how many interesting people there are riding the train with me everyday - check out this one who lives somewhere near the Bergen Street 2/3. November 13 A little contentious nugget from that Leonard Cohen book (The Favourite Game) I have been re-reading: "Friendship? A friendship between a man and a woman which is not based on sex is either hypocrisy or masochism." November 10 So very disappointed that most people don't feel the need to vote. Well they certainly don't have the right to complain then either. As least the folks over at Complacent have been busy causing trouble. A couple of weeks ago leaving work I got to catch Greenpeace in action in Chelsea - God love em. A month or so ago I got caught in the culture jamming crossfire myself over at the gallery courtesy of Radioactive. Could it be that I am finally being pushed so far to the left that I am ready to become an activist? Methinks so... Please please vote next time will ya? October 31 I had the wonderful opportunity to have a brief tour of the High Line today - for those from out of town - check out their site and decide for yourself. What could be better than a couple miles of elevated parkland running through the heart of Chelsea? I can only think of one thing - the White Box First Annual Benefit Auction! October 30 Greetings friends and new readers. We took a nasty spill here at bergenstreet.com when our trusty servers suddenly had to move and then were stymied by arguments between Easynet and Covad. All should be well now and I hope you enjoy your visit! October 2 Long time no see my friends. I now have a proper ftp connection and hope to get back into regularly updating bergenstreet - thanks for staying with me during my hiatus. All is well - or will be once Mercury is finished with it's nutty retrograde and the world of communication returns to normal. Needless to say alot has happened since I last wrote, new job, new everything - same address. June 26 bergenstreet.com may be out of commission in the coming weeks - but should be back soon- not to worry! June 19 Must be that time of year - or something else. I've had a couple of wedding dreams - in one of which I am the bride... why? why? According to Dreammoods "To see a wedding in your dream, symbolizes a new beginning or transition. Dreams involving weddings are generally negative and highlight some anxiety or fear. It often refers to feelings of bitterness, sorrow, or death. Alternatively, wedding dreams reflect your issues about commitment and independence." Well, okay, maybe. But I think it's because it is June - or perhaps because someone put the foolish notion in my head. I won't name names. June 18 5 things that changed my outlook on life - it is amazing what a good to do list can do!
June 9 Best line ever from an old movie? "... I'd hate to take a bite out of you; you're a cookie full of arsenic." From Sweet Smell of Sucess as uttered by Burt Lancaster to Tony Curtis. June-ish So, why no news Esa? Well, things have been quiet around here - peaceful like, I think I like it. I am no longer ruminating on love - nope. It's summer now - nothing but cheap thrills and mindless fun for me from now on. It's much better that way... trust me. May 23 Resart game? If only it was that easy.... May 11 If you haven't, go to KCRW and dig up some Joe Frank - he is as crazy as he is wise - to wit: : "I was thinking that everyone I loved I still love They are just below the horizonline in my mind's eye, just waiting for them to come up like the sun again these are the people I pined for, longed for, cried over, would have done anything for. I think that the great challenge in life is to have an experience and not be bitter about it. Love is painful for everyone. To get the full high you've got to pay the full price. What is the full price? Its the devestation of its loss. Allen Ginsberg once said - love doesn't die, it just get buried under fear and misunderstandings, and the accumulation of missed connections and failures to be brave. It gets buried under all that sludge. Its funny that if someone expresses love for us it means they owe us all kinds of things. From then on, once the word love has come up, the other person is on trial." |
