Em Steel Post

 

Just to be clear. The reason why New York is our home is because of

this young woman, Em Steel

The work pictured is a colored pencil portrait, Steve Buscemi.

Em Steel.  

How Does a Person Stand Out in the Crowd?

It's a tough thing living in a new city, knowing no one, having no record,

just another one in 8 million. Never having been one to
blend in it has been an unusual

adjustment for me to say the least.

What better way to grab the wheel and take control than to get a haircut.

I knew of a place to go thanks to our new friend Rudy, who, when we moved into our apartment a month ago, spent an entire Sunday on her precious weekend off hanging up shelves and redesigning our closet to accommodate 2 fashionable women.

Crops for Girls , a one man operation in the East Village, was exactly the thing.

Michael has been specializing in New York City Women’s Short Haircuts since 1985.
Only women. Only short hair. Only Michael.

And after getting $225 quotes for a haircut (!!?$?#**$**!??!),

his prices are very reasonable.

AND....not only is the price fair, the cut fabulous, and the banter interesting,

but the voice of
Peggy Lee, and only Peggy Lee, was playing on the stereo.

I'm ready to find my light.

 

Bossa Nova Under the Streets of New York

DESAFINADO

After you watch my video Please click orange link above to hear the real deal with
Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd.

 (Link previously unavailable on iPhone platform , works now!)

First Day of Spring

 

I Played Today 

With so much to do in New York it is often the simplest thing that is overlooked.  Everything has been at our fingertips when we needed it, an apartment, transportation,
infinite choices for food, art supplies, entertainment and spectacle. 
 But the thing I most wanted has been the hardest to find; 
a place to play the piano.
 
Twice I traveled to Times Square where I had a wonderful time sitting in a tiny and dark “studio” with an upright honky tonk piano.  I played to my heart’s content then forked over a chunk of change for the room rental, walked back to the subway with my case of music books  and made it through the throngs of tourists gawking at everything I gawked at the first time I walked through this electric light wonderland.  It’s not difficult but it’s not convenient and I just knew there had to be  a better place to play.
 

I asked everyone who I thought would know, even to the point of walking in to
 Electric Lady Studios which is “right around the corner” from where I live.  Surprisingly, the door from the street opened and I walked in, only to find myself in a closet sized entry with another locked door in front of me.  “Can I help you?” I heard from a hidden squawk box.  “Um, yes, am I on camera or do I just speak?” “Just speak.”  I explained what I was looking for and
 hoped they might know of a place to rehearse and play the piano.
“I know there are places like that, but I don’t know where.”

“Oh, okay, well thank you.”

So went my first experience at The Experience.
 

A few days later, still looking, I found Greenwich House, which was founded in 1902 and whose Mission states, “... is to help individuals and families lead more fulfilling lives by offering social and health services, cultural and educational programs, and opportunities for civic involvement to New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds.”
Wonderful! But that’s not the point.
 

Greenwich House is a large building with pretty rooms on the 3^rd and 4^th floors looking out onto the neighborhood through mullioned windows
and in each room is a piano available to play.

Grands and uprights. Steinways and Kawai’s.

  For a nominal fee one can join and then pay a small room rental and the place is yours. 

Pick a piano and play! 

 

It’s two streets away from the apartment.   Pretty good start to Spring!

 

Promise of Spring

Such a cold day but there, miraculously, were flowers blooming overhead. Overhead you ask? Are you a worm finding your way from the cold earth?  Why, No! I exclaim! 

Throughout Central Park are beautful Urns filled and cared for by

 The Central Park Conservancy, a public-private partnership which, since its founding in 1980 has raised over $470 million from private sources and oversees another $110 million in City funding.

Miraculously, indeed, "Conservancy crews care for 250 acres of lawns, 24,000 trees, 150 acres of lakes and streams and 80 acres of woodlands; install hundreds of thousands of plantings annually, including bulbs, shrubs, flowers and trees; maintain 9,000 benches, 26 ballfields and 21 playgrounds; preserve 55 sculptures and monuments, as well as 36 bridges; remove graffiti within 24 hours; collect over 5 million pounds of trash a year; and provide horticultural support to City parks."

 

The Famous Plaza Hotel

You know you're in the high rent district when, well, um, yeah, even the "poopy" gets a gift wrap.  

Through the Looking Glass

Em Steel and Illisa

Vintage Lingerie

25th Street

Nestled upstairs in the Showplace Antique Center in the heart of Chelsea is a beautiful little shop of Vintage Lingerie. Gowns of satin, silk velvet, lace and ribbon and baubles and beads fill every corner, cabinet and cupboard of this tiny bit of feminine heaven. The embodiment of a bygone era, Styles by Illisa is the personification of Em Steel's own mystique as a blooming artist.

Romantic not tawdry, these pieces hold the magic this self-described

Post Millennial Nouveau embraces as her own.

Illisa, pictured with Em, has thousands of these items gathered and collected over the course of 30 years. She began her career selling to all the designers, costumers, “virtually everyone”, when she would set up each weekend in the market lots dotting the Chelsea neighborhood.  After several years of the outdoor market scene Illisa moved into the Chelsea Garage growing her business and clientele.  Styles by Illisa are now worn in plays, television productions, photo shoots and movies.

 HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, Broadway’s latest Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Breakfast at Tiffany’s are a few to mention.  Clients from around the world find her to purchase her finds.  Her latest coup is a Cover Shot on V Magazine with Kate Moss and Rihanna featuring Kate in Illisa’s style.

So it was a great afternoon for Em Steel to spend the hours she did with Illisa poring over a past and putting on the fashion she craves.

 



Happy Saint Patrick's Day from New York City!!

An NYPD Policeman was kind enough to hold open the tape while I crossed to take this photo! The Parade runs straight up 5th Avenue from 44th Street to 79th and lasts for 'nigh on 5 hours!!

Aye! And it was a cold and blustery March'in Day with heavy snowflakes falling after noon thurty.

God Bless the  Irish!

God Bless You!!

Aye and It's Blessings I'll be Wishing for Ye

American Hibernia Association Playing

THE MINSTREL BOY

by Thomas Moore

The Minstrel Boy to the war is gone

In the ranks of death you will find him;

His father's sword he hath girded on,

And his wild harp slung behind him;"

Land of Song!" said the warrior bard,

"Tho' all the world betrays thee,

One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard,

One faithful harp shall praise thee!"

The Minstrel fell! But the foeman's chain

Could not bring that proud soul under;

The harp he lov'd ne'er spoke again,

For he tore its chords asunder;

And said "No chains shall sully thee,

Thou soul of love and brav'ry!

Thy songs were made for the pure and free,

They shall never sound in slavery!"

 



The Square Around the Corner

George Washington Square

Em Steel and I use the Square as our identifying neighborhood.  We live the block south of the Arch before you get to Bleeker Street. The only way that could have happened is that the Universe itself colluded with Fate to give us a gift of a very, very cool neighborhood to call home.

I read somewhere that in 1916 a Dadaist and his friends broke into an access door, climbed to the top of the arch and had a party with food and drink, balloons, lanterns and cap pistols and claimed the spot as New Bohemia. 

I'm looking for that door.

Pretty Lady Western Sky - Beatrice Inn

Beatrice Inn

 

One evening as I was walking home from the Chelsea Market laden with kitchen pans and fresh vegetables, I found myself on the lovely and interesting 4th Street heading into The Village.  Looking into the warm Corner Bistro I was envious of the friends enjoying a place where I thought I could be very comfortable.  Moving on down the street I was surprised to be feeling homesick for familiar company.

 

Reaching the strangely edited intersection of W.12th St. and W.4th Street, I look to my left where I see an obviously old neighborhood restaurant sign in red and green neon.  From the corner I can make out the word, Beatrice, and vow to find it again on my next foray in the neighborhood.

 

I have found it again and it is no longer the "old neighborhood" restaurant but the latest version of a new venture.  After the recent vagaries of a hipster past it seems to have found a new hope in a Chef who even I am aware of.  Perhaps, I'll find myself there before the next fashion takes over.

 

 

 

In Campbell's Apartment on a Lovely Afternoon

Highland Manhattan Kandinsky Style

Through the Looking Glass

Eat Me in St. Marks  
St. Marks Place

Reflection of Girl at The Met

Anish Kapoor is a sculptor from Mumbai, India, and has spent much of his time living and working in London.  The reflective piece above is an 89 inch concave disc made of stainless steel hexagons.  The reflective quality is perfection and the stainless steel not only echos a visual reflection but because of its concave shape an aural chamber forms in front of the disc creating a cycle of sight and sound drawing the viewer into the piece. 
Chicago is fortunate to have a Kapoor sculpture, The Cloud Gate which has become an iconic image of the city.
Taking this photo of Em Steel was tricky since the museum was open and busy at the time.  We waited for the room to empty and I stood beside her with my iPhone.  Thinking it would be a photo of the two of us I focused in on the center of the sculpture.  It was only afterward when I realized that Em had been not only perfectly centered but split into a hexagonal kaleidescope image, while looking directly at the viewer.  Yet another cycle of this dynamic Untitled piece.

Looking Through 42nd Street. Sunday in March

Tudor City