Annals of west 18th St.
Mar. 10th, 2004 12:51 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
malsperanzaI work with a graphic designer whose office is on 18th st., which gives me a convenient excuse to have lunch now and then at City Bakery (excellent salad bar; famous hot chocolate; decor by the architect husband of a friend of mine) and then spend money at Academy Records and Books of Wonder.
But for some reason, excursions to 18th st. invariably reveal that I am veryverynaive. (The vibe on 19th st. is totally different, probably because The Magickal Childe used to be there, store owned and operated by warlocks--goth avant la lettre--& put a permanent hex on the block.)
How naive, you ask?
Conversation at City Bakery
Friend: I have joined a new movement. It is called "Billionaires for Bush."
Me: I'm glad your freelance editing business is doing so well.
Friend: We stand outside of places where Bush and/or his Vulcans are speechifying-cum-fundraising, and we wear fur coats and garish jewelry and we hold up big signs that read "Billionaires for Bush!!!"
Me: You have a fur coat?
* * *
Conversation at Academy Records
Girl at bag-check: I am going to see "Dawn of the Dead."
Guy at cash register: Yah, a remake with good special effects this time.
Me: But, but, the original is a classic! How can you remake a classic? If you improve the special effects, it'll ruin everything!
Guy at cash register: Nah, they should remake all movies. Every ten years.
Girl at bag-check: They are remaking "Star Wars" with Brad Pitt.
Guy at cash register: And with improved special effects.
Me: "The Godfather"?
Guy at cash register: Yah, definitely, with better special effects. Corleone will be played by Andy Serkis. "Makess them an offer they can't refussse, preciouss."
Me: "2001 A Space Odyssey"?
Guy at cash register: HAL will be played by Keanu Reeves. "Dude! Don't unplug me, Dude!"
Me: And of course, better special effects.
Girl at bag-check: Of course. None of that puddles-of-colored-oil crap.
Me (finally grasping the concept): "Breakfast at Tiffany's" starring J-Lo!!
Guy & Girl: And with better special effects.
* * *
Conversation at Books of Wonder
Me: Do you have "Tithe," by Holly Black?
Saleswoman: Oh, gosh, we did... (checks computer) no, I'm afraid we have 0 copies in stock. We can order it for you, though. It'll be here by Friday.
Me: OK. Do I need to pay for it now?
Saleswoman: No, really we should get some copies in stock anyway.
Me: Yes, you should.
Saleswoman: Because otherwise the Thistlewitch will be veryveryangry.
Me: She will? (Yes: I did say that.)
* * *
Went to the Whitney Biennial opening tonight. Nice break from real life. I am probably the only person in America who always likes the Biennial and thinks most of the art in it is wonderful. Tons of good stuff this year. And (of possible interest to the LJ world) a lot of art with a strong fantasy/magical/fairytale streak. Gorgeous secret rooms full of twinkling lights, paintings with trees and birds and galleons, psychedelic glass flower chandeliers, strange crystal-coated glittering corpses...
And a nifty hack program art thing from Velvet Strike (http://www.opensorcery.net/velvet-strike/) for those of you who play Counter Strike (I am sure there are many on my flist) and have an urge to intervene in the game with some art of your own.
But for some reason, excursions to 18th st. invariably reveal that I am veryverynaive. (The vibe on 19th st. is totally different, probably because The Magickal Childe used to be there, store owned and operated by warlocks--goth avant la lettre--& put a permanent hex on the block.)
How naive, you ask?
Conversation at City Bakery
Friend: I have joined a new movement. It is called "Billionaires for Bush."
Me: I'm glad your freelance editing business is doing so well.
Friend: We stand outside of places where Bush and/or his Vulcans are speechifying-cum-fundraising, and we wear fur coats and garish jewelry and we hold up big signs that read "Billionaires for Bush!!!"
Me: You have a fur coat?
* * *
Conversation at Academy Records
Girl at bag-check: I am going to see "Dawn of the Dead."
Guy at cash register: Yah, a remake with good special effects this time.
Me: But, but, the original is a classic! How can you remake a classic? If you improve the special effects, it'll ruin everything!
Guy at cash register: Nah, they should remake all movies. Every ten years.
Girl at bag-check: They are remaking "Star Wars" with Brad Pitt.
Guy at cash register: And with improved special effects.
Me: "The Godfather"?
Guy at cash register: Yah, definitely, with better special effects. Corleone will be played by Andy Serkis. "Makess them an offer they can't refussse, preciouss."
Me: "2001 A Space Odyssey"?
Guy at cash register: HAL will be played by Keanu Reeves. "Dude! Don't unplug me, Dude!"
Me: And of course, better special effects.
Girl at bag-check: Of course. None of that puddles-of-colored-oil crap.
Me (finally grasping the concept): "Breakfast at Tiffany's" starring J-Lo!!
Guy & Girl: And with better special effects.
* * *
Conversation at Books of Wonder
Me: Do you have "Tithe," by Holly Black?
Saleswoman: Oh, gosh, we did... (checks computer) no, I'm afraid we have 0 copies in stock. We can order it for you, though. It'll be here by Friday.
Me: OK. Do I need to pay for it now?
Saleswoman: No, really we should get some copies in stock anyway.
Me: Yes, you should.
Saleswoman: Because otherwise the Thistlewitch will be veryveryangry.
Me: She will? (Yes: I did say that.)
* * *
Went to the Whitney Biennial opening tonight. Nice break from real life. I am probably the only person in America who always likes the Biennial and thinks most of the art in it is wonderful. Tons of good stuff this year. And (of possible interest to the LJ world) a lot of art with a strong fantasy/magical/fairytale streak. Gorgeous secret rooms full of twinkling lights, paintings with trees and birds and galleons, psychedelic glass flower chandeliers, strange crystal-coated glittering corpses...
And a nifty hack program art thing from Velvet Strike (http://www.opensorcery.net/velvet-strike/) for those of you who play Counter Strike (I am sure there are many on my flist) and have an urge to intervene in the game with some art of your own.
