Autoterrorist

October 26, 2006

Transfer

Despite the fact that I don’t live in New York City and am not at all familiar with the area I’ve really enjoyed checking out this blog Transfer. It documents New York’s architecture and the urban landscape with a wry sense of humor, pointing out the blatant architectural mistakes and buildings designed without a thought to how their appearance could enhance or detract from the surroundings.

It’s updated almost every day with new photos under great categories like Hatin’, Modernist Fire Station Madness, Bike Lane Enforcement (or lack of), and by far the most voluminous—the Anti-Sit. J Marston has a keen eye and must be an avid pedestrian for all the photos he (she?) takes around the city, challenging the reader with a critical view of the city through the compilation of so many examples of urban design defeating the urban dweller.

Transfer just celebrated the 501st post. Cheers!

Cat:

urban environments

| Time: 7:11 am Comments (2)

October 10, 2006

CBGB’s to be dismantled, transported and rebuilt in Las Vegas?

CBGB’s is closing at the end of this month. Even though I’ve heard from those who’ve visited that it is rank, smelly and usually has the shittiest punk bands playing in it now, I still would have liked to have experienced this chunk of history for myself at least once.

According to the New York Daily News article here, despite the owner’s attempts at securing a historical landmark status and protection for the club, CBGB’s is closing because of a rent dispute with the landlord. The next best thing? Las Vegas.

Owner Hilly Kristal said he’s negotiating to open up a CBGB in Las Vegas, as early as March.

Wherever the next CBGB ends up, Kristal said he’s planning to take everything he can with him: the stage, the bar, the floorboards and assorted memorabilia. The scraps, he said, may be auctioned on eBay.

“We’re going to take the urinals,” Kristal said. “Joey [Ramone] went to the bathroom there.

“We can charge admission,” he said, laughing.

Perfect. The cycle of spectacle is complete. CBGB’s was the site of a genuinely revolutionary movement of music. When that movement ended it lived off of its former glory for years, hosting all sorts of derivative punk rock bands. Its logo became a phenomenon, synonymous with “cool” (how many people wear the t-shirt and have no idea why?). Now it will join the assemblage of cultural reproductions in Las Vegas…..

Update:

After conferring with friends on the matter, we’ve decided that this just won’t do, this move to Las Vegas.Â I officially submit a plea to the people who will attend the final show at CBGB’s on Oct. 31st—
TRASH the place! destroy it from the inside out, riot and vandalize.Â That will be the only fitting end…Â Hasn’t punk rock “lived” long enough propped up on the crutch of fashion?Â Don’t let CBGB’s enter some twilight nostalgia, some new historical/spectacular age, becoming a Hard Rock Cafe-esque establishment on the strip in Vegas.Â Let it crash and burn!

Cat:

music

| Time: 3:29 am Comments (0)

October 26, 2006

Transfer

October 10, 2006

CBGB’s to be dismantled, transported and rebuilt in Las Vegas?

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