Slow Elevators; Vintage New York
by Will
I had to buy some wigs this week for a video at work, so I went to Lacey Wigs on west 39th. Way west, like close to the water. I always feel like I’m in the 1950s when I’m in that neighborhood. Old beautiful brick buildings still being used for warehouse storage as if a big brick building in Manhattan is no big deal so why not just use it for storage? The REAL Manhattan is over on Park Avenue — forget this area! I’m not articulating it well. Someone help me.
Also the elevators in all these building are amazingly, hilariously slow. Not as slow as the one in The Onion’s building — but close!
Comments
it feels like a totally different city over there. pastoral is a ridiculous word for it, but it’s what is persisting in my mind. someday this city will figure out sensible east-west public transportation and the feeling will vanish.
FINALLY. less cool brick, more ugly glass with no right angles! take the east village’s cue on this one, hell’s kitchen-ish area. the east village is always right.
Is elevator speed inversely proportional to brick and right angle content? If so, imagine the breakneck vertical transport if Frank Gehry took over a New York City neighborhood?
Gehry will make Wonka-vators a reality
I work a block away from that very intersection. I don’t feel like I’m in the 50′s as much as I feel like I’m in that New York you see in the movies that’s full of dirt and ugly people yelling at each other.
I like that area, it feels weird but in a whimsical way. Not as jam packed as Midtown but still bustling in an odd and unique way. Very Kerouacian.