Saturday, February 23, 2008

The 'Meatpacking District' Diner / NYC

I first ate at the diner at the 'triangle' intersection of 9th Avenue, Hudson and West 14th Street during the summer of 1980 when during a weekend trip to NYC that I visited Frank at an apartment that he shared with one or two other guys in the yellow brick apartment building located at the corner of Christopher and Hudson Street in The Village.

At the time, if my memory serves me correctly, the Hellfire was one of the 'sex clubs' located in the triangular building at the intersection just across the street from the diner. There always seemed to be at least two different clubs located in the building.

The back entrance which led down into a dungeon attracted more of a straight crowd. While the back room bar at the street level was strictly for gay men. Over the years, the names of the clubs would come and go. In 2004, after a few months of closure, the Hellfire Club would re-incarnated as the Fetish Warehouse in Brooklyn, which a year or so ago would go on hiatus.

So, sometimes after a weekend of partying and bar hopping at the many different gay clubs in the West Village / Chelsea area including the Mineshaft ... it was on our way home to the studio that we shared on West 21st Street in Chelsea that Frank, I and whoever he may have collected along the way ... would stop in at the diner at the corner of 9th Avenue and West 14th Street.

While the food was relatively cheap, it was not all that impressive. After my September 1980 move NYC and with the sharing of the 319 West 21st Street aaprtment we found much better eateries on 8th and 9th Avenues in the Chelsea area. In particular, the greek diner, which still remains at the corner of 9th Avenue and West 23rd Street.

And then, too, it was just a few weeks after my September 1980 move to NYC that the Saint opened.

Which, therefore, and for the most part our 'weekends of partying' took place at the lower east side on Saint Marks Place. Where after partying and dancing at the Saint followed by a visit to Saint Marks Bath House (now Saint Maraks Hotel) we sometimes stopped in at a diner on the Lower East Side / Bowery area.

When in NYC for the 2006 Black Party that I embarked on a Saturday evening photo walk I observed that the old diner at the corner of West 14th and 9th Avenue had gone more 'upscale'.

Though I did not stop in since I had already dined at the greek diner on 9th Avenue and West 23rd ... when taking a series of photos of what is now "The Meatpacking District Diner" I remembered the first time that Frank, in the summer of 1980, introduced me to the diner.

It was also the first time that I would become acquainted with the 'sex clubs' located in the triangle building at the intersection of West 14th, Hudson and 9th Avenue. It would became an area that, over the years, I would become very familiar with.

According to a PDF press release dated 14 October 2005, accouncing its opening "The Diner ... is a hip New York diner serving American, comfort food."

A September 2005 JoonBug Productions blog posting reports that "Along with seasoned restaurateurs Sergio & Mario Riva (Candela) and Marc Packer (Tao, Rue 57, Bolzano), and some of NYC’s biggest nightlife moguls, the Diner will bring modern interpretations of 30’s & 40’s American diner food like southern fried chicken, blackened catfish, and macaroni & cheese with or without chorizo – 24 hours a day, and at reasonable prices."

And here are some mostly favoritable reviews at Yelp.

Located at 44 9th Avenue at the corner of West 14th and Hudson, the next time that I visit NYC I'll make a point to stop in at The (Meatpacking District) Diner. Perhaps, for a spiritual reconnection with Frank who passed in May 1989.

Click the above image to view my Meatpacking District / NYC and March 2006 NYC photo sets.

Friday, February 22, 2008

My Election 2000 protest image featured on political book cover

It was in the spring or early summer of 2001 that I received an email from Ronald Hayduck requesting permission to use my December 2000 All We Are Saying Election 2000 Disenfranchised Protest photo as one of the images for the cover of an upcoming book that focused on the issues of the 2000 election.

Though I have sometimes wondered if I'd ever come across the result, when googling for Elvert Barnes, tonight, I came across a link to Democracy's Moment: Reforming the American Political System for the 21st Century By Ronald Hayduck, Kevin Mattson.

And, viola, there was my image featured amongst others on the front cover.

Thanks Ronald Hayduck and Kevin Mattson.

See the image, also, on my November 2004 Election webpage "Is History Repeatin' Itself?".

White Crane Editors' GAY WISDOM for Daily Living 22 February Tribute to Andy Warhol

In White Crane's GAY WISDOM for Daily Living posting for Friday, 22 February 2008 we are reminded that it was on this day in 1987 that Andy Warhol died at 6:32 am in NYC.

Read the complete 22 February 2008 THIS DAY IN GAY HISTORY at the White Crane's Gay Wisdom Yahoo Group.

After taking a quick glance at the daily messages you, too, may wish to join.

Click image of Andy Warhol's "Details of Renaissance Paintings; (Paolo Uccello, St. George and the Dragon)" to view other works by Warhol in the collection of Elvert Barnes.

Friday's Photo of the Week . 22 February 2008

PHOTOGRAPHS NEVER BEFORE SEEN
Alistair Millar . Washington Director of the Fourth Freedom
GW Monument Grounds . NW WDC . 23 April 1999

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Larry Tee's Dizzy / Brooklyn NYC . Saturday, 23 February

Larry Tee's Dizzy!
Brooklyn's Most OUTrageously Fun Party!

Saturday, 23 February 2008
Alberto Cortes Video Art Show & B-Day Bash

Guest Performer: Geo Vaughn
Resident DJs/Hosts: Larry Tee & Kevin Graves
Curated by: Earl DaxDoor girl: Jordan Foxx

RVSP @ http://myspace.com/dizzynyc
Galapagos Art Space in Williamsburg

Here is NANYA BIDNESS video AT LAST WEEK'S DIZZY

Here's Larry Tee's Dizzy / Weimar NY Performance at Galapagos, Brooklyn.

Today is the 43rd anniversary of Malcolm X's assassination

Today, 21 February 2008, marks the 43rd anniversary of the assassination of Malcolm X. By clicking images and some highlighted text at 40 Years Ago Today (2005) Tribute to Malcolm X you can access various Malcolm X. projects.

Though I had contemplated releasing TODAY a photo / video montage of images and footage that I shot over the 2008 Presidents Weekend in WDC that would be sampled with several of Malcolm X's speeches, in particular "Field Negro vs House Negro" I decided that the "Field Negro / House Negro" projections project would be better suited for Malcolm X Day, 19 May 2008.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Recognize.HipHop.Graffiti.NPG.DWRC.WDC.16feb08

Recognize.HipHop.Graffiti.NPG.DWRC.WDC.16feb08
Video sent by ElvertBarnes

RECOGNIZE! Hip Hop and Contemporary Portraiture . www.npg.si.edu/exhibit/curex1.htm#hiphop . National Portrait Gallery . Smithsonian Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art & Portraiture . 9th & G Streets, NW, WDC . Saturday afternoon, 16 February 2008.

Elvert Xavier Barnes Videography

Winter Party Festival's 3rd Annual South Florida LGBT Family Pride Picnic

On Sunday, 24 February 2008, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and South Florida Family Pride invite parents, kids and their friends to the 3rd Annual LGBT Family Picnic at Hollywood's T-Y Park ... for an afternoon of food, games, face painting and more.

For more details on these events or the entire Festival line-up, please visit www.winterparty.

Click the above photo to view my 2007 South Florida Family Pride Picnic at TY Park photoset and 2007 Winter Party Festival collection.

Winter Party Festival Gold Passes Will Sell Out Soon!

LESS THAN 75 GOLD PASSES LEFT!

The most economical way to enjoy the Winter Party Festival line-up is with one of our multi-event passes, which can save you anywhere from $45 to more than $400. Our Gold Pass, which includes entry into six of our spectacular dance events, is selling fast. With less than 75 still available for sale, the Gold Pass will certainly sell out before the Welcome Center opens next Wednesday. If you're planning to go for the Gold, don't wait any longer to buy your pass: go to www.winterparty.com now! You should also consider our Platinum Pass for only $90 more, you receive entry into nine dance events!

Click the above image to view my 2007 Beach Party flickr set and 2007 Winter Party Festival flickr collection.

Glass 3 - Artist Receptions - Shops at Georgetown Park - Thursday, 21 February

An international studio glass exhibit featuring extraordinary glass artists from Toledo, OH (Home of the US Studio Glass Movement), Washington, DC and Sunderland, UK (Washington, DC Sister City) GLASS 3 will open to the public on Thursday, February 21, 2008 at the Shops at Georgetown Park at 3222 M Street, NW.

Through 9 March 2008, the exhibit will feature vibrant glasswork, glass blown sculptures, as well as narrative glasswork through etching, writing, and video projection.

Opening receptions will take place on Thursday, 21 February 2008, from 11 am until 1 pm and from 6 - 8 pm.

Admission to GLASS 3 is free. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday, 12 pm to 8 pm, and Sunday, 12 pm to 6 pm.

Arts District Hyattsville's "Adams" rowhouse awarded 'Best Townhouse' in nation by NAHB

The Adams model rowhome at Arts District Hyattsville was just awarded the Best Townhome in the nation by the National Association of Home Builders' Sales and Marketing Council. This home is very similar to the Decatur model at Capitol Quarter.

The 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom home was selected for its open layout, smart use of space, and unique design features, such as a lower level den and loft with rooftop terrace.