I’m kind of sad. One of my favorite old buildings devoted to smut on 8th Avenue has been torn down. It seems like it happened overnight. The building was there one day, and on the next day – the whole end of the block became a huge vacant lot. I’m strangely sad. (I actually have an extremely amusing memory attached to the Playpen, which perhaps I will someday share. It is sort of a part 2 to this story … I know … How could there be a Part 2 to THAT? Well, there was. And it involves Hunter, the Playpen, and revenge. But I’ll tell that story another day)
It was such an awesome-looking building – totally old-school New York – with neat details, a cool arched front, and of course, the sign. There’s a reason why much of the film industry is moving to Toronto for their New York street scenes (besides the cheapness factor, I mean). Because New York streets are starting to not look like New York anymore. It’s turning into a line of generic mini-malls, everywhere you look.
Thankfully, one day at around 7:00 in the morning I took a picture of the Playpen – so glad I thought to do it because now it’s gonna be a Gap or a Starbucks or something totally boring.
Anyway. Rest in peace Playpen. Buildings like you – and the strangely subversive energy it adds to the entire city – is one of the reasons I wanted to move to New York, ever since the Dark Ages. I’ll miss you.
The old American Hotel in Freehold Boro is halfway gone as well. I was shocked. Wish I’d have taken a shot when I had a chance, but I had no idea until it started.
This is a building famous enough to be memorialized in knit – it’s on the large “Historic Freehold” throw that we got as a Christmas present this year.
So sad to lose the old classic buildings. So few of the newer ones have any sort of imaginative details.
I know!! Look at that building! No way is something that interesting going to go up in its place.
And I also have a soft spot for smut, and the presence of it – and that was almost the last remaining bit of it on that Avenue. Bummer. There’s a strip joint on the next block – but that’s not the same thing.
And totally – I am so glad I had my camera that morning … because otherwise, who’s gonna remember that building?
The Books: “The Bonfire of the Vanities” (Tom Wolfe)
Unbelievably, Bonfire of the Vanities is my last book on my adult fiction shelf. I have been working on “this shelf” since April 9, 2007 – when I started off with Hitchhiker’s Guide. April 9, 2007! What – am I…