Thank You!

I loved the eclecticism apparent in this man’s look, and the lovely conversation we had about NYC in the early nineteen-eighties. When I happen to mention how long I’ve lived in New York to a young person, they inevitably ask about the club scene of that era – CBGB’s, The Mudd Club, Max’s, Danceteria, Limelight – which I do have fond memories of, but oddly, my favorite club, Area, never seems to come up in any of those discussions. For me, it was (and possibly still is) the most thrilling environment I’d ever experienced – decadent and inspiring, while somehow (at least from my perspective) remaining completely unpretentious.

A young model I spoke with recently talked about how she wanted organize “invitation only” parties to bring back the atmosphere of those clubs, but there will always be an essential element missing, and what that is is not something I can easily put my finger on. New York has changed so much for better or worse in the past thirty years, but the danger, both literal and artistic that was part of what created that atmosphere is a thing of the past. I feel fortunate to have experienced it, and on occasion, to meet someone like Avatar, who reminds me that it’s echo can still be heard if you stop and listen carefully. Here’s a great article on Area in “T” Magazine from a few years ago. (Be sure to check out the accompanying slide show).