Things that give us hope

Artists still live here!

Artists Still Live In John Cale’s Old Ludlow Street Apartment

Luxury lofts and a gourmet deli now occupy the former home of Max’s Kansas City and Warhol’s Factory in the Decker Building has been replaced by a Puma Store and yet more luxury apartments. But here’s some news that’s not completely disheartening: John Cale’s old apartment on Ludlow Street is occupied by artists, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The Velvet Underground co-founder fled the Lower East Side and New York City long ago (he now lives in L.A.), but we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief that the cultural geography of the city has not been completely eroded by wealth. Read More

Looking Back at Lou Reed’s Blue Period

It’s just a cultural quirk that Lou Reed’s “official” photographer, Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, is also Monica Lewinsky’s authorized shutterbug, a grouping no crazier then Mr. Reed performing at the White House last year when the intern-on-her-knees scandal was in full swing. What song did he play for Bill and Hillary, “Walk on the Wild Side”? How Read More