Stacy Horn

I’ve posted about this building before.  It sits on West Street at Barrow and I’ve had fantasies of buying it and turning it into a retirement home for me and my friends.

But someone else bought it and started renovations, so it’s a dream that will never come true alas.  Also, it was declared a landmark apparently, so yeah, like I ever could have afforded it before but now, forget it.  The renovations stopped a while back though, I wonder what’s happening?

I googled it and got a ton of information about its history, especially here, in a report prepared by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. There are some great photographs at the end, going back as far as 1929.  I tried to capture them and put them here, but couldn’t.

It was the Knickerbocker Hotel until 1910.  Now there’s a word you don’t hear anymore, but so many New York things were named knickerbocker for so long: hotels, bars, newspaper columns, sports teams.  It’s out of fashion now.  After the Knickerbocker closed it became the New Hotel Keller, and then Keller Abington Hotel and since 1993 it’s been shortened to the Hotel Keller (although on the notices plastered on the door it’s referred to as “Keller Abington Hotel”). The bar at street level was a gay bar from 1956 – 1998.  No mention of where the name Keller came from.  The owner wasn’t named Keller. The new owner plans to keep the first floor commercial and the rest will be converted into apartments.

The next time I go to the library I’ll see if I can find anything more personal.  Anyone interesting who might have lived there, or died there, had their heart broken there, or dreamed of living someplace else there.  That corner must have been a dreary spot for many years, and for many years the only people staying at the Keller Hotel where transient sailors, who perhaps stumbled upstairs after a night of drinking in the bar on the first floor.

More from that same concert I posted a picture from earlier.  I wish I could remember the date, but my guess is anywhere from 1979 – 1982.  In the pictures are Aly Sujo, David Young, and is that Robin Eaton just barely visible in first one?

Because of Aly’s death and things unsaid, I thought I would write a line about everyone I love, just in case I die any minute now, or anyone I love dies any minute now. At least I won’t have that regret. But then I thought, what if I forget someone? Or what if one thing I say about one person is so much better than something I say about someone else?? Filing this under the category of: you can’t win.

Except someone recently pointed out to me that once in a blue moon you do, therefore saying ‘you can’t win,’ isn’t really accurate. Okay, so perhaps the best, most realistic way to approach the rest of life is: Once in a freaking blue moon you win so hang in there.

Here is Finney, making sure he’s not missing anything.

Speaking of Halloween and living, I posted last month about a couple of girls who are going to recreate the parade dance scene from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off at the Halloween Parade this year. Their website says they’re expecting ridiculously large numbers of people to participate, and I don’t doubt it. It just looks like the best fun. They emailed me the following:

The time has come to begin rehearsals for the choreographed dancers. If you would like to be a part of the beer maid brigade, or if you personally have always seen yourself dancing upon some stairs, this is your moment in the sun. At night. E-mail us and sign up for this amazing opportunity!!

They are Mina and Kara and you can email them at: projectbueller@gmail.com

I see that some people didn’t understand that you need to email Barry Rutizer if you want to attend Aly’s memorial. His email is barryrutizer@eiu.com.  He’ll let you know the final details of where and exactly when.

(Elephant & Castle, a breakfast location of choice for Aly.)