Two for the price of one…

I’ve been thinking that I would answer questions this month one per day, but I’ve decided to throw in an extra today while I wait here at work for the Larry Clark show to open.

This one is from lowfatmuffin:

Describe for me in a short paragraph or two – why sitting in one of your favorite cafes is where you find peace.

I am a dyed-in-the-wool urbanite. I am so acclimated to the presence of other people, that even my relaxation feel more relaxed when I am enacting it in front of others. It is one of my great luxuries to go into a cafe, purchase a cup of coffee and while away the afternoon, sketching, writing in my journal and staring soulfully into space. These are all things I can do easily at home, but somehow they take on an entirely different meaning from the seats of one of my favorite cafes. I was hopelessly addicted to the Figaro and the Flore in San Francisco and my all time favorite: The Reggio in New York. I’m not much on bars, where I feel like my choices are either get drunk, cruise or stand and fidget. Cafes allow you to not only cruise, but to weed out potential tricks with objectionable tastes in reading matter, and you rarely leave one plastered. They are easier to dress for. And they allow me to both absorb and participate in the panoply of the city, while sitting down.

0 Comments +

  1. Hello Nayland,

    Is there a site or a local (NYC) gallery where I can look at some of your projects? I have found myself in an artistic rut and need to be exposed new ideas, if such things exist.

    Thanks for a great and insightful journal.

    Angel

  2. Hello Nayland,

    Is there a site or a local (NYC) gallery where I can look at some of your projects? I have found myself in an artistic rut and need to be exposed new ideas, if such things exist.

    Thanks for a great and insightful journal.

    Angel

  3. Reggio is my favorite, favorite non-alcoholic haven in Manhattan (the Belgian Beer Bar around the corner being one of my favorite alcoholic havens.) I spent many a night there during my four years at NYU playing name-that-tune with the classical music that’s usually playing too loudly, and cajoling the waitstaff into helping me with my Italian homework. And their tea is fantastic, the cappucino, divine. Any time you need a cafe buddy and are headed there, I’m your man. 🙂

  4. Reggio is my favorite, favorite non-alcoholic haven in Manhattan (the Belgian Beer Bar around the corner being one of my favorite alcoholic havens.) I spent many a night there during my four years at NYU playing name-that-tune with the classical music that’s usually playing too loudly, and cajoling the waitstaff into helping me with my Italian homework. And their tea is fantastic, the cappucino, divine. Any time you need a cafe buddy and are headed there, I’m your man. 🙂

  5. I love sitting in cafes, but I almost never do it alone. I see it more as a place to sit and talk with friends while ignoring the fact that the world continues to bustle along outside.

  6. I love sitting in cafes, but I almost never do it alone. I see it more as a place to sit and talk with friends while ignoring the fact that the world continues to bustle along outside.

  7. some peeps in PDX here threw together a showing of Tulsa original silver prints a few weeks back – it was startling to see in one place at one time. i think i wet my pants. xo

  8. some peeps in PDX here threw together a showing of Tulsa original silver prints a few weeks back – it was startling to see in one place at one time. i think i wet my pants. xo

  9. They’re all here in the the show, which is basically a retrospective. There are some amazing pictures of NYC hustlers from the 70’s (once upon a time there were hip huggers that made you look mean)

  10. They’re all here in the the show, which is basically a retrospective. There are some amazing pictures of NYC hustlers from the 70’s (once upon a time there were hip huggers that made you look mean)

  11. Matthew Gallery where most of my work resides, although it isn’t always on display. The ICP bookstore has copies of “Some Kind of Love” the book that documents a bunch of my stuff. I’m kind of thinking that I might actually do a slide show someplace in town that I can invite folks to – that’s the best way to see the range of it.

  12. Matthew Gallery where most of my work resides, although it isn’t always on display. The ICP bookstore has copies of “Some Kind of Love” the book that documents a bunch of my stuff. I’m kind of thinking that I might actually do a slide show someplace in town that I can invite folks to – that’s the best way to see the range of it.

  13. My favorite feature is the booth with the pay phone in it: invaluable in the days before cell phones. When I would arrive in town it was my first destination so that I could call around and check on my friends.

    I’m always up for a cuppa.

  14. My favorite feature is the booth with the pay phone in it: invaluable in the days before cell phones. When I would arrive in town it was my first destination so that I could call around and check on my friends.

    I’m always up for a cuppa.

  15. They’re all here in the the show, which is basically a retrospective. There are some amazing pictures of NYC hustlers from the 70’s (once upon a time there were hip huggers that made you look mean)

  16. Matthew Gallery where most of my work resides, although it isn’t always on display. The ICP bookstore has copies of “Some Kind of Love” the book that documents a bunch of my stuff. I’m kind of thinking that I might actually do a slide show someplace in town that I can invite folks to – that’s the best way to see the range of it.

  17. My favorite feature is the booth with the pay phone in it: invaluable in the days before cell phones. When I would arrive in town it was my first destination so that I could call around and check on my friends.

    I’m always up for a cuppa.

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