With thanks to Chip Duckett, who pointed me to Recalling 1993, an fun exhibit at the New Museum that looks back to 20 years ago as a pivotal year in the changing of New York City. In addition to the museum exhibit, you can call 1-855-FOR-1993 from any pay phone in New York City and hear someone reminisce about what 1993 was like in the immediate vicinity. Chip is one of the storytellers:
I talk about nightlife and what it was like then and how it changed, so my phones are scattered around Tompkins Square (1984 started at Crowbar on 10th Street between A/B). I just heard my own story on the phone at the NW corner of 10th & A!With Chazz Palminteri, Nile Rodgers, James St. James, Robin Byrd and everyone in between, they've got the city covered, although it might be a little "too 1993" to actually touch a payphone these days. More info HERE.
My most vivid memory of New York City 1993 was being with my then-lover, Rafael, who owned a leather goods business in Washington. We were visiting a deadbeat client on Greenwich Avenue and when the guy refused to pay up, Rafael, his assistant Fabian, and I began to remove the items from the store that were from Rafael's line. The shop owner did not respond kindly to our Repo Men strategy, and suddenly pulled a shotgun out from behind the register and aimed it at us. I nearly shit my plaid shorts, but Rafael -- who had been held hostage along with his entire family in their home in Bogota years before -- was completely unphased, and lunged for the gun, while screaming for me to run.
Not only did I not need to be instructed to run, I kept running until I was sitting on a bar stool at Uncle Charlie's with a Cape Cod in front of me -- long beofe Fabian and Rafael arrived after finishing up "business." I've never been so scared in my life -- and have never been since -- but once I calmed down and the magnitude of the situation hit me, I began laughing uncontrollably the rest of the night, one I now think of as one of the best of my (coulda been short) life!
Not only did I not need to be instructed to run, I kept running until I was sitting on a bar stool at Uncle Charlie's with a Cape Cod in front of me -- long beofe Fabian and Rafael arrived after finishing up "business." I've never been so scared in my life -- and have never been since -- but once I calmed down and the magnitude of the situation hit me, I began laughing uncontrollably the rest of the night, one I now think of as one of the best of my (coulda been short) life!
A badass in chambray
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