Monday, January 5, 2015

Another birthday pictorial...?

Night Hotel NY
...why, yes. Yes, it is. Because YOLO, as the Youth said in 2012.

I unintentionally turned inward in 2013, especially in the fall months. Perhaps that's why I opted for a solitary birthday celebration. If "celebration" is the word...I aimed to make 2014 the year of the Very Goth Birthday and didn't fall too wide of the mark.

I'd accrued a couple of free nights on Hotels.com (which I use to book all my work travel), so I checked into the Night Hotel NY (not to be confused with its sister hotel, the Night Hotel Times Square) (although both of them are pretty much in Times Square).

Mah room


I was running late the day I checked in (my actual birthday, December 21) and had to forgo one of my planned stops for the day, so I was in a bit of a snit as I stood in the lobby awaiting attendance. Though the ambiance was what I'd hoped for, the piped in music wasn't. "For fuck's sake," I grumbled to myself as my lip curled in a disgruntled sneer, "why are they playing this stupid dance shit? They should be playing The Cure, or Joy Division, or frigging Depeche Mode, or something." Thankfully, I could breathe a sigh of relief when I entered the blissful quiet of Mah Room.

It'd been a couple of years since I'd last visited the Museum of Sex so I betook myself there, verily. I couldn't help but note their earnest exhortation for guests' best behavior (pictured left) as I paid the entrance fee, but I told the cashier I wasn't making any promises. (Especially regarding that last bit, W00F.)

He didn't mean to turn me on, poor chap.
One of the exhibits was the darkly dirty and whimsical sex puppetry of Peruvian artist Ety Fefer called Grumildos (see image right). It was my fave of that particular visit, I only wish the artist had given us more scenes to enjoy...or, perhaps, made some for sale, so sick puppies like me could bring a scene home as a souvenir. You can see more (and infinitely better) pics of the installation by clicking here.

You'll be heartened to learn I found mine. (As it were.)

I'd looked forward to checking out the Funland: Pleasures and Perils of the Erotic Fairground installment but found it kind of meh. I thought the best (and spookiest) bit was The Tunnel of Love, in which one has to manage various twisty turns in the dark in search of the supposedly elusive clitoris.

I ambled about the MofS shop, then buggered off for some Burger King (lame for a birthday dinner, I know, but I so totally dig their onion rings and that spicy dipping sauce that accompanies them) and Cold Stone Creamery (the night was mild enough to enjoy the chocolate and crumbled Oreo goodness). I went to the 10:15pm showing of Michael Keaton's Birdman, which was brilliant and engrossing though not the lighthearted romp I'd anticipated (if I'd actually read the reviews, I'd've known "lighthearted" and "romp" were hardly appropriate descriptors for the film). It was about 1am, I think, by the time I trekked through a still active Times Square to get back to my hotel. I was emotionally exhausted from the movie ('cause I'm sensitive and whatnot) and feeling myself very alone. 

As I entered the hotel I spied the restaurant/bar and strolled over to check out the action. There wasn't any, though the bartender Licensed Mixologist was still there. I asked if the bar was closed and was delighted to learn drinks could still be had, 'cause I needed one. I ordered a Painkiller (again—so totally needed one), a cocktail composed of dark rum, pineapple and orange juices, cream of coconut, and a sprinkling of nutmeg.

As I sat and soaked up the atmosphere (and cocktail), I felt my shoulders sink down. Then I grinned broadly as the absolutely most appropriate song thundered from the bar's speakers—Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence."

Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode on Grooveshark

One Painkiller, to go.
When I settled my bill for the one cocktail with my Mixologist, I jokingly asked if I could get one "to go" (back up to my room, that is). And the answer, to my surprise, was YES!

Next day I went for an indifferent breakfast at some bistro around the block (Bistro Around the Block would be a brilliant name for a restaurant, wouldn't it???), then headed up to the upper east side to the Metropolitan Museum of Art so I could check out the (what else?) Death Becomes Her exhibit. Offered by the Costume Institute, this installation featured mourning garb spanning a century from 1815 to 1915. Bombastic organ music played as one meandered through the beautifully attired mannequins. Quotes from periodicals, journals, and letters of the era were projected onto the wall, and the lighting was fittingly sombre. I certainly admired the remarkable work, but after two hours was ready to leave death to its own devices.





Toward the latter half of this time period,
sparkly dress in light mourning colors of mauve and purple were acceptable.

I admit to being all Gothed out and in need of cheer. So I did some shopping at Desigual, made a stop at Starbucks for my usual (a lovely, buttery Toffee Nut Latte), enjoyed a fish'n'chips dinner at the Cock and Bull (heh heh) with a Dark and Stormy drink, and did some more shopping at Barnes and Noble, where I picked up another Georgette Heyer to add to my collection. I capped the night with a different Licensed Mixologist who, upon learning it was my last night there, insisted we do shots of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey. Now, I'm not really a whiskey drinker but DAYUM, that jazz was the bomb diggity, as the Youth said in...hell, I can't ever remember.

Right, so; that's all I got. Hope all y'all enjoyed every danged December holiday you cared about and wish you a happy, healthy, love-filled, and prosperous 2015.




16 comments:

  1. I'm sorry I wasn't there to share this delightfully goth experience. Sigh. Maybe next year.

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    1. It would've been infinitely better with you here. For realz.

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  2. Happy belated Birthday! Sounds like an interesting visit to some amazing sites, but the bar sounded really fun! I've never been to New York, must remedy that!

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  3. It all looks rather amazing. So rich in inspiration for a Goth Momma such as yourself - looking good, btw, gurlfrend!

    Just wish they had such amazing places to visit within my locality. But heck, that's what the intyweave is fur, eh? ;o) Happy New Year, GM x

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    1. Yeah, you've only got all of Europe at your disposal. Boooooooo-riiiiiiiiiiiiiing. ;-)

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  4. Oh my God, YES!!! Bistro round the block is a flipping cool name! It should be filled with half clad, licensed mixologists!
    Well, what a great birthday with nobody to spoil it! And, you look about 18 in that picture, so tell me do....what's your secret? Is it a cock (tail) or a cocktail?

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    1. ROTFL, Jules. Dude, it must be lack of that thing you said. I'd rather look my age and get some, frankly. :-)

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  5. What a PERFECT birthday!!!!!!! How fun! And Enjoy the Silence is one of my fave songs ever too. You are so lucky to live that close to Manhattan that you can nip in for a fun weekend from time to time.

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    1. Well, I commute into the city every work day. But yes, I admit to being happy to readily access this kinda stuff. On the other hand, you're on Cape Cod (which I LOVE) and have the Gorey house and Lizzie Borden's place close by, so don't think you're not envied your location as well! :-)

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  6. Happy Birthday! You definitely have more fun than me.

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  7. That Met exhibit sounds pretty great! I will go see that one. Have you heard of the new Morbid Anatomy Museum out in Queens? Here's the link: http://morbidanatomymuseum.org/

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    1. Didn't know about it, but thanks so much for letting me know!

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  8. What a wonderful birthday experience. Now if only I could convince people here to do stuff like that with me! Looking marvelous in that picture too. :) Here's to a great 2015 for all of us!

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    1. Though I've grown accustomed to doing things on my own, it sure is way more fun with the right company. Here's to 2015! :-)

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