The L Magazine - New York City's Local Event and Arts & Culture Guide: Columns

Dave Choi Deserves Your Attention

editor@thelmagazine.com (Paddy Johnson) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:00:00 -0500

Who knows why some artists make it big and others don't... by Paddy Johnson Why do some artists become famous while others are passed by? I used to ask this question all the time while visiting artMovingProjects, a Williamsburg gallery that specialized in exhibiting wildly talented mid-career artists, who for one reason or another had been passed over by the Chelsea community. The gallery sadly closed its doors last year, but Dave Choi's exhibition "If A Lion Could Speak We Could Not Understand Him" at Hogar Collection could be a sign that there are…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

The Art of Disappearing Porn

editor@thelmagazine.com (Paddy Johnson) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500

Stephen Irwin upholds the fine art tradition of rubbing out porn images. by Paddy Johnson The erased porn genre of art making doesn't have it easy. Artists working in this vein can either be accused of relying to heavily on charged subject matter to unduly infuse their work with meaning or, conversely, that the subject matter isn't important at all to the artist and thus takes a backseat to the process. We tend to assume the opposite in the case of porn, of course, because the material is so sensitive. We don't consume or act…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

Another Inconvenient Truth

editor@thelmagazine.com (Amanda Park Taylor) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:00:00 -0500

As the meat-eating season descends upon us, it's a good time to look at the true cost of our carnivorous habits. by Amanda Park Taylor [image-1] My favorite holiday is coming up: Thanksgiving. But when I tell people that, at least people who know I'm a vegetarian, they invariably ask, "But how can you enjoy Thanksgiving without turkey?" And I want to (and sometimes do) ask, "How can you enjoy Thanksgiving WITH turkey?" Every year 250 to 300 MILLION turkeys are killed for food in this country, and about 45 million are killed just for Thanksgiving. If that number (and the image of them all…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

Flowers in Winter

editor@thelmagazine.com (Laurel Pinson) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:00:00 -0500

Just because winter is here doesn't mean we're stuck with charcoal knits... Floral prints forever! by Laurel Pinson It's long been the case that fall is for cozy knits and crisp jackets, and spring is for prints. The spring collections are always the most fun to watch, kaleidoscope of brights, florals and graphics cutting through the impending endlessness of winter in the city. This year, however, you'll find an increasing number of eye-popping patterns on the racks of boutiques and department stores. Indeed, even as the weather turns chilly, the fashion set are just pairing their floral minidresses…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

Sexy Pics 101

editor@thelmagazine.com (Audrey Ference) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:00:00 -0500

How to take sexy pictures of yourself without even trying. by Audrey Ference Dear Audrey, I am in a long-distance relationship and am trying to keep the home fires burning while I'm 2,000 miles away. He requested some naughty pics. All I have to work with is a crappy cell phone.� Do you have any tips on how to make these pictures titillating? Ha, titillating. Like boobs. Funny stuff. Anyway, I am complete garbage when it comes to anything camera-related, but I think this is a really good question. Self-photos are hard, as…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

So, the Second Avenue Subway?

editor@thelmagazine.com (Marian Lorraine) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:00:00 -0500

At this rate, we'll probably have flying cars before we have a Second Avenue subway. by Marian Lorraine Will it ever really happen? It's pretty much been planned since the very day the idea of subways came into being. At this rate, we'll probably have flying cars before we have a Second Avenue subway. SUKHDEV Where I hailed him: Hell's Kitchen Where he hails from: Iran Years as cabbie: 10 Previous profession: Dentist The whole idea is very bad. There are a lot of places that need a subway more than Second Avenue, especially since there is already…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

How Many is Too Many? How Few is Too Few?

editor@thelmagazine.com (Audrey Ference) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:00:00 -0500

In which Audrey gets angry about the "sex number." by Audrey Ference Dear Audrey, I am a 28-year-old straight male. I am single and frustrated about it. I don't even have success dating or hooking up casually. My friends (who are all in relationships) keep telling me that I "try too hard" and that "it'll happen when I'm not looking for it." I don't believe I try too hard. I don't stalk people or anything. But don't you have to be proactive? Or are they right? Is the answer really to stop…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

Brainy Art Is Not For Everyone

editor@thelmagazine.com (Paddy Johnson) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:00:00 -0500

Two new shows rely a little too much on the head and not enough on that other, bloodier part of the body. by Paddy Johnson If it takes a gallery-goer several days of contemplation to figure out the meaning of an artwork, does that mean it's flawed? Both old master paintings and contemporary art pieces often unfold over the course of many years, but because so much new art makes durational demands of a viewer without looking like much, it's hard to know what's worth the time. As I finished walking through Chelsea the other day, Spencer Finch at Postmasters and William Cordova at Sikkema…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

Music Legend Steve Wynn Loves the Yankees

editor@thelmagazine.com (Timothy Bracy) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:30:00 -0400

Yes, people honestly do love the big, rich Yankees. by Timothy Bracy [image-1] Steve Wynn's three highly distinguished decades in the ornery field of rock and roll have established him as master songwriter and musician. His work in the Dream Syndicate, Miracle 3, and most recently with the Baseball Project (a group which includes Scott McCaughey and Peter Buck) has delighted and inspired generations. You would think these honorariums would be sufficient to keep him from talking baseball—but you'd be wrong! Steve, a devoted Yankees obsessive (friends have expressed concern) weighs in…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

For the Love of Dog

editor@thelmagazine.com (Amanda Park Taylor) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:00:00 -0400

If you've ever considered adopting a rescue pet, now's the time. The furs need you. by Amanda Park Taylor [image-1] Just last week I got an email that tore me up. It was from a dog rescuer in Jersey City: he has been fostering an 80-pound mastiff mix for over two years, and is despairing of ever finding him what we animal activists like to call a "forever" home. Levi, the dog in question, is sweet, good with other dogs, cats, and kids; he loves people and needs and deserves a home where he'll get a lot of attention.…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

My Ex-Girlfriend is a Porn Star

editor@thelmagazine.com (Audrey Ference) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:00:00 -0400

If you have to ask if it's ok to watch your ex-girlfriend in a three-way... by Audrey Ference Dear Audrey, My boyfriend accused me of withholding sex to get my way and said that's not a fair way to argue, but I just don't feel like having sex with someone that I'm mad at. How do I get him to see that I'm not trying to be manipulative? Have you considered dating someone who is not in high school? To be fair, I am not there and don't see your arguments. Only then could I say for sure…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

The World's Gone Mad

editor@thelmagazine.com (Laurel Pinson) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:00:00 -0400

What Sex and the City was to the late 90s, Mad Men is for the late 00s. by Laurel Pinson [image-1] If the top costumes for Halloween are any indication as to the consciousness of the nation, we're currently obsessed with Wild Things, Lady Gaga, the Gosselins and, most of all, Mad Men. The cult-like appeal of Mad Men-inspired fashion, however, stretches far beyond the reaches of costume shops. Brooks Brothers has recently launched a $998 Mad Men suit, and the designer behind it (Janie Bryant, the costume designer for the show) has even laid out her plans to extend…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

Should We Steal Water from the Moon?

editor@thelmagazine.com (Marian Lorraine) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:00:00 -0400

Leave the poor Moon alone. Don't we have enough trouble occupying other countries, let alone other planetoids? by Marian Lorraine [image-1] Man, leave the poor Moon alone. Don't we have enough trouble occupying other countries, let alone other planetoids? Yes, we do. So let's ease up, shall we? DARREL Where I hailed him: Grand Central Where he hails from: Queens Years as cabbie: 3 Previous profession: Student Yeah, I read about that. Seems like a waste of money to me. What were they trying to do? [Find if there were traces of water on the Moon.] Yeah, waste of money.…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

Art Fair As Economic Indicator: Are Things Looking Up?

editor@thelmagazine.com (Paddy Johnson) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0400

Paddy Johnson reports from the European art fair circuit with... good news? by Paddy Johnson I don't get it: The art trucking business in New York has nearly ground to halt, the economy's performance in England and the US is still less than spectacular, and yet the FIAC art fair in Paris is reporting high sales volume, and no dealer I spoke to at London's Frieze Art Fair last week did poorly. Some should have. A lot of the work displayed at this year's fair either appeared undesirable because it had already been shown at…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

When It Hurts So Good

editor@thelmagazine.com (Audrey Ference) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0400

If pain is pleasurable, is it really pain? And other baffling questions. by Audrey Ference Dear Audrey, Whenever I have sex with my girlfriend, but especially in certain positions, she makes these weird faces. Like grimacing-with-pain faces. I keep asking her if I'm hurting her or if she wants to not do it that way, but she says no, that it's fine. Should I keep pestering her or what? It makes it hard for me to enjoy sex if I think I'm hurting her. It would be infinitely sad if your ladyfriend was enduring grimace-worthy…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

The Legendary Ratso Sloman on Why Hockey Matters

editor@thelmagazine.com (Timothy Bracy) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:30:00 -0400

Chronicler of Dylan, watcher of sports, lover of hockey... when Ratso Sloman speaks, you listen. by Timothy Bracy If New York City currently possesses a greater, more storied man of letters then Mr. Larry "Ratso" Sloman, it is not known to the staff of the Proven System. Ratso's career is too far reaching, accomplished and diverse to condense into short form. His seminal account of the Rolling Thunder Review, On the Road with Bob Dylan, moved none other then Dylan himself to characterize the achievement as "The 'War and Peace' of rock and roll." Ratso currently hosts the…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

Why am I Walking Through a Gallery Full of Tires?

editor@thelmagazine.com (Paddy Johnson) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:23:00 -0400

William Pope.L provokes this and other questions with his recreation of Allan Kaprow's Yard. by Paddy Johnson A viewer's first response to art will vary from exhibition to exhibition, but it typically begins at the art's materials and placement. When I first entered the new Hauser and Wirth space uptown the question I asked myself was, "Why am I walking through a gallery full of tires?" As it turns out, this is exactly the sort of inquiry intended by William Pope.L, one of three artists commissioned by the gallery to recreate the 1961 Allan Kaprow piece Yard…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

Your First Baby Shower

editor@thelmagazine.com (Laurel Pinson) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:00:00 -0400

Oh crap. All those breeders I know are actually starting to breed. Goddamn babies. by Laurel Pinson It's finally happened. I've arrived at an age where I have almost as many pregnant friends as I have weddings (and I've had EIGHT weddings this season, so that's saying a lot). Thusly, I have a myriad of baby showers to attend, and very small gifts to buy. [image-1] Baby showers are in no way like bridal showers or weddings. For starters, you don't need to be ready for marriage to enjoy a wedding. Any nuptial-related activity involves a bunch…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

What�s the Best Decade for Music?

editor@thelmagazine.com (Marian Lorraine) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:00:00 -0400

Wow, who knew Led Zeppelin was so popular among the city�s cabbies? Sure, it�s a small sample, but we think it�s fitting that the greatest power trio in the history of rock is beloved of taxi drivers. by Marian Lorraine SIDI Where I hailed him: Greenpoint Where he hails from: Morocco Years as cabbie: 21 Previous profession: Martial artist The 70s was when rock and roll was at its best. The music today is ok, I�m sure, but I�m busy, you know? I have kids. So I�m not sure what happens today, but whatever it is, it can�t be better than Led Zeppelin. GABRIEL Where I hailed him from: Tribeca Where he hails from: Romania Years as a cabbie: 5…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

Less Really Is More

editor@thelmagazine.com (Amanda Park Taylor) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:00:00 -0400

We need less trash pick up and a bit more of a kick in the ass. by Amanda Park Taylor I was toodling around my Brooklyn neighborhood on trash night recently, marveling at the many, varied approaches to trash and recycling on display: our garbage (as is the case in most of the city) goes out three times a week, and recycling is picked up once a week. In my mixed-residential 'hood, that means bigger buildings with piles of garbage, small one-to-three unit town houses that put out little trash, sometimes no trash, and the odd tower with mini trash…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

The Best Exercise is Self-Excercise

editor@thelmagazine.com (Audrey Ference) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:00:00 -0400

It's hard to masturbate when all you want to do is masturbate. by Audrey Ference Dear Audrey, I recently moved in with my girlfriend. I love her and the sex as is good as usual, but I miss masturbating sometimes. Whenever I�m home alone and I sort of get into it, I start to feel like I�m 14 again, worried about getting caught. I guess I could just talk to my girlfriend about it, but that feels weird, plus we�re both still adjusting to the move... I don�t want to freak her out. You know,…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

Bill Janovitz on the Temperament of the Red Sox Fan Over Time

editor@thelmagazine.com (Timothy Bracy) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:33:00 -0400

The pain, the joy, the eventual realization that it's cool to be a sports fan. by Timothy Bracy [image-1] For those of us who grew up on the remarkable Buffalo Tom, a band which wedded the passion and energy of the best punk rock with a sweeping appreciation of great songwriting throughout the entire history of the rock idiom, it will come as little surprise that frontman Bill Janovitz is 1) consumed by baseball and 2) enraptured by the Boston Red Sox. We see this only too often with great writers: the bleachers at Fenway are a veritable…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

Start Investing in Underwear

editor@thelmagazine.com (Laurel Pinson) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:00:00 -0400

As soon as one season starts to flourish, the fashion world starts gabbing about the next one. So yeah, spring is here. by Laurel Pinson It’s one of the fashion community’s little schizophrenic quirks that as soon as one season really starts to flourish, we start gabbing about the next one. That’s because our calendar is bookended by these eternally confusing fashion weeks, wherein hundreds of spring looks debut at the kick-off of fall, and vice versa. And, thusly, I come to you mere weeks after compiling the fall fashion issue to offer a preview into what you’ll be seeing in stores for spring. [image-1]…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

Do You Have a Nemesis?

editor@thelmagazine.com (Marian Lorraine) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:00:00 -0400

Sadly, we have, like, 30-odd nemeses: the little guy at the deli who undercooked our eggs, the guy who publishes this magazine... by Marian Lorraine [image-1] Sadly, we have, like, 30-odd nemeses: the little guy at the deli who undercooked our eggs this morning, the guy down the block whoÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s always washing his car, the guy across the hall who wonÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t stop listening to Appetite for Destruction, the guy who publishes this magazineÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â¦ muhammad Where I hailed him: Soho Where he hails from: Pakistan Years as a cabbie: 7 Previous profession: Always a driver My neighbor, definitely. IÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢m always having to yell out the window…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

Thinking Locally, Acting Globally

editor@thelmagazine.com (Amanda Park Taylor) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:00:00 -0400

by Amanda Park Taylor What if there were a product that everyone in this city, nay, this country, could use and benefit from? What if said product would not only reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and improve the state of the environment now, but would also slow the progress of global warming, and save its users money? And what if developing said product would also create jobs and businesses, and could potentially retool whole swathes of the economy? Sounds good, doesnâ€™t it? Of…]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]