Jerry Schatzberg on Bob Dylan in 1960s NYC

The ghost of 1960s Bob Dylan haunts NYC. The young man from Minnesota came to town 1961, hit the downtown music scene, and revolutionized music in an astonishingly short period of time. The musical culture of NYC and America has never been the same since. 

Dylan shot to stardom with his 1965/1966 albums Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited, and Blonde on Blonde, recorded in NYC within an eighteen-month span -- and they produced classic songs like "Just Like a Woman", "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35", "Like a Rolling Stone", "Mr Tambourine Man", "Blowin' in the Wind", "Maggie's Farm" and "Subterrean Homesick Blues." During this time a photographer named Jerry Schatzberg took numerous pictures of the brilliant singer/songwriter, including the famous cover picutre for Blonde and Blonde.

Bob Dylan and this period of American and musical history are now the stuff of legend. Fortunately, Jerry Schatzberg not only took all these amazing pictures of Dylan during this time but he's still alive to talk about it! Over 90, Schatzberg just gave an amazing interview about his career, what it was like to know Dylan during that time, and how both the artist and the man should be best remembered. Read it -- it'll fascinate you. 

"Wicked" @ 15

Read more about the backstory to one of the most popular musicals on Broadway ever.

"60 Minutes" in NYC

For the last two weeks, the news magazine 60 Minutes has had two big, extremely interesting stories about big changes taking place in NYC:

The first is about Andy Byford and changes that he's making to the NYC subway system. This is a really great story that's not only about the subways and its problems but also about how it works -- and the people who make sure we get from point A to point B. It's a great look behind the curtain of life in this city.

And the second is about the new conductor for the NY Phil, a guy named JAAP! He's quite a character -- and musical genius. It's clear he'll be taking the country's most prestigious orchestra in a new, wild direction.

"The Romanoffs" in NYC

I was huge fan of Mad Men, the great TV series about the world of advertising in 1960s NYC. I blogged about a lot over the years and it's one of my favorite shows ever. 

Now the creator of Mad Men, Matthew Weiner, has a new show on Amazon -- and it is weird. It's called The Romanoffs, a modern-day globe-spanning anthology series about various people who are (or believe they are) descended from the Romanov dynasty (the family that ruled the Russian Empire for three hundred years, from 1613-1918).

The individual plots for each episode are either boring or bizarre but the "Romanoff" factor gives it a certain je ne said quoi, another layer of psychological intrigue that makes this show wholly original -- and quite fascinating. Many of the reviews I've read either hate this show or don't know what to make of it -- which is usually proof of something groundbreaking.

There are (or will be) a total of 8 episodes, going from Paris, to Ohio, to a cruise ship, to Austria and, eventually, Mexico City (amongst other places). But the latest episode, called "Expectation", unfolds over one whole day here in NYC. So, obviously, this is one I can't wait to see. 

If you loved Mad Men, you'll like this show because it has the same cerebral storytelling and black humor. However, The Romanoffs is totally different and it dares to do something that few shows ever do -- it doesn't pander, it doesn't explain itself, it doesn't care if you like it, and leaves you thinking. It's just brilliant, unconventional storytelling. 

By the way, if you want to learn more about the fall of the Romanov dynasty, there are lots of great books about it -- or you could watch the 1971 movie Nicholas & Alexandra.

Memo from NYC

Sometimes it feels like we're living in a highly bi-polar country. 

On one side, things have never felt more scary and dire: a reality-show tabloid freak show from my childhood is now the President and his ruling party is openly fascistic, their government engaging in outright racism and cruelty, things I never imagined I'd ever see, especially in the 21st century. As a result of this, we're seeing literal BOMBS sent to their political rivals. It's spine-chilling, frightening stuff (not to mention that a hero from my childhood, Bill Cosby, is now a jailed convicted rapist).

And then on the other side ... things have neve been better! The activism we're seeing in response to all this evil stuff is truly inspiring to watch and, at least entertainment wise, things have never been better. Is it sad that I'm super excited that The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is coming back for a second season? It stuff like this -- political and social activism, an extremely rich culture -- that make me feel like, in some ways, we're living in the best of times. 

F. Scott Fitzgerald talked about how a genius is someone who can hold two opposing thoughts in his or her head at the same time. Things in this country have never been worse -- or better. So both are true -- and let's hope that the bad stuff (i.e. the GOP in power) goes away soon).

Cuomo & De Blasio on Bomb Scare

Ray Donovan in NYC -- and (almost) my house!

I'm a big fan of the show Ray Donovan, a very entertaining, noirish-crime saga about a Boston-born "fixer" and his extremely dysfunctional family. It stars the great Liev Schreiber and returns for a sixth season on Sunday.

Best of all -- Ray and the gang are in NYC! 

After five seasons exploring the seedy depths of a morally depraved Los Angeles, the show has relocated to NYC and will, presumably, explore our own seedy depths and moral depravity. It'll be amazing to see what kinds of plots the show comes up with here!

And here's an interesting side note: the home of yours truly, Mr NYC, was "scouted" by this show!

That's right, the location scouts for Ray Donovan were interested in filming part of the show in my very own house and a guy came and took lots of pictures. He really liked the exteriors but, apparently, the also needed a basement they could shoot in and ours was (is), well, not exactly user-friendly (it's not finished, low ceilings, no light, very narrow -- although it would've been a great place to dump a body which they do a lot of on that show). This was the notice we got of their interest:

Anyway, I can't wait for the next season to begin -- and I'll be curious to see what house and basement they used! Here's the first episode of Season Six for you enjoyment. 

Bomb Threat! Time Warner Center Evacuated

Free Stuff in NYC

This is just an FYI - TimeOut New York has great info about stuff to do in NYC and, best of all, FREE STUFF to do in NYC.

Definately check this out, it'll open to all the great things this city has to offer and save you money! 

NYC in 1911