“Live, travel, adventure, bless, and don't be sorry.” ― Jack Kerouac

Gene Kelly tap dancing on rollerskates

(skip to 1:40) Gene. F'ing. Kelly.

The world's greatest troubadour and the vintage chantuese

It's a restless January evening and I can't stop wishing it was 1969. It's raining hard in southern California, which almost never happens, and the lyrics have been repeating in my brain like comforting mantras. I need more poetry in my life. And I should be listening to this on vinyl!

Just thought I would share some sweet vintage photos that show a little skin (starring francoise, jane, brigitte, and janis--for whom this song was written) with the all-too-human lyrics by my favorite poet/troubadour to warm you on a chilly night. (Just press play below.) Now, for some red wine and salty tears...





I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel,
you were talking so brave and so sweet,
giving me head on the unmade bed,
while the limousines wait in the street.
Those were the reasons and that was New York,
we were running for the money and the flesh.
And that was called love for the workers in song
probably still is for those of them left.








I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel
you were famous, your heart was a legend.
You told me again you preferred handsome men
but for me you would make an exception.
And clenching your fist for the ones like us
who are oppressed by the figures of beauty,
you fixed yourself, you said, "Well never mind,
we are ugly but we have the music."




And then you got away, didn't you babe...

I don't mean to suggest that I loved you the best,
I can't keep track of each fallen robin.
I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel,
that's all, I don't even think of you that often.


(Now don't you wish it was 1969, too?)

steam age dreams: the beginning of filmmaking

George Melies from 1906 and before. Amazing with beautiful girls on stars floating by...


A trip to the Moon 1902: