Foreword by Stan Lerner: part of the mission of downtownster is to bring a level of writing and information to our readers that they simply and unfortunately are not able to get elsewhere. Alec, is a second generation great writer from the Silverman family, whom I can always count on to fulfill this part of our mission. So settle in and enjoy this two part post, I assure you it will teach you some things that you probably did not learn in college.
Three p.m.
I had completely forgotten the invite. I was standing on the expanse of Carrara Marble, a stone quarried in Carrara, Italy that is known to have been revered by Michelangelo, which comprises the floor of the 10,000 square-foot Bottega Louie. Between the marble, the highly-polished brass trim, the plate glass and cast-iron café tables there was no surface that didn’t bounce sound and the echo in the busy, twenty-foot high restaurant made it impossible to hear my editor on my cellular.
“Please excuse me; I’m only catching an occasional word. Let me step outside so I can hear you.”, I pleaded.
I made my way to the little marble landing that has brass railing on two sides, separating it from the barbaric-by-comparison, gummed-up sidewalk at the 7th Street entrance.
“There, much better….Now, what were you saying about Art Walk and the [sic] MusicUnion? I read your article about MusicUnion”.
As Stan Lerner was answering my query, it came back to me. At the Monday night wine tasting, where Mike Berger wowed us with a lineup of six merlots, we discussed ideas for articles (I want to know before I write them, if they’re going to be used) and Stan invited me to go on the Art Walk and to the party.
“I don’t know what you’re doing right now but the Art Walk is tonight and MusicUnion is throwing an after-party at The Globe featuring a bunch of bands. I’ve got a ticket for you if you want to go. There’s going to be some of our writers at the party and my friend Ana is going to take the Art Walk with me”.
Though no critic, I am certainly an aficionado of visual art of all kinds since adolescence. Also, the opportunity to meet some of the writers I have been reading in Downtownster, sounded appealing, as well as a music scene I had no clue about.
Six-fifteen p.m.
Yet another charming and intelligent person within his milieu, Ana Markosyan came through the glass doors off the parking garage into the lobby of Stan’s building. She had large, almond-shaped, deep brown eyes and thick, shoulder length, dark brown hair, a pretty mouth and a feminine jawline. She was wearing casual, open-toed, two-inch heels. They were scrutinized by Stan who suggested they might not be comfortable enough for a long walk. She said she had another pair, in her purse “just in case”. Continue reading My Travels with Stan & Co. – Part One →