Thanks to friend of Stupefaction, Philippe, for pointing out this excellent recollection by Luc Sante on his perspective of life in New York City in the late 70's. It appears to have been written in 2003. I wonder what his take on things would be now, only 4 years later?
The idea of writing a book about New York City[1] first entered my head around 1980, when I was a writer more wishfully than in actual fact, spending my nights in clubs and bars and my days rather casually employed in the mailroom of this magazine. It was there that Rem Koolhaas's epochal Delirious New York fell into my hands. "New York is a city that will be replaced by another city" is the phrase that sticks in my mind.
My god...I was downtown last night for a meeting at 2nd Avenue & Houston Street. Standing in front of the Whole Foods waiting for Michael & Nick, I was smoking a cigarette with my back to traffic, facing the Whole Foods. Between the store I was in front of, and the people walking by, I forgot where I was for a minute. I realized I could have been in any neighborhood of Manhattan - the upper west side, Chelsea, anywhere! I think to myself maybe I'm done with New York...but then, true to form, I get sucked back in.
I struggle with my fascination for the recent past - the nostalgia & sentimentality. I could really get carried away with seeking out a part of life that I've already lived. It's just like the drug addict's attempts to recapture that first high. I need a damn job...something to balance out my time and bring me back a bit more into the present and reality.
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