high life = barf. who cares? david lee roth? david lee roth? "i'm just a gigolo"...oh god no.

posted by melina at 2:21 PM on July 11, 2005

Wouldn't it be ironic if they gave it to Sammy Hagar instead?

posted by drew@script-o-rama.com at 7:50 PM on July 11, 2005

Rex, RELAX. You don't live in New York--you only obsess over it. You're reading the Fashion & Style section of the Times, so if you're not taking EVERYTHING you read with a grain of salt, you're only going to torture yourself. Why doesn't the Star Tribune have a Fashion section? Probably because it's a stupid idea to have one in the first place. Keep in mind that you're reading the newspaper of locals who don't have backyards (yes, I read the article, too) and have few places to have a party outside of their blazing hot apartments. I know you're savvy; I read your blog all the time. I want to encourage you to move out of the Twin Cities and live here so you can discuss our city with a little research behind your statements. Your other option is do your best to relate to a typical new yorker--one who doesn't make loads of money, lives in a very small place, and has little outlet for "fun-without-crowds." That person may find a rooftop slightly interesting and peaceful. Granted, I don't relate to the models and actors that were interviewed for Julia Chaplin's article either. And I definitely think it's a manipulative way to entice readers. Most of the people interviewed made me want to barf, but remember, it's the FASHION & STYLE section. Don't give it too much clout. This is your biggest mistake. New Yorkers like their roofs because they are a haven away from crowds. Plain and simple. You get this more often than you even realize. "In a vertical city with too many people... a rooftop party always feels like the high life, a refuge beneath the stars that promises inhibitions will be lowered and hard-shell city dwellers will drop their guard."

posted by alpobreath at 12:37 PM on July 12, 2005

Relax? How can I relax at a time like this! Some additional context: As far as "research," I have lived in NYC for very brief periods of time (two months on two occasions). And I visit regularly -- I leave for another five-day visit in a couple days. I don't hate the city (I mostly love it), but I do hate how it gobbles up all my friends (which is just a personal prejudice, not something I've ever really voiced here). And to say "it's the FASHION & STYLE section" as an excuse is disengenuous -- it's also the NEW YORK TIMES!

posted by Rex at 7:20 PM on July 12, 2005

As a former Minnesotan now residing in New York, I have to say that there's little need for Rex to move here in order to have more "research" behind his statements on the place. One, because yes New York does gobble everyone up (I put off moving here for years because of that factor). Two, you don't have to live here to see how absolutely obsessed New Yorkers are with themselves and every bloody little facet of this (admittedly fascinating) city, a tunnel vision which I think is part of what Rex reacts negatively to in things like breathlessly rapturous writings on roof-top parties. Then again, I'm in Brooklyn, so what do I know?

posted by chris at 12:36 PM on July 13, 2005

Chris: that is an enormous generalization saying that New Yorkers are absolutely obsessed with themselves. I should hope that you have found friends here in New York City that don't fit that criteria. I certainly have and I have come to realize that there are many KINDS of new yorkers. I'm a former MidWesterner who has lived in New York a lot longer than you (brooklyn, too) and I can't believe that I have to defend New Yorkers to you. If this is how you feel about your neighbors generally, then what is the draw you feel to live here.
Rex: Like I said, I know you're savvy and I know you've visited nyc numerous times. You're missing the point regarding rooftop parties. Yes, that one that was featured in the Times "Style" section was ludicrous, but can you tell me that you've never been to a fun rooftop party in nyc or brooklyn? I wrote my comment above to defend the New York City Rooftop Party. Also, I didn't say you hated the city--let's be civil here... You wouldn't be reading Gawker everyday if you didn't at least find the city tempting or interesting. It's obvious to me that you like the city quite a bit. By the way, enjoy the Siren Festival. It's not going to be nearly as hot (temperature) as last year.
peace, alpobreath

posted by alpobreath at 1:06 PM on July 13, 2005

Good God, man, New York is a lovely place, I wouldn't still be living here (work or no) if I didn't think so. Just saying that if I do have a criticism (as one has criticisms of people just about anywhere), it is that New Yorkers tend to limit their worldview to the five boroughs and the five boroughs alone. I'm hardly alone in thinking this. It's a perhaps inevitable side effect of living in the world's greatest city -- after awhile, people here tend to look inward as opposed to outward. Again, dearly love the place and the people especially, but if they have a fault (as indeed everyone does) in my mind it's a tendency to forget that there's a whole other world out there. Admittedly it's a world without as many good restaurants...

posted by chris at 1:39 PM on July 13, 2005

New Yorkers really do act like they're in the center of the universe. Are there exceptions? Sure. It it more true than people in Pittsburgh, or even L.A.? Absolutely. Does this annoy me? Somtimes, but not always -- I mean, in some ways, it's true. It only really bothers me when the media does it. I hate that kind of NYC media that acts surprised -- nay, shocked -- that something cool came from a place that wasn't there. (Just one example: most of the early articles about The Onion obsessed about it being from the Midwest. It's interesting that The Onion is from Madison, but it's often treated as paranormal.)

posted by Rex at 2:15 PM on July 13, 2005

I know, it's amazing that so many midwesterners were able to put down the hay bales and leave their barns-turned-meth labs long enough to actually print something funny! Madison's in, like, Ohio somewhere, right?

posted by chris at 3:42 PM on July 13, 2005

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