The walls of this loft are filled with a great deal of patterned plaster, designs from Second Empire France, and popular in the post-Civil War era (c. 1867). They were strengthened by horsehair and burlap, and left from the days when this was the dining room of the M.F. Lyons Restaurant, a premier restaurant for decades on Bowery and in New York City. Customers waited as late as 3am to get a seat. The establishment served an array of meats and fowl not seen on restaurant menus today.
I MOVED TO BOWERY
AT THE END OF 1975.
MOTHER HORRIFIED;
FINALLY APPROVED
Debbie Harry lived across the street.
Poets John Giorno and William Burroughs were down the block. Lynda Benglis was there as well. Fred Gutzeit and a few others were just across the street. My pal Ping Chong was living on Bleecker Street at the same time, as were dancer Lee Connor, and Gin Louie, the artist and director of the Lower East Side Print Shop. Back then the shop was on 4th Street.
Judy Linn was on Elizabeth Street, Robert Fosdick a few doors down on Bowery, and Robert Mapplethorpe lived on Bond. Just a few of the people whom I knew, or knew of. I came to meet so many more; Philip Glass, Robert Frank, Joseph DiGiorgio, Harrison, Hans, Nancy, ... so many more...
At the time I came to live here, the AIR permit (Artist-In-Residence--back before living in lofts became legal) was in effect. I had to apply to the city's Department of Cultural Affairs to be approved to live here. This was to alert the Fire Department that there might be residents in the building.
I did. I was. I still do.
ALL IMAGES © 2021 BY TONY JANNETTI.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.