David Belcher, a founding member of our So-Bad-It's-Good Movie Night had a story in the New York Times today about Estelle Parsons, who is playing on Broadway in August: Osage County. Just wanted to share it with everyone.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/theater/29estelle.html?ex=1375070400&e...

D.

One of the reasons I love New York is Clearview Chelsea's Classic Cinema Night, which takes place every Thursday. It's one of the few places where a 1970 B Film starring Joan Crawford could earn more profits than all of the other shows in the cineplex combined. The theater was full and Hedda Lettuce's commentary throughout the film was priceless. And she gave away some great prizes. Next week they're showing Mildred Pierce, Joan Crawford at her finest. Trog is also one of her finest works as well but for a completely different reason - Laugh-Out-Loud hilarity at the absurdity that such a film was ever made and that this bonafide Hollywood star actually played the lead role as one of the world's top scientists.

Three younger scientists discover the "missing link" Trog in a cave in England. When one of them is killed by the half man / half beast, Trog is captured and then studied by Joan and her team. The university town wants him dead. Joan believes there is much to be learned from Trog, as she teaches him how to play with dolls. The trailer sells this film as horror, but it is clearly one of the best comedies ever made. And even better when seen with a group of people.

Occasionally we get lured into seeing one of the latest "luxury" buildings in one of the outer burroughs based on an ad somewhere or taking a look at a floorplan that actually shows square footage above 900. We venture out of Manhattan thinking that there will may actually one day be able to afford some of this "luxury" only to find out that we're it's still out of reach for the time being unless the market ever reaches some semblance of sense. Given its iron-clad resilance through the sub-prime crises that as affected just about everywhere else, New York's real estate market may never make sense.

Either way, this particular luxury building - and I mean luxury not "luxury" did actually take our breath away. One Hanson Place is the former Williamsburg Savings Bank, which has an incredibly rich history. This landmark 1920's building is the tallest building in Brooklyn and the second tallest in Long Island. Imagine the view from this place!

The entrance is gorgeous with mosaic-tiled ceilings and an area that was the main area for the bank at one point that is a stunning example of the grandeur that once was associated with architecture.

Adi and I highly anticipated going out and getting the New York Times the morning of Sunday, February 17, not to read about the latest about the close race between Hills and Barack, but to turn to the City Section and see the byline and article by our friend David Belcher. I met David 5 years ago at a random party thrown by my friend Marc while at his share in Fire Island. Douglas and I were Marc's guests for the day. And David was the guest of another friend who was part of the share. David laughed when he heard Laura Brannigan's "Gloria" being sung by Douglas and I while swimming. That's all it took to kick off a 5-year friendship. A few week's after the party, we started SBIGMN (So Bad It's Good Movie Night) that involved watching campy bad movies mostly at our friend Douglas's home at the time. Adi, Marc, Orlando, Archimedes, Alex, Kristen, Eric, and others have been present for the movie nights. We even had a White Trash night where we enjoyed lots of white trash treats like fried chicken and Ambrosia salad and dressed up for the movie of the night.

Sometimes Movie Night would take the form of a field trip to Clearview Chelsea Cinema for their Classic Cinema night that takes place every Wednesday evening at 7pm. Showgirls and Mommie Dearest are definitely some of the standouts. Nothing could top Joan Crawford's Strait Jacket though.

We love these evenings kicked off and often MCd by Hedda Lettuce. You can always tell when David is present because you can detect his distinctive laugh - even from out side the theater. David works at the New York Times laying out the Arts section, but he also writes. He decided to pitch a story about Clearview's Classic Cinema night. And it was accepted. Here's a link to David's article:

David and Douglas at Movie Night in 2005