ArtCall Diary - Crime of the Scene

ArtCall Diary - Entry 4/26/2000
Crime of the Scene

Sometime's 'they just ain't where they're supposed to be'. It then becomes candy store time -- Ray of Ray's News, and Red of the B&R Smoke Shop are two old village hands that fill the bill. Ray has been serving up Egg Creams, from his tiny hole in the wall store on 7th and A, since 1980. Red has been a fixture of the B&R Smoke Shop, 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place, since 1976. The above photos show both men pulling graveyard duty. These two have kept yours truely, the forerunner of the ArtCall premise, alive since 1983.

He hadn't played in eleven months. But he needed a gig to get warmed up for his next tour. And if you know who's guitar this is, you just didn't need much prompting to make this worthwhile event. Roger Manning is his name, "Black Blocks" is his current claim to fame. Roger is a regular at the 'Wide-Open Cabaret', when it's up and running. The legendary "Missing Foundation" cocktail glass is proudly featured on the body. Roger also dusted off "The Tompkins Square Park Blues" to the delight of the assembled multitude. Roger is a performer you-just-do-not-miss.

You are always going to see 'some of the usual suspects', at an event such as this -- a Roger Manning gig. Billy Syndrome, Fly, and in all his goodness, 'Evil Jim', all managed to put in stellar appearances. Even John S. Hall managed to take in all the gyrations. The next thing was a 'grilling' of the suspects on what they knew of Webbittown. Naturally, they all feigned innocence. The suspects then all pledged to become involved in the ArtCall when it becomes ready. A quick trip to Bedford in Willyburg, and the ArtCall was finally underway. More was to be revealed at The Wide Open Cabaret -- Friday nite.

Like we've alluded to earlier, this is "The Crime Of The Scene"......It happens almost any morning.....All you need is one good event to take you late into the night, and a coffeeshop to get you into the morning. Cafe 7A on the corner of 7th and A, always does the job for something like this. It's also a good place to file away those notes one needs. They even have a 'smoking gun' section, for your personal enjoyment. Tomorrow......the 20th St. gallery mob.........