"Everyone at the paper had more cool and swagger than me." Untrue, at least by your published evidence. Your work stood out for its feminist integrity and style. I told Erika Munk, "Best thing you ever did was send Laurie Stone to review Arthur Miller."
“Laurie Stone, the oldest living punk.” Love it.
THIS is why I loved your work: "I want whatever captures my attention to become a subject and to layer my observations with personal associations that are so detailed they create a world the reader can sense. I want to write love letters that produce joy."
The Romano oral history is a joy, chapter by glorious internecine chapter.
I started reading the voice in 1958 or 1959 when I was a high school student in New York and it was cool to hang around in the coffee shops like the Figaro in the Village because maybe you could start a conversation with a girl about something you had read in the Voice.
What a piece!!! All these names I venered and avidly read every week as soon as the Voice came out. For me, French girl coming from Paris, they were the ultimate of New York cool and brilliance! What an experience you had, Laurie. Unforgettable.
Between 1990 and 1992 or so, my goal in life was to move down here and write for the Voice. Living and attending college in Albany, I would buy it every week at Albany's equivalent of a bodega. I did indeed feel like I got to know every one of the writers (and photographers) you mentioned. I would have felt, as I do in so many situations involving hyper-intellectual/educated people, extremely intimidated - exposed as a poseur, essentially - had I somehow found the courage to leave school, move down here, and walk into those offices. I also would have starved, which might have been preferable. Thank you for this.
Just before I started reading your piece, I had placed a yam in the oven. Then I come across your paragraph on Finley. I guess this sort of makes my coming lunch slightly disconcerting, but in a nice way. Here indeed is yet another deliciously memorable column from you. One of my own happiest memories from those days is seeing my Voice cover story on various benches, under arms, and on newsstands: “Brandon Judell on Christopher Street.” One friend passing it by thought I had been murdered. Being on the outer circle of you Voice folks certainly helped me get rid of a few insecurities. Although I did get bashed for this article by a short-lived gay rag that stated that what I did was equal to the “the Jews leading other Jews into the gas chambers.”
Laurie, I love everything about this. I too shared a love affair with the Village Voice, but in my affair, I was the outsider; a modern dancer with a NY City dance company in the late 70s/80s. Many hours were spent in dimly lit cafes on Bleeker street filling notebooks with choreography, preparing for evening rehearsals. At my side, always- a cappuccino and the Village Voice. Deborah Jowitt's words validated my existence, as I was 'emotionally' disowned by family for the 'impractical' life I chose as a dancer, which 'shamefully' included waitressing to sustain a dance co. So the Voice might have been my first love too; and I wouldn't change a thing. xo
You give so much history of a certain time in American journalism. I read that one American newspaper a week dies a week now…will the smell of ink on newspaper eventually evaporate? Great piece! 🙏✍️👏👏👏
“It was like being on a first date for twenty-five years.” This piece crackles with love and hunger and belief and wit. You make me wish I could have been there. I must read the book. Maybe I’ll also read The Transit of Venus for at least the fourth time.
Thanks, Laurie. So deeply wonderful. Great to read you. I worked for Alex back in the day. I remember your smiling face in the hallways of the VV and talking with you.
Your life has been so charmed! What an incredible gig at the Voice! I wish I had had your courage to tough it out as a writer in NYC. I feared not making any money, but I've always regretted leaving for a cushy job.
A great piece, multi-leveled. You’ve packed in so many levels of thought, feeling, perspective. Both yours as well as other’s. Rock on, oh uncool you. XX
One night I meet a writer I slightly know ... He wants to have sex with me." Those writers don't waste any time : )
Love this. You write what we were all thinking and feeling.
This was so great! That hot English Communist, Rreeow
"Everyone at the paper had more cool and swagger than me." Untrue, at least by your published evidence. Your work stood out for its feminist integrity and style. I told Erika Munk, "Best thing you ever did was send Laurie Stone to review Arthur Miller."
“Laurie Stone, the oldest living punk.” Love it.
THIS is why I loved your work: "I want whatever captures my attention to become a subject and to layer my observations with personal associations that are so detailed they create a world the reader can sense. I want to write love letters that produce joy."
The Romano oral history is a joy, chapter by glorious internecine chapter.
I started reading the voice in 1958 or 1959 when I was a high school student in New York and it was cool to hang around in the coffee shops like the Figaro in the Village because maybe you could start a conversation with a girl about something you had read in the Voice.
What a piece!!! All these names I venered and avidly read every week as soon as the Voice came out. For me, French girl coming from Paris, they were the ultimate of New York cool and brilliance! What an experience you had, Laurie. Unforgettable.
Between 1990 and 1992 or so, my goal in life was to move down here and write for the Voice. Living and attending college in Albany, I would buy it every week at Albany's equivalent of a bodega. I did indeed feel like I got to know every one of the writers (and photographers) you mentioned. I would have felt, as I do in so many situations involving hyper-intellectual/educated people, extremely intimidated - exposed as a poseur, essentially - had I somehow found the courage to leave school, move down here, and walk into those offices. I also would have starved, which might have been preferable. Thank you for this.
Just before I started reading your piece, I had placed a yam in the oven. Then I come across your paragraph on Finley. I guess this sort of makes my coming lunch slightly disconcerting, but in a nice way. Here indeed is yet another deliciously memorable column from you. One of my own happiest memories from those days is seeing my Voice cover story on various benches, under arms, and on newsstands: “Brandon Judell on Christopher Street.” One friend passing it by thought I had been murdered. Being on the outer circle of you Voice folks certainly helped me get rid of a few insecurities. Although I did get bashed for this article by a short-lived gay rag that stated that what I did was equal to the “the Jews leading other Jews into the gas chambers.”
Laurie, I love everything about this. I too shared a love affair with the Village Voice, but in my affair, I was the outsider; a modern dancer with a NY City dance company in the late 70s/80s. Many hours were spent in dimly lit cafes on Bleeker street filling notebooks with choreography, preparing for evening rehearsals. At my side, always- a cappuccino and the Village Voice. Deborah Jowitt's words validated my existence, as I was 'emotionally' disowned by family for the 'impractical' life I chose as a dancer, which 'shamefully' included waitressing to sustain a dance co. So the Voice might have been my first love too; and I wouldn't change a thing. xo
this one was great (they're all great)
The oldest living punk! Woo-hoo!
You give so much history of a certain time in American journalism. I read that one American newspaper a week dies a week now…will the smell of ink on newspaper eventually evaporate? Great piece! 🙏✍️👏👏👏
“It was like being on a first date for twenty-five years.” This piece crackles with love and hunger and belief and wit. You make me wish I could have been there. I must read the book. Maybe I’ll also read The Transit of Venus for at least the fourth time.
Thanks, Laurie. So deeply wonderful. Great to read you. I worked for Alex back in the day. I remember your smiling face in the hallways of the VV and talking with you.
I've read you for years and I love this...
Your life has been so charmed! What an incredible gig at the Voice! I wish I had had your courage to tough it out as a writer in NYC. I feared not making any money, but I've always regretted leaving for a cushy job.
A great piece, multi-leveled. You’ve packed in so many levels of thought, feeling, perspective. Both yours as well as other’s. Rock on, oh uncool you. XX