Fantasy Hoods
From low-rent apartments to cheap shots at 'The Anus'
And the best place to live in 2006 was… Colorado, Springs, CO? Apparently snow and fresh air appeal to certain U.S. social circles—at least when polled by CNN. Other conventional factors including climate, absence of crime and cost-of-living earned points too in garnering a most-desirable-metropolis mention. But do they earn their must-have criteria in psychopedia’s circle?
While some claim you can’t beat living in a crime-free, tree-lined world, others list access to a world-class pirate museum, good jaegersnitzel, and proximity to McManus as golden tickets to any dream city. Even a yet-to-be-named locale got an honorable mention. Below, a sampling from some cool kids on the block on their fantasy hoods to live in and why. Sorry, Colorado. You didn’t make this list.
Baby Dayliner: Musician, Performer and DJ
Fantasy hood? I live there already. Park Slope, Brooklyn right off the 7th Avenue subway stop. There are so many shops and bodegas handy, Russo’s for quality Italian foods, Kiku for sushi, Bird for gifts and at least seven barber shops I can think of. And hands down, Park Slope is one of the safest neighborhoods in Brooklyn, if not the safest in all of NYC. It’s not any more or less expensive than living in Williamsburg or Greenpoint, and it’s 100 times more attractive.
Hesta Prynn, PhD: MC in Northern State
(Their third record, out in mid ’07, was produced by Chuck Brody from Shitake Monkey and Adrock from the Beastie Boys.)
My Fantasy Hood would be living as close as possible to McManus Pub, aka "The Anus" on 18th and 7th. This is my fave dive bar because it has our second record in the jukebox and Horatio Sanz is there every single night. The beers are cheap as shit and they do buy-backs on every third drink half the time. You can even order the McManus lager, but do NOT accidentally call it "The Anus Lager" as a very drunk Chuck Brody was ill-fated to do one night and was sorely reprimanded.”
Cynthia Leung: Creative Director, Dear Reader
Berlin is always on my mind because it's got one thing that New York doesn't: TIME. That and leisurely multi-course breakfasts (on weekdays!) and cheap, big, beautiful apartments. I frequently fantasize about eating jaegerschnitzel at Café Jolesch in Kreuzberg (breaded veal cutlets with mushroom sauce), then heading to the co-ed saunas. I guess the only gross thing is that it's legal for your dog to poop on the streets and move on. But since there's so much time to read books in Berlin, you wouldn't have to leave your high-beauty/low-rent apartment to see that...
Café Jolesh
Marissa Walsh: author of Girl with Glasses: My Optic History and co-author of Tipsy in Madras
Funny that my fave city is definitely not New York—and I live there. It’s Salem, Massachusetts, which has everything: a cute, moderately-priced vintage clothing store called Modern Millie; a used record store; a pirate museum; two indie bookstores; homemade ice cream; a zine (!) store; and a statue of Samantha from Bewitched. There’s even an old-fashioned park on the water where you can play Ms. Pac-Man and Skee-ball and then redeem your 40 tickets for a plastic flower ring and Dum-Dum lollipop… I also wrote the bulk of my next novel in the Salem Public Library so you can say I’m attached.
Feed Your Head Books, New England Pirate Museum, Puleo's Dairy, myspace.com/marissawalsh
Frenel Morris: Owner and Designer, Still Life NYC
Does this place have to be real? My fantasy place to live would have free housing, free energy and would be totally self-sufficient, off the grid, and eco-friendly. Everyone would be responsible for creating at least one piece of art everyday and I'd probably start a new currency system too. Obviously I haven’t worked out all the details yet so the Lower East Side will have to do for now. Besides, where else can you live for over 14 years and not know the language...keep Loisaida alive, please.
And one token non-New Yorker:
Jacqui Demkiw: designer White Suede
I absolutely adore the tiny location of Seminyak on the island of Bali in Indonesia. There is an amazing bar/restaurant called Ku DE TA where you can have the most amazing cocktails. It’s located right on the beach but has some amazing stores surrounding it with both local and international designers. I love sourcing new fabrics, designing and gaining inspiration whilst spending time in an open-plan villa (my favorite villa at the moment is Kembali) and visiting the beach. It definitely feels like my home away from Melbourne, Australia.
www.kudeta.net
www.kembalivilla.com
-Carrie Rosten
Author of Chloe Leiberman (Sometimes Wong)
