West Village model Karen Rempel waits for Mick Jagger on St. Mark’s Place. He’s late. Photos by Philip Maier.
This corner is obviously the coolest spot in New York City! I’m sitting by a graffiti’d doorway at the corner of St. Mark’s Place and Avenue A.
It looks like the bar might be deserted, but if you peek through the window, there’s a guy chowing down on tacos. Classic rock (the Rolling Stones’ Can’t You Hear Me Knocking) is pouring through the open windows and the wooden tables are suitably ringed with draught beer marks.
The bar is called Empellón Al Pastor, across the street from Tompkins Square Park. According to journalist Ada Calhoun of the Guardian (writing in 2015, but I think it holds true to this day), the coolest street in the country is St. Mark’s Place in the East Village, which stretches for three blocks from 3rd Avenue to the park. Shh!! Don’t tell anyone.
In fact, across the street is a “secret” speakeasy called Please Don’t Tell. To get in, you have to call from a payphone inside Crif Dogs, the subterranean hot-dog stand next door. More famously, Debbie Harry lived across the street, and Led Zeppelin shot their Physical Graffiti album cover on the block, a few doors down from the bar, at 96 and 98 St. Mark’s Place.
My dream boyfriend, Mick Jagger, sat on a stoop on this block in the Stones’ Waiting on a Friend music video. Keith Richards swaggered through crowds on the sidewalk to meet him there, and they monkeyed up the street to St. Mark’s Bar and Grill (now stripped of history and called Bar Lula). Ronnie Wood was already inside (smoking a cigarette with another stuck behind his ear—remember smoking?). The bartender was ready with a beer for Keef, and Charlie and Bill were joking around a few stools away. After a few swigs they all went to the back of the bar and picked up their instruments to play. This song was one of the biggest hits on Tattoo You, in 1981. This great Wikipedia article shares Mick’s story about how Sonny Rollins played sax on the track, to their delight and surprise.
Tattoo You is my favorite Stones album of all time, maybe because it came out in real time for me. I turned 16 that year, a few months after the album was released. A girlfriend I worked with at Wendy’s on Kingsway in Burnaby (a suburb of Vancouver) gave me Tattoo You for Christmas that year. Here’s the cover of my vintage vinyl:
You can see the Canadian maple leaf symbol on the back of the album! I have literally listened to this album hundreds of times in the four decades since then. When I was a teenager dreaming about Mick in my basement room, I had no idea I’d one day be doing a photo shoot on the same block that the Stones sauntered down while they recorded their first ever video single for the emerging music channel called MTV. Wow! I could kiss the ground… If only I could time travel back to that day…
This is the wonderous thing about New York. No matter what block you’re on, and how ordinary it might look, the history of ideas, people, and events is steeped into the asphalt and bricks, waiting on you.
This article was first published by The Village Sun.
Style Notes
Although this story ended up being about the Rolling Stones, I hand-painted these boots to perform Life on Mars at the National Arts Club, in full Bowie costume! I bought the coat because it reminded me of Bowie’s outrageous “Tokyo Pop” vinyl bodysuit (designed by Kensai Yamamoto for the Aladdin Sane tour in 1973), which was displayed on the cover of Time Magazine right after Bowie died, in January 2016.
- Vintage Donna Karan metallic silver brocade tuxedo coat. Rare Donna Karan storage sale, next to Urban Zen at 705 Greenwich Street.
- Black felt 1960s-style hat by The Hat Box, Union Made, with black leather bow. Honeymoon Antiques, 208 E. 6th Street.
- Bianco black polished cotton skinny jeans. Veriazioni, now at 338 Bleecker Street.
- Hand-painted Top Shop platform boots with cream and black “brogue” pattern and purple heels. The Bay, Vancouver, BC.
- Silver star earrings with tiny rhinestones. Starlin New York, 206 E. 6th Street.
Loved your pensive and longing expression, Karen. And as usual your fashion sense is wonderful —
the black hat really did it for me. Thanks so much for another reminder of the great city we live in!
Thanks, Lew! So good to hear from you!
Your blog piece evokes a whole spirit and time—just love it–and the video!
Also fabulous photo by Philip Maier: wistful, poignant, longing for another era (or for that element of “cool” that links many eras).’ And a great ending to your piece–needs a special spotlight:
“This is the wonderous thing about New York. No matter what block you’re on, and how ordinary it might look, a history of ideas, people and events is steeped into the asphalt and bricks, waiting to pounce on you”
Hi Pat, isn’t that video wonderful!? Your description of the photo is marvellous — that’s totally what I was feeling! And the feeling I get from the streets of New York is so palpable that it hit me the very moment I first set foot on New York soil at La Guardia. It struck me like a force as I walked around Manhattan on my first trip here in 2014. There’s a feeling of a warm embrace emanating from the bricks! Maybe it’s the energy of all the amazing people who are here now, mingled with the trace energy of all the folks leading back generations and even centuries.
Karen,
Your best column yet (although I feel that way with every new column). And YES to Timothy’s hint about a book.
Keep exploring the Village and its magnificent legacy. Keep presenting this column. Keep being you!
Mrs. Reno
Dear Mrs. Reno, thanks for your encouragement on all fronts! You continue to inspire me with your unique style. I do feel this is my favorite column so far! But like you, I often feel that way. 🙂
Ahhhh, the Rolling Stones… they were the rock and roll christening of my music listening ears! Thanks for the memories Karen…
I can well imagine the wild times you had listening to the Stones in your younger years. And perhaps to this day! 🙂
Loved this photo shoot and your description really brings the scene to life!
Keep up the creative work Karen!
Thanks, Karin! It’s so great to hear from you and I appreciate the encouragement!
Fabulous as always! Diva of the Village!
Thanks, Dorothy. This means a lot, coming from a Dozen Divas! I’m looking forward to your next show at the Triad Theater on April 22!
…❢✭StaRT me UP!!!➤➜❥❀✿lOVvvvvvvvvE iT!!!!…❀✿´✱✿ ♥➜❥.One oF my aLLLL timE FAVeSt Karen*S QuiRky sTyle Pages everrrrrrrrr!!!…❢✭➤➜❥❀✿…❀✿´✱✿ ♥➜❥.the Top seKret info— history,,, the KillEr looks! … the worx……❢✭➤➜❥❀✿…❀✿´✱✿ ♥➜❥.
Thanks, Suzanne! I remember sneaking in underage to a local disco and dancing to Start Me Up. What a blast!!
The Rolling Stones are overrated that’s why their careers Faded Away (NOT). Time to change outfits and write about Bojangles!
LOL! You’re inspiring me for my next column!! Thanks, John.
I really loved this “fantasy reminiscence in a kwirky style with fashion photos in a New York kind of way.” …I see it as your Artist’s Way. I hope your keeping all these articles for your (pretty-soon-to-be-released) BOOK: KYR does NYC in Kwirky Style.
Thanks, Tim! Now there’s an idea!! Love it! 🙂