Early in my career, as a young writer on the rise, I spent a few minutes on the outskirts of the outskirts of the outskirts of that magazine world. Even had my face full-page in Esquire and George (!) but, alas, only a quarter-page in Vanity Fair (so maybe I should take away 2.5 of those "outskirts" nouns in the previous sentence). In my brief moments in that social world, I always made it back to my hotel room in time for ESPN's SportsCenter at 11 pm. And since I don't write anything resembling magazine non-fiction, have never lived in NYC, and 90% of my closest friends are not writers, I was never gonna be part of that elite cultural world. But it fascinated me then and fascinates me now. I was born and raised in a very specific tribe, the Spokane Indians on the Spokane Indian Reservation, and so I was delighted to witness some of the cultural practices of that specific tribe. One of things their tribe had in common with mine? So much booze, so much booze.
Oscar Wilde’s fizzy social comedies hid a radically queer subtext, and Dorothy Parker cracked wise in order to conceal an abyssal melancholy- no I don’t think the interpretation of Wilde as hiding a radically queer subtext make much sense.He feasted with panthers. Dorthy Parker didn’t conceal anything except maybe the queerness of her husband. Her melancholy is quite open. She was perceptive enough to see the pain and humor in it
The Waverly Inn was not a non descript pub before Carter bought it. It was actually a rather expensive, fairly high end restaurant that was well regarded but not especially fashionable.Carter turned into a seen and must be seen place.
Are you his publicist? I don’t think anybody—truly, not even one person—in the literary world has ever considered it a place that one has to go to in order to be seen.
Martin Amis, the author, did mention the Waverly Inn in New York City in his writing, specifically in a review he wrote for The New York Times. He praised the restaurant's ability to maintain a vintage atmosphere from the 1920s while feeling modern, and he also liked the garden area. The restaurant, Ye Waverly Inn, was located at 5 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10014.
Apr 12, 2024 — Rushdie, 76, arrived in the Waverly Inn's garden, friends and fellow writers hugged him. He wore a pink shirt, a blazer and a pair of eyeglasses ...
Hilarious that you think quoting Martin Amis gives you credibility or knowledge. (Also, “Martin Amis, the writer”? A little patronizing, no? Do you think there is even one reader of any substack who doesn’t know who Martin Amis is/was?)
Early in my career, as a young writer on the rise, I spent a few minutes on the outskirts of the outskirts of the outskirts of that magazine world. Even had my face full-page in Esquire and George (!) but, alas, only a quarter-page in Vanity Fair (so maybe I should take away 2.5 of those "outskirts" nouns in the previous sentence). In my brief moments in that social world, I always made it back to my hotel room in time for ESPN's SportsCenter at 11 pm. And since I don't write anything resembling magazine non-fiction, have never lived in NYC, and 90% of my closest friends are not writers, I was never gonna be part of that elite cultural world. But it fascinated me then and fascinates me now. I was born and raised in a very specific tribe, the Spokane Indians on the Spokane Indian Reservation, and so I was delighted to witness some of the cultural practices of that specific tribe. One of things their tribe had in common with mine? So much booze, so much booze.
Nicely put. Worth remarking that you've proven more durable than that particular world, at least that iteration of it.
I am an old horse clopping along!
“In the end, one is forced to assess him as a capable mediocrity.”
That’s unfair—he’s an EXTREMELY capable mediocrity.
Experiencing a similar addiction, and a similar increasing appreciation for Tina relative to her peers. Astute, enjoyable piece.
Have you ever seen this old salon article of reactions to her leaving TNY? Some amazing quotes within.
https://web.archive.org/web/20101201234651/http://www.salon.com/media/1998/07/09media.html
Nicholson Baker! Oh my. I had not this is fantastic thank you
Oscar Wilde’s fizzy social comedies hid a radically queer subtext, and Dorothy Parker cracked wise in order to conceal an abyssal melancholy- no I don’t think the interpretation of Wilde as hiding a radically queer subtext make much sense.He feasted with panthers. Dorthy Parker didn’t conceal anything except maybe the queerness of her husband. Her melancholy is quite open. She was perceptive enough to see the pain and humor in it
-Razors pain you;
Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you;
And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren’t lawful;
Nooses give;
Gas smells awful;
You might as well live.
That’s not concealment.
Ja well, but what does Bacon has to do with it?
The Waverly Inn was not a non descript pub before Carter bought it. It was actually a rather expensive, fairly high end restaurant that was well regarded but not especially fashionable.Carter turned into a seen and must be seen place.
Are you his publicist? I don’t think anybody—truly, not even one person—in the literary world has ever considered it a place that one has to go to in order to be seen.
Well if you say so!
Martin Amis, the author, did mention the Waverly Inn in New York City in his writing, specifically in a review he wrote for The New York Times. He praised the restaurant's ability to maintain a vintage atmosphere from the 1920s while feeling modern, and he also liked the garden area. The restaurant, Ye Waverly Inn, was located at 5 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10014.
Apr 12, 2024 — Rushdie, 76, arrived in the Waverly Inn's garden, friends and fellow writers hugged him. He wore a pink shirt, a blazer and a pair of eyeglasses ...
Hilarious that you think quoting Martin Amis gives you credibility or knowledge. (Also, “Martin Amis, the writer”? A little patronizing, no? Do you think there is even one reader of any substack who doesn’t know who Martin Amis is/was?)
These are quotes from The New York Times.What is it you’re so angry about?
I hate stupidity disguised as knowingness.
Me too!
Masterfully written. Thanks.
Graydon was the perfect editor for the NY Observer. He really made it shine.
How funny. I’m halfway through the Carter book and feeling the same. The Tina Brown book is wonderful and Carter such a disappointment.