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Finally, Some Positive Energy at the Hotel Chelsea

Where: 222 W 23rd St [map], New York, ny, United States, 10010

We always enjoy news about the Hotel Chelsea that doesn't involve a murder, a peeping Tom, or a hostile takeover.

We popped into the hotel last Friday to tour some of the first-floor rooms that had been transformed into mini-art galleries as part of the PooL Art Fair. Different emerging artists were able to showcase their work in the Chelsea's historic rooms. One lucky artist got to show off their work in the room where Sid Vicious may have killed Nancy. Here's a review from artinfo.com.

There was some quite excellent work here and -- as though to underscore how distant the whole enterprise was from the other fairs -- nobody tried to sell me anything. Come back next year, PooL. You'll be very welcome.

This art fair was put on by the hotel's new management BD Hotels who seems to be trying hard to respect the hotel's bohemian past. (Note: BD Hotels also manages the just-opened Greenwich Hotel, not that we care or anything.)

If you aren't aligning yourself with the new establishment then stop by the Museum of the City of New York tonight. The museum is hosting an evening dedicated to the 125th Anniversary of the Chelsea Hotel. Yes, the hotel is that old. There will be a reading and a panel discussion to commemorate the milestone. The event will also be showing a video interview with beloved former manager Stanley Bard.

Oh and it wasn't completely drama-free during our visit to the hotel. FDNY made a stop in to investigate a hoarding problem by one of the residents. Which is probably as representative of the Chelsea's wild boho spirit as the artwork hanging from the walls.