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You Can Finally Swim Over Andy Warhol's Face at Thompson LES

Where: 190 Allen St [map], New York, NY, United States, 10002-1418

One thing you can't accuse the Thompson LES is moving quickly. After we watched and waited in agony as delays just kept coming, we were happy enough just to see the hotel open, let alone the bits around it.

But we were understandably pretty hyped about the Andy Warhol pics on the bottom of the Thompson LES swimming pool. After a promise of an October 2008 start to the Warhol swim season, we saw Andy's images finally appearing in November but there was still no water. But who needs to swim in November, right?

The important thing is this: summer's approaching, and the Andy Warhol pool looks ready — though not open just yet. The photos you'll swim over are film stills taken from Gerard Malanga's "Andy Warhol: Portraits of the Artist as a Young Man" and we really love the whole idea. Staring at art on walls is so time-consuming; better that we can swim over the top of it to get a good look.

We called the hotel this morning and were told that the pool will finally open at the end of May or early June, depending on the weather. If you think you'll be in the mood for a swim around then, we found Queen Superior rooms for $205 in the first weeks of June. Pack your swimming goggles to get the best view of Warhol.

[Photo: NY Times]