Finally took an hour to hop on a downtown subway to 34th street to check out the legendary Chelsea Hotel (www.hotelchelsea.com) and surrounds on this trip. Hmmmm.... bit of a dive alright, albeit a totally famous and interesting one. Curious that Joseph O'Neill lived there with his whole family while writing "Netherland" - can that be true I wonder? Had to go to the nearest Starbuck's, ironically enough, to mull it over a bit.
