The large red sign with white letters, placed prominently just to the right, positioned almost as a challenge to this dump and its famous denizens and inmates.

BALABANIS TAILOR BY ALEXANDER J MOTYL 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 13

The names on the plaques—

embossed, in bronze, and glossy,

and placed prominently to the left

and to the right of the entrance,

and declaring proudly to the world or,

in any case, to anyone who can

afford Hotel Chelsea room rates,

that they were literary personae,

important men of letters,

who c…