ellenkushner: (MWK cover)
ellenkushner ([personal profile] ellenkushner) wrote2010-07-02 07:09 pm
Entry tags:

books, bikes & Readercon

 I am astonished at how many of you have read the Upfield books - I'd never heard of them til Henry thrust a couple into my bag.  Speaking of which, I was just over to his place (on tony Madison Avenue - and on my old rustbucket of a bike, which to my utter amazement, still runs, despite the winter it spent out in the courtyard - I just need to find some duct tape for the split vinyl on the seat, that's all . . . but had a glorious ride through Riverside & Central Parks!! no, Mom, I'm not riding in NYC traffic - not much, anyway) - and am now the proud borrower of his biography, Follow My Dust! (I'm not making this up, you know!).  1 glance at a random sentence makes it perfectly clear that he did, indeed, write it himself.  It's Alice B. Toklas all over again . . . kind of.

All of which is to say:  Went over to Henry's, signed a bunch more The Man with the Knives chapbooks, most of which are going to Readercon, next weekend to be sold at the Small Beer Press table, because Gavin Grant is a real stand-up guy.  Henry also mentioned that he'd left a stack to be sold on commission at St Marks' Bookshop here in NYC (E.Village), and had either sent some or was about to, to McNally Jackson (SoHo). I think there are about 100 left floating around, if you want one.  I'll be taking a handful with me to Finncon (July 18) & Aussiecon (Sept) - if you'll be at either one, and you want one with your name on it, please let me know to reserve (and schlep) for you.

[identity profile] usullusa.livejournal.com 2010-07-02 11:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Hi Ellen, so I have a completely unrelated question. I was wondering if you had a moment to tell me about your neighborhood. A couple of friends and I are currently actively engaged in apartment hunting and occasionally we run across apartments available on Riverside Drive, but I don't really know much about that area. I know River Dr is generally a nice area, but is there a point where it stops being so nice?
I totally understand if you're too busy, I just don't know a whole lot of people to ask.

-Kat

[identity profile] ellen-kushner.livejournal.com 2010-07-03 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
I'd be happy to talk neighborhoods with you. The critical bit in NYC is not the "Avenue" (the streets that run North/South, including Broadway, Lexington, etc.), but the Cross-streets (mostly the numbered ones): i.e., Riverside Drive at 79th is very posh . . .Riverside Dr (aka RSD) around 135th, not so much. Doesn't mean it's not safe, but it's a totally different neighb.

I'd prefer to take this offline. So email me at my Official edress (Kushner.Ellen and then the gmail dot etc.) and we can talk specifics. LJ-er "rm" is also a very good resource for all this, as she's a lifetime New Yorker.
ext_3751: (English Rose)

[identity profile] phoebesmum.livejournal.com 2010-07-03 12:08 am (UTC)(link)
Heard of them? There was a TV show. (http://www.classicaustraliantv.com/Boney.htm) It was rather lovely, as I remember, though I doubt it would stand the test of time. Few things do.

[identity profile] ellen-kushner.livejournal.com 2010-07-03 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
Ah! That explains a lot.

[identity profile] heartofdavid.livejournal.com 2010-07-03 12:17 am (UTC)(link)
I just visited the St. Mark's Bookshop website and can't find your book, either by author or title. Is it listed there some other way? I'd love to buy a copy.

[identity profile] ellen-kushner.livejournal.com 2010-07-03 12:35 am (UTC)(link)
Then I guess they're not selling it online, just in the store. But you can phone them & ask. They're super-good folks.

[identity profile] heartofdavid.livejournal.com 2010-07-03 12:56 am (UTC)(link)
I will do that, thank you. :)

[identity profile] margdean56.livejournal.com 2010-07-03 01:33 am (UTC)(link)
I discovered the Upfield books on my parents' bookshelf. I like the atmosphere...

bicycle seat

(Anonymous) 2010-07-04 02:31 pm (UTC)(link)
You put duct tape on your bicycle seat and eventually the sticky stuff well get on your pants.

Put a cover over it. I bet they sell them where they sell bikes. Maybe even Wal-Mart.

Re: bicycle seat

[identity profile] ellen-kushner.livejournal.com 2010-07-04 04:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you, Anonymous Wise One!

Tho' we have no Wal-Mart in NYC. We do, however, have little neighborhood bike shops.

[identity profile] jophan.livejournal.com 2010-07-04 05:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Ellen, I'll be at Finncon and I'd love a copy of The Man with the Knives. (I'll be at Aussiecon as well, but it's much easier to bring books home form Finland!)

-Johan