NEW YORK Andy Warhol moved to New Yorkfrom his native Pittsburghin 1949 and before long became one of the Big Apple’s most iconic citizens,advertising the city’s grittily experimental sensibility to the world throughworks like “Empire” and “Chelsea Girls.” He was also head over heels in lovewith New York, and now it’s possible to view the city through his eyes — justin time for what would have been his 83rd birthday, on August 6 — with”Andy Warhol’s New York City: Four Walks Uptown to Downtown,” a newbook by Thomas Kiedrowski that traces the artist footsteps across 80 sites hedoted on. Some are no longer inexistence (others are never-realized), but most are still around — meaning that you can pretend to be part ofthe Factory gang, meandering around Manhattan with Andy to lunch at the Odeonin Tribeca, shop at Bloomingdale’s, and attend openings at the Upper EastSide’s Leo Castelli gallery.
The beginnings of the book came about when friends askedKiedrowski what he wanted to do during his first visit to New York. Unlike most tourists, he didn’twant to check out Times Square or see theStatue of Liberty. Instead, he pulled out a piece of paper containing a list ofaddresses of buildings having to do with the Pop artist: the Silver Factory on East 47th Street,the White Factory at Union Square,and the townhouse on the Upper East Side whereWarhol lived with his mother. Kiedrowski eventually moved to NewYork, continuing to map out Andy’s New York, and making a career out of hisobsession by offering tours to Warhol sites in the city.
Warhol enthusiasts can choose from four walks: Upper EastSide Above East 70th Street, Upper East Side From East 57th Street to East 68th Street,Midtown, and Downtown. Full of photographs from Warhol’s life that map importantevents in the city, from the opening of Paraphernalia (a boutique where BetseyJohnson got her start) to a group shot of the crowd outside Max’s Kansas City,the book also includes helpful illustrations commissioned from Vito Giallo,Warhol’s former assistant.
So, this weekend, grab a copy of the pocket-sized guidebookand say a prayer at the Churchof St. Vincent Ferrer on East 66th Street,where Warhol worshiped during the last 13 years of his life,wholesale Ed hardy sunglasses, or stop by thesite of the Open Stage on St. MarksPlace, and imagine the first time Warholintroduced the Velvet Underground. (Since you’ll be in the neighborhood, you can also check out Rob Pruitt’s silvered Warhol sculpture in Union Square.) Finally, have a silent moment when visiting New York Hospitalon 68th Street,where the New Yorklegend was pronounced dead on February 22, 1987.
To see a slide show of significant Warhol sites around New York, click here.
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