Back to Meatpacking

I dreamed I went back in time, to the Meatpacking District before it was "MePa," before it was a luxury shopping and partying destination. The buildings were all made of brick and covered in graffiti. I had my digital camera and became very excited to take pictures of everything.

There was more, but that's all I can remember. I often have this dream where I go back in time to an older New York City, armed with my digital camera, and I become very anxious, running around trying to get pictures of every detail.

--JM

7th St. Ghost World

My dream starts off with me walking down East 7th Street between 1st and A. It's early evening around Christmas time and they have all those wreaths and lights up, but there are no fancy restaurants or overpriced boutiques. I'm talking to a friend who works at Otherworldly Waxes and then I cross the street. The scene changes and it's summertime and I'm petting the cat that lives at Mikey's Pet Shop. I start to walk back up toward 1st Avenue with the cat following me, then the cat and I cross the street again and we're hanging out with two little kids whose parents own an herb shop (I think it was called Penny's).

I remember that I'm supposed to be at work (at Nemesis--other end of the block), so I leave and start back down the block, but when I get there the store is gone and there is a fancy salon in its place. I have no idea what's going on.

Maybe I'm a ghost living in a ghost world of a long time ago or maybe I'm going crazy. I decide that I didn't want to go to work anyway and I cross the street and walk into the park.

--SS

Chelsea Hotel Bombed

My anxiety dream involved having to hand in my daughter's application for a selective citywide public middle school (I am a cliche) and discovering that the location for the drop-off had secretly been moved from the school to the Chelsea Hotel. But the Chelsea Hotel was bombed just as I rounded the corner, racing to get there before the deadline. I ran into the smoldering rubble holding this envelope with the application in it, and thankfully there were no people at all, even though there was twisted metal everywhere and smoke. I had to find the cardboard box I knew existed, in which to leave this application. I woke up in a sweat.

I think the dream is not only about a changing New York City, but also a changing me. I was once a 22-year-old who lived in a falling-down tenement around the corner from the Chelsea Hotel. Now I am a 44-year-old with a mortgage.

--Anon

Fine Fair

About 6 months ago I had a nightmare. I was walking through rubble that spread from Delancey to Grand and from Essex to about Pitt Street. There was a faint path I walked on, but I was carrying a lot of bags from FINE FAIR. I realized that a huge chunk of my neighborhood was gone. I walked along sobbing and feeling like no one else cared that all this was lost.

--Karen Gehres

McSorley's Bed & Breakfast

I spend a final night sleeping at McSorley's, which is a bed and breakfast, before they dismantle the place to be sold to either McNally or DeLucie. The new owner will be putting the memorabilia back once it's cleaned up, but "it will never be the same." EV Grieve comes in carrying a large quiche. I take pictures of the photos coming down from the walls and weep.

--JM

Loews Village 7

Last night I dreamed they demolished the Loews Village 7 cinema to build a "fashion salon." I was taking pictures of the demolition and overheard an older couple talking. The woman said, "Where are we going to see movies now? Up in the 50s or 60s where we'll be mugged and killed?" I then started weeping inconsolably for the loss of the Loews 7, feeling my movie-going choices taken away.

--JM

Ralph Lauren Pine

Last night I dreamed they opened a Ralph Lauren store on 1st Ave near 3rd--it was called "Ralph Lauren: Pine," decorated for urban lumberjacks with lots of faux trees.

--JM