So the secret's out. Pizzazz of The Misfits and Jem of Jem and the Holograms were in town this week to record their sexy new charity single, "69". I called in a few favors and was invited to tag along on their video shoot/photo session at Pier 54.











I personally always thought their whole "rivalry" thing was just a trumped-up record company fabrication (at least, exaggeration) for sales and press...but I promise you, it is 100% for real. Though they've gotten together for plenty of "cross-over" singles and charity benefits in the past, as you can see here it does not take long (or much) for them to get right back to their old tricks.









Fortunately for all involved, after a couple hours of stewing...





...they're both able to pull it together in time to finish the shoot...





...and even to end the day as friends...maybe.

Vintry Fine Wines, Battery Park City.

Lucy Woodward, the Studio at Webster Hall.

Even after all these years, I still get lost in the Village way more often than I care to admit. It's stuff like this that's why.

Times Square.

Fun at Lincoln Center.

Another wedge building in the Village, this one on 7th Ave., looking down Greenwich Ave. (right) and W.11th (left).

The disco ball at VYNL, which I thought was that other place when I picked it.

"you're good! it's ok. high five amigo!"

I took this on the corner of Varick and Spring St. in Soho (you can see City Winery in the background through the break in the steam). I loved the steam pouring out onto the wet street, and how the car headlights looked as they plowed through it. I was pointing my camera to take the shot when suddenly the doorman from the hotel on the corner walked right in front of me to hail a cab. I kept waiting for him to move, but he wouldn't, so I just took the picture anyway. The guy on the bike and the woman with the blue umbrella were happy accidents.

This is right off Bleecker at the branch of Mulberry and Lafayette, of course. I'm always amazed that anything can exist in this space, let alone a food counter.

Just a parking garage off of 7th Ave. Sort of a companion to the last picture, I guess.

I still get lost in the West Village, all the time. The streets are laid out in a grid, basically, only they seem to be at about four different angles and all smashed together. I kind of like the way that the Avenues, honey badger-like, just barrel straight through on their way regardless, making all these distinctly-NYC wedge-shaped buildings that I like so much. I am standing at Perry St. at the same time looking up both Waverly and 7th Ave., one light, one dark.

View of Battery Park City from the back of Pier 40. The Freedom Tower looks really shiny.

Brooklyn Heights, across the river.