You Were A Little-Read Blogger And I Just A Rockette

I ended my college radio show with this song, so it feels right to do the same here, at least for the time being. You know, to make it my calling card.

Farewell, Ed Koch

As someone born in 1983, I obviously don't remember anything about Ed Koch's 12 years as New York's mayor. By the time he left office, I was six years old and my family had decamped to the suburbs. Nevertheless, I've found his death last week to be quite affecting. As many have written, he was a true representation of the city -- opinionated, outspoken, ethnic and accomplished, with his personality intertwined in all of those accomplishments. Much of the Times' appraisal of Koch's time as mayor describes it as a mixed success. He stopped the city from sliding deeper into irrelevance in the immediate aftermath of its near bankruptcy, led a huge charge on housing, and promoted equal treatment of gay city workers, but he wasn't much of a visionary, the paper wrote. He loved the city very deeply, which may be what a mayor needs more than any other quality to succeed. (It's probably what has kept Tom Menino as Boston's mayor for the past two decades.)

What I find most memorable about Koch's death is that he was the last mayor of New York when the city was still a wayward, slightly scary place. The Times' obituary mentions an idea Koch had to stop graffiti on the subway cars. No one would ever dare do such a thing now. In the early 21st century, New York's path as the wealthiest, most exciting city in the country is very secure, even if local conservative pundits suggest otherwise as they object to electing a Democrat in this year's election. But the idea that New York would return to such a pinnacle was far-fetched in the early '80s. Crime was high, streets were dirty, jobs weren't abundant, disinvestment was rampant, the Bronx was bombed out. If I'd told you in 1989 that I'd go to Bushwick for a weekend of recording music (as I did recently), because that's where all the cool kids live now, you'd look at me like I was absolutely crazy. But it's as natural as downing a glass of artisanal whiskey with a plate of locally raised duck terrine.

Maybe David Dinkins, Koch's successor, who's still alive, is the last link to this era. Crown Heights rioted when he was mayor. But there's a real passing of an era with Koch's death.

Laid On Your Back

In the midst of this weekend's monumental snowstorm, I watched "(500) Days of Summer," a satisfactory romantic comedy that tries a bit too hard to be quirky and self-aware. My favorite moment came in an opening scene, when, to establish the beautiful indie charm of the female lead, played by Zooey Deschanel, the narrator said that she quoted Belle and Sebastian's album "The Boy with the Arab Strap" in her high school yearbook notes. And so did I. I had to rewind the scene to be sure I heard correctly! Whereas Deschanel's character took from the title track -- "Color my life with the chaos of trouble" -- I excerpted "Sleep the Clock Around" -- "There's a lot to be done while your head is still young." I still find this line inspiring. Unlike Deschanel's character, my public display of affection for this album didn't lead to a spike in regional sales.

From browsing reviews of the move, I learned the meaning of "Manic Pixie Dream Girl." (Zooey Deschanel is apparently one of the archetypes, particularly in "(500) Days of Summer.") A film critic coined the term in the Onion: "That bubbly, shallow cinematic creature that exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures." This is very funny, mainly because this is exactly the sort of woman I wanted to meet when I was 19 years old -- I had confused myself into thinking I was a "broodingly soulful" young man. It's probably why I liked "Grosse Pointe Blank" and "Good Will Hunting" so much, though that discredits Minnie Driver's fine acting and the writing in both movies. She was an ambitious, intelligent woman in both roles, unlike the stereotype, who is much less driven, as Deschanel's character was. The male leads, played by John Cusack and Matt Damon, sure were needlessly lost in their own thoughts, though, which is probably why I liked them so much. Luckily, that period is over.

Above is the trailer to "(500) Days of Summer." Thanks to Belle and Sebastian for the post's title. It's part of a lyric from the title song of "The Boy with the Arab Strap."