We emerged from the subway a bit on the early side, so before visiting the Angel Orensanz Center, Tom and I took a brief constitutional around the Lower East Side. Tom was rather unfamiliar with the neighborhood, so it was interesting to hear his take on things. I think people tend to romanticize the area because it was the historical crucible of America's melting pot dreams and tend not to realize how down-and-out the streets can be. (Obviously, the streets today are dirty in a different sort of way.)
Tom pointed out that this is a famous matzo factory, which I did not know. (Can you find Waldo and Waldette in this picture?)
Exterior of a school near the Angel Orensanz Center.
At the appointed hour, Tom and I cautiously approached the Orensanz building.
The space was like a carnival - total chaos. We let ourselves in to the building, and wandered in silence for a while. A big ("videotaped") event had taken place the night before, and empty beer bottles, coffee cups, rose petals, and break-down crew littered the space. A pay phone near the door rang continuously.
In its former life as a synagogue, there was no doubt that this place was supernaturally beautiful. But there was an overwhelming sense of melancholy, and we gave pause as we read the names of forgotten congregation members on a wall plaque. It was hard to reconcile a synagogue with a good time party space.
We slipped out quietly, without having said a word to anyone in the building. We chatted about our sadness for the current state of the building as we made our way to the Tenement Museum to grab respite from the cold. Tom suggested that, were we to hold our wedding there, we could give tetanus shots as favors.
An hour later and on our way to Tribeca Cinemas, the Orensanz Center called. Maybe we had showed up at 11 for our appointment and they had missed us? Perhaps those walls could talk...
1 comment:
Hold out! It will all come together.
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