Scene @ Black and White Gorilla Fun Castle

By Ethan 


Former High Times publisher Mike Edison celebrated the release of his new book, I Have Fun Everywhere I Go: Savage Tales of Pot, Porn, Punk Rock, Pro Wrestling, Talking Apes, Evil Bosses, Dirty Blues, American Heroes, and the Most Notorious Magazines in the World (Faber and Faber) last Thursday at the Black and White bar in NYC’s East Village.
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The night was as long as his subtitle, made longer by the appearance of a New York City health inspector who decided to make his report just as the party got hopping, which in turn prevented the swift delivery of delicious White Castle burgers to the crowd (the very same burgers Edison risked his life for in Bed Stuy years ago).

At least the inspector didn’t stop the fun, the free New Castle Ale from flowing, or Edison’s lawyer from dressing up in a gorilla suit and working the room. eric and signe.JPG
In the crowd of musicians, literati, and pornographers were former professional wrestler Handsome Dick Manitoba; Dean Wareham, author of Black Postcards, A Rock & Roll Romance; John Reed, author of the upcoming All The World’s a Grave (a new Shakespeare play); as well as Eric Liebetrau from Kirkus with his girlfriend from Plume editorial, Signe Pike.

White Castledom ensues, Edison performs, and an Olsen twin sighting after the jump.


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Once the inspector left, the White Castle burgers (which Edison calls “poetry written grease”) made the rounds and Edison stepped up to the mike to perform “Pornography, Part I” (NSF) accompanied by a drum track and his temperamental keyboard (unfortunatley, Edison didn’t bust out his Bong Guitar, aka: the ChroniCaster featured in this youtube video).
The song is also featured on his spoken word album just out from Interstellar Roadhouse
and produced by Jon Spencer.
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Tuckered out from too many book parties last week and ramping up to help drive my sister back from school in Minneapolis, I took off after a few hours. However, according to Kathy Daneman, Edison’s Publicity Manager from Farrar, Straus & Giroux:

after the party petered out, four black SUVs rolled up to Black and White and out came the more boho Olsen twin and her security detail. When Mike tried to give her a book, she ducked her head under the table.

Maybe he should have offered her a White Castle.

BTW: for those young readers out there, this is what’s called a “45”
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