Some individuals go to the Chelsea Lodge as a result of they need to be within the neighborhood of the rooms the place Bob Dylan wrote “Sara,” Sid Vicious stabbed Nancy Spungen, Arthur Miller recovered from his divorce from Marilyn Monroe and Janis Joplin pleasured Leonard Cohen.
However, Taylor Swift followers are flocking to the counterculture landmark as a result of she sings “You’re not Dylan Thomas, I’m not Patti Smith/ This ain’t the Chelsea Lodge/ We’re trendy idiots” on the title monitor of her chart-topping new album, “The Tortured Poets Division.”
Swift’s newest dropped on April 19 in two elements, at midnight and a couple of a.m. Later that morning, a resort staffer mentioned he started to see teams of people that gave the impression to be Swifties descend upon his office — they usually’ve saved coming. (Lodge PR declined to take part on this story or provide any touch upon the phenomenon.)
“I knew I needed to pay some sort of homage to the Chelsea Lodge,” Amanda Rykoff, a 53-year-old Taylor fanatic who works in non-profits, advised The Put up.
Rykoff lives in West Hollywood, Calif., however she simply occurred to have her annual journey to New York deliberate for per week after the album’s launch. There was no query that she would go to the resort, along with heading to Central Park and seeing Billy Joel play at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Throughout her five-night journey, she visited the resort not as soon as, however 3 times, carrying the friendship bracelets she’d collected on the “Eras Tour” live performance in Los Angeles final summer season.
She performed the tune on her AirPods as she walked alongside West twenty third Avenue and made certain to take an image of the resort’s road quantity, 222, on the awning. The numeral 2 has particular significance within the Taylor-verse.
“It’s symbolic, as a result of her album mentions the quantity two all through,” Rykoff defined. “Taylor flashed two when she introduced the album on the Grammys. This was additionally a double album, which was a shock. Lots of the album can be 20/20 hindsight.”
She additionally thrilled at being the primary member of the Gen X Swifties Fb group to put up an image from the resort.
Not everybody shared her pleasure. On her second go to, she had a drink on the Foyer Bar and tried to speak up the lady subsequent to her.
“She mentioned, ‘Oh no, my favourite cocktail spot goes to be overrun by Swifties,’” Rykoff recalled. “I used to be somewhat greatly surprised. I mentioned, ‘I perceive that there are a variety of Swifties, and this may occur, however one factor it’s best to learn about Swifties is we’re an exquisite, heat, welcoming group.’”
Journey brokers who concentrate on NYC are reporting an elevated curiosity within the Chelsea Lodge, which is also called the Lodge Chelsea and the Chelsea.
Brittany Abeyta, a journey advisor who lives in San Diego, Calif., mentioned she’s had 15 inquiries from Swift followers to remain on the storied lodging.
“Earlier than, vacation spot got here first and lodging have been determined later. Now it’s a request to guide on the Chelsea Lodge, and nothing else issues,” she advised The Put up. “I hope the resort is prepared as a result of I’m certain I’m not the one one sending Swifties their approach.”
Native Taylor followers are additionally making the pilgrimage.
Lucy White, a 26-year-old artwork director and artist, lived a block away from the resort for a yr however by no means went inside
Just some days after the brand new album was launched, she lastly checked it out, listening to the “The Tortured Poets Division” on repeat.
“I acquired a scrumptious cappuccino, did a bit of labor, and sketched the within of the cafe,” mentioned White, who now resides within the West Village.
Gregory Little, a millennial who lives in Manhattan, went to the Chelsea the day the album dropped. He shot and edited a social media video of the outside and set it to the tune, which is at present No. 4 on the Billboard “Scorching 100.”
“I attempted to do it in very sluggish movement, just like the aesthetic of the album,” he mentioned. The put up acquired over 500,000 views on Instagram.
“There’s at all times this romance with New York that comes by way of Taylor’s work that, as a New Yorker, I actually get pleasure from,” mentioned Little, who plans to get cocktails on the Foyer Bar quickly.
“Any time we are able to spotlight New York and make it the hero and heart of something, it’s at all times enjoyable.”
