December 2004 Archives

Ben Jones, proprietor of the gallery Jigsaw, has had a busy year. Having moved to New York from California in December 2003, he found himself needing both a place to live and a source of income. Not being able to find either, the self starter began looking at work / live store fronts. His idea was to open a gallery to promote artists, primarily focusing on independent media, self publishing and affordable art. Within 6 months of Ben's arrival to New York, he had opened Jigsaw.

With its prosthetic limbs, Victorian clothing and taxidermied animals, Obscura is the East Village's worst, best kept secret.

Tucked away on the less frequently traveled East 10th Street is the wickedly beautiful Obscura. It is a shop, part mad scientist, part Norman Bates, that has a tendency to frighten away some of its less adventurous customers. In essence, it is the perfect antithesis of the 'Sex and the City' plague that threatens to gentrify the East Village. Obscura is a place fit for Edgar Allen Poe to call 'home' not Carrie Bradshaw. And its owners, Mike Zohn and Evan Michelson, wouldn't have it any other way.

Fronted by Miss Guy, The Toilet Boys were formed one night in the mid 90's as an opening act for Debby Harry. It was supposed to be a one night gig. Now some 8 years later, having toured with Cher and The Red Hot Chili Peppers, the band goes on. Their song 'Another Day In The Life' found it's way to the American Pie 2 soundtrack and their new album, 'Early Years' has just been released. I recently sat down with the newly brunette and beautiful creature himself, Miss Guy, to discuss breakup rumors, the record industry and the "Archie Bunker" of our generation.