May 14, 2011
Okay, last Sunday’s post was a little bit of a fiddle. Meaning the end wasn’t what really happened. If you don’t remember or haven’t read that post here it is: Last Sunday’s post. I left everyone hanging and wondering why the mysterious East Village Chillmaster of East Third Street’s window was closed, when he’s usually got it open to reveal a legendary coffee table of knives, a chess set and a nice display of liquor bottles. And of course blaring out of those windows is classic soul music.
What really happened is he was trying to sleep and heard Kate and I outside and wanted to know what the hell was going on. I explained I had read about him on the EV Grieve blog and he was amazed that he had been written up on the internet and that people had left comments about him. He had to go to bed early, but we made a date to meet the following Friday night and chill. And that night is tonight! I’m meeting Kate from One More Folded Sunset and then we’re off to meet the Chillmaster!
And here's the subway, off we go to the land of chills and soul music. I can't wait!
I've just met Kate and she's a little camera-shy tonight, so she's staying out of the photos. But it's good to have her along, this is quite an adventure!
And, whoomp! There he is, The Chillmaster himself! The soul music is blaring and he's chilling out on his chiller easy chair.
He welcomes Kate and I into the Inner Chill Sanctum!
And it's not polite to show up empty-handed, Kate and I brought a bottle of Hennessy as a chill offering. Here I am with the man himself, The Chillmaster! Let the good times roll!
I placed the bottle on the legendary chill coffee table alongside his liquor bottle presentation, state of the art knives and a chess set. Oh and there's a picture of President Obama smoking a blunt. Hilarious!
The view from the inside. Nice!
Here's the state-of-the-art sound system that outputs The Chillmasters sweet soul music. Great set up!
Hennessy is poured...
And with a quick snap of The Chillmaster's thumb, the music begins along with the chill night.
Let the chilling begin!
I output a poster of the original EV Grieve post that inspired this whole evening.
The Chillmaster loved all the comments from everyone. He had no idea he had such a following!
Who's the man?
EV Grieve's the man! The Chillmaster sends his love to you and all the EV Grieve community!
The Chillmaster loved Gumby!
And he even let him have a seat on the Chillmaster Chill Easy Chair. This chair vibrates and has a heat control!
The Chillmaster demonstrates the fine art of chilling. He is the master!
Wow, he's really chilling now! I think it's time to call it a night! If you'd like to contact The Chillmaster, here's his email: hwchillmaster@gmail.com.
The Chillmaster
I first read about the Chillmaster at the wonderful New York City blog, EV Grieve. Here’s the post: Chillmaster post at EV Grieve.
I loved all the comments and was intrigued by a man who’s life seemingly revolved around an open window, a cocktail, sweet soul music and the occasional catcall to women walking by. I doubt I’d ever be able to live that kind of life, but wanted to observe someone who was living a chill dream. And last night I was able to fulfill that wish. And the Chillmaster did not disappoint. We had a great time.
Hennessy was poured, soul music blared, we laughed and laughed and in between, we chilled the fuck out. He told me his real name but I prefer to think of him as The Chillmaster. He’s retired and has been in his Chillmaster pad for the last eight years. He grew up in Harlem and was telling Kate and I stories about his parents and at one point said, “My daddy was a rolling stone,” and then I shouted out, “Papa Was A Rolling Stone!”
“You want to hear that?” The Chillmaster shot back.
“Fuck yes,” I answered.
Within minutes the classic song, “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” was blaring out of his speakers louder than I had ever heard it. The three of us grooved to the music, drank and chilled. Pure heaven!
The Chillmaster is a legend on the block and as you sit inside of his chill lair, it’s fun to watch the world go by. The soul music wafts out to the people on parade on the sidewalk and they look in, smile and wave and give a thumbs up in appreciation. There’s not too many places where you can check your nerves and worries at the door, but there is one place on East Third street, near Avenue A where they can be checked and then a drink is poured, classic soul music happens and you chill right the fuck out. I can’t wait to go back.
To the Chillmaster!
Further reading: EV Grieve, Urban Dictionary, antimoon and One More Folded Sunset.
You might also like: Soul Food, Filet of Sole and Rubber Soul.
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43 Comments
Reader Comments (43)
Goddamn! I want to be that guy! Great photos and post! A classic for sure! To the Chillmaster!
A GREAT post today!
To life and Sweet Soul Music!
I raise my glass TO THE CHILLMASTER!
What!???? I can't believe you got to meet him and chill with him! WOW!!! This is breaking news. I hope you let EVGrieve know so he can hook you up with a link to this post and everything. AWESOME!!!!
Epic. A glimpse of life on the other side of the looking glass.
@Barfly: To the Chillmaster!
@"Boris:" I'm raising my glass too! To Sweet Soul Music and to The Chllmaster!
@Roger_Paw: It was an epic night and I'm going back! Too much fun! And yes, I've alerted EV Grieve!
@csp: Exactly!
What a night - maybe the chillest ever! Nothing cooler than sitting on the other side of the window, with the music blasting, plenty of Hennessy & beer, & Marty & The Chillmaster, who know the true art of after dark living! Thanks, guys!
@onemorefoldedsunset: Thanks for coming along! An epic night out with The Chillmaster!
TO : The Chillmaster !!!
Marty, I put up a few pictures!
Yo, yo, Yo......lay chilly Marty dude, great post! 'Keep The Customer Satisfied' is my favorite Wilson Pickett tune of all time (and at times, my life story put to music I sometimes think)and it's what you do for everybody that follows this blog, and I'm delighted that you featured Wilson Pickett in today's post! Nothing like a snifter of Hennessy's enjoyed with a good friend.
@JHwang: To The Chillmaster!
@onemorefoldedsunset: Great photos! I just left a comment. Everybody should check out Kate's photos from the evening here:
http://onemorefoldedsunset.blogspot.com/
Hennessy..... damn. And I wouldn't mind him whistling my flat ass "D........
Props to CM for recognising what a great site he has to chill. First thing I noticed, the window sill, it's not all cluttered up with junk. More often than not I see a street-level window with a great view and it's stacked all the way up with newspapers, books, plush animals or sixty-seven varieties of junk-store vases with dead flower arrangements. Or it's covered up with a poster, a blanket or a bookcase because the owner is ashamed that passers-by looking in will see they're living in a rubbish bin. Spent more money on furnishings than many of us make in a year and the place looks like inside a dumpster.......
Money offers no clue to if you know how to live.....
@lzzrdgrrl: Good to hear from you, it's been a while. And you're right, it's cool the way he keeps his place. I like his display of liquor bottles on the coffee table!
i love mr. chillmaster! i hope you go back soon! great post today!
The Chillmaster is a super cool dude and knows how to relax. Hennessy is always a great drink to chill and soul music,,,fantastic,,,wish I could of been there but you took us for the ride,,,thanks. I think the Chillmaster should be invited up to Glen's Neutral Corner bar in Times Square because the place plays all soul and classic Stax records,,,Glen was a corner cut man in boxing but he sure would love to shoot the shit with this guy.
EPIC !!!!
Very cool. Gumby is so lucky that you adopted him. Viva Chillmaster!
@rita r: Oh I am definitely going back!
@Al: Where is that bar? I want to go!
@GENE: I agree!
@Biff: Viva towels! And yes, Viva The Chillmaster!
Viva Viagra.
@MAD: Bar number 144,,,,on the 365 list,,,,Jimmy Glenn's remember?
@Al ... Jimmy's Corner ?
UFB to Marty !!!
@GENE: yep,,,Jimmy's Neutral Corner,,,,UFB to Marty is funny
@H.H. VV!
@Al: Yeah, I just have never heard of it called Jimmy's Neutral Corner!
@GENE and Al: Okay, to further play the straight man, what is UFB?
I find it unfucking believable that Marty is playing the straight man.
Great post Marty and I loved hearing the story straight from you tonight. Thanks again for the fun night. Sad to not have personally experienced the Chillmaster, but thanks to him and you for letting us experience it through here. @onemorefoldedsunset, great extra pics.
this was a great post...so glad that MAD connected w/ the chillmaster...would have posted sooner but when i was lookin' back to 365 and the "originally headed for"s and those that were never reached the evil computer crashed (yeah it's gettin' old)...
An artist carries on throughout his life a mysterious, uninterrupted conversation with his public.
~Maurice Chevalier
rr
Wow. I'm kind of torn. Amazing investigative report. But now the mystery is over, so I'm going to miss it. But great post Marty! Thanks!
@MAD: I took it to mean "Unidentified Flying Bar",,,,,wish I thought of it,,,,Gene is the man.
@rr: Sorry you crashed, but glad you finally made it with another great quote!
@Spike: The mystery is solved, but there will be further Chillmaster investigations! Stay tuned!
@Al: Ha ha ha! That is great, we'll let GENE confirm it!
Big, big story, Marty, great work! 'Papa Was a Rolling Stone' was always one of my favorites from the old days, and the Temps did a great version of 'Smiling Faces' that was stretched out Isaac Hayes-style to over 7 minutes...exceptional cut.
I've lived here for 25 years and never ran across the Chillmaster. Amazing in such a relatively small neighborhood, but things like that happen. I look forward to my next nocturnal walk....
@dark1p: In July I'll have been here 18 years and never knew of the Chillmaster till EV Grieve put up his post. EV Grieve deserves a lot of the credit for this post. He pointed the way, I just followed the directions!
This is my favorite post EVER.
@Goggla: See you this Sunday! It'll be chill!
chillmaster is the MAN. Bravo, MArty! this made my 6 minute lunch break LOL
@glamma: Glad to have made your lunch break! Six minutes? Obviously you are not employed by the Chillmaster, he'd give you at least an hour!
Oh hell yes!! I'm so excited you got to meet The Chillmaster! That guy rocks!
@Meleah: The Chillmaster is my idol!
Greetings to the Chillmaster and Kate!
@Tiki Bar Susie: Greetings to you! Great to hear from you!
Somebody get me a blanket!! I'm chilled to the bone!! I've been unable to get online all week and the last time I came here you were denied the the chillmaster. Nice return for the Clack, nice return for the MAD!
I took the dare. Crazy soul mosh pit.
Is it starting to warm up in NY? It's a deathly pit of CHILL down here!
@Clacky: Good to hear from you mate! I was wondering where you've been. Yeah, it's finally starting to warm up, but still chilly for May. And the Chillmaster lived up to everything I thought he would! Stay tuned, it's not his last appearance!
SO COOL !!!!!!!! To the Chillmaster !!!!! :)
@Zioum Zioum: Tos the Chillmaster!