No Context: John Varvatos Store Opens to Protesters at 315 Bowery

• Hi Al - of course we knew what the "benefit" was for... that just made it more ironic and why we were there... just like the Twilight Zone episode about "Soylent Green", all these people are lining up to be "saved and helped" - - but they in turn are just helping Varvatos; the occasional benefit "legitimizing" his corporate luxury empire. So ironic that he makes money by helping rich people look like rock stars who have spent time in the gutter or in artistic communities. So sad most artists or real creative communities outside of wealthy enclaves can't afford his clothes. While yes, his intentions are good, they are misguided. I agree with you - it is sad that rents are so awful in NYC that no low income kids can now come to the LES. What you seem unaware of is that there are still tons of us still here, clinging to our rent stablized housing and fighting for the creation of more. Stores like Varvatos' opening up spell a real end - a wealthy elite who will buy these storefronts because the grittiness of the neighborhood appeals to their market. We are out still trying to save what small art spaces are left, what small community spaces are left, and we aren't falling for this white-wash. I was sad that the good people who performed at the benefit let one event overshadow the larger devastation such a luxury entity will contribute to in the neighborhood. I don't see how you can help be a part of forcing out a community (being part of the luxury establishment moving in), and then claim to be doing anything truly constructive to SAVE it, on the other hand. We see the bigger picture. And we'll always go out to fight when we see people using cool musicians to do nothing more at the end of the day then expand his empire to include a record label (the "artist development" Varvatos' press release mentions as if it is community outreach) and aid in the selling of overpriced luxury goods. What rockers want to be jamming out by a rack of $1600 jackets? Where have all the rebels gone? The demographics show it clearly: the low income are still the majority on the LES, and we'll fight to bring these issues to light, until the last one of us is pushed out. Then yes, maybe in 30 years I will come back to the LES, pay my fee to get thru the gate - and visit the clothing store on the Bowery playing Blondie. By then, though, I am sure they will have redone the interior, as tastes and styles will change and the celebrities will be demanding some other new style of clothing to wear. Fight to save real music spaces. Let all arts spaces also become social justice and community outreach centers!

• Oh get over it... banks, highrises, bowery hotel - they've all been there for a while. You can't get a studio apartment anywhere in Mahanttan for less than 2,000 a month and the East Village is no different. Stop unjustly blaming the Varvatos store just so you can have a pulpit. Sure the clothes are expensive but it's a buisness that contributes to the economy, creates jobs ect. Last night these ridiculous protestors were outside the opening with signs reading "save the music" - the opening was for the Charity VH1 Save the Music with musicians like Slash and Perry Farrell performing to support the charity. Were the protestors trying to be ironic (if so unsuccessfully) or did they really just not realize they were preaching against a local nyc charity event? Either way it was pretty lame.

• Mr. Varvatos is allowed to put whatever number he sees fit on each price tag in his stores. And we sensible shoppers are allowed the luxury of realizing $600 for a pair of jeans is thoroughly ludicrous. Viva la economia.

• That isn't Burberry. That is Chinatown. MM Serra (the woman you refer to in that picture) is the legendary founder of the Filmmakers Co-op on the LES... she is a renegade with a sense of humour. And anyway, Why is it considered okay when rich people co-opt the look of the poor to be "cool and edgy", but not "okay" when the poor co-opt the status symbols of the rich with knock-offs? I am not saying I would ever wear that ugly stuff - I don't even have the money for knock-offs, and am not into the whole bling, upscale world - - but when I see MM wearing her knock-off Chanel glasses, I can appreciate the sense of humour... It is really ironic... Varvatos is busy selling a used leather jacket for $1600 and maybe, somewhere on Canal Street, someone is trying to buy a knock-off Varvatos t-shirt for what it is more likely worth: 10 bucks. (If someone buys a Varvatos T-shirt for $130, is the seamstress who made it really getting a fair wage anyway?)

• "WEALTH & LUXURY OUT OF THE L.E.S.," says the lady wearing the enormous Burberry scarf/ blanket thing.

• We'll be back with a few more of us. The Varvatos store, whether well-intentioned or not, perfectly sums up how a counter-cultural arts scene is now being used to sell luxury goods and real estate - with the original artists being kicked out of the neighborhood (not to mention everyone and everthing else that is poor). Should our music be used to sell $1600 used jackets? Varvatos says he wanted to save the place from "becoming a bank" ... but surely he realizes by coming into a poor neighborhood and selling $800 pants, a bank would just open on the corner (as it has.) To bring outrageously priced clothing into a neighborhood that still has such a high population of poor people - and who have been out in the streets demonstrating visibly to save their homes and businesses from the wealthy takeover - is just misguided and shows a disturbing disconnect. We would rather Varvatos and other retailers saying: "just cause we can pay these rents, doesn't mean we will" and boycotting this nonsense... and standing in the streets with us as we fight for our cultural landmarks and affordable services to survive.

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