Allen Ginsberg
James Franco Will Star in Allen Ginsberg Biopic Howl
Bookish hunk James Franco, who spent his free time during the filming of his latest movie reading the collected works of Thomas Pynchon, has signed on to star in the Gus Van Sant-produced Allen Ginsberg biopic Howl. The movie, written and directed by documentarians Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, will also feature David Strathairn, Alan Alda, Jeff Daniels, Mary-Louise Parker and Paul Rudd. According to Hollywood Reporter, the film will focus on the obscenity trial surrounding the 1957 American publication of Ginsberg's most famous poem, "Howl."
Hopefully Mr. Franco will not go overboard in his attempts to mimic Ginsberg: if he goes too far he might end up getting kicked out of Columbia, where he enrolled in an MFA program this fall. read more »
West End Café finally reopens ... as Havana Central
Hey Jack, how bout a mojito?
Albeit with a slightly altered moniker: Havana Central at the West End.
Dig it: Kerouac's favorite burger joint will begin serving Cuban cuisine next month, under the direction of new owner and Columbia U. grad Jeremy Merrin.
The historic Upper West Side bar--notoriously divided by the sign "Pigs over there, students over here," during the late '60s Columbia riots--was originally scheduled to reopen in September but got delayed by "construction complications," according to the Columbia Spectator.
The newly refurbished venue will commemorate its Beat-poet past with readings of Kerouac's On The Road and Allen Ginsberg's Howl next Friday night.
Full beboppin' event details after the jazzy jump. read more »
- Chris Shott
