Chapter 0007: Pioneer Village

Leaving the audition venue located at the Broadway Theatre in the downtown area, Lan Li glided towards the lower town, where the varying heights and distinct styles of the buildings transformed into a flowing light in his sight, encapsulating the city's history, culture, and customs, presenting a grand and magnificent tapestry.

Neil chuckled silently and made a gesture of smashing someone with a beer mug, "As I just said, missing you is their loss."

The "Pioneer Village" can be regarded as a microcosm of New York

The streets and alleys of Manhattan, New York, resemble an orderly chessboard, with the east-west streets numbered from south to north, ranging from First Street to Two Hundred Twenty-Second Street; the north-south avenues are numbered from east to west, from First Avenue to Twelfth Avenue, interspersed with a few avenues that are not numbered, such as Madison Avenue, Broadway, and so on

Lannister waved his hand, indicating that he did not intend to continue on this topic. "Who is the guest performer tonight?"

After handing the pepper shaker to table 8, Lan Li saw the host leading two customers to sit at table 14. He quickly pulled out the menu and approached them, saying, "Good evening..." However, upon seeing Tom and Steven in front of him, his steps involuntarily slowed down, and even his words paused for a moment.

Being able to work here is a stroke of luck for Lan Li. Here, he can exchange professional experiences with true artists, and he can engage in heated debates with genuine enthusiasts. This artistic atmosphere is invaluable.

Although he became immensely popular last year, Jason has consistently maintained his usual low profile, spending most of his time performing live in various bars or small theaters, always keeping a close distance to his audience. This is truly rare in the American entertainment industry, which is often characterized by a culture of entertainment at all costs and a focus on profit.

At that moment, a young boy rode his skateboard along the gently sloping road of Broadway, skillfully navigating the gaps between vehicles and pedestrians, swiftly weaving through them. The hem of his shirt fluttered in the strong wind, and his tousled, slightly curly hair radiated the exuberance and abandon of youth, like a splash of color igniting the ceaseless flow of the crowd

Skateboarding is a new activity that Lan Li learned only after arriving in New York. He quickly fell in love with this sport, which is widely popular among young people. During the gliding process, it feels as if he is chasing the footsteps of the wind, weaving through New York's world-leading chaotic traffic matrix, allowing his spirits to soar in the sunlight

Compared to the flashy restlessness and the pursuit of quick success in Los Angeles, New York and London share more similarities. Artists are always focused on pursuing professional achievements, willing to take the time to hone their skills, engage in more practical experiences, and make progress through mutual learning

This is undoubtedly the best for skateboarding, with straight and spacious roads, clear and defined directions, and of course, smooth and orderly surfaces, making it effortless to navigate through them

After 8 o'clock, the bar gradually became busy, not only because it was dinner time, but also because the live performances every night started at 8:30. Regular patrons would arrive right on time. The issues from the afternoon auditions were temporarily set aside, and Lan Li returned to his daily life, just as he had for the past three months

Lan Li did not respond further, but raised his right hand, crossing his index and middle fingers to form a gesture of prayer, and the two exchanged a smile. Subsequently, Lan Li turned around and walked towards the four guests who had just entered. Not far away, another waiter was preparing to step forward, but Lan Li waved to signal him, and the other's footsteps came to a halt—Lan Li had arrived on time, which also meant that the area for which she was responsible no longer required her attention. Then, Lan Li turned around and walked towards the four guests who had just entered. Not far away, another waiter was preparing to step forward, but Lan Li waved to signal him, and the other's footsteps came to a halt—Lan Li had arrived on time, which also meant that the area for which she was responsible no longer required her attention.

The bar known as "The Village Vanguard" is a well-known jazz bar in Greenwich Village, established in 1935, and is one of the first jazz bars to appear in New York. Many music enthusiasts and performing artists enjoy gathering here. Historically, numerous jazz legends have chosen this bar to record their live performance albums, not only because of its long history and unique atmosphere but also due to the irreplaceable quality of its audience. While the city of New York is home to countless art lovers, only a small, professional, and seasoned group of individuals come to "The Village Vanguard" to enjoy the wonderful music.

Lann Li has been working here for nearly three months. Due to the flexible working hours and the generous tips from customers, his income is sufficient to support his daily life in New York, allowing him to participate in off-Broadway performances during his spare time

Unintentionally, whether sitting in the iron can or rushing towards the underground pipes, all gazes turned towards that figure, yet could only catch a fleeting glimpse of a disappearing silhouette, with a hint of envy and nostalgia reflected in their eyes, though they did not know what exactly they were envying or reminiscing about

"How can you be so sure that Tom and Steven were present at the audition?" Blanley’s retort left Neil momentarily speechless, unsure of how to counter it. Then Blanley broke into a radiant smile, "In fact, they did show up. But unfortunately, I was unable to impress them"

Waiting for notification. Blake did not complain, nor did he conceal anything; he directly stated the result, and then he saw Neil roll his eyes dramatically. "God, are you serious? Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg must be blind, right? Missing out on an actor like you, I don't have high hopes for their project."

Lann Li surveyed the patrons in the bar and walked over to the bar counter. "How did the audition go?" The bartender Neil Tucson, who was wiping a freshly washed beer glass, had a look of anticipation on his face.

I hope he won't perform 'I Am Yours.' Lan Li raised an eyebrow, expressing his disdain, which made Neil laugh out loud. "I hope there are no tourists mixed in tonight, otherwise..." True professional audiences appreciate the music, the live performance, and the singer themselves, but tourist audiences, just there for the excitement, only appreciate what is 'familiar to the ear'.

Certainly, the so-called jazz bar does not exclusively feature jazz performances. In the twenty-first century, it also showcases folk, bossa nova, blues, and other niche yet vintage music genres, and occasionally, rock bands that are gradually being marginalized by the times perform here as well

Crossing the bustling Fifth Avenue and entering the realm of Fourth Avenue, he made a sharp turn at Fourteenth Street. Blue expertly navigated through the streets and alleys, finally stopping at the entrance of a secluded alley where two giant trash bins were piled up. The towering, weathered brick walls on both sides revealed a faint glimpse of their dark red original color. The pervasive smell of marijuana in the air made him furrow his brow slightly. He raised his head to survey the surroundings; it was just a little past six o'clock, and it seemed rather early for someone to be indulging in the high brought on by a cigarette. It appeared that this gentleman must be troubled. Retracting his gaze, he skillfully pushed open the silver door next to him, which was covered in mud splatters, and Blue's figure disappeared within.

The spacious four-lane road has become incredibly congested due to the rush hour, with vehicles packed tightly like clumsy tin cans, remaining stationary. Observing the sea of people surging towards the subway station, resembling a scene of desperate escape as if from the apocalypse, it is difficult to discern whether it is the working class relying on public transport who envy the salaried individuals driving private cars, or the other way around.

Unless one is immersed in it, it is truly difficult to depict with the mind the extreme order and extreme chaos, the extreme glamour and extreme dishevelment coexisting on this small island of Manhattan. Apart from the Bronx and Queens, New York City also has such a historically rich corner.

The bar opens every day at 3 PM and operates until 2 AM, featuring a two-hour live performance each night, which is regarded as the hallmark of "Pioneer Village." Not only do renowned singers occasionally perform here, but also lesser-known independent musicians come to showcase their talents, engaging in direct interaction with the most professional audience in all of New York.

Jason Mraz will perform in the second half. Neil's words immediately brightened Bran's eyes. This artist, who became a sensation across North America last year with the song "I'm Yours," and set a remarkable record for the number of weeks on the singles chart, is truly astonishing and has been hailed as the "male sorcerer"

"Hey, Jack, what is the recommended main dish for tonight?" "Stanley, how was your date with Britney last night?" "Chuck, did you get the tickets for the Giants game tomorrow night?" ... ...

This is a kitchen with a vintage style, still retaining the design elements of the Victorian era. At this moment, everyone in the kitchen is actively preparing for the busy dinner period. Blue is bustling about, greeting everyone, and the steamy kitchen is becoming increasingly lively. Passing by the changing room, he leans the skateboard against the door and continues forward, pushing open the large red partition door to enter the interior space of the bar

Gradually, the exotic scene of Greenwich Village emerges before the eyes, accompanied by the increasingly intricate streets. The essence of wandering artists, infused with the flavors of Gypsy, hippie, and folk rock styles, permeates the streets and alleys, presenting a starkly different mosaic of images compared to the Upper and Middle Towns, leading one into a bizarre and fantastical world.

In the city of New York, the daily theatrical performances, the shows in bars and clubs, the interactions in galleries and museums, and even the topics of conversation among people on the streets of Greenwich Village—all of these are related to art. This atmosphere, which flows in the veins, is something that Los Angeles does not possess

New York, like London, is always filled with rejection towards the commercialization and entertainment-driven nature of Hollywood. Of course, does art need commercial packaging and promotion? The answer is affirmative. However, before commercializing everything, could taking the time to refine the quality and essence of the product enhance its value retention? Therefore, Woody Allen has always remained in New York, with a deep affection for the city. Yet, before commercializing everything, could taking the time to refine the quality and essence of the product enhance its value retention? Thus, Woody Allen has always remained in New York, with a deep affection for the city