Cedar Tavern

A New York story, the legendary Cedar Tavern was the crucible for painters, poets, and glamorous downtown misfits to drink their after-hours into existential camaraderie. The intimacy of their friendships brought the radical possibilities of painting into the light of an original American aesthetic. It's 1952, and it's the place to be. With his crippling insecurities willfully in check, Martin's ambition to become a poet of consequence will require a leap of faith and a decent, long-term plan. Inching down the pock-marked bar to get to the action in the back is an epic journey. It's the poet Frank O'Hara's helping hand that he trusts will pull him aboard. Will his equations for mingling and formulas for spontaneity be enough?

Decades later, New York is street hustlers and petty cons. Martin's savant abilities have morphed into a literary prowess, and plagiarizing novels could prove profitable. It wouldn't hurt to have that perfect partner who might need a helping hand.

Inside the smoky banter, burrowing in with de Kooning, Rothko, and other heavyweights, elbowing for their round of commiseration, nights at the Cedar were the pleasure of the company.