Laurette Taylor, Anecdote #2

First of all, thank you to everyone who has sent me links and stories about Laurette. My journey has just begun to discover more about this fascinating genius, acclaimed as the greatest actor of her time. Maybe all time? No one can ever know, nor should I even suggest it, but suffice to say that she riveted audiences and her peers alike. Everyone who saw her work on stage and wrote about it, said virtually the same thing. There was no one like her.

I have found in the New York Library many pieces about her in Special Collections and have learned that she wrote about how she prepared for her roles. More on that another time.

Laurette grew up in in a brownstone in West Harlem, NY at 52 W 125 Street. I went there yesterday and lo and behold, it is now part of a business district. Downstairs is this gorgeous vintage clothing shop that also sells a skincare line. The store is called b.o.r.n. (borrowed, old, refurbished, new). The owners are two beautiful men whose names are Jonathan Bodrick and Tynae Abdul.

Laurette's mother was a seamstress in the late 1800s and early 1900s and employed as many as a dozen seamstresses at that address. The upstairs is still used as an apartment but I suspect that Laurette's family occupied the entire building. I think she would love this place.

Meanwhile, check out b.o.r.n.  This establishment has incredible style and the owners and the customers are all BEAUTIFUL!!! I felt like I was on a movie set, the music was funky and just loud enough so that you could still hear yourself talk. But the mood in there was unlike any other place I've been.

52 W 125th Street, Harlem. Go see it.