User:L Z Hansen/sandbox

L Z Hansen known to friends as Zoe, came to New York City in 1984 running away from her middle upperclass upbringing in Chelsea London. She grew up inspired by the punk Rock Explosion of 1977. " I watched the kids walking up and down The kinds road in home made ripped t shirts and safety pins in their nose. It was very inspiring." She went to Kings way Princeton College and studies English language, design and pattern making. Originally wanting to become a clothing designer, following in the shadows of Vivienne Westwood. By 1982 heroin had seeped into the artsy streets of London and a young Zoe found herself heavily addicted to heroin. She worked at Antenna the avantguard hair salon responsible for Boy Georges hair extensions and the dreadlocks look of the 1980s. Zoe decided at 17 years old to see what New York city had to offer. With one small suitcase and $200 she wound up in Soho Working at Grl loves boy owned by Romeo DiSilva. She was a much sought after stylist and became a downtown scenster. She moved into the Chelsea hotel in 1987." There was no room 100. I was given room 102 by Stanley Bard who owned to hotel. He was so very kind to me, and knew I was pretty strung out. When I asked where the infamous room 100 was, he took a minute asked me which room I was in when I told him 102, he promptly told me I was in the old room 100 that had been converted into a huge suite. " One morning about a month after living in that room, I noticed the sheet on my large kind size bed had pulled from one corner, exposing what appeared to be brown stain. Rather concerned I pulled the entire sheet up exposing a massive brown stain in the middle of this bed. I lifted the box spring up and was horrified to see the stain had intact seeped all the way through. I went back to Stanley to question this new finding. Upon asking him rather meekly what the huge brown stain was that had seeped through th bed I was sleeping on, he quickly covered his mouth and in a surprised tone said " Oh my thats the bed nancy bed out on…. Im so sorry I fought they removed it. Don't worry dear, I'll have it switched out for you." I turned around went back to my room. I thought about it very little after that. The mattress was never switched out and I spent the next three years sleeping on a dried blood soaked mattress. LZ Hansen worked as a brothel worker, street walker, call girl and hooker booker, for the next 17 years in and around various New York City brothels and escort service, to support an increasingly large heroin habit. In 1996 she found sobriety. She continued to work as a prostitute in order to support her musician husband Larry Hansen ( deceased) and save money to open her own brothel. "I was beginning to see clearly finally after being so strung out on a $1000 a day speedball habit, my mind was pickled it took a few years to know how to put one foot in front of the other. By 1999 she opened Sterling Ladies which was the first of five highly successful NYC brothels. " I loved the camaraderie between the women. It was us against the world. It was exciting. Making so much money, I found I was born to run businesses and enjoyed the processor starting from scratch and making something grow. Through raids, and undercover cops arresting us I kept the business together and did extremely well. She met Dick Manitobas, lead singer of the Dictators in 2000. They had a child in 2002, at which time Zoe saw it timely and wise to close her brothels. " It was time to see what else this wonderful vast world can offer." She decided to continue a childhood passion of writing. Her first pulsed piece was in the acclaimed Hos Hooker Call Girls and rent Boys, Soft Skull publication. She was mentioned on the front page of the New York Times book review Aug 2009. Zoe began using the Name L Z Hansen and began reading on the New York literary. She teamed up with David Henry Sterry author of Chicken and together they framed Sex Workers Literati, which took place in the Bowery Poetry Club. The night attracted man New York City down town writers such as Jennifer Blowdryer, Jody Sh. Doff, Puma Perl, Melissa Petro Annie Sprinkle, Candye Kane Xaviera Hollander, Shawna Kenney and many many more. Often visitors from out of town would be invited to perform, and read their work. The idea was to give a platform to sex workers people who were serious about their craft. L Z Hansen went on to contribute to The blog 3 naked girls which was voted best blog of 10011 created by Jodi Sh Doff. Carnal Nation published L Zs acclaimed story 'Sid' which received some 10,K hits. Ron Kolms The Unbearable's big book of Sex published Brothel work. Jerry Stahl contacted Zoe in 10012 to submit a piece for There Heroin Chronicles, Akashic books, edited by Jerry Stahl. Hansen was asked to submit a piece for A sequel to Hos, was Johns Marks Tricks and chicken hawks, Soft Skull. Hansen has spoken at LaGuardia college on her life and work. She performed at Howl in Tompkins Square park 10013 with downtown legendary drag queens an performance artist Slum goddess of the Lower East Side Zoe wrote a two person play that she performed with the great Reverend Jen, to rave reviews. Called Life with Lucky, Which is a monologue, a true story about a boyfriend who robs a bank. She's been approached for a reality show and continues to work on her first novel. Zoe also owns Fear City Custom clothing, with Raffaele Mary former Cycle Sluts from Hell singer. Together they formed a custom label, and are branding out into a line of moderately priced jeans. Dick Manitoba and Zoe both operate the only real Rock N Roll bar in Manhattan called Manitobas. L Z Hansen continues to live in the East Village of New York city with her husband and child.