Livin’ the Hi-Life
By Robert Beck

The plein air painter’s nemeses are the weather and the movement of the sun. You can add insects to that. I once unknowingly painted while standing on an ant colony. I sure found out.

It hasn’t been the easiest summer for painting outside, and this day, the forecast kept changing. It was supposed to be in the high 80s with wind and clouds giving way to sun. I wanted to paint the Hi-Life Bar & Grill and its nifty 1936 Lincoln, but I had to go on a trip soon and was running out of the right weather. The following day would be in the 90s.

I’m a bird-in-the-hand guy, so I dragged my kit to 83rd and Amsterdam. The sky was low, roiling clouds with occasional blue patches. The breeze was brisk. I set up in the street just north of the Hi-Life’s dining shed, which blocked direct sun and some of the wind. They hadn’t opened yet. The tables and chairs were still stacked out front. Shadows reached out across the sidewalk. I decided to depict the lit portion of the scene as it was when the sun was poking through and paint the shadow areas after the staff set up the outside furniture. By then, the sidewalks would be off-and-on sunlit except for right under the awning, but I’d remember how it was when I started.

The focus of the painting is the “Hi-Lifemobile”; the Lincoln Zephyr avatar for the Bar & Grill, with its stainless channel-letter neon sign on top. There used to be two Hi-Lifes—East and West Side—but the other lost out to development. Sound familiar? The Lincoln has graciously ferried patrons home or from one location to the other for decades, although at 87 years old, it’s had its duties scaled back.

At one time, the Lincoln was equipped with a microphone and speaker, and Earl, its and Hi-Life’s owner, would drive it around with his daughter, encouraging pedestrians to visit for dinner or drinks. Keeping below the windowsill, she would occasionally compliment the cute dog or pretty sweater.

Hi-Life Bar & Grill has a 1930s Deco style, a relaxed attitude, and a creative menu that includes sushi. I had eaten there before doing this painting (a great pork chop) and already knew the food and service were excellent. The demeanor of any organization comes down from the top, and everyone I talked to was cheerful and helpful. Earl and his wife Sara went out of their way for me.

The Lincoln, however, is the primary eye-catcher. It defines the intersection. Earl sometimes turns on the sign at twilight. It adds a little pizzazz. A touch of Rudy Vallée at the Hotel Pennsylvania. Hi-Lifemobile knows what I mean. It was there.

See more of Robert Beck’s work and his UWS studio by visiting www.robertbeck.net  And let Robert know if you have a connection to an archetypal UWS place or event that would make a good West Side Canvas column. Thanks!

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