I Wish That I Knew What I Know Now

when I was younger...
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This afternoon, I pedaled to the East Village, saw a balloon and visited St. Mark's Church. There was a wish tree decorated with wish cards, and I wrote on mine, "I wish to see my daughter soon." Took some pictures, and caught a guy trying to steal my bike. A picture of the thug manhandling my ride is below. I took the bike back from him and said, "thank you."
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Then, I dropped in on a live East Village Radio show, Atlantic Tunnel on First Avenue

between 1st & 2nd Street. It was cool, they do the show in a store front ~ behind the glass they spin the tunes. They love what they're doing and that is infectious. Just cheers me up.
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Atlantic Tunnel is hosted by Brits Ed Rogers and Gaz Thomas, the popular radio show can be heard on Sundays from noon - 2 pm @ Sunday. Today's show was dedicated to Ian McLagan a member of the Small Faces and Faces. Ian didn't write "Ooh La La," but I love it.

Isis Digs Autumn in New York

My friend, Isis, the patron of magic and nature applauds autumn in New York. She loves the giant Checker taxi cabs on 5th & 14th, and tried to eat the colorful leaves on the drive in Central Park.

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Isis is a big fan of Daniel Webster and the bird's nest over Dan's right shoulder. Countless times, Isis performed the rites of all seasons at the Naumberg band shell on the Central Park Mall. Prior to 1923, Isis performed at the original caste iron band shell in the 1800s.

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Isis attended the Gary Puckett and the Union Gap concert at the bandshell in 1968, and sung along to "Woman, Woman," "Young Girl, "and "Lady Willpower."

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Lady Willpower, it's now or never. Give your love to me

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She's brunched with the Bethesda Fountain angel and her four cherubs, Temperance, Purity, Health, and Peace.

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Isis digs live music, favors the Losers Lounge, and is looking forward to being at Maxwell's in Hoboken on Sunday, February 28th for a terrific celebration of Neighborhood Evolution exploring the connections between Hoboken & New York City being planned by Claudia Chopek, Debby Schwartz and me. They'll be fabulous artists, musicians & storytellers. A good time for all.

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Isis further approves New York Yankees World Championship.

It's High Noon for Tom Jones

Last night, I'm watching High Noon, with Gary Cooper & Grace Kelly. Whenever the movie's theme song, Do Not Forsake Me, came on, I saw Tom Jones bouncing around in a tuxedo.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4a_1UhwgFU

After a quick visit to YouTube, I realized why.

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The songwriter who wrote Help Yourself, just sped up Do Not Forsake Me, and put new words on it. Listen to both songs, and you'll it hear too. You'll also hear the bouncy Mexican horns on Help Yourself, that seem to be on every Tom Jones' Parrot label 45 single.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k57Bcs8DeKY

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Tom Jones' favorite celebrity photograph

Yankees Win Series ~ My Memories Slide Home

I'm ten years old, playing softball down John Jay Park, and I'm coming up to the plate for the Yorkville Stars. Suddenly, Dad is leaning on the fence behind me and gets my attention before I step into the batter's box.
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"Hey, Tommy, where are you?"
"Bottom of the ninth."
"How you doing?"
"We need a big inning."
"What's the score?"
"14-2."

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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/nyregion/thecity/24thir.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=boy%20in%20the%20bullpen&st=cse
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Below: my grandmother, 14, selling newspapers outside the Polo Grounds in 1920. She'd sell enough papers to buy a ticket then go inside and root for the Yankees. Nan hated John McGraw and also went to the Giant games to give McGraw the business calling him "Mugsy" and "Little Napoleon." Nan was escorted out of the park a few times with a smile on her face.

Yorkville Taverns

In 1961 & 1962 Dad took a few pictures of four or five taverns. I recently found a few.
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I also posted several Yorkville pictures on Facebook today at the link below:
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http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2908325&id=541978729#/album.php?aid=119890&id=541978729

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Jack Loftus, Walt Trusits, Allie & Sylvia Cobert at my wedding in 1980.

Joan in front of Little Hofbrau 1952

Bobby, Tommy & Rory Pryor, Christmas Day, 1961 in front of the Old Timers Tavern

Through the Mirror, Lightly

Two pictures of the front step of 1582 York Avenue, 1942 & 2009, then & now.

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Spy the Mission Soda advertisement behind my 36 year old grandmother on her way to the 85th Street Gracie Station Post Office to mail the letter in her right hand. Every day would improve with a bottle of Mission Cream.

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Below, two pictures of the east side of York Avenue between 83rd & 84th Streets in 1945 & 2009. The 1945 shot is Tom Pryor, my uncle, in front of 1582 just home from Italy after four years in the Army. Old Timers Tavern is directly to his right.

Below are two pictures of the southeast corner of 86th Street and York Avenue, 1953 & 2009. Fran Carmody, Pat O'Rourke & Barbara Ryan. Down the block on the west side of 86th Street was Misericordia Hospital.

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If you look at both pictures you can see a strip of bluestone sidewalk along the 86th Street side. Bluestone was the best roller-skating surface, polished smooth, worn down, you flew over it, and there was so little of it left when I was a kid, but we knew where it was. The best stretch was in front of the Frick Museum on Fifth Avenue. A long way to go for a skate but well worth it.

Below is the store front of what was Kronk's Soda Fountain, at the NW corner of 87th Street & York Avenue, where Barbara Ryan rolled me around in a stroller, gallivanting and flirting with the boys.

Below is the stoop of 222 East 85th Street, from where Jimmy Nolloth watched the river flow for 40 years, enjoying all the traffic in and out of the post office across the street. I loved Uncle Jimmy. We leaned on that rail together a thousand times.

The rear of the former Yorkville Casino on 85th Street between 2nd & 3rd Avenue. Notice the original etching of the musician's union that built the structure nearly a hundred years ago.

York Avenue Oct 2009 ~ bet. 83rd & 84th Street

Frame Houses in Yorkville built in the mid 1800s. What a blast walking down the block and running into one of these beauties.

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Halloween in Yorkville ~ A Hideous Dance of Death

In front of a townhouse, a half block from Central Park, a Hideous Dance of Death is spinning round. There are goblins and ghouls and many more gruesome guests.

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The other pictures are for fun. A building across from the ghost house, Art in Washington D.C., City Hall Fountain lights at midnight, Ali and Mel at Coney, the day Ali left for France; same day, Surf Avenue.

Myles Goldin is Spartacus!

Oops, forget Spartacus.

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Myles Goldin is Pousser!

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My terrifically talented friend, Myles Goldin, is starring in a show at the Women at Work Festival on Wed @ Oct 28th @ 8pm @ Stage Left Studio.

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Fences is about love and decisions. Come inside Pousser's world and explore the process and benefits of being on the fence about life. Not necessarily a comfortable place to be...or is it?

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Tickets are $18. Discount tickets are available using the code 3OFF.

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Seating is limited, so advance ticket purchase is recommended.

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For more information, visit http://www.stageleftstudio.net/ and click on the festivals tab.

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Stage Left Studio is located at 438 W 37th Street 5A, NYC, just east of 37 Arts.

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Stage Left Studio is tucked away on the FIFTH FLOOR.

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You'll recognize us by the white glass globe light fixtures. Simply buzz the button for Stage Left, listed in the building directory, and come up the elevator to the fifth floor and walk down the hall. Conveniently located between 9th and 10th Avenues, near the Port Authority and Penn Stations A, C or E line.

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http://www.stageleftstudio.net/#/women-at-work-09/4535314930, here is a specific link to the festival itself. Tickets at http://www.smarttix.com/ under the Women at Work Festival.

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I'm so excited about Myles show, I'm flying

Yorkville History Exhibit by Kathy Jolowicz @Sunday, Oct 25th @2:30pm

This Sunday coming, October 25th at 2:30pm, Yorkville Historian, Kathy Jolowicz presents an exhibit/lecture on the history of the Yorkville neighborhood at Immanuel Lutheran Church @ Lexington Avenue & 88th Street.
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Kathy has terrific photos, historical items and dozens of little known facts about Yorkville going back to the 19th century. Even if you know a lot about the neighborhood, you'll learn much more if you attend this interesting event.
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The History and life in YORKVILLE/KLEINDEUTSCHLAND

PRESENTED @ IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH

88TH STREET & LEXINGTON AVENUE

(ENTER RED DOOR ON LEXINGTON AVE. NEXT TO CVS)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25th @ 2:30-3:30 PM

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An exhibit/lecture by Yorkville Historian, Kathy Jolowicz.displays 20 photo panels, depicting the life and times of this once internationally famous landmark in New York City called “Germantown”. It encompasses the era of the 10s through the 60s, as well as the Slocum Disaster. The story tells of the people, the businesses and the churches that made up the vibrant German community of Yorkville. You are welcome to share your memories.
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Your $5.00 donation includes one complimentary serving of coffee and a choice of German Baked Goods. Additional servings available for purchase.

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My Baby Just Wrote Me a Letter

On Thanksgiving Day, 1951, Dad was docked in St. John's harbor in Newfoundland on his Naval ship. That day, he got a crappy haircut and bitched about the barber in this letter to my Mom. Dad started courting Mom in 1949 after they met at Eastside House on 76th Street off the East River. They were the settlement house's Lindy champs one year.

The love and humor in this letter made me miss Dad. He's funny here and he rarely showed this side of his imagination to me. His writing is a treasure trove ~ a crystal ball that reveals what's coming in their marriage, both the good and the bad. A tender single point of view screenplay. Dad loved film and he saw his family's lives as one long Warner Brothers picture that he tried to direct the best he could.

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I enjoy that he hand wrote the second page. He's anxious to get it off to Mom and he's adding stuff as he runs in the snow, climbs cliffs and ice skates to town to mail it.

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Inside the letter was a doodle by Dad of Mom's name, Patricia.

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I have several letters from Dad at sea to Mom on York Avenue. Lots to explore.

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