Friday, November 30, 2012

Garbo's Ghost on Madison Avenue

So I'm walking towards Madison Avenue yesterday enjoying the late afternoon shadow dancing off the buildings and sidewalks and I look up and I swear there's Garbo's Ghost taking her constitutional. By the time I got to the corner she was gone. Spooky stuff.

Downtown a few nights ago, near Fanelli's Cafe, I sensed the urgency inside everyone leaving one important thing to rush to the next important thing. I moved to the other side of the street where fewer pedestrians made me calmer.

Last week, I saw a lovely sunset washing over over New York Harbor and Bay Ridge.



"River to River: New York Scenes from a Bicycle."  for sale @ Amazon.com @ $12.95


Our next "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts" show is Tuesday, December 11th @ 6pm @Cornelia Street Cafe. Our artists:  Barbara Aliprantis, Nicole FerarroAmanda Thorpe and Adam Wade. 





Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Walking On The Moon

A windy afternoon, I ran along the Hudson wall, too chilly to walk I kept moving along, just stopping to take in the furious sunset burning its heatless light off the Manhattan side of the river. Alone, I walked on the moon. A brief epiphany. I left when I couldn't feel my numb finger on the shutter button of my camera.

Walking on the Moon  The Police


"River to River: New York Scenes from a Bicycle."  for sale @ Amazon.com @ $12.95


Our next "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts" show is Tuesday, December 11th @ 6pm @ Cornelia Street Cafe. Our artists:  Barbara Aliprantis, Nicole FerarroAmanda Thorpe and Adam Wade. 

I'm telling a doozy so get there early because I'm leading off and enjoying the rest of the show from the catbird seat. Barbara, Nicole, Amanda and Adam performing is my idea of an excellent time. Start saving your $8 dollars right now, that includes a free drink.
















Sunday, November 25, 2012

Conjuring Uncle Mommy, Time for a Headlock, Go Giants!

Giants playing the Packers tonight?  I'm ready, been ready for 50 years.

Doesn't always work out for the Jints and me, but for good luck I have Uncle Mommy, Teddy, and my #16 OLGC Rams blue jersey circa 1969. For double good luck I have the enormous mittens Nan knitted, and Hector the Duck who has survived three neck surgeries.

Know for sure, when the game's on the line someone's going into a headlock.

Read The New York Times story, "The Headlock That Won for the Giants" here.



Tommy & Uncle Mommy 1963
1969 OLGC jersey, Nan's knitted gloves, Hector, seat from Super Bowl XXI



Uncle Mommy charcoal by Dad and stuff

Friday, November 23, 2012

Bush Terminal: Puddles, Cobblestones and a car named, Victoria

I walked Bush Terminal last year on a perfect day after it rained. Moseyed up and down the cobblestone streets, in between the warehouses and along the rails on 2nd Avenue. Checked out every puddle and met a beautiful car named, Victoria. Here are photos from my walkabout and a link to more pictures.

Sing it Ray

Perfect Stocking Stuffer:

"River to River: New York Scenes from a Bicycle"










Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Storytelling Warms Cornelia Street Cafe

Last night, in the chilly and damp West Village, the lucky ones found warmth down the stairs at the Cornelia Street Cafe at the "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts" show. The tales and songs merged beautifully. Thank you, Michele Carlo, Julia Joseph, John Newell and Tim O'Mara for joining in, working hard, and letting us all enjoy your talented performances. Thank you, to a supportive audience for cheering us on. Thank you, Steve Northeast and Paul for keeping the customers satisfied and making us feel at home. Thank you, Robin, Angelo and Josh for letting us play at the Cafe.

Please see links above to view and buy Julia, Michele & Tim's music and books.

Here are photos from the show last night and a few shots of the West Village.

Our next "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts" show is Tuesday, December 11th @ 6pm. Our artists:  Barbara Aliprantis, Nicole Ferarro, Amanda Thorpe and Adam Wade. 

I'm telling a doozy on December 11th so get there early because I'm leading off and enjoying the rest of the show from the catbird seat. Barbara, Nicole, Amanda and Adam performing is my idea of an excellent time. Start saving your eight dollars right now.














Sunday, November 11, 2012

Armistice/Veterans Day In Yorkville

Robert Pryor and cousins in front of 501 E 84th St.
Veteran's Day was a big day on York Avenue. Flags hung from most windows, men went to the bars, and youngsters played war and talked about which of their relatives served where and made up stories if they didn't have enough information.  Kids called each other on the bullshit so you had to be careful tale stretching.

Originally called Armistice Day, it fell on November 11th because WWI hostilities ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month with Germany's signing of the armistice. In school most of our teachers still used that term even though the name was changed to Veterans Day in 1954.

Thomas Pryor first day back from WWII on York Ave.
Pictured here are my Dad with his cousins in front of 501 E 84th Street and his brother, Tom, on York Avenue in front of 1582 along with a couple of now shots of York Avenue and two photos of the Service Flag Dedication in August 1942. Dad said that cars were so scarce during WWII because of gas shortages that he and his friends played stickball and touch tackle football on York Avenue in front of his apartment building at 1582 right next to Old Timers Tavern.

Yorkville flew its flags proudly on Armistice/Veterans Day and marched for its sons and daughters


Our next  "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts," storytelling show at  Cornelia Street Cafe is Tuesday, November 13th @ 6pm. Our artists: Michele Carlo, Julia Joseph, John Newell and Tim O'Mara. Admission is $8 and that includes a free drink. Come down to the Café, nuzzle in and let the telling take you away.
Uncle Charlie Cuccia (1473 York Ave) in France WWI





Service Flag parade on First Ave & 82nd ~ Aug 1942

Ann Pryor on nw cor of 84th St. Nov 1942

Yorkville gathers for 84th St Flag Dedication ~ Aug 1942

s/w cor of York & 84th St Nov 2012

York west side looking towards 84th St - Nov 2012

Flag dedication parade 82nd & First ~ Aug 1942

Friday, November 9, 2012

Yorkville School Lunch ~ Then & Now ~ next Storytelling Show, Tuesday, Nov 13th @ 6pm


School Lunch  ~ Then and Now

Yorkville 1962: in 2nd grade the St. Stephen’s school lunch program was like a daily visit with a raging toothache to the dentist without anesthesia. The list of crimes is endless: brown meat, green meat, cheese with teeth marks in it, soup so bad it made strong kids cry. Wax beans, Yellow beans, rock hard beans and a room temperature boiled egg on every tray. There must have been a sale on aging celery cause it showed up in most foods. In the windowless lunchroom, a nun stood guard making sure you did not talk and ate everything on your tray, or you devised food escape routes (some more clever than Steve McQueen's).

Yorkville 2012: I’m sitting on an 82nd Street stoop a week ago. A stylishly dressed girl about 8 years old strolls past me with a cell phone and she’s frantically texting the Gettysburg address to a friend. Her mother in four-inch heels engaged on an iPhone trapped to her ear while carrying packages and a knapp sack was 10 feet behind the daughter when she broke off her phone conversation and yelled out to the princess, “Did you finish you sushi at lunch today?” 

That’s when my 50-year-old nightmare came back to me.  I’m still mad at my mother for two things: throwing my gorgeous Yankee Stadium model away (murdered while dusting) and sentencing me to school lunch.

Our next  "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts," storytelling show at  Cornelia Street Cafe is Tuesday, November 13th @ 6pm. Our artists: Michele Carlo, Julia Joseph, John Newell and Tim O'Mara. Admission is $8 and that includes a free drink. Come down to the Café, nuzzle in and let the telling take you away.