Missing the Conversation, Missing Dad

Listening to Dean Martin sing “Houston,” I'm thinking about my father. He died 11 years ago today. If he and I were alone in our 83rd Street living room listening to a record, paying attention, and I started asking questions he’d take me through the door where I’d learn where the artist was from and everyone they played with throughout their career. If they had a stage name Dad gave me their real one - Dean Martin? Dino Paul Crocetti from Steubenville, Ohio. He did the same with film stars, Archie Leach was Cary Grant, Bernard Schwartz was Tony Curtis and Leslie Townes Hope, a.k.a., Bob Hope, boxed under the name, Packy East. I’d get an earful about the Manhattan movie houses Dad went to as a kid that weren’t there by the time I showed up. At eight, I knew who Edith Head was. He and I studied the rolling credits for each film on Ch 5, 9, and 11 like we were doing homework. As they scrolled, if I told Dad a piece of trivia he put in my head sometime before he’d break into a grin. He did the same with sports, history and most important, neighborhood lore. He went around the world three times in the Navy and Merchant Marines but he came back to old Yorkville, the neighborhood he loved for 72 years. I can’t imagine growing up without a father. It must hurt all the time. I still feel Dad's love. I still ache when a question crosses my mind and he’s not there to answer it. 

Tonight @ 8pm, I’m telling a story about Dad at Bar 82 at 136 Second Avenue, part of the terrific We Three Productions Reading series.  If you are around please come down. Bar 82 is between St. Mark’s and 9^th Street.

Tomorrow, I'm headed for "City Stories:Stoops to Nuts," @ Cornelia Street Café @ 6pm, The incomparable Barbara Aliprantis is guest host and Time Out Magazine thinks it’s a fine thing to do. Here's the scoop. (pg 42)

"Yorkville: Stoops to Nuts" storytelling show is coming back to Ryan's Daughter @ 350 E. 85th Street. Wednesday night, April 3rd @ 7pm. Our last show was standing room only, we plan to top it.

Our amazing April 3rd artists: Michele Carlo, Abbi Crutchfield, Luke Thayer, Adam Wade, Eric Vetter and special guests. I'll host and tell an old Yorkville yarn. Free Event!


Please drop by Cornelia Street Cafe in the West Village to see my photo exhibit "New York Scenes from a Bicycle," on view through March 31st. Framed work and my book "River to River: New York Scenes from a Bicycle," are for sale at the Cafe, my prints are for sale at Thomas R. Pryor Photography, my book is available online through Amazon.