East River Sunset ~ Carl Schurz Park

Sunset along the East River in Carl Schurz Park in 2014.

Here are is a photograph album from that beautiful night inside Yorkville's secret garden.

If you like my work check out my memoir, "I Hate the Dallas Cowboys - tales of a scrappy New York boyhood." Available at Logos Book Store or online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

The book has 103 Amazon five star reviews out of 103 total reviews posted. We're pitching a perfect game. My old world echoes TV's "The Wonder Years" ~ just add taverns, subways and Checker cabs.

It's a Thin Line Between Love & Hate ~ When You're in High School

Ed Galante teaching at LaSalle, 1972.

at wedding 1984.

Pryor imitating Mr. Galante teaching class at LaSalle Academy on 2nd Street.

I liked "Eddie Baby" Galante. He taught bookkeeping to me and 38 other jerks in junior year. We busted his balls. He'd bust ours right back. If you were in the rear of the class yapping it up, he'd yell your name out, "Pryor!" point to you and give you the finger.

LaSalle '72 Yearbook cover.

At a wedding in 1984 someone at my table asked what were your best school memories. I started off with Galante, somebody snapped the shot above.

Seaman's Institute 6.12.72

When you really pissed him off, Galante would stop teaching and predict your future out loud to the class, "Hey Woodhead, yeah you, Collins, guess what I see in the crystal ball?"

 (dramatic pause while the kid adjusts himself and knows what's coming, Galante speaks) 

"After failing out of community college in your second semester, you'll be promoted directly to that 32B doorman job on 72nd Street you've been bragging about, your best friend will continue to be Ripple Red until Gallo discontinues the product and you switch over to Colt 45 tall boys. You'll sell pot on the side, live with your parents until they kick you out at 32, and you move into that great room with the hot plate and chipped paint at the Franklin SRO on 87th Street."


Graduation week Galante signed my 1972 LaSalle yearbook. Above is his note and photo.

If you like my work check out my memoir, "I Hate the Dallas Cowboys - tales of a scrappy New York boyhood." Available at Logos Book Store or online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

The book has 103 Amazon five star reviews out of 103 total reviews posted. We're pitching a perfect game. My old world echoes TV's "The Wonder Years" ~ just add taverns, subways and Checker cabs.

So Far Away, Rockaway The Days

Walked Far Rockaway yesterday. There were signs of the old, signs of the new, signs of the constant. Made me think of two songs, "Rockaway the Days," Springsteen and "So Far Away" Dire Straits.

Feel assured, when we die, the beach will still be there creating memories to treasure for all who come after us.

When I was 15, too many people met at eight o'clock mass on summer Sundays at St. Stephen of Hungary's chuch. Afterwards, we headed up to the #6 Local on 86 Street and took it to Bleecker Street and transferred to the A train to Far Rockaway (sometimes we had to switch trains at Broad Channel). There was one structure left on the boardwalk down there~ a knish stand ~ we called it "the Alamo." The owner, Milton, loved us. We all had the munchies and nobody brought anything to eat. Nothing but potatoes and condiments in our stomachs at the end of the day. Oh, and we drank liquids. There were still a few vacant Victorian homes spread out through the neighborhood. When it rained, we explored them. To avoid having too much fun with the gang, I took a constitutional walk to 116 Street on the boardwalk to check if Curley's was still there and back to Beach 44th Street. A cute sharp redhead named Susan, a junior from Julia Richmond High School usually joined me. When she did, my insides were warm and sunny.

Here are more Far Rockaway photographs.

If you like my work check out my memoir, "I Hate the Dallas Cowboys - tales of a scrappy New York boyhood." Available at Logos Book Store or online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

The book has 103 Amazon five star reviews out of 103 total reviews posted. We're pitching a perfect game. My old world echoes TV's "The Wonder Years" ~ just add taverns, subways and Checker cabs.

Service

"They did what they thought was right, for all of us."
Robert A. Pryor with his relatives, 1947, York Avenue
Thomas E. Pryor, home from Europe, 1945, York Avenue
Charles Cuccia, France, 1918

A Walk Near & Inside Central Park's South End

Photographs here are from a walk near and inside Central Park's South End yesterday. The weather went up and down, little sun, little rain, which made the whole thing more interesting.

There are many nostalgic Central Park stories in my memoir, "I Hate the Dallas Cowboys - tales of a scrappy New York boyhood." Available at Logos Book Store & online at Amazon and B&N.

Here's a link to more photos from yesterday's walkabout.

East River Sunset From Carl Schurz Park

Took a walk along the river last night. It was a beauty.

Here is an album with more photographs of the river, Carl Schurz Park and a side street.

If you like my work check out my memoir, "I Hate the Dallas Cowboys - tales of a scrappy New York boyhood." Available at Logos Book Store or online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

The book has 103 Amazon five star reviews out of 103 total reviews posted. We're pitching a perfect game. My old world echoes TV's "The Wonder Years" ~ just add taverns, subways and Checker cabs.

Leslie Goshko & Washington Square In The Rain

An Old-Fashioned Piano Party with Leslie Goshko last night at the Cornelia Street Cafe was a Ballantine Blast. Leslie walks the walk. She's a beautiful Carol Burnett with all of Burnett's comic chops, a great voice and she plays piano with vengeance. Bravo, LG, on another successful West Village shindig. It started to rain after the show. Time for a walk through Washington Square Park to make sure the fountain was on.

Here is a photo album from last night's show and a stroll through Washington Square Park in the rain.

If you like my work check out my memoir, "I Hate the Dallas Cowboys - tales of a scrappy New York boyhood." Available at Logos Book Store or online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

The book has 103 Amazon five star reviews out of 103 total reviews posted. We're pitching a perfect game. My old world echoes TV's "The Wonder Years" ~ just add taverns, subways and Checker cabs