Stoops to Nuts Storytelling on Cornelia Street

Angel Yau

What a fine "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts" evening at Cornelia Street Cafe last night with guest host, Barbara Aliprantis and her artists: Arif Choudhury, Karen Levy, Thomas Pryor & Angel Yau. We thank the packed house who cheered us on and stayed with us all the way - with Barbara running the show everyone was in good hands. Thank you, Paul Jones, Mike & Joshua for taking care of us all. Thank you, Robin, Angelo & Joshua for letting us share your space.

Arif Choudury

Karen Levy

Thomas Pryor

Barbara Aliprantis

Barbara Aliprantis

Arif Choudhury

Seeing An Old Friend

Things are leaving that give our life meaning. Everyday. So look around at the people and places that occupy a room in your heart and recognize their value.

Last night at Cornelia Street Cafe we had a wonderful show. Doctor Kurt Gerstmann, a life force and one of our scheduled guests for April, died suddenly earlier this year, but thanks to Dean Dacian's warm and beautiful film tribute Kurt was there along with a room full of his family of friends rooting him on.  I thank our storytelling guests, Robin Gelfenbien, David Noven, Barbara Aliprantis and Robin Hirsch for doing what Kurt enjoyed best, telling a good one. Thank you, to an appreciative audience that overflowed the Cafe with their love.

Kurt Gerstmann

Thank you, Paul And Mike for keeping the customers and artists satisfied with your splendid professional service. Thank you, Angelo, Robin, Josh and Tom for letting us play in your house.

Thank you, Sandra Lerner, for letting us borrow Kurt's memories for the evening, and thank you, Dean, for a brilliant and loving film in Kurt's honor. Great job, my friend.

Here are photos from the show last night, and from my walk downtown to the West Village past many places that give my life meaning. Some of them will not be here for long.

Barbara Aliprantis

Robin Hirsch

Robin Gelfenbien

David Noven

Dean Dacian & Tom Pryor

Shoes on corner of Second & 19th

east side of First Ave bet 52 & 53 Streets

Looking west on Bleecker

Northern Dispensary

Dean Dacian in Central Park

Gay Street off Waverly Place

"Hey Wood Head, Grow Up!"

I may act 8 but the birth certificate says, "Hey, Wood Head, grow up, you're sixty on the 20th."

I'm having a free show/party on March 11th, and all of my Stoops to Nuts friends are invited, all others the word's "Mum."

Next "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts," show is Tues, March 11 @ 5:30pm @Cornelia Street Cafe. It's a doozy, my guest tellers: Barbara Aliprantis, Cris Beam, Francis Flaherty, Robin Hirsch, Tim O'Mara,  Joshua Rebell,  Angelo Verga & Prof. Adam Wade.

Admission is free. Life's short, I'm thanking my friends, first drink on me. Time Out Magazine says, "Stoops to Nuts," is a positive experience not to be missed. No they didn't, but they do say it's a cool thing to do. Show starts sharp @ 5:30pm.

Rotten Fruit Ducking Hat

Cris Beam

Adam Wade

Barbara Aliprantis

Josh Rebell

Tim O'Mara

Robin Hirsch

Frank Flaherty @ Regis H.S. summer school

Angelo "Sparky Lyle" Verga

Monty Gives Two Paws Up for Yorkville Creperie & Stoops to Nuts show

Our next "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts," show is tomorrow, Tuesday, October 8th @ 6pm @ Cornelia Street Cafe. Our talented artists: Barbara Aliprantis, Slashtipher Coleman, Karen Levy & Kristen Pedimonti, with your host, Thomas Pryor. $8 admission includes a free drink. Time Out Magazine says, "Stoops to Nuts," is a positive experience not to be missed, no they didn't, but they do say it's a cool thing to do.

Two winters ago, I met Monty the bulldog near the 77th Street subway entrance at Lexington Avenue. He wore purple booties, I wore Eccos. We chatted. We parted.

This week, the bulldog on the cover of New Yorker magazine has a remarkable resemblance to my friend, Monty.  True?

Monty appeared in my photography book, "River to River: New York Scenes From a Bicycle,"released by YBK Publishers in 2012.

Fourteen of my framed photographs are on display at the delicious Yorkville Creperie through the end of the year. 

After hours, Monty saw the exhibit and gave it two paws up. We special ordered a panini and a crepe, took them home, ate them and went to heaven, then we rubbed our happy bellies.

Thomas R. Pryor Photography 

hosted by Yorkville Creperie through December 31, 2013.

1586 York Avenue (bet 83rd & 84th Street)

Stoops to Nuts Warms Cornelia Street

When you say an event is the best ever, right after the event happened doubt slips in.  You don't purposely try to knock it down, what you are doing is hoping down the road the best thing ever hasn't happened to you yet.

Well, I don't care, here I go:  Last night's "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts" show at Cornelia Street Cafe was the most exciting storytelling show ever.  The Cafe was electric.  From my seat, I saw a attentive full house totally engaged in each artist's performance. We heard tales and songs of redemption, family strife, a mother asking her kid "for a little help here;"the best Christmas ever,  reflections on a grandmother's and great aunt's unconditional love, and a story about stepping back from a family and seeing their capacity to walk into an asylum as a group and immediately getting a suite.

Thank you, Barbara Aliprantis, Nicole Ferraro, Robin Hirsch, Jim Hawkins, Amanda Thorpe and Adam Wade.  Your audience was deeply moved by your work last night. Your stories and songs lifted spirits and charmed hearts.  Thank you, Steve Northeast and Natalie for making us feel at home.  Thank you, Angelo Verga and Josh Rebell for inviting us to play and that we did.

Here are photos from the show and pictures of the surrounding West Village neighborhood.

Our next "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts" show is Tuesday, January 8th @ 6pm.