Queens Of The Hill ~ New Stoops to Nuts, April 1st @ 7pm @ Ryan's Daughter

Fog, snow, and four Orthodox girls on two sleighs. Two Februarys ago, I saw this scene in Bay Ridge from the street, parked the car and and ran into Owls Head Park to take pictures. The young ladies were giddy with pleasure. They owned the misty space. There was no one else there but these four ghost girls.

They were "Queens of the Hill."

Saturday, April 1st @ 7pm we're bringing Stoops to Nuts back to Ryan's Daughter. My guests are Tricia Alexandro, J.P. Connolly & a secret musical treat. FREE SHOW.

Do you like old New York City photos and street life stories? Then check out my 1960s memoir, "I Hate the Dallas Cowboys - tales of a scrappy New York boyhood."
Available at Logos Book Store and online at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

The book has 123 Amazon five star reviews out of 123 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.

Blessed To Be Surrounded By Water

Pictures here were taken on the 69th Street Pier, the Brooklyn landing for the Staten Island ferry that ceased service in 1964 when the Verrazano Bridge opened. The views from the pier: Bay Ridge, The Narrows, New York Bay, Staten Island and lower Manhattan in the distance about 8 miles away.

A Facebook photo album with other photos is at this link.

This Thursday, August 20th @ 7:30pm, I'm telling a few good ones at Apryl Miller & Friends Summer Reading Series #9 Feat. Thomas Pryor. Send Apryl an RSVP to learn the address ~ apryl@aprylmiller.com

Check out my Yorkville memoir, "I Hate the Dallas Cowboys - tales of a scrappy New York boyhood." Available at Logos Book Store and online at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
The book has 109 Amazon five star reviews out of 109 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.

You can also purchase my photography portfolio,"River to River - New York Scenes From a Bicycle" on Amazon.

Bay Ridge Sunset

Sweet sunset over the bay last night from a hill in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

If you enjoy my stories please  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 and Noble.

The book has 109 Amazon five star reviews out of 109 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.  

You can also purchase my photography portfolio, "River to River - New York Scenes From a Bicycle" on Amazon.

It's Snowing Outside. Did I Tell You? It's Snowing Outside, Excuse me, It's Snowing Outside

It's snowing outside.  Did I tell you? It's snowing outside. Excuse me, its snowing outside. Hello, it's snowing outside. Here are photos and don't get mad at me. Did you hear, it's snowing.

With luck, a weather break next Tuesday will give us a window to sleigh our way to this month's "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts," at Cornelia Street Cafe. February 11th @ 6pm come listen to Sherryl Marshall, Agatha Nowicki and Regina Ress. Agatha and Regina are telling, and Sherryl is singing her stories in a special showcase set. Admission is $8 and that includes a free drink. I promise a good time or I'll eat my straw hat.

Time Out Magazine says, "Stoops to Nuts," is a smashing experience not to be missed. No they didn't, but they do say it's a cool thing to do.

Overture to the Sun, Narrows, Bay Ridge

Looking over the Narrows at sunset, reminded me of "Overture to the Sun" from the Clockwork Orange soundtrack. The song sounds beautifully ancient like a renaissance piece but was written for the movie by Terry Tucker. Here are photos from the end of the day that went from 54 to 5 degrees overnight. Wild weather.

Our next "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts," show is Tuesday, January 14th @ 6pm @ Cornelia Street Cafe. Our talented artists are Melissa Caminneci, Annette Estevez, Natasha Gural and Maggie Nuttall, 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.

"Giving Thanks to Mom" a new one published in Mr. Beller's Neighborhood.

Best Hill in New York City

If you ask this New Yorker what’s his favorite hill in New York City: the bluff in Owl’s Head Park just north of 68th Street and Shore Road in the Bay Ridge neighborhood. The vista from this property has been the subject of art and photography for three centuries. Henry Cruse Murphy who helped found the Brooklyn Eagle and became Mayor of the city of Brooklyn built an impressive estate on this scenic glacial ridge overlooking the Narrows.

The bill authorizing the Brooklyn Bridge was composed and signed there in 1866. The second owner, Eliphalet W. Bliss, sold the land to the city and the property became a park in 1928. Unfortunately, the house was demolished in the 1930s.

When you think about this perpetually changing town and sweat over how little of it is left as you remember it, take the R train out to the Bay Ridge Avenue stop and walk due west past Third Avenue, Ridge Boulevard until you get to the corner of 68th Street and Colonial Avenue and enter this beautiful park and hike your way up to the top of the hill past the ancient trees where you see the bay open up before you.

Turn south and see the tops of the Verrazano Bridge towers, turn north and Manhattan’s skyline decorates the horizon, turn east on a snowy night and watch a young boy and his father sled a monstrous hill, the best one in Brooklyn, all by themselves. Stand alone at the park’s peak on a cold clear evening and see what Henry Murphy saw in the mid-19th century, the finest panoramic view in New York City. It’s easy, blink away the structures, roads and buildings, and see only the water and the surrounding topography. You’re looking at the main artery to the New World.

This is my weekly column in  Ask A New Yorker.

Here are photos from Owl’s Head Park:

Owl's Head Father & Son

Manhattan from Owl's Head Park

Owl's Head

Owl's Head

Owl's Head

city from Owl's Head

Narrows from Owl's Head Park

Bay Ridge ~ First Day of Spring

The first day of spring in Bay Ridge was wintry, clear and beautiful. Walking along Shore Road between 69 St. & 79 St. I went inside Narrows Botantical Garden and circled the ball fields. I peeked over a fence and saw a babbling brook at 70th St. nestled up against the Belt Parkway shoulder, I visited Hank & Irma Stabile's tree near 71 St. and sighted serious geese action. All of it, cold and gorgeous.

Here's a link to a new Bay Ridge photo album.

"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, Alex DeSuze and Seth Foster. 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.