When my daughter turned five, we threw her a party and invited half of her kindergarten class. The theme was space. I spray-painted fifteen five-gallon plastic cans silver and cut out a face hole in each one. I bought a ton of colorful buttons, stars and moons and the kids glued the buttons to their space helmets. When they put their helmets back on they had a hard time keeping the view hole forward and it turned into a demolition derby when they started dancing and banging into each other.
The four-hour party stretched to five, because everyone danced to the four hundred 45 singles I brought down to the basement along with my turntable and stereo system. Motown, British Invasion, Surf City, I Told the Witch Doctor, Monster Mash, and every 45 single novelty hit going back to 1958. The parents loved it, the kids went crazy, and I was in heaven.
I made fun things for my daughter and her friends; I played the music I love for five hours straight and danced with everybody. It was bliss.
Last night, at the “City Stories: Stoops to Nuts” storytelling show at Cornelia Street Café, similar feelings rushed through me. I invite great tellers and songsmiths to come perform. Artists, I admire for their talent and the power to engage me totally in their work. With the audience, I get to sit, listen, enjoy and participate in the show. I love my 45s, and I thoroughly enjoy curating this event.
Thank you, Leslie Goshko, Jim Hawkins, Bernie Libster, Jessie Murphyand Debby Schwartz for a great show, I deeply admire your talent and hope you came back next year.
As always, thank you Steve and Tiffany for making us welcome and keeping the customer satisfied. Welcome back, Tiffany!
