Radio, Radio, 6pm Tonight!

Diana, Maria & Tommy

Tonight on the radio @ 6pm, I join Diana Navarro for her show "Native New Yorkers, Our Perspective on New York" Show. Listen live on Centanni Broadcasting Centanni Broadcasting. Show will be archived in a few days if you miss it live. I'm talking Giants!

Radio Free Europe on MacDougal Street

Radio Free Europe, one of my favorite REM songs came to mind as I walked down MacDougal Street Tuesday night on my way to join Diana Navarro on her terrific radio show "Working Things Out."  You can listen to the Oct 25th show on archive at this link @ Diana's home page @ Centanni Broadcasting Network.  Just go the bottom of the page and click on The Diana Navarro Show 10/25/2011.

It was my first time back on the radio since January when I took a sabbatical from my "Yorkville: Stoops to Nuts" radio show to work on a few projects. It's fun being back on the airwaves. Diana and her co-host Anthony made me feel warm at home.

Here are a few pictures of MacDougal Street, Union Square, Fifth Avenue & Diana, Maria, Anthony & I from the restaurant.

Diana's show is every Tuesday @ 6pm live from Chez Jacqueline @ 72 MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village right off the corner of Houston Street. 

Gather All The News I Need On The Weather Report

Walking alone in snow always triggers a small town sense of where I am. It's one of those times, when I'm by myself, I'm perfectly OK.

Walking to Hunter College, I passed a row of houses built between 1861 & 1865 on the 200 block of 78th Street. Originally, there stood fifteen of these homes in a row. 145 years ago, that must have been impressive. You can read the landmark plaque below.

Simon & Garfunkel always please me on snowy walks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBEomCtCujw

If you would like to listen to my final "Yorkville: Stoops to Nuts" radio show with guest, John Lewis go to the Centanni link below. I'm taking a sabbatical, the show will return.

http://centannibroadcasting.com/id56.html

They're Dancing on the Ceiling, They're Dancing on The Floor

To celebrate the last "Yorkville: Stoops to Nuts radio show," we danced till the cows came home.

The dancing will continue tonight at Giovanna's @ 9pm to midnight @ 1567 Lexington Avenue between 100th and 101st Street.

Come down, have a drink, make noise! I showed up 26 straight weeks. This ties a personal record for starting and finishing a project.

My guest, John Lewis, and I are talking about the birth of radio and one of its richest pioneers, Ted Husing. He was The Radio Master. Listen here:

http://centannibroadcasting.com/

Our second hour will be anarchy, three free mikes are open for business. (Matt & Mary needed to cancel for personal reasons. I send them my best wishes).

If you get down to Giovanna's and have something to say... well, come say it!

See you later at the restaurant, be well, Tommy

I'm going back to school, received my Hunter College Alumni card today. Looking forward to using the college library for my work.

My first day at Hunter, September 1972, I'm on crutches. The previous week, during a Bronx Warriors football practice, my own teammate jumped on a pile I was under with the football after a tackle and the jerk landed full weight on my lower left leg breaking my fibula earning me a cast and crutches.

It was hot in Hunter, I was struggling in the halls to get between the 8th & 9th floors. I used the staircase to go up by hopping on one leg and holding the crutches. When I got to the floor landing, I made eye contact with a smiling Chinese kid. Thanking him with a nod, I put both crutches under my arms and started walking towards the giant open door with my head down.

As I felt the wind of the giant door coming towards my head, I figured out the Chinese kid wasn't smiling at me. The metal door he released smacked me in the noggin. I hopped backwards as carefully as one can to avoid going down a flight of marble stairs. I hit the wall several feet away and fell to the floor. Students rushed around me, late for class.

It was good to be back at Hunter today. I forget my work bag in the Alumni office when Laura sent me to the ID office in another building. I only noticed the bag was missing when I needed something in it 10 minutes later. John runs a pleasant ID office, he took my picture, I went back to Laura, who was expecting to see me, and went back to John to get the ID. It was ready when I arrived. Today, I have no cast and no crutches. I am off to an improved start at Hunter College.

Sometimes In Winter

If you like, listen to the show at the link below:

http://www.centannibroadcasting.com/id56.html

During the show, I mentioned my worst Christmas gift ever.

When I was ten, after fattening me up for a few years (my brother and I called her refrigerator “Treasure Island”), my grandmother gave me a package on Christmas morning that looked like it was wrapped by monkeys. Fully expecting a toy I tore it open and found a shiny pair of HUSKIES dungarees, the three fold style with starch, stiff like a steamroller gave them a once over. The tag saying HUSKIES was so big you could read it from across the room.

I looked at my grandmother funny, and she asked,” Do you think they’ll fit?”

Sparky Lyle Ruled Yorkville

Father's Day 1972, Dad dropped by Nan’s on York Avenue to get his annual kiss from his mother. She was stingy on direct affection. I was in the living room watching TV avoiding orders.

Ten minutes later, the bell rang, and my girlfriend, Ginny, walked in with two white fur-ball puppies, each fitting comfortably in her open hand. Barbara Morgan's poodle, Monique, had a one night stand with a Hungarian terrier named Lazlo on 83rd Street.

“I’m keeping this one, who wants the runt?” Ginny said, pulling one puppy back, and holding the other out.

Dad made a move and froze. He was thinking about Mom, I’m sure. She’d kill him.

Nan neatly took the dog out of Ginny’s hand, lifted it to check for its sex, then made an announcement.

“This little girl’s mine, her name is Sparky Lyle.”

Sparky was a special dog, I loved her madly. Her Vet was Dr. Higgins on 84th Street. Dr. Higgins and his staff loved Sparky and couldn't wait to see her. Sparky didn't like the doctor's office, didn't like the building, and didn't like walking north up 84th Street once we got to that corner.

38 years later, Dr. Higgins still serves the community taking care of the animals, treating each one with affection at the Yorkville Animal Hospital at 227 East 84th Street. God bless, Dr. John Higgins.

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Thank you, Barbara Aliprantis, for the opportunity to be part of your terrific monthly storytelling show at Cornelia Street Cafe (Second Tuesday of the month @ 6pm) . I had a wonderful time.

Thank you, Eric Vetter, Alex DeSuze & Carl Fortunato (No Name & a Bag of Chips Variety Show @ Otto's Shrunken Head @ December 17th @ 7pm) for being wonderful guests on Yorkville radio last night. Anarchy ruled,

and it was fun to

jump into the nut pool with all of you. I have no TP!

Listen to the Yorkville radio show on the archive at the Centanni link below:

http://www.centannibroadcasting.com/id56.html

I decided to take a sabbatical from the radio show. (Three more shows, last show will be January 4th) I do so with great reluctance. It's fun and hard work. I need to focus on a couple of projects. Thank you, Valerie Pepe, for asking me to be a guest on your show last May. I love you, pal. Thank you, Johnny Anello, for asking me to do the show and providing relentless support to me from the beginning to end. Thank you, Betty Eng, for patiently helping me learn how to do radio through my growing pains over the last six months. Thank you, Divino, Jean, Giovanna, Alexandra & Will for making Giovanna's Restaurant a sanctuary for me every Tuesday night. It feels like home. You'll see me soon and often.

My last three Yorkville radio shows will be loose (Dec 21st, Dec 28th& Jan 4th).

I have planned guests but welcome any of my friends to come down to Giovanna's Restaurant @ Tuesday night @ 9pm, and, if you like, I'll get you on the show and play a tune for you. Odds are good I have your request on my laptop.

Johnny tells me there are over 2,000 Yorkville: Stoops to Nuts listeners out there.

I thank you all for tuning in.

My compulsion for mischief is insatiable. I'll be back.

be well, Tommy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9_9k8-W1Po

Time Waits For No One

My brain tells me I took this picture yesterday. The calender tells me it was 20 years ago. If my brain thinks this photo was taken yesterday, then tomorrow I will be 76 years old.

Our ride is short, each day is a gift. I thank a few friends for things they may or may not know they did for me.

Jack Hoehlein, thank you for turning me on to Garland Jeffreys music.

Freddy Muller ~ Squeeze & how to slide into a base

Steve Murphy ~ Egg Rolls

Gerard Murphy ~ Flounder stuffed with spinach

John Cupo ~ running Central Park's Bridal Path & Reservoir

Robert Marantz ~ directing me to Freefall Writing

Barbara Turner ~ collecting loose thoughts, shaping them

Cris Beam ~ collecting loose stories, shaping them

Mom ~ Irish Sandwich ~ Hellman's Mayo, Iceberg Lettuce, Wonder Bread & Hitchcock

Joannie ~ the beach

Mike "Booger" Howley ~ Tom Waits

Ellen Schecter ~ writing confidence

Pop ~ sitting on a tall stoop

Dad ~ catch, how to collect interesting crap

Nan ~ finish a job properly

Linda Goldstein's Port Authority boss in 1981 ~ Long Beach Island

thank you, Tommy

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I'm telling tonight at Cornelia Street Cafe @ 6pm along with a group of terrific storytellers, please come down.

http://www.corneliastreetcafe.com/

Later tonight, at 9pm, my guests on Yorkville: Stoops to Nuts radio show are Eric Vetter, Alex "The Assassin" De Suze and Carl (Baby Freak) Fortunato. Listen here at the Centanni link:

http://centannibroadcasting.com/index.html

Tuesday, Dec 14 - 6:00PM STORYTELLING Barbara Aliprantis
“Year End Festival Celebrating 14 Years of Storytelling” No theme, no judging, no contest, just great fun, and stories with heart Featured Teller: Thomas Pryor and Cameo slots (5/7 minute limit) for as many tellers time will allow!

http://www.barbaraaliprantisstoryteller.blogspot.com/

Giovanna's Playhouse

We had a great time on "Yorkville: Stoops to Nuts" radio @ Giovanna's Restaurant this past Tuesday night. My guests, Tim O'Mara ( look for his new book, "Sacrifice Fly," in 2012) & Barry Stabile (see his band, "All Mobbed Up," @ Dec 17th @

ALL MOBBED UP! HOLIDAY BASH w ROCK HARD MAGAZINE

Location:Gecko Lounge, 5 mins from Verrizanno Bridge

Time:7:30PM Friday, December 17th

got into the holiday groove and Divino fed the masses delicious food and kept his home warm and comfy. That's what Giovanna's is, a second home for it's patrons and artists. If you would like to hear the radio show, tune into the Centanni Broadcasting Network link below:

http://www.centannibroadcasting.com/id56.html

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I have two storytelling events in next five days, tomorrow, Friday, Dec 10th @ 7pm @ Otto's Shrunken Head ~ Tuesday, Dec 14th @ 6pm @ Cornelia Street Cafe ~ see details below:

No Name's "Winter Reading" Show To Feature Authors Jennifer Belle, Michele Carlo, Thomas Pryor & Kambri Crews Friday, December 10th @ Otto’s Shrunken Head in Manhattan

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 2010 -- “No Name... & A Bag O' Chips" comedy / variety show producer, Eric Vetter, reaches into his ever-present ‘bag o' chips’ on Friday, December 10th and pulls out current and soon-to-be published literature as part of their inaugural “Winter Reading" show - a response to the rousing success of this year's "Summer Reading" special - at Otto's in Manhattan. Authors / storytellers Jennifer Belle (“The Seven Year Bitch”) Michele Carlo, (“Fish Out Of Agua”) & Kambri Crews ("Love, Daddy,") will offer selections from their published and forthcoming works and will be joined by blogger / radio host Thomas Pryor (Yorkville: Stoops to Nuts ) and comic/author Jeff Kreisler ("Get Rich Cheating"). Now in its 11th year, the show will also feature the sounds of “The Summer Replacements” featuring Alex “The Assassin” De Suze and Carl (BabyFreak) Fortunato. No Cover, No minimum. Showtime is 7:00pm and Otto's is located at 538 E 14th St (Cross Street: Between Avenue A and Avenue B) "L" subway train to First Avenue. For more info, call (212) 228-2240 or go to www.ottosshrunkenhead.com/

Tuesday, Dec 14 - 6:00PM STORYTELLING Barbara Aliprantis

“Year End Festival Celebrating 14 Years of Storytelling” No theme, no judging, no contest, just great fun, and stories with heart Featured Teller: Thomas Pryor and Cameo slots (5/7 minute limit) for as many tellers time will allow! Thomas Pryor's work has appeared in The New York Times, Mr. Beller's Neighborhood, A Prairie Home Companion, New York Press, Underground Voices Magazine, Opium Magazine Online, Our Town and Ducts. His story, "Madame Butterfly Goes Down" is part of Thomas Beller's anthology, Lost and Found: Stories from New York. He's written his first book, Yorkville: Stoops to Nuts. His blog is listed in the “Blog Roll” of The New York Times and his weekly radio show is featured on the Centanni Broadcasting Network. Recently, Thomas appeared on Channel 13's TV series, "Baseball: A New York Love Story." Cover $7 http://www.yorkvillestoopstonuts.blogspot.com/ , http://www.barbaraaliprantisstoryteller.blogspot.com/

A Nantucket Sleighride

"Dad, when you were on the Midori how did the cook make dinner for 1200 sailors?" I asked my father a hundred years ago.

He put his sketch pen down and said, "On an aircraft carrier, cooks either carefully watch a good cook work, wing it, or use the fall back: serve sh*t on a shingle."

I'm not an organized person and have difficulty preparing a radio show with one guest. Last night I had three guests. I say with no hesitation, despite my best effort to burn the house down with me in it, it turned out pretty good.

Listen to the show at the Centanni link below:

http://www.centannibroadcasting.com/id56.html

Edward Rogers, Don Piper & Joe Hurley were terrific guests. The show was a two hour Nantucket Sleighride, the guys pulled me up and down through our tumbling nuthouse but we all hung on.

Ed, Don & Joe, please come back to the show anytime you like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0JrV86EKCs

Don Piper & Edward Rogers are playing next Wednesday @ December 8th At Bowery Electric.

Joe Hurley is playing with the Gents next Tuesday @ December 7th @ Joes' Pub.

http://www.myspace.com/adonpipersituation

http://www.edwardrogersmusic.com/

http://www.roguesmarch.com/

Here's some Slade to take you through the holidays. I forgot Goodbye To Jane was in heavy rotation up Ekis's house on Friday nights.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A8KT365wlA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFAd-zpqWiU

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On the bottom of this page you see the item that made my belly hurt very bad on Sunday night. I ran out of food but found this unopened Sabra Roasted Garlic Hummus in the back of the bottom of my fridge. My weapon of choice was my left index finger. It took ten minutes. This must stop.