A Secret Hiding In Central Park

Walking towards the Westside this morning, I eyed one of my favorite New York relics. Before Central Park was built there was a Receiving Reservoir that sat between 79th and 86th streets and Sixth and Seventh Avenues. It was built in 1842. Locally, It became known as the Yorkville Reservoir. If you walk past the Police Pct. along the south side of 84th/85th St Transverse, look at the rough rock at the base of the building's wall. These stones were part of the old Yorkville Reservoir. In 1936 Robert Moses filled the space in. Today it's the Great Lawn - Central Park.

More public photos here.

My Yorkville memoir, "I Hate The Dallas Cowboys ~ tales of a scrappy New York boyhood" is for sale on Kindle $9.95.

If you like tales of old New York, it's for you, promise.

Spring Near Sprung This Week

Spring scenes from two neighborhood parks.

Central Park, Manhattan's Jewel

I never feel bored in Central Park. It's a year long feast of seasons and their changes, the snow, rain, wind, sunshine, night, blossoms, critters, everything inside the park is a treat. I like getting caught in wicked rain, go under cover and watch the nature show.

This past Saturday, at Bohemian Hall the Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts celebrated Yorkville with a panel of neighborhood old timers, amazing historic lectures about the neighborhood, and the best marionette show I've ever seen and finally, a buffet lunch, a huge delicious spread supplied by the best food spots in Yorkville. It cost only $20 for non-members, and $10 for members, it was a blast!

If they ever do it again, fly there. Thank you, Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts for a wonderful event.

1958

Resevoir

Bethesda Fountain 2015

If you enjoy my work, check out my memoir, "I Hate the Dallas Cowboys - tales of a scrappy New York boyhood." It's available at Logos Bookstore, 1575 York Avenue, or buy it online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble or other booksellers. If you do read it, please leave a few honest words about the book on Amazon and B&N. 

Thank you!

Rory

BF Nov 2015

A Lovely Day

"Sunny, one so true, I love you."

Charlie digging Bobby Hebb on the radio at Central Park Boathouse

After I groove on the San Remo, I'm heading to Baseball as Good Medicine @ Bowery Poetry Club
308 Bowery, New York, NY 
Doors Open at 3:15 PM
Show starts at 3:45 PM
it's a lovely day...

I'm working with the New York Public Library's Neighborhood Oral History Project, "Upper East Side Story." If you lived on the East Side between 59th St. & 96th St. for 25 or more years (the longer the better) and you would like me to interview you about your history in the neighborhood, please email me at tommy.pryor@gmail.com. I'll email you back a document describing the project. It will be an easy conversation where I listen to you talk about where you came from. Your recollections will become part of the permanent record at NYPL, available for the public to hear.

If you enjoy my work, check out my memoir, "I Hate the Dallas Cowboys - tales of a scrappy New York boyhood." It's available at Logos Bookstore, 1575 York Avenue, or buy it online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble or other booksellers. If you do read it, please leave a few honest words about the book on Amazon and B&N. 

Thank you!

(116 five-star Amazon reviews out of 116 reviews posted)

Happy Almost New Year

Wishing every Nut out there, better things next year.

Ray Davies says:

It's really good to see you rocking out
And having fun,
Living like you just begun.
Accept your life and what it brings.
I hope tomorrow you'll find better things.
I know tomorrow you'll find better things.

Spooky Sleigh Ride with Dad

Check out my 1960s memoir, "I Hate the Dallas Cowboys - tales of a scrappy New York boyhood." at Logos Book Store, or purchase the book online at Amazon (113 five-star reviewsout of 113 posted) or Barnes & Noble ~ and buy "River to River ~ New York Scenes From a Bicycle" my photography portfolio online.

Central Park North Transverse ~ 102nd Street

Stoops to Nuts Show, This Saturday, Nov. 21st @ At Ryan's Daughter @ 7-11pm

To lift your mood and mine, here are fall photos of Central Park and special words from our sponsor.

If you are in the city this Saturday, big show!

Stoops to Nuts presents "The Beatles White Album" Show,

Ryan's Daughter @ Saturday, November 21st @ 7-11pm.

Adam Wade

Stoops to Nuts proudly presents "The Beatles White Album" show at Ryan's Daughter, 350 East 85th Street, this Saturday, November 21st @ 7-11pm.

Our Stoops to Nuts artists: 
Walter Michael DeForest (NYC Fringe Festival & The Moth)
Colin Dempsey (Supersmall & The Liar Show)
Joe Dettmore (Daily Show, Creative Director)
Nicole Ferraro (NYTimes & Cornelia Street Cafe)
Daniela Schiller (Supersmall & The Moth)
Supersmall ("Silent Moon")
Amanda Thorpe (Bewitching Me: The Lyrics of Yip Harburg)
Adam Wade (comedy best seller The Human Comedy & two time GrandSlam Moth winner)

"Silent Moon" Supersmall

"The Beatles White Album" show
Stoops to Nuts @ Ryans Daughter
350 E. 85th St.
Saturday, Nov 21st @ 7-11pm
Free show

Thomas Pryor, Yorkville author and historian, (I Hate the Dallas Cowboys ~ tales of a scrappy New York boyhood) presents: "The Beatles White Album" a Stoops to Nuts production. The double Lp with 30 songs came out Thanksgiving week 1968 ($5.99 at Alexanders on Lex and 59th).  My fourteen year old life at home, school and in the street was a mess. That record took me through a dark period. We'll flexibly explore it's influence with stories, songs, drinks, and showcase three terrific new records, The Human Comedy, Silent Moon and Bewitching Me: The Lyrics of Yip Harburg.

Countless walk-up tenement buildings between 72nd Street and 96th Street are coming down as the Second Avenue subway speculation drives developers to assemble sites, destroying Yorkville's unique and historic character and take away precious street light.

Colin Dempsey & Daniela Schiller

One way to keep the memories alive is to talk about them, and I'm taking photos of every local building that is part of planned and current demolition in our area. Stoops to Nuts will continue to bring the history of the neighborhood to life in pictures, words and humor until I kick the bucket.

Thank you, to The New York Times for choosing "Yorkville: Stoops to Nuts," and listing it on your Blog Roll for eight years. We will continue to keep the old NYT City Section alive.

Thank you Ryan's Daughter, Jim, Mick, Walter, for letting us play in your attic. hugs, Tommy, and the three Ryan daughters from  86th & York, my mother, Patty Ryan and her two sisters, Joan Ryan and Barbara Ryan.

Amanda Thorpe

Joe Dettmore

Nicole Ferraro

Walter & teepee @ Ryan's

art by Joe Dettmore

"The Beatles White Album" Stoops to Nuts show

George

Ryan's Daughter 350 E. 85th St. 

Saturday, Nov 21st @ 7-11pm

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 113 Amazon five star reviews out of 113 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.