Keeping the Customer Satisfied at Cornelia Street Cafe

Ward White, Joe McGinty & Claudia Chopek

Last night's City Stories: Stoops to Nuts show at Cornelia Street Cafe was a keeper.  Thank you, Claudia Chopek,  Joe McGinty,  John Newell,  Rick Patrick, Ward White & Rivka Widerman for a sturdy stroll along Avenue A and the entire Lower East Side going back more than than a century, while we sat entranced in a cellar cabaret in the West Village. There's the magic of merged storytelling and music. One of my favorite shows ever. Well done!

Thank you, Steve Northeast, Shannon and Annie for technical support and keeping the customer satisfied. Huge thank you to a fine audience that included new friends, and old friends from St. Stephen's grammar school, LaSalle Academy high school, New York City Housing Authority, my old home from Monday and Friday, friends from my childhood block, Woody, friends my old Yorkville crowd, Florence, and writers who kick-ass Maria Gorshin & Mat Zucker. And everybody else who came out to root us on. I had cuckoo crazy go nuts fun, and I never take it for granted that we make you smile.  Here are pictures from the show, afterwards and the neighborhood surrounding the Cafe.

Walking home over to the #6 train this John Mellencamp song played in my head.

"Can you sing? Can you dance? Can you hold me, baby, again tonight."

thank you everyone. hugs, Tommy

Ward White's hand & guitar, Joe McGinty & Claudia Chopek

Rivka Widerman

Ward White & Claudia Chopek

Singing Fool

Dermott Whalen & Jim Teaman

John Newell

Rick Patrick

Motion in Washington Sq Park

Cornelia St Cafe

Daisy, Lenore & Barry

Cornelia Street towards Bleecker.

Joe McGinty

Ward's Amplification Cube

Ward Joe Claudia

Cornelia Street 

Edmund, Dermott & Jim

Jefferson Market at dusk

Is Ten Years A Long Time?

Robert Pryor's Merchant Marine ID 1951

Dad died ten years ago today. Ten years is a long time for some things, and a short time for others.

It was a hundred years ago, that he and I fought over hospitals, caretakers, hospices, taking care of Mom and my brother, Rory, paying bills, taking care of my grandmother, nursing homes, oncologists, medications, and other things that made us both miserable.

It was yesterday, He and I fought over Sinatra's best song, DiMaggio versus Mantle, calling the street game Ringalario versus Ringalevio, Bogart versus Cagney, how to make a hamburger patty, Wonder Bread versus Silvercup. It was yesterday, he took me to the park to play ball twice a week, taught me to throw a spiral, played me Begin the Beguine for the first time, lived and died rooting for the New York Giants, taught me the tight~loose thing when holding a bat for power and control, took me to Yankee Stadium 15 times a year, 5 Ranger games at old Garden, watched 2,000 movies together, cried together but hid it from each other.

Explained who Zeppo and Gummo were and the beauty of a tongue and groove shelf, told me about his three trips around the world in the Navy and Merchant Marines 500 times, made art together, taught me to respect women, told me every joke ever told and I don't remember one. 

Tom & Dad ~ 1962

Bit my ear while I was sitting on his lap in the passenger seat driving along the Palisades coming home from a lake. I told him to stop and he wouldn’t. I threw his favorite hat out the window and he didn't get mad at me. 

Is ten years a long time? 

Depends.

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Our next City Stories: Stoops to Nuts show is this Tuesday, March 13th @ 6pm at Cornelia Street Café. Our artists are Claudia Chopek, Joe McGinty, John Newell, Rick Patrick, Thomas Pryor, Rivka Widerman & Ward White. Giving away ten drinks. Getting my Irish up, it's my birthday week, bring your best game. $7 and saying "hoity toity," gets you in the door with a free drink.

Time Out Magazine  picked "Stoops to Nuts" as a darn good thing to do this week.  See link.

Joe McGinty

Claudia Chopek

Ward White

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Another Park, Another Sunday

It's cool out but I've had it. My neck and back feel like they’ve been whacked by Lizzy Borden's sturdy axe. I need fresh air. I'm out of here.

Off to the park on the bike, I cycle through the Engineer's Gate at 90^th Street across the street from the Church of the Heavenly Rest, and put my music on ~ first song is  Another Park, Another Sunday by the Doobie Brothers.

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This song goes through me ~ gives me a rich complex feeling starting deep in my belly. It's sad but melodically beautiful. It's OK the lyrics get me down. It's good to be reminded of loss. Weigh where I am,  how I feel, give me a gauge. Central Park is an ideal location for me to do that. I've burrowed through its 843 acres for thousand of hours. Inside the warren, I've climbed, ran, biked, swam, made out, slept, laughed, played, lost a balloon, made promises, torn muscles, watched people, had sex, cried, sealed friendships, fell in love, got high, felt helpless, got lost, fought, made up, said things to people I love that I can never take back. Central Park is organically connected to all my senses.

I did five loops but cheated, using the 102nd Street transverse to get to the Westside. I rarely do the hill from hell at the north end of the park. I have no problem with the hill, but I don't like the long coast down.

I lost my recklessness nine summers ago, when I took a piece of meat out of my forehead over my left eye, when I fell off my bike going down a hill and waited three hours in Lenox Hill to get stitches. Met Ronny Hanerfeld and his family in the emergency room. Then, Nicky Bowen from 87th Street walked in with his group. Each had a kid that needed medical assistance. We had a reunion. It was 96 degrees outside that Saturday. I had a rag over my eye covering the wound, no shirt on, too bloody, the nurse threw it away. My running shorts crept up the crack of my ass. So, with me just shy of nude, we reminisced.

Another Park, Another Sunday  
(The Doobie Brothers)

As I was sittin' in my room, starin' out my window
And wonder where you've gone
Thinking back on the happy hours
Just before the dawn

Outside the wind is blowin'
It seems to call your name again
Where have you gone?

City streets and lonely highways
I travel down
My car is empty and the radio just seems to
Bring me down

I'm just tryin' to find me
A pretty smile that I can get into
It's true, I'm lost without you

Another lonely park, another Sunday
Why is it life turns out that way?
Just when you think you got a good thing
It seems to slip away

It's warm outside, no clouds are in the sky
But I need myself place to go and hide
I keep it to myself, I don't want nobody else
To see me cryin' all those tears in my eyes

Another lonely park, another Sunday
Why is it life turns out that way?
Just when you think you got a good thing
It seems to slip away, yeah yeah

Another park, another Sunday
It's dark and empty thanks to you
I got to get myself together
But it's hard to do

Another park, another Sunday
Why is it life turns out that way?
Just when you think you got a good thing
It seems to slip away, yeah yeah

Another park, another Sunday
It's dark and empty thanks to you
I got to get myself together
But it's hard to do, yeah


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Our Next "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts" storytelling show is Tuesday, March 13th @ 6pm @ Cornelia Street Cafe.  Our near spring artists are: Claudia Chopek, Joe McGinty, John Newell, Rick Patrick, Thomas Pryor, Ward White & Rivka Widerman. Admission is $7 and that includes a free drink of your choice.

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2011 Best Record ~ Ward White's "Done With the Talking Cure"

Thinking about my favorite records this year, topping my list is Ward White’s “Done With the Talking Cure.” The accomplishment of this record is while listening to it I’m reminded of the Beatles “Revolver,” “Painted From Memory,” the Burt Bacharach & Elvis Costello collaboration and “Lovers Concerto,” the 1965 hit by the Toys that stole neatly from Bach’s Minuet in G Major.

Ward White & Claudia Chopek @ Cornelia St. Cafe

I wish I made other decisions in my life as easily as I decide whether or not I enjoy a record. It happens fast and without doubt. There is not a weak tune on this record and the haunting and cynical lyrics sometimes don’t automatically add up with the timeless high tenor voice singing them.  That contrast works well for me.  The songs arrangements especially the string section reminds me of a George Martin production. They are feisty and sweet and compliment the cadence perfectly giving the entire record a cinematic glow.  I was lucky to hear this record before it was reviewed to form my own opinion. But I thoroughly agree with two comments in two reviews.

The New Yorker said, “"Brooklyn’s Ward White sports a sweet, high tenor whose hints of fragility are just a ploy: when he goes after the dramatic top notes, he nails them... soaring, lyrical pop."  The New York Press said, “Ward White comes across as something of a musical John Cheever.”

“Done With the Talking Cure,” is my favorite 2011 album. Over the next week, I'll tell you which records matched up nicely with Ward's and sit on my top five 2011 list. It was a close call. They are all great.

Losers Lounge & The East Village Moon

Losers's Lounge on a warm spring night with an East Village moon. Life is good.

I saw Joe McGinty and The Kustard Kings pay tribute to Neil Diamond at Joe's Pub on Thursday. They and their guests artists were terrific. Thank you, Claudia Chopek, for navigating me to the show. Thank you, Ward White, Nick Danger & KB, for making me comfortable in the crow's nest.

Here are photos.

The New Yorker plugged Ward's CD record release show at Bowery Electric this Tuesday, April 19th for "Done With The Talking Cure."

The record is great, come down and hear it. Joe McGinty is doing a full set, too.

Storytelling Goes Electric

Storytelling went electric last night at Cornelia Street Café. Ward White plugged in his Micro Cube; Claudia Chopek lifted her violin and out came the Velvet Underground’s “I’m Waiting for the Man,” and “Change Your Clothes,” off Ward’s terrific new CD, “Done with the Talking Cure.” Amanda Thorpe shared a tender story before strumming her guitar leading into two city songs. Michele Carlo cleverly dodged bullets and bullies in Class ~ 8BC (Behavior Control). D. Indalceio Guzman came in costume with art work and a mischievous fellow. All Adam Wade wanted was a lean quarter pound of roast beef from John the Deli guy to go with his separately bought fifty cent hero. I played indoor tackle football in friends’ furniture-cleared living rooms while trying to swindle a ticket to a New York Giants game.

Carrying on a fourteen year old tradition, storytelling is alive and well at Cornelia Street on the second Tuesday of the month.Thank you, Barbara Aliprantis, for recommending I guest curate while you are on sabbatical. Angelo Verga and Robin Hirsch, thank you, for allowing me to tryout; and thank you, Steve & Tiffany, for keeping the customers satisfied.

Thank you, Claudia, Ward, Amanda, Daniel, Michele and Adam for playing with gusto. Last night was one kick ass sandbox. I can’t wait to do it again.

Our next, “City Stories: Stoops to Nuts,” storytelling show is Flag Day, June 14th @ 6pm @ Cornelia Street Cafe.

Staten Island Ferry Sunset

The Staten Island Ferry is the best ride in New York City. You can keep your fun houses, wild mouses, and roller coasters. I'll take the round trip across the harbor in good weather or poor and see what the elements have in store. And the ferry is free!

Here are pictures from a beautiful sunset viewed from the ferry.

I'm curating my first "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts," storytelling show, next Tuesday, April 12th @ 6pm @ Cornelia Street Cafe, featuring storytellers & songsmiths:

Michele Carlo, Claudia Chopek, D.Indalecio Guzman, Amanda Thorpe, Adam Wade, Ward White. Please come down, I promise you a wonderful time.