Duck Hunting With Charlie

Charlie went duck hunting this morning in Central Park. 

No luck. But she had generous opportunity to check out potential targets down the road.

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. The book has 132 Amazon five star reviews out of 132 total reviews posted. Pitching a perfect game! 

My old world echoes TV's "The Wonder Years" ~ just add taverns, subways, nuns and Checker cabs.

Yorkville Summer 1965

"Yorkville Summer 1965" my story was published today. 

Read it at the Mr. Beller's link right here. Thank you, Mr. Beller's Neighborhood!

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. The book has 130 Amazon five star reviews out of 130 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.

Next Friday, Ryan's Daughter, Sept 21 Dettmore & Pryor Salute 45 Singles @ 7pm

Next Friday, here we come...

Logos Bookstore Rolls On!

Congratulations, Harris Healy & Logos Bookstore, on your 20th anniversary on York Avenue. Please support the only remaining bookstore born and raised in Yorkville. Thank you, Peter Pereira, for your terrific local artwork here in this cartoon.

If you like my work check out my memoir, "I Hate the Dallas Cowboys - tales of a scrappy New York boyhood." Available at Logos Book Store.

The book has 120 Amazon five star reviews out of 120 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.

Uncle Mommy's In The Dark & Logos Bookstore Lease Renewal Celebration

My memoir covers my first eighteen years growing up in Yorkville. Eighteen years ago today, Mom died. "Why do you call me Uncle Mommy?" she asked. "Because you're the best uncle I ever had."

Early on, her favorite indoor summer activity was turning off all the lights to keep it cool. Day or night, we walked around our little square apartment in shadows or in the dark. Our mere light coming through our backyard windows,  that was, unless "Thomas Edison" ~ Dad ~ was home. He loved turning everything on at once. But Mom persevered. Following him and immediately snapping the lights and all else off if she wanted quiet, "Quiet helps you stay cool," she told me in my ear as Dad made a spoiled milk face.

Our favorite outdoor thing in summer was Carl Schurz Park's baby pool. And if it was too hot, Mom came in with me. Nice, after eighteen long years, I see her face and hear her voice every day.

Here is a public link to photos from the pool last year.


A message from Harris Healy

Logos Bookstore is celebrating our 40th year in business and the 20th anniversary of our York Avenue location.

We'd like to welcome the Upper East Side community as well as all New Yorkers to join us on Tuesday July 26th at 6:30 PM for free refreshments, a 20% off discount on all items in the store (excepting original artwork and already discounted sale books.

Yorkville native, Thomas Pryor, author of the memoir "I Hate the Dallas Cowboys: Tales of a Scrappy New York Boyhood" will be here to talk about what existed at 1575 York Avenue before Logos Bookstore as well as share other stories of the neighborhood. He will begin around 7:15 PM.

If you like my work check out my memoir, "I Hate the Dallas Cowboys - tales of a scrappy New York boyhood." Available at Logos Book Store.

The book has 120 Amazon five star reviews out of 120 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.

November's End

End of November photos from a Westside bike ride.

More pictures here.



Do you need a gift for an ageless kid? Then 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 reviews out of 113 posted) or Barnes & Noble.

A 1965 Elmhurst Adventure With The Kinks

Rode the # 7 through LIC, Sunnyside & Woodside along the El yesterday on my way to Elmhurst to visit Aunt Barbie Pins. Took some pictures, I'll add more later. Here's an old Elmhurst tale.

*************

I was talking with a friend about how much I love Ray Davies and the Kinks music. This reminded me of a frigid November Saturday afternoon in 1965 when I was eleven.

For some reason, I was staying over my Aunt Barbara's apartment in Elmhurst. I liked to wander around the neighborhood by myself, so I was window shopping along Roosevelt Avenue under the El, breezed past Jackson Avenue. I had a buck, which meant today I would buy one 45 single, and it better be a good one. When I was eleven, no decision carried as much weight and thought as buying a record. There was a small music store near the Jackson movie house. I tired out the clerk looking over the new releases and finally decided on "Till the End of the Day," by the Kinks, because I heard "Where Have All the Good Times Gone?" the flip side once and liked it fine. It was a unexpected gift buying a single when the B side was a good song too.

I ran a half mile to Barbara's apartment on Macnish Street, not breathing, said hi, and went straight to the Victrola. Saw something disturbing.

"Barbara, why is the record player unplugged?"

"It's broke.'
"Huh?"
OK now I was in hell. New music with no means of playing it. I dropped into a chair. Barbara saw the shape I was in and made a suggestion.

"Tommy, Joannie's not home, but why don't you go try Betty?"

Barbara, my Aunt Joan, and their friend Betty Mulhern, all lived in the building. Betty Mulhern was Emma Peel, Barbara Feldon and Serena, Samantha's evil cousin all rolled into one. If you didn't like brunettes, and saw Betty, you'd like brunettes. She danced every new dance, and her wild hair flew. She wore tight shorts on long legs, she wore clam diggers, she painted her pretty toes. Her eyes sparkled, her nose twitched. I couldn't make eye contact with her without my belly feeling funny.

I went down the hall and knocked on Betty's door. Music was playing.

"Hey Tommy, what's up?"

"Hmmm, I have a new record, Barbara's player is broken. Can I play it on yours?"
"Sure, come in."

I put it on. Betty was doing the dishes, and she started to sway her hips. All I could do was watch her move back and forth, back and forth.

I played both sides five times. Would have made it six, if Barbara didn't come in to retrieve me.

Biking Along The East River

Had business on Worth Street a few years ago , biked south along the East River, rested in Foley Square, visited Oliver Street to say hi to one of Al Smith's homes. Gov. Al lived there from 1907 to 1923 a few foot steps from Henry Street in the St. James Parish.

Here's a link to a photo album of the bike ride.

Do you need a gift for an ageless kid?

Then check out my 1960s memoir, "I Hate the Dallas Cowboys - tales of a scrappy New York boyhood."   

On sale, tomorrow, Friday at Logos Book Store, save 25 % ($4.25) off the $16.95 list price. 

Or purchase the book online at Amazon (113 five-star reviews out of 113 posted) or Barnes & Noble.