Bady's House Concert is Boss!

Robin Gelfenbien, Robin Bady, Bridget Bartolini & Tom Rigney

Had a fine time in Brooklyn last night at Robin Bady's House Concert.  Thank you, Robin and Tom, for opening your lovely home for us to come and tell some long yarns in a cozy room. It was a pleasure to meet a bunch of new and interesting people and to hear fantastic stories by Robin Gelfenbien, Megan Hicks and Rick Patrick.

Robin, your show is tops, keep it up!

Rick Patrick

Rick, Megan, Robin & Tommy

The gang

Robin Bady

Jon Calvert, Tom, Robin G, Robin B & Bridget Bartolini

"I'll Slice it Off!"

I earned my first degree at P.S. 77 on the corner of 85th Street and First Avenue. My education continues this Tuesday at BADYHOUSEStorytellingConcert #6 is here!

Robin Bady hosts storytelling with Siobhan V O'Loughlin, Megan Hicks, Judith Heimeman and me. It's a groove this Tuesday, January 21 @ 7pm.

85 Chester Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11218
View Map · Get Directions 

 
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Here's a P.S. 77 memory.

I'm at work on Church Street in the Post Office building, its ten o'clock at night. I'm making art for a friend's birthday card and needed to use the paper cutter. My whole life I've been afraid of that device.

I went to Kindergarten at P.S. 77 on 85th Street and First Avenue. In the spring of 1960, Eisenhower was a lame duck President and the presidential campaign was kicking off.  Because of Kennedy's Catholic thing, there was a buzz in my papal favorable neighborhood about the election. Everybody's parents were taking strong sides; so of course, you did too ~ just repeating whatever you heard. I was for Kennedy, and John Cupo, a five year old, staunch Republican, was for Nixon. John and I had big mouths and we fought over anything. One day, he hit me, I hit him, but the teacher, Mrs. Brown, only saw my punch. She punished me by putting me under her desk in front of the classroom.

I was pretty angry about this and when I heard Cupo laughing at me I started yelling at him from under the desk. This led to little kicks in my ass from Mrs. Brown. She leaned under the desk and told me, "If you ever expect to get out of there, be quiet for the rest of the morning." I said, "OK."
Five minutes later, I heard Cupo and at least two other guys laughing, I assumed at me, and I went a little crazy, yelling, "stupid, fat head, dummy," and other five yr old insults.

By this point, Mrs. Brown was working my ass with her foot like a bass drum. I was immune, Cupo got my goat. I kept it up.

That's when, Mrs. Brown leaned over and said, "Thomas, say one more thing, and I'll put your arm in the paper cutter and slice it off."

Not a word. I'm still scared of paper cutters.

Tuesday Afternoon in Central Park - Stoops to Nuts @ June 11

Three cheers for delicious midweek June afternoons in Central Park. It's fun sneaking up on old friends and giving them a good scare. Alice didn't see me coming. Neither did Pan at the Children's Zoo. Sitting near Sailboat Lake, notebook out, letting thoughts come as they will, life is good.

Next Tues, June 11th @ 6pm, Alice and Hans are running to City Stories: Stoops to Nuts @ Cornelia Street Cafe, to see these terrific artists: Robin Bady, Donna Bailey, Pamela Beth Grossman& Lianne Smith. I'm hosting and telling a yarn. Admission is $8 - includes a free drink. Time Out Magazine says "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts" is a cool thing to do on pg. 44 in this week's issue.

My book of photography, "River to River: New York Scenes from a Bicycle." is on sale for @$12.95 @ Amazon and YBK Publishers.

My published short stories can be found in "Have a NYC 2," and "Lost and Found: Stories from New York."

Mid-June, I'll add new galleries to my "for sale" print site, "Thomas R. Pryor Photography."

Prices will be affordable on all prints:

$40 for 8x10s
$75 for 11x14s.

New galleries will include: Yorkville, Carl Schurz Park, Coney Island, Rockaway, Central Park, Hudson River, East Village, West Village and more. Updates start June 15th.

"I Wish It Would Rain"

"Sunshine, blue skies, please go away," I heard these words coming from a slim black man as we crossed paths on Bleecker Street last night. He looked like David Ruffin and he got his wish ~ but the rain did not prevent a wonderful time for the audience and the artists at the "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts" storytelling show at Cornelia Street Cafe.

Thank you, Barbara Aliprantis, Robin Bady, Mike Fornatale, Leslie Goshko, Joy Kelly, and The Tall Pines for bringing your best game.  I watched the crowd carefully during your sets and everyone was fully engaged in your performances. It was a pleasure to share the stage with you and enjoy your abundant talent. Please come back to Stoops to Nuts soon.

Thank you, Michael and Shannon for hosting the event and making everyone feel at home at the Cafe.

"I know to you, it might sound strange. But I wish it would rain."

West Village storytellers at the Cafe on a rainy June evening.

Barbara Aliprantis

Joy Kelly

The Tall Pines

Leslie Goshko

Robin Bady

Mike Fornatale

The Tall Pines

Leslie Goshko

The Tall Pines

Mike Fornatale

Joy Kelly

Barbara Aliprantis

Robin Bady

Near Equinox Storytelling Fun with Adam Wade & Stoops to Nuts

Today is picture day, enjoy.

This coming Monday, June 11th, I open up for Adam Wade at his monthly show in the Theatre under St. Mark's @ 94 St. Mark's Place.

Next Tuesday, June 12th is our next "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts," storytelling show at Cornelia Street Cafe with amazing near equinox talent: Barbara Aliprantis, Robin Bady, Leslie Goshko, Joy Kelly, Mike Fornatale and The Tall Pines.