First of December ~ Sheep Meadow Central Park

Sheep Meadow was quiet on the first of December and stunning.

A couple made a reservation for the whole place. I felt like an intruder and walked wide around them but snuck behind for two photos.

On the very bottom are two pictures of one particular tree, from yesterday, and from last year in blossom.

Walking through the park yesterday I thought of  Old Friends & Bookends.

October Snow & The 59th Street Bridge

On this last day of the month, I thank everyone who has been reading my stuff and looking at my pictures for the past three years. I began my blog,“Yorkville: Stoops to Nuts,” in the Beach Haven Library on Long Beach Island in October 2008. The librarian kept kicking me off the computer every half hour, and I had to put my name on a list again to use the computer for another half hour even though there were three computers and no one but me was using any of them. I love librarians but not nearly as much as I love nuns.

To acknowledge the pleasure I get from writing about the city I love and in particular the Yorkville neighborhood, I’m putting October snow storm pix up along with pictures of my favorite bridge on earth, a hearty tea drinker, a Halloween shot and a shot of the Beach Haven Library to offset the wintry weather.

Thank you, for telling me you enjoy my work.  My job as a kid was to make my mother laugh.  She’s gone now, so all of you are my present targets.  It’s my job. I love it.

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

The 59th Street Bridge Song in Pictures

Walking to the river in 1967 took one minute from my 83rd Street stoop to the park drive. Our $64 rent included free deep fall sunsets that washed the 59th Street Bridge in last light colors.

Hello lamp-post, what cha knowin'?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KZi-aV0VTk

If you enjoy this blog, please consider voting for it in category # 5, "Best Neighborhood Blog," in the Village Voice's 2010 Web Awards. If you did vote, thank you, so much, Tommy

The link to vote:

http://polls.villagevoice.com/polls/nyv/webawards2010/

Cloudy ~ Old Friends

On a rooftop in Williamsburg last night, I joined a group celebrating Natalie, Marc and Ansley, the hosts & birthday kids. The evening sky was magical: puffy clouds, then a grey drizzle, followed by the sun peeking out and saying good night. The dark fell in rich blues and greens.

Natalie, Marc and Ansley delivered a terrific mix of delicious treats, drinks, and friends.

Darkness on a roof, being in a mix of mostly new people, can make me sad. At this party, I felt the opposite. Sometimes you make a new friend and realize you've been introduced to an old friend. Life is good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGD-DCpP3W0

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOR6p1o2hPI&feature=related

Tuesday Afternoon, 5 P.M.

Central Park put on a show this afternoon. The park lights up again tonight, at a Summerstage concert celebrating Simon & Garfunkel's song book. Their melodies are instilled in my heart; their lyrics embroidered on my brain. I remember where I was listening to their songs for the first time nearly as many times as for the Beatles. After that one listen I was hooked. Bookends remains a recurring source of pleasure for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdKjEHfHINQ
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAoArleLZEk&feature=related

Yorkville Stoops to Nuts is coming to the radio.
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A one hour broadcast every Tuesday from 9pm to 10pm on the Centanni Broadcasting Network. The first show is July 13th live from Giovanna's Italian Restaurant on Lexington Avenue & 100th Street. The show will center on neighborhood history and storytelling ~ prose, poetry and music. Every week, a guest and I will explore one neighborhood institution and dig in the dirt.

Yorkville: Stoops to Nuts ~ on the radio ~ First show @ Tuesday @ July 13th

@9-10pm online on the Centanni Broadcasting Network. Here's the link.

http://www.centannibroadcasting.com/