Coney Island Baby ~ Going, Going, Gone...

Rode Coney Island in the fog this morning and snapped pictures of the barely alive old Playland building on  Bowery Street between Surf Avenue and the Boardwalk.  Below the now shots are Coney and Playland pictures I took three three years ago.  You see the amusement building was fully intact and the 100 year old Johnny Pump in front was not totally covered by overgrowth. Quietly, without fanfare, it's  vanishing.  Coney Island Baby, going, going, gone...

Coney Island Baby ~ Tom Waits

Every night she comes to take me out to dreamland.
When I'm with her, I'm the richest man in town.
She's a rose, she's the pearl,
She's the spin on my world.
All the stars make their wishes on her eyes.
She's my Coney Island Baby,

She's my Coney Island Girl.

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My Blog Entry on Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Coney Island Baby


Coney Island Baby
by Tom Waits

Every night she comes to take me out to dreamland.
When I'm with her, I'm the richest man in town.
She's a rose, she's the pearl,
She's the spin on my world.
All the stars make their wishes on her eyes.
She's my Coney Island Baby,
She's my Coney Island Girl.
She's a princess, in a red dress,
She's the moon in the mist to me.
She's my Coney Island Baby,
She's my Coney Island Girl.

































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Time Waits For No One

My brain tells me I took this picture yesterday. The calender tells me it was 20 years ago. If my brain thinks this photo was taken yesterday, then tomorrow I will be 76 years old.

Our ride is short, each day is a gift. I thank a few friends for things they may or may not know they did for me.

Jack Hoehlein, thank you for turning me on to Garland Jeffreys music.

Freddy Muller ~ Squeeze & how to slide into a base

Steve Murphy ~ Egg Rolls

Gerard Murphy ~ Flounder stuffed with spinach

John Cupo ~ running Central Park's Bridal Path & Reservoir

Robert Marantz ~ directing me to Freefall Writing

Barbara Turner ~ collecting loose thoughts, shaping them

Cris Beam ~ collecting loose stories, shaping them

Mom ~ Irish Sandwich ~ Hellman's Mayo, Iceberg Lettuce, Wonder Bread & Hitchcock

Joannie ~ the beach

Mike "Booger" Howley ~ Tom Waits

Ellen Schecter ~ writing confidence

Pop ~ sitting on a tall stoop

Dad ~ catch, how to collect interesting crap

Nan ~ finish a job properly

Linda Goldstein's Port Authority boss in 1981 ~ Long Beach Island

thank you, Tommy

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I'm telling tonight at Cornelia Street Cafe @ 6pm along with a group of terrific storytellers, please come down.

http://www.corneliastreetcafe.com/

Later tonight, at 9pm, my guests on Yorkville: Stoops to Nuts radio show are Eric Vetter, Alex "The Assassin" De Suze and Carl (Baby Freak) Fortunato. Listen here at the Centanni link:

http://centannibroadcasting.com/index.html

Tuesday, Dec 14 - 6:00PM STORYTELLING Barbara Aliprantis
“Year End Festival Celebrating 14 Years of Storytelling” No theme, no judging, no contest, just great fun, and stories with heart Featured Teller: Thomas Pryor and Cameo slots (5/7 minute limit) for as many tellers time will allow!

http://www.barbaraaliprantisstoryteller.blogspot.com/

Wish You Were Here!

"Wish You Were Here!"

Postcards functioned as the telephone, internet, Facebook and Twitter in the late 1800s & early 1900s.

This is the lead topic on this week's Yorkville: Stoops to Nuts radio show.

My guest Tuesday night @ 9pm, John Harvey, is the author of a terrific historical postcard book of Maplewood, New Jersey. John's an avid collector of postcards from all eras and all places. His grandfather, a Park Sloper, was a regular contributor to the New York Daily News and Brooklyn Eagle's "Remember When?" columns. We'll be reading Pop's turn of the century reminisces.

John and I will explore a few of the postcards and share with you telling messages that said so much more than the few words the small blank box on the postcard allowed.

http://www.amazon.com/Maplewood-Postcard-History-John-Harvey/dp/0738513474

John and I have a long history together as curious seekers of messages and meanings from New York City's & the general Metropolitan area's past. John is a dedicated civic leader, an amazing teacher, and an excellent leadership & career transition coach. John coaches the up and coming Seton Hall Rugby team, "The Pirates."

Tune in, we will tickle your memories. Tom Waits approves!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4pLoRgQ_HM