Stoops to Nuts April Fools Return to Ryan's Daughter

Milo Noven

Thank you, Walter, Jim, Mick, and everybody else at Ryans Daughter for letting us go crazy cuckoo nuts Saturday night at Thomas Pryor's April Fools Stoops to Nuts Soiree.

Thank you, to my fine storytelling friends, Tricia Alexandro,  Joe Dettmore & JP Connolly, for coming on board the nut train.

My heart and gratitude are yours for bringing your best. Thank you, to our Stoops to Nuts audience. We work hard for you. You deserve it.

Here are more photographs from our show Saturday night at Ryan's Daughter.

JP Connolly

Joe Dettmore

Tricia Alexandro

Our Town Photo Contest Winner ~ 3.31.17

  

If you enjoy my work, check out my memoir, "I Hate the Dallas Cowboys - tales of a scrappy New York boyhood." It's available at  Logos Bookstore, 1575 York Avenue, or buy it online at Amazon,  Barnes and Noble or other booksellers. If you do read it, please leave a few honest words about the book on Amazon and B&N. Thank you!  (124 five-star Amazon reviews out of 124 posted)

Tonight @ 7pm @ Ryan's Daughter City Boy's Stoops To Nuts

Tricia Alexandro, courtesy of The New York Times

TONIGHT @ April 1st @ 7PM ~ Ryans Daughter presents Thomas Pryor's April Fools Stoops to Nuts Soiree. Pryor's guest storytellers: Tricia Alexandro, a wonderful actor and talented writer. Ms Alexandro was praised in The New York Times for her work in “The Unrepeatable Moment,” by John Yearly ; Joe Dettmore (Creative Director of The Daily Show, actor, storyteller & and master craftsman): and J.P. Connolly (An infamous Rose Hill yarn spinner who's stories always lead you back to Fordham rugby or The Irish Riviera (Rockaway Beach). Pryor promises a swell time with new Yorkville tales from his "City Boy" solo show with ancient B&W photos and silly movies.

Joe Dettmore

Pryor’s passion is preserving the history of Yorkville and the Upper East Side through storytelling, writing and photography. His solo show about the neighborhood, “City Boy,” premiered at Cornelia Street Cafe and was featured here at Ryan’s Daughter. Copies of his memoir and his acclaimed 2012 photographic portfolio, "River to River ~ New York Scenes from a Bicycle," will be available for purchase.  Ryans Daughter @ 350 East 85th Street (performance space is on the 2nd floor) - between First and Second Avenues. Take the #4, #5 or #6 subway to 86th Street. Or the Q/Second Avenue subway to 86th Street.

Thinking Of Dad

Listening to Dean Martin sing “Houston,” I'm thinking about my father. He died 15 years ago today. If he and I were alone in our 83rd Street living room listening to a record, paying attention I started asking questions he’d take me through the door where I’d learn where the artist was from and everyone they played with throughout their career. If they had a stage name Dad gave me their real one - Dean Martin? Dino Paul Crocetti from Steubenville, Ohio. He did the same with film stars, Archie Leach was Cary Grant, Bernard Schwartz was Tony Curtis and Leslie Townes Hope, a.k.a., Bob Hope, he also boxed under the name, Packy East. I’d get an earful about the Manhattan movie houses Dad went to as a kid that weren’t there by the time I showed up. 

At eight, I knew who Edith Head was. He and I studied the rolling credits for each film on Ch 5, 9, and 11 like we were doing homework. As they scrolled, if I told Dad a piece of trivia he put in my head sometime before he’d break into a grin. He did the same with sports, history and most important, neighborhood lore. He went around the world three times in the Navy and Merchant Marines but he came back to old Yorkville, the neighborhood he loved for 72 years. I can’t imagine growing up without a father. It must hurt all the time. I still feel Dad's love. I still ache when a question crosses my mind and he’s not there to answer it.

Stoops to Nuts Says Goodbye to Steve Northeast

Steve Northeast

Thank you, Tricia Alexandro, Leslie Goshko, Michael Gural-Maiello and Steve Northeast for a wonderful show last night at "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts." A fun time but a sad one, too. We said goodbye to Steve Northeast our host and friend down the stairs in the cabaret. The audience was full of folks who have known Steve during his 11 years at Cornelia and everyone showed their love and affection. Easy to do when your feelings are true. The place will not be the same without Steve. Thank you, Robin Hirsch, Angelo Verga & Joshua Rebell for letting us play in your house. Thank you, Paul for keeping the customers satisfied. Thank you, to a fine crowd who came inside to support us on a lovely night.

I started my day in Bay Ridge, arrived at Cornelia early and walked around the area near the Cafe. The fading light on Leroy Street, put me in a trance.

Here is a link to photos from last night's show and more photos of the neighborhood.

Tricia Alexandro

Mike Maiello

Thomas Pryor

Leslie Goshko

Steve Northeast

Storytelling: "Stoops to Nuts" Tonight @ Cornelia Street

Tonight, come celebrate spring's overdue arrival at "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts,"@ Cornelia Street Cafe.  

Our artists: Tricia Alexandro, Leslie Goshko, Michael Maiello and Steve Northeast. I'll host and tell a tale. This is Steve's final appearance at "Stoops to Nuts," we plan a fine farewell. $8 admission and a free drink. This week's Time Out Magazine thinks "Stoops to Nuts" is a cool thing to do.

Tonight, May 14th @ 6pm @ 29 Cornelia Street (between West 4th St. and Bleecker St.)

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In the 1939 Works Project Administration Guide to New York City the Yorkville neighborhood boundaries were described as 59th to 96th Street and Lexington Avenue to the East River. Most people I grew up with do not agree with that footprint. Especially the southern boundary. But on our many excursions years ago down to 59th Street to make sure the bridge was still there or to ease Mom's Bloomingdale's window shopping itch, I at least felt like I was in the same country.

Today, if you're in the vicinity of the bridge, and you look around, there are still iconic reminders of what the area looked like back when and surprise beauty in unexpected places.

Shown here: photos of the Second Avenue El turning east at 59th Street towards Queens. You can see the storage sign that's still there today and the kiosk for the trolley that crossed the river. At the 61st Street exit ramp the wall of ivy stretching up to a water tower is a perfect distraction from the speeding cars tearing turns or idling impatiently. Any time you are near a bridge or tunnel entrance or exit look around carefully because there are always signs of what came before.

Celebrate Spring Sprung at Stoops to Nuts on Cornelia Street

Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 14, @ 6pm, "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts," at the Cornelia Street Cafe. 

Come celebrate spring sprung with our artists: Tricia Alexandro, Leslie Goshko, Michael Maiello and Steve Northeast. I'll host and tell a tale. 

This is Steve's final appearance at "Stoops to Nuts," we plan a fine farewell. $8 admission and a free drink. 

This week's Time Out Magazine thinks "Stoops to Nuts" is one cool thing to do.

Stoops to Nuts July Swim on Cornelia Street

Thank you, Tricia Alexandro, Julia Greenberg, Jim Hawkins, Lisa Kirchner and Debby Schwartz for bringing your best to the  "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts" show at Cornelia Street Cafe last night. It's a pleasure to sit back and enjoy your terrific talent. Please come back soon.

Thank you, Steve Northeast and Paul for making us feel at home.

Our next show is August 14th. Our guests are Robert Conroy, Claire Jeffreys, Garland Jeffreys and Savannah Jeffreys.

Here are photos from the Stoops to Nuts show and the West Village on a perfect summer night.