Krusty Joins Stoops to Nuts at Ryan's Daughter This Thursday @ 7pm

Krusty says the only thing slowing his boozing is "Yorkville: Stoops to Nuts" Holiday Show @ Ryan's Daughter @ 12.4.14 @ 7pm - when he heard Michele Carlo, Abbi Crutchfield, Lincoln C. Chinnery, Walter Michael DeForest, Colin Dempsey & Eric Vetter were going to be in the same place at the same time with the International Silver String Submarine Band, well, Krusty near had a baby.

Yorkville: Stoops to Nuts

Thurs, Dec 4th @ 7-10pm

Ryan's Daughter

350 East 85th Street

between First & Second Avenue

FREE show

I'll sell and sign "I Hate the Dallas Cowboys- tales of a scrappy New York boyhood," at Ryan's Daughter. Thank you, six friends who bought my book yesterday in the East Village at We Three Productions Reading at 2A, 25 Ave A @ 2nd Street. Thank you, Tim O'Mara, Wayne Kral & Harold Dean James for inviting to your home.

P.S. 77 Melodious Mothers Join Stoops to Nuts ~ Thurs, Dec 4th @ Ryan's Daughter, 350 E. 85 St. @ 7pm ~ Free Show

Program from Yorkville Casino, 1952.

"Melodious Mothers" the group that put an 18 inch ruler on every P.S. 77 desk will entertain you (not really) this Thursday, December 4th when Ryan's Daughter presents the "Yorkville: Stoops to Nuts Holiday Show." From 7-10 pm, be pleased as punch. Ryan's address: 350 East 85 St. between First & Second Avenue.

The P.S. 77 Mother's Glee Club, 10 women, tons of song, have long stood behind worthy Yorkville neighborhood causes: free skirt steak at Reliable Meats, more crumbs on Glaser's crumb cake, and squeaky clean toilets in Carl Schurz Park.

Hear your grandparents' favorites: "Dance Me Loose," "I Don't Want to Play in Your Yard,"and "Fine & Dandy." Sung as they should be sung. (Loud and off key as if they were drinking a lot, but they're not.)

The beloved Mother's Club joins our smashing "Stoops to Nuts" artists: Eric Vetter and his unplugged band, Michele Carlo, Lincoln C. Chinnery, Abbi Crutchfield, Walter Michael DeForest and Colin Dempsey. You'll hear your scratched 45 singles from the 1960s and 1970s live, and amazing tales that made a nun stand on a table when two Dutch kids kissed on the Drive after a particularly juicy passage.   FREE show, come on down!

"Stop it!"

Tonight Monday, Dec 1st @ 7pm in the East Village, I'm telling one at We Three Productions Reading at 2A, 25 Ave A @ 2nd Street - Upstairs ~ FREE ~ "Melodious Mother's" are expected to be there in support of their local boy. (I'm Mother's Club President, Ann Pryor Rode's star boarder/farm animal.)

I'll sell and sign "I Hate the Dallas Cowboys- tales of a scrappy New York boyhood," at each event. 

My Four Ryan girls, Ellie, Barbara, Joan & Uncle Mommy give all:  FIVE STARS!

Ellie, Barbara, Joan & Uncle Mommy at St. Stephen Rectory

Praise for the book ~ ( if you do read it, please say a few honest words online in reviews section)

P.S. 77 Mother's Club at Yorkville Casino, 1952.

Ann Pryor Rode belting one out.

“Thomas R. Pryor has written a sweet, funny, loving memoir of growing up old-school in a colorful New York neighborhood. A story of sports, family, and boyhood, you’ll be able to all but taste, smell, and feel this vanished world.”
—Kevin Baker, author of the novels Dreamland, Paradise Alley, and Strivers Row


“Tommy Pryor’s New York boyhood…was the mid-century coming of age of all of us. A rousing read.”
—Robert Lipsyte, author and former city and sports columnist, The New York Times


“Pryor could take a felt hat and make it funny.”
—Barbara Turner-Vesselago, author of Writing Without A Parachute: The Art of Freefall


“Pryor burrows into the terrain of his childhood with a longing and obsessiveness so powerful it feels like you are reading a memoir about his first great love.”
—Thomas Beller, author of J.D. Salinger: The Escape Artist


“I wasn’t alive for the New York Thomas Pryor writes about, but thanks to his brilliant, honest, and hilarious book, I feel like I was there.”
—Dave Hill, comedian and author of Tasteful Nudes

"Fine & Dandy"

my third grade ruler from 1962

We Three's 20th, Stoops to Nuts show, Yorkville Creperie Hosts My Photo Exhibit

Tomorrow, Monday, Sept. 9th @ 8pm ~ "We Three Productions" a.k.a Harold Dean James, Tim O'Mara, Wayne Kral are celebrating the reading series 20th anniversary supporting the NYC writing community. Change your plans! Let these guys know how much we appreciate them. Their generosity has given countless writers opportunities to share their work.

We Three Productions Present Biweekly Readings of Poetry and Prose at 2A
25 Ave A @ 2nd Street. - Upstairs tomorrow @ 8pm ~ FREE

Tuesday night, Sept 10th @ 6pm is our next  "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts" @ Cornelia Street Cafe. Our artists: Colin Dempsey, Daniela Schiller, Nathalie Schmidt, Jimmy Wohl, Ahron Yeshaiek & Super Small. Admission is $8 including a free drink.

Thank you, Time Out Magazine for saying  "Stoops to Nuts" is a cool thing to do on Tuesday coming.

Yorkville Creperie at 1586 York Avenue is currently hosting an exhibit of my photography.  The work will be on display through the end of this year. All framed work is for sale and my photographic prints are available for purchase @  Thomas R. Pryor Photography.  There is a price list on the wall at Yorkville Creperie. The manager has a flyer describing the exhibit with the price list and my background. Please ask your server or the manager for a copy of the flyer.

There will be an opening reception on Tuesday, October 1st @ 7pm to 9pm. 

All are welcome, refreshments will be served.

Missing the Conversation, Missing Dad

Listening to Dean Martin sing “Houston,” I'm thinking about my father. He died 11 years ago today. If he and I were alone in our 83rd Street living room listening to a record, paying attention, and 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, 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. 

Tonight @ 8pm, I’m telling a story about Dad at Bar 82 at 136 Second Avenue, part of the terrific We Three Productions Reading series.  If you are around please come down. Bar 82 is between St. Mark’s and 9^th Street.

Tomorrow, I'm headed for "City Stories:Stoops to Nuts," @ Cornelia Street Café @ 6pm, The incomparable Barbara Aliprantis is guest host and Time Out Magazine thinks it’s a fine thing to do. Here's the scoop. (pg 42)

"Yorkville: Stoops to Nuts" storytelling show is coming back to Ryan's Daughter @ 350 E. 85th Street. Wednesday night, April 3rd @ 7pm. Our last show was standing room only, we plan to top it.

Our amazing April 3rd artists: Michele Carlo, Abbi Crutchfield, Luke Thayer, Adam Wade, Eric Vetter and special guests. I'll host and tell an old Yorkville yarn. Free Event!


Please drop by Cornelia Street Cafe in the West Village to see my photo exhibit "New York Scenes from a Bicycle," on view through March 31st. Framed work and my book "River to River: New York Scenes from a Bicycle," are for sale at the Cafe, my prints are for sale at Thomas R. Pryor Photography, my book is available online through Amazon.

Rory Works Out

Rory working on his first six pack

Was thinking about my brother, Rory, this weekend. When we were kids on 83rd Street our tiny apartment was a space challenged back yard facing claustrophobic nightmare. Possessions were guarded carefully to avert Mom's frequent murder by dusting incidents. Our parents state of war over mess versus clean had no truce. Getting anything new into the place was harder than having your wife sneak Sears tools into a prison. Therefore, how did the next thing happen?

I assume my mother's shock temporarily cut off the air to her brain. If you want to hear the full story, come to Bar 82 tonight for We Three Productions Reading Event, I'm spilling the beans on "Bender's Barbell."

Story teaser:  June 1961, during one of our infrequent midweek on time dinners with all four of us at the kitchen table the doorbell rang. After we exchanged "a nobody rings our bell at this time" look, Mom said,"Who the hell is that?" Up comes Dad's friend, Al Bender, holding a barbell at his side that looks like it was made by the bearded lady while drunk on hootch as a birthday gift for her sweetie the circus strongman. Al says hello, softly places the barbell on the linoleum, and says before walking out, "Bob, I was bored at work and made this for your boys."

Tommy, 55 lbs, makes believe he will lift the 47 lb barbell

Here you see the barbell, Rory and me, three prisoners of 83rd Street working out. Come by tonight and hear our full tale. Rory is gone 14 years, but his spirit will float over Second Avenue tonight.

We Three Productions  

Mon, Sept 17th @ 8pm

free literary show

@ Bar 82 

136 2nd Avenue @ St. Marks

www.bar82nyc.com

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"River to River: New York Scenes from a Bicycle"

Book Event

Friday, October 5th @ 6:30pm

Bailey's Corner

1607 York Avenue

All fans of "Yorkville: Stoops to Nuts" are welcome!

Mom, Rory's Tee Shirt, "What were you thinking?"

Everyday I Write The Book ~ Yorkville Radio Tonight @ 9pm

Tonight on "Yorkville: Stoops to Nuts" radio @ 9pm @ Centanni Broadcasting Network my guests are: Timothy J. O'Mara & Barry Stabile.

Listen here live or on archive at your convenience:

http://www.centannibroadcasting.com/

Tim is a terrific author who's just signed up with two agents to sell his book, "Sacrifice Fly," and Tim is the co-founder of the We Three Productions Reading series (16 years old and going strong at Bar 82). Tim has something on his mind and plans on bringing it to Giovanna's Restaurant tonight.

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

Barry Stabile is an accomplished musician and yarn spinner. He's currently part of "All Mobbed Up." The group was the house band at Cha~Cha's on the Coney Island boardwalk this past summer on Friday nights. Unfortunately, Cha~Cha's lost their lease and like hundreds of things long gone at the beach, it's gone forever. Barry grew up in Bay Ridge and he and I will have lots to say on that subject, starting with the guy who put a bullet in his friend's caboose with a hammer as the trigger, it's a long story, listen tonight and Barry will tell you all about it.

I'm in a Clay Cole and Sandy Becker mood. Thinking of Clay's Christmas shows and Sandy Becker going bananas, "Hambone, Hambone, have you heard? Momma's going to buy you a mocking bird, and if that mocking bird don't sing..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9Wx8BRjzoI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REeeucZtDY0

Over Her Dead Body ~ The Show Must Go On

Thank you, Tim O'Mara, Wayne Kral & Harold Dean James of We Three Productions for hosting a terrific show @ Bar 82 last night.

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Danielle Winston, Mark Goldblatt, Charity Thomas and I had a blast reading our work. We congratulate you on the start of a new year supporting and promoting local poets & writers. You are generous patrons and the New York City writing community deeply appreciates your efforts.

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Thank you to my friends for coming down and cheering us on.

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Here are The Muppets, "The Show Must Go On" with Leo Sayer

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xWXX539JHI&feature=related

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Tonight @ 9pm @ "Yorkville: Stoops to Nuts," radio show, my guest is Coree Spencer, a clever & funny writer ~ we'll talk about the writing process and how our families and music stir it all up.

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Listen in live or on the archive at the Centanni link below:

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http://www.centannibroadcasting.com/

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Or come down to the show at Giovanna's Restaurant @ 1567 Lexington Avenue (between 100st & 101st Street). We broadcast live @ 9pm.

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Telephone Bar, We Three Productions Readings, Goodbye to All That

The Telephone Bar and Grill, an East Village fixture closed last week.

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We Three Productions presented biweekly readings of Poetry and Prose in The Library Lounge for 15 years.

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Thank you, Tim O'Mara, Harold Dean James, Wayne Kral, Audrey Peterson, and Mike Herron for producing the show, and giving countless new writers opportunities to tell their stories, read their poems and connect with an audience. Your love for the production and your efforts were evident. We are grateful. Lisa Lush, thank you for your hard work, hospitality and making us feel at home in the front of the place.

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We look forward to We Three Productions moving the show to a new location later this month.

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Last Night's Show at Telephone Bar

Last night's show was wunderbar. Thank you ,Tim, Wayne and Harold for inviting me to read at Telephone Bar's season opener.

In one story, I explored Yorkville's German butchers in 1962, and my Italian grandmother's shopping idiosyncrasies. My other story examined the schadenfreude pleasure I derive from savoring the Dallas Cowboys suffering, and how it played out one winter day in Yorkville in 1969.

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Thank you, to all my friends who came, and all my friends who sent me good wishes. It always feels good. be well, Tommy

ps hopefully, I'll put a video or audio up this week

Here's Schadenfreude ~ How Bout Those Boys? by trp

As you get older the word hate drifts from your conversation. It’s a bad word, and a silly emotion to hang onto. Life’s too short.

If you’re lucky, you lose it all together. If you’re really lucky, you save it for one person, one particular thing, or in my case, one professional sports team.

If I hear the two words together, Dallas and Cowboys, my middle finger lifts to attention and points at the speaker. I immediately hate the person and think they’re stupid. If that person is wearing a Cowboy jacket, I pray they were overcharged. It always thrills me when they also have a bad haircut.

For me, Schadenfreude heaven is the tangible pleasure I derive from watching the Anti-Christs from Dallas suffer.

This morning, I swooned over the NFC East Division standings, particularly, first and second place

New York Giants 11-2

Dallas Cowboys 8-5

I stared at the standings the way a GI in a swampy World War II trench stared at his wallet photo of Rita Hayworth in a nightie.

Some background, two memories.

A long time ago, the Giants went 2-12. I wasn’t that sad because... That’s right they won 2 of 14 games. BUT, they beat the Texas Anti-Christs 14-6, and also beat the Kansas City Chiefs led by Hank Stram, who perfectly fit the response the kid in Annie Hall had for Joey Nickle, “What an Asshole.”

Second memory… Robby Zimmel was the most obsessive Dallas fan in Yorkville. I’d be down Carl Schurz Park in June suffering abuse over how terrible the Yankees were, and Zimmel would come down the park and start busting my chops over the Giants stinking, a month before training camp opened, temporarily wiping out my hallucinations that the Giants were getting better. I always was close to putting a garbage can over his head. I went in a different direction.
As good as the Cowboys were in the late 60s & 70s they only won the championship twice, and got knocked out of the playoffs every other year.

On the day your team gets knocked out of the playoffs, no matter how well you did during the regular season, you feel horrible. Your world ends, it’s hard to eat, music sounds lousy, girls aren’t as pretty, and it’s raining in your soul.

It’s the perfect time to send that person a post.

Moments after the Cowboys got knocked out the playoffs by the Cleveland Browns on December 28, 1969, I went to St. Stephen’s rectory and bought a fancy $5 Mass Card. Not the cheap $2 card, the fancy card, with a glittering Jesus or Mary in raised relief on the front. In case you don’t know what a Mass Card is, here’s a definition.

Mass Card ~ In the Roman Catholic Church, a card sent to a bereaved person or family indicating that the sender has arranged for a Mass to be said in memory of the deceased.

There was a prim lady at the rectory desk with bouffant hair and a whiff of Jean Nate toilet water. She was massively proud of her penmanship, dying to write in the name of the deceased in big swirls. The conversation went like this.

Lady: “Son, the name of the departed?”

“Can’t tell you, Mam. Mom didn’t spell it for me. She told me, get the card and we’d learn the spelling at the funeral

home off the board and after we find out, I’ll come back and tell you, so you can put the name in for the Mass.”

Reluctantly, she released the Mass Card for my five dollar bill.

I sat on the church steps with the card solid against my thigh and put my calligraphy skill to work, writing out the name of the deceased in beautiful script.

Dallas Cowboys

Adding in block letters: May they rest in peace.

I mailed it to Zimmel, happily spending the extra postage on the fat envelope. My only regret, I wasn’t there when Zimmel opened it.

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Your Lift to Tommy's Reading @ Telephone Bar @ Mon. @ Sept 14 @ 8pm

I've lined up two mugs to drive you to my reading at Telephone Bar & Grill @ Monday, Sept. 14 @ 8pm.

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Accept no other drivers, and make sure their taxi licenses match the ones below.

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These guys are no good, but they are reliable hacks. If they say they are going to get you, somewhere... believe them, or suffer the consequences.

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Tommy's reading on Monday, September 14th @8pm

Telephone Bar & Grill

149 Second Avenue (between 9th & 10th Street)

212- 529-5000

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