Dusk in Washington Square Park

Had business in the village last night.  Arrived early and killed time in the park. Saw a fellow doing sand art near the Arch, and another fellow making friends with a squirrel.  Then I watched the light say good night.

more park pix here.

Downtown Thorpe, Uptown Word

Woke up with a fever yesterday, but I recovered later and glad I did. Attended Amanda Thorpe's record release for "Promenade," her new album at The Cutting Room. I love the record and it was a treat to watch and listen to Amanda and her amazing band play each terrific song. My favorites tunes are Monica Says, Once Lovers & Bar Tabac. "Promenade" is a well thought through collection of intelligent and beautiful songs.

Below are a few pix from show (my camera stinks indoors, sorry) the Lower East Side neighborhood and a shot of Brooklyn.

Tonight, I'm heading up to Washington Heights to Eric Vetter's Word Up! show. I'm telling a Thanksgiving story from a long time ago. It's a great variety line-up; please stop by if you are in the neighborhood.

No Name @ Word Up!

Word Up Bookstore

4157 Broadway (between 175th & 176th Streets)

Baby's First Concert: Amanda Thorpe @ The Living Room @ 6:45pm tonight

Mom is taking me to my first concert tonight.

"Why are you so excited?"


"Mom is taking me to my first concert tonight."

This is the first time I'm doing anything besides swim, poop or eat grass.

"Who you seeing?"


"Amanda Thorpe at The Living Room at 6:45pm. This is the first time I'm doing anything besides swim, poop or eat grass."





"That's nice."


"I'm going to sit here a while and think about Amanda's new record, "Promenade," then I'm going to wish happy birthday to my friend, Alison Leigh, then I'm going to do my happy dance again."

I'm just going to sit here a while, then I'm going to do my happy dance again.

Amanda Thorpe Record Release @ The Living Room @ Mon. @ 6:45pm

Harvey the incognito dog has gone undercover.

He was supposed to sniff luggage at JFK tomorrow but instead he’s infiltrating a rare live performance by Amanda Thorpe of her new recording, Promenade, at The Living Room @ Monday night @ 6:45pm.

Promenade was produced with Brad Albetta and Don Piper,  guest musicians include: Tony Scherr, Rob Jost, Craig Chesler, and Rob DiPietro to name a few.  

Show is tomorrow night, Nov 21st @ 6:45pm. @ The Living Room, 154 Ludlow Street.

Here’s what two critics have to say about Amanda’s work. “Amanda Thorpe brings the concept of the chanteuse into the 21st century. Held together as much by Thorpe's versatile singing as by her love noir vision, she silkily moves through the crowd with a drink in one hand, the other, lightly brushing your shoulder as it passes by.” HIGH BIAS Michael Toland. "Thorpe...balanced brassiness and vulnerability with panache"--Variety.com.

Edward Rogers & Don Piper at The New Cutting Room

Thursday night, I visited the new Cutting Room on East 32nd Street to hear the Don Piper Situation and Edward Rogers & the Biba Crowd. A terrific show in a new spot with a warm and familiar name. The Cutting Room will be a destination for music lovers once again. The inside reminded me of Pirates of the Caribbean where all the swords have been replaced with guitars. A very cool space.

Don & Edward led their bands with passion and authority. Each show I watched the musicians carefully as they held stances like gunslingers anticipating Piper & Rogers every move or inflection.  Ready to go here or there. Their collaboration, concentration and precision were breathtaking.

The main celebration was the release of Edward Rogers’s new album,“Porcelain.” The record is gathering terrific press and there is a wonderful video, “The Biba Crowd.”

I highly recommend buying their music and seeing both artists live if you miss seeing bands like Roxy Music, English Beat, Kinks, Moody Blues, Madness, Joe Jackson, Furs, and on and on. The musicianship is that good.

Here are a few pictures of the space, shows, and a little bit of the West Village from earlier in the day.

There Should Be Sunshine After Rain

"There should be sunshine after rain," Mark Knopfler sings on "Why Worry."

Last night, at the “City Stories: Stoops to Nuts” storytelling show at Cornelia Street Café,  rollercoaster feelings rushed through me. I invite great tellers and songsmiths to come perform.  Artists, I admire for their talent and the power to engage me totally in their work. With the audience, I get to sit, listen, enjoy and participate in the show. I thoroughly enjoy curating this event.

Thank you, Cris Beam, Michele Carlo, Crystal Durant, Taffy Jaffe, Lianne Smith & David Terhune for a great show, I deeply admire your talent and hope you came back next year.  Lianne & David, I love your guitar work.

As always, thank you, Steve and Tiffany for making us welcome and keeping the customer satisfied. 

The West Village after dark is a dreamland. Here are photos from last night's show and my early arrival walking Carmine, Leroy & Bleecker Streets.

Next City Stories: Stoops to Nuts show is Tues, December 13th @ 6pm.

The artists:  Barbara Aliprantis, Kelly Wallace Barnhill, Carl Kissin, Mary Lee Kortes, Elizabeth Rowe & Amanda Thorpe. 

It will be a doozy!

In Twilight Time, Dream With Me Awhile

Central Park blows me away. 

In twilight time, dream with me awhile ~ The Moody Blues.

The next "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts" show is tonight, Tues, Nov 15th @ 6pm @ Cornelia Street Cafe.

November’s storytellers & songsmiths: Cris Beam, Michele Carlo, Taffy Jaffe, Thomas Pryor, Lianne Smith, David Terhune & Crystal Durant. Large family gatherings will be discussed. The $7 cover includes a free drink. A swell deal, please join us!

Central Park Slipping Into Darkness

Photographing Central Park is like fishing with sticks of dynamite. I love when the park slips into darkness best.

The next City Stories: Stoops to Nuts show is Tuesday, November 15th @ 6pm @Cornelia Street Café.  

 

November’s storytellers & songsmiths: Cris Beam, Michele Carlo, Taffy Jaffe, Thomas Pryor, Lianne Smith & David Terhune.  Large family gatherings will be discussed. The $7 cover includes a free drink.  A swell deal, please join us!