Tag Archives: stuyvesant town

Fascinating: Link to Article About Stuyvesant Town History

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  Lee Lorch click the link below Lee Lorch, Desegregation Activist Who Led Stuyvesant Town Effort, Dies at 98 The New York Times   In the early years of Stuyvesant Town’s creation, I was too young to know about, let alone understand, racism. My parents were original tenants in Stuyvesant Town, in lower Manhattan. It was developed to help alleviate the housing shortage after the end of WW II. We had a one-bedroom apartment that had a large walk-in closet. From the windows we saw windows and more windows. A reminder that we were all the same. We were all … Continue reading →

30. It’s Automatic: NY Phenomenon: Fun Fast Food

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One of my fondest memories of growing up on East 14th Street in Manhattan was the Horn & Hardart, Automat, near Union Square. My mother would take me on the Avenue B bus for a 10 minute ride, and the excitement would build. We’d often go shopping first at S. Klein on the Square, where one could find bargains galore; great stuff and everything at low prices. After some heavy shopping, we’d round the corner and pop into the Automat. It was a chain that started in Philadelphia by Joseph Horn and Frank Hardart, and became most popular in New … Continue reading →

469. My book: Email from my cousin

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Mazel tov, cuz! I sat on my porch this beautiful afternoon with your book and read it cover to cover.  I found the autobiographical poems most affecting, maybe in part because I’m familiar with your cast of characters.  The memories of Stuyvesant Town and childhood friendships are so vivid.  I particularly admired the story-poem about your exhausted mother sending her two little girls downstairs for a birthday present.  What a wonderful snapshot of that time and place and those beleaguered men and women known as our parents.  Congratulations, dear Susan.  And thank you for your sweet inscription. Best of luck … Continue reading →

194. Poetry reading: (Part 2) Soldier Boy

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    It’s the summer of 1960, and your new transistor radio is in your hand. ***** **** It would be helpful to read the  introduction in the preceding blog before reading the poem. Part 1 Soldier Boy ©2/4/08 by the author, all rights reserved   **** The transistor radio was ready with fresh batteries; I got it in 1960 when I graduated from P.S. 61. My dad brought it home; it was red and had a brown leather case, there was a cut out on the side to access the knob to tune the dial.  Then the stick marker … Continue reading →

193. Poetry Wednesday: Introduction: Part 1

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Introduction to my memories A typical photo. This is the corner of First Avenue and 14th street. In the series, Sex and the City, the scene where Miranda [Cynthia Nixon] is going to work and is greeted by the guy in the hot dog suit; it was filmed across the street and in the lower left foreground.     Several of my poems refer to the place where I grew up, in New York City.  I felt that it would help the reader better visualize what I was referring to when I mentioned “Stuyvesant Town.” Stuyvesant Town is a housing development … Continue reading →

11. Poetry: 1959

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A retreat back to the late ’50’s where life was simple and safe. original post 4/20/07 I wrote a large collection of poetry after 9/11 while on a teaching sabbatical. This is one of them. When the world gets to be a little too much, I retreat to happy, innocent years. Enjoy the music; it is not all from 1959, but thereabout. I should write a poem about Richard Panik; in 6th grade he was the first boy I ever danced with. The song was Richie Valens’ “Oh Donna.”  The place was the school gym.  I was giddy.  It was … Continue reading →