You are currently viewing the stories for October, 2021

Of Ghouls and Gratitude

by 10/30/2021
Neighborhood: Park Slope

This time a year ago there was talk of canceling Halloween in New York. Though I am a parent of two children, I was unconcerned. Up until that point, Halloween had been a minor event on our family’s calendar.  The parent listservs, however, were abuzz with ideas on how to make Halloween happen. The problem […]

Glory Days: Crown Heights, Brooklyn, 1948

by 10/24/2021
Neighborhood: Crown Heights

“We’ll have tables for each of your epochs,” Judy brimmed. “One for your elementary school friends, one for your high school friends, one for your college friends, one for your law school friends, and one for your now friends.” She was planning a 70th birthday party for me and was on a roll. “It’ll be such […]

Babysitter to the Stars

by 10/17/2021
Neighborhood: Manhattan

I arrive in New York City in 1970 right after graduating from Carnegie Mellon Drama Department. I pray I’ll hit the big time, but in between auditions I look for flexible jobs to supplement my income. I leaf through the phone book and come to a page titled “Child Care.” One ad stands out “Babysitter’s Guild—the […]

An Afternoon at Saks

by 10/03/2021
Neighborhood: Manhattan

I love Saks. It’s just like Bloomingdale’s, only bigger and the people don’t spray you as much; they just ignore you.  There was an open book in the Saks window called Sample. I stood there looking at it. Two pages were filled with fashion sketches of models with the Polaroid of the actual model next […]