You are currently viewing the stories for “September 2024.”
In the summer of 1979, three friends and I rented a small house in Lanesville, New York. We spent weekends and our summer vacations there. Occasionally, we drove in to Woodstock, but we spent most of our time walking along the Ashokan Reservoir and swimming at North Lake. The best day of the summer happened by chance. We had spent [...]
In the hip nightclub world of 1985 Manhattan, many people were ashamed to admit they were card-carrying members of the Bridge and Tunnel Crowd, the unfortunate who lived in New Jersey and the outer boroughs but worked and played in Manhattan. Not me. I was proud to be included in that group, even at that moment of truth when my [...]
In the summer of 1980, Rob Curatola and I played on the same team at Tiger Basketball Camp. I was a spaghetti-limbed, prepubescent 12-year-old. Rob, a formidable ten-year old, was still encased in baby fat. We made up the team’s front court, with me leaping incessantly around under the basket, doing my frantic best, and Rob expertly racking up points [...]
I got the scalper’s number from a neighborhood friend who worked for him. The tickets I wanted were for Rush’s 1986 “Power Windows” tour, and this scalper was the guy who could help. When I called him, it was immediately one of these frantic and sketchy “Who are you? Why are you calling?” things. I mentioned my friend’s name, and [...]
