Puma Perl's Blog
March 22, 2023
Walking Down 10th Street
Hanging on Tenth St in the 70'sI lived in several different buildings along East 10th Street, on the Lower East Side during the 1970's. My first book, Belinda and Her Friends, published in 2008, was based on the block between First and Second Avenue. Belinda was the real name of my friend Cougar, who lived across the street from me in an abandoned building with a number of other people who kept it going, including the famed late jazz saxophonist known as C Sharpe and his wife, China. The second poem in the book was originally titled "Belinda sits at her window" but was later changed to "Walking Down Tenth Street." Under that title, it has been recorded and filmed.
In May, 2016, while visiting Prague and opening for New York Junk at their shows,I had the opportunity to do some poetry events of my own. This one was filmed by Jackie Barnett. "Walking Down Tenth Street" is the second poem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPou2...
With Louie's father, Jon, outside our apartment at 223 East 10th St, 1975, pregnant with Louie.
More recent days on Tenth Street.Photo, Alice Espinosa-Cincotta
March 15, 2023
The closing of Anyway Café
We are sad to report that, after a great 28-year run, Anyway Café was forced to close its doors. Since its final night, 2/27/23, a group of former employees have banded together to find a new space where they can recreate the great food, music, and general ambiance of Anyway, albeit under a new name. Rumor has it that a clothing store will be leasing the East 2nd Street space.
Because we really need another clothing store.
We will dearly miss our monthly residency. Two photos from our final show below.
First one by Charley Crespo, with, L-R, Dave Donen, Gass Wild, Puma Perl, Joe Sztabnik and Dina Regina.
Second on by Dina Regine.
Valentine's Day at the 11th St Bar
We had a great Valentine's Day show at the 11th Street Bar.
SoulCake opened at 8:30 and Puma Perl and Friends played love, anti-love, and apathetic songs 9:30-11. Saxophonists Danny Ray and Seaton Hancock aka Chuckie aka Raven joined us and Chuckie did a killer solo of "My Funny Valentine."
We will be back July 18, 2023.
First three images by Eileen Spinfree, fourth by Dina Regine.
East Village Art Festival
The Sixth Annual East Village Art Festival took place at the Tompkins Square Library on 12/10/22, 3-7. The theme was "All About the Neighborhood." It was a pleasure to join a great group of artists of any genre including writers, musicians, poets, painters, clothing and jewelry designers, and illustrators.
I performed a few poems with musicians Joff Wilson and Laura Sativa and even sold a few books.
Group photo by Bob Krasner
My books and Delphine LeGoff's artwork. Delphine was one of the organizers of the festival.December 24, 2022
11/22/22 –11th St Bar, Puma Per and Friends with Joff Wilson, Joe Sztabnik and Dave Donen
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Guest Nino Mendoza
Joff Wilson with guest saxophone players Danny Ray and Seaton Hancock
Seaton Hancock
A Journey to Joy Through Decades of Troeller’s Erotic Portraiture by Puma Perl, Chelsea Community News
My article about the retrospective of Linda Troeller's work here:
https://chelseacommunitynews.com/2022...
It was her first NYC exhibit, at the Museum of Sex. Self portrait by Troeller.
11/14/22 – Anyway Café, with Joe Sztabnik and Dave Donen
Second Mondays continue. Photos by (top to bottom) Anne Husick, Ingrid Vipper, Don Sztabnik.
December 23, 2022
10/27/22 –Sally Can’t Dance, Cramps Version
Another Sally Can't Dance Cramps themed show for Halloween. Band was myself, Joe Sztabnik, Rick Eckerle guesting on bass, Dave Donen.
Top photo, Alan Rand, bottom photo, Anne Husick
10/21/22 –Kingston Pop Museum
John Stavros invited Joe Sztabnik and myself to perform at the opening of the AAA Exhibit at the Kingston Pop Museum, Kingston, NY, a tribute to art, music, and fashion exhibition in tribute to Andy Warhol, Antonio Lopez, and Bill Aucoin.Watch video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B7y-... of Joe and myself by John Richard, Group photo courtesy of John Stavros.Also performing were SoulCake, Walter Steding, Michael Anthony Alago, and others.10/15/22 – Music Under the Stars, 6th and B Garden
Last show of the season, with Joff Wilson, Seaton Hancock, Dave Donen, and Joe Sztabnik.
Photo, Danielle Charette
