Stoops Of Atlantis

This is the eulogy I wrote for my amazing and loving dad, Dominick DiCerto, who passed away at the age of 93 on May 7, 2025. 

All seasons have its smells. But no season beat summer for  the variety of scents, stinks, perfumes, essences and aromas that would fill the air around those Stoops of Atlantis. 

After harsh winters, Spring often arrived timidly- but greatly welcomed- around the Stoops of Atlantis. 

Lets face it- as a kid- Christmas is about the swag. And some years that swag shined especially bright. Or didn't.

You'd be surprised how many famous folk are kids of Atlantis. Movie stars, singers, musicians, politicians, wise guys - can all call East Harlem their home town.****NOTE - I reference episode "10 - Making Movies" - it is actually Episode 19!

After a five month hiatus, Mikey D is back and returns to the root of the podcast - colorful stories about the Stoops- in this Jeopardy Game of an Episode!

In the late 1970s - early 1980s video games appeared in Atlantis and lured me off the Stoop. And then came the home computer and this kid from East Harlem found a new purpose in life!The Robots – KraftwerkKids are People Too - Bob McAlisterCruel Summer – BananaramaSnowball – DevoGirl U Want – DevoJust What I Needed – The CarsVideo Games – Ronnie Jones END MUSIC BY  MONKEY PUDDING FACE

It can be hard keeping a Peter Pan worldview in a place filled with pirates. But this kid tried on those Stoops of Atlantis. END MUSIC BY  MONKEY PUDDING FACE

Lets fire up the time machine, slip on your Prokeds and take a stroll around the Avenue with Mikey D.END MUSIC BY  MONKEY PUDDING FACE

Books were all over my house and they helped make life better around those Stoops of Atlantis. Music:Easy Reader themeSesame Street theme InstrumentalPaperback WriterEgg SongVintage Scifi MusicMonophonics Like YesterdayWordsKraftwerk NumbersWalt Grace's Submarine TestHardy Boys ThemeDylan My Back PagesEND MUSIC BY  MONKEY PUDDING FACE

Hanging around those Stoops of Atlantis was often fun. But sometimes you needed to breath new air so it was into Dad's car for some Road Trippin'!MUSIC:1.       Queen – I’m in Love with my Car2.       Lover Boy- Working for the Weekend3.       Supermarket Time Portal Muzak4.       Night City Jazz5.       Paul McCartney and Wings – Silly Love Songs 6.       A Flock of Seagulls – I Ran7.       Queen – Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon8.       The Belairs – Squadcar9.       Bill Withers – Grandma’s Hands10.   Bach – Toccata (Rollerball theme)11.   Sopranos Theme12.   Me First and the Gimme Gimmes – Country RoadsEND MUSIC BY  MONKEY PUDDING FACE

The Dutch called them Stoeps. We called called them Stoops. But those stone steps were much more than practical structures. They were part of our lives and culture.END MUSIC BY  MONKEY PUDDING FACE

Yep- more flubs and Cosmo interruptions. Enjoy!END MUSIC BY MONKEY PUDDING FACE

We were little demons on those Stoops...and we were also altar boys...mix that with idle hands of a dull summer day and you have a recipe for mischief.MUSIC:Hell's Bells - ACDCThe Exorcist ThemeInterstellar First Step - Hans ZimmerSympathy for the Devil - The Rolling StonesAir on the G String - J.S. BachLucifer over Lancashire - The FallRunning with the Devil - Van HalenGonna Raise Hell - Cheap TrickOnly the Good Die Young - Billy JoelEND MUSIC BY MONKEY PUDDING FACE

Last Times are not always last times. Often they are not even obvious as last times. And sometimes they are just the hold between the now and then. Times are strange.

Sometimes you needed a newer, more god-like perspective than those Stoops of Atlantis could offer. So you climbed the steps...END MUSIC BY MONKEY PUDDING FACE

There was a time when nothing was great. Just being and letting the mind explore.

Museums were magic to this kid from East Harlem and no matter if it was downtown or in my backyard- specimens abounded and fill my eyes with delight. 

Put on your Pro-Keds or Chuck Taylors and follow me on another foot powered exploration of East Harlem in the 1970s. 

Memory fragments - like leaves in autumn - fall around this episode.