Treasure chest by Peter Albrecht. Photo by Neil Grabowsky

“You and yer buddy there, you’re house cats. And I’m an alley cat…”

Play: SAC_02.mp3

TROY, N.Y – As a carpenter, Peter Albrecht has built many of the “third places” in Troy, where the people come to life when they are out on the town. But as a barroom Socrates, he holds his own with Ph.D’s, crack heads and all strata in between. He is as quick to cite the ancient texts as he is with a bawdy tale. He’s also the last stop for Trojans down on their luck, often sharing his meals and even his home for those with nowhere else to go. In this far-reaching conversation, Peter provides a glimpse of a life examined.

At a young age, Peter experienced extraordinary psychic events — full-blown Kundalini stuff. And his upper middle class peers at the time thought he was out of his mind. He was unable to relate to the world and to others. But when a carpenter took him on as a student, Peter eventually acquired the tools to relate to the general mass of humanity. Still, as a common man’s carpenter hustling for a modest livelihood out on the streets, he has had a life-long battle against fate and the current beliefs of our society.

This episode begins with “Achilles’ Choice (A Hero’s Toast From Troy, NY),” written and read by host Duncan Crary.

Content Warning: This episode contains some curse words, the mention of violence, and a story with a sexual reference to a religious figure.

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SAC_02.mp3
(85 MB | 67:21)

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Note: The Featured Works of Peter Albrecht are on Silent Auction at Artcentric in downtown Troy from Jan. 7 – 25. (more info).

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We all know that writers, the Irish, politics and booze go together…until they don’t. And eventually, Jack had all four strikes against him.

Play: SAC_01.mp3

TROY, N.Y. — It’s been a long time since novelist Jack Casey had his last drink. But they say Troy stands for “Tell Right On You,” and some locals in this place still spin yarns about those wild days before this reformed bohemian novelist took the pledge. In this episode, we get the scoop straight from the source. Like many Trojan stories, this one was forged at the bar before it spilled onto the street to tangle with history, class warfare, politics, justice, celebrity and iron.

Back in the 1970s, Jack was tending bar at night and slinging copy for the newspaper by day. He had three pairs of pants and three shirts to his wardrobe. But he had dreams of making it as a novelist. And when the local newspaper agreed to let him publish his novel in serial, the doors started opening for him. Soon, he had a New York City agent, three paperbacks on the rack, a beautiful bride and a Victorian house on the hill. He got himself a law degree and was starting to make a name for himself in politics, too. Things were looking good.

We all know, however, that writers, the Irish, politics and booze go together…until they don’t. And eventually, Jack had all four strikes against him.

Content Warning: This episode contains some curse words.

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SAC_01.mp3
(65 MB | 49:05)

ABOUT JACK CASEY

Jack Casey is a novelist, musician, attorney and former New York State Senate parliamentarian. His books include A Parliament of Fowls, Kateri — Lily of the Mohawks, A Land Beyond the River, and The Trial of Bat Shea.

MUSIC IN THIS EPISODE

“Dunlop’s Saloon,” “Had Enough,” and “As the River Flows” by Jack Casey, from the soundtrack of The Trial of Bat Shea: A Play in Two Acts (released March 2, 2001. Troy Grit Productions)

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James Howard Kunstler (photo by CharlieSamuels.com)

Play: SAC_00.mp3

TROY, N.Y. — For many Americans, “The City” only refers to New York City, or one of the other major metroplexes in the country with populations in the millions. But North America is filled with smaller cities that were once just as lively, if only at a smaller scale. And they may come back to life again as events already underway continue to unfold.

Urban polemicist James Howard Kunstler believes that people will be living a lot differently in the U.S.A. during the coming years. Financial distress and energy scarcity are just two forces that may dictate Americans re-inhabit the centers of our smaller cities. But contrary to prevailing suburban notions of our times, life in an activated urban center — at a smaller scale — is delightful. The more activated these places become, the more desirable it will be to be in them.

Kunstler feels that Troy, N.Y., with its currently population of 49,000, has many characteristics that make it a universal stand-in for every small American city. But he also believes there are aspects that make Troy uniquely poised for a genuine comeback.

For this pilot episode of A Small American City, Kunstler joins host Duncan Crary for a special, introductory conversation about small cities, Troy, N.Y. and the urban fabric. From 2008 to 2012, Crary and Kunstler produced the popular podcast series, The KunstlerCast, a weekly conversation about “the tragic comedy of suburban sprawl.” During their run, the two often used Crary’s home city of Troy, N.Y. as an informal laboratory to illustrate and observe the urban design, energy and economic issues of the times.

Now, after completing what he considers an “intellectual apprenticeship,” Crary will be setting off alone to continue exploring the urban organism. The episode begins with an excerpt from an essay by Crary about his time spent learning from Kunstler and living in Troy, NY. It first appeared in print as the concluding chapter of Crary’s book, The KunstlerCast: Conversations with James Howard Kunstler…the tragic comedy of suburban sprawl, (New Society Publishers, 2011).

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SAC_00.mp3
(60 MB | 43:51)

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ABOUT JAMES HOWARD KUNSTLER

James Howard Kunstler is the author of The Geography of Nowhere, Home From Nowhere, The City in Mind, The Long Emergency and Too Much Magic. He has written more than a dozen novels, including World Made By Hand and The Witch of Hebron. He lives in Washington County (one county north of Troy).

MUSIC IN THIS EPISODE

The song featured in this episode, used by permission, is “After the Great Flood of Troy,” by The Parlor (formerly known as We are Jeneric), from the album “Hansel & Gretel; Stories from the Stove,” (released: March 1, 2007)

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ABOUT THE OPENING MONTAGE

The voices and sound bites heard in the opening montage are as follows:

“No traditional city in history, with the exception of Rome and Athens at their peak, had more than 50,000 people.” —Jaime Correa, urban planner, architect, and professor at the University of Miami.

(Source: KunstlerCast #67: Jaime Correa & The 40 Percent Plan, June 4, 2009.)

“Enormous metroplexes is not the only way to think about cities.”—Catherine Tumber, author of Small Gritty and Green)

(Source: KunstlerCast #197: Catherine Tumber on Small Cities – Part 1, March 8, 2012

“This could be one of the great comeback cities of America.” —James Howard Kunstler, author of The Geography of Nowhere and The Long Emergency

(Source: KunstlerCast #43: Missing Teeth in the Urban Fabric, Dec. 18, 2008)

“I think this place is steppin’ out of line,”—Duncan Crary, author/podcaster

(Source: A Small American City 01: The Night Jack Quit Drinkin’, Dec. 27, 2012)

Singing: “Old Ass Troy” —Respected journalist who prefers to remain anonymous

(Source: Old Ass Troy, limited CD release by Roger Noyes, Dec. 2003)

“If you’re not from Troy, you really don’t get it.” —Jack Casey, author, musician, attorney

(Source: A Small American City 01: The Night Jack Quit Drinkin’ Dec. 27, 2012)

“Troy!” “Troyyyy!” “Troy!” “Troy!” —Annabella, Scarlett & Evelyn Kennedy

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