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“If you want to create change, do it. Don't wait for permission.” In this episode of The RebelRebel Podcast, host Michael Dargie sits down with Rebecca Bratspies, a law professor, author, and environmental justice advocate, to explore the fascinating and often overlooked history of New York City's place names. Her book, Naming Gotham: The Villains, Rogues, and Heroes Behind New York Place Names, reveals the incredible (and sometimes shocking) stories behind the names of streets, bridges, and parks in NYC. This episode is sponsored by my new book BRANDJITSU, helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. From the surprising origins of the Major Deegan Expressway to the dark past of Rikers Island, Rebecca takes us on a journey through power, politics, and the shaping of a city. She uncovers stories of forgotten heroes like Tadeusz Kosciuszko, who fought for freedom on two continents, and exposes figures like Richard Riker, whose “Kidnapping Club” sent free Black New Yorkers into slavery. Beyond history, Rebecca also dives into her environmental justice work, including the Environmental Justice Chronicles, a series of graphic novels that make legal and environmental issues accessible to everyone. She shares her passion for storytelling, how she breaks out of conventional academic roles, and why “staying in your lane” is overrated. This conversation is packed with history, social justice, and inspiration—perfect for rebels looking to challenge the status quo and make a difference. Cool Things Rebecca Says “You don't have to stay in your lane.” “The segregation we see in cities today was created intentionally. If we want to solve it, we need to understand that history.” “Major Deegan was not the war hero I expected. He was a mid-level bureaucrat!” “Rikers Island was named after a man who kidnapped Black New Yorkers into slavery. And it's still a jail today. That history matters.” “If you want to create change, do it. Don't wait for permission.” Episode Highlights Rebecca's journey to writing Naming Gotham and why NYC's street names reveal hidden stories. Major Deegan's surprising past – Not a war hero, but a bureaucrat! The dark history of Rikers Island and its connection to slavery. Tadeusz Kosciuszko: A Revolutionary War hero and anti-slavery advocate. Robert Moses: The man who shaped NYC—but at what cost? How place names reflect power and exclusion in urban planning. Rebecca's environmental justice work and how it intersects with her historical research. The Environmental Justice Chronicles: Using comics to make legal and environmental issues accessible. Why “staying in your lane” is a myth—and why you should follow your passions. Links from the Episode Rebecca Bratspies' Website – https://rebeccabratspies.com Naming Gotham: The Villains, Rogues, and Heroes Behind New York Place Names – https://www.amazon.com/Naming-Gotham-Villains-Rogues-Heroes-ebook/dp/B0BVBY7BV6/ The Environmental Justice Chronicles (Free Download) – https://www.rebeccabratspies.com/environmental-justice-chronicles Non-Stop Metropolis: A New York City Atlas by Rebecca Solnit & Joshua Jelly-Schapiro – https://www.amazon.com/Nonstop-Metropolis-York-City-Atlas/dp/0520285956 Hosted by: Michael Dargie THEREBELREBELPODCAST.COM | LINKEDIN.COM Get Your Copy of Michael's Book: "BrandJitsu™: Move Your Brand From 'Meh' To Memorable" Indigo | Barnes & Noble | MichaelDargie.com
A new five-part docuseries follows the young girls of Figure Skating in Harlem as they prepare for competitions, performances, and international showcases. "Harlem Ice" director Samantha Knowles discusses the series, which begins streaming on Disney+ this Wednesday, February 12.
As WNYC celebrates its centennial this year, All Of It presents a special on the life of one of New York City's most important mayors: Fiorello La Guardia. La Guardia was the first Italian-American Mayor of New York who led the city during the aftermath of the Great Depression, Hitler's rise to power, and World War II. He was a Republican mayor in a liberal city who wasn't afraid of speaking out for what he believed was right. His decisions also have a huge impact on how our city looks and moves today. He unified our subway system, created NYCHA, and also was Mayor during the rise of the controversial figure, his Parks Commissioner Robert Moses. La Guardia also had a significant presence on WNYC airwaves during his tenure. His weekly "Talks to the People" broadcasts averaged 2 million listeners. He spoke directly to New Yorkers about issues that affected them, from the price of groceries, to war defense training, to more light hearted moments like when he read the comics to children during a newspaper strike. Join us for Patience and Fortitude: A History of Mayor La Guardia on WNYC, where we'll dive into the WNYC archives and get to know Mayor La Guardia, his early life, triumphs and faults, along with Terry Golway, author of the book, I Never Did Like Politics: How Fiorello La Guardia Became America's Mayor, And Why He Still Matters.
A new exhibition at the New-York Historical Society looks at centuries of New Yorkers and their animals and how each impacted the other. From indigenous groups like the Mohawk, who had a spiritual connection with some animals, to settlers who brought European hunting culture, to New Yorkers who featured their pets prominently in painted family portraits, Pets and The City also explores the legislative side of how New York has used the law to protect animals as well as govern their behavior. Curator Roberta Olson joins us to discuss the show, on view through April 20.
In this membership-drive mini-series, Tommy Silk, a licensed New York sightseeing guide, @LandmarksofNY on Instagram, and the author of Hidden Landmarks of New York: A Tour of the City's Most Overlooked Buildings (Black Dog & Leventhal, 2024), joins us to talk about some of the lesser-known historically significant buildings of NYC. Today, =>EVENT: Register here to see Tommy Silk in conversation with Barry Bordelon, half of the viral duo the Brownstone Boys, at BPL's Center for Brooklyn History, November 7, 6:30pm
In this membership-drive mini-series, Tommy Silk, a licensed New York sightseeing guide, @LandmarksofNY on Instagram, and the author of Hidden Landmarks of New York: A Tour of the City's Most Overlooked Buildings (Black Dog & Leventhal, 2024), joins us to talk about some of the lesser-known historically significant buildings of NYC. Today, Today, we hear stories about buildings involved in buying and selling.=>EVENT: Join Tommy Silk in conversation with Jack Coyne at Grace Church Wednesday, 10/23 at 6:30pm. Reservations requested.
In this membership-drive mini-series, Tommy Silk, a licensed New York sightseeing guide, @LandmarksofNY on Instagram, and the author of Hidden Landmarks of New York: A Tour of the City's Most Overlooked Buildings (Black Dog & Leventhal, 2024), joins us to talk about some of the lesser-known historically significant buildings of NYC. Today, we hear about some of private homes all around the city, landmarked for their significance or the accomplishments of people who lived there.=>EVENT: Join Tommy Silk in conversation with Jack Coyne at Grace Church Wednesday, 10/23 at 7pm. Reservations requested.
Rachael Tartell grew up in a piece of New York City history. Her parents owned and operated the historic Block Pharmacy where the upper east side (and plenty of celebrities) got their essentials. Robin Williams and his alarm clock antics had everyone cracking up, and Christopher Reeves stepped out of a phone booth as Superman across the street. And now Rachael is sharing the nostalgic joy after unearthing a line of hair accessories her parents commissioned and named after her back in the store's heyday. Check out our convo to hear where she's selling these vintage but brand new pieces!
Rebecca Bratspies and Natalie Gomez-Velez, professors at CUNY School of Law, discuss Professor Bratspies' book, Naming Gotham: The Villains, Rogues and Heroes Behind New York's Place Names (Arcadia Publishing 2023).
20240802 - NYC History On Fun Friday by Kevin McCullough Radio
Abby sits down with our friend Alan from A Storied Native, to talk about the dark history of New York City. We discuss Roosevelt Island, the New York Lunatics Asylum and Nellie Bly, the lost estates of Astoria, Queens and North Brother Island. Follow Alan @A_Storied_Native on Instagram.lunaticsproject.comGet Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Listen to the paranormal playlist I curate for Vurbl, updated weekly! Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the Show.
(***TIMESTAMPS in description below) ~ Kenny Wong is a former Triad Gang Member & Ghost Shadows Gangster from NYC's Chinatown. The Triad's were a Chinese transnational organized crime syndicate based in Greater China with outposts in various countries having significant overseas Chinese populations. The triads originated from secret societies formed in the 18th and 19th centuries with the intent of overthrowing the then-ruling Qing dynasty. The Ghost Shadows were a Chinese-American organized crime group active all around the country but centered in NY from the 1960s to the 1990s. - BUY Guest's Books & Films IN MY AMAZON STORE: https://amzn.to/3RPu952 EPISODE LINKS: - Julian Dorey PODCAST MERCH: https://juliandorey.myshopify.com/ - Support our Show on PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/JulianDorey - Join our DISCORD: https://discord.gg/Ajqn5sN6 JULIAN YT CHANNELS: - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Clips YT: https://www.youtube.com/@juliandoreyclips - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Daily YT: https://www.youtube.com/@JulianDoreyDaily - SUBSCRIBE to Best of JDP: https://www.youtube.com/@bestofJDP ***TIMESTAMPS*** 00:00 - Kenny background, China Town, Eddy Chang, Moving from Hong Kong 09:50 - Kenny's Uncle Arrested, Ghost Shadow Gang, Father Murdered 20:07 - Post-Father Murder, Revenge, Singapore Lash, Joining Ghosy Shadow Gang 30:07 - Extortion, Kenny's Mentality on China vs USA, Moving to Hong Kong 38:15 - How the Triad's Work, Triad's Escape to Hong Kong 44:55 - Triad's Dark Initiation Process, Mindset w/ Crime 57:50 - Involvement in Organized Crime, Hatred For Anyone, China's School Culture, Returning to NYC 01:07:52 - Joining NYC Ghost Shadow Gang, Drug Runs, Young Boss & Errand Boy 01:20:23 - Green Dragon Gang, Connection to Medellin Cartel, Kenny's Anger Issues & Drug Usage 01:31:07 - Chinese Gang War, 1989 China Town Murders 01:37:25 - Armed Robbery Gone Bad, 18 Months in Prison 01:46:23 - Japanese vs Chinese Rivalry, Nanjing R@pe, WW2 ‘731' Testing, Ghost Shadow Initiation 01:56:41 - Ghost Shadow Gang Slow Collapse, Informant & Kenny Accused 02:05:55 - Sister Ping, Someone Snitched, Kenny Stabbings in Prison 02:17:57 - Day Kenny Went Down, Going to Prison 7-8 Years, Lewisburg Prison, Lou Ferrante 02:29:23 - Out of Prison, Worst Day in NYC History, Ending of Ghost Shadows & Flying Dragons 02:38:58 - Leaving New York, Life After Gang Life 02:47:20 - Find Kenny, Book Coming Out CREDITS: - Hosted & Produced by Julian D. Dorey - Intro & Episode Edited by Alessi Allaman ~ Get $150 Off The Eight Sleep Pod Pro Mattress / Mattress Cover (USING CODE: “JULIANDOREY”): https://eight-sleep.ioym.net/trendifier Julian's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianddorey ~ Music via Artlist.io ~ Julian Dorey Podcast Episode 206 - Kenny Wong
Our next stop on the podcast is a great conversation with Chris Murch who you may know online as Nigel Roxbury. Amassing 125k followers on TikTok, Chris is best known for his recommendation and history videos. On this episode, we discuss our mutual love for the city and life itself, the museums we want to create, and more.Follow Chris (@nigelroxbury) on Instagram and TikTokFollow NYC History Hub on Instagram @nychistoryhubFollow Jane (@janeaugust) on Instagram and TiktokFind out more at janeaugust.nycEmail: janeaugustnyc@gmail.comThis episode of the 'The Next Stop Is...' was recorded at BRIC House in Downtown Brooklyn with support from BRICand premiered on Brooklyn Free Speech Radio. You can learn more about BRIC at https://bricartsmedia.org/
In this New Books Network/Gotham Center for NYC History podcast, guest host Beth Harpaz, editor of the City University of New York website SUM, interviews Jeanne Theoharis, distinguished professor of political science at Brooklyn College. Their topic is a new book just out from NYU Press, co-edited by Theoharis, called The Strange Careers of the Jim Crow North: Segregation and Struggle outside of the South (NYU Press, 2019). The book looks at the history of institutionalized racism around the U.S., showing that laws, policies, and entitlements in every region of the country not only created segregated communities, but also promoted affluence and opportunities for white Americans while keeping African Americans out of the middle class. “There did not need to be a ‘no coloreds' sign for hotels, restaurants, pools, parks, housing complexes, schools, and jobs to be segregated across the North as well,” wrote Theoharis and her co-editor Professor Brian Purnell of Bowdoin College. In the podcast, Theoharis shows how African-Americans have faced discrimination in everything from pre-Civil War legal codes in New York, to 20th-century government programs like Social Security and the G.I. bill. She and Harpaz also discuss the ways in which the legacy of these racist policies persist today in public education, the criminal justice system, and other aspects of American society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-american-studies
In this New Books Network/Gotham Center for NYC History podcast, guest host Beth Harpaz, editor of the City University of New York website SUM, interviews Jeanne Theoharis, distinguished professor of political science at Brooklyn College. Their topic is a new book just out from NYU Press, co-edited by Theoharis, called The Strange Careers of the Jim Crow North: Segregation and Struggle outside of the South (NYU Press, 2019). The book looks at the history of institutionalized racism around the U.S., showing that laws, policies, and entitlements in every region of the country not only created segregated communities, but also promoted affluence and opportunities for white Americans while keeping African Americans out of the middle class. “There did not need to be a ‘no coloreds' sign for hotels, restaurants, pools, parks, housing complexes, schools, and jobs to be segregated across the North as well,” wrote Theoharis and her co-editor Professor Brian Purnell of Bowdoin College. In the podcast, Theoharis shows how African-Americans have faced discrimination in everything from pre-Civil War legal codes in New York, to 20th-century government programs like Social Security and the G.I. bill. She and Harpaz also discuss the ways in which the legacy of these racist policies persist today in public education, the criminal justice system, and other aspects of American society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
In this New Books Network/Gotham Center for NYC History podcast, guest host Beth Harpaz, editor of the City University of New York website SUM, interviews Jeanne Theoharis, distinguished professor of political science at Brooklyn College. Their topic is a new book just out from NYU Press, co-edited by Theoharis, called The Strange Careers of the Jim Crow North: Segregation and Struggle outside of the South (NYU Press, 2019). The book looks at the history of institutionalized racism around the U.S., showing that laws, policies, and entitlements in every region of the country not only created segregated communities, but also promoted affluence and opportunities for white Americans while keeping African Americans out of the middle class. “There did not need to be a ‘no coloreds' sign for hotels, restaurants, pools, parks, housing complexes, schools, and jobs to be segregated across the North as well,” wrote Theoharis and her co-editor Professor Brian Purnell of Bowdoin College. In the podcast, Theoharis shows how African-Americans have faced discrimination in everything from pre-Civil War legal codes in New York, to 20th-century government programs like Social Security and the G.I. bill. She and Harpaz also discuss the ways in which the legacy of these racist policies persist today in public education, the criminal justice system, and other aspects of American society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies
In this New Books Network/Gotham Center for NYC History podcast, guest host Beth Harpaz, editor of the City University of New York website SUM, interviews Jeanne Theoharis, distinguished professor of political science at Brooklyn College. Their topic is a new book just out from NYU Press, co-edited by Theoharis, called The Strange Careers of the Jim Crow North: Segregation and Struggle outside of the South (NYU Press, 2019). The book looks at the history of institutionalized racism around the U.S., showing that laws, policies, and entitlements in every region of the country not only created segregated communities, but also promoted affluence and opportunities for white Americans while keeping African Americans out of the middle class. “There did not need to be a ‘no coloreds' sign for hotels, restaurants, pools, parks, housing complexes, schools, and jobs to be segregated across the North as well,” wrote Theoharis and her co-editor Professor Brian Purnell of Bowdoin College. In the podcast, Theoharis shows how African-Americans have faced discrimination in everything from pre-Civil War legal codes in New York, to 20th-century government programs like Social Security and the G.I. bill. She and Harpaz also discuss the ways in which the legacy of these racist policies persist today in public education, the criminal justice system, and other aspects of American society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/law
In this New Books Network/Gotham Center for NYC History podcast, guest host Beth Harpaz, editor of the City University of New York website SUM, interviews Jeanne Theoharis, distinguished professor of political science at Brooklyn College. Their topic is a new book just out from NYU Press, co-edited by Theoharis, called The Strange Careers of the Jim Crow North: Segregation and Struggle outside of the South (NYU Press, 2019). The book looks at the history of institutionalized racism around the U.S., showing that laws, policies, and entitlements in every region of the country not only created segregated communities, but also promoted affluence and opportunities for white Americans while keeping African Americans out of the middle class. “There did not need to be a ‘no coloreds' sign for hotels, restaurants, pools, parks, housing complexes, schools, and jobs to be segregated across the North as well,” wrote Theoharis and her co-editor Professor Brian Purnell of Bowdoin College. In the podcast, Theoharis shows how African-Americans have faced discrimination in everything from pre-Civil War legal codes in New York, to 20th-century government programs like Social Security and the G.I. bill. She and Harpaz also discuss the ways in which the legacy of these racist policies persist today in public education, the criminal justice system, and other aspects of American society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this New Books Network/Gotham Center for NYC History podcast, guest host Beth Harpaz, editor of the City University of New York website SUM, interviews Jeanne Theoharis, distinguished professor of political science at Brooklyn College. Their topic is a new book just out from NYU Press, co-edited by Theoharis, called The Strange Careers of the Jim Crow North: Segregation and Struggle outside of the South (NYU Press, 2019). The book looks at the history of institutionalized racism around the U.S., showing that laws, policies, and entitlements in every region of the country not only created segregated communities, but also promoted affluence and opportunities for white Americans while keeping African Americans out of the middle class. “There did not need to be a ‘no coloreds' sign for hotels, restaurants, pools, parks, housing complexes, schools, and jobs to be segregated across the North as well,” wrote Theoharis and her co-editor Professor Brian Purnell of Bowdoin College. In the podcast, Theoharis shows how African-Americans have faced discrimination in everything from pre-Civil War legal codes in New York, to 20th-century government programs like Social Security and the G.I. bill. She and Harpaz also discuss the ways in which the legacy of these racist policies persist today in public education, the criminal justice system, and other aspects of American society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-south
Living in a big city has its perks of fascinating history at every corner, and Nigel Roxbury is the one to share it with the world (or just TikTok, basically the same thing). Today, we are joined by one of our most incredible friends, NYC history-aficionado Chris, AKA Nigel Roxbury, to talk all things history, music, mental health, dating & way more (there's not much we DIDN'T touch on this episode). Join us as we deep dive into Chris' rise to TikTok fame, from his rap career to traveling up and down NYC to experience some of the city's history. We're also talking a TON about mental health, from growing up with a therapist as a parent to his struggles with Alcohol Use Disorder and the ins and outs of recognizing self-destructive behaviors & being able to talk about them. Of course, we HAVE to tap into his dating life also, so tune in as we talk about the cons of intentional dating through dating apps, getting your flirt on, and TONS of weird dating stories (from astrology girlies to girls simply using him to get back at an ex, there's a story for everything). Follow Nigel Roxbury on TikTok @NigelRoxbury: https://www.tiktok.com/@nigelroxbury & on Instagram @NigelRoxbury: https://www.instagram.com/nigelroxbury/ Follow us on Instagram, Twitter & TikTok and make sure to DM us your situations for Gin & Tips! @gintoxicpodcast on Instagram @gintoxicpodcast on Twitter @gintoxicpodcast on TikTok Follow Christina Harris on Instagram, Twitter & TikTok @beautychickee on Instagram @beautychickee on Twitter @beautychickee on TikTok Follow Lily Stewart on Instagram, Twitter & TikTok @lilyystewart on Instagram @lilystewartt on Twitter @lilystewartttt on TikTok New episodes every Wednesday at 12PM ET. Music by @MarkGenerous. Stay toxic.
Listeners call in to try their hand at a New York City history quiz.
It's membership drive quiz time. Today, New York City History! Listeners call in to try their hand at a New York City history quiz.
Gerardo met NYC History teacher and social media phenomenon Sari Rosenberg at the NNSTOY conference in July. For a long time, we have followed Sari's Instagram where she posts Reels of her pushback against racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic and anti-Semitic ideas and policies that seem to be all too common in today's civic discourse. Sari, whose path into teaching was considerably more tentative than her life as a teacher-activist, has become an outspoken voice for equity, justice, and teaching history honestly. We have a fun conversation, which includes Sari's early forays into popular music and innovative entertainment technology, and her how she really feels about the trolls and hate groups on social media platforms (spoiler: she honestly does not care), and we hear a terrific Top Five (ish) Visit our sponsors, Cetera, and get a discount to plan your financial future! Sari's Website Sari's Work! Sari's Top Five! Support the podcast on Patreon!
Tom Delgado (NYC Tour Guide & Joe's old roommate) shares some spooky stories from New York City's history. Plus Ana Fabrega (Los Espookys) talks about home invasion.Subscribe on Patreon to get episodes early and to access 8 Hour Max-Drift Versions. Plus, we depend on listener support since there are no ads https://www.patreon.com/DriftingOffwithJoePeraCheck out Tom's Youtube and IG for more NYC History.Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/tomasd00Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tomdnyc/Music and Sound Design by Ryan Dann.Produced by Grant Farsi for Chestnut WalnutIf you haven't already - check out Joe's new standup special here:https://youtu.be/9_97zE4GRZk?feature=sharedHappy Halloween! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this day in 1977, a citywide power outage created total chaos in New York City.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In March of 1860, sailors found a bloody ghost ship floating in New York's East River. The discovery sparked a manhunt for a serial killer who had robbed and killed his way around the globe. This episode is the story of the last pirate and the original gangster, Albert Hicks.Sources:Asbury, Herbert. The Gangs of New York: An Informal History of the Underworld. (New York: Alfred A Knopf, 1927).Cohen, Rich. The Last Pirate of New York: A Ghost Ship, A Killer, and the Birth of a Gangster Nation. (New York: Spiegel & Grau, 2019).“The Original Gangster Style Guy.” The New York Times. June 10, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/10/fashion/the-original-gangster-style-guy.html“A Walking Tour of New York, Circa 1860, Accompanied by the Cities' Last Pirate.” Vulture. June 11, 2019. https://www.vulture.com/2019/06/touring-the-new-york-of-albert-hicks-new-yorks-last-pirate.html“Meet the 19th-Century Pirate Who Taught New York's Tough Guys How to Flex.” Vanity Fair. June 4, 2019. https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2019/06/meet-the-19th-century-pirate-who-taught-new-yorks-tough-guys-how-to-flexHicks, Albert W. The Life, Trial, Confession and Execution of Albert W. Hicks, the Pirate and Murderer… (New York: Robert M. De Witt, 1860).Articles from the New York Times, March to July 1860Music: Credits to David Fesilyan and Luke HoliznaFor more information, visit www.oldbloodpodcast.com
After almost three years of pop-up outdoor performances and playing in venues around the city, the NY Phil came home to a newly renovated David Geffen Hall in October of 2022. Part of Lincoln Center, the hall originally opened in 1962 to acclaim and controversy on the former site of the San Juan Hill Neighborhood. In this first season back, the NY Phil and Lincoln Center paid tribute to a lost community with a new commission by Etienne Charles.Learn more about David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, home of the New York Philharmonic. On August 23, 2023, this episode was updated to include additional details about the Afro-Caribbean population of San Juan Hill and the workers contracted to rebuild David Geffen Hall.The NYPhil Story: Made in New York production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Helena de Groot, Sapir Rosenblatt, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonemaker, Eileen Delahunty, Christine Herskovits, Natalia Ramirez, and Ed Yim. Our engineering team includes: George Wellington and Ed Haber. Production assistance from: Ben James, and Jac Phillimore and Mary Mathis. Additional audio provided by NYC Municipal Archives. Special thanks to Monica Parks, Adam Crane, Gabe Smith, and the New York Public Radio Archives.A transcript of this episode is available on our website: nyphilstory.com
It's Monday, Let's raise a glass to the beginning of another week. It's time to unscrew, uncork or saber a bottle and let's begin Exploring the Wine Glass! If you are familiar with me or this podcast, you know how much I love Spanish wine. Today I am sharing a recording about the wines of Jumilla. The Great Spain Match was held at Little Spain in NYC. It was a perfect location to celebrate the wines of this supra-automous region. Although the majority of the wine is produced in the Murcia DO, vineyards are also found in Castile-La Mancha. The region experiences a continental climate with mediterranean influences and is located on the Altiplano range. The vineyards are up to 2600 ft. ABS and 96% of the wines are red, primarily Monastrell. Please take a moment to rate and review the podcast. Did you know you can do it right now, while you are listening? New ratings and reviews are how the algorithms decide which podcasts they recommend to others and if you love the podcast, other wine lovers will too! And don't forget to add your email address on the website to keep up on all things Exploring the Wine Glass. Find out more about Jumilla wines on their website. Music: WINE by Kēvens Official Video Follow me on Instagram! Follow me on Twitter! Subscribe to my YouTube channel SIGN UP FOR EXPLORING THE WINE GLASS NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBE ON iTUNES STITCHER | iTUNES | GOOGLE PLAY | SPOTIFY | PODBEAN | AUDIBLE | BOOMPLAY Even ask your smart speaker to play Exploring the Wine Glass GIVE US A RATING AND REVIEW Thoughts or comments? Contact Lori at exploringthewineglass@gmail.com. Please support our sponsor Dracaena Wines - Our Wines + Your Moments + Great Memories Use code 'Explore' at checkout to receive 10% off your first order GET SPECIAL OFFERS FOR DRACAENA WINES
“Travel expands time, because you're not experiencing the everyday of what you normally do. It's all about discovery, and experiencing that with other people.” —Pegi Vail In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Pegi talk about how she originally sought to depict a "visual ethnography" of world travelers, their global impacts, and their power as a "gentrifying" force (2:00); how the world of travel has (and hasn't) changed since Pegi made her film ten years ago, and how immigrants and migrant workers also represent travel communities just like backpackers and expats (11:00); the ways the notion of "journey" can serve as a metaphor for non-travel experiences, and how travel can expand one's sense of time (26:30); what stories travelers choose to tell about places, and how drug-scenes have fueled travel communitas over the years (31:00); the role digital photography now plays in travel, and the individualized notion of what an "explorer" is (39:30); and the importance of allowing yourself to get lost on that road, the "structured danger" of most adventure travel, and relying on your "personness" (rather than technology) as a traveler (49:00). Pegi Vail is an anthropologist and filmmaker who directed the documentary Gringo Trails. She is also a sustainable-travel consultant whose academic work has focused on visual anthropology, Indigenous media, and the role of storytelling to the political economy of tourism in the developing world. She is the Co-Director of New York University's Center for Media, Culture, and History. Vail is a founding member, curator, and featured storyteller of the popular not-for-profit storytelling collective, The Moth. Notable Links: The Vagabond's Way, by Rolf Potts (travel book) Williamsburg (gentrified neighborhood in Brooklyn) Banana Pancake Trail (travel circuit in SE Asia) Lower East Side Tenement Museum (historic site in NYC) History of hosteling (inexpensive lodging system) Hippie Trail (overland travel circuit in 1960s and 1970s) The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald (novel) Hmong people (ethic group in SE Asia) Nelson H. H. Graburn (anthropology scholar) Communitas (communities created by shared endeavor) Arnold van Gennep (ethnographer who coined "rites of passage") Chaebol (South Korean industrial conglomerate) Rolf and Ari Shaffir talk psychedelics (Deviate episode) Backpack Ambassadors, by Richard Ivan Jobs (book) Margaret Mead Film Festival (documentary film festival) Spike Lee (American filmmaker) Melvin Estrella (Pegi's partner and film producer) J. Edgar Hoover (American law-enforcement administrator) Eurail Pass (European train pass popular with backpackers) On Photography, by Susan Sontag (book) The Explorers Club (professional club in New York) Saul Bellow (American novelist) A Field Guide to Getting Lost, by Rebecca Solnit (book) Beryl Markham (British-African aviator and author) Digital detoxing (intentional refrain from using digital devices) Hippocampus (part of the brain) The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel's 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don't host a “comments” section, but we're happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.
This weeks guest is, Shiloh Frederick, creator of @shilohinthecity a resource for exploring NYC in a different way (off the beaten path with a New Yorker who's rediscovering her city and takes everyone along for the ride). Shiloh shares fun history lessons and facts from all the city boroughs (not just Manhattan) and she also makes it so interesting and inviting. In our lighthearted, yet very informative conversation, Shiloh drops so much insight on NYC, plus 2-3 things to do in each borough. She mentions the attraction that brought her to tears and shares why Staten Island is often forgotten. She'll also get into food places to explore, facts about NYC you may not want to hear, and her number one tip to Native New Yorkers and those looking to call NYC home. It's been a 3 years in the making to have the honor to interview Shiloh and I hope you enjoy our conversation. Be sure to reach out if you have any questions. Please subscribe, rate, and review Gossipnista wherever you listen to your podcasts. Follow along on Instagram @GossipnistaPodcast to stay up-to-date on the latest about the podcast, episodes and exclusive content.Thank you for your support. Xoxo,Gossipnista
Stephanie Simon has staying power. For the last 25 years, she has worked at NY1 News where she covers art and culture in all its many forms across the five boroughs, including the visual arts, jazz, the New York Philharmonic, New York history, and everything in between. Her career in news started in 1st grade when she started her very own newspaper entitled, "The Gossip Gazette," which was quite a hit with her classmates in Ambler, Pennsylvania. Since then, she has danced with the Rockettes, been serenaded by Wynton Marsalis, roasted by comedian Jeff Ross, yucked it up with A-list comedians, interviewed rock stars, and walked on the biggest stages in the world. Find out how Stephanie does when the tables are turned and she is in the spotlight.
This week I had the pleasure of speaking with TikTok creator and musician Nigel Roxbury on taking care of his mental health, creativity, and historical spots in New York City. In this interview, Nigel talks about his own challenges with mental health as a former collegiate athlete, and the difficulties of navigating New York as a young adult. We also talk about best practices for engaging in the creative process, and how Nigel got started on TikTok. Stay tuned at the end of our interview where Nigel shares some of his favorite spots in New York City and NYC's best kept secrets :) --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stella-stephanopoulos/support
Documentary filmmaker Ric Burns and James Sanders, architect and filmmaker, co-authors (with Lisa Ades) of New York: An Illustrated History (Knopf; Expanded edition, 2021), quiz listeners on New York City history and discuss their newly expanded book on the subject.
Macabrepedia: A Marriage of True Crime and the Truly Bizarre
Typhoid Mary was a woman named Mary Mallon. Mary infected 50 people and was responsible for killing 3 by infecting them with typhoid fever while working as a cook, but she was innocent of everything except carrying germs... the first time. The second time, Mary was guilty of murder.Twitter & Facebook: @macabrepediaInstagram: @macabrepediapodEmail us at: macabrepediapod@gmail.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/Macabrepedia)
In this episode, Dan Holohan walks us through a troubleshooting job at Fraunces Tavern, which was built in 1719 and is the oldest structure in NYC.
Patrick, Tara and EmKay continue into the depths of the subway for the most terrifying scene of "The Wiz!" The trio spills the history of the Hoyt-Schermerhorn Streets station and other iconic projects filmed there, highlights abandoned subway stations around the city, EmKay discovers a huge realization about the MTA and each host shares some of their most memorable subway experiences.Show Notes:Patrick's WebsitePatrick's InstaBehind the Magic (YouTube channel)The Most Fascinating Abandoned Subway Stations in New YorkA Compromise for the Michael Jackson Subway Station by Jennifer 8. LeeJACKO ON TRACKO! KING OF POP TO ADORN SUBWAY ENTRANCE by Gersh KuntzmanInstagram: @downtheyellowbrickpod#DownTheYBPTara: @taratagticklesEmKay: @emshrayOriginal music by Shane ChapmanEdited by Emily Kay Shrader
Podcasting is a labor of love and The Bowery Boys define it!Reinventing the way we consume history about New York City is what The Bowery Boys podcast has been doing since the 2000's. The podcast is a New York City staple along with their hosts and creators Greg Young & Tom Meyers. On today's episode and long holiday weekend, it's only appropriate that I have Greg Young (@boweryboysnyc) to share his New York City story, insights on the city's history, and how The Bowery Boys got their beginnings. Today, The Bowery Boys, are a media empire, which not only includes the podcast, but live shows, NYC tours, a book, and endless content about New York City's history with so much more on the horizon. After countless media publications and interviews, I'm grateful to have had a chance to speak with Greg Young and have him share more about The Bowery Boys as well as how Lower Manhattan and September 11th may have had a big role in inspiring the Bowery Boys creation. He also breaks down the top episodes to start with, if you're new to The Bowery Boys podcast, (as there are nearly 400), amongst his favorites. And of course, never before heard tips on navigating the city as well as some that may already sound familiar, but that are reoccurring amongst my guests and key to navigating the city. Some of the biggest takeaways include New York is not a passive city; there's always a new discovery in New York to explore or by viewing it in a different way; and that New York sometimes takes you on its own course of where your life and path should go…so be open! Shoutout to Tom Meyers, the other half of The Bowery Boys, who is on double baby duty having adopted a precious little girl during the pandemic. Enjoy my interview with Greg Young.---Please subscribe, rate, and review Gossipnista wherever you listen to your podcasts. Follow along on Instagram @GossipnistaPodcast to stay up-to-date on the latest about the podcast and episodes.Thank you for your support.XOXO,Gossipnista
Have you ever seen an ad - on TV, in a magazine, or online - that was so clever it made you laugh out loud? Or just hit so close to home it took you by surprise? What about an ad that was so unbelievably “off” that you couldn't believe anyone ever thought it was a good idea, much less got it greenlit and broadcast into the great collective consciousness? (that Kendall Jenner Pepsi ad, anyone….?). If you've ever wondered where this peculiarly capitalist form of communication came from, wondered why certain marketing campaigns “work” while others crash and burn, or just been curious about the complex psychology behind getting people to open their wallets… well, this is the episode for you. Popular historian and old friend Jem Duducu brings us to the inner sanctum of New York City's 1920s “Ad Men,” and traces their legacy straight on through to today's consumer economy, predicated on universal social media channels that paradoxically target individual communications more precisely than ever before. So, grab your fedora and follow me onto the swinging streets of New York City in the Jazz Age, to learn how we got here, and, as always, to think about where we might be headed in the future.
Feb 11, 2021 - Daily News and Some ComedySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/theoneminutenews)
Emily reaches out during COVID.01:02 Jaws11:16 The Warriors27:19 Goodfellas, Casino, The Irishman44:48 Ekaterina 55:50 Cool Runnings
Join Mark as he talks to friend and artist, David Headley, about his artist journey.
Jessica and Caitlin complete part two of their series covering the lives of LGBTQ+ rights activists Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera.Act 1: Merci MackSources:Marsha P. JohnsonNYT’s Overlooked on Marsha P. Johnson, written by Sewell ChanThe Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (Available to watch on Netflix)Podcast unearths earliest known recordings of trans icons Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, CBC RadioPay It No Mind - The Life and Times of Marsha P. JohnsonStreet Transvestite Action Revolutionaries, Lavender & red, part 73, Workers World by Leslie FeinbergMarsha P. Johnson InstituteHuman Rights Campaign: New Report on Youth Homeless Affirms that LGBTQ Youth Disproportionately Experience HomelessnessSylvia RiveraSylvia Rivera, Biography.comSylvia Rivera Changed Queer and Trans Activism Forever by Elyssa Goodman, ThemSylvia Rivera Was More Than Stonewall, CT Trans History and ArchivesA Woman for Her Time" by Riki Wilchins, The Village Voice I Have to Go Off: Activist Sylvia Rivera on Choosing to Riot at Stonewall," The GuardianThe Stonewall Uprising"An Amazing 1969 Account of the Stonewall Uprising" by Garance Frankie-Ruta, The Atlantic "History Has Overlooked the Gay Liberation Front's Role in Stonewall...Until Now" by Mark Segal, LGBTQ Nation"The Stonewall You Know Is a Myth. And That's O.K." by Shane O'Neill, The New York TimesOutroNorthwest Youth ServicesMental Health Resources
Jessica and Caitlin complete part two of their series covering the lives of LGBTQ+ rights activists Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera.Act 1: Merci MackSources:Marsha P. JohnsonNYT’s Overlooked on Marsha P. Johnson, written by Sewell ChanThe Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (Available to watch on Netflix)Podcast unearths earliest known recordings of trans icons Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, CBC RadioPay It No Mind - The Life and Times of Marsha P. JohnsonStreet Transvestite Action Revolutionaries, Lavender & red, part 73, Workers World by Leslie FeinbergMarsha P. Johnson InstituteHuman Rights Campaign: New Report on Youth Homeless Affirms that LGBTQ Youth Disproportionately Experience HomelessnessSylvia RiveraSylvia Rivera, Biography.comSylvia Rivera Changed Queer and Trans Activism Forever by Elyssa Goodman, ThemSylvia Rivera Was More Than Stonewall, CT Trans History and ArchivesA Woman for Her Time" by Riki Wilchins, The Village Voice I Have to Go Off: Activist Sylvia Rivera on Choosing to Riot at Stonewall," The GuardianThe Stonewall Uprising"An Amazing 1969 Account of the Stonewall Uprising" by Garance Frankie-Ruta, The Atlantic "History Has Overlooked the Gay Liberation Front's Role in Stonewall...Until Now" by Mark Segal, LGBTQ Nation"The Stonewall You Know Is a Myth. And That's O.K." by Shane O'Neill, The New York TimesOutroNorthwest Youth ServicesMental Health Resources
Jessica and Caitlin are back! Fresh off a mini-summer break, they bring you the first half of a two-part series covering the lives of LGBTQ+ rights activists Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera.Act 1: Breonna TaylorVisit https://justiceforbreonna.org/ and click on "take action." Episode Sources:Introduction"At Least 18 Transgender People Killed in 2020, Advocacy Group Says" by Erin Donaghue, CBS NEWSMarsha P. JohnsonNYT’s Overlooked on Marsha P. Johnson, written by Sewell ChanThe Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson, written by David France and Mark Blane, directed by David France (Available to watch on Netflix)“Podcast unearths earliest known recordings of trans icons Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera,” CBC RadioPay It No Mind - The Life and Times of Marsha P. Johnson by Michael Kasino on YouTube“Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries”, Lavender & red, part 73, Workers World by Leslie FeinbergMarsha P. Johnson InstituteHuman Rights Campaign: “New Report on Youth Homeless Affirms that LGBTQ Youth Disproportionately Experience Homelessness”Sylvia Rivera"Sylvia Rivera," Biography.com"Sylvia Rivera Changed Queer and Trans Activism Forever" by Elyssa Goodman, Them"Sylvia Rivera Was More Than Stonewall," CT Trans History and Archives"A Woman for Her Time" by Riki Wilchins, The Village Voice "'I Have to Go Off': Activist Sylvia Rivera on Choosing to Riot at Stonewall," The GuardianThe Stonewall Uprising"An Amazing 1969 Account of the Stonewall Uprising" by Garance Frankie-Ruta, The Atlantic "History Has Overlooked the Gay Liberation Front's Role in Stonewall...Until Now" by Mark Segal, LGBTQ Nation"The Stonewall You Know Is a Myth. And That's O.K." by Shane O'Neill, The New York Times"Two Transgender Activists Are Getting a Monument in New York" by Julia Jacobs, The New York Times
Jessica and Caitlin are back! Fresh off a mini-summer break, they bring you the first half of a two-part series covering the lives of LGBTQ+ rights activists Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera.Act 1: Breonna TaylorVisit https://justiceforbreonna.org/ and click on "take action." Episode Sources:Introduction"At Least 18 Transgender People Killed in 2020, Advocacy Group Says" by Erin Donaghue, CBS NEWSMarsha P. JohnsonNYT’s Overlooked on Marsha P. Johnson, written by Sewell ChanThe Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson, written by David France and Mark Blane, directed by David France (Available to watch on Netflix)“Podcast unearths earliest known recordings of trans icons Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera,” CBC RadioPay It No Mind - The Life and Times of Marsha P. Johnson by Michael Kasino on YouTube“Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries”, Lavender & red, part 73, Workers World by Leslie FeinbergMarsha P. Johnson InstituteHuman Rights Campaign: “New Report on Youth Homeless Affirms that LGBTQ Youth Disproportionately Experience Homelessness”Sylvia Rivera"Sylvia Rivera," Biography.com"Sylvia Rivera Changed Queer and Trans Activism Forever" by Elyssa Goodman, Them"Sylvia Rivera Was More Than Stonewall," CT Trans History and Archives"A Woman for Her Time" by Riki Wilchins, The Village Voice "'I Have to Go Off': Activist Sylvia Rivera on Choosing to Riot at Stonewall," The GuardianThe Stonewall Uprising"An Amazing 1969 Account of the Stonewall Uprising" by Garance Frankie-Ruta, The Atlantic "History Has Overlooked the Gay Liberation Front's Role in Stonewall...Until Now" by Mark Segal, LGBTQ Nation"The Stonewall You Know Is a Myth. And That's O.K." by Shane O'Neill, The New York Times"Two Transgender Activists Are Getting a Monument in New York" by Julia Jacobs, The New York Times
Trump was right and the media was wrong, as per usual.Trump warned in 2017 Jefferson and Washington could be next and he was right. But we are not just talking about the far left tearing down statues Democrats in NYC want Thomas Jefferson removed from city hall.Mainstream Democrats are not just passively watching they are actively engaging in the removal of our history in support of a fringe ideology that is creeping ever more into the mainstream.And where are Republicans? Doing nothing, saying nothingDemocrats in California have just voted to repeal civil rights law that would prohibit discrimination in a move so shocking I still don't understand how this is possible. Some Republicans have spoken up but where is our leadership? Why won't our politicians stand up and call this out?#FarLeft#Democrats#TrumpSupport the show (http://timcast.com/donate)
Urban Dance & Dialogue Interview with Jazzy J (Electric Boogaloos) & Disco Dave (Boogie Brats). NYC History, Culture, Preservation. With Rashaad & Future behind the camera.
Cole Riley came to New York to attend NYU a decade ago. He recently pivoted his company Founders Market to become Founders Give to organize the largest food drive in NYC history to support the healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. He talks about a new found respect for human connection and what healthcare workers do day in and day out.
EPISODE 303: The residential complexes Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village, built in the late 1940s, incorporating thousands of apartments within a manicured "campus" on the east side, seemed to provide the perfect solution for New York City's 20th century housing woes. For Robert Moses, it provided a reason to clear out an unpleasant neighborhood of dilapidated tenements and filthy gas tanks. For the insurance company Metropolitan Life, the city's partner in constructing these complexes, it represented both a profit opportunity and a way to improve the lives of middle class New Yorkers. It would be a home for returning World War II veterans and a new mode of living for young families. As long as you were white. In the spring of 1943, just a day before the project was approved by the city, Met Life's president Frederick H. Ecker brazenly declared their housing policy: "Negros and whites don’t mix. Perhaps they will in a hundred years, but not now.” What followed was a nine year battle, centered in the 'walled fortress' of Stuy Town, against deeply ingrained housing discrimination policies in New York City. African-American activists waged a legal battle against Met Life, representing veterans returning from the battlefields of World War II. But some of the loudest cries of resistance came from the residents of Stuy Town itself, waging a war from their very homes against racial discrimination. boweryboyshistory.com Support the show.
EPISODE 300: Andrew Haswell Green helped build Central Park and much of upper Manhattan, oversaw the formation of the New York Public Library, helped found great institutions such as the American Museum of Natural History and the Bronx Zoo, and even organized the city's first significant historical preservation group, saving New York City Hall from demolition. This smart, frugal and unassuming bachelor, an attorney and financial whiz, was critical in taking down William Tweed and the Tweed Ring during the early 1870s, helping to bail out a financially strapped government. But Green's greatest achievement -- championing the consolidation of the cities of New York and Brooklyn with communities in Richmond County (Staten Island), Westchester County (the Bronx) and Queens County (Queens) -- would create the City of Greater New York, just in time for the dawn of the 20th century. Kenneth T. Jackson, editor of the Encyclopedia of New York, called Green "arguably the most important leader in Gotham's long history, more important than Peter Stuyvesant, Alexander Hamilton, Frederick Law Olmsted, Robert Moses and Fiorello La Guardia.'' So why is he virtually forgotten today? "Today not one New Yorker in 10,000 has heard of Andrew Haswell Green," wrote the New York Daily News in 2003. In our 300th episode, we're delighted to bring you the story of Mr. Green, a public servant who worked to improve the city for over five decades. And we'll be joined by an ardent Green advocate -- former Manhattan Borough Historian Michael Miscione. Support the show.
EPISODE 299: Part Two of our series on the history of Brooklyn Heights, one of New York City's oldest neighborhoods. By the 1880s, Brooklyn Heights had evolved from America's first suburb into the City of Brooklyn's most exclusive neighborhood, a tree-lined destination of fine architecture and glorious institutions. The Heights would go on a roller-coaster ride with the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge and the transformation of Brooklyn into a borough of Greater New York. The old-money wealthy classes would leave, and the stately homes would be carved into multi-family dwellings and boarding houses. The new subway would bring the bohemians of Greenwich Village into Brooklyn Heights, transforming it into an artist enclave for most of the century. But even with addition of trendy hotels and the Brooklyn Dodgers (whose front office was located here), the Heights faced an uncertain future. When Robert Moses began planning his Brooklyn Queens Expressway in the 1940s, he planned a route that would sever Brooklyn Heights and obliterate many of its most spectacular homes. It would take a devoted community and some very clever ideas to re-route that highway and cover it with something extraordinary -- a Promenade, allowing all New Yorkers to enjoy the exceptional views of New York Harbor. This drama only served to highlight the value and unique nature of Brooklyn Heights and its extraordinary architecture, leading New York to designate the former tranquil suburb on a plateau into the city's first historic district. FEATURING: Truman Capote, Jackie Robinson, Gypsy Rose Lee, St. Ann's Warehouse, Matt Damon and the Jehovah's Witnesses! Support the show.
On this week’s show: Teacher-community solidarity was the key to victory in the 2018 Los Angeles teacher's strike, but this wasn't the case in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Ocean Hill-Brownsville in 1968 when the longest teacher strike in New York City history also turned out to be its most divisive. Nick Juravich explains why. Questions, comments or suggestions welcome, and to find out how you can be a part of Labor History Today, email us at LaborHistoryToday@gmail.com Labor History Today is produced by Union City Radio and the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor. Produced & engineered by Chris Garlock and Patrick Dixon.
EPISODE 297: Dr. David Hosack was no ordinary doctor in early 19th-century New York. His patients included some of the city’s most notable citizens, including Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, both of whom he counted as close friends -- and both of whom agreed to bring him along to their fateful duel. But it was Dr. Hosack’s love and appreciation for the field of botany that would eventually make him famous in his time. In 1801 he opened his Elgin Botanic Garden on 20 acres of land located three miles north of the city on Manhattan Island. In this first public botanical garden in the country, Hosack would spend a decade planting one of the most extraordinary collections of medicinal plants, along with native and exotic plants that could further the young nation’s agriculture and manufacturing industries. And yet, he also spent a decade looking for funding for this important project, and for validation that this kind of work was even important. In this episode we discuss Hosack’s life and surprising legacy with Victoria Johnson, author of the 2018 book, “American Eden, David Hosack, Botany, and Medicine in the Garden of the Early Republic,” a New York Times Notable Book of 2018, a finalist for the 2018 National Book Award in Nonfiction, and a finalist for the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in History. Support the show.
EPISODE 296: Picture New York City under mountains of filth, heaving from clogged gutters and overflowing from trash cans. Imagine the unbearable smell of rotting food and animal corpses left on the curb. And what about snow, piled up and unshoveled, leaving roads entirely unnavigable? This was New York City in the mid-19th century, a place growing faster than city officials could control. It seemed impossible to keep clean. In this episode, we chart the course to a safer, healthier city thanks to the men and women of the New York City Department of Sanitation, which was formed in the 1880s to combat this challenging humanitarian crisis. Along the way, we'll stop at some of the more, um, pungent landmarks of New York City history -- the trash heaps of Riker's Island, the mountainous Corona Ash Dump, and the massive Fresh Kills Landfill. PLUS: We'll be joined by two special guests to help us understand the issues surrounding New York City sanitation in the 21st century: Robin Nagle is a Clinical Professor at NYU and the Anthropologist in Residence for New York City’s Department of Sanitation, and the author of "Picking Up - On the Streets and Behind the Trucks with the Sanitation Workers of New York City". Maggie Lee is the records management officer in the Sanitation Department, and also serves as the deputy director for Museum Planning for the Foundation for New York’s Strongest. She has helped organize “What is Here is Open: Selections from the Treasures in the Trash Collection” -- an art show centered around pieces thrown out with the trash, which is currently running at the Hunter East Harlem Gallery at 119th and 3rd Avenue through September 14, 2019. Support the show.
EPISODE 293: In Washington Heights and Inwood, the two Manhattan neighborhoods above West 155th Street, the New York grid plan begins to become irrelevant, with avenues and streets preferring to conform to northern Manhattan's more rugged terrain. As a result, one can find aspects of nearly 400 years of New York City history here -- along a secluded waterfront or tucked high upon a shaded hill. In this episode, we look at four specific historic landmarks of Upper Manhattan, places that have survived into present day, even as their surroundings have become greatly altered. -- A picturesque cemetery -- the final resting place for mayors, writers and scandal makers -- split in two; -- An aging farmhouse once linked to New York's only surviving natural forest with a Revolutionary secret in its backyard; -- A Roman-inspired waterway that once provided a vital link to New York City's survival; -- And a tiny lighthouse, overwhelmed by a great bridge and saved by a strange twist of fame. For those who live and work in Washington Heights and Inwood, these historic landmarks will be familiar to you. For everybody else, prepare for a new list of mysterious landmarks and fascinating places to explore this summer. And that's just the beginning! Upper Manhattan holds a host of fascinating, awe-inspiring sites of historical and cultural interest. After you listen to this episode, check out our article on the Bowery Boys website entitled Secret Places of Upper Manhattan: Twenty remarkable historic sites in Washington Heights and Inwood. Boweryboyshistory.com Support the show.
EPISODE 61. This episode is as interesting as it gets, Sabino goes to his tattoo artist Mike Dee and Big Georgie at Pete & Cubos Tattoo and Piercing shop in Ozone Park, Queens and records a podcast as he is being tattooed on. The three get together and talk about how tattoos were originally illegal in the 70's, and what it was like to have tattoos at that time in New York. A lot of history and lessons learned in this podcast you have to hear it to believe it. To connect with our guests, add them on Instagram. Mike Dee - @thatguywhodrawsss Georgie - @biggeorgietattoo and visit @petencubos to get to know all about the tattoo shop
EPISODE 291: Some might find it strange that the Manhattan Detention Complex -- one of New York City's municipal jails -- should be located next to the bustling neighborhoods of Chinatown and Little Italy. Stranger still is its ominous nickname -- "The Tombs". Near this very spot -- more than 180 years ago -- stood another imposing structure, a massive jail in the style of an Egyptian mausoleum, casting its dark shadow over a district that would become known as Five Points, the most notorious 19th-century neighborhood in New York City. Both Five Points and the original Tombs (officially "New York City Halls of Justice and House of Detention") was built upon the spot of old Collect Pond, an old fresh-water pond that was never quite erased from the city's map when it was drained via a canal -- along today's Canal Street. But the foreboding reputation of the Tombs comes from more than sinking foundations and cracked walls. For more than six decades, thousands of people were kept here -- murderers, pickpockets, vagrants, and many more who had committed no crimes at all. And there would be a few unfortunates who would never leave the confines of this place. For the Tombs contained a gallows, where some of the worst criminals in the United States were executed. Other jails would replace this building in the 20th century, but none would shake off the grim nickname. Boweryboyshistory.com Support the show.
In this New Books Network/Gotham Center for NYC History podcast, guest host Beth Harpaz, editor of the City University of New York website SUM, interviews Jeanne Theoharis, distinguished professor of political science at Brooklyn College. Their topic is a new book just out from NYU Press, co-edited by Theoharis, called The Strange Careers of the Jim Crow North: Segregation and Struggle outside of the South (NYU Press, 2019). The book looks at the history of institutionalized racism around the U.S., showing that laws, policies, and entitlements in every region of the country not only created segregated communities, but also promoted affluence and opportunities for white Americans while keeping African Americans out of the middle class. “There did not need to be a ‘no coloreds’ sign for hotels, restaurants, pools, parks, housing complexes, schools, and jobs to be segregated across the North as well,” wrote Theoharis and her co-editor Professor Brian Purnell of Bowdoin College. In the podcast, Theoharis shows how African-Americans have faced discrimination in everything from pre-Civil War legal codes in New York, to 20th-century government programs like Social Security and the G.I. bill. She and Harpaz also discuss the ways in which the legacy of these racist policies persist today in public education, the criminal justice system, and other aspects of American society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this New Books Network/Gotham Center for NYC History podcast, guest host Beth Harpaz, editor of the City University of New York website SUM, interviews Jeanne Theoharis, distinguished professor of political science at Brooklyn College. Their topic is a new book just out from NYU Press, co-edited by Theoharis, called The Strange Careers of the Jim Crow North: Segregation and Struggle outside of the South (NYU Press, 2019). The book looks at the history of institutionalized racism around the U.S., showing that laws, policies, and entitlements in every region of the country not only created segregated communities, but also promoted affluence and opportunities for white Americans while keeping African Americans out of the middle class. “There did not need to be a ‘no coloreds' sign for hotels, restaurants, pools, parks, housing complexes, schools, and jobs to be segregated across the North as well,” wrote Theoharis and her co-editor Professor Brian Purnell of Bowdoin College. In the podcast, Theoharis shows how African-Americans have faced discrimination in everything from pre-Civil War legal codes in New York, to 20th-century government programs like Social Security and the G.I. bill. She and Harpaz also discuss the ways in which the legacy of these racist policies persist today in public education, the criminal justice system, and other aspects of American society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-american-studies
In this New Books Network/Gotham Center for NYC History podcast, guest host Beth Harpaz, editor of the City University of New York website SUM, interviews Jeanne Theoharis, distinguished professor of political science at Brooklyn College. Their topic is a new book just out from NYU Press, co-edited by Theoharis, called The Strange Careers of the Jim Crow North: Segregation and Struggle outside of the South (NYU Press, 2019). The book looks at the history of institutionalized racism around the U.S., showing that laws, policies, and entitlements in every region of the country not only created segregated communities, but also promoted affluence and opportunities for white Americans while keeping African Americans out of the middle class. “There did not need to be a ‘no coloreds’ sign for hotels, restaurants, pools, parks, housing complexes, schools, and jobs to be segregated across the North as well,” wrote Theoharis and her co-editor Professor Brian Purnell of Bowdoin College. In the podcast, Theoharis shows how African-Americans have faced discrimination in everything from pre-Civil War legal codes in New York, to 20th-century government programs like Social Security and the G.I. bill. She and Harpaz also discuss the ways in which the legacy of these racist policies persist today in public education, the criminal justice system, and other aspects of American society.
In this New Books Network/Gotham Center for NYC History podcast, guest host Beth Harpaz, editor of the City University of New York website SUM, interviews Jeanne Theoharis, distinguished professor of political science at Brooklyn College. Their topic is a new book just out from NYU Press, co-edited by Theoharis, called The Strange Careers of the Jim Crow North: Segregation and Struggle outside of the South (NYU Press, 2019). The book looks at the history of institutionalized racism around the U.S., showing that laws, policies, and entitlements in every region of the country not only created segregated communities, but also promoted affluence and opportunities for white Americans while keeping African Americans out of the middle class. “There did not need to be a ‘no coloreds’ sign for hotels, restaurants, pools, parks, housing complexes, schools, and jobs to be segregated across the North as well,” wrote Theoharis and her co-editor Professor Brian Purnell of Bowdoin College. In the podcast, Theoharis shows how African-Americans have faced discrimination in everything from pre-Civil War legal codes in New York, to 20th-century government programs like Social Security and the G.I. bill. She and Harpaz also discuss the ways in which the legacy of these racist policies persist today in public education, the criminal justice system, and other aspects of American society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this New Books Network/Gotham Center for NYC History podcast, guest host Beth Harpaz, editor of the City University of New York website SUM, interviews Jeanne Theoharis, distinguished professor of political science at Brooklyn College. Their topic is a new book just out from NYU Press, co-edited by Theoharis, called The Strange Careers of the Jim Crow North: Segregation and Struggle outside of the South (NYU Press, 2019). The book looks at the history of institutionalized racism around the U.S., showing that laws, policies, and entitlements in every region of the country not only created segregated communities, but also promoted affluence and opportunities for white Americans while keeping African Americans out of the middle class. “There did not need to be a ‘no coloreds’ sign for hotels, restaurants, pools, parks, housing complexes, schools, and jobs to be segregated across the North as well,” wrote Theoharis and her co-editor Professor Brian Purnell of Bowdoin College. In the podcast, Theoharis shows how African-Americans have faced discrimination in everything from pre-Civil War legal codes in New York, to 20th-century government programs like Social Security and the G.I. bill. She and Harpaz also discuss the ways in which the legacy of these racist policies persist today in public education, the criminal justice system, and other aspects of American society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this New Books Network/Gotham Center for NYC History podcast, guest host Beth Harpaz, editor of the City University of New York website SUM, interviews Jeanne Theoharis, distinguished professor of political science at Brooklyn College. Their topic is a new book just out from NYU Press, co-edited by Theoharis, called The Strange Careers of the Jim Crow North: Segregation and Struggle outside of the South (NYU Press, 2019). The book looks at the history of institutionalized racism around the U.S., showing that laws, policies, and entitlements in every region of the country not only created segregated communities, but also promoted affluence and opportunities for white Americans while keeping African Americans out of the middle class. “There did not need to be a ‘no coloreds’ sign for hotels, restaurants, pools, parks, housing complexes, schools, and jobs to be segregated across the North as well,” wrote Theoharis and her co-editor Professor Brian Purnell of Bowdoin College. In the podcast, Theoharis shows how African-Americans have faced discrimination in everything from pre-Civil War legal codes in New York, to 20th-century government programs like Social Security and the G.I. bill. She and Harpaz also discuss the ways in which the legacy of these racist policies persist today in public education, the criminal justice system, and other aspects of American society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this New Books Network/Gotham Center for NYC History podcast, guest host Beth Harpaz, editor of the City University of New York website SUM, interviews Jeanne Theoharis, distinguished professor of political science at Brooklyn College. Their topic is a new book just out from NYU Press, co-edited by Theoharis, called The Strange Careers of the Jim Crow North: Segregation and Struggle outside of the South (NYU Press, 2019). The book looks at the history of institutionalized racism around the U.S., showing that laws, policies, and entitlements in every region of the country not only created segregated communities, but also promoted affluence and opportunities for white Americans while keeping African Americans out of the middle class. “There did not need to be a ‘no coloreds’ sign for hotels, restaurants, pools, parks, housing complexes, schools, and jobs to be segregated across the North as well,” wrote Theoharis and her co-editor Professor Brian Purnell of Bowdoin College. In the podcast, Theoharis shows how African-Americans have faced discrimination in everything from pre-Civil War legal codes in New York, to 20th-century government programs like Social Security and the G.I. bill. She and Harpaz also discuss the ways in which the legacy of these racist policies persist today in public education, the criminal justice system, and other aspects of American society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 288: Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, the fourth largest park in New York City and the pride of northern Queens, has twice been the gateway to the future. Two world's fairs have been held here, twenty-five years apart, both carefully guided by power broker Robert Moses. In this episode, we highlight the story of the first fair, held in 1939 and 1940, a visionary festival of patriotism and technological progress that earnestly sold a narrow view of American middle-class aspirations. It was the World of Tomorrow! (Never mind the protests or the fact that many of the venues were incomplete.) A kitschy campus of themed zones and wacky architectural wonders, the fair provided visitors with speculative ideas of the future, governed by clean suburban landscapes, space-age appliances and flirtatious smoking robots. The fair was a post-Depression excuse for corporations to rewrite the American lifestyle, introducing new inventions (television) and attractive new products (automobiles, refrigerators), all presented in dazzling venues along gleaming flag-lined avenues and courtyards. But the year was 1939 and the world of tomorrow could not keep out the world of today. The Hall of Nations almost immediately bore evidence of the mounting war in Europe. Visitors who didn't fit the white middle-American profile being sold at the fair found themselves excluded from the "future" it was trying to sell. And then, in July of 1940, there was a dreadful tragedy at the British Pavilion that proved the World of Tomorrow was still very much a part of the world of today. Support the show.
After having Mickey Mouse pancakes for breakfast while being blown-off by Bruce Willis, Gregg and Mike Bocchetti (actor/comedian/writer) head to a famous NYC museum to see the dinosaurs! With a lot more walking to do, pictures to take, and fossils to see, here's your chance to come along for an educational journey of prehistoric wonder. Follow Mike here: https://twitter.com/MIKEBOCCHETTI American Museum of Natural History: https://www.amnh.org Thank to our sponsor: https://www.indulgences.store/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
EPISODE 283: A very special episode of the Bowery Boys podcast, recorded live at the Bell House in Gowanus, Brooklyn, celebrating the legacy of Walt Whitman, a writer with deep ties to New York City. On May 31, 2019, the world will mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Whitman, a journalist who revolutionized American literature with his long-crafted work “Leaves of Grass.” The 19th-century cities of New York and Brooklyn helped shape the man Whitman would become, from its bustling newspaper offices to bohemian haunts like Pfaff’s Beer Cellar. To help us tell this story, Greg and Tom are joined by guests from the worlds of academia, literature and preservation: Karen Karbiener, NYU professor and head of the Walt Whitman Initiative, an international collective bringing together all people interested in the life and work of Walt Whitman Jason Koo, award-winning poet and founder and executive director of Brooklyn Poets, celebrating and cultivating the literary heritage of Brooklyn, the birthplace of American poetry Brad Vogel, executive director at the New York Preservation Archive Project and board member of the Walt Whitman Initiative, leading the drive to protect New York City-based Whitman landmark. Recorded as part of the Brooklyn Podcast Festival presented by Pandora. Support the show.
New York City has always cast a melodramatic profile in past Bowery Boys podcasts, but in this episode, we're walking on the funny side of the street to reveal the city's unique relationship with live comedy. The award-winning show The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel depicts the birth of modern stand-up comedy in the late 1950s, forged by revolutionary voices in the small coffeehouses of Greenwich Village. But New Yorkers had been laughing for decades by that point. Most of the early American comedy greats got their starts on the New York vaudeville stage -- like the Marx Brothers, the Three Stooges and Eddie Cantor. By the 1940s, comedy stars came from the New York supper clubs, cementing a particular style of broad, big-joke comedy. The first major stars of television came from a different pool of talent -- young Jewish entertainers, updating the vaudeville feel for TV broadcast. But the counterculture movements in Greenwich Village would help comedians evolve more personal -- and more explicit -- acts as they performed along side beat poets and jazz musicians. In 1963, an enterprising club owner named Budd Friedman would change comedy forever in a tiny room in Hell's Kitchen. The rise of the comedy club and opportunities like Saturday Night Live would create a specific brand of New York City comedy, and the local stages would help create major film and television stars during the 1980s. With Seinfeld, in 1989, Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David would create the perfect fusion of stand-up and New York City attitude. But the following decade brought in new voices and a surprising new direction. boweryboyshistory.com Support the show.
On January 31, 1857, a prominent dentist named Harvey Burdell was found brutally murdered -- strangled, then stabbed 15 times -- in his office and home and Bond Street, a once-trendy street between Broadway and the Bowery. The suspects for this horrific crime populated the rooms of 31 Bond Street including Emma Cunningham, the former lover of Dr. Burdell and a woman with many secrets to hide; the boarder John Eckel who had a curious fondness for canaries; and the banjo-playing George Snodgrass, whose personal obsessions may have evolved in depraved ways. The mechanics of solving crime were much different in the mid-19th century than they are today, and the mysterious particulars of this investigation seem strange and even unacceptable to us today. A suspect would stand trial for Dr. Burdell's death, yet the shocking events which followed -- including a sinister deception and a faked childbirth -- would prove that truth is stranger than fiction. Support the show.
There would be no New York City without Peter Stuyvesant, the stern, autocratic director-general of New Amsterdam, the Dutch port town that predates the Big Apple. The willpower of this complicated leader took an endangered ramshackle settlement and transformed it into a functioning city. But Mr. Stuyvesant was no angel. In part two in the Bowery Boys' look into the history of New Amsterdam, we launch into the tale of Stuyvesant from the moment he steps foot (or peg leg, as it were) onto the shores of Manhattan in 1647. Stuyvesant immediately set to work reforming the government, cleaning up New Amsterdam's filth and even planning new streets. He authorized the construction of a new market, a commercial canal and a defense wall -- on the spot of today's Wall Street. But Peter would act very un-Dutch-like in his intolerance of varied religious beliefs, and the institution of slavery would flourish in New Amsterdam under his direction. And yet the story of New York City's Dutch roots does not end with the city's occupation by the English in 1664 -- or even in 1672 (when the city was briefly retaken by a Dutch fleet). The Dutch spirit remained alive in the New York countryside, becoming part of regional customs and dialect. And yet the story of New Amsterdam might otherwise be ignored if not for a determined group of translators who began work on a critical project in the 1970s...... Support the show.
EPISODE 271 The classic diner is as American as the apple pie it serves, but the New York diner is a special experience all its own, an essential facet of everyday life in the big city. They range in all shapes and sizes -- from the epic, stand-alone Empire Diner to tiny luncheonettes and lunch counters, serving up fried eggs and corned beef. In this episode, the Bowery Boys trace the history of the New York diner experience, a history of having lunch in an ever-changing metropolis. There were no New York restaurants per se before Delmonico's in 1827, although workers on-the-go frequented oyster saloons and bought from street vendors and markets. Cellar establishments like Buttercake Dick's served rudimentary sustenance, and men often ate food provided by bars. But once women entered the public sphere -- as workers and shoppers -- eating houses had to evolve to accommodate them. And thus was born the luncheonette, mini-lunch spaces in drug stores and candy shops. Soon prefabricated structures known as diners -- many made in New Jersey -- moved into vacant lots, streamlining the cheap eating experience. Cafeterias appealed to New Yorkers looking for cleanliness, and those looking for an inexpensive, solitary meal turned to one unusual restaurant -- the automat. Horn & Hardarts' innovative eateries -- requiring a handful of nickels -- were regular features on the New York City streetscape. How did all these different types of eating experiences culminate in the modern New York diner-counter experience? For that, you can thank the Greeks. Support the show.
Today we're joined by Fran Leadon, the author of a new history of Broadway, called “Broadway: A History of New York in 13 Miles”. We've discussed Broadway, the street, in just about every show we’ve done -- as so many of the city’s key events have taken place along Broadway or near it. And that’s also the point of Fran’s book -- by telling the story of a street, you’re actually telling the story of the entire city. On today’s show, we’ll be discussing how Broadway moved north -- literally, how did it expand, overcoming natural obstacles and merging with… or avoiding... old, pre-existing roads, and how did it take such an unusual route? And perhaps most surprisingly, how did Broadway survive the Commissioner’s Plan of 1811 which imposed a rigid street grid on the city? You’re in for a couple of surprises. www.boweryboyshistory.com Support the show.
The Coney Island Boardwalk -- officially the Riegelmann Boardwalk -- just became an official New York City scenic landmark, and to celebrate, the Bowery Boys are headed to Brooklyn's amusement capital to toast its most famous and long-lasting icons. Recorded live on location, this week's show features the backstories of these Coney Island classics: -- The Wonder Wheel, the graceful, eccentric Ferris wheel preparing to celebrate for its 100th year of operation; -- The Spook-o-Rama, a dark ride full of old-school thrills; -- The Cyclone, perhaps America's most famous roller-coaster with a history that harkens back to Coney Island's wild coaster craze; -- Nathan's Famous, the king of hot dogs which has fed millions from the same corner for over a century; -- Coney Island Terminal, a critical transportation hub that ushered in the amusement area's famous nickname -- the Nickel Empire PLUS: An interview with Dick Zigun, the unofficial mayor of Coney Island and founder of Coney Island USA, who recounts the origin of the Mermaid Parade and the Sideshow by the Seashore boweryboyshistory.com EXTRA: Supporters of the Bowery Boys on Patreon will receive an extra bonus clip discussing two other Coney Island landmarks -- Childs Restaurant and the Parachute Jump. Support the show.
The words of the The New Colossus, written 135 years ago by Jewish writer Emma Lazarus in tribute to the Statue of Liberty, have never been more relevant -- or as hotly debated -- as they are today. What do these words mean to you? "Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free/The wretched refuse of your teeming shore." In this episode, Tom and Greg look at the backstory of these verses -- considered sacred by many -- and the woman who created them. Emma Lazarus was an exceptional writer and a unique personality who embraced her Jewish heritage even while befriending some of the greatest writers of the 19th century. When the French decided to bestow the gift of Liberty Enlightening the World to the United States, many Americans were uninterested in donating money to its installation in New York Harbor. Lazarus was convinced to write a poem about the statue but she decided to infuse her own meaning into it. This icon of republican government -- and friendship between France and America -- would soon come to mean safe harbor and welcome to millions of new immigrants coming to America. But are Lazarus' words still relevant in the 21st century? boweryboyshistory.com Support the show.
Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass (DUMBO) is, we think, a rather drab name for a historically significant place in Brooklyn where some of the daily habits of everyday Americans were invented. This industrial area between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges traces its story to the birth of Brooklyn itself, to the vital ferry service that linked the first residents to the marketplaces of New York. Two early (lesser) Founding Fathers even attempted to build a utopian society here called Olympia. Instead the coastline's fate would turn to industrial and shipping concerns. Its waterfront was lined with brick warehouses, so impressive and uniform that Brooklyn received the nickname "the Walled City". The industries based directly behind the warehouses were equally as important to the American economy. Most of their factories comprise the architecture of today's DUMBO, grand industrial fortresses of brick and concrete, towering above cobbled streets etched with railroad tracks. The cardboard-box titan Robert Gair was so dominant in this region that his many buildings were collectively referred to as Gairville. But coffee and tea traditions also came here -- not just the manufacture, but the revolutionary ways in which people with buy and drink those beverages. How did this early New York manufacturing district become a modern American tech hub, with luxury loft apartments and splendid coffee shops? This story of repurpose and gentrification is very different from those told in other neighborhoods. PLUS: And, no, really, what is up with that name? Support the show.
For thousands of African-American enslaved people -- escaping the bonds of slavery in the South -- the journey to freedom wound its way through New York via the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a loose, clandestine network of homes, businesses and churches, operated by freed black people and white abolitionists who put it upon themselves -- often at great risk -- to hide fugitives on the run. New York and Brooklyn were vital hubs in this network but these cities were hardly safe havens. The streets swarmed with bounty hunters, and a growing number of New Yorkers, enriched by Southern businesses, were sympathetic to the institution of slavery. Not even freed black New Yorkers were safe from kidnapping and racist anti-abolitionist mobs. In this podcast we present some of the stops in New York along the Underground Railroad -- from offices off Newspaper Row to the basement of New York's first African-American owned bookstore. You'll be familiar with some of this story's leading figures like Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman and Henry Ward Beecher. But many of these courageous tales come from people who you may not know -- the indefatigable Louis Napoleon, the resolute Sydney Howard Gay, the defiant David Ruggles and James Hamlet, the first victim of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act. PLUS: A trip to Brooklyn Heights and the site of New York's most famous Underground Railroad site -- Plymouth Church. Support the show.
In today’s show, we’ll continue to explore housing in New York, but move far from the mansions of Fifth Avenue to the tenements of the Lower East Side in the 20th Century. Specifically, we’ll be visiting one building, 103 Orchard Street, which is today part of the Tenement Museum. When we step inside 103 Orchard, we’ll be meeting three families who lived there after World War II: the Epsteins, the Saez-Velez family, and the Wong family. We’ll be getting to know them by walking through their apartments, faithfully reconstructed, often with their very own furniture, to tell their stories. The Epsteins were Holocaust survivors who moved into the building in the 1950s, the Saez-Velez family moved in during the 60s and were led by a mother who left Puerto Rico and worked as a seamstress here, and the Wong family, whose mother raised the family while working in Chinatown garment shops, moved in during the 1970s. They’re included in an exciting new interactive exhibition at the Tenement Museum. This exhibit, which includes a tour of the apartments, is called “Under One Roof”, and opens to the public this month. We’re led through it on our show by Annie Polland, the museum’s curator of this exhibit. For more information on the exhibit, visit tenement.org and boweryboyshistory.com. Support the show.
In this episode of the podcast, I sat down with owner Jake Dell to talk all things Deli and NYC History.
In the 1980s, Brooklyn, New York was considered crack capital of the world. Mike Dowd worked the 75th precinct in the East New York neighborhood of Brooklyn, which was considered to be the most dangerous precinct in United States at the time. The 75th precinct had one of the highest murder rates in the country. Mike Dowd describes being under-appreciated for the amount of work he put in and hurting for money as the reasons for taking money from drug dealers. He initially began taking bribes from drug dealers on the streets before moving on to protecting a drug cartel leader and robbing from other drug dealers at gunpoint. Mike and his then-partner Chickie recount the first time walking into a domestic dispute in an apartment and seeing bags of marijuana, a duffle bag filled with approximately $20,000 in cash and two guns. Mike communicated that he and his partner would take the duffle bag and guns. Mike continued to rob drug dealers for thousands of dollars. Mike's partner Chickie resigned shortly after multiple police officers were arrested in the 77th precinct for corruption related offenses. Ken Eurell, a police officer at the 75th precinct, was then assigned as officer Dowd's new partner in June 1987. Ken had a drinking problem and frequently drank on the job. Officers Dowd and Eurell met a Dominican gang leader by the name of Adam Diaz. Diaz ran The Diaz Organization, a gang that was responsible for countless murders and drug trafficking throughout New York. Diaz used several supermarkets in East New York as fronts to traffic drugs, mainly cocaine. Dowd and Eurell began a working relationship with Diaz, where they provided protection, inside information and raids and moving kilos of cocaine. After numerous complaints and a prolonged investigation, the Suffolk County Police Department arrested Dowd and Eurell on drug trafficking charges. Dowd and Kenny came out on bail. While out on bail, Dowd concocted a plan with the Colombian gang to kidnap and rob a woman. Dowd's plan was to hand the woman over to the Colombians and for Dowd and Eurell to take the money and flee the United States. Eurell agreed to Dowd's kidnapping scheme but instead went to Internal Affairs. Shortly after, Dowd was arrested in July 1991 and sent to trial. Dowd was the main focus of the 1992 Mollen Commission that investigated police corruption in the NYPD.[4] In the wake of Dowd's arrest, Mayor Dinkins appointed The Mollen Commission to investigate police corruption within the NYPD, as a result dozens of officers across the city’s precincts were arrested. )
Gillian and Bianca talk to Ashley Graffeo, a teacher at NYC's Harvey Milk High School, about how she uses "Hamilton" to get her students excited about American History. Spoiler alert: it totally works and there may or may not be rap battles involved. She also tells a story about the truly badass Peggy Schuyler. "My Shot" instrumental provided by Bao Vu.
In Episode 2, ABC Gotham's amateur historians, Kate and Kathleen, discuss beer and breweries in the 5 boroughs throughout history. We start in the 1850's with Knickerbocker, Ruppert, Ballantine, Schlitz, Rhenigold, and Piels, and take you all the way up to today with Brooklyn Brewery, Bronx Brewery, Sixpoint, and Chelsea. Beer is unstoppable! Neither Prohibition nor anti- German sentiment could stop NYC brewing for good. You better grab a pint for this episode, because all that talking is going to make you thirsty. Links to check out after listening: Website of Gotham Center for NYC History, a CUNY center that provided a lot of info for this episode Brooklyn Brewery Bronx Brewery Urban Oyster-- excellent, informative walking/ bus tours of NYC NY Historical Society Beer Here Exhibition NY Historical Society Beer Appreciation Night on July 10-- see you there!
Doug welcomes Mike Wallace, Chair of the Advisory Board of the Gotham Center for NYC History, and Distinguished Professor of History at John Jay College of Criminal Justice/CUNY. The two discuss the country’s current political climate.