The New Yorkers Podcast

On this episode of The New Yorkers Podcast, Kelly Kopp sits down with Dan from All Day NYC for a funny, nostalgic, and very New York conversation about growing up in Bensonhurst and Gravesend, Coney Island summers, Canal Street, pizza, bagels, the subway, viral NYC moments, the Knicks championship parade, and what it really means to be a New Yorker.

Dan also shares how All Day NYC got started, some of his favorite viral moments, and his memories of being a 16-year-old high school student in Brooklyn on September 11th, 2001.

We also talk about Kelly’s experience surviving a 2017 NYC subway derailment, whether the subway feels safer today, and why this past summer felt like New York had finally found some of its old energy again.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - New Yorkers Podcast
(00:04:05) - Living in Brooklyn in the 90s
(00:07:09) - Cops Chase Car stereo sellers down Canal Street
(00:09:47) - Bay Ridge resident on the high cost of living
(00:12:45) - What's the Problem with Chipotle?
(00:13:12) - NYC on Social Media
(00:14:59) - School Bus Rave
(00:15:58) - Riding A One Wheeler In The City
(00:18:44) - Raccoons Go Viral
(00:19:59) - The Knicks Parade in NYC
(00:22:53) - Crazy People Try To Get Through The Woolworth Building
(00:23:55) - The Knicks' 53-Year-Old Tattoo
(00:24:41) - NYC Mayor on the Summer
(00:27:21) - World Cup and Fourth of July celebrations in NYC
(00:29:27) - The Summer of Celebrations
(00:30:49) - Favorite Pizza Places in NYC
(00:33:27) - Pizza on Bleecker Street
(00:35:22) - Upper Manhattan's best restaurant, 'Bitcoin Steakhouse'
(00:36:34) - Bagels and Drinking Water
(00:39:10) - The New York City Water Fountains
(00:39:49) - NYC Subway Rider on Safety
(00:42:40) - Jumping off the subway in NYC
(00:45:18) - What Happened On September 11, 2001
(00:48:22) - What Was It Like To Be In NYC On September 11th?
(00:51:05) - The 9/11 memorial in Manhattan
(00:53:46) - The Oculus Museum
(00:54:38) - A Woman's Talk About 911
(00:55:19) - Questions for New York City Residents
(00:55:53) - Top New Yorkers Talk About The City
(00:56:56) - Dan on What It Means to Be a New Yorker
(00:58:05) - All Day NYC

The New Yorkers are on Summer Vacation this week. So join them as they look back on a previous episode while they look forward to the Halloween season! 

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In this episode, Kelly is joined by Zombie Papas Jorge and Todd, the organizers of Thriller NYC! 

Join them as they introduce themselves. Jorge tells us how he came to New York, and what it was like moving here. Todd, on the other hand, talks about being third-generation from Brooklyn. They tell us about how they met, as well as their costume wedding. They talk about how they found Thriller NYC and how long they've been involved with it. 

Jorge talks about the founding of Thriller in the West Village Halloween parade. He talks about the first time it was done and what it was like when it first started. He talks about how he initially joined another Thriller group because Thriller NYC was full. Todd talks about how Jorge invited him to join Thriller one year, but not in the way that he had wanted to. 

Kelly asks about the process of putting together something so massive. Todd talks about the process of how people get tickets and join the group. He goes over what the rehearsals look like as well as what the timetable is like to put on something like that. They both talk about what people are getting out of their ticket. They talk about how it is important for them to form a safe community, and they emphasise moving your body in community, and the healing power that it can have.

Jorge and Todd thank Kelly for his viral video of the performance, and they talk about how that helped them get put back on the map and continue post Covid. They also talk about what it feels like to put together this massive project every year, and the cultural impact that it has on the world. They talk about their trip to South Africa and how Thriller even has an impact there. 

Finally, Kelly asks them some quick fire questions about the dance, the Halloween parade, the costumes, and where to eat after. 

But, above all else; Jorge and Todd are New Yorkers. 

Kelly's Social Media

@NewYorkCityKopp

Join Thriller NYC!

https://www.thrillernyc.com/

@Thrillernyc

Donate to the village Halloween parade!

https://halloween-nyc.com/donate/ 

Jae's Social Media

@Studiojae170

Chapters

(00:00:00) - New Yorkers Podcast
(00:01:57) - This New York Couple Had A 'Thriller' Wedding
(00:05:18) - The Halloween Parade With Thriller
(00:05:49) - The Thriller Dance in the NYC Parade
(00:09:08) - How To Participate in the Parade Thriller Dance
(00:11:52) - The West Village Thriller Parade
(00:14:27) - The Memphis Thriller Parade
(00:18:47) - The New York Thriller Dance
(00:23:18) - Mets Mascots at the Parade
(00:25:32) - The Cast of Thriller
(00:28:33) - Thriller's Spring Parade
(00:30:55) - What Makes The Thriller Dance So New York?
(00:34:12) - Dancing To Michael Jackson's Thriller in Mozambique
(00:36:21) - The New York City Zombie Parade
(00:38:14) - How the Village Halloween Parade Works
(00:41:02) - Thriller's NYC Parade
(00:41:29) - Village Halloween Parade
(00:43:12) - The Halloween Parade in New York
(00:43:59) - What It Means to Be A New Yorker
(00:46:02) - New Yorkers: Thank You!

In this episode, Kelly is joined by Dan Rimada! He is the founder of Bodega Cats NYC, Author of the book, and started a campaign to pass the first legislation in New York City surrounding Bodega Cats! 

Kelly asks Dan about growing up! Dan talks about what it was like to grow up in the same neighborhood as The Wu Tang Clan! He talks about going between Brooklyn and Staten Island, and where his parents ended up. Dan asks Kelly about Disney World, and you won't believe the number of times that he's been there!

Dan then talks about his love for Cats! He talks about how he first noticed his local bodega's cat during COVID. Kelly and Dan talked about how time slowed during that time, and how they were able to appreciate more of the little things.

Dan talks about the New York Tour that he does, and tells Kelly a story about how a cat saved Brooklyn Borough Hall! Kelly asks Dan all about his tours, and Dan talks about where his tours go, who he runs them with, and tells us another great story about a famous New York City Cat!

Kelly asks Dan about the Bodega Cats of New York Instagram account. Dan talks about how he originally wanted to keep the account focused on his photos and experiences. But after receiving a lot of requests from other New Yorkers, he decided to start posting submissions. He then talks about how his account got deleted, right at the peak of its growth!  

Kelly then asks Dan about his Book. Dan talks about how he worked with a cat photographer to go to Bodegas across all 5 boroughs to take pictures and write down the stories of the cats who live there. Kelly asks Dan about some of the stories in the book, and Dan tells him the tale of Zorro and how he earned his name!

Kelly and Dan then talk about how Dan started the movement to legalize bodega cats. Dan talks about his initial petition, and the phone call that he received that ended it. Dan talks about the undertaking of changing New York State and City Law. He goes into detail about what the law says, how it's harmful for Bodega Cats, and what his proposal hopes to change. 

Finally, Kelly asks Dan about his upcoming projects, and Dan tells Kelly about a secret project that has not been announced yet, but he asks for Kelly's help with it on the Podcast!

But above all else; Dan Rimada is a New Yorker!

Kelly's Social Media:

@NewYorkCityKopp

Follow Bodega Cats of New York

@NewYorkBodegaCats

Pre-order the Book: Bodega Cats of New York

Jae's Social Media

@Studiojae170

Chapters

(00:00:00) - New Yorkers Podcast
(00:01:14) - Knicks fans at the game
(00:01:48) - White Man at Disney's Florida Resort
(00:03:59) - How Jerry Fox Saved Brooklyn Borough Hall
(00:06:56) - Jerry Fox on a Plaque
(00:08:08) - The Cat That Crossed the Brooklyn Bridge
(00:11:01) - Bodega Cat on
(00:11:42) - Bodega Cats of New York Instagram Account
(00:14:52) - Turkish Street Cats: The Story
(00:17:36) - Bodega Cats: The Story
(00:18:48) - We Spotted A Bodega Cat
(00:22:12) - The Health Inspector Who Scratched His Arm
(00:24:53) - Bodega Cat: Good Move
(00:27:48) - Donor Donates Cat Cat Boxes to Bodega Cats
(00:30:25) - Boca the Bodega Cat Got Stolen
(00:33:37) - Blanca the Bodega Cat Spotted on Google Street View
(00:35:08) - Bodega Cats: Legalize the Cat
(00:38:45) - Linda Rosenthal Introduces Bill to Officially Legalize Bode
(00:41:31) - Bodega Cat Archive in New York
(00:43:55) - Favorite NYC sandwich
(00:45:33) - What They Don't Understand About New York
(00:48:19) - Biker Lane Move on the Brooklyn Bridge
(00:49:10) - What It Means To Be A New Yorker

In this Episode, Kelly is joined by writer Gabriel Rotello! He is the author of two books: Sexual Ecology: AIDS and the Destiny of Gay Men and The CBGB Conspiracy. He became the first openly gay op-ed columnist for a major American newspaper and is the founder of Out Week Magazine. He has also written, directed, and produced dozens of TV documentaries for major networks like HBO, Netflix, and the History Channel.

Gabriel talks about growing up in Danbury, Connecticut, and traveling into the city with his older brother when he was 13! Even at that age, he knew he wanted to move to New York when he grew up. Kelly asks him what life was like in New York in the 1970s. Gabriel talks about how Manhattan was a playground for young adults in their early 20s. He tells us how cheap his rent was, describes the decay of the Bowery in great detail, and talks about how wonderful it was to play music at CBGB. 

Kelly asks Gabriel about CBGB. Gabriel tells us that in the beginning, no one wanted to go there. He describes the "Bowery Bums", the mismanagement of the venue, and its terrible location. He then talks about how it became one of the most famous punk venues in the world. 

Gabriel talks a bit about his book: The CBGB Conspiracy. He tells Kelly that he actually did not want to write a book about his time in the 70s at first. With the aids epidemic looming over it, he thought it too depressing. But when inspiration struck, while walking along the street one day, he came up with the idea of creating a murder mystery, with CBGB as the background and weaving in famous people of the era, along with his personal experiences.

Kelly asks Gabriel a bit about the process of writing, and Gabriel talks about how he was inspired by a past guest of our show, Jonathan Mahler! He talks about reading Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bronx Is Burning... and being transported back into that time in his life. 

Kelly then asks Gabriel what gay life was like back in the day. Gabriel describes the streets of the West Village being filled with shirtless gay men dancing and having the best time on a random Tuesday night. He talks about how there was a feud between the East Village gay community and the West Village gay community. He talks about their differences, what it was like to have one foot in both, and he reflects on how his perception has changed since then.  

Gabriel then talks a bit about his partner Hap, who passed during the Aids Epidemic. Gabriel had met Hap when he was studying abroad and just happened to run into each other when he moved to New York. Gabriel talked about how Hap showed him the ropes as a newly out man. He talks about how they dated until Hap's passing. Kelly talks about marching on Washington in support of the movement. Gabriel talks about how it inspired him to start Out Week Magazine, and how he invited outing!

But above all else; Gabriel Rotello is a New Yorker!

Kelly Kopp's Social Media:
@NewYorkCityKopp on all platforms

Buy Gabriel's Book!

Gabriel's Social Media:

@GabeRotello 

Jae's Social Media

@Studiojae170 

 

Chapters

(00:00:00) - New Yorkers: Gabriel Rotello on the Podcast
(00:01:57) - Phil Collins on Coming Out in NYC
(00:06:02) - Living in the East Village in the 60s
(00:09:51) - Punishment for Bowery Bums
(00:14:57) - The Talking Heads on Hilly Hill's Death
(00:19:50) - Madonna's First Public Gig
(00:20:32) - CBGB's Conspiracy is a Novel
(00:26:00) - The Making of A Time to Win
(00:26:33) - In the Elevator With Steven Spielberg
(00:31:42) - Inside The Bowery
(00:32:24) - How To Write a Novel
(00:33:03) - In the Elevator With Jonathan Harris
(00:37:07) - How a dime changed the phone
(00:37:24) - Adam Levine on the Gay Scene in New York
(00:41:18) - Punk and Disco in the East Village
(00:44:13) - In the Elevator With Out Week
(00:47:12) - Gabriel on ACT UP and the Gay Community
(00:50:54) - What It Means to Be a New Yorker
(00:52:47) - How To Find Gabriel Ortello On Social Media

In this Episode, Kelly is joined by Sara Lind! She is the Co-Executive Director of Open Plans: A New York City based advocacy organization working to make streets and public spaces more livable. Sara is a frequent media source on Urban Planning and policy, with appearances on WPIX 11, ABC7, WNYC, and NY1. And she holds a JD from the University of Chicago, an MIA from Columbia SIPA, and a BS from the University of Wisconsin. But above all else… She is a New Yorker!

Kelly asks Sara where she's from. Sara and Kelly talk about their Midwestern roots! Sara talks about how she came to New York by way of Chicago. She reflects on the first time she came to New York to look for an apartment and recalls it feeling like home. Sara talks a bit about her career path and how she went from being a corporate lawyer to working in public advocacy. 

Kelly and Sara talk about New York. Kelly asks Sara about some of the changes that have been taking effect around the city. They talk about Congestion Pricing and how that has been an effective way to alleviate traffic in Midtown. They talk about open streets and how they have been a successful program in helping people feel safer walking in the city. They also talk about how people choose to promote car driving with policy decisions and what those look like. They talk about ways that we can choose to put people first when planning for the city's future.

Sara talks about biking in New York. She talks about the importance of May being Bike Month and how it's important for us to make sure that the city continues to be a safe place for bike riders. Kelly talks about how he loved riding Citi Bike during COVID and how it got him to explore even more of the city. Sara and Kelly talk about how they rode their bikes everywhere growing up, and Sara talks about how she wants her kids to feel safe to do the same. 

Kelly asks Sara about how she gets around the city. Sara talks about how she loves riding the Subway and taking the bus. And with a Citi Bike rack in front of her apartment, she loves to explore the city with them. Kelly also asks Sara about when she thought it was ok for her kids to take public transit on their own. Sara admits that she's far from a helicopter parent, and encouraged her kids to take the subway to go to school and visit friends.

Sara tells us about outdoor dining in New York City. She talks about what the program was like before COVID in 2019. Then she tells us how COVID completely changed the restaurant business and how outdoor dining brought some great positives but also negatives. Kelly then asks about the current program, and she explains the sticky situation that lawmakers put restaurant owners in when they passed the latest legislation. 

Finally, Kelly asks Sara some quickfire questions about her favorite neighborhood, favorite way to get around the city and her favorite local restaurant. 

But above all else; Sara Lind is a New Yorker!

Kelly Kopp's Social Media:

@NewYorkCityKopp

Follow Open Plans NYC!

@openplansnyc

Jae's Social Media

@StudioJae170

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Meet Open Plans Executive Director Sarah Lind
(00:04:11) - Married to a New Yorker in the 1980s
(00:08:41) - Knicks star on the team's success
(00:09:13) - Mayor Bill de Blasio on Open Plans
(00:12:29) - Congestion Pricing
(00:16:36) - "It's a nice little era for the Knicks,"
(00:16:51) - Biking in New York
(00:19:41) - How New Yorkers get around the city
(00:22:28) - Slowing the Trash on the Streets
(00:26:13) - Low-Traffic Neighborhoods
(00:31:34) - People talk about Park Avenue's redesign
(00:34:29) - Outside dining in New York
(00:38:58) - Living on the Upper West Side
(00:41:02) - What Made You Engaged in Urban Policy?
(00:42:41) - How Safe Do You Feel in New York?
(00:43:55) - Favorite NYC restaurant or food spot?
(00:45:54) - What It Means to Be A New Yorker