As a young girl, Toni was diagnosed with Scoliosis. Thanks to her Aunt, she had surgery to correct her spine and spent a year in a body cast. During that time, Toni decided she wanted to become a model. 

With scars down her back and legs it was not an ideal job. Toni’s drive, hard work and street smarts landed her a meeting with a Playboy photographer in Chicago. That turned into a contract as a Playboy model, then an invitation to visit Hugh Hefner at the Los Angeles Playboy Mansion. Which then turned into a 3 year stay at the mansion. 

Hear what it was really like living there and her experience as a Playboy Model. 

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This is the story of Justin, the crystal meth addict. Toni met Justin through one of her clients which was a big bank. Justin was 20 something years old, Southern, funny, gay, smart, talented and unfortunately addicted to drugs. 

He lost his job at the big bank and Toni took him in and offered him a place to sleep and a job. At the time, Toni did not know about the drug problem and thought he could be an asset for her trade show modeling company. 

You can probably guess that’s not how this story goes. Justin turned into a lying, crystal meth addicted prostitute. How did Toni end up kicking him out? It took an illegal FedEx order and a climb up the fire escape.

Have questions for the host Toni Sipka?

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This story starts at the NYC dog park where Toni met a woman named Michelle and her two dogs, Moo and Boo.

Michelle was a quirky woman who was perpetually broke and a college student who was always working on her thesis. She would take Toni’s mother Rosemary to doctors appointments, go for dog walks along the Westside Highway and come over for dinner.

James Gandolfini lived in the same neighborhood as Toni and Michelle. Michelle became friendly with James and told him how Toni “wanted to have her way with him.” In a twist of fate, it happened. 

Have questions for the host Toni Sipka?

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NYC is a dog friendly city. When Toni had her two Puli’s, Shannon and Tori, they would frequent the dog park in the west village. That’s where she met her friend Kathy and her dog Sweetheart. The woman wore white boots, diamonds and a British fox fur coat to the dog park.

That’s when Toni learned about Kathy's obsession with feeding the neighborhood pigeons. Find out how Kathy ended up on probation in this episode.

Have questions for the host Toni Sipka?

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The life of a dog in NYC is atypical. The dogs pee and play on cement, not grass. You’ll hear Toni’s experience of raising dogs in Manhattan, how she met her dog walker and the epic dog party in her 300 square foot apartment. 

This leads Toni to share what happened to the building community after 9/11. It was a time when New Yorkers came together and supported each other. 

And lastly, Toni shares her admiration for Bethenny Frankel which began when she was on the Bravo TV show, The Real Housewives of NYC to her charity work today.

Have questions for the host Toni Sipka?

Submit them on the contact form at www.ToniSipka.com

Toni turns into a trip advisor this episode as she shares her favorite restaurants and bars to visit in the West Village. 

Starting with the White Horse Tavern which is the second oldest bar in NYC which opened in1880. It’s home to famous people like Dylan Thomas, who’s said to haunt the place, Bob Dylan and Jim Morrison. 

The Monster Bar, back in the day, you would have seen Andy Warhol, Ru Paul, and even Toni. After 5pm it’s where you’ll find the Wall Street crowd at their piano Bar. Then head down the famous mirrored stairwell for dancing all night long. 

Lips Drag Bar is a drag queen restaurant and bar with good food and better entertainment. 

Sevilla Restaurant is the one restaurant Toni must eat at when she visits.

And Central Park is best explored during the day. 

Have questions for Toni?

Submit them on the contact form at www.ToniSipka.com

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to have your neighbor die in their NYC apartment building where you also live, look no further than Law Order the TV show. Their depictions are pretty accurate, except these stories are about death from natural causes. 

Toni shares the stories of her very different neighbors, Richard and Amy who died very differently. 

Everyone in the building on Bethune Street said Richard was crazy. He would bang on doors with a baseball bat. Until one day he got a cat and there was less yelling and less strange behavior. You’ll hear how he died and why the cops always smoke a cigar when they come to remove the body. 

Now Amy was a well respected theater actress who was much older. Her whole apartment was decorated with old set designs and theater posters. Amy loved dachshunds and named every dog she had the same name, Amy Dog. You’ll hear how her death was different from Richard’s. 

Have questions for Toni?

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Welcome back to the podcast formerly known as “Take it From Toni.” The name never felt right to the host, Toni Sipka, and it’s now called “New York Stories & More.” Toni considers Manhattan home after living there for 30 years and even though she now lives in Maine. New York is the place Toni ate the best tasting $2.50 apple of her life.

This episode, Toni talks about the community inside the building she lived on Bethune Street in the West Village. She lived on the 5th floor of a walk up building. Her neighbor George lived in a studio apartment down the hall which also housed a grand piano. On another floor lived Andrea who’s kitten became friends with Toni’s dog Shannon and they would hang out in the hallway. 

When Toni left New York, her 2 studio apartments were bought by actress Julianne Moore, and the co-op board didn’t make it any easier for her because of her status.

You’ll hear throughout this episode that the people of Manhattan are not what you think...

Have questions for Toni?

Submit them on the contact form at www.ToniSipka.com

April Crawford and I have been friends for close to 40 years. We met in the trade show world and became friends along the way. April worked for me as a model and spokeswoman when I had my talent agency and told me when my business partner was scamming me out of money.

April is a full body open deep trance channel medium and a best selling author. Toni hosts April’s weekly radio show, “Inner Whispers” which is syndicated on iHeart Radio.

Listen to the radio show HERE

Learn more about April HERE

To schedule a reading e-mail  [email protected]

Have Questions for Toni? Want life advice?

Email: [email protected]

For more on her forthcoming book visit www.ToniSipka.com

Follow her on Instagram www.instagram.com/sipkatoni

Robert Patrick and I have been friends for 46 years. We met in Chicago in the 70s when we worked at a restaurant called Arnie’s. You’ll hear stories from our time together, life at the gay bars and what it felt like being a gay man during the sexual revolution.

Have Questions for Toni? Want life advice?

Email: [email protected]

For more on her forthcoming book visit www.ToniSipka.com

Follow her on Instagram www.instagram.com/sipkatoni