Rediscovering New York

Join us this week as we explore New York's longtime history of, and unique relationship with basketball.

My main guest will be Lilly Tuttle, Curator of the Museum of the City of New York and its current exhibition "City/Game; Basketball in New York", and Professor Jeffrey Gurock, Professor of American Jewish History at Yeshiva University,

Segment 1

Jeff introduces the guest of the show, Lilly Tuttle. Born and raised in New York, she talks when she decided to get into history focusing on ‘American Studies’ in college and working at the New York Historical Society and paving herself a path in museum work. Lilly outlines how she got to the Museum of the City of New York and begins the conversation with the invention of basketball in Springfield, Massachusetts and its evolution into what the game is today. The conversation touches on the sport’s history in New York and Lilly explains the exhibition’s inception and what it covers. Lilly also disperses a few misconceptions about the Harlem Globetrotters.

Segment 2

Lilly discusses the Museum of the City of New York and the importance of basketball in history and culture as well as noting a few special features and some notable paraphernalia in the exhibition, the talk briefly touching on Madison Square Garden’s place in the sports history as well as how it became popularized in New York.

Segment 3

Jeff introduces the second guest of the show, Jeffrey Barrack who talks about his education and how he ended up studying Jewish-American history, the talk transitioning into the history of Jewish players in basketball and the NBA, and describing why basketball was originally labeled and perceived as a predominately Jewish sport.

Segment 4

Jeffrey talks about notable Jewish players in the history of the NBA and the scandalous history of basketball in New York City that slowly bled to the rest of the country, touching on gambling and racism in the sport along the way.

This week’s show will take us to Chelsea, one of New York’s most exciting neighborhoods.

My guests will be Kevin Draper, Director of New York Historical Tours, and Monica Saxena, owner of aRoqa, a restaurant serving superb and contemporary Indian cuisine.

Segment 1

Jeff introduces the first guest of the show, Kevin Draper, who talks growing up in Long Island and Manhattan and how he got into the current business he is in now, which rose from a passion he formed in childhood. The conversation begins with the Native pre-colonial history of the Chelsea area transitioning to the arrival of the Dutch and the American Revolution. The two highlight a notable resident, Clement Clarke Moore, who is credited with writing the poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, and talk about his legacy in the neighborhood. The segment ends with the industrialization of Chelsea. 

Segment 2

Kevin gives out information for New York Historical Tours and promotes new short virtual tours that people can experience at home. The conversation continues with how modern Chelsea first started to take shape as how it is known today back in the sixties, the architectural evolution and standouts of the neighborhood, and the continual development through the twentieth century of the socioeconomic, visual and cultural aspects of Chelsea.  

Segment 3

Jeff introduces the second guest of the show, Monica Saxena who talks about her origins growing up in India, living in London, and moving to the United States, before talking about the history and the mission of her nonprofit aRoqa and how she first got involved in the first place. The conversation steers towards Monica’s charitable ventures and her motivations behind supporting those as well as her motivations for opening up her restaurant in Chelsea.

Segment 4

Monica explains the meaning of the name aRoqa and how she came to open up her business in Chelsea. She describes the vibe of the local area and how she chooses to give back to the neighborhood, also discussing changes that she’s seen in Chelsea over time. Monica discusses the demographics of her customers, as well as talks about what she’s learned owning an independent business, especially during times like these, the show closing on what she thinks is currently lacking in the neighborhood.

Join me this week as we visit four great historic places on Staten Island: Richmondtown, Snug Harbor, the National Lighthouse Museum and Fort Wadsworth.

My guests will be Rediscovering New York regular and our Special Consultant David Griffin of Landmark Branding, Linda Dianto, Executive Director of the National Lighthouse Museum, and Daphne Yun, Public Affairs Specialist at Fort Gateway National Recreation Area/Fort Wadsworth.

Segment 1

Jeff introduces the first guest of the show David Griffin, who gives the history of Richmond Town, the first settlement of Staten Island, starting with its founding as an area known for its oyster shells and being majorly agricultural to a more industrial area before fading away over time. The two go back to colonial times, discussing who would’ve settled there during those times and its place on Staten during the Revolutionary War.  The talk gears towards the founding of the Staten Island Historical Society, Richmond Town’s preservation history and a few significant landmarks.

Segment 2

David talks about his role at Landmark Branding, the show continuing with David discussing the maritime-based history of Snug Harbor, its opening in the nineteenth century, and when the area started to fall out of relevance in the mid-twentieth century, the NYC Landmark Commission stepping in and saving the area from being teared down for housing. The talk transitions into the variety of institutions set up in the area including gardens, art exhibitions, and its many museums, David listing all types of these museums in the harbor ranging from maritime, science, and some even catering to children.The segment closes with Jeff listing David’s contact information. 

Segment 3

Jeff introduces the second guest of the show Linda Dianto, she talks about her history living in Brooklyn and Staten Island, going into her history working in and out of historical societies before ending up at the National Lighthouse Museum, this leading to how she ended up working there. Linda talks about her passion for lighthouses, which she shares with her husband, which spawned after she decided to take on her current project. She talks on how New York came to house the museum, its history dating back to the nineteenth century, as she outlines when it was first established. Linda traverses into the broader subject of lighthouses themselves, specifying their purposes, and speaking on the history of them in the New York harbor. She talks about what guests should expect when they come to the museum, giving out information for the listener to where information can be found.

Segment 4

Jeff introduces the final guest of the show Daphne Yun, who talks on how she ended up working at New York City, taking a job at the Statue of Liberty after working in Washington D.C., and how she ended up at Fort Wadsworth. She talks the history of the area before it was preserved in the nineteenth century, the adage of fortifications through American history, how it came to be possessed by the federal government, the two going on a slight tangent into naval warfare and technology at the time, and the Fort’s transition into a military base before its decommissioning in the twentieth century. They talk of its history as a national park and being an extension of Fort Gateway and a happy accident that occured during Hurricane Sandy. The show closes with Daphne giving out information to the listeners about tours and the park.

My live guest will be Sarah Seidman, Puffin Foundation Curator of Social Activism at the Museum of the City of New York, and curator of the museum’s present exhibition “Activist New York”.

We also will go into our archive for an interview with Lucie Levine, Founder of Archive on Parade, who will discuss the women behind Brooklyn’s own suffrage movement in the 19th Century. (Brooklyn was its own municipality, separate from New York City until 1898!)

Segment 1

The show begins with Jeff introducing the guest, Lucie Levine, who talks living in Brooklyn, continuing her story on how she entered the business she is working into now, having a love of history and being intrigued by the women’s suffrage movement in Brooklyn. Lucie gives a history of women’s suffrage, its roots lying all the back in the aftermath of the Civil War, outlining why Brooklyn would be the place where movements would be birthed, also noting the abolitionist history of the borough. She talks about a few key figures in the founding of Sorosis, focusing particularly on Celia M. Burleigh, including her founding of Brooklyn Women’s Club.

Segment 2

Lucie talks about where the listener can find information for ‘Archive on Parade’. The conversation continues with the history of suffrage organizations formed for black women in Brooklyn. The talks steers towards Sarah J. Garnet and her founding of the Equal Suffrage League of Brooklyn, and her sister, Susan McKinney Steward, their history being from a family of trailblazers in African-American suffrage. Victoria Earle Matthew working her way into the conversation as well through a talk of intersectionality being birthed in the 19th century, the two talking about her founding of the White Rose Mission. The segment closes with an anecdote about a little known figure named, Cornelia K. Hood, the first women graduate of the NYU Law School and with the two talking about an interesting figure in the suffrage movement, Lucy Burns.

Segment 3

Jeff introduces the second guest of the show, Sarah Seidman, who talks growing up in Boston and now living in New York City, and her decision to go into curating, joining the staff back in 2014. She reflects on an older exhibition, Beyond Suffrage, which outlines the history of the suffrage from 1917 to 2017, and a current exhibition, Activist New York, which covers a broader history of social activism in New York. The two talk about Mabel Ping-Hua Lee’s role in the suffrage movement and who pursued a larger suffrage goal when her right to vote came into conflict with the Chinese Exclusion Act. The segment closes with a brief discussion on the ‘Uprising of the 20,000’.

Segment 4

Sarah talks about a few current exhibitions opening at Museum of the City of New York. The conversation continues with Belle Moskowitz’s and Pauli Murray’s parts in the suffrage and other social movements, naming more important figures as these movements persisted through the 20th century. They talk about a duo of living activists, Gloria Steinem and Dorothy Pitman Hughes, name-dropping important figures in more niche social movements in New York City like Denise Oliver-Velez and Sylvia Rivera. The show closes with Sarah giving out her website and promoting upcoming exhibitions.

Join me this week as we journey beyond any one neighborhood and go to many different parts of New York and explore some of the City’s most interesting and fascinating cemeteries.

My guests will be Joyce Gold of Joyce Gold History Tours, and Vincent and Robert Gardino, authors of Grave Trippers: History at Our Feet.

Segment 1

The show begins with Jeff introducing the first guest, Joyce Gold, who begins with his history initially growing up in Pennsylvania and first moving to New York and outlines her journey from working in finance to her current line of work today, finding a passion in showing the history of the city and how this work comes to include cemeteries. She speaks on the connections cemeteries have to religious institutions and how burials correlated to superstitions at the time, going into the history of grave-sites for Native Americans and the early Dutch settlers. The talk continues with the burial history of the Trinity Church Yard and St. Paul’s Chapel, as well as a history of segregation and exclusion at these sites.

Segment 2

Joyce informs the audience about a few upcoming tours this spring and where listeners can find information. They return to the topic with the African graveyard and the establishment of the first non-sectarian cemeteries in New York as well as a few notable people buried at those sights. Jeffs notes a history of placing remains inside vaults and Joyce talks about the history of Trinity Cemetery in uptown, the segment closing with some interesting tombstones and notable burials  at this location.

Segment 3

In the second half of the show, Jeff introduces the next guests Vincent and Robert Gardino, who talk about their history growing up in Hell’s Kitchen, their education, and their previous careers, all leading towards how they developed their niche interests in exploring cemeteries and burial grounds, being inspired by the assassination of JFK to go to DC, and being in awe by the majesty of the setting. The brothers also talk about their history collecting autographs and their reasoning behind the name of their book ‘Grave Trippers’ as well as how they came to know James McPherson.

Segment 4

The brothers talk about upcoming tours this year, as well as their motivations behind including Greenwood Cemetery in the book, the burial site being a natural choice due to the aesthetics notoriety of the buried, and they discuss the spectacular architecture that decorates the sight as well as a few familiar names buried at that sight. The three also several famous musicians, politicians, and authors currently resting at The Woodlawn Cemetery and Conservatory. The brothers give their preferences between the two cemeteries, noting which has their favorite mausoleums. The show closes with the brothers listing their favorite burials and resting places.

Join me this week as we journey to Astoria.

My guests will be Bob Singleton, Executive Director of the Greater Astoria Historical Society, and Hoong Yee Lee Krakauer, Executive Director of the Queens Council on the Arts.

Segment 1

The show begins with Jeff introducing the first guest, Bob Singleton, who discusses how he first was able to move from Pittsburgh to New York City through an education from NYU and how he transitioned from finance to becoming a historial, working as a bookkeeper in SoHo in the 80s. He talks about how first became affiliated with the Greater Astoria Historical Society, being involved in for about twenty-five years. The two get started with the pre-America history, the neighborhood once being a home of Native cultures, going into its history as a trading port during the colonial era. They then travel to the American Revolution, the neighborhood being a British foothold and then to the 19th century, discussing Stephen Hasley, who saw opportunity in the budding Hallet’s Cove, changing its name to Astoria. 

Segment 2

This segment begins with Bob talking about the mission of the Greater Astoria Historical Society and a few upcoming opportunities. The two jump into the middle of the 19th century and focus in particular on Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg, an immigrant who came with his family, who is mostly known for making pianos under ‘Steinway & Sons’ and becoming established members of the community. They then talk about a few historical landmarks within Astoria itself and how it shifted into modern times through the expansion of the subway system and becoming a commuter city. Bob outlines the motion picture history of the area and names key names and players, the city being a backdrop for several films and the neighborhood’s silk industry even playing a role in costume design. The segment ends with the ethnic history of Astoria, which is especially noted for its wide-selection of restaurants, behind which are cultures from all around the world.

Segment 3

Jeff introduces the second guest of the show, Hoong Yee Lee Krakauer, reflects on growing up in Queens and discussing her artistic journey, starting with ballet, transitioning in piano and soon splitting and stretching her creative impulse into drawing and writing. She talks about her history studying music in Europe and then deciding to work toward supporting other creative minds with a website. Hoong Yee then went into how she got into writing children’s books and her future in the field as well as getting approached to assume the title she has today twenty years ago. She talks about the mission of the Queens Council of the Arts and how they go about giving out grants to support local artists in Queens.

Segment 4

The final segment begins with Hoong Yee discussing basing the Council in Astoria and how she feels about being in the neighborhood, particularly loving the diverse choice of food, and what excites her about the area, Yee being fond of the creative tension in the area, watching the clashes of cultures and generation gaps. She talks about what surprises her about Astoria, curious to see how the city will make sense of the growing gentrification, as well as voicing her desires for the area including independent bookstores and less franchises talking up real estate. The show ends with Hoong Yee adding in how artists searching for a foothold in Queens can come into contact with her.

Join me this week for a water-themed program: “Maritime New York”, when we explore the City’s relationship with our waterways, past and present.

We will have two Rediscovering New York regulars as my guests: Justin Rivers, Chief Experience Officer and Lead Tour Guide for Untapped New York; and David Griffin, Founder and CEO of Landmark Branding. David is also the program’s Special Consultant!

Segment 1

Jeff begins the show by introducing his guests Justin Rivers and David Griffin. Both guests share their backgrounds with the audience. David talks about how he got into his current business. He says he and his family were always interested in architecture. Justin mentions how he got into the business of touring New York. Justin began as a teacher. Justin then begins to  talk of Henry Hudson and how he found New York; Henry was actually looking for water. David talks about the Dutch and their first settlement. The gentlemen chat about the history of the Dutch and why they decided to have their settlement at the Harbor. Fun Fact: Before the European change, the island of Manhattan was much bigger. The conversation continues with Jeff explaining how the water was used by the British. Justin ends the segment by explaining how we defend the water around New York.

Segment 2

This segment begins with Justin talking about upcoming touring opportunities from the old Penn Station to locations all over Manhattan. David talks about the missions of ‘Landmark Branding’ and a few articles discussing the architectural history of New York. Justin continues his historical overview of New York’s trading culture via the harbor going into Dutch trading practices, as well as discussing the gradual change in boating technology, including the anxieties around the introduction of the steamboat. He gives a few anecdotes: how mailing ships turned into the start of the first luxury boats riding in and out of New York and the expected arrival of the Titanic. David then goes into the history of the creations of docks that lined the city and the creation of the manufactured shoreline. The segments ends with the two discussing how piers and docks became obsolete with the introduction of container ships.

Segment 3

The conversation continues with the guys talking about the waterways in New York and passenger ferries. David gives a brief history of the passenger ferries in New York and New Jersey.  The most famous ferry, the Staten Island Ferry began in 1712. David shares how the ferries changed the development of New York; especially the Financial District. Justin begins to share the history of Day Steamers. Jeff shares a sad maritime memory; there was a fire on a boat, and almost 1,300 people passed away in 1904. The conversation goes back to the Staten Island Ferry; which runs 5.2 miles. The Staten Island Ferry is actually FREE! Jeff ends the segment by briefly mentioning how busy the Staten Island  Ferry is.

Segment 4

The final segment begins with David outlining nautical themes in New York architecture, noting how it can be seen in all of buildings around the city today, the city never losing its touch with its maritime roots, he talks about a few specific examples of these buildings standing today. He goes into the varied locations of Nautical-themed architecture in the city as well, as it travels all over Manhattan through its history. Justin adds the history of the International Mercantile Marine Company Building, another staple of the city’s maritime history. The show closes with a brief discussion of the long and rich history of pirates in New York, the city at one time being especially known as a ‘haven’ of piracy.

Join me this week for a special program during Black History Month, when we explore the history of African Americans and some of their communities in New York City, as well the Jazz Age and some of the great New Yorkers who were part of its core.

My guests will be Dominique Jean-Louis, Project Historian at the New York Historical Society; Tracy Hyter-Suffern, Executive Director of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem; and Ryan Maloney, Director of Education and Programming at the Jazz Museum.

Segment 1

The show opens with Dominique discussing her initial interest in studying history when she first came to New York, switching from a journalism education to history one at Columbia. She continues with her journey joining the New York Historical Society transitioning to the history of African-Americans in New York, working as slaves for the Dutch in the 1620s. Dominique talks ‘The Land of the Blacks’, an area given to African-American slaves that seperated Native land and Dutch land, which today is known as Washington Square and Greenwich Village. She discusses the growing culture of slavery New York, the city being a hub for enslavement back in the 17th century, and becoming home to one of the largest black populations in the country much before the Great Migration. The segment ends with the abolition of slavery in New York and shifting economics and new organizations that provided labor jobs for freed slaves in the city.

Segment 2

Dominique begins this segment by informing the audience about her most recent exhibition at the Historical Society. The exhibition is about the reconstruction of New York after the Jim Crow laws. The exhibition also travels; it just opened in Atlanta. She then discusses her new exhibition, which  opens up this week. This new exhibition explores the history of the U.S. Presidents. The conversation transitions to talking about the history of African American neighborhoods/communities throughout New York City. She mentions neighborhoods such as Crown Heights and Hells Kitchen. Dominique then delves into the history of slavery and its complicated relationship with New York. She talks of how racial violence made lots of Africa Americans leave New York during the Civil War. However, after that time in history, New York received a mix of African American migrates. The two discuss Harlem next, and how it’s a premier destination for African Americans. Dominique mentions how Harlem became black on purpose.

Segment 3

This segment introduces Tracy Hyter-Suffern and Ryan Maloney, the two discussing their histories in New York before transitioning to how they ended up working at the Jazz Museum. Tracy’s start being working at a jazz radio show back in college, being a musician herself at a time as well as art's deep influence in her life. Ryan talks about a similar early influence of music in his life that persisted through his education and why he chose to focus on jazz specifically. This turns into a brief history of jazz itself, its West African roots that permeated through slave culture that slowly evolved with its meld with many worldwide musical forms and styles. Ryan roughly dates The Jazz Age and the implementation of new ideas that made the music standout, tracing back the seeds of this period back to World War I and labeling key figures that allowed the music to ferment and develop.

Segment 4

Tracy begins this segment by discussing the history of the museum. Next, the two discuss the Harlem Renaissance and how it contributed to the Jazz movement in New York. Although African Americans could play at clubs, they could not be customers of the clubs. Ryan then discusses the integration of jazz clubs. The two end the segment by mentioning places you can go to hear good jazz music now.

Join me this week as we journey to Mott Haven and Port Morris, in the South Bronx.

My guests will be Lloyd Ultan, the Bronx Borough Historian, and Amaurys Grullon, Co-Founder and Partner of Bronx Native, a business melding clothing, art and media.

Segment 1

Lloyd Ultan, a native of the Bronx, begins with his education at Hunter College, starting with the passion he formed for history as a child. He discusses where he got his start in becoming an accredited Bronx historian, speaking to how the Bronx acts like a microcosm for American history as a whole. He goes into the process of how he came to gain the title of ‘Borough Historian’ and the law-mandated duties of someone in these positions. Ultan’s knowledge shines through, starting with how the borough got its name back as well as how the area came to become a part of New York City, delving into its colonial history and adding on contributions of Bronx natives in American history.

Segment 2

This segment opens with Ultan discussing his work as a guide in walking tours throughout the area. He speaks to the history of the Mott Haven neighborhood back in the 19th century, where it became known as an industrial hotspot, through its radical changes during WWII with a sudden shift in demographics, the area becoming an early example of racial tolerance in this country before the Civil Rights era. Ultans finishes the segment, going into how faulty real estate practices and a growing demand for affordable housing led to the downfall of the neighborhood in the latter half of the twentieth century.

Segment 3

Our second guest, Amaurys Grullon, discussing his start as an entrepreneur and his motivations for creating Bronx Native, seeking to erase negative stigmas about the borough through creating apparel inspired by Bronx culture, going into the organization’s start through the present-day services it provides for the community both artistically and educationally. He speaks to how the group found its home in Mott Haven and opening its second location in Hunts Point, the Bronx Natives Market, which serves a platform for Bronx artists and entrepreneurs.

Segment 4

The final segment opens with Grullon discussing upcoming events being hosted by Bronx Native and future projects currently in the works. He talks about his ties to Mott Haven and the vibrant culture that gravitated him to the neighborhood, as well as what he thinks makes the area unique. Grullon segways into Bronx Native’s reach from all over the borough into attracting international attention, gaining exposure through the coverage of a number of media outlets. The segment closes with his wishes for more successes out of the neighborhood and advice for other entrepreneurs hoping to get into setting up shop in the south Bronx.

Join me this week as we journey to Hamilton Heights and Sugar Hill.

My guests are Kevin Draper, Director of New York Historical Tours, and Beejhy Barhany, Founder and Owner of Tsion Café.

Segment 1

Jeff introduces the first guest of the night, Kevin Draper. Kevin starts the segment by briefly discussing his background and where he grew up. Kevin shares how New York City has always been a passion of his, even at a young age. Kevin talks of how there were Natives living in Hamilton Heights and Sugar Hill before the Europeans came. Kevin thenen talks about notable history in these areas. He discusses Harlem and other northern Manhattan neighborhoods. He delves into the history of the Battle of Harlem. He shares the history of how the land was spearted before Central Park was created. Hamilton and his city life is mentioned. The segment ends with Kevin chatting about Hamilton Terrace.

Segment 2

Kevin opens this segment by mentioning his upcoming tours. He chats about the tours, lectures, and exhibits you can see at Grange Mansion. The guys discuss how the neighborhood came about, including the subway systems and nice apartments. Kevin then talks about the Harlem Renaissance and Sugar Hill. He tells the audience about how Sugar Hill got its name. Jeff mentions a few famous people who had residences in Sugar Hill. Kevin then discusses City College and the principals it was first founded on. City College was initially a free college for men. Kevin chats about Trinity Church Cemetery next. He mentions that the cemetery is very beautiful, and how there are some famous people buried there. Kevin ends the segment by speaking about a Mural Project that is going on in Hamilton Heights and other nice things happening there. 

Segment 3

The second guest of the night is Beejhy Barhany. Beejhy was born in Ethiopia. Her cafe, Tsion Cafe is located on a historical site in Sugar Hill. She begins by discussing her upbringing and her journey to Israel. She describes how her experiences as a young child was critical in her decision to start eating/drinking healthy. She originally wanted to create a non-profit. She had a few jobs before her cafe was founded. She was determined to teach people about Ethiopian Jews. Beejhy talks about how she decided to open up her own business. She talks about the different kinds of healthy Ethiopian foods that are served at her cafe. She chats about how her cafe is just for food; there is music, live shows, and film screenings there! It is a cultural experience. 

Segment 4

Beejhy opens this segment by mentioning some exciting events that are coming up at her cafe. There is an exhibition that just started at her cafe in tribute to Black History Month. She chats about how her cafe isn’t just Ethiopian; she blends flavors from different foods/cultures. She talks of how her cafe brings a diverse group of customers. She chats about how Sugar Hill is an extremely diverse, and historic neighborhood. Beejhy then talks about what makes Hamilton Heights and Sugar Hill such unique communities. She talks about a different struggles she has faced with running a business. Beejhy ends the segment by giving advice to people who want to open a business in Sugar Hill.