The CBGB Conspiracy! -With Gabriel Rotello

The CBGB Conspiracy! -With Gabriel Rotello

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! [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-cbgb-conspiracy-gabriel-rotello/a17125b3d277add0?ean=9798888249093&affiliate=109191] Gabriel's Social Media: @GabeRotello  Jae's Social Media @Studiojae170

Creating the Future of New York City! -With Sara Lind

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

Ricki Lake on the Kelly Kopp Show! -With Ricki Lake

On this Episode, Kelly is joined by the one and only: Ricki Lake! She is a TV and film actress, producer, and television show host. You can see her star in Hairspray, or host her Ricki Lake talk show, which ran for 12 seasons and aired over 2,000 episodes! Kelly starts by asking Ricki where she was born. Ricki tells him about growing up and going to school in Westchester and the city. She talks about taking the train in to Manhattan to go to a performing arts school. She and Kelly try to figure out if they share a mutual connection from her high school. Ricki talks about her parents' family business and how she was a true New Yorker.  Ricki then talks about how 9/11 affected her life trajectory. She talks about living in the West Village at the time and witnessing the plane fly down the Hudson River. She talks about how her home birth was such a powerful experience for her, and that mixed with the events and her contract ending influenced her to move to LA. Ricki then talks about how she ended up moving back to New York 20+ years later, when her house burned down in the Malibu fires. She talks about her house and what she was doing when the fires started. She tells us how she and her husband stayed to try to fight the fire and save their home, but ultimately decided to leave everything behind. She talks about how difficult it was to rebuild, and she talks about all of the things that she's lost in the process.  Kelly then asks her about her move back to New York. Ricki talks about how she had a feeling that she didn't want to stay in LA anymore. She talks about how she got the opportunity to spend a few months living in Chelsea at a friend's apartment and how she was able to rediscover the city that way. Kelly asks her about her necklace, and Ricki talks about how she was able to obtain some of the ashes from her house and create a diamond from it, symbolizing her rebirth. Kelly talks with Ricki about Hairspray! Ricki talks about her casting process and how she went from auditioning for a movie because of a flyer up at her school to getting the lead role in the movie musical. She talks about working with John Waters and Divine, and how the whole cast became a family. Kelly then asks her about her Ricki Lake Talk show, and she gives him the inside scoop on how she got the role.  Kelly then asks her about some of her other work in documentary film, dancing with the stars, and her second TV show, The Ricki Lake Show. She talks about how documentary filmmaking became a personal passion of hers. She talks about how The Business of Being Born still helps new mothers through childbirth. She tells Kelly about how much she loved getting to do Dancing with the Stars, even though she avoided doing it for so long. Kelly let her know that he thought she should have won her season, but Ricki accepted her third-place position. Ricki then talks about why she wanted to go back and do another talk show. She talks about what she was hoping would be different and how that didn't end up being the case. But she was grateful to win an EMMY for her work, but laments that she lost it in the fire.  Finally, Kelly has a surprise that he'd been saving for Ricki all show. He tells her and she is absolutely shocked and delighted.  But above all else; Ricki Lake is a New Yorker  Kelly Kopp's Social Media: @NewYorkCityKopp Ricki Lake's Social media @RickiLake Jae's Social Media @StudioJae170

New Yorkers Celebrate Pride On the High Line! -With Alan van Capelle

In this episode, Kelly is joined by Alan van Capelle!  He is the executive director of Friends of the High Line, the former deputy comptroller for the City of New York, and the chief architect of New York’s historic marriage equality bill.  Kelly asks Alan where he's from. Alan talks about growing up on Long Island and realizing that he was gay. He talks about pretending to be Miss America while hearing his parents argue about him playing Soccer! Alan then talks a bit about his twin sister, and is surprised to learn that Kelly is a twin as well!  Alan talks about his journey through college: how he wanted to be an opera singer, and then worked in medical unions, and later decided to go into community organizing and politics. He then tells the story about how he went from speaking at the first openly gay state representatives' inauguration to being the executive director of the Pride Agenda! Kelly and Alan talk about political activism, and Kelly describes the time he took a bus trip up to Washington, D.C. in 1993 to be a part of the march on Washington. He tells us about how their trip was almost canceled because of threats from the KKK. He describes the tension as they took the trip, and talks about how transformative of an experience it was.  Alan then talks about the importance of joy in hard times. As Executive Director of the High Line, It's important to him that in this fight against fascism, we center joy, and he hopes that people can find that on the High Line this pride.  Kelly asks Alan about the events that are going on this summer.  Alan talks about Musical Theater Piano Karaoke on Mondays, and how everyone has been super excited for that. He talks about the plant sale that they held, where people had the chance to buy one of a kind plants that are not available anywhere else. He talks about the Zesty world party for Queer People of Color, and the Salsa dance parties that are held in July.  Kelly then gets personal with Alan as he asks him about his family life. Alan talks about the process of how he and his partner adopted their two kids. He talks about the pressures of raising a family as a gay couple, as well as some of the challenges that he and his kids face navigating the world as a queer family.  Finally, Kelly asks Alan about the fight for marriage equality. Alan talks about the process that he and his colleagues went through in order to get it passed. How they had to pass smaller legislation surrounding it in order to set the precedent for marriage equality.  He talks about how he became friends with his political enemies and how that was crucial in nullifying them and getting them on his side. He and Kelly talk about the importance of continuing to talk to people you may disagree with.  Then Kelly asks Alan what his favorite neighborhoods are, where he likes to go to eat, and where his favorite place to go for views of the city is. Alan talks about where to go to see the best eye candy, makes a controversial restaurant take, and talks about his favorite section of the High Line. But above all else; Alan van Capelle is a New Yorker.  Kelly's Social Media @NewYorkCityKopp Follow the High Line and for more information about their events:  https://www.thehighline.org [https://www.thehighline.org] @Highlinenyc Jae's Social Media @Studiojae170

New York City During the Revolutionary War! -With Peter Aigner

In this episode, Kelly is joined by NYC Historian Peter Aigner! He is the director of the Gotham Center for New York City History, and the co-founder of “Echos of Revolution: NYC,” A new immersive walking tour experience that uses geolocation to put you in the world of historic New York. Join them, as Peter talks to Kelly about the process of obtaining his PHD. Peter talks about why he decided to pursue higher education, and talks a bit about the history of the study of history and why it was important for him in his family. Peter talks about his family's chocolate shop and how it's been around for 100 years! He talks about the legacy of the shop and being a part of it while he was growing up.  Kelly and Peter talk about some important figures and time periods in NYC history. Peter talks about how we are currently in the second Gilded Age and makes comparisons to the first one. Peter talks about Daniel Patrick Moynihan and the book that he's writing about him: what his legacy was, how he was a scholar, as well as his influence on modern politics. They also talk a bit about the history of transportation in America and the significance of the Highway Act. Kelly asks Peter about Echoes of Revolution. Peter talks about the inspiration behind the project. He talks about how he got involved with Niantic and Ubisoft, bringing them together to revolutionize the tour business. Peter talks about how the app works and what people will get from using it. He talks about the process of designing the tours and how they wanted the experience to work, and how being in person enhances the experience for the users.  Kelly asks Peter about New York City during the time of the revolution. Peter talks about how many people lived in the city at the time, what percentage of them were revolutionaries, loyalists, or in between. Peter talks about what the city limits were at that time, and how New York was impacted by the battles, the invasion, and the fires. He talks about why New York was such an important city during the Revolutionary Era and how it was left out of the conversation nationally.  Finally, Kelly asks Peter some quickfire questions about his favorite historical spots, his favorite historical figures who came from New York City, and what NYC means to him in one word.  But above all else; Peter Aigner is a New Yorker! Kelly's Social Media @NewYorkCityKopp Peter's Social Media  @gothamcenternychistory Jae's Social Media @Studiojae170