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

@Highlinenyc

Jae's Social Media

@Studiojae170

• (00:00:00) - New Yorkers: Alan Van Capel on Ellen
• (00:01:34) - Queens doctor and proud New Yorker
• (00:03:54) - Democrat and twin sister on politics
• (00:07:45) - Straight Women Talk About Coming Out
• (00:07:56) - In the Elevator With Gay People
• (00:11:23) - Exploring the Stonewall Riot
• (00:16:05) - On the Pulse Shooting
• (00:19:07) - The High Line's Pride Month 2
• (00:23:10) - Adopting Gay Parents
• (00:27:00) - Same-Sex Parents in NYC
• (00:30:50) - Horticulturalists on the High Line
• (00:33:01) - NY Gov. Cuomo on Marriage Equality
• (00:39:31) - On the Fight for Gay Rights
• (00:44:52) - What Gay Parents Want You To Know
• (00:49:17) - Pride Month on the High Line
• (00:50:37) - Favorite New York Neighborhoods
• (00:53:47) - NYC Knicks Fever
• (00:55:19) - Alan Van Capel on Being a New Yorker
• (00:57:06) - The New Yorkers Podcast
• (00:58:18) - Train No. 6, Brooklyn-

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

• (00:00:00) - Meet The New Yorkers
• (00:02:43) - Peter Eigner on Growing Up in Queens
• (00:05:36) - Long Island: The Gold Coast
• (00:10:00) - What is the Gotham Center?
• (00:14:30) - NYC resident on mass suburbanization
• (00:18:49) - Bookmark: Daniel Patrick Moynihan
• (00:21:36) - The Life of Daniel Patrick Moynihan
• (00:23:53) - New York's role in the American Revolution
• (00:28:20) - The First Battle of New York
• (00:29:46) - The darkest years of New York City's history
• (00:36:48) - The Story of New York
• (00:42:42) - New York City History: The Discovery App
• (00:48:15) - The Story of New York in the US
• (00:53:46) - George Washington and the Liberty of Slaves
• (00:56:45) - NYC on History of the American Revolution
• (00:58:36) - Most Underrated NYC Historical Spot
• (01:02:20) - What It Means To Be A New Yorker
• (01:05:36) - The New Yorkers: Thank You!

In this episode; Kelly is joined by: Kim Lee! She is the owner and founder of Kawaii Coffee, and an immigrant from Vietnam.

Kim recently opened her coffee shop in the west village, which had been a dream of hers for a while. After attending business school and working in midtown at a nail salon, she decided her next step was to run her own business.

Kelly asks Kim about moving from Vietnam to the United States. How the culture differs, what was hard to adjust to, what was more similar than you might think, and what it's like starting over in a completely new country.

Kim talks about the coffee culture in Vietnam. She tells us how life is much slower there: people go to their favorite coffee shops at around 7 in the morning and wait two full hours for it to drip while they are there! She talks about how they use condensed milk as a sweetener, and the different reasons Vietnamese people go out for coffee. Kelly asks Kim what parts of that culture she hoped to bring with her to New York.

Kelly asks Kim about Vietnamese culture in New York. They talk about the food, different events, and how Kim can contribute to that culture.

Finally, Kelly asks Kim some quick fire questions about coffee, culture, and where she likes to live.

But above all else; Kim Lee is a New Yorker.

Kelly's Social Media

@NewYorkCityKopp

Kim's Social Media

@Kawaiicafe203

You can find her shop here: 117 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014

Jae's Social Media

@Studiojae170

• (00:00:00) - New Yorkers Podcast
• (00:02:25) - Vietnam is a dream to visit
• (00:04:45) - Living in the Biggest City in Vietnam
• (00:06:09) - Vietnam entrepreneur opens her first shop in Australia
• (00:08:33) - Toronto is more diverse than New York
• (00:10:18) - Japanese women start a nail salon in NYC
• (00:13:04) - Where to Start a Coffee Business in the West Village
• (00:15:48) - How to get from the Bronx to the West Village
• (00:16:06) - What Is Vietnamese Coffee?
• (00:19:23) - How Vietnamese Coffee Is Adjusting to Americans
• (00:23:01) - Vietnam's First Taste Test in America
• (00:26:01) - Kawaii Cafe, 117 Christopher Street
• (00:26:39) - The cafe in New York's West Village
• (00:30:20) - How New Yorkers Are Helpful
• (00:32:16) - The Space Where My Business Is Located
• (00:35:34) - Viral Coffee Shop
• (00:37:19) - Vietnamese living in the United States
• (00:39:06) - What do you feel like that New York City has that Vietnamese doesn
• (00:41:25) - How to say 'Same Year' in Chinese
• (00:42:21) - Married Vietnamese People Talk About New York
• (00:45:23) - How to Not Be Lonely In New York
• (00:45:57) - Vietnam vs New York
• (00:47:35) - Vietnamis talk about life in NYC
• (00:49:49) - Teens Talk About The Subway
• (00:52:36) - "A Woman's Perspective On Her Husband"
• (00:52:55) - What It Means To Be A New Yorker