Undiscarded: Stories of New York

CitizenRacecar & The City Reliquary
  • 4.9 (39)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
Undiscarded: Stories of New York

A ticket stub, a bottle cap, a piece of fabric, a plastic souvenir, a lightbulb… these simple things hold power – they capture moments in time and the stories of people’s lives. Undiscarded: Stories of New York is a new podcast series that celebrates the extraordinary history behind seemingly mundane objects, telling absorbing and absolutely unique stories that shed new light on the people whose lives have always made New York so alive, exciting, and gloriously messy.

  1. Display Cake

    08/02/2023

    Display Cake

    In Undiscarded’s Season 1 finale, Tania sits down with author Richie Narvaez to discuss one very striking display cake. Adorned with a scantily clad doll, Xoxa, the cake graced the La Villita bakery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Unraveling the layers of gentrification, the two reflect on the neighborhood's transformation from a predominantly Puerto Rican community to the realm of hipsters and, eventually, rich white people. Discover how this display cake becomes a poignant symbol of change, offering a glimpse into the evolving cultural landscape of New York City. Look at photos of this object and more at at: https://www.cityreliquary.org/undiscarded-displaycake Learn more about the City Reliquary, its mission, and its collections at: cityreliquary.org In the city or just visiting? Stop by the Reliquary any Saturday or Sunday, noon to 6pm, 370 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn 11211 To learn more about our guest Richie Narvaez and his books please visit: https://www.richienarvaez.com/ For even more insight to the Southside of Williamsburg and its rich history, watch LOS SURES courtesy of UnionDocs: https://membership.uniondocs.org/zen/los-sures-1984

    32 min
  2. Very Old Shovel

    07/19/2023

    Very Old Shovel

    In this week's "Undiscarded," rock out with Tania and geologist Nik Sokol as they excavate the history of New York City's underground. With a meaningful artifact in hand—a very old shovel, discovered by Nik during the rehabilitation of the New Croton Aqueduct—they discuss the work of past generations to bring water to millions of inhabitants. Unveiled are the invaluable contributions of immigrant laborers who built the enduring infrastructure that continues to sustain New York today.   Look at photos of this object and more at at: https://www.cityreliquary.org/undiscarded-veryoldshovel Learn more about the City Reliquary, its mission, and its collections at: cityreliquary.org In the city or just visiting? Stop by the Reliquary any Saturday or Sunday, noon to 6pm, 370 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn 11211

    22 min
  3. Subway Token

    07/05/2023

    Subway Token

    This week on "Undiscarded," join Tania and The Reliquary's Director of Outreach & Programming, Jacob Ford, as they uncover the history of the subway token and the transition into the digital realm. Discover the "SJD" token (which were the initials of one, Sylvester J. Dobosz), how these small, metallic discs transformed public transportation, and how the development of digital payment methods impact us today. From the challenges of digital hesitancy to the design choices at each step of the transit journey, dive into the intricacies of navigating a rapidly evolving transportation landscape. Look at photos of this object and more at at: https://www.cityreliquary.org/undiscarded-subwaytoken Learn more about the City Reliquary, its mission, and its collections at: cityreliquary.org In the city or just visiting? Stop by the Reliquary any Saturday or Sunday, noon to 6pm, 370 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn 11211

    33 min
  4. Newsstand

    06/14/2023

    Newsstand

    This week on Undiscarded, join Tania and The Reliquary’s founder, Dave Herman, as they unpack the history of Petrella’s Point, a newsstand like no other. Barnyard red amidst the concrete jungle, the humble yet mighty kiosk stood at the corner of Bowery and Canal for thirty years. Owner Adam Petrella delighted visitors with whimsy and charm, inviting them to take a seat as the guest of honor, engaging with them in lively conversations about Bruce Lee and the Pope, and even offering them his personally crafted guides to the city. As the fading tradition is uncovered, a truth emerges—the newsstand was more than just a reflection of culture, it played an active role in its creation. Look at photos of this object and more at at: https://www.cityreliquary.org/undiscarded-newsstand/ Learn more about the City Reliquary, its mission, and its collections at: cityreliquary.org In the city or just visiting? Stop by the Reliquary any Saturday or Sunday, noon to 6pm, 370 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn 11211 If you like Undiscarded, tune into The Brooklyn Public Library’s flagship podcast called Borrowed. Brooklyn  has so many stories to tell, and a lot of them start at the library.

    24 min
  5. Letters to a Hero

    05/31/2023

    Letters to a Hero

    This week on Undiscarded, meet the unsuspecting family with an uncanny name who found themselves in a web of confusion. Fan mail, requests, and even some generous checks kept turning up to the Parker family’s home in Forest Hills, Queens… all addressed to Spider-Man. What was initially dismissed as a prank turned out to be comic book canon. Tune in as Tania and guest Pamela Parker unveil the lore within these letters, which are now on display at The City Reliquary, and the love they show for New York’s friendly neighborhood hero.   Look at photos of this object and more at at: https://www.cityreliquary.org/undiscarded-letterstoahero Learn more about the City Reliquary, its mission, and its collections at: cityreliquary.org In the city or just visiting? Stop by the Reliquary any Saturday or Sunday, noon to 6pm, 370 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn 11211 If you like Undiscarded, tune into The Brooklyn Public Library’s flagship podcast called Borrowed. Brooklyn  has so many stories to tell, and a lot of them start at the library.

    22 min
  6. Rollerskate

    05/17/2023

    Rollerskate

    Strap on your skates and get ready to roll back in time! In today’s episode, Tania joins rollerskating legend Eric Alston to take a spin through the history of the Brooklyn’s iconic Empire Rollerdrome, the surprisingly deep intersections of roller disco, urban communities, the Civil Rights movement, and how rollerskating continues to be a deep source of joy and self-expression. Look at photos of this object and more at at: https://www.cityreliquary.org/undiscarded-rollerskate/ Learn more about the City Reliquary, its mission, and its collections at: cityreliquary.org In the city or just visiting? Stop by the Reliquary any Saturday or Sunday, noon to 6pm, 370 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn 11211 Now until July 29th, further explore the history of Empire Rollerdrome at “Empire Roller Disco, Photographs by Patrick D. Pagnano” presented by Anthology Editions at The Gallery at The Ace Hotel Brooklyn: https://acehotel.com/brooklyn/going-on/anthology-editions-present-empire-roller-disco-by-patrick-d-pagnano-the-gallery/2023-05-26/

    30 min
  7. Model Buildings

    05/03/2023

    Model Buildings

    A riddle: when are tiny models more than tiny models? Answer: when they were once part of a HUGE model. In the case of these unprepossessing little wooden and plastic buildings, probably the greatest scale model ever built: the Panorama of the City of New York. In this episode, Tania talks to Lynn Maliszewski of the Queens Museum about the crown jewel of their collection and the extraordinary history of its creation, spearheaded by one the biggest New Yorkers of all time. Look at photos of this object and more at at https://www.cityreliquary.org/undiscarded-modelbuildings Learn more about the City Reliquary, its mission, and its collections at cityreliquary.org In the city or just visiting? Stop by the Reliquary any Saturday or Sunday, noon to 6pm, 370 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn 11211 And while you’re in town, plan your trip across Newtown Creek to visit the panorama and the rest of the Queens Museum at https://queensmuseum.org/

    28 min
  8. Stuffed Alligator

    04/19/2023

    Stuffed Alligator

    “Alligators thriving in the sewers of New York City” –– one of the most famous and persistent urban myths. But could it be… true? Well, according to former Manhattan Borough Historian Michael Miscione, it’s at least “true-ish”! Learn more as he and Tania go down the manhole to find a truly epic tale of boys vs. beast. Look at photos of this object and more at at https://www.cityreliquary.org/undiscarded-stuffedalligator Learn more about the City Reliquary, its mission, and its collections at cityreliquary.org In the city or just visiting? Stop by the Reliquary any Saturday or Sunday, noon to 6pm, 370 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn 11211 Learn more about Michael’s projects at https://nyc125.org/

    29 min
See All (13)

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4.9
out of 5
39 Ratings

About

A ticket stub, a bottle cap, a piece of fabric, a plastic souvenir, a lightbulb… these simple things hold power – they capture moments in time and the stories of people’s lives. Undiscarded: Stories of New York is a new podcast series that celebrates the extraordinary history behind seemingly mundane objects, telling absorbing and absolutely unique stories that shed new light on the people whose lives have always made New York so alive, exciting, and gloriously messy.

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