Frustration, Inspiration: A Conversation and Interview with Miguel Antunes

Frustration, Inspiration: A Conversation and Interview with Miguel Antunes

This is a very special episode. We have Miguel Antunes, the brother of the pod's host, join for a discussion about growing up in Newark and leaving Newark. This episode hits a wide array of topics, from getting the most out of college, to finding inspiration, to figuring out what path to follow in life.

Jordan's Journey: An Interview and Conversation with Jordan Thomas

Where do I begin with Jordan? I suppose I can talk about how we first met. I was assigned by the Harvard Club to interview a student from University High School in Newark, one they were quite interested in. The person I met astounded me. He was easily admitted into Harvard. However, and unfortunately, he decided to attend Princeton instead. Still, we’ve kept in touch, and I remain fascinated by every thing he does. Rather than explain who he is in this article, I ask that you listen to the episode to get the full sense of Jordan.

Guest:

Jordan Thomas—Jordan is a 2018 graduate of Princeton University, where a successful academic career culminated in such distinctions as Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, the Myron T. Herrick Thesis Prize, and a 2018 Spirit of Princeton Award. At Princeton, he concentrated in Public and International Affairs; he received dual certificates in Portuguese Language and Culture and in African American Studies; and he focused his academic coursework on poverty, inequality, and social mobility. Jordan is particularly interested in the role that law, public policy, and high-quality education play in expanding access and opportunity for disadvantaged populations. In addition, he has a growing interest in impact investment, urban economic development, and the ways in which the power of capital can be harnessed for social good. As one of 32 American students selected from a pool of over 2,500 applicants to receive a 2018 Rhodes Scholarship -- the first Rhodes Scholar in the history of the Newark Public Schools system -- Jordan recently completed a year of postgraduate study at the University of Oxford. He spent this year pursuing a Master's degree in Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation. Jordan will spend the next two years gaining professional experience before enrolling at both Yale Law School and Harvard Business School for a unique JD/MBA dual degree between the two institutions. Ultimately, he intends to engage in work that most directly promotes equal opportunity, social mobility, and justice for all.

Background & Articles:

  • Some articles featuring Jordan: here; here; here

  • A website for help with eating disorders: here

Quote: ”There are not enough roses in the world for me to lay at the feet of this impossible group, but I hope this effort counts. I hope Phife can see all of us trying, from wherever he may be. I hope Q-Tip knows that he’s done something great. I hope when the time comes for the generation after mine to talk about what’s real , they’ll pull a Tribe CD out of their pockets, worn down from a decade’s use and perhaps an older sibling. I hope they’ll put it in a CD player and let a room be carried away.” —Hanif Abdurraqib, Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to a Tribe Called Quest

Porchfest!: A Celebration of Performance and Art in Newark's Forest Hill

Guests, Don Charles and Derek Walls, join the podcast to share the preparations and work behind Porchfest, a 50-plus artist/performers celebration throughout Forest Hill on September 28, 2019.

Background & Articles:

Guests:

Derek Walls—Derek is a graphic designer working at Random House in Manhattan. He has lived in Forest Hill for six years, having moved from Brooklyn, with his husband, Don Charles.

Don Charles—Don is a freelance graphic designer who works from home and enjoys many of the great features Forest Hill has to offer including beautiful Branch Brook Park, the new dog run, and discussing books with his neighbors at the monthly book club meetings. He lives with his husband, Derek Walls, in a 120-year old Victorian with Derek’s niece Ashleigh, three cool cats, and a rambunctious little dog.

Quote:

“. . . the fact that bedmaking clearly held no interest for him, the fact that I used to tell the kids to make their own beds, but it’s easier if I just do it, the fact that I take pride in my baking, at least now and again, but that’s about it, and when I do, I fo it in private, because Mommy taught us never to be proud, the fact that some moms teach their kids the opposite nowadays, bolstering ‘em up nonstop like little gods, telling them how great they are at practically everything, E-G-O, E = mc^2, the fact that maybe Einstein had a right to be proud, the fact that you can be positive, without being overly proud, positive-negative, negatives, electrical circuits, the fact that maybe we should get an electric car, or a hybrid, the fact that electric cars are worse though, Leo says, because they’re coal-fired, originally, instead of using gas, the fact that . . . “ Ducks, Newburyport, Lucy Ellmann

You Can't Recreate History: The Preservation of Old Essex County Jail with Myles Zhang

Eager readers of the podcast website and the show notes that accompany each episode of the pod might remember some links that were attached to our first episode about MX3 and development in the Ironbound. Those links led to two YouTube videos, with each of those videos showing a graphical representation of what the proposed buildings would look like in the Ironbound. I initially had found these links on the Newark subreddit. I was impressed by how succinctly and how jarringly those videos showed the change that would happen to the skyline and view from the Ironbound if the tall buildings were built. That’s when I saw the name “Myles Zhang” for the first time. I began to do some digging around through my networks to find out who this Myles was and what his relationship to Newark was. After a month or two of asking around, one of my friends (and a listener to this podcast) told me to check out the new exhibit in the Hahne’s building and that he would be there talking about it. I went, and I was astounded. I was astounded by this young architectural student (still in college at the time) who was one of the driving forces and designers of this exhibit in one of the most prominent public spaces in the city.

Background & Articles:

Guest:

Myles Zhang—Myles is a Newark Native. From the age he could first speak, he drew the urban architecture around him. His past work documented the impact of urban renewal on Newark's built environment. His current project describes Newark's history of incarceration and possible interpretive reuses for the old Essex County Jail, one of the city's oldest buildings and abandoned since 1971. Myles is currently studying for a Master's degree in Architecture and Urban Studies; his thesis examines the darker history of buildings as tools for social coercion and surveillance.

Quote:

“The time, in New York City, a week after cousin Phuong died in the car wreck, I stepped onto the uptown 2 train and saw his face clear and round as the doors opened, looking right at me, alive. I gasped—but knew better, that it was only a man who resembled him. Still, it upended me to see what I thought I’d never see again—the features so exact, heavy jaw, open brow. His names lunged to the fore of my mouth before I caught it. Aboveground, I sat on a hydrant and called you. ‘Ma, I saw him,’ I breathed. ‘Ma, I swear I saw him. I know it’s stupid but I saw Phuong on the train.’ I was having a panic attack. And you knew it. For a while you said nothing, then started to hum the melody to ‘Happy Birthday.’ It was not my birthday but it was the only song you knew in English, and you kept going. And I listened, the phone pressed so hard to my ear that, hours later, a pink rectangle was still imprinted on my cheek.” Ocean Voung, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous

Bringing Back the Spirit(s) of Newark: Cool Vines and All Points West

The roots of alcohol production and consumption stretch deep back into the history of Newark. First, the city was a major hub for the brewing of beer. Famous breweries included Hensler, Krueger, Feigenspan, and Weidenmeyer. Towering above them was Ballantine’s, whose three-ring symbol was recognized nationwide. In fact, the Ballantine Mansion still sits on Washington Avenue and is a part of the Newark Museum. The love for beer, in large part, stems from the large populations of immigrants that descended upon Newark in the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly the Germans and the Irish. Distilleries also dotted the landscape, producing whisky, rum, and gin.

Prohibition, enacted by the ratification of the 18th Amendment in 1919 and the passage of the Volstead Act, was both a blessing and a curse for the drinking culture of the city. The once mighty distilleries and breweries either shuttered their operations or moved to the production of goods. Many of them would not return to production in 1932, when the amendment was repealed. On the other hand, Newark became the center of a thriving nightlife scene centered around jazz and speakeasies. Newark had the most speakeasies per capita in the nation. African American musicians arriving as part of the Great Migration from the South fostered this culture, which in turn made Newark into a proving ground for the great jazz musicians of the 20th century (e.g., Sarah Vaughan).

The repeal of Prohibition did not immediately bring back the previous, vibrant industry. Instead, consolidation led to the creation of large conglomerate breweries and distilleries—think Anheuser-Busch or Miller-Coors, later InBev and Diageo—many of whom moved their operations outside of Newark, with the notable exception of Anheuser-Busch. However, paralleling this and partly spurred on by the re-legalization of home brewing by President Jimmy Carter, craft brewing and, later, craft distilling began to emerge. While not being the first in the game, Newark is slowly becoming home to these artisanal producers. One of our guests, All Points West, founded and run by Gil Spaier, currently produces several gins, vodkas, and whiskeys and is looking to expand its distilled offerings. On top of that, our other guest, CoolVines, managed by John Ward, marks the first entry of a retail shop in Newark focusing on small production wines and craft spirits and beers.

Newark’s drinking culture seems to be making a turn around. Only time will tell if this will be able to sustain and grow itself.

Background & Articles:

  • CoolVines’ Main Website: here

  • All Points West’s Main Website: here

  • Brief History of Prohibition in Newark: here

  • Cocktail Challenge Website: here

Guests:

Gil Spaier—Gil was born and raised in New York and educated as an Architect in New Orleans. Both cities were essential to the formation and continuation of American Cocktail Culture, and Gil always viewed the bottles with their mysterious liquids and the concoctions that came of hands of bartenders as near magical in their properties.  Having lived in Newark, NJ for the last 16 years he wondered if Newark would every have something to replace the pride the city once took in her beers and music clubs, and wondered if Newark could ever again have an affirming beverage culture like it once had and that the cities where he used to live maintained. All Points West Distillery is his attempt revive this lost essence of Newark.

John Ward—John grew up in Austin, Texas, spending his days golfing, swimming, fishing, and getting on Lake Travis whenever he could. Realizing that swimming and golfing all day didn't pay very well, John earned a BBA in Marketing from Texas State University in 1997. He spent his first few years out of college working as the ARB Volume Broker for Dell Computers. Gaining valuable experience at Dell, John then became the youngest-ever Marketing Director for Image Microsystems. After expanding their operations from Los Angeles to Austin, he sought new challenges outside the IT Hardware vertical. Shortly after John became the Senior Government Contracting Consultant for Epipeline, transitioning to cloud computing and SaaS. After 13 years with Epipeline, he moved onward and upward as Director of Marketing for Texas Tournament Zone. That same year, he also founded WinGov Consulting, a private consulting firm. In August 2018, John's wife wanted to be closer to her parents in New Jersey, where she was born and raised. The Ward family said goodbye to Austin and headed to Jersey City. With this residential move came a career move, as John decided to seek a role in a field he's always loved: wine, beer and spirits. John found CoolVines, a small, family-owned wine, beer, and spirits retailer just down the street from his new home. A long time beer geek, wine and spirits aficionado, and enthusiastic jack of all trades, it didn't take long for him to shine. After six months at CoolVines' Powerhouse location, he was selected to be the point man for CoolVines Newark. John still works as an adviser for TTZ and serves as the president of WinGov Consulting. But most nights you will find him in the Hahne building, out on the floor of CoolVines Newark, chatting up locals, flashing a big smile, and laughing as he happily discusses wine, beer, spirits, and Newark!

Quote:

"Nightlife flourished, in part because Newark was a beer town, the nation’s third leading brewer in the 1920s, home of the ‘Big Five’ —Ballantine, Hensler, Krueger, Feigenspan and Weidenmeyer. During prohibition Newark was wide open, its speakeasies accessible for the price of a membership card. Although the Volstead Act, energized by illegal rum and whiskey running. took a toll on the beer trade, Newark still had nearly a thousand saloons in 1938, one for every 429 residents, the most per capita of any American city.”—Barbara Kukla, Swing City. Newark Nightlife, 1925-50

A Newark Brand: Interview and Conversation with Gabe Ribeiro

Recently, on the Newark subreddit on reddit.com, someone posed the question, “What is the most common misconception about Newark?” I jokingly responded “That it’s pronounced new-ark.” This joke has some resonance though. The pronunciation of the city’s name acts as a password, a way to separate who is from the city and who is not. Pronunciations can vary. However, locals generally settle on “nərk” or “nork.”

Gabe Ribeiro, a local, 21-year old artist, has run with this unique cultural artifact and developed some branding around it. Products with this branding are instantly recognizable. They include “Newark Is For Hustlers” and “Nu-Werk.” Gabe, however, is not merely seizing on a locally generated term. His work is designed to breakdown barriers between outsiders and residents in the city and the bubbles that exist within the city itself. He also is pioneering the Nork Audio Project, where stories about Newark are collected, archived, and shared. On the episode, Gabe explains his work, what he wants to accomplish with it, and what support he needs.

Background & Articles:

Guest:

Gabe Ribeiro—Gabe is a an artist, born and raised in the Ironbound section of Newark. He is a self-taught graphic artist, starting with Snapchat geofilters and then transitioning into physical products. He runs both the Nork Project and the Nork Audio Project.

Quote:

“Chekalinsky began to deal, his hands trembling. On the right lay a queen, on the left an ace./’The ace wins!' said Hermann, and he turned over his card./’Your queen loses,’ Chekalinsky said affably./Hermann shuddered: indeed, instead of an ace, the queen of spades stood before him. He did not believe his eyes, did not understand how he could have drawn the wrong card./At the moment it seemed to him that the queen of spades winked and grinned. That extraordinary likeness struck him . . .” Alexander Pushkin, The Queen of Spades

Don't Be Afraid: Coming Out in Newark

50 years ago on June 28th, newspapers reported an unexpected act of resistance at a mafia-run bar on Christopher Street in New York City. The several days of protest and demonstration that ensued are collectively known as the Stonewall Riots. They marked a turning point in the Gay Rights and Liberation Movement. It is also why June is celebrated worldwide as Pride Month. So, what does Pride Month mean? In the words of the Human Rights Campaign, Pride Month is the only occasion where people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, intersex, queer, or any type of sexual or gender minority can be out and proud in their community. Therefore, Pride festivals and parades that occur during the month celebrate the progress the LGBT community has made, but also recognize the distance this community still has to go to achieve full equality.

“Coming out” is never easy. It is almost never a singular act. For many, it is a process that unfolds over a period of time, with different people finding out in different settings. On this episode, our guests, Christian Valentin-Gladden and Bella Filipe, share what coming out means to them, how it occurred, misconceptions about the process, and what advice they have for other LGBTQI+ folks who want to share their truth with their loved ones.

Self-harm and violence come up in this episode. Below is a link to a resource for those who need help and support.

Background & Articles:

  • The Trevor Project Self-Harm Resource Center: here

  • American Experience’s Documentary on the Stonewall Riots: here

  • Amazon Page for “Becoming Who I Am: Young Men on Being Gay”: here

  • Amazon Page for “Claiming the B in LGBT: Illuminating the Bisexual Narrative”: here

  • Emily Todd Van der Werf’s Vox Article on Coming Out as Trans in Trump’s America: here

  • Newark Pride’s Home Page: here

Guests:

Bella Filipe—Bella is a Newark Native. She is also a former student of the host of the podcast. She currently works at Kessler.

Christian Valentin-Gladden—Christian is a Newark Native. He attended elementary school with the host of the podcast. He currently is a middle school teacher.

Quote:

“When I was a child in Marshalltown, Iowa, I hated Christmas almost as much as I do now, but I loved Halloween. I never wanted to take off the mask; I wanted to wear it everywhere, night and day, always. And I suppose I still do. I have often used liquor, which is another kind of mask, and, more recently, pot.—Then, too, I suppose if my friends have been playing games with me, they might with justice say that I have been playing games with them. It took me almost fifty years to come out of the closet, to stop pretending to be something I was not, most of the time fooling nobody.—But I guess it is never easy to open the closet door.”—Merle Miller, On Being Different: What It Means to Be a Homosexual