DESPERATELY SEEKING THE ‘80s
Revisit the crime and culture of NYC in the ‘80s with BFF Gen-Xers Jessica and Meg.
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Family Devalued + Plaza Sweet
Meg is creeped out by The Sullivanians, Upper West Side psychotherapy cult and real estate trap. Jessica pines for the pre-trump Plaza Hotel of Trader Vic’s, the Gold & Silver Ball, and true elegance.
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A Bronx Tale + Aliens in the 'Burbs
Meg learns about family values from brothers Vinny the Chin and Father Gigante. Jessica gets beamed up and finds the link between recent NYC alien sightings and the Hudson Valley abductees of the 80s.
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FIELD TRIP #10 - 100th Episode
Meg and Jessica engage a bunch of BFFs of the podcast and celebrate Desperately Seeking the 80s' 100th episode at Bailey's Corner Pub.
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Water Wipeout + Cranky Cooks
Meg hears how a generation of tri-state kids barely escaped death at Action Park. Jessica visits two of the most irascible food purveyors in the city: The Original Soupman and Kenny Shopsin.
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Art is Dead + Bagel Brouhaha
Meg eulogizes two murderous denizens of the art world: Carl Andre and Andrew Crispo. Jessica samples the reigning New York bagels and bites into their backstory.
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West Side Story + Novel Comics
Meg investigates the twisted tale of embezzlement in the Diamond District that led to the CBS Murders. Jessica delves into the hilariously twisted minds of Johnny Kennedy Toole and Robert Plunket.
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Nature vs. Nature
Meg and Jessica get invaluable insight from BFF Travis Myers, a retired NYPD Detective, about Yorkville serial psychopath Eric Napoletano.
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UNDERWORLD + UNDERGROUND
Meg finds out exactly what it takes to push good cop Vinny Davis over the edge. Jessica discovers how Xerox machines paved the way for the birth of DIY publishing.
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FIELD TRIP #9 - Brooke Wentz
Meg and Jessica talk with Brooke Wentz about her new book Transfigured New York and her undergrad days as a DJ on Columbia's WKCR-FM chatting up the experimental artists making work in New York.
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Guest Pass + You Can Call Me Ray
Meg investigates the true story behind John Guare’s theatrical masterpiece Six Degrees of Separation. Jessica untangles the cheesy threads of the legendary Ray’s Pizza litigation.
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The Cygnet Ring + Moose Massacre
Meg looks into the mysterious murder of Mike Malkan, photo-Jack Dorrian and doomed bon vivant. Jessica is slain by Frank Rich, the Butcher of Broadway, and celebrates the birth of a cult classic.
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FIELD TRIP #8 - Jennifer Goodnow
Meg and Jessica meet up at Jennifer Goodnow’s Apartment 1B to chat about air shafts, nosy neighbors, and the best pickles in town.
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Blow by Blow + Just Looking
Meg investigates the epic expulsion of 14 students from Choate in ‘84. Jessica revisits Barneys for weird window shopping and THE chopped salad.
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Dance of Death + Prince of Chintz
Meg takes a long, hard look at the dirty dealings of the men behind the Chippendales empire. Jessica confronts the ubiquitous mauve and Marple of 80s interior design.
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Do I Know You? + X-Ray Chic
Meg introduces Caroline Kennedy’s tireless and terrifying “super fan.” Jessica weighs the merits of diets, exercise, and amphetamines.
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Separated at Death + MLK Gets His Day
Meg explores the discreet gay bars of Sutton Place and finds a Staten Island interloper, Richards Rogers, The Last Call Killer. Jessica remembers the establishment of MLK Jr. Day and the proud New Yorkers who helped make it so.
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Not Your Buddy + Madonna Saves MTV
Meg investigates the love triangle that left Jack Tupper dead and Buddy Jacobson on the lam. Jessica reveals MTV’s true origins and how, as with so much, it’s all about Madonna.
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Swinger Cesspool + Goodbar/Bad Bar
Meg checks out the 60 person jacuzzi and meatball buffet at Plato’s Retreat. Jessica examines how Looking For Mr. Goodbar became a litmus test for sexism thanks to an introspective detective.
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Good Sex! + Who Needs Writers?
Meg seeks advice from America’s favorite sex therapist, Dr. Ruth Westheimer. Jessica goes down a writers’ strike rabbit hole and ends up on Night Flight and…COPS?
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Trash TV + Thanksgiving Lobster
Meg watches Geraldo Rivera get his comeuppance for giving a platform to Neo-Nazis. Jessica finds an unexpected musical guest at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
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Special Episode - The Yorkville of Our Youth
Meg and Jessica read stories shared by our Yorkvillian listeners who spent, and misspent, their formative years in Yorkville, tucked between East 79th and East 96th, between 3rd and the East River.
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The Theater Kid + Queen of the Night
Meg walks in the footsteps of Caroline Rose Isenberg on the night of her Upper West Side attack. Jessica visits Morgan Fairchild at her favorite haunts: Flamingo Road, Falcon Crest, Dallas, and all the best nightime soaps.
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FIELD TRIP #7 - Guy Richards Smit
Meg and Jessica dive into the mosh pit of Guy Richards Smit’s days as a NY teen on the punk scene, and his current incarnation as a New Yorker cartoonist.
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Staten Fright-Land + the shame…THE SHAME!
Meg hunts down Andre Rand, the real life bogeyman of Staten Island. Jessica learns how yuppies were tormented by the gift that kept on giving: the scarlet H(erpes)!
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FIELD TRIP #6 - Travis Myers
Meg and Jessica prowl the streets with Travis Myers, an actual 84th Street Bomber, and earn their Yorkville stripes.
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Bear Trauma + You Can't Have It All
Meg visits Gus, the neurotic and beloved polar bear at The Central Park Zoo. Jessica takes Helen Gurley Brown to task for perpetuating the myth of the superwoman.
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Artist Interrupted + Bowzer and Brian
Meg investigates the rape and murder of avant-garde feminist artist Theresa Cha. Jessica discovers the unlikely connection between Sha Na Na and Brian Eno.
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Drinks with Uncle Charlie + Beyond Belief
Meg goes to the Village's beloved gay club Uncle Charlie's and discovers all kinds of drama. Jessica reveals the intersection of real estate and religion at the Carnegie Hill mosque and The Watchtower.
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Mystery Men + Aerobicize!
Meg investigates two murders in the neighborhood. Jessica skips the gym and goes straight to Body Design by Gilda.
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Special Child + Disco Queen of 66th
Meg travels to Hart Island, the largest potter’s field in the United States and final resting place of the first baby to die of AIDS. Jessica snags a ticket to Here Lies Love, meets up with Imelda Marcos at the disco, and checks out the rest of her corrupt Manhattan life.
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Horace Mann Horror + Battery Powered Art
Meg reports on the decades of rampant sexual abuse that haunted the prestigious Horace Mann School. Jessica takes a tour of the amber waves of grain that once was Battery Park.
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Nora + The Masons
Meg reads into Nora Ephron's sweetest (and legendary) revenge: Heartburn. Jessica decodes the connection between Nicolas Cage, the Freemasons, and... her own grandfather.
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Basia + Mary Lea
Meg tells the twisted tale of two women at the heart of the bitter Johnson & Johnson estate battle: Basia Johnson and Mary Lea Johnson Richards. Jessica is properly appalled and perks herself back up by naming our new mixer.
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The King of Queens + Dinner Theater
Meg investigates the corruption and drama that defined Donald Manes’ short life. Jessica dines at The Quilted Giraffe and gets a good look at its clientele of American Psychos.
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Bye Bye Baby + American Food Fight
Meg tracks down three babies who were snatched out of NYC hospitals in the 80s. Jessica chows down on restaurant critic Mimi Sheraton's 1983 manifesto against American nouvelle cuisine.
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Game Over + HoJo Holdout
Meg visits Games, Games, Games, the Yorkville arcade with a tragic history. Jessica follows up her Times Square story with two tales from 1988.
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She Would Not Be Ignored + Playland, Pea Coats, and Pasodoble
Meg finds out what went down with the real life Fatal Attraction murder. Jessica goes to Times Square for a fake ID and a turn on the dance floor at La Escuelita.
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Subway Stories + Mayoral Meltdown
Meg goes down into the subway to tell tales of horror and hope on the tracks. Jessica takes note of the events that led to the election of David Dinkins, New York's first black mayor.
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Breaking News + Day in the Life
Meg reports on trailblazing news anchor Jessica Savitch's life and tragic death. Jessica unearths true-life tales from June 1st, 1987, courtesy of writer Richard Grayson's diary.
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Twin Terrors + America Gets Handsy
Meg examines Dead Ringer twins Cyril and Stewart Marcus, gynecologists from hell. Jessica ponders 80s musical philanthropy and holds Hands Across America.
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FIELD TRIP #5 - Beckett Rosset
Meg and Jessica meet up with Beckett Rosset and hear about growing up fast and loose in the West Village. 📷 Matthew Street
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FIELD TRIP #4 - Alex Smith
Meg and Jessica chat with Alex Smith at Ryan’s Daughter about their childhoods roaming the streets of Yorkville and Carnegie Hill.
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There She Is... + Where the Nerds Are
Meg recalls the reign, the reveal, and the rebound of Vanessa Williams, Miss America 1984. Jessica revisits and breaks down the teen culture of coffee shops and diners.
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The Scarsdale Die(t) + From Klutz to King
Meg tells of Herman Tarnower's comeuppance at the hands of Headmistress Jean Harris. Jessica's encounter with Howard Stern yields more schmendrick than shock jock.
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The Ballad of Sexual Dependency + Deep in Vogue
Meg watches Nan Goldin’s documentary All the Beauty and the Bloodshed. Jessica tours the original drag balls of NYC with Tim Lawrence.
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Model Murder Mystery + Inappropriate Crushes
LIVE from Malt and Mold! Meg investigates the cold case of neighbor Marie-Josée Saint-Antoine. Jessica ponders the wisdom of Teen Beat featuring 30-year-old heart throbs and swoons over Kevin Kline.
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FIELD TRIP #3 - Russell and Ruby
Meg and Jessica chat with Russell Sharon and Ruby Sutton about making art in the 80s and the Newest Bohemia.
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What's the Frequency, Dan? + Kurt's Big Secret
Meg walks in Dan Rather’s shoes during his time of “courage.” Jessica goes Nazi hunting after Kurt Waldheim
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Central Park Exonerated + Dare to Be Different!
Meg discusses the aftermath of the attack on the Central Park Jogger. Part 2 of 2. Jessica MacGyver’s her radio to reach WLIR: Long Island Radio.
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Central Park Five + From Retail to Eternity
Meg tracks the events of the evening of April 19th, 1989 when Trisha Meili jogged into Central Park. Part 1 of 2. Jessica tells of the meteoric rise and all too brief career of fashion icon Perry Ellis.
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Pervy Pen + Man on the Moon
Meg uncovers the shocking double life of one of New York’s most esteemed judges. Jessica appreciates Andy Kaufman, from Foreign Man to Tony Clifton: “Tank you feddy much.”
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Billie's Stay at Bellevue + Andre's Reign at Vogue
Meg tracks down Billie Boggs, the homeless woman Ed Koch sent to Bellevue. Jessica tells of legendary editor Andre Leon Talley and his reign of fabulousness at Vogue.
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Punch to the Face + Scalpel to the Kisser
Meg tells of the night Billy Ray Collins fought for his life at Madison Square Garden. Jessica introduces Jocelyn Wildenstein, the ultimate “cat lady.”
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Whiz Kid Who Wasn't + Bridle Path Boogie
Meg invests in David P. Bloom’s Ponzi scheme. Jessica saddles up for a rant on Central Park’s Bridle Path.
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Truman Roasts His Swans + Irving Frees His Bears
Meg tells of how Truman Capote dug his own grave with his pen. Jessica checks into The Hotel New Hampshire and finds Rob Lowe, beautiful bathrobes, and a bear.
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Something Wildly Violent + Englishman in New York
Meg watches Something Wild for the first time in thirty years and sees what was hiding in plain sight. Jessica travels from Edwardian England to 80s NYC to chart the epic life and times of Quentin Crisp.
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Trouble in the 77th + Goodbye Mr. Broadway
Meg gets down in the dirt with the corrupt officers of Bed-Stuy’s 77th Precinct. Jessica pays tribute to the singularly sensational director and choreographer Michael Bennett.
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DuPont's Revenge + WAP
Meg tells of Richard DuPont’s inspired revenge on the villainous Roy Cohn. Jessica attends the Feminist Sex Wars from Barnard to Bloomingdale’s.
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Ivana vs. Moola + Xmas in NY
Meg dishes on Ivana Trump’s divorce saga. Jessica takes a magical walk through the snowy streets of New York.
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Hymie Town + Murder, Inc.
Meg looks into Jesse Jackson’s biggest blunder. Jessica discovers the connection between Queens’ Supreme Team and East Coast Rap.
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A Musical + A Massacre
Meg knows why the movie Fame is gonna live forever. Jessica goes Cruising with Al Pacino at the Ramrod, site of the West Street Massacre.
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Messy Bessy + Rock's "True Fairy"
Meg digs up all the dirt on Bess Myerson’s fall from grace. Jessica remembers the short life of Jobriath, the Chelsea Hotel’s resident glam rocker.
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Operation Wife Drop + Fearsome Foodies
Meg counts the many red flags waving around Dr. Robert Pierenbaum. Jessica spills the tea on food critics Gael Greene and Mimi Sheraton.
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FIELD TRIP #2 - Dylan Hundley
Meg and Jessica share a bowl of chili and hear how Indie It Girl Dylan Hendley found her voice.
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10 Gracie Square + Model Apartment
Meg looks closer at Carter Cooper's last days and hours and minutes. Jessica introduces Eileen Ford and the origins of the super model.
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Sorry Not Sorry + Kilt It!
Meg calls into the dark and revealing Apology Line. Jessica waxes nostalgic about school uniforms.
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Bad Neighbors + The F Bomb
Meg spreads juicy gossip about Griffin Dunne’s summer with Rick Ocasek. Jessica tunes in for the perfect evening: Love Boat, Fantasy Island, and Saturday Night Live.
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Wife in a Coma + Rabbit Holes and Glory Holes
Meg zips back and forth between Newport and Fifth Avenue during Claus von Bülow’s trials for attempting to murder his wife Sunny. Jessica stays up into the wee hours to watch Night Flight and Mondo New York.
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Girl Power + King of Hospitality
Meg protests inequity in the art world with the Guerrilla Girls. Jessica orders for the table at Danny Meyer’s groundbreaking Upon Square Café.
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Art Crime + Social Climb
Meg reports on the morning when Ana Mendieta fell from Carl Andre's high rise window. Jessica gets a highly coveted table at Mortimer's and dishes about Elaine's.
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FIELD TRIP #1 - Dorrian's
Meg and Jessica sidle up to the bar on their very first FIELD TRIP.
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MISSING + B&T
Meg reflects on the disappearance of Etan Patz and the origin of Milk Carton Kids. Jessica explains the social death of the Bridge and Tunnel crowd.Description goes here
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Five Million Dollar Man + Origin of Snark
Meg celebrates Curtis Sharp’s huge New York State Lotto win. Jessica flips through the pages of the first issue of Spy magazine.
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A Very Special Episode Pt. 2 - Trial & Aftermath
Meg and Jessica continue their discussion of the Central Park murder of Jennifer Levin by Robert Chambers. Part 2 of 2.
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A Very Special Episode - Murderer Amongst Us
Meg and Jessica tackle their most requested story: the Central Park murder of Jennifer Levin by Robert Chambers. Part 1 of 2.
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Hell on the L Train + Big Apple Sparks Up
Meg decries the NYPD’s chokehold on young Michael Stewart. Jessica samples the grass in NYC’s parks.
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Murder at The Met + Punk Teen Scene
Meg searches The Metropolitan Opera House for missing violinist Helen Hagnes. Jessica discovers the ultra-cool kids' extracurricular activity.
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Follow the Leader + Kings of Club Fed
Meg finds out what The Odyssey Study Group was doing behind closed doors. Jessica trades insider information on Boesky, Milken, and their ilk.
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Max Gets the Scoop + NYC Poop Wars
Meg investigates Max Cantor's fall from nice Jewish boy to journalist to junkie. Jessica sniffs out the scoop on NYC's poop law.
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Police Porn + Gangs of New York
Meg recounts how Jimmy Breslin reframed Cibella Borges’ Beaver spread. Jessica reminisces about thug life on the UES.
Photo: Rich Allen
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Eddie Goes Crazy + Karen Poops a Yam
Meg discovers Crazy Eddie wasn't quite what he seemed. Jessica discovers Karen Finley's yam situation was exactly what it seemed.
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Back to School Disaster + Underage Drinking Pt. 2
Meg and Marty Tankleff learn why you don’t mess with The Bagel King of Long Island. Jessica remembers which wine pairs best with General Tso’s Chicken.
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Shame on Sharpton + Z Is for Zits
Meg shines a modern light on the Tawana Brawley controversy. Jessica rides the 6 Train with Dr. Zizmor.
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Lennon Leaves Us + Yuppie Chow
Meg follows the movements of Mark David Chapman and John Lennon on December 8th, 1980. Jessica chews the fat about how NYC restaurants in the '80s changed the way we eat.
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I'm Eating WHAT?! + WHO Wore It First?!
Meg presents The Butcher of Tompkins Square Park, his infamous soup, and its unfortunate ingredients. Jessica goes thrifting and finds herself in a 1982-2022 time warp.
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Riot in the Park + Quiet in the Park
Meg visits Tompkins Square Park to find its denizens and the NYPD in a battle royale. Jessica searches for inner peace at Strawberry Fields.
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Secret Siblings + SoHo Scaries
Meg reports on Louise Wise Services’ twisted adoption practices. Jessica guides us through SoHo’s history of high rents and low entertainment.
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Joe's Manic Monday + Ed Hides in Plain Sight
Meg uncovers why Black Monday was a drag for Joe Pikul. Jessica wonders if Ed Koch found the closet space in Gracie Mansion lacking.
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Mr. Crispo's Dark Arts + Escape From New York
Meg reveals art dealer Andrew Crispo’s murderous kink. Jessica packs her tube socks and retainer case and goes back to camp.
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The Mayflower Madam + Working Girl
Meg dishes about how Sidney Biddle barrows made ends meet. Jessica recalls how a girl could make a buck in the 80s.
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Mr. Friedman's Bad New Basement + East Coast Valley Girls
Meg puzzles over what happened in Arnold Friedman's computer classes. Jessica fer shurr visits The Mall and finds it way gnarly.
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Bull Spills the Beans + Back to Old Broadway
Meg testifies how Sammy Gravano went from "Bull" to stool pigeon. Jessica takes us on a stroll down The Great White Way.Description goes here
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Pervert Priest Breaks Covenant + NYC's Adam Builds Eden
Meg probes the downfall of Bruce Ritter, the founder of Covenant House. Jessica follows the purple feet to Adam Purple’s Garden of Eden. Give to Covenant House
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The Rat Race + Tag! You're It!
Meg shares her favorite rat tales and fun rat facts. Jessica uncaps her OG Krylon for a tour of subway graffiti and street art.
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The Queen of Mean + SILENCE = DEATH
Meg tells how Leona Helmsley went from The Palace to Danbury Prison. Jessica discusses how the AIDS crisis gave rise to a new brand of gay activism, from FRANKIE SAY RELAX to ACT UP.
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Terror on the 2 Train + Virgins Gone Wild
Meg takes us down into the subway when Bernie Goetz encountered four Bronx teenagers. Jessica invites us to a film festival of teen sexploitation flicks.
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A Model Tenant + Bright Lights, Big Book Deal
Meg tells the story of Marla Hanson and The Landlord From Hell. Jessica checks in with NYC’s literary Brat Pack: Tama, Jay, and Bret.
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Where's Kathie? + Preps, Preps for Sale!
Meg looks at the NYPD’s indifference to Kathie Durst’s disappearance. Jessica consults The Preppy Handbook to understand ‘80s style.
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Lisa's House of Horrors + The Bar that Jack Built
Meg tells the harrowing story of Lisa Steinberg’s short life. Jessica takes a stroll through Yorkville ending up at Dorrian’s Red Hand.
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Clubland + The Minnesota Strip
Meg talks about The Torso Killer of Times Square and Jessica recounts the good ol' club days. Don't lose your head on the Minnesota Strip... and keep your wig on in Clubland. Photo: Jeff Cowen
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A Tragedy in Brooklyn + Crimes Against Hair
Meg recounts the tragic events of the evening Yusuf Hawkins and his friends went to Bensonhurst. Jessica discusses Astor Place Hairstylists, Alphabet City, and Tenax hair gel.
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The Good Time Gal + Porno Pioneers
Meg tells the story of Connie Crispell, who came to NYC determined to lead the glamorous life. Jessica reveals that everything she knows about sex came from Channel J. Photo: Allen Tannenbaum
We want to hear from you!
From splashy headlines to underground rumors to confounding trends, tell us what intrigues YOU about NYC in the ‘80s, and we’ll deliver the dirt.
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