In this episode, Kelly is joined by Hillary Wallace! She is the principal designer at her own firm: Simon-Wallace Design. And she pulls out all of the stops decorating her New York City home for the holidays.

Kelly starts the episode off by talking about the only way two true New Yorkers could meet: Yelling at each other from a window!

Hillary talks about where she was from and how from when she was young; she alwasy wanted to move to New York. She talks about growing up in LA in the 80's, moving to colorado, designing her own furniture as a side job and how that inspired her to go back to school for design.

Kelly then asks Hillary about her house, and Hillary tells the very roundabout story of how she and her husband came to find and buy the house.

Hillary tells us all about decorating her house for the holidays. She goes over her schedule, talks about where she gets all of her resourses from, and how she goes from design idea to execution every single year.

Kelly and Hillary then talk about the desings themselves. What they are, some absurd stories about them, and the ways that different people have been inspired or moved by them.

Hillary talks about her design philosophy, and how she goes about meeting clients, and creating a lifestyle for them or meeting them in their lifestyle. Jae asks her about some other events around the city and the three talk about some of the various events you can do while around New York during the holiday season.

Finally, Kelly asks Hillary about some of her New York City Essentials, like where she goes for inspiration, where her favorite shops are and how she likes to get around.

But above all else; Hillary Wallace is a New Yorker.

Kelly Kopp's Social Media:
@NewYorkCityKopp

Hillary Wallace's Social Media:

@SimoneWallaceDesign

Jae's Social Media

@Studiojae170

Hosted by Kelly Kopp

Executive Produced by Huston "Jae" Watson

• (00:00:00) - Meet The New Yorkers
• (00:02:37) - Jay Leno On Being A New Yorker
• (00:06:31) - Fuzzy the Mayor on New York
• (00:06:45) - In the Elevator With Sarah Silverman
• (00:09:39) - How to Make a Living Fixing Up Furniture
• (00:10:12) - Working at Ralph Lauren's Interior Design Department
• (00:13:43) - Simon Wallace on Starting a Design Studio
• (00:14:07) - The House That Made Me Happy
• (00:15:15) - Living In New York City
• (00:17:53) - The New York City Home That I Deserve
• (00:21:10) - Hillary Clinton Wins The Biggest Pumpkin Auction In The United States
• (00:23:48) - How Long Does It Take To Decorate Your Home?
• (00:27:41) - Happy Halloween! One Pumpkin Stolen
• (00:30:34) - Decorations on the porch of the house
• (00:32:02) - Simon Wallace on His Haunted Pumpkin Painting
• (00:34:30) - The Decorating On The Upper West Side
• (00:37:58) - What else do you do for Halloween?
• (00:38:51) - Ralph Lauren on Being Inspired By Designers
• (00:41:51) - "Yucky" Comments on Social Media
• (00:42:42) - What's One Design Trend You Never Want To See Again?
• (00:43:24) - What's The First Thing You Notice When You Walk In Your Home
• (00:47:11) - "No one takes their shoes off in NYC"
• (00:48:29) - Blaze Festival and Sleepy Hollow Haunted House
• (00:51:01) - Hillary on The Elevator
• (00:51:21) - What's Your Favorite NYC Neighborhood?
• (00:53:31) - Favorite park in New York
• (00:54:16) - What It Means To Be A New Yorker

In this Episode, Kelly is joined by CEO of American Christmas: Dan Casterella! He has been the leader of the company since 2017 which is responsible for all of the incredible Christmas decorations around midtown that we know and love.

Kelly starts the episode off by asking Dan about how he started working with the company. Dan talks about how he loved decorating houses for Christmas since he was a kid and how he would even cut class in high school in order to decorate houses!

Dan talks about his journey through the company; starting as an installer and working his way up to becoming CEO! He talks about how he runs the company, and what it means to be in a seasonal buisness. Dan talks about how he and his employees deal with the stress of Christmas and what it means for them and their families.

Kelly asks Dan about The Headquarters in Mount Vernon, Westchester. Kelly talks about his visit to the facilities and all of the different iconic fixtures of Christmas in NYC that he got to see. Dan talks about how they let visitors tour the facilities and on the weekends kids take pictures with Santa Clauese. Dan donates all of the proceeds from santa clause to local organizations that help local youth.

Kelly asks Dan about instalations. How long they take, what the planning process is like and where they go around the City. Dan talks about some of the world famous fixtures that they do, such as the one at Saks 5th Ave, Radio City Musica Hall and all over 5th and 6th ave in midtown.

Dan talks a bit about the other work that they do all over the country. He tells us which state has the biggest market for christmas in the country, and what the second biggest city that they decorate is.

Jae asks about some more details regarding the creation process, and Dan talks about the two different ways that they work on projects: Clients come to them with the idea that they have to execute, or their prefered way which is doing all of the creating and designing themselves. He talks about what that process is like too.

Finally, Kelly asks him what his favorite christmas decoration is in New York and Dan surprises us and says that it's one that he doesn't do!

But above all else; Dan Casterella is a New Yorker.

Kelly Kopp's Social Media:
@NewYorkCityKopp

American Christmas on Social Media:

@AmericanChristmas

Jae's Social Media:

Studiojae170@gmail.com

• (00:00:00) - The New Yorkers: Dan Castorella
• (00:02:10) - American Christmas: Celebrating the Holidays
• (00:05:24) - How to Win at Your Job
• (00:09:21) - How to Create a Holiday Installation in New York
• (00:14:30) - Santa Claus and the Mount Vernon Christmas
• (00:15:57) - Christmas decorations on display in New York
• (00:17:33) - Tree Lighting in New York
• (00:19:57) - American Christmas Expands
• (00:21:28) - Christmas in America: Dan Lowe
• (00:25:08) - How To Put Up a Christmas Tree!
• (00:28:24) - What is the biggest project that you do?
• (00:29:41) - Favorite Decorations in New York
• (00:31:53) - Do You Design Christmas Decorations?
• (00:34:07) - An Installation With a Proposal
• (00:36:21) - Saks Fifth Avenue Holiday Display
• (00:40:34) - The New York City Holiday Decorations
• (00:42:19) - Favorite Subway Line in New York
• (00:44:17) - Christmas in New York

During this busy Holiday Season, the New Yorkers have their plates full. So please sit back and enjoy a great episode from last Thanksgiving!

In this episode, Kelly is joined by John Friia! He is a digital creator, New York City historian and featured on PIX11's New York Living!

Kelly asks John about his New York Story: Where he's from, What kind of content he does, and why he has such a profound interest for New York City History.

Kelly tells us about his time as a balloon handler in the Macy's Thanksgiving day Parade. How he got the position, which balloons he got to handle, and he tells the story about the time he almost got to High Five a Rockette!

Kelly and John give tips about where to go to see the parade the best. Where has the best view, how to go so you can leave early, and where the best place to go to the bathroom is.

John tells Kelly about the history of the parade. When it started, the original parade route, how the Central Park Zoo was involved. John also tells us about the lengthy process that the balloons and floats go through before they can make it to the day of the Parade.

Kelly also tells John about the inflation ceremony, where thousands of people from around the world gather to see the balloons inflated. He gives the listeners tips on the best places and times to see this too.

But above all else; John Friia is a New Yorker!

Kelly Kopp's Social Media:
@NewYorkCityKopp

John Friia's Social Media:
@Here_in_NY on Instagram
@hereinnyc on TikTok

Jae's Social Media

@Studiojae170

• (00:00:00) - The New Yorkers Podcast
• (00:02:33) - TikTok Cops: Tell us Your Story
• (00:05:32) - I Surprising Drew Barrymore With a Broadway Playbill
• (00:08:47) - Can You Officiate A Wedding?
• (00:10:39) - New York City Legends on Social Media
• (00:13:06) - Mickey Mouse in the Macy's Parade
• (00:15:17) - Hello Kitty Balloon Impressions
• (00:18:32) - The History of The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
• (00:22:27) - The New Year's parade balloon deflation
• (00:24:40) - How the Float Is Made
• (00:27:02) - The 2013 Macy's Parade
• (00:30:24) - How to watch the Macy's Parade Grandstand Tickets
• (00:34:20) - How to Watch the Macy's Parade in NYC
• (00:37:10) - Thanksgiving and Christmas: Where to Eat in NYC With Frank Sin
• (00:39:44) - Carol Ann on the Thanksgiving Day Parade
• (00:40:29) - The Best Place To See the Parade
• (00:40:56) - How to Get to the Parade
• (00:41:38) - Where to Sit During the Pride Parade
• (00:43:09) - When Will Restaurants Be Open in Times Square?
• (00:43:51) - The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
• (00:44:15) - How Long Does It Take for a Parade Balloon to Be Intox
• (00:46:28) - How to Watch the Macy's Parade
• (00:50:04) - A Thanksgiving Talk With John McCain
• (00:50:34) - John Freya on What It Means To Be A New Yorker
• (00:51:44) - New Yorkers Podcast: Episode 291