Sundays at Café Tabac - The Podcast
Wanda Acosta
Queer oral history and personal coming out stories recounted by members of the LGBTQI+ community. These empowering, emotional, liberating stories inspire and inform across communities, inviting listeners on a journey of self discovery and what it feels like to live an authentic life.
Episode 23: Multidisciplinary Creative, Sara Elise
SARA ELISE is a multidisciplinary creative, splitting her time between Brooklyn and The Catskills, New York. She works primarily in the hospitality, well-being, and food industries and is the co-founder and designer of Apogeo Guest House, a boutique hotel concept space in Nicaragua that centers QTPOC, as well as the founder of Harvest & Revel, a NY-based sustainable event catering + design company.She is the author of A Recipe for More, her debut book released with Harper Collins in May 2023
Jul 10, 2024 • 1:08:23
Episode 22: Entertainment Executive, Terez Mychelle
Terez Mychelle is a thespian, entertainment executive and an accomplished administrator with more than thirty-five (35) years of experience working with Non-Profit Organizations, privately and publicly funded organizations, and LGBTQIA+ Global Foundations.Currently, Terez serves as Executive Director for Global Collective, a Global hybrid luxury branding, marketing, management, and talent agency. As a trained thespian, and entertainment executive Terez has produced shows in community theatre, of
Mar 27, 2024 • 1:00:23
Episode 21: AIDS Cyclist - Uli Schackmann
In May 2017, Uli Schackmann and her loyal canine companion, Jackson, took off on a six-thousand-mile solo bicycle trip from Alaska to Key West, Florida, to raise money and bring attention to the cause of HIV/AIDS. What began as a daring dream-come-true quickly became a physically and emotionally challenging adventure as Uli battled her own fears and the elements, surviving encounters with bears, rattlesnakes, cougars, and other wildlife. However, her most profound and life-changing encounters we
Jan 25, 2024 • 41:03
Episode 20: Drag King Legend, Comedian - Murray Hill
MURRAY HILL is a NYC legend, comedian, TV host, MC, an international entertainer, a relentless shtick slinger, larger-than-life personality, and freewheeling ad-libber. He plays Fred Rococo in Bridget Everett’s Somebody Somewhere (HBO). The show was awarded many “Best of 2022 & 2023” Awards, including “Best New TV Series” from AFI and was just renewed for a third season. He hosts the new competition show Drag Me To Dinner (Hulu). He can be seen on Amy Schumer’s Life & Beth and Welcome
Oct 6, 2023 • 44:52
Episode 19: Costume Designer, Stylist, Patricia Field
PATRICIA FIELD, is a native New Yorker and one of fashion's greatest visionaries whose multi-faceted career has spanned more than five decades. Her distinctive approach to dressing is evident through her work as a costume designer. Field single handedly changed the way women dress through the HBO series Sex and the City and it's feature films. For her work on SATC Field won an Emmy Award and received five nominations for Best Costume Design. Field also received an Academy Award nomin
Feb 28, 2023 • 45:50
Episode 18: Actor, Writer - Carl Capotorto
CARL CAPOTORTO, is a writer, and actor best known for his portrayal of Little Paulie Germani on HBO's The Sopranos, and has appeared in several classic indie features, including Five Corners and Mac. He is a native New Yorker, born and raised in the Bronx, and lives in Manhattan. He is also the author of Twisted Head: An Italian-American Memoir (Random House, 2008), based on his solo show of the same name. His plays have been presented at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center (three season
Jan 7, 2023 • 55:26
Episode 17: Artist, Mickalene Thomas
Multidisciplinary artist Mickalene Thomas is one the the most well know contemporary artists in the art scene today. She is a queer identified, African American woman working and residing in Brooklyn NY. Her visual work examines ideas around femininity, beauty, race, sexuality, and gender. In this episode, Mickalene speaks about her complex relationship with her mother, who inspired and influenced her photography and paintings, and set a trajectory for her visual work, as well as personal reco
Dec 11, 2022 • 1:04:07
Episode 16: Fashion Stylist, Rebecca Weinberg
Rebecca Weinberg an Emmy Award winning Fashion Stylist, Costume Designer and Brand Ambassador, she is best known for her creations and styling on the hit tv series Sex & the City. Rebecca is a tastemaker, a visionary and a downtown NYC queer personality. In this episode, Rebecca shares her childhood memories of growing up with her single mom, her adventures during those rebellious teen years, falling in love for the first time and her emancipation to New York City after coming out to her mo
Sep 25, 2022 • 43:05
Episode 15: DJ, Producer, Lauren Flax
In this episode, we welcome shapeshifting DJ, producer and activist Lauren Flax. Lauren began her career in the underground Detroit music scene where she evolved her style into techno, house, and electro music. More recently she is producing and recording her own music and we are pleased to showcase some of her music throughout this episode. She began her DJ career in the underground dance and rave scenes of Detroit as a resident at the Motor Lounge. Flax played the very first Detroit Electro
Jun 14, 2022 • 45:54
Episode 14: Yemeni-American, Zuhair Nasher
ZUHAIR NASHER is a queer-identified, first generation Yemeni-American man born and raised in Queens, New York. He is a risk manager in the financial services and technology industries, and a marriage officiant, presiding over weddings and ceremonies throughout the country. For more information and bookings, visit: http://www.wordsthatlast.com.Send us a textSupport the showRecorded at The Newsstand Studio at 1 Rockefeller Plaza in NYC. Special thanks to Joseph Hazan & Karen Song. Produced b
Apr 3, 2022 • 1:01:26
Episode 13: Fashion Model/Dog Whisperer, Andrea Smith
Andrea is an original patron of Sundays at Café Tabac, and a participant in the upcoming documentary film based on those fabulous Sunday nights in NYC circa 1993.Originally from Washington DC, Andrea arrived in NYC as a model working with some of the biggest names in fashion, and became a sought after muse. After the tragedy of 911, Andrea decided to change careers and became a canine specialist recognized by the ASPCA of NYC for her fearless dedication and praised in Time Magazine for her dog
Sep 17, 2021 • 55:55
Episode 12: Filmmaker, Elina Street
ELINA STREET, is a Franco-American filmmaker based in Brooklyn, NY and co-director of "The Lesbian Bar Project," the documentary film and campaign dedicated to raising awareness for the alarming trend of lesbian bar closures nationwide. Elina and her team have also created a fundraising project with the help of Jagermeister's #SaveTheNight campaign, to raise $200K in critical funds to help save our bars. In this intimate interview, Elina shares with us the seeds of this projec
Jun 11, 2021 • 1:04:52
Episode 11: Basketball Legend, Sue Wicks
In this episode, we are so thrilled to welcome Hall of Fame basketball legend and New Yorker, Sue Wicks. Her distinguished career is defined by records set and numerous accolades, MVP, all-star game and gold medal honors. She played forward in the WNBA for our very own hometown team, the New York Liberty since its inaugural season and was awarded the 2001 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award and was consistently voted fan favorite. You will soon understand why. Whether on or off the court, her charac
May 21, 2021 • 1:04:23
Part 2: Tara Rodriguez Besosa
In part 2 of this podcast, we continue our conversation with Tara Rodriguez Besosa, a queer, latinx, agro-architect, organizer, and living resource within the sustainable & queer food, agroecology movements. Tara has increased access to local food economies, spotlighting the value of farmers within economic transitions from extractive to regenerative practices. She also invests a lot her time at OtraCosa, a queer collective land sanctuary in Caguas, Puerto Rico.In this episode, Tara discusse
Apr 26, 2021 • 40:26
Episode 10: Agro-activist, Tara Rodriguez Besosa
Tara Rodríguez Besosa (she/they/ellx), born, raised and based in Borikén (Puerto Rico), works at the powerful intersection of queer community and food sovereignty, often sharing how queer and agroecological practices are essential for the transition from extractive to regenerative food systems, as well as collective models and shared resources that empower those who grow, cook, and work towards decolonized bodies and lands.She is co-founder of projects ranging from a DIY architect-run gallery in
Apr 10, 2021 • 25:35
Episode 9: Drag legend, Sherry Vine
Sherry Vine (a.k.a. Keith Levy) has been performing her hilarious comedy shows, which features her "live" singing and saucy renditions of hit songs for over 30 years, earning her the title of Drag Legend. In this episode, we hear Keith's joyful coming out story amidst the growing pains of self identity, and the hilarious reality of having to come out "twice", once as a queer man and second, as a drag performer. She is the star and writer of her own variety show, She&apo
Jan 13, 2021 • 25:02
Episode 8: Filmmaker, Sam Feder
SAM FEDER is an award-winning director and producer whose films explore the intersection of visibility and politics along the lines of race, class, and gender in trans lives, while working towards higher ethical standards in filmmaking. His current film, Disclosure (streaming now on Netflix), which world-premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2020 to high acclaim, thoroughly examines the history of transgender representation in film and television, revealing how Hollywood simultaneously reflec
Dec 23, 2020 • 21:25
Episode 7: Music Producer, Javier Peral
Javier Peral is an internationally known sound stylist, music producer and music director, renowned for his intrinsic approach to sound design. He one of the most sought-after names for fashion show soundtracks, as well as creating music for art videos, performance and film. Born and raised in Madrid, Javier has been a fixture on the music scene since arriving in New York City in the early 1990s, where he was a DJ at the beloved East Village queer space, Wonderbar. In this episode, Javier b
Nov 13, 2020 • 22:04
Episode 6: Filipina/American Writer, Kimberly Bliss
KIMBERLY BLISS, is a Philippine-born, Buffalo-bred and Brooklyn-boroughed novelist for hire. Her work has appeared in Hobart and Dime Show Review, she was a 2020 resident at the New Orleans Writers' Residency, and this summer's guest fiction editor at Hobart. She is currently working on her Great American Novel set in the Philippines, Death in Manila. Find her online at kimberlybliss.com and Twitter @blisster. Send us a textSupport the showRecorded at The Newsstand Studio at 1 Rockefel
Sep 24, 2020 • 23:15
Episode 5: Lesbian Pioneer, Leslie Cohen
LESLIE COHEN, is someone you might’ve often seen, but not necessarily have known it was her. She and her partner of 44 years, Beth Suskin, sit out in front of Stonewall in NYC, all day everyday. They were the models that posed for George Segal in 1979 and are immortalized in the sculptures at Christopher Park in front of Stonewall. Segal, despite being a highly established artist at the time, had a hard time finding models brave enough to pose for the statues that would commemorate the 1969 Ston
Sep 3, 2020 • 27:16
Episode 4: Journalist/Activist, Linda Villarosa
Linda Villarosa is an award-winning author, journalist, educator and activist, she is a contributing writer and editor for the New York Times Magazine, the NYT at large and its Science Times, where she covers race, inequality and health. She authored 3 books, was the former executive editor of Essence Magazine, and is the current director of the journalism program at the City College of New York where she teaches reporting, writing and Black StudiesIn this episode, Linda shares with us here, her
Jul 23, 2020 • 19:35
Episode 3: Filmmaker, Karen Song
KAREN SONG is the director and producer of the Sundays at Café Tabac documentary, where she is able to pay homage to a space and community central to her coming of age. She is a queer-identified, Korean-American woman, born and raised in New York City. She is a film director working across various dramatic, documentary, and commercial platforms, with narrative feature film projects currently in development.Send us a textSupport the showRecorded at The Newsstand Studio at 1 Rockefeller Plaza in N
Jul 1, 2020 • 17:26
Episode 2: Award-winning writer, Jacqueline Woodson
JACQUELINE WOODSON, is a writer of books for children and young adults, and the recipient of the National Book Award for her 2014 book, Brown Girl Dreaming. She was awarded National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature for 2018-2019 by the Library of Congress, and the Hans Christian Andersen Medal this year. Her latest book Red at the Bone was released last year and was an instant New York Times best seller and New York Time Notable book of the year, as well as Oprah’s Best Books of 2019. In
Jun 23, 2020 • 9:47
