{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/iiif/h12v40mr1n/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Loycent Gordon Oral History"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/010/original/Aviary_QPLlogo_192x192.png?1578574261","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Description"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary of Full Interview\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eLoycent Gordon is the owner of Neir's Tavern. Located in Woodhaven, Neir's Tavern opened in 1829 and is one of the oldest bars in New York City. Gordon discusses his childhood in the island country of Jamaica, his experience moving to the Queens neighborhood of Jamaica and struggling in elementary school as an illiterate child, and how school staff and parents in the community rallied around him to help him academically. Gordon, who attended Hunter College with the goal of working in the music industry, explains how his experience disc jockeying and working in artists and repertoire ultimately set him on a path to meeting the owner of the building where Neir's Tavern is located and purchasing the bar in 2009.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eGordon reflects on why he has persevered in his quest to keep Neir's Tavern in business, despite financial losses and having limited prior knowledge of the industry. Gordon speaks about Neir's Tavern's function as a community gathering place, how community support rescued the bar from going out of business in January 2020, how the bar has stayed active since shutting down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and his plans for how to sustain the bar going forward. Additionally, Gordon discusses his decision to become a New York City firefighter after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and how he has been able to give back, serve, and bring joy to people in the city and borough that helped him so much as an immigrant child.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Rights Statement"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eCC BY-NC-SA Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Source Metadata URI"]},"value":{"en":["http://digitalarchives.queenslibrary.org/search/browse/44483"]}},{"label":{"en":["Date"]},"value":{"en":["2021-02-04 (created)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Type"]},"value":{"en":["Video"]}},{"label":{"en":["Agent"]},"value":{"en":["Loycent Gordon (Interviewee)","Kendra Kuszai (Interviewer)","Ken Gordon (Interviewer)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Source"]},"value":{"en":["Interview recorded as part of the Collecting Memories of the Historic Bar and Restaurant Neir's Tavern project at Woodhaven Library."]}},{"label":{"en":["Coverage"]},"value":{"en":["Woodhaven and Jamaica, Queens, NY; Jamaica (temporal)","1980s-2021 (spatial)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Language"]},"value":{"en":["English"]}}],"summary":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary of Full Interview\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eLoycent Gordon is the owner of Neir's Tavern. Located in Woodhaven, Neir's Tavern opened in 1829 and is one of the oldest bars in New York City. Gordon discusses his childhood in the island country of Jamaica, his experience moving to the Queens neighborhood of Jamaica and struggling in elementary school as an illiterate child, and how school staff and parents in the community rallied around him to help him academically. Gordon, who attended Hunter College with the goal of working in the music industry, explains how his experience disc jockeying and working in artists and repertoire ultimately set him on a path to meeting the owner of the building where Neir's Tavern is located and purchasing the bar in 2009.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eGordon reflects on why he has persevered in his quest to keep Neir's Tavern in business, despite financial losses and having limited prior knowledge of the industry. Gordon speaks about Neir's Tavern's function as a community gathering place, how community support rescued the bar from going out of business in January 2020, how the bar has stayed active since shutting down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and his plans for how to sustain the bar going forward. Additionally, Gordon discusses his decision to become a New York City firefighter after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and how he has been able to give back, serve, and bring joy to people in the city and borough that helped him so much as an immigrant child.\u003c/p\u003e"]},"requiredStatement":{"label":{"en":["Attribution"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eCC BY-NC-SA Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},"provider":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/aboutus","type":"Agent","label":{"en":["Queens Public Library"]},"homepage":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/","type":"Text","label":{"en":["Queens Public Library"]},"format":"text/html"}],"logo":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/010/original/Aviary_QPLlogo_192x192.png?1578574261","type":"Image"}]}],"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/261/260/small/thumbnail_261260_1738354687.jpg?1738354783","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 1 of 1 - gordon_loycent_20210204_edit.mp4"]},"duration":3566.67791,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/261/260/small/thumbnail_261260_1738354687.jpg?1738354783","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/content/1/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-queenslibrary.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/261/260/original/gordon_loycent_20210204_edit.mp4?1738351468","type":"Video","format":"video/mp4","duration":3566.67791,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["Full Transcript [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=0.0,0.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/2","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kendra Kuszai: Okay. So do you agree with the terms and conditions outlined in the Queens Memory informed consent and copyright permission form that I shared with you over email?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=0.0,10.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/3","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: Yes, I do.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=10.0,12.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/4","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kendra Kuszai: Okay. So this is Kendra Kuszai and Ken Gordon with Loycent Gordon. We are recording on February 4th, 2021 for the Queens Memory Project. Could you say your full name and spell it?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=12.0,28.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/5","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: My name is Loycent Gordon. First name L-O-Y-C-E-N-T. Last name Gordon, G-O-R-D-O-N.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=28.0,39.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/6","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kendra Kuszai: Thank you. Okay, well, let's get started. So we're so happy to be interviewing you, Loycent, the owner of the historic Neir's Tavern in Woodhaven, New York. We, Ken and myself, are librarians at another historic Woodhaven neighborhood institution, the Woodhaven Library. Neir's Tavern is currently trying to reach a goal of 200 years of continuous operation and is facing challenges that the restaurants and bars are facing in the COVID-19 pandemic. So, first of all, Loycent, we see you on the news and on Facebook and in the papers. And we'd really like to know more about who you are. So can you tell us a little bit about yourself and where you're from and—","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=39.0,93.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/7","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: It might sound trite, but I'm just a normal guy that took up something, I guess, took up something that I believed in, although I had no idea what I was doing, and it ended up being something larger than what I initially thought it would be. But it just started from that kernel of an idea that something needs to be done about this specific place in Woodhaven. And that is—the main reason why I even started that was because of my background, my background that unfortunately didn't have much, and so this was my way of giving back.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=93.0,150.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/8","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: So the short story really is I was born in the island of Jamaica, 1979, to a very farmer community. Nothing really—eating meat once a week was the treat [laughs]. And it was a lot of kids around and everyone had to fend for themselves. So when, unfortunately, my mom got pregnant, I did not have a father to see me born. And so she raised me for the first, I guess, year or two of my life as best as she could.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=150.0,194.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/9","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: And then she went to America to try to find a better way, from a new person that she eventually married. And so I was left in Jamaica with a bunch of kids and that was very interesting because I had to fend for myself pretty much and make my way to school. And obviously as kids you don't want to go to school. So I didn't go to school [laughs]. And when I finally came here at about 10 years old, going to first grade, my, the teacher discovered that I was illiterate. I didn't know my ABCs. I didn't know any of that stuff.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=194.0,232.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/10","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: But what was amazing was that school staff, faculty, janitors, other parents rallied around me to try to find a way to make sure that I catch up. And so every day after attendance, I would go to the first grade and sit in these little stools and little chairs to try to learn my ABCs and to catch up. Miraculously, I graduated elementary school the top of my class. A round of applause by everyone in the auditorium was just bone chilling and I didn't realize what it meant, the accomplishment. Parents were applauding because they felt like maybe I was their kid, you know, applauding, crossing that stage. Somehow I didn't realize the impact of that moment, but later on I did. And then I realized, wow, you know, people rallied around me and gave me an opportunity and supported me.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=232.0,293.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/11","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: And so when I discovered that one of America's oldest bars, in this community, was getting ready to be shut down—and it was days from being shut down—I figured this is an opportunity for me to give back to a country and a community and people that gave me so much by saving one of America's oldest bars that happened to be right here in Woodhaven. And it was just faith or whatever it was to make me meet up with this place. And I jumped in regarding, not knowing much, not even anything about owning a bar or restaurant.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=293.0,327.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/12","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: And so I did. I made some offers to the landlord so he doesn't close it and all these different things. Basically I made him an offer that he can't refuse and eventually after years I ended up owning it by myself and continue it up to it's 190th anniversary in 2019. Now it's 12 years later and I'm trying to get it to it's 200th year, the bicentennial in 2029. That's the short story. I left a lot of things out, but that's the general lead up to Neir's Tavern and a little bit about my background.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=327.0,373.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/13","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kendra Kuszai: [crosstalk] Sorry, Ken, go ahead.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=373.0,374.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/14","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Ken Gordon: When you first came here, did you come to Woodhaven?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=374.0,379.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/15","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: No. So when I first came to this country from island of Jamaica, I came to the [laughs] to Jamaica, Queens. So I moved from Jamaica, the island, to Jamaica, Queens. And I dunno how that happened, I guess it was just a calling, but it's not the same Jamaica. And, but, you know, if you're asking about how did I eventually came to Woodhaven, it was because of a love for music that I had from a very young age, that I started becoming involved in deejaying and playing music and just entertaining people. And that ended up having me meeting someone who—in Radio Shack when I was working—and that person ended up being the owner of this building that Neir's Tavern is in. And being next door in a recording studio and this music thing was interesting and so that brought me to Woodhaven.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=379.0,439.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/16","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: And then through him complaining about this restaurant not able to pay the bills and going to close and all of these things, I looked into [it] deeper and I discovered what was going on with it. And Woodhaven has been like—I moved to Woodhaven as well. I don't remember the year, but I moved to Woodhaven and lived just seven minute walk away at 85th Street and 91st Avenue, on 85th Street between 91st Avenue and Atlantic Avenue. So that's where I lived for a few years, then when I had, my wife had a baby, we moved close to my parents in Saint Albans where I reside. So that's a little bit about that. And I had a short stint in Long Island for a couple of years, but I always came back to home, which is Queens.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=439.0,494.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/17","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kendra Kuszai: Can you tell us a little bit more about the recording studio? There was a recording studio in the Neir's building?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=494.0,501.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/18","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: Yeah. So this whole building was this entertainment complex from way back in the—from late 1800s and in some respects, you know, up to when I took over Neir's Tavern. The recording studio was one of the top recording studios in the country having at one time, I think in the nineties, in the top, Billboard charts, like the top five records at one time was done in this building. Salt 'N' Pepa did the recordings here. Anthrax. Eminem. Some reggae acts, Sean Paul, just a litany.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=501.0,550.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/19","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: And then obviously way before that we had the whole Mae West entertainment thing. There was a ballroom literally right next door. So that's all part of one building. And that ballroom housed so many different entertainers, some of the generational history of entertainers, some of their kids' kids would come here and say, my great great whatever performed in that ballroom, you know, including Mae West and so many other people we might not know their name. So it was very popular for that.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=550.0,583.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/20","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: And just as more modern day artists, you know, like the Eminems of the world and Anthrax when they were bigger, nineties artists, Kid 'N Play, you know, all of those different, those acts. So, yeah, right now that space is taken up by a heavy metal band that live and work there currently. So they just rent it out, live and work, they travel. And they like it 'cause it's discreet. Just like Neir's Tavern is like the most famous bar you never heard of, this is probably the most famous recording studio building that nobody really knows of. But it's filled with history, music history as well.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=583.0,627.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/21","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kendra Kuszai: What's the name—","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=627.0,627.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/22","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Ken Gordon: Do you recall the name of it?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=627.0,629.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/23","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: Of the band?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=629.0,631.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/24","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Ken Gordon: Of the recording studio.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=631.0,634.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/25","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: Oh, yes. The name of the recording studio was Bayside Sound Recording. The owner lived in Bayside. So he named this Bayside Sound Recording. And I think there was, I forgot, there was another name as well. I can't remember the other name, but if you look that up, you'll start seeing things popping up. But around the 1990s or so was the heyday of that, the high point.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=634.0,666.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/26","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kendra Kuszai: And what brought you there? You're a performer or are you on the technical side?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=666.0,671.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/27","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: Regarding the recording and music?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=671.0,673.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/28","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kendra Kuszai: Yeah.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=673.0,673.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/29","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: So, yeah, I became an A and R, artists and repertoire, for finding music artists with this building owner who actually owned the studio as well. And I was a DJ [disc jockey], so I knew what was happening in the music scene, to know what's the next potential artists that might be big, so I'll try to curate and bring together—filter out artists that might be good to bring to the recording studio to potentially get them a deal.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=673.0,704.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/30","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: And so that went hand in hand because I was already doing music, deejaying, I know what was going on. And in fact that served double duty. Because of the music and deejaying, that's how I paid my way through college—because, as you know, my parents didn't have anything—and became the first one in my family to graduate college and have a bachelor's. So that's how that kind of connected—the music and this business and then college and using that to fund my way through college and get a degree.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=704.0,747.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/31","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Ken Gordon: So you were performing shows like when you went to college and things?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=747.0,752.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/32","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: Yeah, I was, in college I was a radio disc jockey for the college station, so I kind of got involved in all things kind of music [laughs]. So I became an on-air personality in a college radio—very small, like, you know, nothing big, just within the college campus, not like, you know, all New York City, to all the students. So I don't know how many tens of thousand students there. And so I became a radio disc jockey and played music.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=752.0,797.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/33","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: I also deejayed for the different affinity clubs. And the affinity clubs were all type of range of people, and that was beautiful because I got to learn about different cultures, different music. It was interesting. So even the—like the Dominican clubs and the chemistry clubs and the heavy house, you know, all of these different, African, soul, jazz, even the pop top 40. So I was all over the place. So I learned how to, I guess you say assimilate myself so that I can get good gigs and keep myself employed. So I was just like the chameleon, you know. Sure, you want bachata or salsa, I got some of that for ya. And so I would—here was the Jamaican guy playing salsa music to the Puerto Rican club and doing a darn good job of it to get paid and brought back, and paid my tuition through that.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=797.0,860.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/34","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: I also was—I traveled a little bit to help put on music concert, one of the first music concerts in Thailand, reggae music, international reggae music festival in Thailand, I helped put together. And that was very good experience. So it was just this whole thing with music kind of helped me to pay my way, gave me some experience, meet new people, and eventually led me to Woodhaven and where it led me to Neir's Tavern.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=860.0,901.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/35","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Ken Gordon: And while all this was happening, you also became a fireman?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=901.0,905.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/36","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: Yes. Yes. So yeah, after 9/11—so 9/11 hit in 2001 and I was working a security job at that time. I switched from Radio Shack to security job for a short time and 9/11 hit. And I just always been a person that, I don't know, I just always want to save things, that you want to help. I dunno, there's just something, although I didn't have much, I just felt I want to help. Sometimes it was just too much. And so when 9/11 hit, I heard that the ranks, FDNY [Fire Department of the City of New York], so many people died that they needed people to fill the ranks. And so I felt like, you know what, what a better way to help by replacing someone that passed away and take, you know, just the front line is decimated and the people in the back needs to move up.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=905.0,964.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/37","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: So I raised my hand to move up, to be part of that front line to replace the ones that was unfortunately lost. So I worked very, very hard to take the test, and out of 20,000 people that took that test in 2002—I think the test came the next year, it was like every four years—I was number 642. And so I was like one of the first classes to go in and eventually went in 2005 of March. So March 8th of this year will be 16 years on the fire department.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=964.0,1007.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/38","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: And I eventually moved my way up from a regular firefighter to a special operations firefighter in Hazmat [hazardous materials] of FDNY, that division, and then eventually became a Lieutenant. And now, I've learned I might be the first Black Lieutenant in the FDNY special operation Hazmat. So I would like more. I don't want to be proud of that because it just shows that we have a lot more to go. So I guess it's Black History Month, so we should highlight that we make sure that we're all inclusive as possible. So, yeah, that's my little story with the FDNY. Yeah.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=1007.0,1059.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/39","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kendra Kuszai: So you weren't planning to be a firefighter. What did you go to school for and where did you go to school?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=1059.0,1065.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/40","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: Yeah, I went to Hunter College and I was on the path to potentially be a radio personality or a big time DJ, I would hope, or—I think that was the general field, being in music industry somehow. 'Cause I didn't really feel much for anything else, you know. I always like to make people feel good, appreciated, make them enjoy themselves, bring them out of the rut of things. And so I felt music was one of those beautiful things, that spinning the record—and I see you have the record player. I already saw, first, as soon as you turn on that camera, I saw the Technics 1200 over your right shoulder there. And I'm like, bing! Those are the ones I played on. I would carry them sometimes. And that was the way of channeling that need to help and to serve people by making them happy.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=1065.0,1126.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/41","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: And so I remember the high for me was looking over the crowd and people smiling and laughing and bringing their emotions up, being more reflective as I play certain music. And I was so fortunate that I was exposed to so many different types of music besides reggae that I can cater to any type of audience out there. The Hispanic audience, the deep house African audience, the top 40, the classic rockers, the heavy metal a little bit, like just, you know, just all of these different things. I just felt I was a chameleon. And I loved that because now I could just serve anyone. I could make anyone happy. So that was my avenue to kind of channel that energy.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=1126.0,1182.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/42","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: And I think I'm doing that in the FDNY, that was part of that, to say I'm helping everyone, I'm getting 911 calls to help and making them better. And I'm also, you know, jumping in to save this historic place, to make the place better, and all people's history, make them happy. Like, \"Wow, this place is still here.\" \"My family got married here,\" or \"I had a birthday party here,\" or all of these things. And I see people come, like, \"Wow, it's still here,\" you know? So that's like the common thread, I feel, that need to serve, to make people happy, to make the little guy feel better overcoming some of that disempowerment that sometimes people feel. Although I don't really have [laughs]—I need to power myself too, but, I don't know, I just like helping.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=1182.0,1245.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/43","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Ken Gordon: That seems to have driven you through most of your life. And I'm curious, if we're ready to go to like actual Neir's Tavern, so when you talked to the owner, like what made you decide—I know you want to help the community, but that's like a big undertaking, especially on top of all the things you're already doing and working in the fire department. Like what made you decide to just jump in there and go for it?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=1245.0,1274.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/44","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: I think with a lot of things, it starts with a kernel of an idea. I don't think I jumped in to think like, I'm going to save this entire place [phone rings]. I apologize. Hopefully it doesn't disrupt us. But I don't think I jumped in to say, I'm going to save this entire place. I just came from a angle of, you know, what can I do? And step-by-step kind of led with my heart in some sense, and just illogically a lot of times. And then I think I didn't recognize that there was something deep burning that kept me going, because people ask me, \"Why are you doing this?\" You know, it doesn't really, it's not going to make you money. Like, you know, it's not going to—'cause my time, I mean, I could think of a million different things I could do that probably be more financially, you know, beneficial.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=1274.0,1339.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/45","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: And I remember talking to someone and, you know, I was going over, I think, some numbers and whatever. And he's like, \"Why are you even doing this?\" And so it kind of [unclear] a situation where it's—small acts of helping something you care about. And I got an opportunity to flesh that out to where I really saw the impact that I could make every day that I go forward, and the lives that I can help, just as much as I'm helping lives in the FDNY, and that gave me drive to continue when things sucked. And that process, you know, kept me going. And it was [unclear], you know, as I saw that I'm helping, I wanted to do more, and it just fulfilled what I already kind of felt already and it fed on itself.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=1339.0,1389.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/46","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: And so, you know, that's the thing. When it was easy to stop and quit, I felt that it was important to go forward because otherwise, if it was just the money, I would have probably left a long time ago. But it was the need to serve. And I was glad that I had the FDNY as well to help with the, you know, some of the financial part to make sure that I could still help when things was really bad and I was still trying to figure it out. But you gotta remember too, I did not do this by myself, right? There were people that came along the way throughout this journey that jumped on as well when they heard what I was doing and they have been the difference makers.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=1389.0,1446.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/47","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: They have been the ones that when I said, you know, \"I'm overwhelmed. I don't know what I'm doing—\" \"Hey, you know what? I'm a chef. Let me jump in there for you and I'll help bring some staff in.\" \"I'll help put together some event for you.\" \"I'll help—\" there was just people jumping in to this journey. And I had the idea, but it was because of people coming together to jump on and say, I could do this, and I could do that, why it lasted as long as it lasted. See, that's the the idea, like, I didn't know how a burger should be made and how the production chain supposed to be done. I just want to save this bar, like, foolishly. Like, \"Do you even know how to run a bar?\" \"No.\" \"Do you know how to make drinks?\" \"No.\" I still don't.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=1446.0,1502.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/48","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: \"Do you know how the keg system works and how you—\" like, no. \"Oh, kid. All right. Let me work with you. I have some experience. But I like what you're doing. I like the mission and why this is important.\" And so people joined on that, co-signed on that. Some stayed for six months, some stayed for six years. But everyone, whether you're with us now or came and gone, served the purpose to pass that baton, you know, and keep that baton going every year until here we are now. And we're still getting new people that's grabbing the baton and running with with me and alongside me. That's been the difference maker. 'Cause even up to now, I still can't make a good martini [laughs] or, you know, I just can't.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=1502.0,1560.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/49","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kendra Kuszai: Can you describe what the bar was like when you bought it and what were your first changes that you decided to make?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=1560.0,1568.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/50","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: Oh, well the number one thing—I just want to make sure that this is described properly—so the number one thing is that you have to understand that I believe Neir's Tavern has survived for as long as it did before me because it was a community gathering place. I know a lot of people might make that sound nice, but physically and everything about it embodies a community gathering place. There is no way it can survive for that long unless it was embodying that spirit of being a community gathering place. One, physically it's located in an area off the beaten path where people said they put it in their GPS [global positioning system] and sometime the GPS says, I don't know what you're talking about. Where is this place? Or it's like, like the GPS is lost.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=1568.0,1632.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/51","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: I've heard crazy stories. Like, yeah, it was taking me around and around and it didn't know where this place is. Then even a cab driver was dropping off one of my staff and he was swearing saying, \"There's no bar there. What do you mean you work at the bar? There's no bar there.\" And so we're not on the main avenue. We don't have—so physically we're cut off from just, you know, drop-in traffic. We don't have that. So it's really, really tough to run a business like that. So how else can you really have some competitive advantage? It's because the place has been a community gathering—a place where people will go out of their way to find this place to come here and to be part of this thing. And it reflected the people in the community, right?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=1632.0,1683.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/52","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: And I think what ended up happening when I first got here was I noticed that it was no longer reflecting the change, the organic change that neighborhoods go through, and the goal was to connect and reflect with a community that we've always served. When you have that disconnect, you no longer are going to have a community gathering place as unique as Neir's Tavern. And I think, unfortunately, I don't know how it happened, that cord was cut. And so there was no new lifeline or new blood to replenish, unfortunately, ones that had loved Neir's so much, but unfortunately can't leave the house anymore. They've moved to Florida, and all these natural things, attrition things that happen. So my goal was to bring Neir's back to a community gathering place where people in the community feel that they're welcomed. They're part of the journey again. They feel like this is their second living room.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=1683.0,1744.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/53","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: And one of the greatest compliments that I got—and it wasn't just for me, it's just, they just said it, was like, \"You know what Neir's is?—\" you know, years later—\"It's like Thanksgiving dinner.\" People come and, you know, you haven't seen that cousin for so long. You don't even know what their name is, but you kind of know that somehow you're related. You're on the same path. You believe in the same thing because you're right here in the same place, right? And so, and you feel it's okay to talk to them. So it's like Neir's is that Thanksgiving dinner. And people start using words like, wow, it's my second—this is like my second living room, you know? And I was like, okay, I think we're doing it now. I think we're getting that cord reconnected, that umbilical cord reconnected.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=1744.0,1794.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/54","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: Now we're having some blood flow and connecting back to the community. The Hispanic community, the Asian community that has grown here, the African-American community, and still many of the Eastern European community that's still left in the neighborhood. And so people would say like, wow—when I made these shirts, people start wearing the shirts around the community. And one of, a very, Ed Wendell, his name is, he said, \"You know, Neir's Tavern is one of those places, you can walk down the street and you see a young, like, hip hop kid with a Neir's shirt on, and the other side you see a old, Eastern European lady with the Neir's shirt on.\" And it's just crazy. People ask me, well, how did you make it like—it's just like everyone here, young, old, Black, white, Asian.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=1794.0,1850.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/55","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: I'm like, I didn't intentionally do it. I just want to make sure people know that, you know, this place is yours too. No matter where you're from, there's a common thread that's, you can't—it's beyond the surface. And when you go beyond the surface, we're all the same. We're all the same. So, and once I was, I tried to tap into that, I think people start to see some commonality where they felt like they belong again. And that's a [unclear] process. It's not, you know, sometime we lose that because of distractions or media, or McDonald's telling you this, you know, get two burgers for $2.99. And you're like, \"What [laughs]?!\" Like, \"How is that possible [laughs]?!\" You know, like, you get distracted. So the goal is to keep people remembering that this is your, part of your values. Let's not forget that over something superficial, like $2.99 burgers, you know? Let's go back home to our second living room, you know, that Thanksgiving dinner.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=1850.0,1915.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/56","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Ken Gordon: Can you tell us some specific things you did to reach out to the community, to get them back to their second living room?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=1915.0,1923.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/57","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, there's just a tremendous amount of things. Some, again, this is—wasn't designed, especially in the beginning. I literally, I can't tell you I've mastermind this whole plan and here's the big vision and the strategy and here's the tactics that go with this strategy. I am not going to tell you and even infer anything close to that, okay? I feel that a lot of this was also a big old accident, like, so that's my little thing. Like, how does it happen? You know, especially that—sometimes I feel overwhelmed because sometime feel like I'm being paraded as this savior. And I'm like, no, no, no, no. You know, being brought on like Fox Business news or being on, I dunno, a couple months ago a national commercial as a representation of the resilience of small businesses for the U.S. Open and American Express on ESPN. And it was showing—I'm like, whoa, what?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=1923.0,1987.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/58","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: So this was no big design, but what I could tell you is that I just felt everything I've done I just did it because it felt like the right thing to do. Just like when I got involved with Neir's Tavern, it felt like, you know what? Someone needs to do something about that, and let me give it a shot. So for example, one of our guests, towards the beginning, when I first got here—I like to talk to people. I like to talk to the guests. I like to know who they are. I like to hear their story. I just, you know, I just naturally, that's just who I am, you know? And I would do it a lot. I just, because I liked that. I like to talk to people. Who are you? Hey, how you doing? Sometimes too much. Just like, shut up already [laughs], you know?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=1987.0,2040.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/59","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: But—and I discovered one of my long-time guests' son, TJ, sorry, CJ, had childhood cancer. And so people come to a bar for a reason, right? The common thread is for connection, belonging, community, right? We all—but then they also come for, you know, short term reasons, like, right now today I don't feel well, or maybe I'm celebrating something. And so I would talk, I talked to this one lady and she explained to me in certain words that her son, CJ, that he had cancer. And they ran out of money and things like that. It was just tragic. So long story short, we end up using all of our resources and connections with—'cause we had some bands and stuff—to create this day long, you know, fundraising, bands, all day long celebration, uplifting thing, bringing people together.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=2040.0,2110.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/60","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: And, you know, it was just—I just felt it was important. I was like, oh, what can I do? Well, I don't have money to give you, but we can do this. Why don't we have some, you know, help? And so we got all the resources and we did this entire day, Rocking For CJ was the name of the event. So all day we're Rocking For CJ. People donate their time, their energy. People did raffles. They did a barbecue outside. Like, you know, it was just fun. And then—it was for them, but then other people kind of got involved, like, what's going on? And they got to meet other people. And so there was this positive energy that started developing from this one event.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=2110.0,2154.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/61","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: You know, unfortunately, CJ unfortunately passed. He lost his battle. But I remember years later I posted something on Facebook, and I didn't know, I didn't remember exactly her name, but from what her comment, I knew it was her. And she poured her heart out how she was so happy that we did that and how it helped her get through so much things and say her heart will always be at Neir's and what it stands for. And I didn't do that for any collateral benefit. It was just like at the moment it was the right thing to do. Like, who—like I said, I didn't design all of this. When in life you see something that needs to be done, and if you have the power to do it, then do it! We—one of the worst comments that I see online sometimes, unfortunately when a local business close or something, \"Oh man, that's a shame.\" Click—to the next thing, you know?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=2154.0,2217.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/62","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: And we do that. It's almost like a news channel, you know? Such and such person got murdered today. Okay, up next is the weather, you know? And we do that now with social media when the clicks and the swipes is so easy. Now I'm not saying you jump and do everything, but if you can do something, do it. Nothing more and nothing less, right? That is all. Don't do any more than you can, and don't do any less than you can, right? And that's a personal decision. I will never judge you for swiping or moving or scrolling because maybe all you could do is put a positive comment or a like or a share. Or maybe you can say, \"Hey, you know what? I have some clothes to donate.\" But don't do more than you can and don't do less.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=2217.0,2274.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/63","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: And that's what I did with Neir's Tavern. I said, \"You know what? Whatever. Even if I fail on my face, I am okay with that because I don't feel like I'm doing more and I don't feel like I'm doing less, because even if I fail, I don't [feel] like I did more than I should have.\" So that's the key with her and the sort of—so there's tons of examples like that throughout the 12 years that I've been here. Some you'll never hear about. There's, actually, 99 percent of them you never heard about. And I would, you know, you sit with me long enough, I'll tell you probably the ones you'll never hear about. But that's the running theme. Just, not being the best bartender or the restaurateur that owns 20 bars and restaurants, and just doing what I can with what I have, nothing more, nothing less, might just help someone.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=2274.0,2335.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/64","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Ken Gordon: That was a great story.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=2335.0,2340.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/65","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: I hope that answers your question. I tend to talk a lot. Just tell me to shut up, you know, like [laughs]—","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=2340.0,2347.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/66","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kendra Kuszai: Should we move into talking about the pandemic era at Neir's?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=2347.0,2353.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/67","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: Whatever you'd like. Absolutely. Yeah. And the pandemic, is there a specific question or—","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=2353.0,2363.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/68","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Ken Gordon: How were things right before the pandemic and how are things [unclear] challenges did you face after?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=2363.0,2372.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/69","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: Yeah, so, 2020 for Neir's Tavern, you know, oh, I don't know how you put it into words, but let's just say we got on a roller coaster and it never stopped, with all the pits and valleys and the curves and the, you know, how it goes upside down and up and around. We have been riding that roller coaster for well over a year now. And so January I had to make—of 2020—I had to make a decision because I just ran out of resources and everything that I could do to save Neir's Tavern. Things got really bad with the landlord tripling our rent. When the building sold, the landlord tripling our rent, a year long fight to try to get equitable rent. I just had to decide and say, \"Hey guys, I'm sorry. There's nothing more that I can do.\"","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=2372.0,2432.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/70","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: And so I decide—I told them that Neir's Tavern will close in 48 hours. And I think it was the Thursday or something, or the Sunday I told them it was going to close and it was like a Thursday. And so that led to be one of the [laughs]—like someone said, we're going to a funeral, and it ended up turning into this miracle celebration by a community of people that had so much connections with Neir's Tavern through the years or some way feel affinity. They eventually rose up and instead of swiping or scrolling, they said, \"You know what? I need to do something about this. Not this one.\" And that has been the biggest game changer because enough people stopped swiping for a second and did a share, and did a like, and reached out to a politician, or say, \"Hey, I'm coming down there.\"","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=2432.0,2499.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/71","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: Or, you know what? I'm going to come down there and have my last beer, at least. And it got so overwhelming, the media started picking it up. The local media and then eventually New York Times and national media picked it up. It was on MSNBC, 11th hour. I forgot the guy's name, he's such a famous guy, making a national appeal for Neir's Tavern, this little bar in this little corner of street that maybe a couple dozen people walk by a day, maybe, to say someone needs to do that. I'm calling all my connections. And the one call that I was able to make came from—I think I'm gonna allude to more than what I normally allude to because this is going to be archived and it'll probably be shown later [laughs]—was the security detail from the mayor's office.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=2499.0,2558.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/72","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: He had a connection with Neir's Tavern somehow and he felt the need to help. And he did not swipe forward and say, \"Oh my God.\" He called Neir's Tavern. And I had two reporters in my face with a microphone. I think it was NBC and ABC. \"Hey man, how do you feel?\" And I'm like trying to like, you know, I'm trying to hold back. I'm trying to be like, you know, the strong Black man and not cry. And the phone kept ringing and I'm like, \"Oh, just, could you hold on a second? Just hold on a second. You're going to get your story. Just hold on.\" There's a phone ringing. And normally I don't pick up the phone. It's just so much—and we didn't open yet.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=2558.0,2600.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/73","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: So I picked up the phone and the guy told me, he's like, listen, I want you to do this. Tomorrow the mayor is going to be on this show that he does every week on Fridays. I need you to just call. Just call. Just try calling and plead your case. I was like, all right. So I finished my interview and I called. Obviously with these things, who knew you would actually get through? Like, who gets through to a radio station, especially the mayor is on. Like, nobody. I'm like [imitates phone ringing sound]. That was the thing. I got three times. I was like, ah, this thing ain't going to work. Like, you know, how [crosstalk]—","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=2600.0,2639.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/74","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kendra Kuszai: —Brian Lehrer?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=2639.0,2639.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/75","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: Brian Lehrer Show, right. Yes, that was it. And I was like, ah, I tried three times. I did everything I could. I don't know, whatever, let's figure out. And I tried one more time. Someone picked up the phone and said, \"This is Brian Lehrer Show, please hold for a second.\" And I'm like, wait, all right, maybe they'll have me and then they'll cut off, you know? And then I heard, \"Is this Vince? Vince?\" I'm like, \"No, no, no. Loycent.\" \"Oh, okay. All right. What's your question, man.\" [laughs]","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=2639.0,2674.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/76","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: So I'm like, \"My question. Um—\" I just kind of blurted out what I truly felt, unprepared, raw, unabashed. And somehow, people said it hit that nerve, not only of the mayor, but everyone that heard my voice during that. I started getting text messages. Wow, I just heard your story. I heard da, da, da, da. And then the mayor [Bill de Blasio] said, \"You know, I've been hearing so much about you already. We have to do something.\" And he got involved and used all the city resources. I worked with him and his administration. We were able to come to an equitable deal with the landlord where it worked. So that was the beginning of our 2020. And so Neir's Tavern was saved. That was the big, big save from, you know, local news, national news, and even some international agency from Brazil and China and all—it was crazy.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=2674.0,2739.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/77","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: I'm like, \"China [laughs]?\" So that's what it is. And then obviously the pandemic hit. We had to shut down. We started giving food to frontline workers. During the shutdown, I started highlighting local businesses that were still open when I decided to close down. 'Cause I didn't want customers that were supporting us to be exposed themselves when we had no idea what we're dealing with. So I said, \"What else can I do?\" So I started just doing free promotion on our social media platform and email list for businesses that are open to go support them. We're closed, but go support them. Let me use what I've got to promote, free, other businesses that are open that needs the business. And so I did that. Then we did—then I formed the community called the Neir's 200 community group. We started hosting—like, people still need connection, you know?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=2739.0,2792.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/78","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: So we started hosting these virtual Bar Talks, which ended up happening for 40 weeks, every Wednesday at six o'clock, in a row, 40 weeks, during the pandemic to form a sense of community again, connection. And all our doors were closed, we can still talk through this Zoom thing. We can figure out how to still regain the sense of connection that Neir's is known for, the community gathering place, except now it's online. 'Cause that's all we had and that's all I could do. And it lasted for 40 weeks. I thought a couple, maybe one time, da, da, da. And then [unclear] the last of them, people actually came. We had, you know, two dozen on, a dozen here, da, da, da. And so that's what we did. And they eventually turned into a volunteer group that now have helped us through this pandemic, helping the outdoor dining set up, recommending media outlets to help, but like just on and on.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=2792.0,2846.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/79","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: And we did a big food drive, giving away 200 food, families, you know, at times, antibody testing, just a tremendous amount. And then obviously we got burglarized. We got burglarized towards the fall. You know, we got videos of it and it was just crazy. But the redeeming factor was through that group we were able to come up with this Neir's recovery box concept where people—where we decided, oh, let's put this box together, we put the gifts in there, and we sell it for 50 bucks. All right, [that wilI] help raise money. What I didn't tell people was it wasn't just going to help Neir's per se, like, you know, to pay this, nah, it was really going to pay our rent that we're past due on for months, and where we couldn't sign a lease cuz we didn't have enough money to sign the lease for.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=2846.0,2900.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/80","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: And so when we'd sold enough of 'em, I was able to pay that landlord. And then that's when you saw that we did a big lease signing where the mayor came back. It was from the power of the community buying these recovery box when they just trying to support, not knowing exactly where it was going to go for, but I knew, and I think they knew it was going to go for a good cause and good reason, and that helped us. And so that was just a short, long short thing for all the stuff that happened in 2020. That's probably a book in itself. But that's a little bit about our 2020, and there's so much more, but I am fortunate that the common theme was people, you know, coming. And although we have 5,500 people on each of our social media pages, those dedicated few that says, \"Not this one. I'm going to join this and I'm going to do what I can with what I got.\" And that made the difference. And they represented all the other 5,000 that couldn't do anything at that point.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=2900.0,2972.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/81","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kendra Kuszai: Well, I've got to say, I enjoy—I just live a few blocks away. I'm on 80th Street and I have small kids and I'm not at a time in my life when I go to restaurants or bars. But Neir's has always been a place where we felt comfortable and we can bring kids there and meet other families with—it's okay to bring your kids there. And your, the big family style mac and cheese really [laughter] really good for us.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=2972.0,3009.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/82","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: Yes. Thank you. Well, you know, my son, Evan, I have a four and a half year, well, he's going to be five in April 28th, son. And I felt like, you know, I want to make sure he's comfortable and I feel comfortable, my wife feel comfortable bringing him in here. And so I want to make sure that everyone that have kids and so forth feel comfortable coming here as well. Although it's a bar, it's, you know, it's also a community place, that happens to serve alcohol and mac and cheese and everything else that you might need to enjoy yourself.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=3009.0,3050.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/83","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kendra Kuszai: In our jobs, we are really missing and reliant on having a community space in Woodhaven Library. So we're having a hard time without our community space and our people. And we're really looking forward to opening up again and having our space back and looking forward to times after this pandemic. Do you have anything in mind that you'd like to do, like, what's the first thing you're going to do when things finally go back to normal and people can feel comfortable using your community space again?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=3050.0,3087.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/84","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: Yeah. I think one of the big benefits—you know, out of any disaster and bad time there's some benefit we can gain from that and insight—is that I would hope that we walk away and know that how valuable it is, human connection is, and that we, I mean, you know, just hopefully gained a new level of gratitude and appreciation for each other. Learn how to say sorry when we get pissed off because someone, you know, just doesn't reflect our values. That's just the hopeful part. But so what I already started to do is eventually want to take the—is to blend the online with the in-person. And so, you know, as a transition, so we're doing a Neir's carnival Mardi Gras celebration this month where it's going to be a virtual in-person quasi type of thing.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=3087.0,3160.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/85","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: So we have performers performing on Zoom and we'll be streaming it on our big screen TV. And the people that are here can watch it and participate, people that's on the Zoom can also, you know, watch it, and participate. So, and we're going to be doing raffles, and some of the entertainers are people that have performed here many, many times and our customers are familiar with. So it's almost like, I remember that comedian, or I remember that music artist. So to kind of start blending the two as we make this transition back into in-person. So that's the idea. And to try to find a way to have more of those people that decide to stop for a second and help us out and be part of our movement here, to have more of those people to multiply, because I think we need more of us, you know? So, you know, we have the Neir's 190 alumni group that helped us back in 2019. There was only 16 of us and we were able to accomplish so much, especially with the Neir's 190 street celebration where over that weekend thousands came out and it was only from the, you know, a group of 16 people.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=3160.0,3251.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/86","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: So imagine if we had more of those people that reflect that same values, how much more community we can have, how much more connection we can have, how much more good we can have. So the goal is to try to say how much more of those 5,000 people on our social media would like to upgrade and to graduate to a level of involvement that can perpetuate, you know, organizations like yours that's doing great work, right? Instead of unfortunately it being at times it seems manipulated by who has the biggest ad dollars, right? And taking our attention away from things that are meaningful towards things that are—that seems very superficial. So how do we actually find more of us so that Neir's Tavern can actually survive and live and thrive and so we can look back and appreciate the work that was done?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=3251.0,3310.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/87","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: How do we find more people that support Queens Public Library system because of the real meaningful value—because Queens Public Library doesn't have, you know, 10 million dollars spent on local ads every day, every year, to convince you of something you already believe in, you know? So the goal is to try to figure out how to do that, to use it as a competitive advantage against the big billion dollar corporations that are able to convince us of something that, you know, we know it doesn't feel right, is inconsistent with our values, but because it's right there and it's so convenient—I'm gonna build my habit into going to that McDonald's every single day rather than using it as a treat for yourself, if you want to use that as a treat, right? So the goal is to find that advantage that we have as community valued, inspired people to build more people like us to make the world a little bit better place, rather than the one sidedness of the big corporation with the biggest dollars win our hearts, at least temporarily [laughs].","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=3310.0,3383.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/88","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Ken Gordon: That sounds like a good plan.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=3383.0,3391.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/89","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: Yeah. Yes. It's not a perfect plan, it's aspirational, but I guess you got to start somewhere. And it all—and I've always said this—whatever you're doing, know that it can blow up at any moment [laughs].","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=3391.0,3406.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/90","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Ken Gordon: Murphy's law.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=3406.0,3406.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/91","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: It can all just not work out. Many initiatives I've tried—we have little time [laughs] though, but maybe in another conversation—I tried, it just didn't work out. It doesn't matter how good intention it is. And you have to be okay with that. And so if Neir's Tavern somehow, now I'm kind of understanding a little bit more to say, hey, you know, we carried it as far as we could and we couldn't get enough people that reflect the values. Time has changed, you know, and we did everything. We did everything. And we have to be okay with that. Sometime it just doesn't work out for whatever reason. In hindsight, we might figure that out. So I'm trying to be okay with that. And that's a hard thing, especially when you put so much into it.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=3406.0,3460.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/92","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Ken Gordon: Well, hopefully it does all work out.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=3460.0,3466.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/93","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: Yep. That's the goal.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=3466.0,3469.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/94","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kendra Kuszai: And we're so happy to be working with you doing this Queens Memory Project, and hopefully we can work more with you in the future as the Woodhaven Library, because we're your neighbors.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=3469.0,3484.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/95","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: Yeah. We're definitely neighbors. I got tons of ideas. It's just, I'm just learning how to maximize my time towards the things that matter, excluding family, friends, Neir's Tavern, the community partners. So that's another level where I'm at. I'm trying to figure that out. So [laughs]—and that's why I had to be on here because I feel it's not immediate. There's nothing, you know, immediate beneficial here. This is just documenting something that hopefully twenty, thirty, a hundred years from now, someone can benefit from. So this is not giving me an ROI [return on investment] or something. This is just doing it because it's important.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=3484.0,3533.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/96","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Ken Gordon: Thank you for doing it. And all that you do do.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=3533.0,3536.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/97","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: Yes, you're welcome. It looks like my battery—I have 4 percent left for my laptop [laughs]. I'm sorry. I was on a [crosstalk]—","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=3536.0,3545.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/98","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kendra Kuszai: —time to wrap it up. Thank you so much—","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=3545.0,3548.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/99","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Ken Gordon: —thanks again Loy.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=3548.0,3549.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/100","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kendra Kuszai: —time with us and sharing with us your fascinating, interesting story and your roller coaster of an experience.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=3549.0,3558.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260/transcript/75478/annotation/101","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Loycent Gordon: [laughs] No, we all have those, as you can tell. I'm sure, you know, through doing this project, you can tell, definitely.\n\nTRANSCRIPTION END","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/141313/file/261260#t=3558.0,3566.67791"}]}]}]}