A new chapter: Familiar faces with shared love of history launch pop-up event company
Pete Gallo, John Daniello and Carol Taylor of History Repeatn’, a new venture that partners with local venues to present one-of-a-kind pop-up events – with a historic twist.
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A penchant for the past, for wearing costumes and making connections has reunited three familiar faces, this time in the form of a company that partners with local venues to present one-of-a-kind pop-up events – with a historic twist.
Whether it’s a cocktail party, themed pub crawl, murder mystery or trivia night, the events produced by Carol Taylor, John Daniello and Pete Gallo of CJP Events bring historians, actors, artists and musicians together to create experiences that make learning about history fun.
The three history enthusiasts want their new adventure, History Repeatn’, to encourage people and communities to come together, giving participants the opportunity to socialize, make friends, and learn – “just not in a boring way,” said Daniello.
The group’s first event, a Prohibition Sip & Learn at Crossroads Cafe in East Northport, invited guests to immerse themselves in the “intriguing and scandalous history of Prohibition while learning to craft some of the iconic cocktails of the time.”
History Repeatn’s next event, a Veterans’ Appreciation Celebration, will take place on Saturday, November 9 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Northport Village. The afternoon event is dedicated to honoring all those who serve our country, and will feature big band entertainment by Glenn Baldwin & The Friends of Jazz, as well as a performance by the Northport High School Tour Choir. Event sponsors, including Feed & Grain, Intermezzo, and Coliseum Caterers, will provide food paired with a selection of wines by Del Vino Vineyards. The event is open to the public and free for all veterans and active duty service members.
Taylor said she witnessed firsthand the community spirit come to life at many of the events she and Daniello helped plan and participated in at the Northport Historical Society, and wants to continue to share that creativity and positive energy with people from all over Long Island, despite no longer working at the society.
A new chapter
Taylor, Daniello and Gallo met at the Northport Historical Society, where Taylor served as education coordinator and Daniello as the marketing and membership coordinator from April 2022 to April 2024, when he was promoted to deputy director. Gallo was a volunteer with the historical society, even dressing up as Santa during holiday events.
Both Taylor and Daniello boosted public awareness and generated renewed excitement for the museum’s events and membership; Taylor, a retired teacher and board of education trustee with an outfit for every historical occasion, brought school field trips back to the museum while Daniello updated the society’s outreach efforts via regular updates to the society website, social media channels, and the society newsletter.
Daniello believes the historical society attracted a new demographic post-Covid, including people who moved to Long Island to leave the city or raise families. He wanted to provide a different experience to this demographic and, while at the society, worked alongside Taylor and former Executive Director Caitlyn Shea to host events with an emphasis on bringing in a new and younger crowd interested in their town and its history.
He also curated and designed the society’s inaugural LGBTQ exhibit in 2023, and was set to curate the museum’s 2024 Pride exhibit before abruptly resigning from the historical society in May 2024. Taylor followed shortly afterward, and Gallo, a Northport resident and owner of Nite Owl Promotions, left in solidarity with Daniello and Taylor, who he said he really clicked with during their time together at the society.
Leaving the historical society was an unforeseeable event, Taylor told the Journal, and it was sad. But she wanted to move forward and continue doing what she loved and this past summer, in July, began to brainstorm with Daniello about how to make it happen. Gallo was a natural fit in their partnership, they said, and was quickly on board. “We work well together,” he said, commending the work Taylor and Daniello did at the historical society and the outpouring of love they received from the community because of it.
The partners share the same enthusiasm for this new venture, and plan to customize every event to a historical theme. They’ve been putting “feelers” out to local businesses and getting a great response, they shared. Upcoming events include a Repeal Celebration at the Wine Cellar in Northport, as well as Prohibition Sip & Learns at both Feed & Grain in Northport and Bar Petite in Huntington. A murder mystery night is being planned for Del Vino Vineyards, also in Northport, and they’re in talks about hosting a pre-wedding event at Jedediah Hawkins Inn in Jamesport, which happens to house a former speakeasy with secret passages and trapdoors.
People or businesses interested in partnering with History Repeatn’ for a public or private event can contact them via their website or by calling 516-813-8144. Reserve your spot at the first annual Veterans’ Appreciation Celebration here.
