In this episode of the "Pubs & Pints Podcast," [00:19] host Tim Grant interviews retired NYPD detective John Stiastny, who delves into his upbringing in Woodside, Queens, and his German-Irish heritage.
Key discussion points include:
- Heritage and Upbringing: John shares that his paternal grandparents immigrated from Germany, and his maternal grandparents from Ireland, all meeting in New York [01:55]. He describes Woodside, Queens, as a predominantly Irish, working-class neighborhood [02:31].
- Childhood Experiences: He recounts participating in the "Boys Brigade" at St. Sebastian's [03:09] and his grandmother's desire to assimilate into American culture, contrasting with his grandfather's continued Irish identity [04:24]. He also shares memories of visiting Irish bars with his grandfather as a child [05:02].
- Donovan's Pub: A significant portion of the conversation revolves around Donovan's, a prominent Irish pub in Woodside that opened in 1966 [09:32]. John highlights it as one of the first places in the area where you could eat in a bar [10:02] and a central location for family events and community gatherings [19:01]. He also mentions that Donovan's was known for its perfect Guinness pours and highly-rated burgers [25:02].
- NYPD Career: John discusses his career with the NYPD, joining in January 1985 and later becoming a detective [13:37].
- Woodside Community: He emphasizes the strong sense of community in Woodside, where neighbors looked out for each other [15:20] and how the neighborhood lost many men in the Vietnam War [21:48]. He also shares a heartwarming anecdote about his Chinese friend, Brian, who was fully accepted into the predominantly Irish neighborhood [16:43].
You can watch to the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L98N5bPnw-Q
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