Northport Neighbors Magazine | February 2026

If you like your history straight up with a twist, History Repeatn’ has got you covered for the upcoming Semiquincentennial. The innovative experience company, co-founded in 2024 by John Daniello, Carol Taylor and Pete Gallo, is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a series of fun and educational events, exhibits, and podcasts.

After they created a Prohibition themed exhibit and presentation called “Shorelines and Speakeasies” for the Huntington Public Library last fall, Daniello says he was personally asked by the library to curate a seven month exhibition series and online companion for the Semiquincentennial, focusing on the role Huntington and its towns, including Northport, played in the founding of the country. On January 2nd, with News 12 present, Daniello unveiled the exhibit’s first two panels, which take a look at the Declaration of Independence, highlighting the fact that Huntington actually created their own Declaration from British rule two years earlier. Additional pieces will be added to the display in March, May, and June with the grand finale in July. The online component can be found at www.Huntington250Exhibit.com. “I love learning about history,” says Daniello. “I was honored to be approached by the library to do this.”

Together with his History Repeatn’ teammates, Daniello began producing a podcast last Fall called History Straight Up, which centered on the Prohibition era as a complement to the Huntington Library’s “Shorelines & Speakeasies” exhibit. The venture took off and was picked up by Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube Podcasts.

Starting in January, the podcasts explore the events and drinks connected to the nation’s founding in the lead-up to the 250th celebration. New episodes drop on Friday, and each is under 20 minutes (Daniello quips that it’s a “palatable” way to get your history). Best of all, recipes for the cocktails can be found at www.HistoryStraightUp.com. The trio kicked off the new season with a look at the Pilgrims and their love of beer (which was consumed daily because the water wasn’t great back then) and paired it with a recipe for “Stought Delight” – also known as “Boozy Dark Delight” – a simple beer cocktail made with just three ingredients. Future podcasts include a special Victorian Valentine’s Day episode on 2/13 and a Podcasthon episode on March 20, which will raise awareness for a non-profit organization.

Fans and history buffs can do a deeper dive through History Repeatn’s weekly blog series, which provides more details and information on the podcast’s episodes. For those looking for live events, History Repeatn’ is teaming up with Rockin’ Fish for a fun series of Trivia nights this spring.

“We try to make history fun,” says Taylor. “We’re having a good time and we hope that anyone who listens has a good time.”

For more information about upcoming events, visit www.HistoryRepeatn.com.

The Observer | June 12, 2025

PRIDE! Our Story: A Growing Celebration of LGBTQ+ History is on exhibit at the Huntington Public Library, 338 Main Street, Huntington Village, through the end of June.

What started as a groundbreaking digital tribute to the LGBTQ+ rights movement has grown into an evolving exhibit, honoring the fearless pioneers, iconic moments, and everyday heroes who’ve shaped a century of progress.
Now, for the first time, PRIDE! Our Story comes to life in a dynamic physical installation, offering an immersive journey through the milestones, voices, and stories that continue to define the LGBTQ+ community’s fight for equality. The exhibit is free and open to all.

From bold individuals to revolutionary organizations, PRIDE! Our Story shines a light on the people who’ve dared to live authentically and fight for change. This is more than history, it’s a celebration of identity and visibility.

PRIDE! Our Story is an evolving online and physical exhibit dedicated to documenting and celebrating the history of the LGBTQ+ rights movement in the United States. Created by John N. Daniello, a graphic designer and member of the LGBTQ+ community, the exhibit seeks to educate, inspire, and preserve the stories of those who have fought for progress and equality.

See the online exhibit: www.PrideOurStory.com

Northport Journal | June 3, 2025

Following the success of its initial launch in 2023, PRIDE!, an exhibit chronicling the history and impact of the LGBTQ+ rights movement, continues to grow and evolve. The updated PRIDE! Our Story online exhibit will debut this June, alongside the launch of a dedicated social media presence designed to promote education, community engagement and celebration.

Originally developed in 2023, the first iteration of PRIDE! opened at the Northport Historical Society and offered a detailed timeline of key moments in the American LGBTQ+ rights movement.

“As a graphic designer and a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, this project quickly became one of the most meaningful endeavors of my career,” said John N. Daniello, the exhibit’s creator. “The overwhelmingly positive reception made it clear: PRIDE! had a story that needed to be told far and wide.”

In June 2024, PRIDE! Our Story evolved into a comprehensive online exhibit, expanding upon its foundation to include the stories of trailblazing individuals whose courage and advocacy have shaped the LGBTQ+ movement over the last century. This digital platform continues to grow, with regular content updates and new features that offer a deeper look into the ongoing journey toward equality.

This month, the newly updated online exhibit goes live, supported by a social media campaign to increase visibility and community connection. PRIDE! Our Story will also debut as a physical exhibit at the Huntington Public Library for the entire month of June. Situated in the town that hosts Long Island Pride, this in-person installation marks a major milestone in the exhibit’s journey – bringing the digital experience into the physical world and offering visitors a powerful, immersive look at LGBTQ+ history.

“This exhibit has always been about honoring the past while inspiring the present and future,” said Daniello. “PRIDE! Our Story is a living project, and I’m incredibly honored to bring it to Huntington Public Library for Pride Month.”

The Observer | Apr. 24, 2025

Star Wars is coming to Northport Village. Not to the theater, but to the streets.

In its first ever tribute to the blockbuster saga, which started in 1977 with the original George Lucas film, the burgeoning pop-up event company History Repeatn’– which is primarily comprised of past employees of the Northport Historical Society and was established this past October-will host the “May the Fourth Be With You” event Sunday, May 4 in and around Main Street businesses.

“We’ve been doing a lot of different events, typically about prohibition and history, but this took shape because we wanted to do so something with Star Wars and the [popular Star Wars-themed] date [May 4] was coming up,” said History Repeatn’ founding member John Daniello, of Huntington, who noted that all of the company’s previous events were solely adult-centered affairs. “This is the first time we’re including children. We just hadn’t thought of a way we can do both, and this event offered us an opportunity to do that.”

The adventure begins with the family-friendly Padawan Crawl, which kicks off with an 11am check-in at the courtyard of Trinity Episcopal Church, 130 Main Street. There, families can take photos with Storm Troopers cast by the 501st Legion Empire City Garrison before embarking on a Star Wars-themed scavenger hunt.

Running through 1:30pm, the “Journey to Jedi” gives children the opportunity to explore the village at their own pace while searching for familiar faces from their favorite saga. Mr. Daniello said Main Street storefronts will place Star Wars-themed stuffed animal-type characters inside their windows and throughout their aisles for the kids to find. In addition, Einstein’s Attic, 79 Main Street, has donated gift cards that will be given to winners of the “Chewbacca’s Chances” raffle.

“I love the idea that we thought we wanted to make it for all ages, and I love the idea that we’re going to see kids on a scavenger hunt on Main Street,” said History Repeatn’ founding member Carol Taylor, of Northport, the former Education Coordinator at the Northport Historical Society, during an interview with The Observer inside La Porta restaurant Wednesday, April 23. “Star Wars is a very popular pastime. We didn’t realize how popular a pastime it is for a lot of people, young and old. I’m very excited about that. I’m excited that we partnered with all the local businesses we have so kids can find them on our map, go into a store and find tchotchkes. They don’t have to buy anything in the store, but we’re hoping they do.”

The cost for the Padawan Crawl is a recommended $5 donation per child, as proceeds from the kids’ event and the raffle will go directly to Vets Out Of The Rough, a non-profit organization aimed at supporting and uplifting Long Island veterans through golf lessons and related gatherings.

Choosing the recipient of the fundraising efforts was an easy call for Mr. Daniello, whose History Repeatn’ staff was aided by members of Vets Out Of The Rough during a November event.

“They volunteered serving food and helping clean up during an event for volunteers,” Mr. Daniello said, “and the fact that they came there out of nowhere and were so helpful, we said, “Why don’t we do something where we can help make them money?”

LICs Ice Cream, 74 Main Street, will be serving Star Wars-themed desserts starting Saturday, April 26 and throughout the scavenger hunt. In addition, SweetArts, 105 Main Street, will host a Star Wars-themed craft-painting (cost for arts and crafts is not included with the Padawan Crawl admission).

“We’ve done kids events at the historical society and they’ve gone very well, and Carol is good at entertaining kids. She has the experience behind her,” Mr. Daniello said. “All these other businesses working with us for the Padawan Crawl, they’re all kid-specific. Kids love scavenger hunts, so we think we’re going to do pretty well with this.”

After the morning activities, the celebration continues from 1:30pm to 4pm, with a Star Wars themed pub crawl for those 21 and older. Led by Princess Leia, the “Cantina Crawl,” which costs $30 per participant, will challenge participants to Star Wars trivia as they visit local eateries Sand City Brewery, La Porta Pizza, Feed & Grain and Rockin’ Fish for themed drinks, specials and more. Costumes are strongly encouraged for the adult stroll through Northport Village, which Mr. Daniello is hoping to be a worthy encore to History Repeatn’s sold-out Valentine’s Day murder mystery at The Wine Cellar on Main.

“Communities have a thirst for history, especially prohibition, so that’s what I do. I co-write the murder mysteries that we perform,” Ms. Taylor said. “We come up with the ideas based on what we think the community would like, and then we partner with local businesses like The Wine Cellar, for example… We sold out in two hours, so they were pretty happy.“

Northporters’ immediate interest in the murder-mystery event, Mr. Daniello said, was representative of a community seeking additional forms of entertainment.

“Northport was a town that was changing while I was working at the historical society during COVID, and there weren’t very many new happenings in the Village,” he explained. “Everyone in town would ask about [the historical society’s] next event. But now that we have this new venture in History Repeatn’, our creativity doesn’t have a bound. Something like this ‘May The Fourth Be With You’ event, we’ll see if we can incorporate it into our annual array of events.”

“John and I have worked together in the past with a very good, creative, fun energy. We know how to bring people together, how to bring the community together,” Ms. Taylor said. “That was a very important factor for us.”

Next up for Mr. Daniello, who organized the Northport Historical Society’s first-ever LGBTQ exhibit in June 2023, is an exhibit this June at the Huntington Library called “Pride: Our Story” about the history of the LGBTQ movement in America and the people who made important contributions to it.

History Repeatn’ is a Northport-based pop-up event company that collaborates with local venues to create customized experiences for people of all ages. It is the brainchild of Mr. Daniello, Ms. Taylor, Pete Gallo, also of Northport, and Jessica Driscoll. They aim to create memorable events that foster a sense of community and fun, offering participants opportunities to socialize, make new friends, and learn.

Northport Journal | Oct. 29, 2024

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.

Northport Journal | April 2, 2024

A departure from the Northport Historical Society has made room for two appointments at the local museum, shop and research library, with Terry Reid and John Daniello moving into new roles as executive and deputy director, respectively.

Continuing the line of dedication and commitment to the Northport Historical Society is John Daniello, who joined the organization in April 2022 as the marketing and membership coordinator. His creative designs successfully boosted public awareness and generated renewed excitement for the museum’s events and membership; his web design expertise ensures regular updates to the society website, social media channels, and the society newsletter, which all serve as a digital historical record of the society’s current accomplishments.

Daniello also overhauled the previous membership program and crafted “The Membership Experience,” featuring new perks for personal and business members. He also curated and designed the society’s inaugural LGBTQ exhibit in 2023, delving into the history of the LGBTQ movement at both national and local levels. Daniello is curating the museum’s 2024 Pride exhibit, set to debut on May 31 after Northport’s second annual Pride flag-raising ceremony.

“Working at the society has been a wonderful experience and I’m grateful to be surrounded by passionate individuals who value history while embracing new perspectives. I feel deeply honored and humbled to have been chosen as deputy director of this remarkable institution, which has been a Northport staple for over six decades. I am fully committed to continuing our exceptional outreach and bringing the community even closer to the society,” Daniello said.

Northport Journal | June 9, 2023

The Northport Historical Society’s first LGBTQ exhibit is here and, in line with the first-ever Pride flag raising and the upcoming Pridefest in the Park event, is looking to shine light on the struggles and triumphs of the LGBTQ community, in and out of Northport.

The PRIDE! pop-up exhibit was curated and designed by the society’s marketing and membership coordinator, John Daniello, and explores the history of the LGBTQ movement nationally and locally. In another first, the month-long exhibit welcomes members of the LGBTQ community – and their allies – to share personal stories of Pride on the exhibit’s “Share Your Pride” wall.

A Bronx, New York native, Daniello moved to Huntington in 2021 with his partner, Matt. When Daniello first learned about the Pridefest events happening in Northport Village, he jumped on the opportunity to take part in the month-long celebrations. Though he didn’t have much time to prepare, Daniello felt the support and encouragement of his colleagues and board members at the society and forged ahead.

Daniello did the majority of research for the pop-up himself, with help from Carol Taylor and Ceylan Swenson, education coordinators current and past, respectively. “It’s been a very long month for me,” said Daniello, who created every piece in the exhibit to his standards, defined largely by his background in graphic design – everything had to be perfect.”

The Observer | June 1, 2023

Northport Historical Society Marketing and Membership Coordinator John Daniello has been strategically growing the Society’s presence in the community through his elevated designs for flyers, social media, weekly email newsletters, and more.

Mr. Daniello’s colorful and creative marketing has increased public awareness of the Museum and sparked new momentum for its event attendance and membership. He has been dedicated to capturing the success of the events and exhibits in the Society newsletter, which acts as historical documentation of all the contemporary work of the Society.

Mr. Daniello continues to make ties with local businessowners by personally delivering them flyers and finding exciting ways to partner with them. His idea of incorporating sponsors’ logos on custom placemats connects Society supporters with local businesses on a new level.

Most recently, Mr. Daniello planned and executed a campaign for the Society’s Little Prince Day. He designed handouts with a Little Prince graphic that children cut out and brought on their adventures. Their parents then took photos and tagged the Society on social media. He then designed a life-sized Little Prince with Northport Copy to make the event even more interactive. “Mr. Daniello’s enthusiam for every Museum project is contagious and we feel so fortunate to have him as part of our team,” said Museum Director, Caitlyn Shea.