Andrea McKenna's studio journey spans from a century-old garage on a Jersey City dead-end street to her aunt's former bedroom in Fort Lee. In this conversation, we explore how personal loss transformed her artistic practice, the evolution of Jersey City's art community, and what it means to hold space for other artists while navigating your own creative path. Andrea shares the story of the Raven Gallery, her seven years as gallery director at Art House Productions, and her collaborative performance piece "Arboreal Soul" with choreographer Megan Woods; a meditation on grief through movement and visual art.

We kick off Season 2 with Rimli Roy, founder and artistic director of Surati Studio, whose journey from IT programmer to cultural institution builder embodies the best of Jersey City's immigrant experience. From her first Halloween in America to creating festivals that unite thousands, Rimli shares how cultural work happens organically—through one person's willingness to share what they love, combined with a community ready to support that sharing.

In this special season finale, Nat sits down with her dear friend Chelsea Castro, Vice President of the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy, for what starts as playful banter between two "separated at birth" preservation enthusiasts who find profound meaning in skeleton keys tucked in leather satchels and vintage clothing hidden in walls. But as their delightfully wandering conversation unfolds, something deeper emerges: a surprising web of connections threading through Season One that reveals how every guest - from jazz host Ted Chubb to ceramic artist Jin Jung to storytelling consultant Thaler Pekar - shares unexpected geographic, thematic, and philosophical overlaps. It's a conversation about the silly and the profound, ultimately discovering how curiosity, community care, and the simple act of showing up creates the fabric of neighborhood life.

In this episode of Nat's Sidewalk Stories, I explore the intersection of poetry and native plants with Ann Wallace, Jersey City's former poet laureate, and Kim Correro, a passionate advocate for native plants. Together, they host The Wild Story podcast, connecting ecological awareness with artistic expression. We discuss finding nature in urban landscapes, how slowing down leads to remarkable discoveries, and why both poetry and native gardening offer paths to hope in challenging times.

World-class trumpeter Ted Chubb shares how he and his wife Rachel open their home, a century-old religious statue workshop, as an intimate jazz venue in Jersey City Heights. Discover how the Statuary breaks down barriers between musicians and audiences while honoring the building's artistic legacy.

Jersey City native Irene Christodoulakis discusses navigating between grassroots art initiatives and major HBO productions. Her award-winning screenplay imagines 1930s underground women's boxing in familiar Jersey City settings. Irene reveals how deep community roots inspire authentic storytelling and why resourcefulness defines her approach to creativity.

## About This Episode Colin Egan shares the remarkable story of saving Jersey City's Loew's Theatre from demolition through a 30+ year grassroots effort that transformed this movie palace from an abandoned building to a vibrant cultural center through volunteer dedication and community persistence. ## Meet Colin Egan Colin Egan is the founding director of Friends of the Loew's, the non-profit organization that has led the preservation, restoration, and operation of the Loew's Jersey Theatre since 1987. Born in Jersey City and raised in Union City, Colin became involved in historic preservation through his grandmother's stories about local history and early experiences advocating for the Hudson County Courthouse and Lincoln Park Fountain.

In this conversation with master storyteller Thaler Pekar, we explore how stories connect us to places, how buildings hold collective memories, and why asking "tell me about a time" might be the most powerful way to understand our communities.

In this episode, musician and cultural historian Tris McCall shares three decades of insights on Jersey City's evolving arts landscape. From the legendary 111 First Street arts center to the current gallery scene, Tris explores how place shapes creativity and how creative communities in turn define our city. Discover his unique perspective on "living horizontally" versus "vertically," the ghosts of lost creative spaces, and his passionate call to recognize overlooked musical pioneers like PM Dawn as essential to Jersey City's cultural heritage.

Visual artist Jin Jung's blue ceramic markers throughout Jersey City honor overlooked histories as part of her WERE HERE project. From the African Burial Ground to Betty Shabazz at NJCU, these handmade plaques create what Jin calls "shelters for stories that might otherwise fade away." As an immigrant from Korea, Jin uses art to build her own relationship with Jersey City - a journey that resonates with host Nat Kalbach's experience. Join us for a conversation about art, belonging, and how understanding our shared past helps us find home in the present.

Preservation expert Kelly Carroll joins Nat to discuss how community-driven historic preservation strengthens neighborhoods even when buildings can't be saved. Kelly shares success stories from Brooklyn's diverse communities and draws intriguing parallels between Jersey City and Brooklyn through their industrial heritage, legacy businesses, and built environment.

In this episode, Nat speaks with longtime Jersey City advocate Charlene Burke about her journey from magazine publisher to neighborhood preservationist. Learn how Charlene helped establish the West Bergen-East Lincoln Park Historic District, her practical wisdom on civic engagement, and why speaking up at public meetings matters—even when you're nervous.

In this premiere episode, host Nat Kalbach introduces her journey from artist to storyteller, sharing how her paintings of Jersey City architecture led to deeper questions about neighborhood history and community connections. Learn how researching her own historic home inspired a book project and ultimately this podcast, where we'll explore the intersection of place, preservation, and personal stories.