by Debbie Mercer
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.
We try to make history fun. We're having a good time and we hope that anyone who listens has a good time.
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 “Stout 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 February 13th and a Podcasthon episode on March 20th, which will raise awareness for Paws of War, a Long Island non-profit organization that provides companion animals to veterans and first responders.
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.