Good morning and welcome to the weekend. Did you survive the snow and the first week of 2022?
Maybe your New Year Resolutions have fallen away already. Check out 42 ideas curated by our writer Sarah Beling to slightly improve your 2022 life without trying too hard… Read on…
Here’s what’s been happening in Hell’s Kitchen this week…
If you’ve been over to the west side highway recently, you might have seen that the former Space Ibiza nightclub has been transformed into Musica (thanks for the tip, Matt). Their New Year’s Eve opening was canceled and the Cipriani venture is now planning a mid-January launch. More details here…
We took a look back at how Citi Bike riders clocked up over 26 million rides — with 50 million miles biked in 2021. Our report includes comedian Tess Tregellas’s ode to the service, “Hot Girl on a Citi Bike”. The music video was filmed at Pier 84 as a humorous tribute to the joys and sorrows of sweating it out (quite literally) on a bike about town. More here…
Hell’s Kitchen locals may spot more than a few familiar favorites in the latest set of intricately detailed storefront drawings from artist Joel Holland. We spoke to Joel about his HK connections and his new art. Read more…
What’s your favorite Hell’s Kitchen sober treat? Dry January is here — and it needn’t be boring. Please tell us about your favorite bars offering mocktails and shops peddling booze-free beer and spirits. Even if you’ve not given up entirely and are just “sober curious”, please share your tips on where to save a few dollars and dry out that liver — while still having FUN! Enter below and you will be put into a sweepstake for a $50 Sullivan Street Bakery gift card. Enter here…
There was much sadness in April 2016 when Signature Theatre’s founder — and long-time Hell’s Kitchen resident — Jim Houghton died. Now, the theater and his daughter Lily are campaigning to honor him by renaming the block of W42nd Street between Dyer and 10th Avenue “Jim Houghton Way”. Details here of how to add your signature…
We are sad to report that Lily Houghton’s mother, Joyce Lynn O’Connor, passed away yesterday after a battle with cancer. “My mother did not exist just to be Jim Houghton’s wife. Her individuality is astounding. Yes, she loved my father, but she also loved living. And my brother. And me. And so many others. And art. And silently watching woodpeckers upstate. And online shopping. And having poems read to her. And my boyfriend’s cooking. And spontaneous dancing. So alive. She’s so alive,” said Lily on Instagram.
Hell’s Kitchen puppet wrangler Stacey Weingarten reveals who was her favorite Sesame Street co-worker and how the pandemic has seen her spread her wings by writing, producing and directing a new family musical about her rescue pup, Rue. Read her West Side Story…
On Monday, a new art installation, PASSAGE, arrives on Broadway. The tunnel of illuminated hoops changes color and produces sounds as you walk through it. More details here…
To look at the smiling and playful Peter Nicol coaching youngsters on a squash court in Hell’s Kitchen, it is difficult to believe that he’s been playing for over forty years — five of them as World Number One in the sport. His journey included meeting his wife at the other end of 42nd Street and a life-changing couple of days in a Kazakhstan jail. Read more…
What we’ve been reading
End-of-year hotel numbers hit hard by Omicron. (NY1)
New York job adverts will need to disclose wage details. (Forbes)
“It did make me feel guilty” — the challenges of leaving New York and friends behind. (New York Times)
Omicron has been a “gut punch” to the hospitality industry — what can be done to help? (Gothamist)
Broadway’s understudies, swings and standbys came from away to keep shows running. (Associated Press)
Freeze Frame
Thanks to David Resto for his superhero re-creation in the snow yesterday. Doesn’t look like you’d want to mess with those Hell’s Kitchen pups! Have a great weekend.
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