Well, it’s been a busy week. Moving day was Tuesday, Thanksgiving was Thursday. Here’s what’s been squeezed in between all of that.
We profiled Onika Day in our West Side Stories. She left the Bay Area to pursue her New York dreams. She landed in Hell’s Kitchen and found work in the theater and now in television series like The Undoing, Billions, and The Affair.
We wandered to Hudson Yards to check out their 2 million holiday lights — which reminds me, it might be the weekend to go and get that tree. Any recommends?
I made a pledge to host VACCSGIVING in 2021. It’s going to be a very long table. I’m thinking at the 9th Avenue Food Festival or on the deck of Intrepid for WestsideEATS in May or June. If you saved your urge to gather in a large group on Thursday, come join me — we’re going to have a lot to give thanks for next year!
It’s great to have world-class neighbors. Today’s the last day of designer Karim Rashid opening his studio doors for a ‘Klearance’. He told us: “I am having a huge sample sale of 100s of my designs that range from tabletop ceramics to furniture to lighting to carpets to books with companies I have designed for from all over the world.” I popped by and snagged a couple of bargains. Details here…
Meanwhile, Sullivan Street Bakery has been recognized as one of “The 9 Best Bakeries Around the World” by Departures magazine.
The magazine said: “Started by sculptor-turned-breadmaker, Jim Lahey, the Sullivan Street Bakery brings the tradition and artisanship of Italian bread to New York City. Lahey is known for introducing no-knead bread to the at-home baker, and his team at Sullivan Street bakes some of the highest-quality (read: perfectly crusted) loaves in the city.” Jim said: “I’m always happy to be in such good company.”
On Thanksgiving morning, I popped by SSB and grabbed a community loaf. I’ve sliced and put half in the freezer, used part for delicious Thanksgiving stuffing, and had toast and jam yesterday morning. Yummm! Other winners here…
When Sean Patrick Gallagher’s role in event staffing became redundant in March, he pivoted back to being a chef. We’ve been salivating over his Instagram feed since then as he’s cooked up a storm in his Hell’s Kitchen kitchen! Here’s his West Side Story — scroll to the end for this recipe for his savory scones (with a kick!).
George Hahn shared his cycling tips. Streetsblog followed him around the streets of the city to explore his method of riding like a gentleman (or lady). The conclusion — “Don’t Ride Like A Dick!”
Artist Joe Ricco has been busy using the plywood structure at Tito Murphys on Restaurant Row as a canvas as part of the Neighborhood Curbside Canvas Project. Read all about it…
Over in the Chrissy Teigen and John Legend household, their Thanksgiving food hangover could be put down to the huge prime rib they ordered from Piccinini Bros. It was cool to see Chrissy tagging our local butchers in her cook along.
We love seeing great street photography around the neighborhood. We’ve been following the work of Kelly McCann on Instagram. She arrived in Hell’s Kitchen in January 2020. She’s taken pictures of cities around the world, and loved the solace she could find in quiet, tranquil places with no people. When solitude became enforced, she says: “I really missed the energy and found myself craving it and wanting to photograph people. Be careful what you wish for, eh?”
Finally, an appeal to my neighbors… Don’t do this! As a Brit, let me inform you that Earl Grey Tea should NEVER be drunk with milk! The marketing of the drink below is making me consider my future in the country!
What we’ve been reading
“What made it even remotely bearable was my co-workers and the camaraderie we built because we had no other choice” – a restaurant worker’s love letter to the ‘family’ they miss. (Grub Street)
Keep your eye on the sky for this rare phenomenon. (NY1)
NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson’s district office is collecting new, unwrapped toys for children at the annual Holiday Toy Drive, in partnership with Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen.
There’s been a rise in road deaths this year. (New York Post)
Who’s up to the challenge of “the second toughest job in America”? (City Limits)