Happy Saturday and welcome to Presidents Day weekend. We might get a little sprinkling of snow early this afternoon but otherwise, it should be a crisp and sunny few days.
Writer Sarah Beling spent Thursday evening on W42nd Street. She dodged between shows on Theatre Row and the Laurie Beechman to hear what actors, swings, understudies and stanbys had to say about their return to work. Read more…
Mayor Eric Adam and Governor Kathy Hochul yesterday announced a subway safety plan that will remove homeless people from the city’s subways, starting next week. Read more…
Here’s the rest of the Hell’s Kitchen news from the week…
Beneath our feet, there’s no shortage of warmth. New York manhole fires and explosions have caused significant property damage, building evacuations, power outages and traffic disruptions over the past decade. They have also led to dozens of injuries — and even death. Since 2020, they’ve doubled! Read more…
In a city where New Yorkers argue with each other over nearly everything, there’s one thing (almost) everyone can agree on — Hell’s Kitchen needs a Trader Joe’s. Council Member Erik Bottcher and neighborhood organizers this week asked Trader Joe’s to “be their Valentine” and open a local branch — hundreds of W42ST readers told us what they thought (and where they shop now). Read more…
Forget the glass and chrome, spaceship-like towers of Midtown West — glossy new luxury condo “The West” marries Hell’s Kitchen industrial grit and Hudson Yards glamor in eco-friendly style, with bricks composed of 229 tons of recycled construction debris. Read more…
Chez Napoleon — the oldest French restaurant in the city — may be forced to close permanently after a Con Edison Smart Meter conversion led city officials to shut off their gas in early December. Nine weeks later, the Hell’s Kitchen eatery is still shuttered. Read more…
Tennis fans, you can now apply online to renew or purchase your NYC Parks permit. We’ve also pulled together a guide to where else on the west side you can take your racquet this spring. Read more…
Hudson River Park has developed a new, interactive community compost tracker to measure localized sustainability efforts in Hell’s Kitchen and the West Side. Check out how you can get involved…
Serafina in the Sky has moved into the space The Polynesian occupied at the Pod Time Square — and although there are no distinctive yellow awnings, there is a secret speakeasy! Read more…
A 66-year-old Hell’s Kitchen resident died nearly a month after an e-bike accident outside the Javits Center, according to police. Kwok Kwan was doored by a car passenger on 11th Avenue and W37th Street. Read more…
We’re all wondering what post-pandemic New York looks like. We’ve been listening to some of the city’s top ad agency executives. They have an upbeat vision of offices more like a Soho House membership, retail mimicking a Van Gogh immersive exhibit along with crypto and NFTs at the crossroads of the world. Read more…
Hell’s Kitchen has always been a big draw for social worker Rory Cruz. She was born and brought up here, and now lives in the neighborhood with her baby son Joey. But the struggles she had after his arrival during the pandemic inspired Rory to help other mothers suffering from postpartum depression. Here’s Rory’s West Side Story…
What we’ve been reading
What’s on the menu for outside dining in the city as DOT hits a red light? (The Village Sun)
Confusion over mask requirements makes life complicated for venues. (Gothamist)
Mayor calls for a return to the office. (Forbes)
Environmental groups have differing opinions on New York’s green energy plans. (Bloomberg)
The history of New York pizza — and its links to the mafia. (Vice)
Freeze Frame
We visited the Irish Arts Center again last night for the US premiere of Enda Walsh’s The Same. The new black box theater space that seats 199 was transformed into one of its 14 approved configurations. The production opens Sunday — check out the reviews then.
Happy birthday to Ryan Ratelle and Xian Horn.