Good morning and happy Tuesday. I’m off to JFK this afternoon to pick up my sister — and W42ST’s social media and copy editor — Sandra. I’m so excited as we’ve not seen each other for over 2 years (even though we are in touch daily). She’s on a flight — so all the spelling and grammatical errors this morning are mine!
Nominations for the W42ST Best of Awards 2021 — sponsored by Wells Fargo and supported by HYHK Alliance and The Durst Organization — closed at 5pm last night. We spent the evening making the first pass of the over 6,000 suggestions. Here’s an initial report.
Best Bar — over 120 places nominated.
Best Place to Eat — over 170 places nominated
Best Place to Work Out — over 40 places nominated
Best Coffee Shop — over 80 places nominated
Best Retail Store — over 60 places nominated
Best Service Provider — over 120 businesses nominated
Best Newcomer — over 50 places nominated.
We’re now working on the shortlists for each category for publication on Monday when voting will begin.
Things that made us smile while reading through the lists…
=> Amy’s Bread got nominated a few times for “Best Bar” — is there a new neighborhood speakeasy we don’t know about?
=> Among the “Best Places to Eat” were Midtown North Precinct and Royal Palace Tbilisi.
=> There was only one nomination for “Coffee Cart! Mohammed on 55th/9th” — but Erika’s review of “no better coffee” made us want to head over and try.
=> We had a few nominations for DD in “Best Coffee” — and the various spellings of “Dublin Donuts”, “Dunkin Dounts” and “Dunkin Doghnuts” amused us.
=> W42ST newsletter had a couple of nominations in “Best Service Provider”, which made us very happy. However, it’s not enough to get us on the shortlist!
Hell’s Kitchen activist Christine Berthet has fought to reclaim 9th Avenue from “the hellish Lincoln Tunnel traffic” for over 40 years. Now Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer has asked New York Governor Kathy Hochul to appoint Berthet to the congestion pricing Traffic Mobility Review Board. Read more…
SPONSORED POST
SPECIAL SPEAKEASY OFFER — W42ST READERS Email kaleidoscopeentertainmentnyc@gmail.com to reserve $50 tickets for performances on Wednesday, November 24th at 9pm or Friday, November 26th at 8pm. The ticket includes 5 cocktails, A delightful appetizer and a fabulous show at Bond 45!
What we’ve been reading
Angelina Bakery is to open a Times Square location in December. (amNY)
Outdoor dining is getting support from New Yorkers — and #W42ST readers get a mention in this report! (Streetsblog)
There’s a new hotel in the neighborhood — welcome to The Civilian. (New York Yimby)
The city is looking for a new head of Homeless Services after Steve Banks announces his departure. (City Limits)
Take a look at Macy’s first Thanksgiving Parade in 1924. (Ephemeral New York)
Freeze Frame
Thanks to photographer Tom Zuback for his reflections on the “remnants of old New York”.