Good morning and happy St Patrick’s Day. If you don’t have ☘️ plans, read Sarah’s “Make Way For The Weekend” newsletter. It’s packed with ideas on how to celebrate. Afternoon temperatures hit 57 degrees and the rain showers will hopefully stay away until late afternoon. Enjoy…
Entrepreneurs know that the harder you work, the luckier you get. A year ago, when beloved Hell’s Kitchen eatery Laly Restaurant closed, owner Ibis Lara struck a deal with a nearby deli to continue to serve her amazing Dominican food. We popped in to see how Ibis was doing yesterday. Read more…

Christian John Wikane spends most of this time interviewing stars (from Sir Paul McCartney to André De Shields). This week, we turned the tables and asked him the questions this time. Here’s his West Side Story…

What we’ve been reading
* Stories that might be behind a paywall are marked with a 💰
New York’s supermarkets are using facial recognition tech — and many are asking “why?” (NBC)
When did New York get so slow at building things? (Construction Physics)
Lawmakers are pushing back on the MTA’s fare hike plans. (News12)
The Bronx Zoo elephants might have to pack their trunks… (New York Daily News💰)
The history of women-only hotels in New York. (Untapped Cities)
Freeze Frame

Hello from 34,000 feet in the middle of the Atlantic! This is the closest to Hell’s Kitchen that I’ve been when writing the daily newsletter in five months. Just 2,000 miles to go… See you all on 9th Avenue very soon. Thanks again for all your support in getting me back home!
We appreciate your readership. If you can support our ongoing work to keep Hell’s Kitchen connected, updated and upbeat in 2023 — please hit the button below.