Good morning and welcome (again) to Groundhog Day! We will wait for word from Punxsutawney about whether there will be six more weeks of winter or an early spring — but in the meantime enjoy the temperature creeping above 40 degrees today.
If you like your cocktails “high”, you can check out a new late-night bar on the 101st Floor of Hudson Yards from Sunday. Read more…
While you are sipping your cocktail, you might spot the occasional helicopter landing below at the West 30th Street Heliport. Last night, council member Gale Brewer wrote to the Governor and Mayor urging them to chop the heliport from Hudson River Park. Blade, the main operator from the helipad, agrees with cutting out the annoying tourist flights above Manhattan — but says their 24/7/365 operation offers medical services and from 2024 they will have quiet, electric and emission-free aircraft. Read more…
What we’ve been reading
Pier 57 is getting a James Beard Foundation-curated food hall. (TimeOut)
“The Wolf of AirBnB” is allegedly not paying his rent and living on W42nd St. (The Real Deal)
Indoor dining has slipped off the menu during the Omicron surge. (Eater)
The homeless issue and hotels are back on the city agenda. (Gothamist)
Milltown Mel didn’t make it to this year’s Groundhog Day. (SI Live)
Freeze Frame

If W55th Street was not lit and glamorous enough — David Serrano sent us his photo of Richard Schieffer modeling a “Red ribbon Lewk” by Edward Sylvia. The custom queerlesque ensemble was created for a World Aids Day benefit performance at Spot Bar.
“This was a very personal creation for both myself and Richard, due to our mutual journeys with HIV/AIDS. He approached me last summer about creating a powerful, gender fluid queer ‘superhereaux’ look for this benefit performance, with a Red AIDS awareness ribbon theme. This is the result!” said Edward.
For those fashion lovers, the design features a signature keyhole french G cut Leo in nude mesh overlaid with scarlet stretch mesh bedazzled with multiple sizes of Austrian hotfix crystals in red Siam and red holographic mini sequins. Structured soft sculpture breakaway Red AIDS ribbons shoulder pieces in scarlet stretch taffeta, reinforced with rigilene and 3/4″ foam rubber. A two-piece split breakaway hostess skirt in stretch scarlet taffeta with bejeweled belt and buckle, bejeweled scarlet stretch mesh opera gloves, and scarlet holographic sequined pillbox fascinator with a scarlet diamond net veil.
Happy Birthday to Guy Mahasri and Sharon Pandolfo Perez.