Good morning and welcome to the weekend! There’s a small chance of a sprinkling of snow outside the window just after this newsletter lands. The rest of the weekend will be cloudy and windy. Martin Luther King Jr Day on Monday will see sunshine. The W42ST team will be taking the day off — so we will be back in your inbox Tuesday morning.
A historic Hell’s Kitchen church which was the first Black Catholic parish north of the Mason-Dixon has been sold for $16 million, putting the future use of the 1869 building into question. Read more…
Here’s the rest of the news from Hell’s Kitchen this week…
It’s Dry January, and your favorite watering holes are back with even more mocktail offerings, perfect for substituting that evening tipple or just mixing some zero-proof breaks into happy hour. Here’s an updated guide to perennial W42ST reader favorites and some new hangover-free drink specials! Read more…
Despite reports describing the Big Apple as a deserted COVID-19 wasteland, Manhattan’s population has increased since the days of pandemic shutdowns — but not in Hell’s Kitchen. New figures reveal the population of Hell’s Kitchen is down by as much as 10 percent since February 2018, putting it at odds with the borough as a whole, which has seen a net increase in the same period of 3.9 percent, despite plunging by up to 10.9 percent by June 2020, the depth of the pandemic. Read more…
With 14 miles of public beaches and more than 100 indoor and outdoor pools to oversee, New York City lifeguards have no shortage of work. But last year the city Department of Parks and Recreation faced a dearth of able bodies as the season of sun and surf rolled around. It’s going to be easier for recruits this year. Read more…
Nearly two-thirds of our readers want restrictions on Airbnb — but many oppose the new Local Law 18 that could effectively ban short-term rentals on Airbnb and VRBO in the city, a W42ST survey has revealed. Thanks to all those who took part. Read more…
COMMUNITY POST
Calling All Artists! The Litter Legion is hosting a T-shirt design contest with a $250 cash prize for the winning submission. The design should be gritty like the city, with a touch of whimsy. City critters and litter-related items are encouraged, but please keep it kid friendly. Submissions are due Sunday, February 12 at 11:59pm. Get more info at www.litterlegion.org
Governor Hochul laid out proposals in her State of the State speech this week, geared to building 800,000 new homes over the next 10 years, most of them in New York City. Read more…
A community board hearing around a potential new mega-nightclub on 11th Avenue has revealed a schism over the direction of the far-west side of Hell’s Kitchen. Read more…
The former home of legendary Times Square comedy club Carolines — which recently closed its flagship Midtown venue after 30 years — is taking on a new spin. The space is set to become the newest outpost of a popular ping-pong social club started by Susan Sarandon. Read more…
Check out Sarah’s latest edition of Make Way for the Weekend for ideas of what to do to round off the week. Read more…
The “Are Gas Stoves the New Cigarettes?” debate over a potential ban might be at boiling point, but for Hell’s Kitchen restaurant owner and chef Charlie Marshall, the prospect of a permanent gas outage is not a burning issue: he has already ditched the fossil fuel at The Marshal and believes his fellow chefs should follow suit. Read more…
Just in time to cure your January doldrums — it’s New York City Restaurant Week 2023! Now’s the chance to try all of your favorite neighborhood spots (or that fancy joint you’re always eyeing) at prix-fixe prices that are post-holiday spending and inflation friendly. Read more…
What we’ve been reading
Is this gas gizmo the future of rat control in New York City? (New York Daily News)
Plastic is everywhere — can we do without it? (New York Times)
Can you guess which NYC airport has been named the worst in the US? (TimeOut)
Have you got what it takes to become a Rockette? Watch and learn… (The Rockettes YouTube)
Kodachrome memories of the 70s in Brooklyn. (Flashbak)
Freeze Frame
Did you see Michael Cavaliere on Jeopardy last night? “It’s f-ing amazing when one of your trivia regulars makes it on Jeopardy. Congratulations,” said Hell’s Kitchen quiz superhero Austin Rogers on Instagram, while sharing this photo taken by Chris Fraustein outside the Gaf West.
Happy birthday to Patrick Schmidt.
