Happy Easter and Passover to you! We are going to take a long weekend off, so don’t expect a daily newsletter on Monday. We will be back at the top of your inbox at 9am on Tuesday.
David Dean Bottrell has “got a lot of odd stories to tell”. He’s a familiar face on any number of TV shows, but now back in his spiritual home of Hell’s Kitchen he’s ready to spill the beans in a wide-ranging one-man theater show. Get a taste of what’s in store as David shares his West Side Story. Read more…
Here’s what’s been happening around Hell’s Kitchen this week…
The Daily Show was back filming in the neighborhood again this week — after a brief escape to studios in Times Square. To celebrate, host Trevor Noah has a new billboard with a message for his Hell’s Kitchen neighbors heading to the DeWitt Clinton Park Dog Run. Read more…
It seems like every day there is a friend messaging to say they have tested positive for COVID or a Broadway star canceling a show. Earlier in the week, it was the turn of Mayor Eric Adams who had to curtail the celebrations of his 100th day in office. Read more…
We were lucky to get the chance to interview Carrie Rachel Dean. She has a wonderful Broadway story. You might not have heard of her lead role, but since September last year, she has been in charge of COVID testing for more than 30 theaters. Read more…
Two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington, already an honorary Sergeant Major in the US Army, is to be given a Lifetime Achievement Award at Hell’s Kitchen’s Intrepid Museum next month. Read more…
As Midtown workers return to the office — they are being welcomed by a dressing of lunchflation on their salads. We went to Bryant Park to ask how are they dealing with the higher costs. Read more…
Former NYPD officer John Cicero was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of trafficking what prosecutors described as “date-rape” drugs in Hell’s Kitchen. Locals told us that the combination of GBL and Meth is particularly insidious along with a party drug called G (which can be lethal in the wrong dose or with alcohol). We are glad he is off the streets. Read more…
This week, we celebrated the opening of the “kiosk” at Bella Abzug Park. It’s taken seven long years for Robert Benfatto and the team at HYHK Alliance to navigate the bureaucracy of New York City to get Paradis in the Park open. While researching the story, we found a video of the W42ST Party in the Park in May 2016. It’s one of the few times the grandiose kiosk has been in use. Check the video out in our story — waving at Gregory, Jim, Juli, Lena, Sandra, David, Diana, Davy, Bryan, Gabriel, Andy, Ruth, Michael, Jaci… are you there too? Read more…
Mikhail Baryshnikov is returning to his very own Hell’s Kitchen venue The Baryshnikov Arts Center this May in the live premiere of The Orchard — an immersive adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s classic drama, The Cherry Orchard. Read more…
Thursday wasn’t the time to be walking on W51st Street. First off, a driverless truck rolled along 9th Avenue until it crashed into the Atlas Social Club’s outdoor dining shed — and soon after a tourist double-decker bus embedded itself under scaffolding on 7th Avenue. We are glad to report that ASC’s structure was fully repaired and back in action last night! Read more…
We spoke to Jennifer Pluff about opening the brand-new Playhouse 46 in the space once occupied by longtime venue St Luke’s Theater. Read more…
What we’ve been reading
The bounty for the subway shooter will be split five ways. (The Village Sun)
W42nd and Broadway were renamed Jackie Robinson Way for a brief time yesterday. (Sports Illustrated)
How small retailers are dealing with shoplifting. (WWD)
Vaccination checks on Broadway will change at the end of the month. (NY1)
Rockefeller Plaza has transformed into a roller rink for the first time since 1940. (Eyewitness News)
Freeze Frame
Wave hello to Broadway’s groovy new artworks! Now’s a great time to catch two innovative art installations. We took a walk this week and found plenty of space and huge sculptures by Santi Flores in the Garment District — along with a poem above our heads in Times Square (complete with accompanying cartoon characters!). Read more…
Happy birthday to Gary Hershorn, Rebecca Kidnie and Yan Shur.
