Good morning and happy Friday! Hell’s Kitchen wakes to sunshine, but cold and a bit of wind will be heading our way from lunchtime. Saturday’s pretty much the same — and Sunday brings rain. Maybe some snow (finally!) on Wednesday.

Pucks or paddles? The plan for a pickleball court in Hell’s Kitchen Park led to plenty of debate at a recent community board meeting. We also got to learn about local hockey heritage and the Mullen brothers! Read more…

Pickleball Hockey Hell's Kitchen

On the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards, Edge NYC has put together a seasonal, sky-high skating rink in a heated space atop Manhattan. Sarah and Naty went to check it out — and chat to locals enjoying the experience. Read more…

sky skate

What we’ve been reading

“Art of Amtrak” arrives to calm Penn Station. (TimeOut)

Row Hotel retail tenants are being sued and evicted. (The Real Deal)

Dry January needs to turn into Wet February quickly for NYC bar owners. (New York Times)

Council hearing on smoke shops urges sheriff to clamp down. (Gothamist)

“The Roller Coaster Reverend” shares his stories of Coney Island marriages. (Coney Island History Project)

Freeze Frame

Jack Schlossberg Manhattan Kayak Club

Jack Schlossberg celebrated his 30th birthday in the neighborhood this week. He took a paddleboard out on the Hudson River from Manhattan Kayak Club at Pier 84. “George Washington didn’t make a big deal of his birthday and neither do I!!” he said on Instagram.

Jack’s grandmother, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis worked with Fred Papert at the 42nd Development Corporation helping to save Grand Central Terminal from demolition and transform Times Square.

I went for lunch at the Theater Row Diner with Fred, where he regaled me with stories of how Jackie’s mother had told her: “Don’t ever, ever go to the end of 42nd St!” The west side was out of bounds. I’m glad our neighborhood has been transformed over the years!


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