Happy Saturday and welcome to July 4th weekend. It looks like we’ll be having a little shower this morning and some sporadic deluges from the afternoon through to the early morning. However, the rest of the weekend is looking gloriously summery. Enjoy — and we will be back in your inbox on Tuesday.
Robert Emmett O’Reilly is known worldwide for his distinctive rainbow suit and umbrella. And he came face to face with himself on the rooftop of the brand-new Hell’s Kitchen Boxers location this PRIDE. Read more…
Here’s your update on what’s been happening around Hell’s Kitchen this week…
Last Monday morning we were recovering from PRIDE weekend. Hell’s Kitchen photographer Susan Magnano was out painting the rainbow with her Luminescent Portraits of the Deep Playas PRIDE Ride participants. We plan to run Susan’s West Side Story soon with details of how she creates these stunning images.
Many will recognize John Ajilo from your treks through the subway. His busking is entertaining and brings joy to many commuters. “If we’re so worried about safety — it is absurd and ridiculous that someone playing a saxophone with robotic cats is going to be arrested and that we’d use so many resources,” said fellow busker Sal Salomon after Ajilo’s arrest by six NYPD cops. Read more…
We turned the clocks back 120 years to remember when Hell’s Kitchen children played in an open-air public bathhouse at the end of W51st Street, docked by the Hudson and filled with river water. Read more…
Democratic candidate Tony Simone was declared the winner of the 75th District Democratic Assembly Primary this week. Assemblyman Dick Gottfried “passed the torch” to Simone after he was voted ahead of Layla Law-Gisiko, Chris LeBron, and Harrison Marks for the position. Read more…
Early Tuesday morning, we watched the Carnival Magic cruise ship berth at Pier 88. NYPD and EMS had been called to a 60-person dance floor brawl on the ship as it headed to the Manhattan Terminal. Read more…
Kashkaval Garden is celebrating its 25 years in Hell’s Kitchen. Take a trip back in time and check out their earliest menu when they converted from cheese shop to eatery. Read more…
You’ve heard their praises sung at the Tony Awards, dozens of Broadway curtain call speeches, and across New York’s stages — but what does it take to perform as an understudy, standby or swing? What really goes on between the moment an actor tests positive and that slip of paper arrives in your Playbill announcing a substitute? W42ST spoke with two versatile Broadway performers about the highs and lows of stepping into the spotlight at a moment’s notice. Read more…
Hell’s Kitchen may have some of New York’s highest gas prices but it now has the cheapest beer, as local watering hole Scruffy Duffy’s offers a gallon of beer for the price of a gallon of gas! Read more…
If the rent bill is on your mind, there’s some small comfort to be had — indications are that New York’s white-hot rental market may finally be cooling off… very slightly. But with some Hell’s Kitchen residents being priced out of the neighborhood, is it too little, too late? Read more…
If you are still working out your weekend plans, check out W42ST’s Lifestyle Editor Sarah Beling’s “Make Way For The Weekend” newsletter…
What we’ve been reading
Appeals to rethink policing amid “egregious acts of violence against poor, working-class people selling churros, selling mangoes, playing music.” (The Guardian)
City’s COVID alert system ends — as cases rise. (Bloomberg)
The city is going to retest lifeguards in a quest to get swimming pool staff this summer. (THE CITY)
New York lawmakers work to stop gun carry in public places. (New York Times)
Check out the public art around New York this month. (Untapped Cities)
Freeze Frame
Thanks to Elizabeth Tam for sharing her discovery on 9th Avenue yesterday. “Found a life-sized unicorn, what are the chances?! What a great way to kick off the weekend! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 Hope everyone has a great start to the holiday weekend! ❤️🤍💙,” she said on Instagram.
Happy birthday to David Lindo.
