Good morning. What are your plans for the weekend?

I started writing the W42ST Daily newsletter “solo” on September 19, so it seems appropriate after 3 months that I take Sunday off (and have a sleep in). I’m planning on making that a regular thing…

If you subscribe to the weekly newsletter only (delivered on a Friday) — that will now arrive Saturday morning with a roundup of the week.

And for those who get me 7 days a week at the moment, from now on, you will get a Monday-Friday “hello” and the weekly roundup.

However, we know you like choices, so if you scroll to the bottom of the newsletter, you can “update subscription preferences” to how you want to get W42ST in your inbox.

We’ll still be delivering our “What We’ve Been Reading” on Sundays via Twitter and Facebook. So follow us there, if you’re not already.

On with the weekly round up…


We were glad to see that the Mayor came to his senses yesterday and reversed the ban on using the restroom at restaurants. The original ruling, issued late night by his counsel had caused consternation with eatery owners and customers alike.

The week’s major story was Winter Storm Gail, which generated the most snow the city has had in nearly 5 years. We headed out, iPhone in hand, to see what was happening during the storm.

Before the storm hit, we asked readers and business owners what we should do about ordering food delivery. The resounding message for #TheRealSnowAngels was TIP BIG!

Proud Hell’s Kitchen kid Timothée Chalamet took over as host of Saturday Night Live last night – and waxed lyrical about being a New Yorker through and through, sharing his memories of growing up in the city. He gave a shout out to the neighborhood and his mom.

We shared the tragic news of the death of Food Emporium worker Maria Sanchez at Manhattan Plaza. Officials say that the elevator was illegally installed. The New York Daily News profiled Maria; it’s a heartbreaking loss.

The neighborhood and the theater community have come together to help save Steve Olsen’s West Bank Cafe and Laurie Beechman Theater on W42nd Street. There is a Christmas Day Telethon and GoFundMe (which has raised over $120,000 as of today).

W42ST helps give you and local eateries the best deal with the “Hell’s Kitchen in OPEN” app. There are over 70 local places to eat at or order delivery from — and each advises you what’s the best way to order to avoid the excessive fees of Seamless, UberEATS, and the like.

You can also nominate businesses for the #HKTAKEOUTCHALLENGE — and there is now a list of places offering meal kits (including Ñaño Ecuadorian Restaurant, PRINT Provisions, Etcetera Etcetera, and Arriba Arriba.)

It’s all free to you (and the local businesses) thanks to the generosity of HYHK Alliance, the Durst Organization, and reader support. Thank you…

Looking for last-minute gift ideas this weekend? Check out Michael Muñoz’s W42ST 2020 Gift Guide. So many #SHOPLOCAL options…


What we’ve been reading

Bathroom access is among the concessions being made by DoorDash to its workers. (The City)

Do you know the story of Balto, the dog who has a statue in Central Park? (Gothamist)

What we can learn from second lockdowns in cities across the globe. (Bisnow)

Eater NY’s Chief Critic Ryan Sutton has been ordering in from his Hell’s Kitchen base, and includes three 9th Avenue eateries. (Eater)

Believe it or not, the Pandemic already has a museum exhibition… (amNY)


Freeze Frame

Thanks Bryan Keogh for this photo of FDNY attending a fire near the Lincoln Tunnel last night. He said: “Those 14 fire trucks at the tunnel make for great Christmas lights.”