Good morning and welcome to the weekend. We’ve got a good run of clear days, so there’s no excuse for not getting outside and exploring the city.
Hell’s Kitchen-based photographer Robbie Quinn has just published his first street photography book Street Unicorns. In it, he photographs and interviews “people of our city and beyond who express themselves through their personal style. It’s really about diversity and inclusion. Hopefully it will inspire people to take more risks presenting their most authentic selves and have others gain acceptance and appreciation for each other,” he says. His West Side Story is a great weekend read…
Here’s our rundown on what’s been happening around the neighborhood this week…
For the past three months, we’ve had a tab open on our browser checking the COVID infection rates for Hell’s Kitchen’s three zip codes. This week, we saw the levels drop below 2% in 10018 for the first time in three months. Fingers crossed that line keeps flattened from here on in.
Back in November, the first Omicron case in the United States was linked to the Anime NYC show at the Javits Center. A new CDC study showed that the 53,000-person convention was unlikely to have been a superspreader event. Read more…
Just north of Javits on 11th Avenue, the Department of Transportation has started work to fortify bike lanes with four-ton protective Jersey barriers. We took a look at the new protections this week. Read more…
Council member Gale Brewer is questioning the legality of 15-minute delivery app warehouses masquerading as storefronts throughout the city. Hell’s Kitchen deli owners are not happy either! Read more…
A Hell’s Kitchen pup is the latest victim of stray voltage — a phenomenon sending an electrical current through NYC sidewalks, endangering unsuspecting pet owners and their canine companions. Hudson was zapped with an electric shock next to a neighborhood dog run. Read more…
New Yorkers heading out on Wednesday faced a climate conundrum. Temperatures veered from a high of 67°F to a nighttime low of 36°F, leaving many sweating through their parkas or shivering as they exited Broadway theaters. Here’s why…
Our friends at THE CITY do a great job at keeping us updated with the important issues happening in New York. This week, we published their reports about the MTA backtracking on testing platform doors along with ideas of what to do if your Con Ed bills have surged.
McPutin’s — the cheekily-named pop-up operating out of Russian Samovar on W52nd Street — is immediately rebranding after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine turned their satiric homage sour. Read more…
Doom for the VROOM!? New York officials and light sleepers are hoping a state law aimed at deterring noisy, souped-up vehicles and a pilot system to detect and ticket loud roadsters will bring peace to city streets. Read more…
What we’ve been reading
Russian conductor will not take the stage at Carnegie Hall this weekend. (Gothamist)
West side helicopter boss sells his Hudson River pad for $15m. (The Real Deal)
This year’s New York Marathon will be back to 50,000 runners. (amNY)
Here’s a list of Ukrainian restaurants you can support in the city. (Thrillist)
If you’re looking for a new New York playlist… Forget Frank, Alicia and JAY-Z and check out these bands. (Louder Sound)
Freeze Frame
Thanks to Gary Hershorn for this picture of the Empire State Building lit in the colors of the Ukrainian flag last night. “Like millions across the globe, New Yorkers are watching the situation in Ukraine with fear and outrage. New York is proudly home to the largest Ukrainian population in the United States and we stand ready to welcome Ukrainian refugees with the Statue of Liberty’s arms wide open,” said Governor Kathy Hochul yesterday.
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