Good morning and happy Saturday. We’re starting off with a light drizzle this morning — but the weather should get better as the weekend goes on. We’re hitting a run of 60-degree days…
For Hell’s Kitchen locals, it’s the former home of Pam Real Thai – but for sisters Sommy and Mo Hensawang, every detail of their new Thai restaurant Lum Lum evokes a childhood memory — right down to its name. Read more…
Here’s what’s been happening around Hell’s Kitchen this week…
Marcia Bricker Halperin looked at her striking photo of children posing on a 1970s Hell’s Kitchen stoop, trying to remember their names. “The other day I was thinking about the kid in the roller skates — I thought his name was Vinny, but he might have just told me it was Vinny because it sounded good. You could be anyone you wanted to be back then!” she laughed. Read more… (and hit reply if you know any of the kids!)
Less than 5 years after its much-heralded opening, Amazon has closed its brick-and-mortar bookstore at Columbus Circle. Read more…
In a last-minute deal, the owners of New York’s luxury buildings and union workers reached a watershed benefits agreement that headed off strike action planned for this week by 30,000 service personnel. Crystal Ann Johnson, a concierge/doorperson at Silver Towers was thrilled with the outcome: “I love that they listened to us. They opened their minds, they opened their hearts and they brought home a fair contract for all members.” Read more…
We looked out of the window this week as a crazy rain shower headed over Manhattan. Across the river, Gary Hershorn was capturing that magic moment. We can assure you no Photoshop was involved, just mother nature doing her stuff getting ready for Earth Day yesterday.
It was a pleasure and a challenge to photograph Daniel Villeneuva mixing cocktails at the new hole-in-the-wall venue on W44th Street, NxtRoom. He was preparing delicious and colorful drinks quicker than we could snap photos. Read more…
Late on Tuesday evening, a man parked up his van on 10th Avenue and took apart the Hell’s Kitchen Community Cupboard — a food share service that’s given so much support to the neighborhood. He pulled the cabinet over before lifting off the doors and removing the shelves. Organizers are appealing for help to get back up and running. Read more…
Less than a month ago, the champagne flowed at the launch of CNN+ at Hudson Yards. But this week the party was over, as Warner Media pulled the plug on the much-heralded, but short-lived, streaming news service. Read more…
Nearly 60,000 students have danced through the halls of the Maravel Arts Center as a part of the Rosie’s Theater Kids program, and after an extended pause, the nearly 20-year organization this week welcomed back young performers to the Hell’s Kitchen stage. Read more…
What we’ve been reading
Fake vax cards mean some teachers are not going back to school on Monday. (Eyewitness News)
How do New York’s streets get redesigned? (Wired)
Broadway challenges lead to Tony Awards delay. (Vulture)
The city’s food delivery workers are getting a better deal. (CBS)
Do you think I’m sexy? New York Times boss photo session provokes humorous outrage. (New York Post)
Freeze Frame
Did you miss Earth Day? There’s still a chance to be good to the neighborhood and our planet this weekend.
Join the HK Litter Legion today (Saturday) at 12pm at the SW corner of W49th St and 10th Ave for their 2nd Annual Earth Day Costume Clean Up. The activities (beside trash collection) include a costume contest with refreshments to follow at Hell’s Kitchen Park. No costume? No worries! Wear green (or blue) to show your love for Mother Nature. Sign up at litterlegion.com
You can also head out to 9th Avenue to get involved in a “Foster Our Tree Canopy for Earth Day!” event. Meet at the SE Corner of W44th St and 9th Ave today (Saturday) 9:30-11am. Just RSVP to Liz by text at (646) 286-8065.
Finally, if you don’t want to get your hands dirty, you can enjoy a car-free stroll down Broadway from Times Square to Union Square. Read more…
Happy birthday to Mark Lanham.
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