Good morning and welcome to this wonderfully sunny weekend. There’s a rooftop soiree and Sunday brunch planned. Woot woot… How about you?
Broadway is back (if you’d not heard already), the stages have been saved — and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was in Times Square to take a bow and pull the curtain up on a free weekend outdoor event. Check out Curtain Up! — especially the fun video of Jessica Vosk entertaining the crowd with an impromptu rap after technical difficulties meant the accompanying piano playing of music director John McDaniel could not be heard. More here…
Back in March, we reported about the one-year anniversary of the 7pm pot banging and clapping for essential workers at Manhattan Plaza.
Darcie Wilder, a young resident at the building, reported yesterday for Gawker on the 18 month mark of the tribute. It’s worth a read — here’s her take on her Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood.
Now, I live in a very odd neighborhood. It’s mostly known for being the site of New York Post coverage about NYPD-data-manufactured crimewaves or Citibike theft. But mostly it is a neighborhood of yuppies with strollers and boutique purebred dogs (condos around 11th avenue), single-room occupancy buildings (8th avenue-ish), and old people who have lived here for decades (and their spawns who live with them and eventually inherit the rent control (me)). It is a great neighborhood to be old-as-shit in — seminars about tripping and falling as safely as possible, a pie shop that will sell by-the-slice. But mostly, community. Community that gathers daily to make as much noise as reasonably possible, ostensibly for the essential workers even though it is mostly because the community rooms are likely still closed and thus pinochle hasn’t yet returned. Look, I’ve been to DIY noise shows, I know what it is like to desperately settle for any semblance of community.
Here’s what’s been happening in Hell’s Kitchen this week…
Back in May 2020, we interviewed Brian Keyser, the owner of Casellula Cheese and Wine Café, about his challenges to keep his business open during the pandemic. “My restaurant is my baby — my family — and now I’m thinking of closing it for good” was the story we ran. As Casellula prepared to finally reopen, we caught up for an update. Read here…
If there’s ever been a time to put feet on the ground in Hell’s Kitchen — it’s NOW! We have spent the week squishing spotted lanternflies. In the three weeks since our initial report, they have proliferated in the neighborhood. Please can you circulate our story to your friends (and if you have a message board in your building, please repost). If you watch the video in our report, you will realize why we really need to stomp out this pest.
Hell’s Kitchen woke up this week to a new neighbor. Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady arrived at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal — becoming the first ship to berth at Piers 88/90 since USNS Comfort docked in April 2020 at the height of the pandemic. The Scarlet Lady is here to party — she won’t be taking passengers on a cruise. More here…
However, the initial excitement of seeing a cruise liner back on the Hudson River has dulled. “To have the equivalent of a 60-story sideways skyscraper running for days in our backyard serving as a glorified night scene is horrifying and head-scratching,” says Leslie Boghosian Murphy. Read the Op-Ed here…
Hell’s Kitchen-based mental health non-profit Fountain House is “outraged” and “hurt” by four racist attacks in five weeks on their Fountain House + Body store in SoHo. More here…
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We love Timothée Chalamet even more after finding out he walked to The Met Gala this week. The Hell’s Kitchen guy — even as co-chair of this year’s event — definitely has his feet on the ground!
Clyde Frazier has shuttered his Hell’s Kitchen restaurant. “Thank you for your patronage throughout the years and to ARK Restaurants for creating Clyde Frazier’s Wine and Dine,” he said on Twitter on Tuesday. “The restaurant is permanently closed. It was wonderful ‘meeting and greeting’ with you for over 9 years.” Read more…
Javits Center’s green roof just got even greener, with the completion of a one-acre working farm which is expected to generate up to 40,000 pounds of produce each year. And in true farm-to-table style, the food grown there will find its way into meals created in the conference venue’s on-site kitchens. Read more…
Lin-Manuel Miranda is a master of the art of theatrical timing. His 4pm tweet gathered a crowd by 5pm that was lucky enough to hear Miranda, the cast of Hamilton and other musical show friends sing New York, New York to celebrate the return of Broadway. Enjoy every second of it here…
Hell’s Kitchen gift shop and W42ST reader favorite Delphinium Home is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month — and Broadway reopening nights are bringing a boost to business as congratulations cards fly off the shelves. Read more…
Israeli avante-garde cuisine and high-energy party time return to 10th Avenue in October as chef Eyal Shani opens the door again to HaSalon. In the New Yorker’s June 2019 review, they describe the restaurant’s location as “on a desolate corner in Hell’s Kitchen.” We wonder what they will make of it now being next to the boarded-up Skyline Hotel — which closed after being used as a temporary homeless hotel during the pandemic, and is facing an uncertain future. Read more…
We wished Happy birthday to Esther Mulligan. She was 87 years young this week and is still teaching her water aerobics classes at Manhattan Plaza Health Club. We featured Esther in W42ST’s style issue in September 2016 — she has a fabulous story (and dress sense!).
We encourage you to take a walk below W42nd Street. Photographer Lynnette Blanche has been taking a look at artist Nick Cave’s mosaic installation stretching from Times Square to Bryant Park. Check it out…
Thomas Mansfield captures some lovely images of New York and Hell’s Kitchen. We love this picture of a water tank construction outside his window yesterday. Did you know that any New York building over six stories needs to have a tank? They are typically constructed in less than 24 hours — and to fill them up with 10,000 gallons of water takes around 2-3 hours. They last for around 30 years — and unlike cruise ships are pretty green!
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Mark Fisher Fitness is offering two free workouts at NYC’s friendliest, quirkiest gym! Click here…
What we’ve been reading
Mass bird deaths from collisions with New York buildings raise concerns. (Gizmodo)
Things you wish you’d known about your New York apartment before the move. (Brick Underground)
Skateboarders and fashion take over Pier 76 for Coach show. (New York Times)
Coca-Cola is in short supply in New York because of a delivery driver drought. (Business Insider)
The rundown on the history of 26 Broadway Theaters. (Untapped Cities)
Freeze Frame
Thanks to Marion for this photo.”This is in the parking lot at Manhattan Plaza. I entitled it ‘Schmuck on Wheels’. If I had any say, the driver would pay for both spots!” she said.
If you are looking for something to do today, it’s Manhattan Plaza’s Block Festival on W43rd Street between 9/10th Avenue. The fun starts at 10am and continues through until 5pm. Have a great weekend.
Happy Birthday to Ron Stern.