Welcome to the weekend. Looking out the window it’s rainy, misty — and the phone tells us that it will be 65 degrees at 9pm tonight. Just a typical December Saturday!
We’re just over halfway through the W42ST Best of Awards 2021 (sponsored by Wells Fargo and supported by HYHK Alliance and The Durst Organization). It’s been enormous fun seeing the surprise of the faces of the winners and the genuine delight of the runners up who have worked hard during the pandemic for their Hell’s Kitchen clients. Just look at the happy faces of Mirjana at Tilly’s Walks, the team at Nam’s Nails, along with Maya and Jim at Sullivan Street Bakery.
Yesterday, Manhattan Plaza Health Club won the Best Place to Work Out for a second year. Read more here (along with the list of runners up and shortlisted businesses).
Here’s the rest of what’s been happening in Hell’s Kitchen this week — plus some more award winners.
Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club is back up and fully operational after their bubble dramatically collapsed last week.
Hell’s Kitchen heroes Steve Kaufman and Enzo Santoro bade farewell to their 9th Avenue pharmacy after 37 years with tears, flowers and cookies. More here…
When thirteen-year-old Ross Avant first heard Sir Elton John’s Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting) he was inspired to teach himself piano. Last night, he had his debut concert at Carnegie Hall. Here’s Ross’s West Side Story…
The right to clean air and water, and to a healthful environment may be a recent addition to the state’s constitution, but the issue of idling vehicles has been around for years. Now Community Board 4 is demanding that the Department of Environmental Protection increase the fines imposed for idling — currently seen by the big-name offenders as “a cost of doing business”. More here…
On Tuesday evening, we presented our first award to the Best Newcomer. Check out who won and who were runners up according to the W42ST readers’ votes. Full list here…
You better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I’m telling you why
SantaCon is coming to town
The pandemic meant that SantaCon had a year off in 2020 — but at 10am today it takes to the streets of New York again. It’s heading to Hell’s Kitchen. Will you be joining in or avoiding? Details here…
We were guests at the Irish Arts Center on Wednesday evening as the new building opened on 11th Avenue with a ribbon-cutting on a “Poetry Staircase” and a musical performance by Camille O’Sullivan. More here…
Amy’s Bread was voted Best Coffee Shop in Hell’s Kitchen. We sat down with Amy for an interview too. Read more and find out who were the runners up here…
As Hell’s Kitchen emerges from the doom and gloom of the pandemic, the streets of the neighborhood are coming alive with holiday light displays created by businesses, homeowners and block associations. Which ones are your favorites? Here’s our selection…
Our shortlist of Best Service Providers included a real estate broker, a dog walker and a personal organizer — but the competition became Hell’s Kitchen hot when readers voted for how they look and feel. Hair salons and nail spas were fighting it out.
Congratulations to Maria Lanza and David Ryan Salon for their award. More details here…
What we’ve been reading
Indoor mask mandate gets a mixed reaction in New York. (NY1)
Hell’s Kitchen’s newcomers Three Roosters and Jasmine’s Caribbean feature in Ryan Sutton’s best dishes of 2021. (Eater)
Non-citizens may soon be able to vote in New York elections… (Gothamist)
Cheesecake is off the menu at Junior’s as cream cheese stocks dwindle. (New York Post)
Make the Yuletide gay with your movie choices this holiday season. (Vulture)
Freeze Frame
We missed Cybert Tires in our holiday lights round up this week. That’s been put right now, as they continue to light up Hell’s Kitchen with their imaginative seasonal displays on W52nd Street between 10/11th Avenue.
Happy Birthday this weekend to Andy Smith and Mykel C Smith.