Greetings and elbow bumps from the W42ST bunker.
So thanks for joining us. Every day, we’re going to say hi through your inbox, and bring you what we hope will be light relief, helpful hacks, and other stuff we haven’t really decided on, because we’re flying by the seat of our pants here. What we do know is that we need human connection more than ever in these socially isolated times. Let’s survive the zombie apocalypse together.
This is a one-off mailing of this daily newsletter to Ruth’s weekly list. After today, we will revert to sending you just one email a week …. UNLESS you head to W42ST.com now and subscribe. If you did that on Friday, thank you 🙂 Tell your friends!
After yesterday’s email, Luisa at Domus texted me a video. In Naples, people are going out on their balcony in the evening to sing and feel connected. Look and listen – it brought a tear to my eye.
As a child, I lived near Liverpool’s football ground – Anfield. In the evenings before a big soccer match a section of the ground called The Kop spontaneously sang “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. It was the anthem of the club, a childhood memory and was a tune of solace when 96 fans died in a stadium disaster at Hillsborough, Sheffield. It was many years later I found out that “You’ll Never Walk Alone” was a song from Carousel that premiered on Broadway in 1945 – 20 years before the UK pop hit for Gerry and the Pacemakers.
Tonight at 7pm, I will be opening a window, climbing on a fire escape, or finding a friend’s balcony to play “You’ll Never Walk Alone” on Spotify and sing at the top of my voice. Will you join me? Tell your friends – I know there are some great singers in Hell’s Kitchen who will be looking for something to do.
I’M A HALF FULL PERSON – YOU?
Are you like me – wondering to stay home, or go out? I’m torn between “being safe” and supporting local business as much as possible.
The city’s guidance on bars and restaurants remaining open, but at 50% capacity, is a good solution. It keeps the wheels turning, and it makes us feel very conscious of the challenges that our local businesses face now and in the near future. I wandered around for a couple of hours last night and there was a very healthy calm. Delicious food at Giardino 54 and Tequila Cocktails at ‘Ritas. Friday night felt like Tuesday night – but half full is so much better than totally empty.
ANY IDEAS?
Ruth and I are making this up as we go along. We want to help Hell’s Kitchen feel connected. What ideas have you got? Please do email. Set up that virtual coffee – I have two in the book for next week already.
I will leave you with your song sheet. See you tomorrow (and hear you tonight!)
You’ll Never Walk Alone
Rodgers & Hammerstein
When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark
At the end of a storm
There’s a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark
Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone
You’ll never walk alone
Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone
You’ll never walk alone
