W42ST Daily 3/29/2020 - The games people play...

The ways we stay connected to friends and family has helped to keep anxiety at bay and helped us feel more connected. I’ve been spending more time in the Zoom Room of late. I know, you are asking “what the hell is that?”. Well my GF, Gwen, spends her life in such places. She’s a consultant who has worked from home for many years – and she’s got it down on handling back to back video meetings on the laptop with the magic of Zoom (and in particular the rooms).

This expertise came in handy last night when we wanted to play our favorite dice game, Perudo, with our buddy, Joe, over in Stuy Town. Hooking up the laptop on the top of a box, on top of a high top chair, angled with a book got us the table view. But how to get the “reveal”? We worked it out. Our phones dialed in to “the room”, we balanced them between two glasses on the table – et voila!

What’s your favorite use of video tech been so far? How are you staying connected?

WHAT WE’VE BEEN READING
Hell’s Kitchener Alicia Keys remembers her childhood in the ‘hood in her new autobiography. More here…

Seems like we are not welcome in the Hamptons (although who’s got $8,000 to blow on a Citarella shop anyway!?) More here…

The Empire State Building has a new light show – but we can’t get out to see it! Have you got a room with a view? Send pics 📸Light up here…

We never turn down the chance to look at Edward Hopper paintings! More here…

Are those delivery packages safe – read on, this is reassuring. (HT to Karen). More here…

Use these tips to reduce your stress levels. De-stress here…

SHARE WITH A FRIEND
If this newsletter has brought you some light relief, helped you feel more connected to your community, or informed you in some way, please tell your friends, and ask them to subscribe. Isolation doesn’t have to feel lonely. We see you, Hell’s Kitchen!

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IT WAS ONLY A WEEK AGO…
It seems like forever sinee I cycled around the neighborhood making short video interviews with local business owners. Here are some messages that we didn’t get around to publishing last week. I hope these neighborhood faces will bring you a smile. Say hi to Ray at Red Poke, Oscar at Fresh from Hell, Michael from Delphinium Home and Red from Redink Tattoo Studio.

The good news is, that we are seeing more businesses opening up again for food delivery. The Landmark Tavern is open again on 11th Avenue (and they’ve got Guinness). And our friends at Taladwat (who when they initially closed put all their food outside on tables for locals to take) are back in business. Please support them, if you can. Picking up the telephone is often best for these businesses. Remember Seamless/Grubhub and others take a high percentage of the money you pay!

WHAM!
As one eagle eyed reader spotted yesterday – this GIF was indeed from Wham!’s single “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” (and not “Edge of Heaven”). Thank you for giving us the opportunity to publish this GIF again. Any other reader got a reason for continuing to keep this image of Wham! as the sign off to of our daily newsletter?