WEST SIDE STORIES
From Snowstorms to Sondheim: Sean Patrick Murtagh’s Love Affair with Hell’s Kitchen
From Sean Patrick’s first margarita at Blockheads to unforgettable shows at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, join him on a nostalgic journey through Hell’s Kitchen as he prepares to leave the neighborhood and head to LA. This…
Memorial Day Tribute: “Hold Your Loved Ones Tight and Always Live in the Moment,” Cera Zittlow Remembers Marine Husband John Tohm’s Life and Love for Hell’s Kitchen
Cera Zittlow moved to Hell’s Kitchen with her Marine husband John Tohm in 2017 and the couple immediately took the neighborhood to their hearts. In August 2021, just a few days into his retirement, and after a…
“It’s an Eclectic Neighborhood and It’s Been a Wonder to Watch It Grow” — Bernie Telsey Shares his West Side Story
Co-Artistic Director of MCC Theater, Bernie Telsey has lived in Hell’s Kitchen since 1980 — “It’s in the middle of everything,” he says. This is Bernie’s West Side Story. So, what’s your New York story? Born…
“Not Knowing What to Expect When I Walk Out the Door is Constantly Invigorating” — Jenny Clarke’s West Side Story
Brit Jenny Clarke came to Hell’s Kitchen for three months – and has stayed for over 30 years! She is founder of the Melodia Women’s Choir and Executive Director of the National Flute Association. This is…
“I Knew Exactly Where I Wanted to Be” — Kristin McCollum’s West Side Story
Improv is life for Kristin McCollum, who is a recent arrival in Hell’s Kitchen but feels right at home here — and shares that love as a tour guide for the Transit Museum and Radio City…
“I Love How Diverse and Dynamic the Neighborhood is” — New York Mickey’s West Side Story
Content creator Dr Michal Samuni-Blank is known to her social media followers as New York Mickey, “covering NYC with ADHD” and offering tips to locals and visitors about the city she calls home and her favorite…
“Almost Everything You Could Ever Want to Do, Right at Your Fingertips” — Annemieke de Keijzer’s West Side Story
Global communications expert Annemieke de Keijzer is originally from The Netherlands but made her home in Hell’s Kitchen eight years ago. This is Annemieke’s West Side Story. So, what’s your New York story? Born here, or…
“It’s a Dream I Never Had the Good Sense to Have, and It Came True” — Pamela Milam’s West Side Story
Texan Pamela Milam helps choose great reads for book clubs nationwide. She loves living in Hell’s Kitchen – “It’s the best of both worlds.” This is Pamela’s West Side Story. So, what’s your New York story?…
“I Think It’s a Charming Neighborhood” — Wesley Pedroso’s West Side Story
Lawyer-turned-social media manager Wesley Pedroso moved from Brazil to Hell’s Kitchen in 2019 and has fallen for the neighborhood —“I love the sense of community and the local businesses,” he says. This is Wesley’s West Side…
“More Than Anything I LOVE Where I Live” — Ryan Brodsky Shares His West Side Story
Ryan Brodsky has now retired from the world of finance, and he and his dog Quarter are often to be found exploring the streets of Hell’s Kitchen or at Astro’s Dog Run. This is Ryan’s West…
“Hell’s Kitchen Wears Its Hardships and Its Battle Scars Well” — Jim Lahey Shares His West Side Story
Baker Jim Lahey is a familiar face around Hell’s Kitchen, and his award-winning Sullivan Street Bakery is a firm favorite in the neighborhood. This is Jim’s West Side Story. So, what’s your New York story? Born…
“Core Decency that Defines America is Represented Every Day in New York City” — Tom Fervoy’s West Side Story
Director of marketing and communications Tom Fervoy has been in Hell’s Kitchen since the 1980s, when he was a regular on All My Children. Tom’s West Side Story includes an encounter with Whitney Houston… So, what’s…
“I Get Along with Everyone, No Matter Who They Are” — Deborah Heard Shares Her West Side Story
Deborah Heard is a familiar, smiling face around Hell’s Kitchen with her dogs Max and Princess — and often with an extra pup she’s dog sitting. Here’s her West Side Story… So, what’s your New York…
“Being Close to Many Theaters is Definitely a Perk” — Seth Bisen-Hersh Shares His West Side Story
Award-winning composer/lyricist and professional pianist Seth Bisen-Hersh definitely feels in tune with Hell’s Kitchen — “I love the energy on the streets,” he says. This is Seth’s West Side Story. So, what’s your New York story?…
“New Yorkers, Wherever They Come From, Might Be the Real Asset of New York” — Stephane Toullieux’s West Side Story
Stephane Toullieux owns a Paris-based fund management company and also hosts the Mega Tendances podcast, “commuting” to his apartment in Hell’s Kitchen several times a year. This is Stephane’s West Side Story. So, what’s your New…
“Living in Hell’s Kitchen Can Make New York Feel Less Imposing and Isolating” — Brian Mastroianni’s West Side Story
Freelance health and science reporter (and aspiring actor) Brian Mastroianni has lived in Hell’s Kitchen for nine years and loves the neighborhood’s “unmistakable identity”. This is Brian’s West Side Story. So, what’s your New York story?…
“Hell’s Kitchen has a Positive Outlook of Welcoming Willingness” — Jamie Fowler’s West Side Story
Jamie Fowler is getting ready for a “lane change” in her career, but a move from Hell’s Kitchen is not on the agenda — “it’s my favorite place” — she even has her own plot in…
“Hell’s Kitchen is a Good Bet When You’re Hungry for Margaritas and Fun” — Elizabeth Young’s West Side Story
History and culture walking tour guide Elizabeth Young arrived in NYC in the mid-1990s — and never left. She feels right at home in “visitor’s paradise” Hell’s Kitchen and has a very special reason to love…
“Hell’s Kitchen has such a wonderful mix of humans” — Gabriel Formento Lauro Shares His West Side Story
Italian-born designer Gabriel Formento Lauro has lived in Hell’s Kitchen for 20 years. He created Fresh from Hell with his partner, Bryan Ware, “born from our love of healthy food.” This is Gabriel’s West Side Story.…
Be The Good with Kate as She Shares Her West Side Story
New Jersey-born actor, singer, dancer and host of the Be The Good with Kate podcast, Kate Cherichello has lived in Hell’s Kitchen for a dozen years. This is her West Side Story. So, what’s your New York…
“Being in New York Had Been Such a High and Then… Bam” — Julia Schade Shares Her West Side Story
Julia Schade is the Music Director for SIX on Broadway and a Hell’s Kitchen resident. In a moving West Side Story, she opens up about her struggles with depression and addiction — and why November 9…
“Hell’s Kitchen Feels Like a Neighborhood and a Community” — Anthony Colon’s West Side Story
Anthony Colon’s lifelong dream of living in Hell’s Kitchen came true in 2020. He’s the manager of ticketing and audience services for The New Group, but you might also recognize him from Casellula and The Meatball…
“There are Memories on Every Corner” — Kevin Del Aguila Shares His West Side Story
Kevin Del Aguila is a man of many talents. A longtime Hell’s Kitchen resident, Kevin currently stars in Broadway’s Some Like it Hot — while down the block, his show Dog Man: The Musical plays at…
“Something About the City and Neighborhood Just Won’t Let Me Leave” — Lena Grotticelli’s West Side Story
Lena Grotticelli is a Senior Editor for TAG24.com. She has lived in Hell’s Kitchen for more than 10 years – and is happy to share some neat hacks for cut-price Broadway tickets. This is Lena’s West…
“The Area is Just Constantly Surprising” — Amy Fusselman Shares Her West Side Story
Author Amy Fusselman has lived in Hell’s Kitchen for over 20 years and still marvels at the neighborhood’s versatility — “You can never predict what’s going to appear,” she says. This is Amy’s West Side Story.…
“I Run into People Nearly Every Day Who have Known Me Since I was a Small Child” — Nicole Wilson’s West Side Story
Award-winning photographer, artist and creative director Nicole Wilson was born and raised in Hell’s Kitchen and grew up in Manhattan Plaza alongside Alicia Keys. Here’s Nicole’s West Side Story. So, what’s your New York story? Born…
“Convenience, Food, Wonderful Neighbors… Did I Mention Convenience?” — Why Michael D’Angora Loves Hell’s Kitchen
Michael D’Angora’s first job was at the TKTS booth — now he is a producer, and during the pandemic he and husband Tom raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to save West Bank Cafe, Birdland and…
“I Love Being Able to Interact with People From All Around the World” — Anna Pakman’s West Side Story
Anna Pakman runs digital for “I LOVE NY” and the state economic development agency and moonlights as an independent film producer. She’s lived in Hell’s Kitchen for nearly 20 years. This is Anna’s West Side Story.…
“Hell’s Kitchen is the First Time I’ve Felt Like I Have a Home” —Diana Kusko’s West Side Story
Diana Kusko is an advisor on senior living who moved to the neighborhood 12 years ago — “it just feels right,” she says. Diana is W42ST’s former dating columnist and a keen scuba diver. This is…
“Hudson River Sunsets Affect My Soul So Deeply and Profoundly” — Nelson Christopher Ala’s West Side Story
Nelson Christopher Ala arrived in NYC as a rock ’n’ roll guitarist. The freelance photographer based in Hell’s Kitchen shares his West Side Story, including his love for the city, his favorite places in the neighborhood,…
“It’s a Place Where Everybody Knows Everybody and is Somehow Connected” — Joe Restuccia’s West Side Story
He describes himself as a “brand-new resident” of Hell’s Kitchen, but Joe Restuccia is a neighborhood housing, historic preservation and community advocate who has been firmly planted here since 1979. Over four decades with the Clinton…
“The Vibrancy of NYC Truly Gives Me Energy” — Rebeka Getty’s West Side Story
NYC For Free founder Rebeka Getty was excited to move to Hell’s Kitchen in 2020 and feels right at home because of the neighborhood’s food, diversity — and proximity to Broadway! This is Rebeka’s West Side…
“I Don’t Care What Race You Are, Just if You Are a Good Person” — Raymond Goynes Shares his West Side Story
He once lived in a refrigerator box on the streets of Hell’s Kitchen, but meeting a neighborhood dog and her owner changed Raymond Goynes’ life. “I love the people in this area,” he says. This is…
“It’s Vibrant, It’s Loud… Not Just the Lincoln Tunnel Traffic!” — Mirjana’s West Side Story
Mirjana Vicari is a New Yorker born and raised, who moved to Hell’s Kitchen 12 years ago. You’ll see her around the neighborhood with an assortment of four-legged furry friends, because she’s best known as Tilly’s…
“A Wonderful Community, Full of So Much Diversity” — Hell’s Kitchen Fan Chris Henry Coffey’s West Side Story
Actor and “unofficial mudlarker of the Hudson” Chris Henry Coffey has lived in Hell’s Kitchen for nine years, after arriving in NYC from Wisconsin in the mid-1990s. This is his West Side Story. So, what’s your…
“Our Hearts were Completely Changed” — Sarah Mills Shares Her West Side Story
Sarah Mills, director of neighborhood outreach OneCo and mom, moved to Hell’s Kitchen in 2016. The neighborhood, Macy’s and Broadway hold special places in her heart — here is Sarah’s West Side Story. So, what’s your…
“There’s a Sense of Pride in Our Community” — Gino Hawley’s West Side Story
Texan-born marketing strategist Gino Hawley has lived in Hell’s Kitchen for around 14 years — “It offers the best of both worlds,” he says. This is Gino’s West Side Story. So, what’s your New York story?…
“I Think This Neighborhood is Criminally Underrated” — Jeremiah Johnson’s West Side Story
Founder of the Center for New Liberalism and kidney donor, Jeremiah Johnson has lived in Hell’s Kitchen for the past 11 years and describes the neighborhood as his “favorite place in the city”. This is Jeremiah’s…
“I Love the Diversity, the Melting Pot that is Our Neighborhood” — Christopher Harrison’s West Side Story
Father of Aerial Yoga and Segway chauffeur to his dog, Newton, Christopher Harrison arrived in Hell’s Kitchen from Utah in the mid-1980s — and never left. Christopher shares his West Side Story. So, what’s your New…