WEST SIDE STORIES
“Hell’s Kitchen has Always Felt Like Home” — Marie Gabrielle Shares Her West Side Story
Musician and actress Marie Gabrielle is New York born and bred — and the founder of a non-profit empowering young girls and women to play the guitar. This is her West Side Story. So, what’s your…
“I So Enjoy Having All of NYC at My Disposal, Anytime, Any Season” — Steve Warren Shares His West Side Story
Radio broadcaster Steve Warren arrived in New York in the 1970s and has lived in Hell’s Kitchen since 1999 — you’ll often find him food shopping or eating out on 9th Avenue! This is Steve’s West…
“I Love the Raucous and Libidinous Hell’s Kitchen” — Author Dale Corvino Shares His West Side Story
Author and sales rep Dale Corvino moved to Hell’s Kitchen in 2010 and feels right at home in this “noisy and convenient” neighborhood. Here is Dale’s West Side Story. So, what’s your New York story? Born…
New York is the Muse for Hell’s Kitchen Artist Jo Mar — Here’s His West Side Story
Colombian-born artist Jo Mar has lived in Hell’s Kitchen for the past 10 years — you might have seen his “Street Commotions” on the wall at FLEX. This is Jo’s West Side Story. So, what’s your…
“I Love Being Immediately Swept into the River of Humanity” — Susie Mosher’s West Side Story
New York felt like the Emerald City to musical theater actor Susie Mosher — and it worked its magic for this Broadway performer, who can be seen in her own show each week at Birdland. This…
“This Neighborhood is Home Now and It Always Will Be” — Why Tap Dancer Cesare Vangeli Took Steps to Stay in Hell’s Kitchen
Cesare Vangeli has lived in the neighborhood for four years, but his love affair with Hell’s Kitchen has gone on for much longer. The Italian tap dancer and chef combines his two passions in Foodance. This…
Food Critic Ryan Sutton Finds Plenty to Love About the International Cuisine of Hell’s Kitchen
Meet Ryan Sutton, the camera-shy critic who launched his own food media site after layoffs eliminated his job at Eater, all while teaching at CUNY and exploring the Hell’s Kitchen culinary landscape. This is his West…
“Every Time I Come Back to Hell’s Kitchen, It Just Feels Like Home” — Jesse Rodriguez Shares His West Side Story
Jesse Rodriguez is Vice President of Booking & Editorial for MSNBC and a familiar face around Hell’s Kitchen – he’s lived here for almost 17 years, after all! This is Jesse’s West Side Story. So, what’s…
“I Love Living on the Same Street as the Brill Building” — Why Hell’s Kitchen is Music to the Ears of Meredith Benson
Theatrical dresser and costume designer Meredith Benson has lived in the same Hell’s Kitchen apartment for over 20 years — and worked on Broadway productions for 19 of them. She is also a huge fan of…
“It Feels Like Home and I’m Grateful to Live Here Every Day” — Lauren Cagnetta Shares Their West Side Story
“Pink Person” Lauren Cagnetta arrived in New York for a college internship and fell in love with the city — and Hell’s Kitchen in particular. The multi-hyphenate performer and dance teacher is also the proud co-owner…
“I Tell Everyone That This is Just a Small Town in The Big City” — Joe Sallabi Shares His West Side Story
Comedy show producer — and familiar face at Rudy’s Bar & Grill — Joe Sallabi started coming to Hell’s Kitchen in the 1980s, and now is proud to live and work in the neighborhood. This is…
Love, Laughs and Dracula: How Drew & Dane Turned Their Hell’s Kitchen Romance into a West Side Story with Bite!
Independent theatre producers Drew Desky & Dane Levens met on a dating website but their relationship bloomed when they moved in together in Hell’s Kitchen. They’re currently leading their first show into NYC, Dracula, A Comedy…
“I Love Hell’s Kitchen So Much that I Named Myself Based On It” — Shellz Kitchen Shares His West Side Story
Sheldon Todman is better known as Shellz Kitchen, a visual artist who spends time documenting the neighborhood, interviewing people and preserving the memories of stores, restaurants and places that are no longer in Hell’s Kitchen while…
“New York City Made a Huge Impression on My Nine-Year-Old Psyche” — Joel Cadman Shares His West Side Story
A painter, sculptor and page designer/art director at the Wall Street Journal, Joel Cadman arrived in the neighborhood “when Hell’s Kitchen had more of the original ‘Hell’ in it”. This is Joel’s West Side Story. So,…
“We Celebrate What is Good About Life and Community Here” — Anita Hollander Shares Her West Side Story
Hell’s Kitchen actor, singer, composer, director and teacher Anita Hollander lost her leg to cancer in 1982 and moved to NYC the following year — where she has made it her goal to promote greater inclusion, accessibility…
“I’ve Loved Hell’s Kitchen Ever Since I was a Little Kid and was Told to be VERY Careful Around Here” — Max von Essen’s West Side Story
Professional actor and singer Max von Essen has lived in Hell’s Kitchen since 2005 — “I’m probably happiest when I’m in a Broadway show and get to walk to work,” he says. This is Max’s West…
“I Love Exploring My Neighborhood and Making New Friends” — Rafi Fuentes Shares His West Side Story
New York-born actor, singer, songwriter and podcaster Rafi Fuentes loves the ever-changing face of Hell’s Kitchen. This is his West Side Story. So, what’s your New York story? Born here, or just arrived?I was born in…
“Every Day is an Adventure and the Possibilities are Boundless” — Jessica Chen Shares Her West Side Story
Professional choreographer and director Jessica Chen arrived in New York as a student at the Ailey School and never left! Hell’s Kitchen “has been my home, safe space and HQ ever since,” she says. This is…
“It’s a Melting Pot of Different Types of People” — Why Hell’s Kitchen is a Knockout for Boxer Christina Cruz
Professional boxer Christina Cruz, known as “The Hell’s Kitchen Kid”, was born and raised in the neighborhood. She racked up a closetful of titles, awards and wins in her amateur career — and that success has…
“Hell’s Kitchen is a Beautiful Little Gem in the Middle of Manhattan” — Steven Herring Shares His West Side Story
Professional musician Steven Herring is the Founder and Executive Director of arts education nonprofit The Living Arts Collaborative and has lived in Hell’s Kitchen for almost 20 years. This is Steven’s West Side Story. So, what’s…
“Hell’s Kitchen has Residents that Truly Care About Our Community” — Trash Queen Catie Savage shares her West Side Story
Catie Savage has lived in New York for more than half of her life — with pretty much all of that time spent in Hell’s Kitchen. She’s best known as the neighborhood’s “Trash Queen”, leading her…
“I Am So Glad We Found Our Way Here All Those Years Ago” — How Hell’s Kitchen Inspires Artist Gwyneth Leech
The noise, bustle and inconvenience of construction is all around us in Hell’s Kitchen – and it has proved an inspiration to neighborhood artist Gwyneth Leech. Here, Gwyneth shares her West Side Story. So, what’s your…
“Hell’s Kitchen is The Best of New York All in One Place” — Sean Coughlin’s West Side Story
Hell’s Kitchen has been a constant for Sean Coughlin since 2009, from his days waiting on tables at 44&X through his time working for Council Members Corey Johnson and Erik Bottcher. Sean shares his West Side…
“You Live in the Center of Everything” — Yvonna Russell Shares Her West Side Story
Author and journalist Yvonna Russell started out as an aspiring actress. She loves living in Hell’s Kitchen and enjoys being at the heart of everything. This is Yvonna’s West Side Story. So, what’s your New York…
“We Consider Ourselves Very Lucky to Live Here” — Wine Guys Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen Raise a Glass to Hell’s Kitchen
Retired medical professionals Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen have lived in Hell’s Kitchen together for 26 years. They write together too and are the authors of six wine and cookbooks. Let’s raise a glass as the…
“A Colorful Neighborhood with the Right Mix of Grit and Glam” — Bobby Hold Weighs in on the West Side
Author and weight management senior physician assistant Bobby Hold has lived in Hell’s Kitchen for 10 years. He loves the neighborhood for its color, nightlife and open spaces, among other things. This is Bobby’s West Side…
“Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop Seeing All I Can See” — Curious Tourist Damon Webster Shares His West Side Story
New Yorker Damon Webster returned to his home city 10 years ago and settled into Hell’s Kitchen. “The neighborhood that was a ‘never go’ when I was a kid has become a solid home,” says the…
“People Here are a Little More Real, No Pretenses” — Vicky Kuperman’s West Side Story
Stand-up comedian Vicky Kuperman took a circuitous route to arrive in Hell’s Kitchen in 2001, but she’s been here ever since and can’t imagine living anywhere else. This is Vicky’s West Side Story. So, what’s your…
“When You Live in Manhattan, the World Comes to You” — Victor Colicchio shares his West Side Story
Actor and screenwriter Victor Colicchio has lived in Hell’s Kitchen since the neighborhood was “too hot to handle for most people”. His West Side Story includes the last Times Square apple drop and appearing on stage…
“I’m All Ears for Spreading Joy!” — Why Crocheter Judy Xu Is Hooked on Hell’s Kitchen
Judy Xu is Senior Consultant for a global multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate, but in Hell’s Kitchen, she’s best known as someone who likes to surprise local businesses with the gift of one of her…
From Yappy Hours at Worldwide Plaza to Hallelujah Moments in Times Square — Gwyn McAllister’s West Side Story
Gwyn McAllister, a native New Yorker, shares her West Side Story: from her first job at McDonald’s to becoming a produced playwright, her love for Hell’s Kitchen, and her antics in Times Square. Join her and…
Dancing Through Life in Hell’s Kitchen: Elizabeth McPherson’s West Side Story
Elizabeth McPherson talks about her career in dance and education while sharing some great Hell’s Kitchen favorite places — including her home at Manhattan Plaza — in her West Side Story. So, what’s your New York…
“I had a Feeling I Would Like New York, but I Didn’t Know How Quickly I Would Fall in Love With It” — Tim McNicholas Shares His West Side Story
He has only been in Hell’s Kitchen for nine months — but if Tim McNicholas looks familiar, it’s because he works as an investigative news reporter for CBS New York! This is Tim’s West Side Story.…
“I Came to NYC to Follow My Dreams of Being a Guitarist in Manhattan” — Eliane Delage Shares Her West Side Story
Almost 30 years ago, Brazilian musician Eliane Delage arrived in NYC with no instrument, no money and not speaking the language. Now she lives in Hell’s Kitchen, and you’ll find her performing, teaching, and leading guitar…
“The Trees Got Me to Hell’s Kitchen, but the Community that I Discovered Here has Kept Me Rooted” — Christine Gorman’s West Side Story
President of Hell’s Kitchen Democrats and the W55th Street Block Association, Christine Gorman, waited nine years before finding her perfect apartment in the neighborhood. The former teacher and science journalist shares her West Side Story. So,…
“There’s a Familiarity and Sense of Community Everywhere I Go” — Rich Braaten’s Story of Love, Laughter and Life in Hell’s Kitchen
Rich Braaten is an executive coach and Hell’s Kitchen local, whose journey from Buffalo to the Big Apple encompasses a love for Broadway, his tight-knit neighborhood, his daughters, his husband and shorkie Dior. This is Rich’s…
From Indiana to Manhattan Plaza: Jill Slaymaker’s Artistic Journey Through the Colors of Hell’s Kitchen
Meet Jill Slaymaker: an Indiana transplant turned beloved Hell’s Kitchen local. An artist and teacher — Jill’s life in Manhattan Plaza offers a blend of art, community, favorite local eateries and a health club just an…
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…