WEST SIDE STORIES
“I Love the Vitality and the Convenience of Hell’s Kitchen” — Alexa Kelly Shares Her West Side Story
Director, actor and educator Alexa Kelly moved to New York 34 years ago and has put down firm roots in the neighborhood. Tonight she will be on the red carpet as Director of Strings Attached at…
“New York Has a Special Place in My Heart” — Cristina Doikos Shares Her West Side Story
A chance meeting on a bus led filmmaker, actor and writer Cristina Doikos to live in Hell’s Kitchen. She shares her loves, hates and memories of the neighborhood she proudly calls home. So, what’s your New…
Carolyn Maloney: “Hell’s Kitchen is an Incredible Neighborhood — I am Grateful for Growing Support”
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney has passed over 80 measures during her time in the House and has plans to achieve much more. Here’s her West Side Story. So, what’s your New York story? Born here, or…
Suraj Patel: “America is Best When New York Leads — it’s the Greatest City in the World”
Attorney, lecturer on business ethics at NYU and small business leader Suraj Patel worked on both of President Obama’s campaigns and served in the White House as an Advance Associate. Here’s his West Side Story. So, what’s…
Jerry Nadler: “My New York Story Centers Around Fighting Like a New Yorker for New Yorkers”
Jerry Nadler has lived in Manhattan for almost his entire life — but what makes him tick, and what ticks him off? The Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and Congressman representing Hell’s Kitchen shares his West…
“Every Day Feels Like I Just Got Off the Boat” — How Hell’s Kitchen Inspires Artist Marc McBarron Kessler
Artist, composer/playwright Marc McBarron Kessler was born in New Jersey but is “reborn daily in New York City”, where he creates postcards, zines and musical plays. He shares his West Side Story So, what’s your New…
“Hell’s Kitchen Has So Much Character Compared to its Gentrified Neighbors” — Why Layla Law-Gisiko Cares for Her Adopted Home
French-born Layla Law-Gisiko emigrated to New York a quarter of a century ago and has been a member of Manhattan Community Board 5 for the past 17 years. She shares her West Side Story. So, what’s…
“Seeing Home Gives Me Peace” — Chris LeBron Has a Long-Standing Love for the Neighborhood
Born and brought up in Hell’s Kitchen, Chris LeBron returned to the neighborhood in 2015 and began serving on Community Board 4 the following year. Here is Chris’s West Side Story. So, what’s your New York…
A Place with “Strong Community Bonds and Vibrancy” — Why Tony Simone Feels an Affinity with Hell’s Kitchen
A born and bred New Yorker, Tony Simone has lived on the West Side throughout his adult life. Until recently, he was Director of External Affairs for Hudson River Park Friends before turning his attention to…
“Angels in America” and a Letter Opened Up a New World for Todd Sears
It’s now a global LGBTQIA+ diversity firm, but the seeds for Out Leadership were sown on a night at the theater more than 25 years ago. Its CEO and founder, Hell’s Kitchen resident Todd Sears, recalls…
Artist Dana Nehdaran’s Brush with COVID Led to Portrait Painting Passion
Dana Nehdaran is an Iranian Jewish artist living in Hell’s Kitchen. In March 2021, he got COVID and 15 days later had a stroke. As a result, he lost a quarter of his vision. After three days in hospital, his…
“I’ve Got a Lot of Odd Stories to Tell” — David Dean Bottrell on Life in Hell’s Kitchen and Beyond
He’s a familiar face on any number of TV shows, but now David Dean Bottrell is back in his spiritual home of New York City he’s ready to spill the beans in a wide-ranging one-man theater…
“It Happened. I Can’t Believe it” — Why Neighborhood Life is a Dream Come True for Sharon Wheatley
Actor, author and mom Sharon Wheatley originated the role of Diane and others in the Tony Award-winning musical Come From Away and has been in the show ever since. Originally from Ohio, she “married into Hell’s…
“I Wanted to Be in the Thick of It” — Why Photographer Robbie Quinn Loves Living on the West Side
From visiting his avant garde great aunts to performing at CBGB, Robbie Quinn has always considered himself a New Yorker. Now the photographer is settled in Hell’s Kitchen and feels right at home. Here’s Robbie’s West…
“After Giving Birth I was in a Really Dark Place” — Pushing Through Postpartum Founder Rory Cruz Shares Her West Side Story
Hell’s Kitchen has always been a big draw for social worker Rory Cruz. She was born and brought up here, and now lives in the neighborhood with her baby son Joey. But the struggles she had…
Meteorologist Bonnie’s New Book Puts Climate Change and Mental Health in the Spotlight
On-air television meteorologist Bonnie Schneider is a familiar face on TV — and as a Hell’s Kitchen resident, you might have spotted her around the neighborhood too. While some of us were vegging around in sweatpants…
Travis Moser is Happy to Sing the Praises of His Adopted City
“Staying here during the pandemic made me love New York City even more,” says Pennsylvania-born recording, cabaret and concert artist Travis Moser, who loves Hell’s Kitchen. Here’s Travis’s West Side Story… So, what’s your New York…
Stacey Weingarten Reveals Why Hell’s Kitchen is Right Up Her (Sesame) Street
Puppet wrangler Stacey Weingarten is — literally — one of the people behind Elmo and Big Bird, but the pandemic has seen her spread her wings by writing, producing and directing a new family musical about…
Kevin Lustik Threads Art With Yarn, Beads, Buttons, Needles — and Wit
Kevin Lustik spends his days rushing to meet tight deadlines at a large New York law firm. When he gets home he slows down with needlework. “I love the repetition of this work. Pull the needle…
Inspired by “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)” — Ross Avant is Heading to Carnegie Hall
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. On Friday, he debuts at Carnegie Hall. Here’s Ross’s West Side Story. So, what’s your…
“We Still Found a Way to Come Together and Support One Another” — Phantom Star Meghan Picerno Praises Fellow Artists
Meghan Picerno has been playing Christine in The Phantom of the Opera, Broadway’s longest-running show, since before COVID. Now, she’s back in the role, giving credit to the community of artists that made the revival of…
Rock Climbing and Piano Playing Create a Harmonious Life for Personal Trainer Judy Kuan
Judy Kuan talks about her love for the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood — and how she developed her piano playing (mixed with personal training) and discovered a love of rock climbing during the pandemic. So, what’s your…
Aleta LaFargue: “You’ll never take Hell’s Kitchen out of the girl!”
Aleta LaFargue, Hell’s Kitchen native and one of Manhattan Plaza’s first babies, has served as their Tenant President for the past 5 years. She has been an artist, activist and advocate in the community for the…
Hold the Phone — Improv Everywhere’s Charlie Todd is Here to Stay!
A Hell’s Kitchen resident since 2013, this former performer at the Upright Citizens Brigade used his talent to start Improv Everywhere nearly 20 years ago. Since then, he’s brought smiles and surprises to the public. His sense…
Michael Waxes Lyrical About the Neighborhood He Now Calls Home
He may have only recently arrived in Hell’s Kitchen, but Michael William G has really taken the neighborhood to his heart. And pandemic living has inspired a pivot that’s led to him creating his own luxury…
“I’m NEVER Leaving” — Tom’s Long-Standing Love Affair with Hell’s Kitchen
Tom D’Angora is a producer and activist. During the pandemic he and his husband, Michael, with the help of friend Tim Guinee, have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to save places like the West Bank…
“I Love our Neighborhood Spirit” — Why Hell’s Kitchen is Heaven for Priya
She may have only moved to the neighborhood in 2018, but Priya Ahluwalia has taken Hell’s Kitchen to her heart. Here’s Priya’s West Side Story So, what’s your New York story? Born here, or just arrived?I…
Why Foodie Maria is Proud to Have Spent a Lifetime in the Kitchen
Social Worker and community activist Maria Ortiz has lived in and around Hell’s Kitchen for most of her life so she’s certainly got a taste for the place — maybe that’s why she loves the food…
Why Photographer Robin Loves This “Small Neighborhood in a Big City”
The pandemic has helped photographer Robin Riley to rediscover her love for the work that brought her to New York City in the first place. Here’s her West Side Story So, what’s your New York story?…
Christine Berthet — a Persistent Voice Above the Hell’s Kitchen Traffic
Hell’s Kitchen activist Christine Berthet describes herself as “persistent.” Since landing in New York from France just over 40 years ago, she has fought to reclaim 9th Avenue from “the hellish Lincoln Tunnel traffic”. For the…
Great Vibe and Community — Why Juli Loves to Live in Hell
As Founder and Professional Organizer of OrganizeNY, Juli Oliver is probably one of the most together people in Hell’s Kitchen — but her early days in the neighborhood were a little rocky. Here’s Juli’s West Side…
Variety is the Spice of Neighborhood Life for Chef Christopher
What are the ingredients that make Hell’s Kitchen such a tasty dish for Chef Christopher Motta? “Its style… character… the history… and the food and all the bars are a huge plus!” he says. Christopher shares…
Why Real-Time Illustrator Tracey was Drawn to the Neighborhood
Tracey Kleinman Berglund draws pictures in real-time, visualizing what speakers like Bill Clinton and Melinda Gates are talking about. She’s live-illustrated everything from events about robotics to peacekeeping to focus groups on making tastier sausage products.…
Keri is Baking and Connecting with her Abstract Tarts
You might know Keri Jordan-Leander from her baking at Kahve or her Abstract Tart stand at local food festivals. She also wrote for W42ST on Juneteenth last year about what she had learned about racism from…
“I Packed My Bag with a Tennis Racquet, Jeans and 2 T-Shirts. Hey, I’m Going to New York” — Bini is a Happy Refugee, 22 Years Later
Shkumbin ‘Bini’ Mustafa came to New York in 1999, as an ethnic Albanian Muslim refugee from Kosovo. He had heard from a friend that the United States would allow in 20,000 immigrants seeking escape from war-torn…
“Life’s Not Fair” — but Lion King’s Scar is Surviving the Pandemic
Actor Stephen Carlile plays Scar, the loathsome baddie in The Lion King. His opening line in the hit musical — “Life’s not fair” — is a phrase of our times. Stephen is making the most of…
Capturing a flavor of “Worst Cooks” contestant Jonathan
You might have seen Jonathan Hanna on the current season of “Worst Cooks in America” on the Food Channel, or the 2019 season of “Dating Around” on Netflix — or maybe you recognize his distinctive mustache…
Patrick’s Hell’s Kitchen Book Club
Patrick Key is a non-profit fundraiser by day, and an avid book reader by night. His claim to fame is being on The Oprah Show for her book club. Patrick’s Instagram account has been our publisher’s…
Karin Schall Chalking Her Outrage
Karin Schall is the person chalking up Hell’s Kitchen sidewalks with messages about masks, voting, staying home, and democracy. She says that her superpower is her “outrage”. Read on for Karin’s West Side Story. So, what’s…