w42st
ISSUE 05 APRIL
GO HELL'S
KITCHEN!
INSIDE: How HK keeps yellow cabs on the road, digging the dirt on the daily commute, the horse and carriage debate, turning tragedy to creativity at Ars Nova, test-bouncing NYC's hottest new workout; PLUS: Arts news, food & drink, property gossip, fashion, lifestyle ... and dogs!
CONTENTS April Edition COMMUNITY 7 NUMBERS GAME
How many CitiBike stations are in the neighborhood? What does Intrepid weigh? How many people plow through Port Authority every day? Go on, ask us another ... we’ve got your number.
8 ON THE MAKE How do you commute? Chances are you travel by bike, car, subway, ferry or bus. From manspreaders to the crapshoot of the subway to CitiBiking in all weathers – we get the inside info on how Hell’s Kitchen gets moving (p20). In this issue you can also find out the fast facts on the debate to ban horses and carriages from the city (p14), get under the hood of yellow cabs (p30) and try NYC’s hottest new workout (p58). W42ST is a start-up business. We need your support. If after reading about a service or business in the magazine or on our social media, you give them a try, please make sure they know. Telling them face-to-face is good – or on social media please use the #W42STSENTME hashtag. THE TEAM THAT BROUGHT YOU W42ST PUBLISHER PHIL O’BRIEN phil@w42st.com (646) 535-4407
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SIMON KIRRANE simon@w42st.com (646) 535-1159
EDITOR RUTH WALKER ruth@w42st.com (646) 847-9645
SENIOR ART EDITOR LEE CAPLE
OPERATIONS MANAGER CAROLINA PAULINO (646) 828-7813
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR SANDRA MANGAN sandra@w42st.com
NEW BUSINESS DIRECTOR JEREMY KAPLAN jeremy@w42st.com (646) 820-2753
PHOTOGRAPHER DAVE MACK
CONTRIBUTOR CIERA COYAN
PHOTOGRAPHER ORTAL MIZRAHI
CONTRIBUTOR DR TAMA LANE
PHOTOGRAPHER GRAHAM TROTT
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR HILLARY REEVES
CONTRIBUTOR IAN TD SMITH
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be used without written permission of the publisher ©2015. Please note: Every effort has been made to avoid errors, misspellings, and omissions in this publication. However, if you spot one please accept our sincere apologies.
Hell’s Kitchen is getting crafty ... with a little help from Mr Wine and Mr Beer.
9 STYLISH NEIGHBORS
How Coach sashayed onto the catwalk and into the new season. Plus: sending superheroes out on the road.
11 LIFE & DEATH
A film that will make you question your preconceptions about the right to die. Plus: Marvel’s Daredevil starts this month.
18 MY HELL’S KITCHEN
Bestselling author Eileen Goudge takes us on a tour of her favorite spots. First stop: Underwest for donuts!
22 OUT & ABOUT
Were you at The Armory Show, Volta NY or the Food & Finance High School’s divine gala? If so, our photographers may have papped you.
56 GALLERY
Anyone with an eye for a picture and a half-decent cameraphone is in with a shot at getting their work in our mag. Hashtag your pics #W42ST, and we’ll do the rest.
WHAT’S ON 12 EVENTS
Our diary of happenings, from theater to film to foodie events to family fun, is the only guide you’ll need this month. What are you waiting for?
24 INSIDE ARS NOVA
Drunken puppet pirate rock shows. Hot tubs. A meditation center where the stage should be. Safe to say this is no ordinary theater.
26 ARTS PREVIEWS
Who’s coming to Hell’s Kitchen this month? Get the skinny right here, from theater to music to cinema to comedy.
MAIN FEATURE
14 TO BAN OR NOT TO BAN
Both sides in the city’s horse and carriage debate have their say. Now you decide ...
20 COMMUTERS’ TALES Subway, bus, ferry, car ... maybe you even walk. We talk to Hell’s Kitcheners about the good, the bad, and the dirty when it comes to getting to work.
30 TAXI!
It’s a ubiquitous sight in NYC, but did you know the yellow cab has deep roots right here in Hell’s Kitchen? We celebrate the fact with our first photo essay.
FOOD & DRINK
37 HELL’S PANTRY NEWS
In the month Jean-Claude Baker would have had his birthday, Chez Josephine vows to stay open in his memory. Plus: Hell’s Kitchen’s hottest new food destination and the coolest dessert.
38 TRY THIS AT HOME
Rory Macdonald, executive pastry chef at Hakkasan, takes us step-bystep through his chamomile panna cotta with pandan cake.
41 STAFF SURVEY
George Bull on having fun at Friedman’s ... and what he gets up to after brunch.
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24 42 WINE
Are you still drinking red? What’s the matter with you? It’s time to get into your new springtime tipple.
43 COCKTAIL
Pio Pio mixes us up the perfect Bijao.
44 BEER
Coffee plus beer equals the drink New Yorkers have been waiting for.
45 COFFEE
What’s inside your favorite cuppa?
PROPERTY 47 PROPERTY NEWS
A campaign against ‘hypergentrifcation’; inside Row NYC’s Paparazzi Suite; and do you know your way around the city as well as a NY cabbie?
49 SECRET AGENT
Inside information for next time it comes to renew your rent.
50 ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
We go inside the TV studio, fashion show venue, shop window workshop
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30 63 GOT FOMO?
and art gallery that is Shop Studio, a creative, endangered wonderland.
You’re not alone. Dr Tama Lane explains why the fear of missing out is not unusual, and how you can find balance in your life.
52 DESIGN OF THE TIMES
Hell’s Kitchen interior designer Harry Heissmann brings a retro flavor to an apartment that doesn’t kill the budget.
LIFESTYLE
54 GOING PLACES
Our shopping pages take on a distinct transport theme.
58 FITNESS
The hottest, happiest workout in NYC involves a pumping soundtrack, a mini trampoline and 50 minutes of sweat.
59 MASSAGE THE FACTS
Rita Ewing on why we get sore after exercise ... and why sports massage can make a difference.
61 OUTEN ABOUT
After her triumphant arrival in New York, round-the-world adventurer Sarah Outen describes exactly what all those miles of human-powered endeavor does to your body ... and to your spirit.
65 RELATIONSHIPS COVER This month's cover illustrator is the mysterious Half Dutch. Art director by day, playful creative by night, the artist “tries to surprise and tease the reader’s intellect whilst giving tangible form to abstract ideas”. Their work is currently exhibited at the Jolly Goat coffee bar on W47th St. www.halfdutch studio.com
Hell’s Kitchen’s resident dating doctor has turned modern matchmaker to give time-poor eligibles a bespoke dating experience.
PETS
66 WAGGING TALES
More gems of wisdom spilt from the jaws of Hell’s Kitchen pooches.
68 CREATURE COMFORTS
Cats and dogs have never had it so good – here’s our gift guide for your furry friends.
70 DIRECTORY
Local businesses that have signed up to the #W42ST sticker get listed here... if you want to sign up too, email sticker@w42st.com
74 PHOTO FINISH
How Stella Tower became an iconic example of art deco design.
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APPETIZERS
$ 9 0 m il l io n 0 0 0 , 0 0 2
o travel through The number of people wh inal every day. Port Authority bus term
PIER 84 THE LARGEST PUBLIC PIER IN HUDSON RIVER PARK. PIER 79 TAKES YOU TO SEVEN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS
This is how much will be spent between now and 2023 on improving Port Authority bus station. The first $10 million will go towards additional lanes to reduce wait time for commuters
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The subw ay exteNsioN liNe d to opeN iN ue KitcheN b Hell’s e April aNd tweeN JuNe this year, at a c $2.4 billio ost of N
FOUR
1962
t The year the Marke DiNer opeNed
1,000 1 MILLION
THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES ON DISPLAY AT NEW YORK AUTO SHOW
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THE NUMBER OF HORS E STABLES IN HELL’S KITCHEN. TH E LAR IS CLINTON PARK, WHICH GEST HOUSES 39 CARRIAGES AND 78 HORSES, BETWEEN 35 OWNERS
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us routes The number of b od o in the neighborh
The Number of p New York Auto Sheople who atteNd ow every year
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24,580
The Number of cycle paths iN the area
THE PERCENTAGE OF HELL’S KITCHEN WORKERS WHO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT
The weight, in tons, of In trepid. The warship survived FIVE kam ikaze at tacks and ONE torpedo strike, and can be home to 3,448 crew members. 7
COMMUNITY
CREATIVE LICENCE Crafting – haven’t you heard? It’s the hottest New York night out
W
hat are you doing at the weekend? Going out to dinner? Catching up with friends? Another night in a bar? What about creating a masterpiece? Learning to paint? Throwing a pot? Making jewelry? Getting crafty has never been cooler and New Yorkers are discovering talents they never knew they had, all aided by a tool that has helped fuel artists’ creative juices for millennia: alcohol.
PAINT NITE
Two hours, a few cocktails … and suddenly your inner Monet could be unleashed on the world. At least that’s what the organizers of Paint Nite say. Running events throughout the city, they provide a skilled instructor, brushes, canvas and smock – all you need to bring is your creative genius. There are various events coming up this month in Hell’s Kitchen, so now you don’t have any excuse to put it off. The art world is waiting for you. www.paintnite.com
Above: Aspiring Picassos brush up on their skills. Let us guess ... a sunset?
MUD, SWEAT & TEARS
Whoever thought up a wine tasting pottery making evening is an inspirational genius in our book. Sip your way through the wines of the world while creating something specifically geared towards the oenophile – a wine chiller, perhaps, a coaster or glass charms.
All instruction is provided by an expert, so you’ll gain an impressive new skill to show off to your friends. Added bonus: they also lay on cheese and crackers. www.mudsweat-tears.com
LITTLE SHOP OF CRAFTS
Get a group of friends together, take over the shop and you have a craft party in the making. Make a mosaic, learn some pottery – even create a cuddly toy. You bring the food and the booze, they
Friends in high places
Champagne corks were popping at W42ST HQ this month when Birdman won Best Picture and Best Director at the 2015 Oscars. We’d like to think at least part of that glory was down to the stellar location shots of Hell’s Kitchen. Take a fresh look, and you’ll see Keaton running through Times Square in his underpants. Key flying scenes saw Keaton soar past the art deco McGraw Hill Building
IMAGE: FOX SEARCHLIGHT
“This work visualizes the various sound waves that pervade the city”
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provide the equipment … and the karaoke machine. www.littleshopny.com
TIPSY CRAFTS
Jewelry making, knitting, acrylic and water color painting – just add cocktails for a new twist on the traditional night class. That’s the concept behind this group. No experience is necessary, and they promise us they’ll be in Hell’s Kitchen by late spring/early summer. www.tipsycrafts.com
at 330 W42nd St. And a pivotal battle scene was fought out right here on W43rd St. The entire block was shut down for filming outside Holy Cross School (332 W43rd St), while residents were warned not to worry about the smoke pumping out of the set, though – or the sight of a superhero figure leaping off the roof. We didn’t flap. Why would we? It’s just an average kind of day in Hell’s Kitchen, right?
COMMUNITY
Have you got something going on in Hell’s Kitchen? Tell us all about it news@w42st.com
COACH TRIP
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ack in 1941, six leatherworkers created beautiful wallets by hand from a loft on at W34th St. Today, that company has grown into the international, $5bn brand that is Coach – and it still has its headquarters at those same factory lofts. Its AW15 collection showed at New York Fashion Week and displayed a
Above: Coach’s AW15 collection almost makes us want it to be winter all over again.
An old Hell’s Kitchen company has retained its fashionable footprint
continued change in direction for the label under the creative directorship of Stuart Vevers, formerly of Mulberry and Lowe. The pieces were inspired by New York’s sense of individuality, featuring shearling, biker jackets, the Stars and Stripes and silk bandana prints to reflect what it calls “a sense of freedom and the great American landscape”.
The label’s background is in leather, so obviously that featured heavily – but untreated, keeping its imperfections for a more weathered, vintage, pre-loved look. There were elements of toughness and warmth, utility and luxury, tradition and rebellion – a little like Hell’s Kitchen itself, right? www.coach.com
CAPED CRUSADERS SPREAD THEIR WINGS No sooner had New York’s longest running spandex and superhero fetish party moved to its new home in Hell’s Kitchen than it announced it was moving out again – to travel the country instead. Skin Tight USA, which has hosted events at the neighborhood’s Hardware Bar, Bartini and, most recently, at Atlas Social Club, is a place where boys who love tight clothing can go release their inner superhero. Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, it is now embarking on a nationwide tour aimed at bringing a safe LGBT space to comic cons all over the country. “We have been a critically acclaimed event
since 2010, when The New York Times wrote a two-page spread on the cover of their style section on our event,” says Matthew Levine – aka Mischief Michael. “From there, we were featured guests on Oprah Radio and interviewed for three superhero documentaries.” An online fundraiser will allow them to embark on their travels – the first trip is this month – and the target is to raise £11,000 by July. And, adds Matthew: “We have LGBT artists and musicians donating their works for people that donate to the cause and the packages are well worth it.” Packages. Snigger. www.gofundme.com/skintightusa2015
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COMMUNITY
Have you got something going on in Hell’s Kitchen? Tell us all about it news@w42st.com
A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH
A cherished father falls and is paralyzed. What happens next may surprise you …
W
atching someone you love die is one of the most painful experiences any human being can endure. Watching that person choose to die – and not being able to persuade them otherwise – must be almost unbearable. Malini Goel describes her father as “amazing, loving, hilarious, philosophical – he always provided everything we could need or want”. But when he fell at home – a simple stumble from the couch while watching cricket – he was left paralyzed from the neck down and dependent on a ventilator to breath. As he struggled to come to terms with his injuries, he made the decision to disconnect his life support. And, struggling to make sense of the situation, Malini can’t explain it, but she picked up a video camera and started filming. The result is Should Tomorrow Be, the story of how a family came to terms with decisions of life and death. Malini, who has lived in Hell’s Kitchen since 2009 and who will travel to the RiverBend Festival in Indiana this month with the movie, says: “This story is so crazy. It is unbelievable that someone could just fall down, break his neck and then decide to disconnect his ventilator.” It took six years before she had the courage to watch any of the footage.
Above: Malini with her father, Dr Arun Goel.
“Don’t sweat the small stuff. And cherish every waking moment. Tell those who you love that you love them.” But when she did, she was struck by how much the family had used humor to support each other. “I could not believe when I was looking at footage of my father deliberating the decision to die that some areas of the footage were making me laugh! “When I saw all these unscripted gems, I decided I had to make it into something
“This work visualizes Prepare to meet Daredevil’s advocate the various sound waves that pervade the city”
April 10. Stick it in your diaries, comic book fans – that’s the date Netflix begins screening its much anticipated Marvel’s Daredevil. A live action series, it follows the adventures of attorney Matt Murdock, who was blinded as a boy in a tragic accident but –
more watchable for our family. I took a guerrilla film-making class in New York and my teacher told me I really needed to try and share it with a wider audience. So I started submitting it to festivals. It won Best Short Documentary at the Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival.” She adds: “A picture is worth a thousand words and there is no better way to tell this story than through video and the actual conversations that took place. I also wanted to share this story of struggle and hope with others.” She describes the process as “turning pain into art”, saying it helped her make sense of what she had been through. “It helped me forgive myself for not achieving some of my own goals as well,” she adds. “We have dealt with so much as a family and there are many obligations so sometimes this conflicts with my personal and professional life. Overall though, doing the film puts life is total perspective. Don’t sweat the small stuff. And cherish every waking moment. Tell those who you love that you love them.” The message that runs throughout the film, Malini tells us, is simply this: “Never give up hope. If you are going through difficulties or challenging situations of any kind in life, will power, love and family can help you get through them. Never give up hope.” www.shouldtomorrowbe.com
this being Marvel– he is mysteriously imbued with extraordinary senses. Murdock sets up practice in his old neighborhood of Hell’s Kitchen, where he fights against injustice as a lawyer by day and vigilante at night. www.netflix.com
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what’s on in
2 April Soul Doctor
APRIL
Every day’s a playday with our calendar guide to one-off events and ongoing offers around Hell’s Kitchen
1 April Avenue Q New World Stages
Critics call it “jaw-droppingly hilarious”. If you haven’t laughed your socks off yet at the puppet musical for adults, there’s still time.
Actors Temple Theatre This telling of the Shlomo Carlebach story follows the father of Jewish music through his escape from Nazi Germany to his friendship with Nina Simone. www.souldoctorbroadway.com
www.avenueq.com
3 April A Kind Shot Davenport Black Box Theater
Terri Mateer talks and slam-dunks her way through basketball, architecture and abuse. Extended through 10 May. www.terrimateer.com
4 April First day of Passover Everywhere in the world
Marking the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt, this festival is a reminder for us all to spend time with family and loved ones.
3 April Auto Show Javits
Happy 115th birthday to the biggest automobile show in North America. Celebrate with the hottest cars on the market. Until 12April. www.autoshowny.com
5 April Black Angels Over Tuskegee
5 April Easter Sunday All over the world
The award-winning play about six men training to become pilots returns every Sunday.
Cook a giant meal, have an egg hunt or stuff your face with chocolate – however you celebrate, we hope you have a cracking one.
11 April OK Go
12 April Vegan raw cooking
St Luke’s Theatre
www.stlukestheatre.com
7 April Kinky Boots Al Hirschfeld Theatre
The Tony Award-winning musical, with score by Cyndi Lauper, is one of Broadway’s must-sees. Note: no performance on Mondays. www.jujamcyn.com
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Terminal 5
The Chicago four-piece tour with their latest EP, Upside Out – which has nods to the likes of Queen, T Rex and Cheap Trick. www.terminal5nyc.com
Crossroads Seventh-day Adventist Church Learn about nutrition, and how to prepare well-balanced raw food dishes. bit.ly/veganraw
6 April First Brew Ensemble Studio Theatre
A chance for anyone to hear works in progress being read out loud. Bring talent, snacks and an eagerness to share. www.ensemblestudiotheatre.org
16 April Sharqui The Bellydance Workout The Ailey Extension
A 60-minute class aimed at strengthening core and increasing stamina. www.sharqui.com
17 April Emmett, Down In My Heart
18 April Record and CD Show
19 April Afro Flow Yoga
Holiday Inn, W57th St
Alvin Ailey
Live drumming accompanies this class that combines African dance moves with meditative yoga stretches.
20 April Block Party Lucky Strike
The trial of 14-year-old Emmett Till, killed for whistling at a white woman. Runs until 17 May.
Dealers from all over the US come to buy and sell new, used, rare and collectible records, CDs, tapes and posters.
www.castillo.org
bit.ly/recordcd
www.alvinailey.org
23 April Fundraiser for ‘Words’
24 April The Birdland Big Band
24 April Astronomy on Deck
24 April Open Hearts
Birdland
Intrepid
MAD Museum
www.birdlandjazz.com
www.intrepidmuseum.org
www.madmuseum.org
Castillo All Stars
Broadway Comedy Club
Carmen Carrera, Miss Fame and The Glamazons appear in this fundraiser for a film that explores the subject of gender. www.broadwaycomedyclub.com
Drummer Tommy Igoe brings some of the finest musicians in the city together every Friday, playing Jazz, Latin and Brazilian music.
To mark the anniversary of the launch of the Hubble telescope, high-powered telescopes reveal the secrets of the New York sky.
25 April Sex On The Table The Kitchen
Live Music Every Night
Learn how, by adding asparagus to a dessert, or pairing chocolate with chicken, you can create a sensual feast. Led by ChefFed. www.cheffedny.com
All-you-can bowl, ping pong and billiards for $22, plus a late happy hour from 10pm to closing. Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. www.bowlluckystrike.com
This award-winning movie captures the experiences of trauma on two couples’ lives. Starring Mads Mikkelsen.
27 April Next W42ST out All around Hell’s Kitchen
The May issue, packed with news and things to do, comes out today. If you have anything you’d like featured, contact us on news@w42st.com.
Two Happy Hours Every Day 4pm-8pm, 12am-2am
Brunch from $11 Bottomless Brunch add $15 11am-4pm Saturday & Sunday
508 9th Ave, (Bet. 38th & 39th Street) (646) 490 4803 scallywagsnyc.com www.facebook.com/scallywagsnyc
28 April The God Box, A Daughter’s Story Irish Arts Center
A one-woman, one-act play based on the NY Times bestseller, about a family in love, in loss, in triumph. www.irishartscenter.org
29 April Food walking tour Around Hell’s Kitchen
From empanadas to curry puffs and custom-made donuts, discover some of the finest food experiences in Manhattan. www.manhattanwalkingtour.com
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COMMUNITY
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COMMUNITY
Have you got something going on in Hell’s Kitchen? Tell us all about it news@w42st.com
PULLING POWER Whether you support the Central Park horses, want to see a ban – or are still sitting on the fence – we give both sides free rein to talk
THE CASE AGAINST
Elizabeth Forel has been a passionate campaigner against the carriage trade
IMAGES: GRAHAM TROTT
I
n the red corner: Mayor Bill de Blasio’s campaign to ban horses from New York City. Backed by animal rights activists and celebrities like Anjelica Huston, Alec Baldwin, Miley Cyrus and Calvin Klein, it presents a strong argument. In the blue corner: a 155-year-old industry fighting for its survival. The horses – all of which are stabled in Hell’s Kitchen, most in Clinton Park Stables on 52nd St – are not without their celebrity backers. Big-hitters like Liam Neeson and Danny Glover have both thrown their weight behind their survival. Critics say the animals are badly treated and a danger to both themselves and people. They propose replacement ‘horseless carriages’ that would continue the job of ferrying people around Central Park, while the 300 or so carriage drivers could receive taxi permits as compensation for the loss of their livelihood. Those in favor say a ban would kill a New York way of life; something that is as much a part of the scenery as the Empire State Building. They insist the horses are well cared for … and that their opponents are more driven by a desire to scoop up valuable real estate than by their concern for animal welfare. De Blasio is committed to introducing the ban by next summer, but much still hangs on getting the required number of votes from city councilmen As for the public, a poll by Quinnipiac University found that 61 per cent of voters were in favor of the status quo. But where do you stand? Saddle up as we speak to both sides of a debate that has polarized Manhattan.
“The horse is not a working but an entertainment horse. It is a very exploitative and greedy business.”
since the early 1990s, and has worked with the Coalition to Ban Horse-drawn Carriages since it was formed in 2006. “Both the living and working conditions for the horses are abysmal,” she says. “When a horse is working, he is kept between the shafts of his carriage legally for nine hours a day, seven days a week. During the busy holiday season, the horses are used up. “When the horse is not working, he is parked on the street, often pawing on the ground with impatience. He is not a working but an entertainment horse. It is a very exploitative and greedy business. The stables have no access to pasture. The stalls are less than half the size of what experts recommend for these horses.” The Coalition was formed following the death of a young horse named Spotty, who, it says, was killed on W 50th St/9th
Hoofing it: Heading out for the day from Clinton Park Stables on 52nd St. Above: One of the horses in its stall.
continued over
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COMMUNITY Ave. It calls the industry “inhumane, unsafe and anachronistic” and claims that, not only do horses die on the streets, but that humans have been seriously injured as a result of spooked carriage horses. “People often think a solution is to ‘put the horses in the park’,” she says. But a compromise is out of the question. “They actually work in the park most of the day anyway, but the hack line is on the perimeter and is where most of the accidents occur. “Additionally, the horses cannot actually live in Central Park – that is just not a possibility. In order to do it properly, which would mean appropriately sized stalls and turn out to pasture, it would take up about a quarter of the existing park land. But this is all beside the point because state law defines parkland as one of our inalienable rights. People are not about to lose this land to a private enterprise.” While there are strict laws dictating the conditions the horses are kept in, she maintains these laws are not, and cannot be, enforced. “It would take at least one police officer to one carriage to do the job, which is absurd. “This is an inhumane, unsafe and
“I have a list from here to England of veterinarians that believe all working horses need jobs and a purpose.” frivolous business and it should come to an end. “I have studied this issue for many years and about 60-70 horses ‘disappear’ from the Department of Health horse list every year. There are no controls in place requiring sales information so it is not known what happens to them. It is entirely possible that many of them went on to the slaughter auctions.” Of the 200-plus horses that will, should a ban be approved, be out of a job, she is clear: “These horses are privately owned and it is up to the owners what they will do with them. However, the Global Federation of Sanctuaries has told us that their sanctuary members would take the horses.
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COMMUNITY
The daily show: A horse and carriage makes its way along 10th Ave. Left: mucking out. Right: Clinton Park Stables.
“If the horses go to auction and get sold to a kill buyer, the blood will be on the carriage owners’ hands.” www.banhdc.org www.nyclass.org
THE CASE FOR
Horse owner Stephen Malone has been driving carriages in New York City industry for 28 years, “but my family has been in the industry since 1964”, he adds, “so I used to come with my dad as well. “It’s the same for a lot of my colleagues – most of us have been working out here for well over 20 years.” He says there is no merit in the campaign to ban the horses; no facts to back it up. “I can prove the horses aren’t badly treated; they can’t prove they are. “We’ve done different studies on the horses, their stress levels. We had a former dean of Cornell University come and oversee them all – they had no issues whatsoever. I have a list from here to England of veterinarians that support us; equine veterinarians, not just dog and cat veterinarians, that believe all working horses need jobs and a purpose.” It’s not a dangerous industry, he says, and never has been. “Our accident rate
is no different from – you know – a window washer hanging off the side of a building. When it happens it’s headline news and the rest of the time you never hear about it. “As far as being dangerous to the horses, we’ve had three horses killed in 31 years – due to cars. Thirty one years. There were 12 horses put down at the Aqueduct race track in one month in January, so if it was about horses they’d be attacking that industry, not ours.” He has, he says, no intention of switching his horse and carriage for a taxi license. “If I wanted to become a taxi cab driver I would have applied for a taxi cab license. We’re not interested in taking anybody else’s livelihood away from them.” Besides, there are more industries that will suffer from a ban than simply the drivers, he says. “Blacksmiths, veterinarians, the people who take the horses on vacation, our insurance companies, we provide lots of income for the delis and hotels around here. Then you have the guys who provide our feed and take our manure away. There’s a long list of people who will be directly affected.” He’s thankful for celebrity support – Liam Neeson’s press conference at the stables a year ago was “a big game changer”. He adds: “It does sway a lot of people who are on the fence. Unfortunately it should be the veterinarians that we have and the American equine practitioners who have come and seen the horses and tested them but, you know, we’re a celebrity-driven society so it does help.” www.savenychorsecarriages.com
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MY HELL’S KITCHEN
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“I was blessedly ignorant of the challenges I would face moving here. Had I thought twice, it would have entirely altered the course of my life and career”
MY HELL’S KITCHEN
Know someone cool who’d make a great My Hell’s Kitchen. Put us in touch, we’ll do the rest. Email news@w42t.com
ROMANCE VERSUS REALITY
Hell’s Kitchen may not have the Hollywood glamor writer Eileen Goudge was seeking when she moved here … but it has much more
E
ileen Goudge is the New York Times bestselling author of 16 novels, which have sold over six million copies worldwide. She lives in Hell’s Kitchen with her husband, entertainment reporter and film critic for WABC-TV, Sandy Kenyon. Visit www.eileengoudge.com to learn more. How long have you lived in Hell’s Kitchen? Five years. I have to say I love it most of all the neighborhoods I spent years rambling around in. It has a bit of everything: funk and mom-and-pop meets neon and Starbucks-on-everycorner. Whatever your age or ethnicity, or whether you’re gay or straight, we all play in the same sandbox, peaceably for the most part.
IMAGE: GRAHAM TROTT
What brought you here? In the 1980s, I lived in a smallish seaside town in northern California. I was blessedly ignorant of the challenges I would face moving here. Had I thought twice, it would have entirely altered the course of my life and career. I love old movies and had this fantasy of New York City as depicted by Hollywood of the 1940s. What has your experience of the neighborhood been? At the moment the only thing on my wish list for the nabe is I’d like to see fewer mediocre eateries and more outstanding ones. Over the past couple years the HK food scene has been emerging, which I find encouraging. Gotham West Market has become a fab foodie destination. How has it changed since you came here? The changes I see are all good ones.
More diversity, for one thing. Also talented/chef restaurateurs like Hooni Kim (of Danji) are catching on to the fact that we in Midtown West/Hell’s Kitchen are hungry for great eateries and we will descend on them en masse. The lines outside Totto Ramen are legendary. People wait for an hour or more, in all kinds of weather, for ramen like they have in Japan. What do you eat in the area? My husband and I love Totto Ramen but can rarely stomach the wait, so we generally walk one block south to Ippudo. I always order the Modern Ramen — the ultimate in comfort food. Of the plethora of HK Thai eateries, our favorite is Pure Thai Cookhouse. They also deliver — speedily. For more upscale dining we generally go to Danji. Chef Kim’s Korean fusion cuisine is a marvel. For pizza there’s Don Antonio’s. For knockout tapas, you can’t beat El Colmado. Little bites of heaven. What local bars or cafes would you recommend? I wouldn’t know about bars – I keep Amish hours. My husband’s and my work schedules have us up at 4am and in bed by 9pm most days. Cafés I know. On cold days nothing beats the soups at the Soup Man (aka ‘Soup Nazi’) on W55th St (Sandy lives for their lobster bisque, while I generally prefer the lighter options). I head over to the Juice Generation on 8th Ave for a big belt of Hale to Kale. And another good bakery-café is the La Bergamote. Wax on, wax off … and while you’re at it, grab a coffee and donut at Underwest Donuts. When I first read about this donut shop in a car wash I was so intrigued I dragged Sandy –
the resident donut freak — there the following weekend. We were blown away. I almost never eat donuts but make an exception for these. Our current fave flavor: the maple-waffle donut. What’s the best thing about HK living? I love that there’s a subway line within a five-minute walk in any given direction. Sandy loves that he can walk to work. Time Warner Center and Columbus Circle are a mere 10-minute walk from where I live, as is Central Park if you can battle your way through the Enemy Forces at the entrance (people trying to rent you bikes or take you on rides). In warm weather there’s the mini greenmarket on the corner of 57th St and 9th Ave that has pretty much everything I want or need produce-wise. The thrift shop two doors down from Totto Ramen looks like it belongs on an episode of Hoarders. I think of it as my neighborhood Salvation Army. How do you think the neighborhood compares to other areas of Manhattan? Murray Hill was like living on a desert island for a foodie like me. Chelsea was a lesson in what it’s like to be a minority (when I lived there, if you were straight you were in the minority) – a good thing if you believe, as I do, that to truly understand other cultures and/ or persuasions you must walk in those shoes. What’s your HK secret? Shhh. His name is Chris Shelley, at West 49th Massage (917-620-3367). He’s awesome and doesn’t charge an arm and a leg — no pun intended. Where else can you get your sore muscles kneaded by the guy who does the Rockettes?
BIOGRAPHY Eileen began writing at the age of eight. All her experiences find their way into her work, from divorce and pregnancy scares to the time she was nearly kidnapped at the age of 12. Eileen’s Hell’s Kitchen CAFETERIAS La Bergamote 515 W52nd St 10th/11th Ave Underwest Donuts 638 W47th St 11th/12th Ave Juice Generation 979 8th Ave 57th/58th Ave RESTAURANTS Totto Ramen 366 W52nd St 8th/9th Ave Ippudo 321 W51st St 8th/9th Ave Pure Thai Cookhouse 766 9th Ave 51st/52nd St Danji 346 W52nd St 8th/9th Ave
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COMMUNITY
Commuters’ tales New Yorkers have the longest commutes in the country, often traveling by a chaotic mix of subway, bus, ferry, bike, car and on foot to get where they need to go. But it needn’t be hell - as these Hell’s Kitcheners reveal
IMAGES: ORTAL MIZRAHI, IGNACIO GUEVARA
SUBWAY, BUS, WALK
Courtney Berkholtz Where do you travel to/from? I am on 42nd St - 11th/12th Ave at River Place and I commute to Fort Lee, New Jersey. What mode of transport do you use? I walk to the subway, take the A express up to 175th, take a bus from the George Washington bus terminal over the GW bridge to Fort Lee and walk a few minutes to work. How long does it take? It takes me about 50 minutes. How much does it cost you every week? About $35 between the subway and the bus. How do you spend the time? I love to read. I was able to read about 20 books last year because of my commute. What’s the biggest pain? Getting down to the subway platform to see the A train pulling away.
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Biggest source of joy? Ability to read Overheard conversation? Not so much the conversations, but dancers and performers like to get on from 125 to 59 so they have time to perform. Interesting dances, music, poetry readings ... Horror story? A toddler was eating a red snow cone next to me and I just had visions of it spilling all over the place. We made it to the very last stop before he, his mother, and I got off. Visions became clear, and the red snow cone went all over my white pants! At least I was coming home from work and not going to work. The mother apologized profusely. What are you going to do? Accidents are a bitch. If your commute was an animal, what would it be? A honey badger. I just kill it every day and don’t care that it may be longer than some commutes.
Above: Courtney navigates the A train at Port Authority.
CITIBIKE
Chris Welty Where do you travel to/from? From 42nd St - 11th Ave to Google at 16th St - 9th Ave, usually along the river bike path. What mode of transport do you use? Unless it’s snowing I take a bike, usually a Citibike. In snow I’ll walk over to 8th and take the A train. How long does it take? Biking takes me 15 minutes. How much does it cost you every week? Nothing. Citibike, I think, costs $125 per year How do you spend the time? Contemplating the fundamental nature of the universe and complaining about the wind. What’s the biggest pain? So far no pain, but now that the weather is warming up I think crowds will slow things down. Biggest source of joy?
COMMUNITY
Have you got something going on in Hell’s Kitchen? Tell us all about it news@w42st.com
“Some days the search for a Citibike makes me feel like the runt piglet fighting to get some of mother’s milk.” Getting to my desk with the feeling of my leg muscles bulging. Overheard conversation? None. However, on the coldest days when I pass another biker I shout: “We are certifiably insane,” and laugh like a madman (so if that was you, dear reader, then that was me). Horror story? You mean like zombies or vampires? I don’t watch that stuff, especially while biking. If your commute was an animal, what would it be? Some days the search for a Citibike makes me feel like the runt piglet fighting to get some of mother’s milk, some days I feel like the early bird who got the worm, and some days I’m an eagle, soaring over the Hudson with my wings spread loftily ... <splash> ... Bikes don’t fly.
M11 BUS
Erika Kramer Where do you travel to/from? We run a creative studio here in Hell’s Kitchen called Sleeves Up Productions, but we need to commute all the time to video shoots, meetings and photo shoots. We rely heavily on the m11 since we live so far on the west side, near 12th. What mode of transport do you use? We try to stick with the m11 and walking. How long does it take? On good days it’s between ten and 15 minutes to get anywhere – the bus is really reliable and easy.
WATER TAXI
Alex and Elisa Green Where do you travel to/from? We travel from Pier 84 down the Hudson to World Trade Center. What mode of transport do you use? The NY Water Taxi. How long does it take? It’s amazing, it takes us ten minutes on the water, rather than 30 on the subway, and is much closer to our apartment and office. How much does it cost you every week? It was about $36 for the full week. How do you spend the time? It’s hard to read (or sleep!) because there’s so much going on – helicopters, party/sightseeing/speed boats coming past, and other passengers who are more talkative than on the subway. The views are amazing, past the Empire State and Chelsea Pier, with the Statue of Liberty on the horizon. What’s the biggest pain? It’s stopped for the winter.
“The water taxi is not like the subway when you can surf. You have to hold on!”
Above: Erika and Jenner wait for the M11 – and hope their personal space won’t be invaded.
How much does it cost you every week? Every week varies, but the most it can cost is around $20-25. How do you spend the time? Jenner, my partner, uses Spotify a lot and I’m obsessed with podcasts. I listen to the Slate Gabfests, the New Yorker podcasts and The Treatment. What’s the biggest pain? Waiting in the cold can be rough, also when the bus gets too crowded. Biggest source of joy? It’s just really nice when you get a window seat and watch the city streets and everyone outside hustling around. It’s really great to catch the New Yorker building – it always reminds us that we’re right where we need to be. Horror story? When the bus gets crowded, it can be pretty horrific. Jenner had a terrible experience where a woman who didn’t speak English didn’t understand that her stop was quite a ways away and decided she would lean up against Jenner for the duration of the ride. Every couple of seconds she would breathe a heavy amount on Jenner. I think the expression “too close for comfort” really works for that situation. If your commute was an animal, what would it be? A bear. Just because bears are the best.
Biggest source of joy? Leaving the office in the summer, riding the ferry home from the top deck, with the sun shining and the sunglasses on. It feels like you’re on holiday. Overheard conversation? There are many tourists who use the ferry as a sightseeing boat, and, not being from New York ourselves, we pick up a lot of what the buildings and landmarks are from listening to them. Horror story? When some of the larger boats pass us they can leave quite a wake. We were sitting on the top deck one evening and a fellow passenger was standing up, leaning against the rail and on his phone. A larger wave hit us and he went flying, very nearly going over the edge. He managed to cling on and sat down quickly – it’s not like the subway when you can surf. You have to hold on! If your commute was an animal, what would it be? A duck!
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COMMUNITY
OUT & ABOUT
You want contemporary art? Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had it in spades this month ARMORY SHOW
Clockwise from bottom left: Julio Himede and Kate Roberts; James A Hayes and Sewon Perk; Kristin Sarzosa and Cid Mendez; Nasim Mirzai, Jordan Tempro and Priscilla Torres; Ran Shaham and Oxana Okrend; Patric and Lura Lenig.
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ne of the most important art events in New York City, the Armory Show has spent the last 16 years showcasing works of the 20th and 21st centuries from Piers 92 and 94. Collectors, buyers, artists, press and curious members of the public flocked to see the latest, most exciting pieces of contemporary art currently making waves in the industry.
VOLTA NY
V
IMAGES: ORTAL MIZRAHI
olta NY took a lead from the Armory and, for the first year this year, showed from neighboring Pier 90. A curated, boutique event of solo-artist projects, its new home made this section of the Hudson River Park the focal point of the March art calendar.
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Clockwise from bottom left: Neil Harbisson, Peter Bodnarchuk and Moon Ribas; Andre Grabowicz; Brad Harms; Asher and Ben Israelow; Louise Duvall.
COMMUNITY SMALL PLATES, BIG HEARTS
S
tudents, staff, celebrities, chefs and foodies cooked and ate their way through some of the finest food in the city at a gala event to raise money for Hell’s Kitchen’s Food and Finance High School. Hosted by chef Marc Murphy, of Chopped, and held at the Metropolitan Pavilion, restaurants taking part included Telepan, Maialino and The Stanton Social. But the real stars were the student chefs, whose dishes more than held their own against the professionals.
IMAGES: DAVE MACK
Clockwise from top: Two seniors prep their dish; auctioneer Cate Smit gets the crowd going; William Telepan from Telepan restaurant; Saori Kawano and Naomi Oshiro of Korin Japanese Trading Corp; Michael Salvatore III, CEC at the Sysco Metro NY; the team from ‘a razor, a shiny knife’; guest Alan Batt; Marc Murphy poses with seniors from the school
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MUSIC & THEATER
SUPER NOVA
Jason Eagan, the artistic director of Ars Nova, charts the successes and excesses at Hell’s Kitchen’s most exciting theater with Simon Kirrane
W
hen I’m ushered into a swish office on 54th I’m a little taken aback. It’s organized, it’s slick even. But it’s not what I was expecting. This is Ars Nova. They put on raucous, unprintable acts, they stage awardwinning theater in hot tubs, they create drunken, puppet, pirate rock shows and have just put a meditation center where the stage used to be. But the office of artistic director Jason Eagan reveals nothing of this. Instead, it reveals a calm, considered man at the center of a swirling maelstrom of creativity.
Jason Eagan presides over the “insanely diverse” community that is Ars Nova.
“When I started, this whole floor was empty,” he says. “It was just so ‘anything could happen’. And I was handed this beautiful mission along with instructions not to prioritize paying the rent or paying the utilities but actually just to make art. “The core mission is to support and develop emerging comedy, music and theater artists who are at the earliest stages of their career. Oftentimes this is their first opportunity on a NY stage.” That mix is one of the unusual things about Ars Nova and also comes wrapped in a tragedy. Gabe Wiener was a musician who had his own label and offices and wanted to create a place to house his own work and help young
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MAIN IMAGE: GRAHAM TROTT
“I was handed this beautiful mission along with instructions not to prioritize paying the rent or paying the utilities but actually just to make art.”
MUSIC & THEATER
BEST SHOTS A couple of Jason’s stand out Ars Nova productionsº Freestyle Love Supreme (2004) Anthony Veneziale and Lin-Manuel Miranda “There was something so inherently theatrical about these guys who were doing comedy improv and music, in a longform theatrical evening that interacted with the audience – there were just so many elements in that show that just busted open what theater could be.”
musicians and he did that by creating a space called Ars Nova. Then, in April 1997, as Gabe’s dream of fulfilling his mission was just starting, he suffered a burst aneurysm and died, suddenly, at the age of 26. This left Gabe’s sister Jenny and her partner Jon Steingart with a building, Gabe’s estate and his remarkable legacy to take care of. “They decided,” Jason says, “to continue the thing he had imagined but merge Jon and Jenny’s interests of comedy and theater.” Around 2002 Jason, who had transplanted from the Los Angeles Opera and was working on The Lion King, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and some non-profit theaters, ran into Jon and Jenny Seingart. Things moved very rapidly from there. “Within months we were doing seven to 10 shows a week that were a wide range of comedy, music, theater … So you could have a play reading one night and the very next night there was a crazy variety show. And that was intentional but what came out of it was an artist community that started to form very quickly. It was insanely diverse because there were so many different kinds of artists coming through.” The theater and its community maintain their impressive output and at a price that encourages sell-out shows. “The idea at the beginning was that coming to a show at Ars Nova should cost about the same as going to see a movie. The funny thing is, as time has passed, it’s actually cheaper to come to Ars Nova than to go see a movie. So
Above: Ars Nova’s back catalogue is testament to its commitment to emerging artists and Small Mouth Sounds (above right) is on right now and is another imaginative stage setting from the theater.
most events are free to $15. When we’re running an off Broadway show our top ticket price is $35.” Going to Ars Nova is a night out, it’s an inexpensive and unique experience that often involves music, booze and startling spectacle, but it’s not just the entertainment that impresses: the theater is also fueling the creative industry. As Jason says: “Ars Nova is deeply committed to supporting the next wave of exceptional talent and that will help keep the industry thriving for years to come. I see that as a virtue and feel fortunate to be at the helm with that responsibility. It’s incredibly fulfilling to be able to provide for and help map the course for the variety of artists coming through. If we’re providing a safe space for artists to dream and invent and for audiences to discover and invest in the arts, we’re succeeding.” Currently running at the theater is Small Mouth Sounds, playing until 11 April. “We’ve created an event where you’re sitting inside a meditation room experiencing this play and you’re sitting around the actors and the action’s happening in front of you and it’s different to audience participation – we’re not including people in that way, no one has to get up and be terrified – but you feel part of the experience and it’s not something you could look at on your phone and experience the same way. I think that’s a driving force of the kind of work we’re making here.” We’re going, see you there too? www.arsnovanyc.com
At Least it’s Pink (2007) Bridget Everett and Kenny Mellman “Aesthetically it was very in line with my own interests but also a moment of seeing how night life and neocaberet could intersect with a theater experience.” On April 9 Bridget is back at her blistering best with a one-off show, the title of which we can’t print here. There are tributes and a send-up, there’s a comedy roast and all performed guaranteed to blow you away. Jollyship the Whizz-Bang (2008) Nick Jones and Raja Azar “I’d seen a version of this night down at the Bowery Poetry Club but when I saw it, the band played their songs and the band would stop and then there’d be a little puppet show over on the side. So I thought if we could find a way to merge all of what’s happening into one cohesive narrative and find the … container for that, it could be a really exciting new thing.”
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ART PREVIEWS
BRIDGET IS BACK From badass diva to Irish rockers to improv theater to award-winning cinema, Hillary Reeves rounds up the best of the month ahead BRIDGET EVERETT, ARS NOVA, APRIL 9 511 W54th St
Ars Nova staple and “everyone’s favorite badass bitch” returns to the Hell’s Kitchen hotspot on April 9. In some ways, the belting diva’s breakout moment happened at this venue. In 2006, artistic director Jason Eagan (see our interview on page 24) took notice of the star when she sang at a karaoke night in the theater. Since then, Everett has toured the country, wowing audiences with her signature wail. Before the show, get familiar with the provocative songstress’ tunes by checking out the debut album Pound It by Bridget Everett and the Tender Moments. Yes, that really is the title! Proceeds from ticket sales for the Ars Nova performance will benefit the theater, helping it continue its mission to discover NYC’s next showstoppers. www.arsnovanyc.com
MOLIERE’S DON JUAN, THE PEARL, MAY 19 - JUNE 7 555 W42nd St
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: if you’ve never been to The Pearl, make time to go. The company unearths under-appreciated works of yore and breathes new life into them in their gorgeous theater space. This time, it’s Moliere’s Don Juan. The play picks up with the legendary playboy’s wedding day and quickly (predictably?) turns into a wacky, farcical road trip of sorts, the audience following Don Juan through his charismatic capers as he attempts to outrun his new bride and her family. Check it out this May and get a sense of what the world was like back in the 1600s, when a wig-wearing Frenchman was the master of comedic scripts for the stage. www.pearltheatre.org
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“Get familiar with the provocative songstress’ tunes by checking out her debut album Pound It.”
ART PREVIEWS THIS MONTH’S HEADLINERS AT BROADWAY COMEDY CLUB 318 W53rd St
Comedy clubs can be a tricky nut to crack. All great comedians will tell you the best way to refine new material is to head for a reliable club and try some of it out on honest New York audiences. Even major headliners with shows at Madison Square Garden will return to their roots when feeling rusty. So, yes, the Broadway Comedy Club can be a crapshoot – its headliners aren’t listed more than a few days ahead of time – but it’s worth popping in if you’re feeling lucky. You never know what great talent you could catch. Even so, its recurring shows are a great way to entertain guests stopping into New York for the weekend. Stop in for a 7pm laugh before dinner. www.broadwaycomedyclub.com
OPEN HEARTS, CINEMA AT MAD, APRIL 24
Starring Mads Mikkelsen (Hannival/ Casino Royal), this won the International Critics Award at Toronto International Film Festival. Mikkelsen plays a surgeon whose wife hits a young man with her car. At the hospital, he falls in love with the victim’s wife and the lives of both couples become helplessly entangled. www.madmuseum.org
BETSY!, PUERTO RICAN TRAVELING THEATER, APRIL 8 - 26 304 W47th St
We’re all about any show with an exclamation point in the title. The descriptions for Betsy! don’t tell us much, but we can bet this nouveau American musical will tell a new kind of USA tale. As the title character, a Bronx jazz singer,
“Get a sense of what the world was like back in the 1600s, when a wig-wearing Frenchman was the master of comedic scripts for the stage.”
examines her heritage, she digs into the lives of six generations of American women before her. Her lineage takes her through Spanish-Caribbean and ScotchIrish identities, which means you can expect all sorts of musical styles, from New York jazz to Puerto Rican salsa. Presented at the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater in Manhattan, look forward to a diverse and enlightening show about a unique American experience.
Mads for it: Mads Mikkelsen stars in Open Hearts, an award-winning Danish film about love and adultery.
ADRIFT, PRODUCER’S CLUB, APRIL 4, 11, 18 358 W44th St
Seeing cruise ships arrive and leave from the ports in our neighborhood all the time has left us wondering what life might be like aboard one of the liners. For staff, it’s not all unlimited buffets and lounging on the deck. Rather, a completely different world exists below the deck. In Adrift, comedic improv team IRTE delve into what happens when one of these luxury vacations turns into something slightly more Gilligan’s Island. A liner called Ted McGinley loses power while at sea. And after one month, still no one’s come to the ship’s rescue. Staff, passengers and the entertainers
continued over
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ART PREVIEWS
RENATO THOMS, NYPL, APRIL 25
“Having been friends since they were kids, we’re sure their chemistry on stage will mean a stellar Saturday night.”
As part of immigrant heritage week, the New York Public Library, Columbus Library branch, will present a one-day concert featuring Renato Thoms. Born in Panama, trained in Costa Rica and now a resident and lecturer in New York, Thoms’ skills at Latin percussion are among the best, informed by a lifetime of travel and diverse experiences. He not only actively plays and tours, but is also a skilled educator, having lectured on Afro-Cuban rhythms at Carnegie Hall and Yale University. Thoms also runs after-school programs for kids that pass on the legacy of his artform. The 1pm show can be a family affair; kids won’t
dazzling rise of stars including 50 Cent, Adele, Ellie Goulding and Sam Smith), anyone could have guessed they’d soon be rocketing to fame. But when their track All I Want was featured on the soundtrack of The Fault In Our Stars, a whole new legion of fans took notice and the band’s fan base has been growing at an exciting rate. Kodaline touches down in NYC for a show at Terminal 5 for one night in April. Having been friends since they were kids, we’re sure their chemistry on stage will mean a stellar Saturday night. www.terminal5nyc.com
aboard have to “improvise their new life adrift”. The show promises musical guests and guest improvisers on different nights, so we imagine no two nights are the same when you’re along for the wacky voyage www.producersclub.com
742 10th Ave
Above: Irish rockers Kodaline have earned an army of fans since they appeared on the Fault In Our Stars soundtrack
be able to sit still when they hear these Latin beats. www.nypl.org
KODALINE, TERMINAL 5, APRIL 25 610 W56th St
Back in 2013, when the Irish rockers Kodaline were nominated for the Sound of BBC poll (an honor that’s anticipated the
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HAIL! HAIL! ALL IMAGES: GRAHAM TROTT
Photographer Graham Trott pays homage to the majestic New York yellow taxi cab
I
t is as much a part of the Manhattan landscape as the Empire State Building. And while it is constantly evolving, one thing remains constant: the New York cab stays resolutely yellow, and resolutely, for the most part, based here in Hell’s Kitchen. The star of movies like Collateral and The Fifth Element, its most high-profile screen role was, of course, in Taxi Driver, starring Robert de Niro. Key scenes were filmed in the neighborhood – around W57th St, Times Square and 8th Ave.
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Yet while most of us only ever experience the cab from the back seat, there is a rarely noticed hive of industry behind the scenes, changing tires, repairing faults, servicing engines, keeping cabs on the road. The Hess gas station at 44th St - 10th Ave is a focal point when it comes to refueling at shift change. There’s also a rich seam of food trucks that support the drivers. So in this, the first of our photographic essays, we celebrate the people who keep Manhattan on the move in all weathers, our Hell’s Kitchen local heroes.
PHOTO
ESSAY
Main: Servicing the cabs keeps drivers on the roads. Right: Thomas Berry searches through boxes of cab parts. Left: Directing another customer into a Hellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kitchen garage.
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Above: Tony Seerattan serving at the counter of Taxi Parts Inc. Right: Service Technician Hector Ramirez at Midtown Center Auto Repair, W38th St.
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PHOTO
ESSAY
Above: Ricardo and Antonio are called on for wheel and tire changes in all weathers at Carlos’ Flat Fixed on 44th and 10th Ave. Right and left: There’s no shortage of cabs needing care and attention at Midtown Center Auto Repair, W38th St.
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Above: Need a new taxi seat? Receipts? Bumper? This place has got it all. Left: Downtime at Midtown Center Auto Repair. Right: Wheel and tyre changes at Carlos Flat Fixed, 44th St.
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PHOTO
ESSAY
Above: Taxi Parts Inc, Hellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kitchen. Tony Seerattan serving at the counter Right: Midtown Taxi Servicing. Service Technician Hector Ramirez.
Above: Lining up the Taxi of Tomorrow, the Nissan NV200 minivan. Left: Rony Abramove, of Midtown Center Auto Repair.
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FOOD & DRINK
TONIGHT, JOSEPHINE … AND EVERY NIGHT In the month Jean-Claude Baker would have celebrated his birthday, Chez Josephine has vowed to stay open in his memory
HOT IN THE CITY
H
ad Jean-Claude Baker not ended his life in January – had the colorful restaurateur and adopted son of Josephine Baker lived – he would have celebrated his 72nd birthday this month. And while many feared Chez Josephine, the Hell’s Kitchen restaurant he opened in his famous guardian’s name, might close down following his death, the staff have insisted that’s not the case. “Jean-Claude’s birthday is April 18,” said Andria Chin, “but the date for the memorial service has been moving around and it looks like it won’t happen in April.” She added: “But we are working to convey the message that Chez Josephine remains open, continuing to operate, now in honor of Jean-Claude as well as Josephine Baker.” Born in a village near Dijon, France, Jean-Claude travelled alone to Paris at the age of 14 to work as a bellhop at the Hotel Scribe. There he met Baker, who befriended the lonely boy. When, years later, he opened the Pimm’s Club in Berlin, often considered the Studio 54 of its time, he booked Baker to perform there and, soon after, he became both her manager and spokesman for the Rainbow Tribe – the 12 children of different races, nationalities and religions that Baker adopted over the years. The pair traveled to New York together
ICEBREAKER
Above: Jean-Claude with a small collection of his memorabilia and, inset, with Josephine Baker.
in 1972, but Baker died just three years later, aged 68. Jean-Claude opened Chez Josephine, on W42nd St, as a tribute, recreating the jazz age atmosphere of Paris in the 1920s and 1930s, and it become a destination for theatergoers, locals and struggling actors. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was a regular. He said people thought he was crazy for opening a restaurant, when he ate his steak well done and couldn’t tell the difference between a burgundy and bordeaux. “To tell the truth, I even had doubts myself. But this frustrated actor was happy to finally be on ‘naughty’, ‘bawdy’ 42nd St with my fellow pioneers like Playwrights Horizons and the West Bank Cafe.” www.chezjosephine.com
It opened in the height of winter, when the neighborhood was shivering under a blanket of ice. Proof, perhaps, of the confidence Ample Hills Creamery has in its gourmet ice-cream. Undeterred by the weather, the
Brooklyn-based outlet celebrated its new home in Gotham West Market by launching the Hell’s Kitchen Sink sundae: Guinness dark chocolate ice-cream, spicy brownies, brown butter cookie dough and crumbled toffee bars.
Hell’s Kitchen is no stranger to delicious dining destinations. But which one to choose? Now, you can have them all – under the same roof. Row NYC, on 8th Ave, has launched an urban food market that hosts some of the city’s most buzzed about food concepts. Nine permanent food stalls will make up City Kitchen – names like Azuki sushi, Ippudo, Gabriela’s fish tacos and Sigmund’s pretzels – while seasonal pop-ups will keep things fresh. “We searched the city for authentic and dynamic vendors,” says Heidi Avedisian, the market’s curator, “and tasked them to pare down their menus to the ‘best of the best’. The result is a menu of craveworthy options, cherry-picked for both travelers and locals who know those purveyors so well.” To whet your appetite, the decor makes a nod to the classic working kitchen, with industrial flavors such as white tiling, reclaimed wood and gingham, while fixed steel and leather stools along floor-to-ceiling windows provides diners with an uninterrupted view of Times Square.
If that doesn’t tickle your sweet tooth, how about salted crack caramel; snap, mallow, pop; Mexican hot chocolate or very gooey butter cake? Summer is a-comin’! www.amplehills.com
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FOOD & DRINK
FEAST IN THE EAST When the occasion calls for a showstopping dessert, Hakkasan pastry chef Rory Macdonald guides you through his chamomile panna cotta and pandan cake
Chamomile panna cotta
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SERVES 4 INGREDIENTS 2 tsp chamomile tea 160ml milk 125ml cream 50g sugar 1 tbsp powdered gelatin (results may depend on strength of brand)
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Steps
1
Place the milk and chamomile tea in a small pot and gently heat, but do not boil. Remove from the heat and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to infuse for 15 minutes.
2 3
Strain tea mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a clean pot. Add the cream sugar and heat until the sugar has dissolved. Whisk in the powdered gelatin, and strain again to ensure there are no lumps. Place in a small bowl and place that bowl in an ice bath to cool it
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4
down quickly. Stir sporadically so a skin does not develop. If using molds, spray these with a non-stick cooking spray and place in freezer.
4
When the liquid is cool, pour the mixture into the molds and place in the fridge to set. This will take around three-quarters of an hour. If you do not have molds, this will work equally well in a glass, champagne flute etc.
Above: Roryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s panna cotta begins to take shape ...
FOOD & DRINK Pandan cake
1
2
INGREDIENTS 120g ground almonds or almond flour 230g icing sugar (10x or powdered sugar) 55g flour 9g baking powder 255g egg whites 200g beurre noisette (brown butter) 1 tsp pandan flavoring (available in Asian supermarkets, also called screwpine extract)
3
Steps
1
To start, make your beurre noisette or brown butter. Place the butter in a small pot and continue to cook until the butter takes on light brown color. The bottom of the pan may start to turn dark – this is OK.
2
Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl with a beater attachment. Add the hot butter, mix until combined.
4
3 4
Change attachment to whisk and add the egg whites while the mix is still hot.
Add the pandan syrup and mix until combined once again. Bake at 340F for around 15 minutes. To test if it’s done, place a small knife in the middle, if it comes out clean, it is ready. You can use individual molds for this, or a small loaf tin for example – just be sure to spray with non-stick food spray.
Above: Brown butter and green pandan flavoring form the basis of the pandan cake.
TO PLATE UP Turn out panna cotta from mold. Break off small pieces of pandan cake and arrange around the plate. Rory recommends a garnish of champagne mango and rhubarb, which is in season. www.hakkasan.com
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A wee piece of Ireland, right in Hell’s Kitchen! Live Music - Wednesday’s 8pm (Irish), Saturdays 11pm
American Classics with Irish Influence Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, Daily $14 Brunch on Saturday and Sunday Sunday Roast - 1pm-9pm
24 Craft Beers on Tap
22 TVs + Jumbo Screen All major sports leagues shown Private events up to 300 people
Tir Na Nog 315 W 39th Street, NYC 212-760-0072 www.tirnanognyc.com Like us on
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STAFF SURVEY
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WAFFLEY GOOD
George Bull gives his verdict on Freidman’s Bloody Mary brunches, his love of Oscar Wilde, and the joys of Flaming Saddles. Yee-ha! How long have you worked at Friedman’s? I joined about five weeks ago. I was invited for a friend’s birthday brunch at Friedman’s on 31st St and was floored by the food, the philosophy, the staff. So I asked if they were hiring – the rest is, as they say, history. I’ve been serving brunches at 35th ever since.
“We’re the nicest, funniest, most passionate, joyful human beings all brought together in one place.” What is your favorite thing on the menu? We have a Market Plate which is great for sharing or as a meal for one, and the shishito peppers, as well as the cauliflower with sherry gastrique, are options are too die for. And our Bloody Mary mix, perfected by manager Shawn Ward, is the best I’ve ever had. What is the question you’re most often asked by customers? People are frequently dumbfounded by our chicken and cheddar waffles – how can they possibly be gluten free and taste so good? They must be tried to be believed. If you could serve anyone ... who? Oscar Wilde. To spend time near that brain of his would be incredible. He would
IMAGE: ORTAL MIZRAHI
Where do you travel from and how do you get to work? I travel all the way from Crown Heights in Brooklyn. I take the 2/3 to Penn Station then walk over to 35th and 10th Ave. I can’t wait for the weather to become more forgiving, because I can tell that the walk over really wants to be pleasant.
provide wit, humour and compassion, and he was a notoriously good tipper. What is the team atmosphere like? The best I’ve ever been a part of – and I promise I’m not being hyperbolic. The nicest, funniest, most passionate, joyful human beings all brought together in one place. What is the most fun part of work? Interacting with the guests. To share laughter and have your mind stretched by hearty conversation is a real privilege. Are there any other places you eat and drink in Hell’s Kitchen? I love Flaming Saddles, the gay version of Coyote Ugly. Think Dolly Parton movies on big screens, nothing but country music, and good-looking bartender/dancers in tight jeans and flannel shirts hopping up
Above: George has rediscovered his passion for acting while studying in New York.
on the bar for a jig at intervals throughout the night. It’s a lot of fun. You’re an actor, right? I’m halfway through my training at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting’s threeyear conservatory program. After disillusionment trawling through the acting scene, Stella Adler has reignited my passion. Its ethos of ‘growth as an actor and as a human being are synonymous’ harbors a compassion and activism that can be elusive in this industry. I am privileged to be able to volunteer with the school’s outreach division at Phoenix House, a non-profit drug and alcohol rehabilitation organization. I feel very lucky.
FRIEDMAN’S LUNCH 212.268.1100 www.friedmanslunch.com 450 10TH AVE - 35TH ST
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FOOD & DRINK
LIGHTEN UP
As the weather warms, rich reds have had their day and – shock! – lambrusco enjoys a comeback, says Jeremy Kaplan
I
t seems everyone has ideas about what ‘winter wine’ is; the wines that help warm the soul as the roses and pinot grigios of summer get pushed to the back of your mind. Brunello and barolo are often thrown out there along with “big cabs and chardonnays”. But which are the wines that help drag you out of winter and back towards longer and warmer days? As the season changes, myself and my wine chums recommend wines that are lighter and brighter; young wines full of vitality, minerality – bursting with life. These wines also pair well with the lighter fare that comes with the spring – seafood, shellfish, asparagus, and my favorite, shad and shad roe, the migratory fish that makes its way up the east coast and finds the rivers and estuaries where they were born from Florida right up to New Brunswick (Canada, not NJ). The whites of this season are bright and full of zest, notes of citrus, flint and steel. Reds show plum, raspberry and strawberry, herbs, long grass and no oak. As for sparkling – any time of year works for me – but spring calls for lambrusco. Yes! The much maligned red sparkling wine of Emilia is now being embraced by wine makers, with vintage bottlings becoming increasingly common. Lambrusco might, in fact, be the perfect wine of spring. WHITE Look for high-altitude wines – literally – those from high elevation; wines that are both minerally and a touch tart. The general rule of thumb: the higher the elevation, the brighter the wine and the less ripe the grapes become. One of my favorites is jacquére. A french grape, it is mostly found in Savoie, a landlocked area of France, high in the mountains just south of Lake Geneva. These wines are surprisingly tropical and pair perfectly with a platter of raw shellfish. Tons of minerality and acidity typify these wines. Others to look for are gruner veltliner
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Citrus notes, zest, flint and steel are signature elements of springtime whites
CORK TALK QUINTA MILÚ, RIBERA DEL DUERO, SPAIN, 2013 Tempranillo in neutral barrels. Delicious with a bite. $13.50
“It’s the new wave of neutrally oaked reds that draw me in this time of year.” and rieslings from Austria, elbling from Germany and bright sauvignon blanc from Quincy and Sancerre in Loire. RED This is a bit tougher, but plenty of wines exist that meet my criteria. The only 2014 vintage reds you will find now will be gamay from Beaujolais: young, a touch tart, vegetal with hints of raspberry and red fruits. But it’s the new wave of unoaked and neutrally oaked reds that draw me in this time of year. One that has caught my attention is the quinta milu from Ribera del Duero, unoaked tempranillo from the land of oak aging. Nice and spicy, it shows light hints of warm herbs, plum and just a touch of earth. But also look for blaufrankisch and St Laurent from Austria, barbera d’Alba and aforementioned gamay from Beaujolais,
but also gamay blends from Cheverny in the Loire. These reds demand a food accompaniment but also benefit from a slight chill. SPARKLING Lambrusco is one way to go here. Dark and sometime inky, the sparkling wine is made from grapes of the same name but there are actually 60 varieties. These wines are the perfect apertif, but also pair well with charcuterie, salads, many cheeses and tomato-based pasta dishes. This might be the perfect wine for its sheer versatility (but don’t tell anyone I said that). Another great wine for spring and summer is vinho verde – literally ‘green wine’ – from Portugal. After Beaujolais Nouveau, this is one of the first wines released from the previous vintage. Bright and light with just a touch of fizz, it will cool anyone down. Look for bottlings with 2014 – this ensures a higher quality wine v non-vintage bottlings. So goodbye barolo and hello blaufrankisch. Spring is here and it’s time to seek out and break out the wines to cool you down as the sun warms you up.
PUIANELLO EMILIA, LAMBRUSCO, DRY, ITALY, NV (ORGANIC) Dry, berries, bubbles. $15.
LE CELLIER DU PALAIS, APREMONT, SAVOIE, FRANCE, 2013 Delivers tons of zing. Bright tropical notes. $19.
FOOD & DRINK
COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH
BIJAO
Ingredients 2oz Pisco Porton 3/4oz Cedilla liqueur (made from aรงai berries) Dash Angostura bitters 3/4oz simple syrup 3/4oz fresh lime juice Prosecco Fresh mint (plus mint for garnish) Cubed ice Crushed ice
IMAGE: GRAHAM TROTT
In a shaker, add the cubed ice and mint. Add all liquid ingredients, except the prosecco. Give it all a hard shake. Fill a highball glass with crushed ice. Double strain the drink into the glass. Top with prosecco, and garnish with a fresh sprig of mint and a dash of powdered sugar. Enjoy with a long straw, Tasting notes: Pisco is the national spirit of Peru. It is made from wine grapes but, unlike grappa, no stems, seeds or pith are used in distillation. This refreshing cocktail is named after the ubiquitous leaf of the Amazon, often used in food presentation as a wrapper, but it also has a restorative power.
Pio Pio, 10th Ave - 43rd/44th St
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FOOD & DRINK
FULL OF BEANS
Coffee beers are the taste New Yorkers have been waiting for, says Ciera Coyan. They hit all the right spots
A
friend once said to me: “I need a lot of coffee to wake up and a lot of alcohol to go to sleep.” That phrase might be New York City’s unofficial slogan. Both coffee and alcohol can be very important aspects of a New Yorker’s life and, as with anything else, when we drink we want the best. We’re serious about what’s in our glass. Coffee beers are a natural food pairing, up there with greats like chocolate and peanut butter or cookies and milk. This time of year in particular is excellent for a coffee beer. After a cold, snowy winter, the city is slowly waking itself up from social hibernation (coffee) and getting prepared for the season-long party that is summer (beer). Coffee beer just makes sense. Geeks about both beverages already wear flannel, the men sport beards, and they both talk obsessively about tasting notes. It’s a match made in liquid heaven.
“Coffee beers are a natural pairing, up there with chocolate and peanut butter” Coffee beers are usually big stouts with thick bodies, huge flavors and high ABVs. While those can be amazing (I’ll get to them later) there are times when something a little lighter is called for. Firestone Walker Velvet Merlin is the ultimate brunch beer. With a strong coffee flavor and cocoa notes, it’s the beer answer to a mocha. The flavor is full and the body has a nice, creamy feel. It pairs really well with more decadent brunch foods like crepes or French toast. Although the flavor is bold, the ABV is a reasonable 5.5%, making it an ideal early afternoon drink. Cold brewing is the best way to get big flavors out of iced coffee. Ballast
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BEER GOGGLES Firestone Walker Velvet Merlin www.firestonebeer.com
Above: Do not adjust your sets – this isn’t the coffee page. Well, not exactly ...
Point Brewing Co ingeniously used cold brew coffee as well as beans from San Diego’s Caffe Calabria to make one of my desert island beers: Victory At Sea. Infused with both coffee and vanilla beans, this imperial porter boasts an impressive list of delicious flavors: coffee and vanilla, of course, but also caramel and roasty notes, all in perfect balance. Many of us make the transition from hot to iced coffee in the spring. Victory At Sea is iced coffee the way it was meant to be drunk. Grab a bottle and crack it open on the first truly warm spring day. The thought of an after-dinner espresso is nice, but unless you’re staying up for last call who can handle caffeine that late? The perfect substitute is AleSmith Speedway Stout. This beer is BIG. It’s 12% ABV, but beyond that the flavors it delivers are huge. Coffee and dark chocolate dominate the profile, making it the ideal adult dessert. The only drawback is the delicious flavor masking all that booze. And, really, is that a drawback? You survived winter, drink all you want. Besides, there are plenty of coffee beers to help you with your hangover tomorrow.
This may taste like the perfect breakfast beer, but if you can wait for the bar to open you can find it at Foley’s NY on 33rd St - 6th/5th Ave. Also check your local bottle shops.
Ballast Point Victory At Sea www.ballastpoint.com
A beer with limited availability so it requires some searching, but when you find it you’ll feel like you found buried treasure. Check bars with rotating draft lists and search for it on www.beermenus.com.
AleSmith Speedway Stout
www.alesmith.com
Currently for sale in the bottle at Bread & Honey on 8th Ave - 56th/57th St. Get there soon because this popular beer sells as fast as its name implies.
FOOD & DRINK
Coffee lovers Wake up and smell the coffee, people! Your caffeine kick comes in all shapes and sizes – which one is your favorite?
HAZELNUT MACCHIATO
CAFE LATTE
FLAT WHITE
criss cross hazelnut sauce on top
8 fl oz milk
two pumps vanilla syrup
6 fl oz cold milk (30% froth)
2 fl oz espresso
1 fl oz espresso
You will continue to be surprised at the different flavors and textures. From the hint of sweet hazelnut sitting on perfect foam to the full-bodied taste of espresso, this treat will definitely make you smile with every sip.
CAPPUCCINO
Perfect for any day, the steamed milk will warm you up and the modest shot of espresso will awaken your senses so you can enjoy your day.
Made with ristretto espresso – extracted with a restricted amount of water, hence the name – the flat white is a flawless pick-me-up. Steam cold milk until a thick micro-foam consistency is reached. Pour over the coffee. Drink.
AMERICANO
RED EYE
2 fl oz foam 2 fl oz milk 2 fl oz espresso
Classics never go out of style. Have it plain, with cinnamon or chocolate powder on top. All you have to remember here is: “1/3, 1/3, 1/3 “ – equal amounts of coffee, milk and foam. You can’t go wrong.
2.5 fl oz ristretto espresso
6 fl oz water 2 fl oz espresso
Attention all black coffee lovers! This is what your taste buds have been craving. The espresso and water combination creates a lingering flavor that will keep you coming back for more. It’s the truly delicious – yet simple – cup of Joe. Enjoy with milk or keep it black.
8 fl oz coffee
1 fl oz espresso
Brown coffee with a kick! Pick a light roast for a silky balance with the boost of caffeine you need. Mondays will be your friend at last. While some enjoy it this with milk, die-hard caffeine fans enjoy it simply plain and pleasant.
WORDS: CAROLINA PAULINO
6 fl oz steamed milk
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PROPERTY
A TOWER BLOCK TOO FAR? Hell’s Kitchen is becoming gentrified – but a city campaign argues the cost is too high
IMAGE: DAM NELSON
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entrification is an issue that affects Hell’s Kitchen possibly more than any other neighborhood in Manhattan. And while no one wants to see the return of crack vials on the sidewalk and prostitutes on street corners, some argue the cleaning up has gone too far. Journalist and blogger Jeremiah Moss has launched #SAVENYC in protest at what he calls “hyper-gentrification”, which he argues is “destroying the cultural fabric of New York”. “Today, more than ever, the soul of New York is getting murdered by rising rents, suburbanization, rampant development and a flood of chain businesses,” he says. He wants residents, visitors, businesspeople, activists, politicians and celebrities to join him by sending a message to City Hall by video or photograph, explaining why the cultural heritage of the city needs protecting. “Hyper-gentrification in New York was implemented via strategically planned mass re-zonings, eminent domain and billions in tax breaks to large corporations,” he says. “This has led to the ongoing eviction of countless small businesses, destroying the fabric of our
Direct approach
PAP PROJECT
Above: The call has gone out for people to #SAVENYC by sending City Hall their photographs
How are your city navigation skills? Think you know your way around the neighborhood – and the rest of Manhattan – better than a yellow cab driver? In these days of GPS and Google Maps, it seems wannabe cabbies are no longer required to know Manhattan
streets and putting the city’s soul on life support.” But not everyone agrees. In the New York Observer, Anthony L Fisher wrote: “These strident nostalgists demand the charming sleaze of early Koch-era Times Square and signage from longdefunct companies, but lest you think they’re hopelessly stuck in the past, they also want the safe streets, functioning subway system and smoking bans of modern-day New York. They want the grit, but not the things that create grit.” www.savenyc.nyc
If you loved last month’s feature on Row NYC’s Galella Suite – inspired by the most famous paparazzo of them all – how much more excited will you be to find out about the hotel’s Paparazzi Project? Guests are treated to complimentary champagne while receiving the star treatment from a hairstylist and make-up artist. Once camera ready, a Getty photographer will capture their every move. Don’t worry, though, the embarrassing ones won’t find their way on to the pages of People. In other news, the photographs you saw last month – beautiful though they are – were the suite’s ‘before’ shots. Here’s a couple of sneak looks at the glamorous ‘after’. Now it really is ready for its close-up. www.rownyc.com
inside-out. But what about you? The New York Times has created an interactive quiz for readers to test themselves on their geography. Can you find your way to the World Trade Center? Javits? Yankee Stadium? Now’s your chance to find out. bit.ly/cabquiz
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To advertise in W42ST Call (646) 828-7813 Or email ads@w42st.com
PROPERTY
AIN’T NOTHING GOING ON BUT THE RENT When the time comes to renew, what do you do? Ian T.D. Smith reveals his insider tips for finding the perfect apartment in Hell’s Kitchen
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rowing up, the transition from winter to spring was always my favorite time of year. Nowadays, though, those happy memories have been replaced by the dread the annual rent renewal notice from my landlord brings. As I decide whether to take the rent increase or move into a new place, I have a distinct advantage. I’ve worked in residential sales and rentals in the area for the past six years, and know that the best way to find your next apartment is to think like a broker. Agents are trained to pre-qualify prospective clients over the phone, so knowing the answer to these five questions will cut your search down significantly.
1 area? How far from the subway are you Location: how flexible are you in the
willing to go? Walk the area, figure out how far is too far from your favorite bar or restaurant.
2
How much … really? A rule is that one third to a half your monthly salary should be spent on rent. Do you make enough to live where you want? Don’t worry about sharing your salary - every agent should ask to ensure you qualify for the apartment. Remember, 40 times the rent is the general requirement.
3 four types: walk-ups, elevator no
What type of building? There are
doorman, pre-war buildings (elevator, laundry and typically doorman), and ultra-luxury new construction. Know what you like and if you can afford it.
4 differences between studios and
Does size matter? Do you know the
alcove studios, one-bedroom v junior onebedroom, flexed two-bedroom or true two-
Above and right: It helps if you understand the types of building in the area – from walk-ups to the ultra-luxury new apartment. blocks
bedroom. Distinguishing between these terms upfront will save time.
5 2011 there was a fee-free period in To fee or not to fee? From 2008 to
NYC. Sadly those days are gone. Agents are paid by someone – landlords or clients. The only no-fee apartments are found by going to buildings directly. Since most buildings in HK do not have on-site staff, prepare to call an agent who you’ll have to pay. Do yourself a favor and determine their flexibility: some charge as low as one month. You want to find the right balance: a fair fee for competent and trustworthy work. Armed with the answers to these questions, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and stress. Good luck finding a place to not just live in but to love. Ian T.D. Smith is a licensed real estate broker, contact him at ian@adomee.com
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PROPERTY
SPACE TO CREATE Is development forcing out Hell’s Kitchen’s creatives? Shop Studios thinks so – but that’s OK
T
alk of hyper-gentrification to Jaques Rosas and he just shrugs. “I don’t think about it,” he says simply. “If I have to leave the area because I’m gentrified out, so be it. We want to live where we’re wanted. We want to work and create where we’re wanted and where we can be a part of the community. “Why would I try to stay where I’m not wanted? Why? Would you?” The artist behind Shop Studios – two floors plus roof terrace of studio/event space above an old Checker cab garage
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“I know there are 33 projects going on in this neighborhood all at once. It’s very noisy for someone who’s running a television studio!”
on W39th St – has lived and worked in the neighborhood for 19 years. Clients include Yves Saint Laurent, Oprah Winfrey, the UN, Starbucks, Vogue and many, many more. But there is, he says, a wrecking ball hanging over his future; the future of his building. With a background in political activism, while his partner Eric Steding worked in display and exhibitions, the pair moved in to a very different Hell’s Kitchen 19 years ago. They opened an arts studio in a factory on w49th St - 9th/10th Ave and had a “teeny little place above the shop”,
Above: A killer view from the 7,081 sq ft studio space.
PROPERTY where they still live. “We’ll call it a classic Hell’s Kitchen apartment, to be generous. It is tiny.” In those early days they started a community service organization called Gangrene, pulling together hundreds of volunteers to paint over the graffiti on 9th Ave and 49th St. “We got paint from the mayor’s office we worked with the parks department and I had this opportunity to go out and express myself on the dirty walls of Hell’s Kitchen,” he says. “I would do patterns, and tags with squares – it’s nice to have been a part of something.”
“This area will be demolished. There’s a wrecking ball coming so we’re just doing whatever we can” They leased that factory space for 14 years, building up the business, doing their own shows, art productions etc. Then when that lease ran out, they moved to 39th – taking a gamble on all 14,000 feet of prime real estate. “One floor is the shop, where we can make and create and conceptualize and dream up and fabricate anything you can imagine,” says Jacques. “Just this week we turned the entire space into a fake beach for a lemonade brand – we had sand and palm trees. Then this week we did a store window for Bed, Bath and Beyond on 1st Ave – that was rather comical. “Today we had Barbara Walters and we did a set for her special. She was really sharp – she’s still on the ball.” Eric does the lighting design at the Museum of the Fashion Institute. They host fashion shows and events, build props, create sets … “We’ll do anything,” says Jacques. “Anything anybody wants to collaborate on, anything that inspires you. We’re artists and that really is why we’re here. “Business is very good,” he adds. “We’ve grown a little bit every year. I think we’re the best in the world at what we do. We’re just having a good time.” He wants to stay in Hell’s Kitchen, he says. “I want to start some sort of institution, we want to have a presence here and we want to be a part of the art history of Hell’s Kitchen. I’m here to collaborate with this generation of people right now. “I truly believe, from the bottom of my
soul, that there has never been a better time to be an artist in all of humanity than right now. “I’m a gay 55-year-old man. What I’ve survived is unbelievable. I lived through the AIDS crisis. I’m a hate crime survivor. I’ve lived through 9/11. I lived in downtown Los Angeles during the riots and a lot’s happened in America in my lifetime.” But, he laughs, when his lease is up, he’ll probably just pack up and move to Florida. “Unless you’re in one of those new towers you’re not safe. It’s black and white. If you’re not in a new development you’re in trouble. “I don’t know how it’s going to turn out,” he adds. “I understand work has to happen. I stand on the roof here and I look around – I know there are 33 projects going on in this neighborhood all at once. It’s very noisy for someone who’s running a television studio!” He says the future of Hell’s Kitchen – and the future of its residents – will be determined by the people with all the money. “And I don’t have all the money. “I’m still here. In ten years I may still be here because I’m successful, but the creatives will be gone. This area will be demolished. There’s a wrecking ball coming so we’re just doing whatever we can to keep ourselves and our neighborhood and our clients inspired and busy.” www.shopstudios.com
Above: Light floods in the vast windows in the ‘Kitchen’. Left: The space is transformed into beach, fashion show, and intimate dinner venue.
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PROPERTY
INNER BEAUTY
Creating an original home can be done on a budget, discovers Ruth Walker. Interior designer Harry Heissmann explains where to look
IMAGES: ORTAL MIZRAHI
W
hen Harry Heissmann traveled from Munich to the US in 1995, he funded his journey by selling 200 of his treasured antique cast iron Christmas tree stands. If that fact alone didn’t indicate this interior designer is an enthusiastic collector of eclectic curiosities, a visit to his Hell’s Kitchen studio would only confirm the fact. The creative space on W45th St is filled with all manner of objets, animals of any shape and size. Snails. A wall-mounted emu. When the legendary interior designer Albert Hadley visited his first apartment – during the nine years Harry worked for him – he said: “You really should call this the House of Friends.” When Harry asked why, the man who counted the Astors and the Rockefellers among his clients, explained: “Did you ever realise all the things you have around you have eyes or personalities?” “So that’s how it all came about,” says Harry. “I don’t call them animals, I refer to them as friends, because I’m convinced when we leave there’s big party going on.” But, he insists, his style defies categorisation. “I hate all these expressions people use, like my style is traditional, or transitional, or whatever. My style is that I can do anything, from a period French apartment to a loft that has one piece of furniture in it and everything in between. The way I work is client-centric. Rich, poor, young, old, as long as it’s interesting and appealing … at this point I would furnish a matchbox if I thought it was fun. “People put you in a drawer and say, ‘Oh, this is that fancy interior decorator who used to work for Mr Hadley, he’s probably charging, like, a million dollars.’ Well, I can charge a million dollars if it’s appropriate. I’ve had carte-blanche budgets where people say, ‘Just go ahead and do it,’ and there’s never any discussion about money. But I’ve also had people on
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Above: The pillow ottoman was designed by Parish Hadley. Harry found it at Housing Works and had it re-covered. Right: Harry with his dog Samson. The painting, Brute, is by Robert Loughlin. Opposite middle: As the client wanted to use the bedroom as a home-office, the dining room has a fold-down bed..
PROPERTY a budget come to me and say, ‘We only have X amount of dollars, what can we do with that?’” What appeals to him about a project, then, is not the pay check at the end but that the process is fun. And sourcing furniture or pieces to fill your home from an antique or thrift store is not always just less expensive, but the items often have a whole lot more personality. “I can understand people might not be thrilled about going to a thrift store to buy a new bed,” says Harry, “but there are a lot of things you could get. It’s all about how you put things together. It’s what a lot of people call high-low – finding something that’s not very expensive and then doing something cool with it and making it your own by covering it, for instance, in decoupage. “And you don’t have to do a whole room in a wall finish. I’m not a big fan of accent walls necessarily, but you could do two walls.” Often clients ask him if they need to fit an entirely new kitchen? “I’m like, ‘No, if your cabinets are fine, they can be resurfaced, and can look a
“I can charge a million dollars if it’s appropriate. But I’ve also had people on a budget come to me and say, ‘We only have X amount of dollars, what can we do with that?” million dollars by changing the doors to a cherry red laquer.’” Which is what he did with one client’s vintage-inspired, budget-friendly home, pictured here. The whole look began with a gilt-framed 19th-century oval mirror and Victorian hall tree Harry had bought from an architect’s office in Brooklyn Heights. They had been found in a local brownstone. “They came to me and I thought they were great,” he says, “really quirky and funny. They were on a tight budget and, though I commissioned a beautiful wall finish with an acorn print for them (from
Zina Studios). And I found two 19th century American chairs on the street in Brooklyn Heights that I had recaned for them … I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty.” An antique gateleg table was found on ebay, while the floor lamps are by Ikea. The ‘house’ side table, which Harry describes as “Fornasetti-esque”, is from the Hell’s Kitchen flea market, as is the cast iron ‘knight’ firetool set. The sofa, TV cart and multicolor rug are by CB2; the sofa pillows are by Jonathan Adler, vintage Pucci and Imperio JP. A ceramic white tiger table from Anthropologie also finds house room, along with the client’s collection of porcelain dogs on the mantel. The whole apartment was renovated by Element Design Group, which is also based in Hell’s Kitchen. When he’s not scouring the streets of Hell’s Kitchen looking for interiors gems that just need a little care and attention to reveal their inner beauty, he could be on the hunt for inspiration elsewhere. “None of us does anything by ourselves; we all need other people to push us in another direction, or maybe show us something different, perhaps because they’re a great artisan and they can do something no one else can. They could be great at a wall finish they’re producing or they can create beautiful glass. I try to employ as many dying arts as I can.” www.harryheissmanninc.com
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PROPERTY GLOBE
Planning your travels? Spin the globe and stop it at random – the world really is your oyster with this delightful old globe. Price on request, Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market
CHEVY WALL LIGHT
Car fans need never be in the dark again, thanks to this revolving light with Chevrolet logo. $142.44, www.amazon.com
PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES Our gift ideas and inspired interiors take a transportation twist this month VINTAGE-STYLE UK RAILWAY CLOCK
The old railroad clock always kept perfect time – ensuring passengers did too. We can’t promise you’ll never be late again, but this vintage-style wall clock will at least bring some timeless style to your home. $31.95, www.zazzle.com
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AVIATOR CLASSIC SUNGLASSES
One of the most iconic sunglass styles on the planet, Ray-Ban Aviators were originally designed for US airmen in 1937. Their classic style means they’re being worn more today than ever, though modern wannabe pilots now have a wide choice of lens color – from crystal brown to green. $150, www.ray-ban.com
PROPERTY FORD MUSTANG POOL TABLE
SOUTHERN RAILWAY PLAQUE
Admittedly, not everyone has the kind of square footage in their apartment for this kind of conversation piece, but – hey – you could always throw out your room mate and turn their space into a games room instead. $9,995, www.carguygarage.com
Vintage finds like this make getting up early to rummage around a flea market all worthwhile. This plaque should remind all your visitors to stick to the house rules. Price on request, Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market
FOLDING BIKE
THE TWINS LAMPS
They may look like a pair of classic art deco lamps, but in a previous life they were the cam shafts of race motorcycle – which met a sticky end. Don’t worry – all the electrical parts are brand new. $349, www.carfurniture.com
MERCEDES GRILLE
Another great flea market discovery, this original chrome grille from a Mercedes car would make a great collectible feature in any home. A fire guard, perhaps? Price on request, Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market
The Hell’s Kitchen temple to biking has everything a space-challenged city cyclist could ask for, from brands like Giant Bicycles and Brompton. These beauties are so compact, they’ll squeeze into a cupboard, under the desk – or on the Subway when the weather’s so bad you can’t face the ride home. $500-$2,500, www.nycvelo.com
GENEALOGY OF US AIRLINES PRINT
Using art deco-style fonts and colors, this print is a visual treat for any transport geek. $35, www.historyshots.com
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GALLERY
#W42ST Hashtag your Instagram pics and they could star in the mag! As the snow began to melt and the first signs of spring started to appear, Hell’s Kitchen’s family of Instagrammers came out in their droves to capture the thaw in all its colorful – sometimes grimy – glory. Don’t forget you can get involved too – just tag your Instagram pics #W42ST and they just might end up in next month’s mag!
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GALLERY
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HEALTH & FITNESS
Go ahead JUMP!
It’s the hottest workout in New York City and shakes up our preconceptions about exercise. Ruth Walker gives TrampoLEAN a bounce for its money
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s the dulcet tones of Eddie Van Halen pump out the speakers and our class of eight stand by their mini-trampolines, it’s clear what Louis Coraggio requires us to do next. Jump. Louis’s TrampoLEAN class is the hottest workout in the city – both metaphorically and literally. Word is spreading fast and everyone wants a piece of this frenetic, fun, 1,000-calorie burner devised by the man who has trained Naomi Watts, Uma Thurman, Liev Schreiber and countless other celebrities. “Some people are afraid they may fall. But not the way I teach,” he says. “I go through all the technique and foot placement first. I tell people the trampoline is almost like your lover – you don’t want to be too far away from it; you want to stay close.” Strangely, squatting, sprinting, kicking and flapping like a bird on a trampoline soon feel like the most natural things in the world. And, unlike a traditional exercise class, you don’t need to be particularly coordinated. In fact, since the trampoline is like your own private space, you’re focused 100% on your own movements, rather than trying hopelessly to stay in time with the person in front of you. High intensity intervals combine with tension band training that add up to a seriously sweaty 50 minutes. Choose from abs; legs and butt; cardio and core; shoulders and butt; or total body. Either way, you’re going to work harder than you have in a long time. Currently teaching out of DANY Studios, on W38th St - 8th/9th Ave, the classes have proved so popular Louis is hoping to open up his own Hell’s Kitchen space soon.
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“I tell people the trampoline is almost like your lover – you don’t want to be too far away from it.”
“I always had a large trampoline in my back yard,” he says. “I’d lay down at night and wonder, ‘What am I going to do when I get older?’ I’ve made a really good career, I’ve worked with some celebrity clients, I’ve travelled the world with them, keeping them in shape, and I never thought it would go full circle back to a trampoline.” He was introduced to the trampoline as an exercise aid while working with Tracy Anderson, and fell head over heels in love with it. But before you start thinking this just some other nostalgic fitness fad, like the ab roller or thigh cruncher, know this: Nasa has carried out research into trampoline training and its findings were significant.
Above: Knees bent, feet slightly apart, you and the trampoline soon become buddies.
HEALTH & FITNESS THERE’S THE RUB
•
“The external work output at equivalent levels of oxygen uptake were significantly greater while trampolining than running. The greatest difference was about 68%.”
• •
“The ratio of oxygen consumption compared to biomechanical conditioning was sometimes more than twice as efficient as treadmill running.” “The G-force measured at the ankle was always more than twice the G-force measured at the back and forehead while running on a treadmill … While jumping on a trampoline, the G-force was almost the same at all three points (ankle, back, forehead) and well below the rupture threshold of a normal healthy individual.” “The lifting up and down shakes up every muscle in your body, every cell,” explains Louis in language slightly closer to English. “The circulatory system has the heart and that’s constantly pumping the blood in and out. But the lymphatic system has no pump, so all the heavy metal, bacteria, dead blood cells, everything that’s wasteful in our bodies sits in the lymphatic system, and the only way it cleanses itself is through movement. And the best movement is vertical acceleration/deceleration because it’s shaking up the system, it’s pumping out the fluid.” It’s especially beneficial for women,
“The lymphatic system has no pump, so everything that’s wasteful in our bodies sits there, and the only way it cleanses itself is through movement.”
he says, because wearing a bra can constrict the lymph nodes. “The bouncing helps free all that up,” he says. Don’t forget your sports bra though – you don’t want to bounce TOO much! On top of that, the sweating flushes out toxins, and every muscle contracts with every jump you make. “You’re almost weightless when you jump, then when your feet hit the trampoline you’re two or four times your body weight, but it’s at a lower impact so it’s offering bone strengthening and muscular strengthening.” Most importantly, he says, it’s fun, “because you’re not thinking about anything else but staying on that trampoline”. For the record, I never fell off once. www.trampolean.nyc
About Louis He started fitness training at 19, and completed a degree in exercise science at Adelphi University. He owns and manages Body Architect LLC, specializing in training private clients. He is a fitness expert for Fox 5 News and has been featured in Redbook, Self, Weight Watchers and Cosmopolitan magazines.
Soreness and exercise go hand in hand, but the reasons for that ache can be down to all kinds of imbalance in the body – from the acids, proteins and hormones to lactic acid, fluids and electrolytes. “During exercise, the muscle fibers are repeatedly stretched and stressed,” explains Rita Ewing, ex-wife of Hall of Fame NBA athlete Patrick Ewing. “The body’s natural response to this involves an inflammatory action to the damage. Soreness post-exercise is usually experienced within 24-48 hours after the physical activity.” Rita, a registered nurse, and owner of Massage Envy Spa on W42nd St, suggests taking protein, vitamin C and/or electrolyte supplements to help prevent muscle soreness. “A gradual build-up of an exercise routine will allow the muscles to build tolerance to any new activity,” she adds, “and will shorten the time needed for the muscle tissue to rebuild.” The best ‘cure’, though, is to simply let the muscles rest. Massage, too, can help ease the pain. It increases serotonin levels – which lowers pain naturally – increases the range of motion and flexibility and relaxes muscles. And where sports massage differs from other techniques, she says, is in the skilled techniques geared towards the athlete’s particular sport. “The focus is on the areas of the body that are overused and stressed from repetitive movements. Muscle tendon junctions are targeted, which results in decreased muscle soreness, increased endurance and an overall preparation of the athlete’s mind and body for optimal performance.” www.massageenvy.com
His ultimate goal is to empower the inner athlete that lives in each of us.
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HEALTH
SUPER HUMAN
She’s cycling and rowing her way around the globe, but Sarah Outen describes the toll that takes on her body … and her mind
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think it just hit me the last couple of days how big a challenge it is to jump in a kayak after six months’ cycling.” So said a weary-looking paddler sat by a campfire on a remote beach in far eastern Russia in autumn 2011. I had just kayaked my first couple of days to the island of Sakhalin after cycling across Europe and Asia from London. Somehow this part of the equation had totally bypassed my 24-year-old self in all the preparation for my London2London:via the World journey in which I am attempting to loop the planet using human power.
“It never occurred to me when I set out in 2011 that it might be my health which could compromise the success of the expedition.” A few years and another 11,000 miles on and I am well tuned in to the idea that transitions in the journey can be mentally challenging and that the cumulative physical toll on my body is significant. Knowing that something can be challenging at least means you can be prepared to deal with it. I recently cycled into NYC after spending the last six and a half months cycling from western Alaska across the continent. Through the winter. I am not done cycling yet – I still have 400 miles or so to cycle up to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, but am making the most of some time in the city to give talks, hang out with friends and catch up with myself. My mind and body need sleep, my muscles need massage and my soul is happy for that reassuring, comforting energy of old friends – a total distraction
from the efforts of life on the road. I have found that it isn’t just the physical journey that can exhaust, but the mental challenges of keeping all the different plates spinning. While kayaking through Alaska last summer I had to have part of my brain dealing with logistics of the ocean row across the Atlantic this summer. Before going away for that phase I was packing boxes for two phases ahead. If I spent too much time thinking on the whole mission it would freak me out and I would never leave the tent – there is a fine balance between maintaining the big picture while focusing and accomplishing the day-to-day of the journey. Hence the need to pause and refresh, hopefully before my body or brain crashes. Maintenance massage is really important for overworked muscles and tender joints and can often be hard to fulfill, given that I might be miles or months from another person, let alone a decent sports masseur. Stretching and self-massage therefore (with hockey balls or foam roller) is part of my daily routine and I load up on massage and physio when I can. Another daily
Above: Sarah – and her bike Hercules – arrive in Times Square.
ritual is vitamins and probiotics to help support my immune system and daily protein shakes to promote muscle repair. All these years and miles of intensive, heavy journeys have, according to my insurer, probably left me with the joints of someone 20 years my senior. Various health issues along the way – pneumonia, severe allergies and infections – have shown me that sleep is as important to me as fuel. Whenever I stop, like now in NYC, I make it a priority to fully repay my sleep debt and cache some more in the bank. It never occurred to me when I set out 2011 that it might be my health which could compromise the success of the expedition. Knowing signs and symptoms and recognizing my limits and timescales for repair and refueling have become really important cues. The same goes for the mental side of things. I have worked with a pyschotherapist since rowing solo across the Indian Ocean in 2009. Working with her was really helpful in understanding myself, figuring out some strategies and putting perspective on stressful situations. When depression hit after my rescue from a tropical storm in 2012, that support and guidance probably saved my life. It can be a side of our lives we often neglect, yet to my mind it is just like the attention that we pay our muscles etc by getting massage or physiotherapy. Touching base with Dr Briony Nicholls over Skype will also be on my To Do List while here in the Big Apple. The goal for this week is to be ready to ride on in mind, body and bike – refreshed, stretched, balanced as much as possible. For it is both elements – the mechanical and mental which are going to get me home and have got me thus far. www.sarahouten.com Thanks to masseur Victor Martinez, of Massage Envy Spa, for helping Sarah on the road to recovery
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Join The Community ‘Like’ W42ST on Facebook and join the the rest of the neighborhood to see and share what’s happening in Hell’s Kitchen go to WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/W42ST or search W42ST FACEBOOK
HEALTH
The FOMO factor As our diaries fill up, we’re faced with the fear of missing out. But there is a way to find balance, says Dr Tama Lane
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eople who need people are the luckiest people in the world. Two are better than one. No man is an island. A dream you dream together is reality. As these phrases suggest, the key ingredient to sustained healthy wellbeing and happiness are positive social relationships. Our inner cowgirl/cowboy might yearn to trot into the sunset alone, but we all thrive with others. Let’s face it, Clint Eastwood never seemed happy as a lone rider. We are all on the same Hudson River Ferry – whether single, coupled, young, mature or any other delineation – human social interactions matter. We live in a madly accelerated culture where social interaction is encouraged. Including Facebook and a blizzard of social media outlets, we are no longer limited to a handful of contacts, close friends or sporadic engagements. The riptide of after-work libations, hit-or-miss networking events and simply hundreds of connecting opportunities add an exciting layer to our already busy lives. However, one must proceed with caution as you traverse the NY social zone – social blueprints are drafted, schedules are flooded, gaps are filled, me-time hot spots are evacuated. Prior to writing this article, I consulted with a good friend who skillfully maneuvers the demands of her unrelenting social diary. Despite being the ‘queen of the NY scene’, she admits to increased anxiety, low energy, dreading stillness … and suffering from FOMO. FUBU? MOFO? FOMO? HUH? FOMO (Fear of Missing Out): On something or someone you believe is more interesting or exciting.
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expectations. However, we can untangle the social web and choose to be where we want, when we want, and with whom we want. That is not FOMO, but a life well lived. Perhaps other ingredients can be added to slightly adjust how we navigate through this culturally rich environment, find balance and enjoy the journey and happiness we chase.
Dump FOMO – embrace JOMO
“We can untangle the social web and choose to be where we want, when we want, and with whom we want. That is not FOMO, but a life well lived.”
2 3
On the potential for a different or better type of connection.
Triggers an insecurity and anxiety about life choices.
This is indeed a cultural juxtaposition – a society that encourages both a culture of connection and culture of distraction. We are in a constant state of overstimulation, but increasingly distracted from people, situations, self and the world that surrounds us. This limits full emotional engagement and interaction with others. To top it off, the more distracted you are, the easier it is for you to be distracted. In reality, it is impossible to be in all places, with all people, and meet all
Yes, there is a known cure for FOMO – the Joy of Missing Out (JOMO). ‘Know Thyself’ is the two-word cornerstone of self-awareness. It is impossible to fully be present and enjoy our social or professional lives unless we have crystal clear vision about what we value, moves us and what choices make us happier. We are all in control of our levels of sociability, with the power to say ‘no’. Deliberate practice of focusing inward allows us to zero in on the people, places or situations that enable us to be our best, bring out our best and authentic self in any setting – taking the fear out of FOMO and rejoice in missing out joyfully.
Dr Tama Lane is a clinical psychologist who is a proud resident of W42ST. She has her own private practice on the UWS www.nypng.com and operates a pro bono site for survivors of trauma at www. drtamalane.com. You can email her at drtamalane@ gmail.com.
The art of being still – go nowhere
Stillness is not a passive activity. The motion of stillness takes effort and can be scary for many. However, give yourself the gift to ‘scare yourself every day’. Stillness erases the buffer between you and the sheer chaos of life demands. It allows us to sift through the rubble to make sense of the past, here-and-now, and future. It is only in sitting still that we allow ourselves to reflect on our defining moments – honor our limits, have insight and deep connections, and take a driver’s seat to change our life for the better. In this age of constant movement and distraction, we can all travel far when going nowhere.
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HEALTH
MODERN MATCHMAKER Need a concierge for your love life? You’re in luck
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nline dating really should’ve made it easier to meet people, shouldn’t it? Somehow, though, it can seem even more complicated. All that choice. All those creeps and time-wasters. Add to that the crazy-long hours we’re working and it’s frankly astonishing the human race continues to procreate and thrive. If that feels like you, you’re not alone. Meet Anthony Recenello, a man once plagued by social anxiety who, since 2006, has been coaching people on dating from his base in Hell’s Kitchen. And, the more he did it, the more he noticed a trend: high-powered men and women in their late 20s to late 40s, working insane hours who, for whatever reason, find themselves single. Perhaps they’re out of a long relationship and have lost their mojo. Perhaps they were so busy molding their fabulous career, they never really had a dating mojo in the first place. It just wasn’t a priority at the time. “I just had a client who is 50 years old,” he says. “He’d been in a nine-year marriage, had just signed his divorce papers and was like, ‘I’ve just lost nine years of my life’. He was trying to be the 40-year-old man he’d been. He’d missed all of that and wanted to relive it – go and meet people again. “This guy is just an amazing person,” says Anthony. “He has commercial buildings in Long Island and owns a farm in South America. He has all these amazing things going on. “What I do is teach people how to go out and talk to people, to interact and make friends and date people.” But what if you’re so time-poor, so caught up in a job that demands 120%, you don’t even have time to do that: to go out and test your new-found social skills in bars and cafes and clubs. When several clients started asking for
Anthony Recenello is joining Team W42ST as a resident dating expert. As well as writing a regular column on the scene, he can help with readers’ questions. So don’t be shy. Send your relationship dilemmas to dating@w42st.com and we’ll do the rest.
“What if I do all the work for my clients? Figure out exactly what they want in a person, in every aspect, then just bring that to them?” a matchmaker service, he thought they were crazy. After all, going out and meeting people is a pretty essential step in the whole process, right? Then he figured: “What if I do all the work for my clients? Figure out exactly what they want in a person, in every aspect, then just bring that to them? After they’ve worked a 14-hour day they could leave the office and go to a date with somebody that is good
for them, someone they hopefully have chemistry with.” And so he began the transformation into modern matchmaker, alias Mervyn Bunter. He already knows what his clients – celebrities, successful, affluent, looking-for-something-serious – want. All he has to do is filter through the fans, the gold-diggers and the fakers to create great dates with some great matches. “We schedule the dates based on their interests,” he explains. “So let’s say you love Picasso and she loves Matisse; we bring you to the MoMA. Let’s say you guys are both athletic, then we set up rock climbing at Chelsea Piers. So we keep the dates really interesting.” He supplies a stylist, tips on how to make the best impression, then plans a meeting that will make for a really great night … even if you don’t meet the man or woman of your dreams. www.mervynbunter.com
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PETS
Wagging
IMAGES: PHIL O’BRIEN
Jack Human’s name: Mike. Breed: Cairn terrier. Age: Ten. Best friends: When I get to the park, I’m focused on my ball. What makes me bark?: I just love that blue ball. Three words that describe me: I have the temperament of a terrier, I’m very lovable and very much an individual. My confession: I’ve done more than a few bad things in my life. I broke my owner’s thumb once by biting through their thumbnail.
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Reese Human’s name: Stephan. Breed: Shepherd lab. Age: 14 months. Best friends: Gatsby and I are the same age and great friends. What makes me bark?: I’m addicted to the stick, simple as that. Three words that describe me: Playful, energetic, jumpy. My confession: I like giving kisses – I jump up and try to kiss my human on the mouth.
Winston Human’s name: Atallah. Breed: Bulldog. Age: Almost two. Best friends: I have a bunch of friends in the neighborhood – Ace, another bulldog, Riley. What makes me bark?: Food, attention. I whine more than I bark. Three words that describe me: Determined, playful, goofy. My confession: I’m pretty good – the one thing I do more than I probably should is have a hot dog from the hot dog cart every weekend.
tales Pepay Human’s name: Richard. Breed: English bulldog. Age: Four. Best friends: Herman, a boxer, is my best friend from San Francisco. What makes me bark?: I love to play tug of war with ropes. Three words that describe me: I have a lot of personality – in a way I’m like a cat: I only do what I want to do. My confession: I’m amazingly good. My human says I’m just stubborn and spoiled. Sometimes I have to be fed by hand.
PETS These camera-happy canines took a time out from the morning stroll for a quick Q&A with W42ST
Wesley Human’s name: Bert. Breed: Great Dane. Age: Three. Best friends: All my best buddies at Dog City. What makes me bark?: I never really bark – only when I get excited. Three words that describe me: Bold, regal, beautiful. My confession: I travel with my human everywhere – planes, trains and automobiles. We just came back from Miami.
Gatsby and Sop hie Human’s name: Deborah. Breed: Weimaraner. Age: 13 months and nine years. Best friends: Reese. What makes us bark?: When we chase the ball. Three words that describe us: Amazing, snuggly, crazy. Our confession: Sophie can be stubborn but Gatsby is an angel.
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PETS
Creature comforts Treats for cats and dogs have moved on since the days of balls of wool and sticks – check out these purrfect presents for new ways to cosset your pet
BET YOUR BOOTS
THIRSTY WORK
THESE PAWS WERE MADE FOR WALKIN’
SUCH A TEASE
Designed for the trunk of your SUV, the Soft Touch Pet Bed provides a cushioned surface that’s as comfortable for your pet as it is protective for your car. Ideal for transporting mucky pups home after a day of al fresco capers. Soft Touch Pet Bed, $59.99, www.kohls.com
There’s nothing that can spoil a good walk like suddenly realizing your dog’s water is on the table or your poop bags are in your other pants. The DOOG Walkie Bag keeps all your pet paraphernalia in one easy-to-wear shoulder holder. DOOG Walkie Bag, $39.99, www.doogusa.com
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All those walkies means a hound can work up a thirst. This lightweight bowl folds up so you can fit one in your back pocket. Just use the poppers in the corners to build the bowl from flat then fill it with water. Portable water bowl, $7.99, www.doogusa.com
This clever little gadget whirls around a tempting teaser for cats to chase after and attack. The toy runs for ten minutes when operated, or can be preset to turn on at set times throughout the day. Electronic Mountable Teaser Cat Toy, $53.98, www.amazon.com
PETS
DOGGY BAG
FETCH
THEY SEE ME STROLLIN’
STOP AND STAIR
HOLDING THE PURSE STRINGS
LITTLE BOX OF TOY BREEDS
Here, there and everywhere: this Quilted Luxe Metro Bag is made for carrying dogs with somewhat loftier aspirations than sniffing others’ behinds. Airline approved, the USA-made bag features two open pockets and a removable faux fur lining. Quilted Metro Bag, $250, www.tailsinthecity.com
For pets of a certain age, the ligaments aren’t quite what they used to be, so they’ll welcome the chance to still ascend to the dizzying heights of the sofa or the bed. Constructed out of high-density foam, these faux sheepskin steps are suitable for pets up to 20lb. Four-step Pet Stairs, $89.99, www.petsmart.com
When your dog retrieve the ball and drops it in the Fetch ’N’ Treat, out pops a food reward. Once you’re out of treats, you can re-run the famous ‘Skinner’s rats’ experiment and see if your dog will keep trying for a reward indefinitely. Not cruel – science. Fetch ’N’ Treat, $29.99, www.petsmart.com
Your pet knows not where the call of fashion will take them next; only that they must answer it. Let fashionista Fidos channel their inner, well, Chanel with this super-stylish purse toy, a dog handbag for handbag dogs. Chewnel purse toy, $15, www.tailsinthecity.com
Have your dog don a Thelma and Louise-style headscarf and take them for a spin in this sporty little stroller, which is the same color as the duo’s Ford Thunderbird, and features a soft top, too. Who knows where you might end up? Happy trailer, $330, www.bitchnewyork.com
A must for on-the-go owners, the three-in-one bike basket is equally at home slung over the shoulder as it is securely fastened to a car seat as it is fixed to a bike. Petite pets need never stay behind again. Comes with free universal bike adaptor. Three-in-one basket, $80, www.bitchnewyork.com
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Animal Care
Directory
New York Beer Company
West Vibe Hair Salon
Empire Coffee & Tea Company
www.nybeercompany.com
www.westvibe.com
www.empirecoffeetea.com
Coco and Toto
321 W44th St - 8th/9th Ave (212) 245-2337
www.cocoandtoto.com
Pacha New York
Beer, Wine & Spirits
www.pachanyc.com
460 W34th St - 9th/10th Ave (212) 564-6830
730 11th Ave - 52/53 St (212) 956-5822
The Spot Experience
618 W46th St - 11th/12th Ave (212) 209-7500
www.thespotexperience.com
Scallywag’s Irish Pub
600 W42nd St - 11th/12th Ave (646) 767- 4199
451 W46th St - 9th/10th Ave (212) 265-6794
34th Street Wine & Spirits
www.34thstreetwineandspirits.com
Westside Animal Hospital
508 9th Ave - 38th/39th St (646) 490-4803
42nd Street Wine Loft
www.scallywagsnyc.com
507 W42th St - 10th/11th Ave (212) 736-1375
www.westsideanimalnyc.com
The Pony Bar
Grand Cru Wine & Spirits
www.theponybar.com
www.grandcruny.com
453 W46th St - 9th/10th Ave (212) 247-8600
Auto Services
637 10th Ave - 45th/46th St (212) 586-2707
415 W54th St - 9th/10th Ave (212) 265-3120
Tir Na Nog
54th Street Auto Center www.54thstreetautocenter.com
Cyber Tire and Car Care 726 11th Ave - 52nd St (212) 265-1177 www.cyberttire.com
Bars & Clubs
Alquimia Bistro Bar
506 9th Ave - 38th/39th St (646) 370-3578 www.alquimianyc.com
House of Brews
302 W51st St - 8th/9th Ave (212) 541-7080
www.houseofbrewsny.com
Iron Bar
713 8th Ave - 45th/46th St (212) 961-7507 www.ironbarnyc.com
Molloy’s Irish Pub
737 9th Ave - 49th/50th St (212) 247-3400 www.molloyspub.com
Mr. Biggs Bar & Grill
596 10th Ave - 43rd/44th St (212) 246-2030
www.mrbiggsnewyork.com
315 W39 St - 8th/9th Ave (212) 760-0072
570 11th Ave - 43rd/44th St (646) 682-9278
Ninth Avenue Vintner – Liquor Store
568 9th Ave - 41st/42nd St (212) 268-1220
Garden City Deli
607 9th Ave - 43rd/44th St (212) 974-0573
International Grocery 543 9th Ave - 43rd/44th St (212) 279-1000
www.internationalgrocerynyc.com
Port Deli
681 8th Ave - 43rd/44th St (212) 245-2362
Poseidon Greek Bakery 362 W45th St - 8th/9th Ave (212) 757-6173
669 9th Ave - 46th/47th St (212) 664-9463
Schmackary’s Cookies
Veritas Studio Wines
Stiles Farmers’ Market
www.9thavenuebarbershop.com
527 W45th St - 10th/11th Ave (212) 581-3163
Albano Salon
Cyclist Shops
Tehuitzingo Deli & Grocery
www.albanosalonnyc.com
693 10th Ave - 47th/48th St (212) 247-3300
www.tehuitzingo.net
www.tirnanognyc.com
Beauty & Well-being 9th Avenue Barbershop 495 9th Ave - 37th/38th St
450 9th Ave - 35th/36th St (212) 967-4726
David Ryan Salon
429 W46th St - 9th/10th Ave (212) 956-1830 www.davidryansalon.com
Erik’s Barbershop
660 10th Ave - 46th/47th St (212) 459-2884
www.ninthavenuevintner.com
Al’s Cycle Solutions
www.alscyclesolutions.com
Enoch’s Bike Shop
480 10th Ave - 36th/37th St (212) 582-0620 www.enochsbikes.com
www.puradermatology.com
Taqueria Tehuitzingo
578 9th Ave - 41st/42nd St (646) 707-3916
Westerly Natural Market
Florists
653 10th Ave - 46th/47th St (212) 581-4500
444 W43rd St - 10th/11th Ave (646) 473-0274
Metro Bicycles – Hell’s Kitchen
446 W38th St - 9th/10th Ave (646) 706-7747
695 10th Ave - 47th/48th St (212) 397-5956
www.libertybikesny.com
Luxe Den Salon & Spa
Pura Dermatology
352 W52nd St - 8th/9th Ave (212) 582-3088
911 8th Ave - 54th/55th St (212) 586-5262
846 9th Ave - 55th/56th St (212) 757-2418
www.luxe-den.com
www.schmackarys.com
Liberty Bicycles
www.eriksbarbershop.com
519 8th Ave - 35th/36th St (212) 9716100
362 W45th St - 8th/9th Ave
www.metrobicycles.com
www.westerlynaturalmarket.com
Fresh Cut Flowers, Inc. www.freshcut444.com
Delis, Food & Drink
Health & Fitness
941 8th Ave - 56th/57th St (212) 245-0007
315 W36th St - 8th/9th Ave (646) 234-8425
Bread & Honey
www.breadandhoneynyc.com
CrossFit Hell’s Kitchen NYC www.crossfithellskitchen.com
Manhattan Plaza Health Club 482 W43rd St - 9th/10th Ave (212) 563-7001
Restaurants, Diners & Cafes
MedRite
647 W42nd St - 11th/12th Ave (212) 594-4312
www.medriteurgentcare.com
Adella
www.mphc.com
330 W42nd St - 8th/9th Ave (212) 695-4444
42nd Street Pizza
www.42ndstrestaurant.com
Mid-City Gym
410 W43rd St - 9th/10th Ave (212) 273-0737
www.midcitygym.com
Afghan Kebab House
345 W42nd St - 8th/9th Ave (212) 757-0850
Rolates Pilates
939 8th Ave - 55th/56th St (212) 247-9603 www.rolates.com
Professional Services Gotham Mini Storage
501 10th Ave - 38th/39th St (212) 931-5731
www.gothamministorage.com
Hartley House
413 W46th St - 9th/10th Ave (212) 246-9885
www.hartleyhouse.org/space-rental
Jadite Custom Picture Framing 662 10th Ave - 46th/47th St (212) 977-6190 www.jaditeart.com
Keep Your Home Clean 353 W48th St - 9th/10th Ave (646) 238-5924
www.keepyourhomeclean.com
Lanyon36
www.adellanyc.com
764 9th Ave - 37th/38th St (212) 303-1612
465 W51st St - 9th/10th Ave (212) 262-2920 www.azuricafe.com
Baluchi’s Indian Food
493 9th Ave - 37th/38th Ave (212) 695 2222 www.baluchis.com
Better Being 940
537 9th Ave - 40th/41st St (212) 353-1986
Bis.Co.Latte
667 10th Ave - 47th/48th St (212) 581-3900 www.biscolatte.com
Bricco Ristorante
304 W56th St - 8th/9th Ave (212) 245-7160 www.bricconyc.com
M2 Organic Cleaners
www.thecafegrind.com
Prudence Design & Events 347 W36th St - 8th/9th Ave
www.prudencedesignsnyc.com
The ReGallery
362 W36th St - 8th/9th Ave
www.facebook.com/theregallerynyc
www.ohmygoshcoffee.com
www.jollymonknyc.com
701 9th Ave - 48th/49th St (646) 657-0080
Hell’s Chicken
Kava Cafe
www.hellschickennyc.com
www.kavanyc.com
641 10th Ave - 45th/46th St (212) 757-1120
470 W42nd St - 10th/11th Ave (212) 239-4442
Il Forno
713 8th Ave - 45th/46th St (212) 247-1978 www.ilfornonyc.com
continued over
TO GET YOUR HELL’S KITCHEN BUSINESS LISTING IN HERE:
www.betterbeing.net
The Cafe Grind
826 9th Ave - 54th/55th St (212) 954-7417
The Jolly Monk
555 W42nd St - 10th/11th Ave (917) 916-9408
Azuri
365 W36th St - 8th/9th Ave www.lanyon36.com
Green Nature Coffee House
477 10th Ave - 36th/37th St (212) 279-4100
Cupcake Cafe
545 9th Ave - 40th/41st St (212) 465-1530
#W42S ITN
AVEN IT’S HE KITCHEN HELL’S
Get one of these in your window
#Yourbiz
www.cupcakecafe-nyc.com
Dafni Greek Taverna
325 W42nd St - 8th/9th Ave (212) 315-1010 www.dafnitaverna.com
Email us at sticker@w42st.com
Restaurants, Diners & Cafes (cont.) La Scarpetta
439 9th Ave - 9th/10th Ave (646) 484-5733 www.jonnypanini.com
Landmark Tavern
626 11th Ave - 46th/47th St (212) 247-2562
www.thelandmarktavern.org
Lucky’s Famous Burgers 370 W52nd St - 8th/9th St (212) 247-6717
www.luckysfamousburgers.com
Market Diner
572 11th Ave - 43rd/44th St (212) 244-2888 www.marketdinernyc.com
Nano Ecuadorian Kitchen 691 10th Ave - 47th/48th St www.nanobarnyc.com
Ninth Avenue Vintner – Beer & Cheese 671 9th Ave - 46th/47th St (212) 957-7500
www.vintnerwinemarketny.com
Noodies
830 9th Ave - 54th/55th St (646) 669-7828 www.noodiesnyc.com
Oovah
496 9th Avenue (212) 967-3892
www.oovahnyc.com
Pio Pio
604 10th Ave - 43rd/44th St (212) 459-2929 www.piopio.com
Pom Pom Diner
610 11th Ave - 45th/46th St (212) 397-8395 www.pompomdiner.com
Quinn’s NYC Bar and Grill 356 W44th St - 8th/9th Ave (212) 445-0131 www.quinnsnyc.com
Route 66 Cafe
858 9th Ave - 55th/56th St (212) 977-7600 www.route66nyc.com
Sangria 46
338 W46th St - 8th/9th Ave (212) 581-8482 www.sangria46nyc.com
Sea Breeze Fish Market 541 9th Ave - 40th/41st St (212) 563-7537
www.seabreezefishmarkets.com
Sergimmo Salumeria 456 9th Ave - 35th/36th St (212) 967-4212 www.sergimmo.com
SIRI Thai
641 10th Ave - 45th/46th St (212) 245-4601 www.sirithainyc.com
Staghorn Steakhouse 315 W36th St - 8th/9th Ave (212) 239-4390
www.staghornsteakhouse.com
Tartina
653 9th Ave - 45th/46th St (646) 590-0577 www.tartinanyc.com
Troy Turkish Grill
539 9th Ave - 39th/40th St (212) 465-0888 www.troyturkishgrill.com
Tulcingo Del Valle
665 10th Ave - 46th/47th St (212) 262-5510
www.tulcingorestaurant.com
Uncle Vanya Cafe
315 W54th St - 8th/9th Ave (212) 262-0542
Zoob Zib
462 9th Ave - 35th/36th St (212) 971-8530
GET YOUR MESSAGE TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
Retailers
Adam 99 Cents Plus
760 10th Ave - 51st/52nd St
American Home Hardware & More
590 9th Ave - 42nd/43rd St (212) 765-7356
If you are based in Hell’s Kitchen there only is one choice:
Columbus Hardware Inc. 852 9th Ave - 55th/56th St (212) 265-2425
www.columbushardwareinc.com
Crystal Art & Craft Design 493 9th Ave - 37th/38th St
www.crystalartandcraftdesign.com
F & D Pawnbrokers
359 W54th St - 8th/9th Ave (212) 586-3707
To advertise in W42ST
Morning Star News
412 W43rd St - 9th/10th Ave
Popular Carpet Distributors 432 W38th St - 9th/10th Ave www.popularcarpet.com
Thrift & New Shop
602 9th Ave - 43rd/44th St (212) 265-3087
Call (646) 828-7813 Or email ads@w42st.com
Columbus Hardware
Locksmith Hardware Paints Plumbing Hardware
Mon-Fri: 8.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m. Sat: 9.00 a.m. - 3.00 p.m. We offer Merchant and Contractor Discounts
852 9th ave - W55/W56 Call 212-265-2425 Fax 212-265-7588 www.columbushardwareinc.com
Join at www.climbingfish.com
LAST WORD
IMAGE: EDMUND V GILLON/MCNY, WORDS: CAROLINA PAULINO
PHOTO FINISH
425-437 W50th St - 9th/10th Ave (c1980)
I
nspired by theater and the jazz age, Ralph Walker helped shape the New York skyline during the Roaring Twenties. He saw buildings as a blank canvas, calling his work “art devoted to interpreting human needs”. He designed this building in 1927 for the New York Telephone Company. However, the original owner outgrew its home and, in 2013, it was converted to luxury condos selling for anything from $1.5 million to more than $9 million.
74
“Stella Tower is considered one of Walker’s signature expressions of art deco in architecture.”
Renamed after Walker’s wife, Stella, the building is considered one of the architect’s signature legacies – pure art deco. There are intricate carvings and ornamentation in the brickwork. And, inside, the grille and the chandelier in the lobby have been carefully preserved, retaining the glamor intended by Walker. This photograph, though taken in 1980, feels much older – mainly thanks to the presence of a horse and carriage and vintage cars.