W42ST issue 46 - Hell's Kitchen Heroes

ISSUE 46 OCTOBER 2018 FREE

H E L L' S KITC H E N

H E R O ES

MEANWHILE ...

EXCLUSIVE MARGARET CHO INTERVIEW; THE INCAPABLE TRUMP; STAN LEE; MODERN WITCHCRAFT; INTREPID VETERANS; ALL-AMERICAN BODEGA BROTHERS; PLUS BROADWAY; FOOD & DRINK; FITNESS ... AND DOGS!

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IMPORTANT CREDIT TERMS 3 There is an introductory 0% APR for purchases and balance transfers for 12 months; after that, a variable APR of 14.24% to 26.74% applies. There is a variable cash advance APR of 25.74% to 27.74%. These APRs will be based on your creditworthiness and will vary with the market based on U.S. Prime Rate. A balance transfer request must be made within 120 days from account opening to qualify for the introductory APR. Minimum finance charge of no less than $1.00. An introductory balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of each balance transfer, whichever is greater, for 120 days from account opening applies; after that, a fee of up to 5% for each balance transfer, with a minimum of $5. A cash advance fee of either $10 or 5% of the amount of each advance, whichever is greater. An overdraft protection advance fee of $12.50 or $20 per day applies. This information about the cost of the credit card account described here is accurate as of 06/13/2018. To find out what may have changed, call 1-800-932-6736.

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“A TRUE THEATRICAL ORIGINAL.” –BACKSTAGE

“Blending personal memory with original songs, Black Light glows.”

–THE VILLAGE VOICE

JOMAMA JONES IN

BLACK LIGHT LIMITED ENGAGEMENT SEPT. 24 – DEC. 31 Created by DANIEL ALEXANDER JONES Original Songs by JOMAMA JONES with BOBBY HALVORSON, LAURA JEAN ANDERSON, DYLAN MEEK and JOSH QUAT

Visit w42st.com/blacklight to enter to WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO BLACK LIGHT NYCBlacklight.com or call OvationTix at 866-811-4111

When I was small, my heroes were people who seemed to have it all. Rich, beautiful pop stars or actors or fantasy figures. Their airbrushed faces adorned my bedroom wall, and I’d fall asleep dreaming of how I might, one day, meet them and be part of their perfect lives. Sigh.

You won’t find any of those people in this month’s magazine. You know why? Because they don’t exist, stupid! We’re all flawed in a million different ways. The ones who can accept that, and remain vital and funny and compassionate – they’re heroes in my book.

Ruth Walker Editor, W42ST THE TEAM THAT BROUGHT YOU W42ST

PUBLISHER PHIL O’BRIEN

EDITOR RUTH WALKER

phil@w42st.com (646) 535-4407

ruth@w42st.com (646) 847-9645

FOUNDING EDITOR SIMON KIRRANE

SENIOR ART EDITOR LEE CAPLE

AMBASSADORS HERSHEY MILLER

lee@w42st.com

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR SANDRA MANGAN sandra@w42st.com

PARTNERSHIP DIRECTOR DREW DARGIS drew@w42st.com (646) 896-9562

CONTRIBUTORS

NACHO GUEVARA VICKY KUPERMAN SAMINA KALLOO

JIM CARUSO TOM FERVOY ILONA LIEBERMAN

KRISTEN JONGEN CLAUDIA CHUNG SOPHIA STRAWSER

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be used without written permission of the publisher ©2018. 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.

CONTENTS October Edition 18 PEOPLE 12 MY HELL’S KITCHEN

What does a modern witch look like? This, my friends .... she looks like this.

15 EVENTS

Our pick of the ten events you MUST see this month.

17 VICKY KUPERMAN

The only thing worse than this summer in the city would be not getting the hell out of it. But where did Vicky escape to?

26 SHARKS, RACISM, AND OTHER STORIES

What happened when three young men, fresh out of school, joined the US Navy.

48 GALLERY

Our Instagram picks of the month.

Hashtag your photographs #W42ST to get involved.

66 LAST WORD

Comic book legend Stan Lee on what REALLY makes a superhero.

OUT

18 MARGARET CHO

30 JIM CARUSO

23 BODEGA HEROES

33 IT’S SHOWTIME

The comedian and all-round media goddess on growing up bi, getting sober, and going into politics. Maybe.

A tribute to these all-American brothers.

Jim’s show biz friends on the people they look up to – from Joan Rivers to Joni Mitchell.

Our at-a-glance guide to all things Broadway and Off-Broadway.

GRATITUDE TO OUR BRILLIANT, VISIONARY PARTNERS

MARGARET CHO IMAGE: ALBERT SANCHEZ

Their commitment keeps W42ST free for everyone else to enjoy. Please support them with your love and your business.

Acupuncture by Kristin Misik Chez Josephine Adella Circle Line Sightseeing AKA NYC Cruises Aoife Collins David Ryan Salon Barcade Dianne & Elisabeth Beer Culture Elizabeth Saunders Voice Belle Isle Craft Spirits Studio Big Apple Meat Market Ensemble Studio Theatre Canine Retreat by Fine & Dandy American Kennel Club Fountain House Gallery

Gotham Mini Storage Intrepid Sea, Air Mark Fisher Fitness Green Fig & Space Museum Massage Envy Hafetz & Associates Jadite Picture Framing Method Japanese Kitchen Hell’s Creative Jillian Sage Yoga and Sake Bar Hell’s Kitchen Barbers Kiabacca MiDoctor Hell’s Kitchen Lansdowne Road Ñaño Ecuadorian Restaurant Flea Market Maidhattan New Victory Theater Hellcat Annie’s Tap Room Manganaro’s Hero Boy North River Lobster Co Hibernia Bar Manhattan Kayak + SUP NY Watertaxi Hudson’s at Pier 81 Manhattan Plaza Health Club OrganizeNY

Perdition PRINT Rolates Pilates Rufskin Silverstein Properties Stiles Farmers Market TF Cornerstone The Artist Co-op The Harrow The Marshal

The New York Medium The Polynesian The Press Lounge Title Boxing UT47 Wells Fargo WNET

Thanks

THE INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR FOR PRINTS AND EDITIONS OCTOBER 25–28 RIVER PAVILION JAVITS CENTER NEW YORK CITY

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT PRINTFAIR.COM

Edvard Munch, The Scream, 1895; Lithograph. (detail)

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34 THEATER INSIDER

Our series on Broadway’s unsung heroes continues with ... the man who gives Wicked’s monkeys their wings.

EAT 36 INTUITIVE EATING

Ditch the diet books and start listening to your body – could the hottest new eating trend be too good to be true?

39 STAFF SURVEY

He dresses like the Botanical Gardens and owns mini pigs called Boogie and Pickles. Could we love Henry Cordova more?

LIVING 40 HIGH RISE ART

The inside story of contortionist Jonathan Nosan’s “kinetically perilous” sculptures.

44

39

44 NOW DECOARATE

The eight home decor hero pieces we’re coveting right now.

47 HEY NEIGHBOR

Welcome to the hood, Michele.

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40

STYLE COVER Omar Mirza is assistant professor of psychiatry at Mt Sinai Hospital, and the man behind The Incapable Trump comic book series, along with Beezzz Studios. The second issue, which focuses on healthcare, will be launched this month at Comic Con. thelastansaars. com

50 FITNESS

The hotness factor at Cyc.

52 SOBER IN THE CITY

Kristen’s daughter takes over ... with some home truths for mom.

53 I GOT BOTOX

Then Claudia felt better.

57 KTCHLST

Insider tips from locals, plus the best of HK, from restaurants to bars to galleries. Contact drew@w42st.com to be on the list.

PETS 54 WAGGING TALES

Two pages of Hell’s Kitchen’s most handsome pups. Get involved by emailing waggingtales@w42st.com.

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MY HELL’S KITCHEN

Know someone cool who’d make a great subject for My Hell’s Kitchen? Put us in touch, we’ll do the rest. Email news@w42st.com

Resting No pointy hat, not much black ... and she doesn’t even cast spells! But Misty Bell Stiers is what a thoroughly modern witch looks like Photograph Phil O’Brien I’m a modern witch Which just means that I am Wiccan (Pagan). The impetus is to align my life, as closely as I can, with the natural rhythms of the world.

There’s no right or wrong way to practice The main focus is to honor the divine power in all living things, and to not do any harm along the way. So it’s not all that different from most normal religions; it’s just that, instead of seeing that divine power outside of people, I believe it rests inside.

I was brought up Catholic I was the Catholic Youth Organization camp counselor, I was on the CYO state board, all that stuff. Then, in my senior year, a dear friend committed suicide, and it threw me for a bit of a loop. I ended up at the doorstep of the rectory, and the priest told me that, because suicide was a mortal sin, I should pray for my friend’s soul. I think that was the moment where the door started to close, and I think my heart closed a little bit with it.

It took me a while to really process what that meant. And because Catholicism had been such a backbone in my life, I didn’t want to close the door on spirituality.

So I read a lot of books, asked a lot of questions, and spent a good deal of years absorbing as much as I could.

How I became a witch At the end of my college years, I had a friend who had a book called Drawing Down The Moon by Margot Adler, about

modern Paganism. I resisted at first, because I thought it represented fairies, and goth kids, and something that, to me, didn’t seem spiritual at all. But eventually she wore me down. I took the book home and read it, then I read it again, and it just seemed right. I’ve now been practicing Wicca for about 25 years.

I have no doubt that I have family members that pray for my soul But there was no real “coming out” moment with my parents. There were a few years where I would come home for Christmas and Dad would be like: “It means a lot to your mom. Could you please just come to mass?” And Mom would be like: “It means a lot to your dad, could you please come?” The only time it was probably a little uncomfortable for them was when I had kids, because we didn’t baptize them.

My husband isn’t Wiccan I like to say he belongs to the Church of Sam. He believes in being kind and drinking a lot of beer. But he celebrates with me. So we have meals and we do stuff on holidays and he’s a huge environmentalist. Before we got married, he took me out to his family cabin in Montana – I had never been someplace so wonderful. And he was like: “This is my church.” And I thought: “I think we can make this work.” Because the Wiccan faith is very much about nature.

Our kids know I’m a witch When they were really small we had a

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DIGITAL EDITION

Opposite: Misty where she’s happiest – in nature.

couple of times when it was sort of hurtful.

They were learning about stories – so you always have a good guy and a bad guy, and the bad guy was a witch. My son was upset and he told his teacher: “My mommy’s a witch.” She didn’t know what to do with that.

There’s no dress code …

If there were, I’d be wearing more black right now.

Spells? Magic?

They’re just prayers pointed somewhere else. Spells are just wishes stated out loud – they’re a way to focus energy on something to help you put your stake in the ground and then work towards it. It’s more about intention.

And I’m not making potions in my spare time either If I were, my life would look very different.

I’m a very modern witch So I wanted to write a book about debunking the myths. One of the things I say is: I’m a very disappointing witch.

Sorry! I want to give you a bunch of spells and conjure stuff but it’s just not me – it’s not what I do.

But I did want to remind people that, just because you aren’t a witch, just because you aren’t Wiccan, doesn’t mean there’s any less magic in your life.

And if you keep your heart and mind open to it, you’re constantly reminded of how wonderful the things around you are.

MY HELL’S KITCHEN

BIO Misty Bell Stiers is creative director of a New York ad agency. Her book, Witch Please, about being a modern witch and finding magic in unexpected places, was published earlier this year.

She lives with her husband and two children in Hell’s Kitchen. mistybellstiers.com MISTY’S HK Clinton Community Garden, W48th St -9th/10th Ave “The kids adore getting to volunteer there and help keep it maintained. I love seeing them get a chance to get dirty and help grow something wonderful.”

Bsquared, 9th Ave 46th/47th St “This is our family’s default for going out – it’s where we take visitors, where we celebrate birthdays and report cards, and any sort of special occasion. The food is impeccable and the service is amazing.”

Schmackary’s, W45th St 8th/9th Ave “What’s for dessert.

ALWAYS.” Columbus Library, 10th Ave 50th/51st St “Rainy days and sweltering days – or really just ANY days – are perfect for trips to our amazing local library.”

David Ryan Salon, W48th St 9th/10th Ave “Maria kleeps my purple hair purpled.”

Swing 46, W46th St - 8th/9th Ave “My perfect date with Sam would be dinner and dancing, with nightcaps at Dutch Fred’s.”

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IMAGINATION TAKES FLIGHT Visit the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum this fall to discover history and science in our exhibits and family-friendly programs.

OCTOBER ON INTREPID

JAZZ AMBASSADORS: COLD WAR DIPLOMACY OCTOBER 17—7:30pm Hear music performed by the Jazz Ambassadors during the Cold War, and learn about the racially integrated bands who performed around the globe, promoting an idealized image of America.

PANEL Wycliffe Gordon | Ingrid Monson | Penny Von Eschen Moderated by Robert O’Meally PERFORMANCE Wycliffe Gordon & His International All-Stars Tickets: $45 General/$35 Members.

Purchase online at intrepidmuseum.org/jazz.

Benny Goodman in Red Square, Moscow, Soviet Union, 1962.

Photo courtesy of the Irving S. Gilmore Music Library, Benny Goodman Papers, Yale University. This and other photos are part of an exhibition created by the Meridian International Center, Washington, D.C. Jazz Ambassadors: Cold War Diplomacy has been made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

MEMBER APPRECIATION MONTH SPECIAL OFFER! October is Member Appreciation Month!

As a special offer, join by October 31, 2018 and receive three additional months of membership for free.

MEMBERS ENJOY GREAT BENEFITS ALL YEAR! • • • •

PIER 86, WEST 46TH STREET & 12TH AVENUE

intrepidmuseum.org 2018 © Intrepid Museum Foundation. All Rights Reserved. Except as permitted under applicable law, this work may not be copied, published, disseminated, displayed, performed or played without permission of the copyright holder.

Invitations to exclusive member events Presales and discounts on tickets to programs Unlimited free admission all year Discounts on guest tickets, tours, and purchases at the Museum stores and restaurant • Discounts at local Hell’s Kitchen businesses

To learn more, visit intrepidmuseum.org/memberevents.

OCTOBER LET'S BE HAVING YOU,

NEWS

Five awesome events this month you’ll LOVE!

Mark O’Connor Family Band & Friends Jazz at Lincoln Center In a world first, the multi Country Music Award winner Mark O’Connor will appear with Grammy-winning guitarist and vocalist Alvin Youngblood Hart, and jazz and gospel singer Lizz Wright, performing a mix of blues, bluegrass, Cajun, gospel, folk, spirituals, and western swing music. There will be two shows on both October 5 and 6, with a free pre-concert discussion will at 6pm and 8:30pm each night. jazz.org

1

Lily Allen Terminal 5

King Kong Broadway Theatre With a book by Jack Thorne (the man behind Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), and with a score by Marius de Vries (La La Land and Moulin Rouge), this ambitious musical is chock full of robotics, puppetry … and a giant monkey. Previews begin October 5, with an opening night of November 8.

KingKongBroadway.com

The mouthy, politically woke, British singer songwriter tours her latest album, No Shame, stopping off in New York on October 20. terminal5nyc.com

American Son Booth Theatre

Torch Song The Hayes Theater Michael Urie and Mercedes Ruehl reprise the roles of Arnold Beckoff and his overbearing mother they played in the OffBroadway production of Harvey Fierstein’s heart-breaking, hilarious, semi-autobiographical story. Previews start October 9, and the show opens on November 1. torchsongbroadway.com

Kerry Washington and Steven Pasquale star in this story about a mother searching for her missing son in the middle of a Florida night.

Previews kick off on October 6 and opening night is November 4. americansonplay.com

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DIGITAL EDITION

October 3 - 28 | $25 tickets with code W42ST | ESTnyc.org/Travisville

A FINE TIKI LOUNGE AT THE POD HOTEL 42

400 W 42 ST NYC

BAR HOURS: MON to THUR 4 PM - 1 AM FRI 4 PM - 2 AM SAT 2 PM - 2 AM SUN 2 PM - 1 AM

KITCHEN HOURS: MON to FRI 4 PM - 1 AM SAT and SUN 2 PM - 1 AM

OUTDOOR TERRACE HOURS SUN to THURS 11 PM FRI to SAT 12 AM

EMAIL info@thepolynesiantiki.com

PEOPLE

GOAWAY! Really. Vicky Kuperman wants to you get the hell out of here. It’s for your own good

A

IMAGE: PHIL PROVENCIO

t the risk of sounding like a totally ungrateful, privileged little brat, I’m going to just come out and say it. This summer kind of sucked. It wasn’t my fault. It wasn’t your fault. It was the weather. And the city. And the heaping trash piles. And the weather.

The doom and gloom in the sky, the unforgiving humidity, and the rain. Oh God! The rain. Never mind the storms being a c**kblock for any and all fun plans, but just be glad you didn’t have to be around my dog. The shaking. The fear. The panic.

Those sad little eyes. When the sky cries, he cries. When he cries, I cry.

Amid these joykills, I had a summer bucket list to get to. Don’t get me wrong; I’m working my way down. There are still 16 days left of summer (technically) as I write this, and I’ve made a substantial dent.

But there was one item that kept sticking out to me amid the #epicfail that was the summer of 2018 – and that was: “Buy a spontaneous plane ticket.”

So what’s a girl to do? I went to Italy.

Because … why not? For 10 days, my mom, husband, and I spent 10 days having an #artattack in Florence, drinking every drop of wine we could find in Tuscany, and enjoying the beautiful, peaceful views of Lake Como. A mix of a retirement trip for her, and a birthday trip for me, we left no piece of al dente pasta behind. We inhaled every brush stroke in the Uffizi and my husband discovered the beautiful, wake-up powers of Italian espresso.

We stayed local and authentic. An apartment-style B&B steps from the Ponte

Vecchio was our camp ground in the city.

And a small two-room flat with a view was where we laid low up north at the lake. But perhaps the most memorable lodging was in a small hamlet south of Siena called San Rocco A Pilli. There, at a farmhouse called Tenuta La Santissima, is where I realized Diane Lane was on to something.

We arrived around 4.30pm, put our suitcases down, and immediately started a cooking class with the family. The next three hours were magical. We made beef ragu, homemade ravioli and pappardelle pasta from scratch, and two kinds of tiramisu, plus an eggplant dish with pesto.

Then they served us dinner. And we got visited by their various rescue animals – two dogs named Gaston and Stig, and a tailless cat named Cleo.

This is what’s known as “agriturismo.”

ABOUT Vicky

Clockwise from above: The family embark on a cooking class; Vicky outside the farmhouse; breakfast; and that view!

They gave us fresh tomatoes from the garden, homemade jam, and a new, huge, home-cooked feast every morning. All of us kept saying: “Anthony Bourdain would have loved this place.” It was exactly the kind of therapy my body and mind needed to come back to New York with a smile.

When I told you at the beginning to go away, I wasn’t being rude. I was changing your life. Because if we don’t leave this city sometimes and do something crazy, we’ll never experience the joy of coming back to steaming piles of trash on a vacation high and not really giving a sh*t. So please, go away. And take me with you.

Vicky

Vicky Kuperman is a Hell’s Kitchen resident, stand-up comedian, and co-author of the resistance book How to Spy on Your Neighbor: Your Survival Guide for the United States of Russia, which she co-wrote with Isabella Patrick, available at Domus.

Her third album,Three’s Comedy, is now on iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify.

You don’t have to wait another month for your next dose of W42ST. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for news, giveaways, and the essential guide to the week’s happenings bit.ly/hellohellskitchen

17

Hell's Kitchen

IMAGE: ALBERT SANCHEZ

HEROES

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DIGITAL EDITION

Hell's Kitchen

HEROES

The

greatest Cho Feminist, activist, queen of media – what’s next for Emmy and Grammy-nominated Margaret Cho? Interview by Ruth Walker

P

olitics are on Margaret Cho’s mind. When we speak, it’s the day before the New York Primaries, in which Cynthia Nixon is to lose her fight for the Governor’s chair to Andrew Cuomo. But we don’t know that yet, and Cho is still excited about the prospect of having an alternative candidate in the race.

“I think it's great. She's amazing,” says Cho. A lifelong activist and "patron saint of the outsider," the comedian has spoken out in the past against issues ranging from bullying to LGBTQ rights to sexual assault to racism, and, this month, tackles reproductive rights when she hosts The Golden Probes Award at The Town Hall. But would she

Margaret Cho

timeline

“It's just a great opportunity to make fun of these really disgusting people and the incredible sexism that goes on on a daily basis in the world.”

1968 Born December 5 in San Francisco.

Early 1990s Wins a comedy

contest – first prize is opening for Jerry Seinfeld. Moves to LA and hits the college circuit. Arsenio Hall introduces her to late-night audiences, and Bob Hope puts her on a prime time special.

Left: Margaret Cho grew up around the activism of the 1970s, "people who were getting out and getting very, very into marching, people looking to create awareness around AIDS, and to create a kind of community for surviving."

ever consider going all the way and running for office herself?

“I don't know. I don't know," she says.

“Maybe. I mean, it seems like it would make sense. Although it's a lot of work.

As an entertainer, you can get away with a lot more stuff, so I'm not sure. I think that it would definitely be exciting.

If one day I ever really wanted to have a job, then maybe I would do it.”

But there’s a lot to fight for. Where does she even start?

“I think it would be about fairness,” she says. “It would just be this simple thing of ‘let's uphold equality, let's look to have people who are able to speak their mind and their truth and from all different areas.’ I think that the simplicity of something like that, just

1994 Makes the controversial, short-lived ABC sitcom AllAmerican Girl (left).

1999 Tours the country with

her Off-Broadway one-woman show, I’m The One That I Want (which is subsequently made into a best-selling book and feature film).

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Hell's Kitchen

IMAGE: ALBERT SANCHEZ

HEROES

2001 Notorious C.H.O. tours 37

2008 Stars in the VH1 “reality sit

cities in the US, culminating in a sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall.

com” The Cho Show.

2009 Stars in the comedy/drama

2003 Embarks on her third soldout national tour, Revolution.

series Drop Dead Diva, which airs for six seasons.

2007 Hits the road with Cyndi

2010 Appears in season 11

Lauper, Debbie Harry, and Erasure in the True Colors Tour.

of Dancing with the Stars (alongside David Hasselhoff, Michael Bolton,

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Hell's Kitchen

HEROES real democracy, real fairness – that would be enough. That's what I would be about.”

Born in the late sixties in San Francisco, Cho's childhood wasn’t what you’d describe as traditional.

Her mother had resisted an arranged marriage in Korea to marry a joke book writer, and together, they ran an LGBTQ book shop at a time when the fight for gay rights was gathering momentum.

“I grew up around people who were supportive of Harvey Milk, people who were getting out and getting very, very into marching, people looking to create awareness around AIDS, and to create a kind of community for surviving.

That's the sort of environment that I grew up in, around the people that were really creating change in the '70s, '80s, and ‘90s.”

Despite that openness, however, the young Cho still didn’t quite fit in. “I kind of identified as a lesbian at first,” she says, “bisexuality came a little bit later. Being gay around my upbringing was really normal, but bisexuality was really weird, and I think my family’s still kind of freaked out by it. It's always been that way in my life.”

But that’s changing for the generation she's paved the way for, and whose voices she’s fought to be heard.

“I think it's really happening with a lot of younger people identifying in all the different ways they do. I think that now, also, I'm becoming much more aware of a non-binary community. There are so many different ways to identify nowadays that queerness is becoming much more specified, and therefore somehow we're expanding the notion of who we are by our specific identities.

“For me,” she adds, “I think activism has always been about survival. It's the origin of my life as an artist, but

“We were complicit without even realizing, because it was so ingrained in our beings to be silent, to keep these secrets.”

it's something that I think is more important now than ever.”

She started telling jokes as a way of escaping constant bullying. “You've got to find the humor in things in order to figure out how to endure them, overcome them,” she argues.

“And when you're talking about sexual abuse, rape, sexual predators, this is something where the humor can be life saving.

"As a survivor myself, this is something I feel very comfortable talking about it. It’s about being able to let the light in. We've been so secretive for so long about so many things, and so, for me, this is a way to healing.

“And I think that's what's so great is that now we have a culture that supports people who speak up, people who use their platforms for change. I remember, even in the '90s, people making excuses for male predatory behavior, or having to endure that culture of silence that Harvey Weinstein really thrived in. That's the kind of show biz that I know.

“Now that’s changed and turned around, it’s really incredible. I never thought I’d see that in my lifetime. We

were complicit without even realizing, because it was so ingrained in our beings to be silent, to keep these secrets. Now there’s a big change to the way that we even perceive how we should be treated, and I think it's amazing.”

Which is, in essence, what The Golden Probes is celebrating. “It's about trying to get people out to vote for the midterm elections,” says Cho. “But also, it's just a great opportunity to make fun of these really disgusting people and the incredible sexism that goes on on a daily basis in the world."

Produced by Lizz Winstead, co-creator of The Daily Show and co-founder of Lady Parts Justice, the show will include appearances

by Jessica Pimentel (Orange Is the New Black), Dan Savage, Jordan Klepper, Kathy Najimy, and Stormy Daniels.

“I mean, I just love Lizz anyway, but to be able to do something like this is, I think, really important. It's such a weird time, where people are saying things like, ‘Well, #metoo has slowed down.’

It's in the greatest spirit of real change and feminism and also comedy.”

And, on a less woke note, it’ll be an opportunity for the LA-based performer to be back in a city she loves. “Every time I've lived in New York, it's not been for long periods – not more than a year or so – and it's always been attached to work, to a show, or something. But, to me, it's very special, it's still a very hallowed place, a very glamorous place that I really idealize. I'm excited to be back for this.”

The Golden Probes is at The Town Hall on October 20 (thetownhall.org), and you can watch the webcast on October 21 at goldenprobes.com.

2015 Co-hosts TLC’s All About

and Jennifer Grey). She’s eliminated in the third round. She also receives a Grammy nomination for Comedy Album of the Year, for Cho Dependent.

SEX late-night call-in show. This year also sees her film a Showtime special/DVD psyCHO at NYC’s Gramercy Theatre.

2011 Stars as Kim Jong-Il in 30

2017 Rolling Stone names her one

Rock, a performance that earns her an Emmy nomination for Best Guest Performance.

of the 50 best stand-up comics of all time.

2018 Tours with her new

comedy show, Fresh Off The Bloat, which riffs on her getting off drink, drugs, and being free from suicidal thoughts. She’s also set to star alongside Will Smith in Netflix’s Bright, and has two more projects in postproduction.

21

DIGITAL EDITION

Bottomless Mimosa Bruch (8 different flavors) with a purchase of 1 snack and 1 entree

Pop Mingle Night

Happy Hour

Every Friday late night from 10pm-2am featuring Happy Hour prices

from 4-7pm, Monday-Friday

Outdoor seating available

Sall Restaurant & Lounge 818 10th Ave, New York, New York 10019 212-601-2643 www.sallrestaurantnyc.com

Hell's Kitchen

HEROES

A Hell's Kitchen

ALL-AMERICAN Bodegas are the beating heart of our city, run bye some of the hardest working people it’s possiblee to meet. Tom Fervoy goes behind thee counter to feel the pulsee

A

few weeks back, while hustling bags of ice from my corner deli up to my rooftop for a summer party, I asked a passerby to snap a quick photo of me posing with two young neighborhood stalwarts.

The caption that accompanied that photograph read: “I’ve watched these two fine young men grow up behind the counter of our corner deli here, over the past 22 years, on W49th Street.

Their family run the delis on three

of our block’s four corners. Fathers, sons, brothers, uncles, cousins, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“Yemeni American families run hundreds of these ‘bodegas’ in New York. Corner delis are the beating heart that sustain daily life on every block in the city. These two are branching out to open their own deli this year. They’re among the smartest, friendliest, hardest working, honest, dedicated family men I know. They are, if it is possible, even bigger Green Bay Packer fans than I am. They’re as

American as apple pie ... as American as you or I.” However, given the moment that we’re in – in Hell’s Kitchen, in NYC, in America – I think this pic deserves more characters than Insta allows. To that end, I got behind the counter with “Wally” Wahlid one of those two fine young men from the Skyline Deli, for a thin slice of his afternoon … or just enough time for three phone orders and seven or eight walk-in customers.

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DIGITAL EDITION

SPONSORED BY

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Line them up and try each variety of Belle Isle moonshine – Original Premium, Honey Habanero, Cold Brew Coffee, Ruby Red Grapefruit, and 100 Proof. Every weekday, 3pm-6pm, Hellcat Annie's will have a Belle Isle happy hour, with $4 for a shot. Which is your favorite?

24

DIGITAL EDITION

Hell's Kitchen

HEROES T: How long have you been in NYC? W: My whole life! I was born in New York City, at Bellevue Hospital.

T: Excellent. Where did your family live before New York? Wasn’t it in … Green Bay? In my home state?

W: No, actually, my parents have never been to Wisconsin.

T: So how did you wind up ...

W: A Packer fan? My dad moved to California, I think, around 1999-2000. And when he was there, we had a lot of free time. We didn’t have the deli then, so we could actually watch football games on TV. Plus, everything seems kind of slower out there – not fast paced like here. So when I was in California, everyone was a Niner fan.

But for some reason, I didn’t like them. They were a good team too. They were stacked.

So when the Packers came on, they were supposed to lose. But they ran over them.

And since that day, I loved them. I was probably eight years old.

T: How many brothers and sisters do you have?

W: I have seven brothers and two sisters.

T: Seven brothers – of course! 7 Brothers Famous Deli! And you grew up right upstairs above the deli on W49th St, didn’t you?

W: I did. We all did. We live in Jersey now, in Bergen and West New York. I love it there. Now I have my own family, my wife and two kids.

T: How many delis do you guys have?

W: Just two – this one and 9th Avenue.

T: And you and your cousin Hamza are going into business together to open a new one. Are you excited about that?

W: Yes! We’re going to open another one.

I can’t wait for it to open. You’re going to love it – because it’s a green-and-yellow theme, y’know?

T: What, the deli’s green and yellow? Are you kidding me?!

W: I used the Packer’s colors.

T: I love that! Is that in Hell’s Kitchen, too?

W: It’s at 41st and 10th – in the new building, 555 TEN. Superior Gourmet Marketplace. You want to know why we use that name “Superior”? Hamza’s dad used to have a supermarket there. It used to be called Superior Market.

“It’s so diverse here in New York.

You got whites, blacks, Arabs, Asians, Spanish, and what I like about it is, we can live with each other and it’s not a problem.”

T: And you have other relatives that have delis too, right?

W: My grandfather owns the one on 48th and 10th. We have cousins who have one on 51st. They’re all over the place.

Above: No bodega is complete without the resident cat.

T: I never knew until around a year or so ago that many of the city’s delis and bodegas are owned and run by Yemeni families. I’m interested in why they’ve gravitated to that business.

W: Yemeni people are very smart. They’re just like the Chinese – they focus on a market where they know they can make money out of it. So, basically, with the deli business – people always gotta eat, y’know?

T: It’s a tough business though. A volume business. You’re open seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

W: Yes, It’s tough. But the thing is, you have to be on top of it all. You can’t just open a deli and think you’re going to make money.

T: What do you like most about the deli business?

W: I get to meet people like you!

T: Ha! What do you like least about it (and it could be the same answer)?

W: Actually the least is that there’s a lot of responsibility. Just like you said, it’s 24/7, you gotta be here all the time, you got to make sure everything is right. You got to take care of those complaints.

T: Tell me, what’s the coolest is thing that ever happened to you behind the counter?

W: It’s hard, man. There’ve been a lot of cool things that’ve happened. One time, there was a guy that used to live around here – I forgot his name – when I was real young, when I was like 13. He came in on Christmas. And I don’t celebrate Christmas at all. I’m Muslim. He gave me a big bag of gifts. And he was like: “Merry Christmas! I know you don’t celebrate it but …” And that really touched my heart. It shows you how great people are.

T: That is a great story. What about the worst thing?

W: It wasn’t right after 9/11 but around then, maybe a month and a half down the line. Someone came in here – it was a woman. I don’t want to say where she was from – she wasn’t Caucasian – and she was like: “Hey, you gotta go back to your f**ing country.” And that kind of hurt me, y’know?

T: Have you heard much of that kind of thing?

W: Not really. But that time, it came from someone who – it seemed like she wasn’t from New York, like she wasn’t from America. She was from a different country herself.

T: What else do you think is interesting about your family that people may not know?

W: We give back a lot to those with misfortune. My dad, my brothers, we like to give to people we know are sick, mostly to people in the community.

Say, for example, you go to church, you see people that need you to give, and we give a lot. We give through organizations and directly to people themselves. It doesn’t matter if they’re Muslim or not – they can be anybody. A lot of homeless people come through here, and they ask for things sometimes, and we give it to them.

T: I’ve gotten to see up close what good people you and your family are for 22 years now. And my last question is, are you optimistic or pessimistic about: Hell’s Kitchen? New York City? And America?

W: I know this president is hard and everything, and he says things that are not right sometimes. But I think we’re a great people. We’re so much of a unity, especially in New York, that we’re never going to fail. We’ll always have a good future. And I thank god for social media also – it kind of helps us to get our word out there, and let each other know how we feel. It’s so diverse here in New York. You got whites, blacks, Arabs, Asians, Spanish, and what I like about it is, we can live with each other and it’s not a problem. I can’t speak for other states, but I know for sure New York – it’s unity, y’know?

T: Anything else you want to share with readers?

W: Just tell ‘em we love this country – it’s our country.

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25

Hell's Kitchen

HEROES

26

DIGITAL EDITION

Hell's Kitchen

HEROES

Hello

sailor!

Fresh out of school, they signed up for the Navy, not sure what to expect next. These are their stories of dodging sharks, racism, and growing up fast Interviews Ruth Walker Portraits Phil O'Brien

Aaronxx Reznickx Served: 1958-1962 (USS Intrepid 1962) Rating/job: Sgt. E4, Aircraft Mechanic/Electronics/Nuclear Weapons

The year I signed up …x I got out of high school and didn't know what to do. I was living in the Bronx, walked up to Fordham Road, and saw the Marine Corps recruiting station, so said: “Sign me up.” And because I was only 17, I had to get my mother’s approval. She signed, reluctantly, and I went to Parris Island for my basic training.

I ended up being assigned to a Marine Attack Squadron in Cherry Point. I spent a lot of time up on the flight deck, servicing the aircraft, launching the aircraft, recovering the aircraft, fixing them.

Join the Navy, see the worldx Parris Island (boot camp), Memphis (electronics school), Jacksonville, Guantanamo Bay, Cherry Point, NC. I served on six different aircraft carriers during the four years. In fact, there's a exhibition on the hanger deck called "Intrepid A to Z." I'm O, for overboard. Because one night I was up on the flight deck doing my job, it was pitch black, and they brought a Crusader up to launch it. I wasn't watching, and a Crusader has a very low exhaust to the deck. It blew me right off the flight deck into the safety net. I almost got blown overboard. And that would have killed me, because when they're launching aircraft, they wouldn't stop the ship for anything. But anyway, they fished me out, dusted me off, and I went back to work.

The best of times, the worst of times …x During 1962, my last year in service, I was on Intrepid during the Cuban Missile Crisis. That was a scary time.

As far as we were concerned, we were at war with the Russians. We had A-4 Skyhawks ready 24/7 with nuclear weapons, armed and ready to go. That was the worst of times, The best of times was going into port, going out, getting drunk, cavorting around. You know, you're 19, 20 years old – you don't have a care in the world.

After the Navyx I grew up very quickly, and I came out of the Marine Corps a different person. I was more focused. I wanted to get things done. I went to work for Pan Am Airways as a mechanic, started going to school at night, got my engineering degree, got into technology and computers, and worked in various companies.

I worked for Mayor Koch in 1980, running computers for the city.

The definition of herox I would say that was the pilots. They were quite a different bunch. We all looked up to most of them – not all of them – because they exhibited no fear.

And most of them didn't have an ego at all. They were heroes.

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27

Hell's Kitchen

HEROES

Tonyxx Nibbsx Served: 1961-1966 (USS Intrepid 1961-1962) Rating/job: Yeoman with VAW-33 The year I signed up …x I graduated from high school and went to Brooklyn College for a year.

Then me and my brother-in-law, we said: "Hey, that’s enough school, let’s drop out!”

When I was at boot camp, one of the sailors, he didn’t like me because of the color of my skin.

So when we were supposed to be mopping the floor, he took the bucket of water and hit me on the head. Me and him were rolling around on the floor … they brought us both up on charges for that, I’ll never forget it.

Join the Navy, see the worldx When I started on the Intrepid, there were only three blacks out of 3,000 men. I went to the Mediterranean, and we had a couple of shakedown cruises in Guantanamo Bay. But no one really liked Cuba because you couldn’t get out and mingle with the Cubans. We also took a cruise up to Quebec, and to St Thomas, in the United States Virgin Islands – my home town!

The best of times …x When I went aboard the Intrepid I was 19 years old. I’d never done any real traveling, so this was a really exiting thing for me – just being on the aircraft carrier on the ocean. One of my best experiences was, every now and then, the captain would stop the ship and you’d have swim club. All the sailors would jump into the water, and they had Marines in dinghies in a circle surrounding us to make sure no sharks came.

After the Navyx I had a job waiting for me on Wall Street – they paid me $6,500 a year, which was a lot of money in 1966.

The definition of herox A hero is someone who puts his life on the line for his country. I got off the Intrepid before the Cuban Missile Crisis but that would have been World War III – we wouldn’t be here now if the Russians hadn’t backed down.

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DIGITAL EDITION

Hell's Kitchen

PEOPLE Dickxxx Perryxxx

HEROES

Served: 1953-1957 (USS Intrepid 1956) Rating/job: Musician 2c The year I signed up … x I wanted to become a musician and the Navy was the only branch of the service that guaranteed you could be in a band. When we were out at sea, we'd play for the crew members, before movies at night time, and out on deck while they were refueling. We'd play for the officers before dinner. When we were in port, we'd play for concerts, for parades, dances, cocktail parties. We’ve even done concerts in countries that didn't like us, where they threw apples and cabbages at us.

And, when someone would die aboard ship, we would play for the funeral.

Join the Navy, see the world x I saw Cannes, Marseilles, Valencia, Barcelona, Villefranche. In Italy, we'd hit Naples, Livorno, Genoa; in Sicily, Palermo. One year we went to Beirut. I was on the USS Forrestal in 1956 and we were sent over to the Suez crisis. We could see some of the action going on, but we didn't do anything – we were there for show; this brand new, biggest carrier in the fleet.

The best of times … x The strongest memory is that I grew up in the Navy. We were there with so many good men, and I saw things I never could have seen at the age of 18. It made my decision for me that I didn't want to continue to make my living as a musician. It allowed me to grow and to understand some other things.

I decided that, after I was done, I really wanted to go to college.

After the Navy x I went into finance and worked for Citigroup for 42 years.

Aaron, Tony, and Dick all work as volunteers at the Intrepid museum, where you can hear their stories in person intrepidmuseum.org

The definition of hero x I wasn't a hero. I think the heroes were the guys that were before me, the guys that were on the ship in the 40s. Not too many of them are left anymore, but those guys – their average age 19 – kept the ship afloat and kept it going.

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DIGITAL EDITION

OUT

Imperfect

IDOLS

They lift us up when we’re low, inspire us with their quiet humility, and guide us to greatness – heroes come in all guises, but here are just a few, courtesy of Jim Caruso’s show biz friends

H

eroes. Idols. They’re sometimes, but not always, extraordinary people whose thoughts and deeds make them worthy of our respect, love, and maybe even obsession. They aren’t perfect, but tend to be brave, talented, funny, and/ or smart. During times of unrest, their accomplishments and noble qualities give us strength, renewed energy, and the power to move in positive ways.

“Enthusiasm and imagination can carry you anywhere you want to go without Vuitton luggage.”

Since I’m a show biz baby, I’d like to tell you about a certain influence, whom I discuss on an almost-obsessive basis.

Her name was Kay Thompson and she created “bazazz.” She was the vocal arranger at MGM, coaching Judy, Lena, and Frank. Then she concocted the world’s best nightclub act with four fresh-faced singers and called it “Kay Thompson and the Williams Brothers.”

They revolutionized a very stagnant scene, dancing, twirling, harmonizing, and cavorting for the glitterati and cheering obliterati.

All of us who sing in clubs are direct beneficiaries of her creativity. She acted in a few films, but when that got boring, she moved to Rome and wrote a kids’ book called Eloise, which is probably still on the best-seller list.

I had the great good fortune of meeting her in the 90s, when she was in her 90s. Very few people influenced me as much as Kay. At that point, her body had slowed, but her mind was constantly abuzz with new projects, fanciful ideas, and an innate curiosity of the current musical and political scenes. At the time, she was obsessed with Sting, the OJ trial, champagne grapes, and the success of that weird hit record of Franciscan monks chanting. Instead of droning on about Kay, I’ll leave you with some of her quotable quotes, so you can understand why her views continue to refresh me.

“I’ve discovered the secret of life: a lot of hard work, a lot of sense of humor, a lot of joy, and a whole lot of tra-la-la!”

“I don’t like looking back. Let’s keep it crisp as lettuce.”

“Whenever I’m tired, I just think about the glorious colors of butterfly wings.

Butterflies never get tired, and if they do, we never hear about it. Enthusiasm and imagination can carry you anywhere you want to go without Vuitton luggage.”

Jim Caruso @JimCaruso1

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DIGITAL EDITION

Christina Bianco, singer,

impersonator Everyone knows Jon Stewart for his work on The Daily Show and his ability to make us laugh about things that also make us cry. But that’s not why he’s one of my heroes. After retiring in 2015, he could have cashed in on his fame and notoriety.

Instead, he used his money to buy a farm in New Jersey, where he and his wife care for abused and abandoned farm animals.

They provide a loving home and medical care to keep the animals comfortable for the rest of their lives.

Next, he’s opening another sanctuary for animals saved from slaughterhouses and live markets. Jon could have done any number of high-profile things, but he chose this path. His quiet, heroic actions make me think of the popular Karen Davidson quote: “Saving one dog will not save the world, but surely for that one dog, the world will change forever.” Jon Stewart’s selflessness is inspiring to me and, for that, he’s one of my personal heroes. @xtinabianco1

Natalie Douglas,

singer My earliest memories are of music and politics – my mom sang every day and took tiny me with her while canvassing for my godfather (and cousin) when he ran for mayor of Los Angeles. (He won, for which I take full credit!)

He governed for 20 years as the Honorable Mayor Thomas J Bradley, hero to a lot of people, but to me he was also family. He was tall, funny, smart, handsome, and kind. He had big dreams for his city and its people – like hosting the 1984 Summer Olympic Games, signing the city’s first Gay Rights Bill in 1979, and being the driving force in creating the city’s light rail network. He was a pro-business liberal, but believed his primary responsibility was to bring people together, and so created a lasting coalition of African-American, Jewish, Latinx & Asian-American people.

A “shero” he and I shared was the late, great civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer, who said: “Nobody’s free till everybody’s free.” I miss him, but remain inspired by his legacy and deeply grateful for his love and guidance. @nataliedouglas

OUT John Bucchino,

songwriter, pianist “There are so many people I consider heroes who do kind, generous things in the world: a woman I met recently, who runs a health clinic in a povertystricken area of Mexico; a circus troupe, traveling to refugee camps to entertain the kids. But, when asked to write about one of my heroes, I immediately thought of my greatest songwriting hero, Joni Mitchell. The main reason Ms Mitchell (or “The Joan” as some in my circle worshipfully call her) has consistently honored her unique artistic voice, even to the point of sacrificing a greater degree of commercial success. Her primary goal, it seems, has been to create music, paintings, and ultimately a life that are the truest, the purest, the “Joni-est” they can be. In that approach, I find something inspiring, something to emulate, something heroic. @johnbucchino

Lisa Lambert,

actress/comedy writer My hero is Marian Grudeff, a real-life Broadway composer who lived in north Toronto.

Right when I needed one! I was just daring to write lyrics when I met her in 1985. For the next 15 years, we spent hours at the grand piano in her little house. Marian would play and sing and regale us with show biz tales … of being a child prodigy concert pianist; of collaborating with Raymond Jessel; of writing the Broadway musical Baker Street; of composing songs for Maurice Chevalier, Louis Armstrong, and Barbara Feldon; of the Russian Tea Room in the 1960s; of being a single mom in NYC; of men good and bad. It was all so glamorous. Over the years she mentored me, coached me, wrote with me, and let me play her records. And it took less than half an hour to get to her place! Now that’s a hero.

Sue Cameron,

author of Hollywood Secrets and Scandals: The Truth Behind Stars’ Closed Doors Joan Rivers is my hero, my family. She was a quiet legend who, by her actions,

paved the way for all the women comics who followed her. She didn’t need to march in the streets. The way she lived her life showed that being a woman could never stop her. She fought harder and was more focused on her work than anyone. She never stopped going forward through highs and lows. She secretly supported many family and friends. And, regarding Johnny Carson … it was Johnny who secretly told NBC not to renew Joan’s contract as guest host of The Tonight Show. He was jealous that her ratings were higher than his. THAT’S why she took the Fox show.

Out of gratitude to Johnny for giving her that first big break, she never ratted him out. I will. @thehollywoodsue

Below: Take your pick of heroes: Joni Mitchell, Louis Armstrong, Joan Rivers, or Ted Hook ...

Richie Ridge,

theater journalist, BroadwayWorld. com I was a 17-year-old who arrived in New York with nothing but an introduction to restauranteur Ted Hook.

His “Ted Hook’s Backstage” was the Studio 54 of theatrical restaurants. He indeed became my Auntie Mame. He took me under his wing, taught me about everything show business and, most importantly, introduced me to its greatest stars, including Ann Miller, Ethel Merman, Lucille Ball, Lucie Arnaz, Lena Horne, Debbie Reynolds, and my other hero – and one of my dearest friends – the incomparable Chita Rivera. I even got to play Ted in the film version of the Charles Pierce Show. The rest is history. @richardridge

Benny Benack III,

jazz trumpeter and singer My hero in music and spirit has got to be the father of modern jazz music, Louis Armstrong. He showed the world it was possible to be a genius and master of your craft, while still being lighthearted and fun.

Make no mistake, when Pops went about his business on his horn, there was no one better, but he also knew how to entertain an audience, not just enthralling them with technical prowess, but with laughter and joy as well. I can’t think of any jazz musician who personifies the feeling of jazz more than Louis, and his irrepressible

charm made him revered by all. He is the greatest legend America’s music has seen. @bbjaziii

Ariana DuBose,

Donna Summer in Summer: The Musical, in concert at Birdland Theater, November 5 & 6 I have several heroes, but Judith Light takes the cake right now. She’s such a fierce and beautiful human living her authentic truth every day – and encouraging others to do the same. I have been inspired by her willingness to make hard choices, her philanthropic work, and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community, but above all her ability to gracefully navigate the entertainment industry as she has matured and come out on top. I’ve never heard a negative word uttered about the woman. I’ve made it a personal goal to always strive to be the Light, Judith Light. @arianadebose

Kevin Sessums,

ABOUT

Jim

Jim Caruso is a MAC awardwinning singer, dancer, and nightclub host.

Every Monday, he presides over Cast Party at Birdland

editor in chief, SessumsMagazine. com Like so many white, southern sissy boys of a certain age, I grew up culturally worshipping African American women. Diahann Carroll. Diana Ross. Aretha. Leontyne Price. I even joke when people ask whom would I choose to play me in a movie about my life: “Eartha Kitt, if she were still alive.” But the one woman who was truly my hero was Fannie Lou Hamer. She showed so much courage and eloquence as a civil rights worker. Worker? Hell, she was a warrior.

Fannie Lou Hamer’s life in 1960s Mississippi was prescribed for her to be a maid, no doubt, but she fought that preconceived notion and demanded her dignity be recognized. Indeed, I was once seated next to Diahann Carroll at dinner in Los Angeles and began to tell her stories about my family’s maid, Mattie May, about whom I wrote in my first book Mississippi Sissy. Carroll cut her eyes my way: “Why do white gay guys always think I want to hear about their ferkakta maids?”

And in that fiery moment I sensed she was channeling some of Fannie Lou’s magnificent, no-nonsense fury. @kevsessums

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31

It's

SHOWTIME! News and reviews from Nathaniel Rogers and REAL theater goers

COLLECTIVE WILL SUPERHEROES EVER RAGE MAKE IT ON BROADWAY?

21

“I am officially done with the MCC! Over the top and not in a good way.” Radrunninal

“Funny lines but cheap laughs.

I know this an absurdist work, but women are portrayed terribly.” TheaterBuff

“See it if you value innovative scripts, and funny plays about 92 serious subjects. A conventionblasting love story and total delight.”

JimJimJim 65

B

atman, Wonder Woman, and The Avengers have long since conquered movie culture, but they’ve yet to make their mark in theater. There have been a couple of super-powered attempts on Broadway, though. The first was in 1966, a Charles Strouse musical called It’s a Bird … It’s a Plane … It’s Superman. The show was well-reviewed but didn’t sell well. It still gets curio revival treatments or staged concert readings from time to time.

Then, infamously, there was Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark in 2010 … no, make that 2011 (the previews lasted a recordbreaking five months as they tried to fix the thing!). It proved to be a costly flop, plagued by accidents and lawsuits, and

it lost investors a super-powered $60 million dollars.

The next attempt is a show called, simply, Superhero. It’s from Tom Kitt (Next to Normal) and John Logan and will open Off-Broadway as part of Second Stage’s current season on January 31, 2019. The title is slightly deceptive as the titular character is not the lead. The musical is a surprisingly dramatic story about a young widow whose son obsesses over comic books and is convinced that the man next door is secretly a caped crusader. I had the pleasure of attending a developmental reading last summer at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center and the songs were moving and gorgeous. But how will they visualize the “super” moments?

THREE BUZZY NEW SHOWS BEYOND BROADWAY

It’s important to act quickly when you hear about an intriguing Off-Broadway show as most of them have limited runs. The following are winning passionate fans, so mark them down as priorities.

TOP THREE

SHOW SCORE

$70

1. HERSHEY FELDER AS IRVING BERLIN

Rena Plays recommends it if “you relish the American Songbook, stories of the American Dream, or bravura one-man performances.”

87

2. SMOKEY JOE’S CAFE

B’way Annette calls the show “fast-paced and fun, with musical vignettes that are delightful.” Sydney praises the “ensemble of talented young actors with amazing voices and dance skills.”

86

3. I WAS MOST ALIVE WITH YOU

Great Avi calls it “hard-hitting but delicate, touching but not kitschy.” Jeanmarie recommends sitting near the back because of the signing which is “a lyrical dance at times.”

$

80

FROM BOX OFFICE DETAILS CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS

H

ave you ever been to a show where you thought: “This has no personality – it’s trying to please everyone!”

MCC Theater’s Collective Rage: A Tale of Five Betties is not one of those shows. The comedy about five very different women named Betty is aggressively queer, chaotic, and in your face, resulting in a mix of responses from theatergoers.

Starring five terrific actresses (including a game Dana Delany as “rich Betty” and a scene-stealing Adina Verson as “sad Betty”), the show has an overall recommended score of 77, but opinions vary tremendously.

Some shows are just built that way.

It’s a safe bet that the playwright Jen Silverman would get a kick out of provoking such polarized responses.

Here’s a fun sampling …

$39

FROM TODAY TIX

$44

FROM BOX OFFICE

Show-Score.com is the ultimate guide to NYC theater. All the shows. All the prices. All the reviews.

Sign up and start sharing your opinions of shows for chances to win tickets.

You don’t have to wait another month for your next dose of W42ST. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for news, giveaways, and the essential guide to the week’s happenings bit.ly/hellohellskitchen

33

OUT

COMMUNITY

The monkey

THEATER BEHIND THE SCENES

dresser In our series on Broadway’s unsung heroes, we meet David Reimer, the man responsible for giving Wicked’s monkeys their wings

THE GIG I’m a men’s ensemble dresser at Wicked The Musical, in charge of quick costume changes during the show having to do with the character of Chistery and the other men who are flying monkeys. I preset costumes an hour before the curtain goes up and execute the changes during the show.

IMAGE: ILONA LIEBERMAN

THE RESUME I have a bachelor’s degree in apparel design and moved to New York City to further my career in entertainment.

Before that, I was working in the laundry room on board a Norwegian Cruise Lines ship. Down there, I was fortunate enough to meet the wardrobe supervisor for the production shows.

She was in need of a few dressers and I mentioned I had done some of that in the past. One thing led to another, and within a month I had transferred departments and became a stage hand. After my contract was over, I packed two bags, bought a one-way ticket to New York City, and got my first job working for LaDuca dance shoes,. I got to meet a lot of Broadway wardrobe supervisors and, not even six months after moving, I started a swing job parttime on Wicked.

34

WHEN THINGS GET WEIRD During my first week, when I was learning the job and also traffic/ timing patterns of everything else that was going on around me, I accidentally knocked over a folding chair in the middle of a very quiet scene. I was so embarrassed, but I learned from my mistake quickly and it has never happened again.

THE SECRET TO MY SUCCESS I love this question, because half of my job is actually knowing about the maintenance of costumes, knowing how to fix something quickly, thinking on my feet. The other half is similar to being a therapist: being intuitive, learning how to “read a room.” Working so closely with performers, you see them at their most vulnerable state, and I want them to feel comfortable and secure within the two hours and 45 minutes we are together.

DON’T MISUNDERSTAND ME While we do have fun atmosphere backstage, we’re working very hard in order to bring the magic that is Wicked to so many people.

34

DIGITAL EDITION

COMMUNITY

35

DIGITAL EDITION

EAT

Ten ways to

MAKE PEACE with your plate

Stop dieting and start listening to your body. Intuitive eating will finally grant you freedom from food oppression. Samina Kalloo’s in favor

W

hat if you gave yourself unconditional permission to eat whatever you want?

No guilt? Just trusting your body to tell you when, what, and how much to eat? How would it feel to finally stop stressing about food?

Dieting has become the norm in modern society and, in the process, a major disconnect has happened with our own feelings of satisfaction, hunger, and fullness. We’ve stopped listening to our bodies.

Intuitive eating throws out the diet book and teaches us that WE are the best and only person to make choices around what we eat. In fact, we’re all born intuitive eaters. Consider a baby crying when they’re hungry and turning their head away when they’re full.

Children are fully aware of the physical sensations of hunger and fullness.

However, we begin to lose that inner intuitive eater once rules and restrictions are set around food (learned even as kids). And it doesn’t help that we are often inundated with judgment and influence from diet culture.

To get started on the road to food freedom, here is an overview of the 10 key principals of the intuitive eating philosophy, devised by dietitians Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch.

Reject the diet mentality Intuitive eating is the anti-diet. Reject

RAVENOUS

The

1

INTENSE HUNGER

2

STOMACH RUMBLING

HUNGER SCALE

GETTING HUNGRY

STUFFED SICK

10

36

DIGITAL EDITION

9

4 FULL

MOSTLY SATISFIED

COMPLETELY SATISFIED

UNCOMFORTABLE

3

8

7

6

5

EAT the idea that there are any good diets out there for you. Toss out those magazines and books that tout quick and easy weight loss. Unfollow social media accounts that encourage dieting behavior and make you feel bad about yourself.

Opposite: Let the hunger scale be your guide.

Honor your hunger Eat when you feel hungry. Your body needs calories and carbohydrates to stay adequately fueled, and when you dismiss your hunger signals and reach the point of extreme hunger, your body reacts with cravings, leaving you more likely to overeat. Using a hunger scale (opposite) can guide you to a more intuitive way of eating.

Challenge the food police The food police are thoughts deep in your head that tell you you’ve done “good” for eating a salad for lunch or “bad” for eating that piece of cake for dessert, or other unreasonable rules that dieting has created. Challenging the food police is a critical step toward becoming an intuitive eater.

Respect your fullness Just as your body tells you when you’re hungry, it also tells you when you’re full. Listen to the signals. Check in at the middle of a meal and ask

Discover the satisfaction factor It’s possible to be full but not satisfied.

When you eat what you really want, you will feel more content, often with eating less food.

Honor your feelings without using food It’s easy to use food as a crutch to soothe your emotions, but the reality is that food won’t fix the problem.

Find ways to comfort yourself without using food.

Respect your body Learning to respect without selfjudgment or criticism is an important tenet of intuitive eating. If you’re unrealistic and overly critical about your body, it will be more difficult to reject the diet mentality.

“Toss out those magazines and… unfollow social media accounts that encourage dieting behavior and make you feel bad about yourself.”

Make peace with food Give yourself unconditional permission to eat whatever you want, and avoid labeling foods as either “good” or “bad.”

By removing these labels, you’re also removing the guilt factor associated with eating those “forbidden” foods.

On the other hand, if you restrict yourself, you’re more likely to have uncontrollable cravings which can often lead to bingeing.

yourself: How does the food taste?

How full do I feel?

Exercise – feel the difference Instead of focusing on calorie burning with a strict exercise regimen, simply get active and do what feels good for your body. Think about how you feel after a workout. Are you sleeping better?

Do you feel more energized?

Honor your health Keep in mind that you don’t have to eat a perfect diet to be healthy. One meal or snack or day of eating differently will not make or break your health.

Instead of striving for perfection, focus on progress, and know that it’s what you eat consistently over time that matters.

Samina Kalloo RD, CDN

@cookingfortots

Bottom line Diet culture may surround us, but it doesn’t mean you have to participate.

To fully embrace intuitive eating, it’s important to understand each of its principals and know that they work in concert together (intuitiveeating.org has more in-depth details).

Giving yourself unconditional permission to eat allows you to make peace with food, removing the emotional power of “forbidden” foods and, instead, adopting an allfoods-fit mantra and honoring your hunger cues. Intuitive eating is a great practice to improve your relationship with food and build healthier long-term eating habits.

Let Your Body Be Your Guide

T

he hunger and fullness scale helps you to pay careful attention to your body and what it is telling you. If you eat when you’re getting hungry, and stop when you’re satisfied but not uncomfortable, you’ll eat just the right amount of food for your body. Keep in mind that the amount of food your body needs may change day to day based on factors such as physical activity level.

Here’s how it works: 1. Famished, irritable, weak, light headed.

2. Very hungry, need food right away.

3. Hungry and ready to eat.

4. Feeling physical signs of hunger, growling stomach, hunger pangs.

5. Physically full.

6. Satisfied, no longer feeling hungry.

7. Slightly uncomfortable feeling of fullness, don’t need more food.

8. Uncomfortably full, have to loosen your belt.

9. Stuffed, feeling bloated, and very uncomfortable.

10. Overstuffed, physically sick.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being “famished” and 10 being “overstuffed,” rank your hunger right before you start to eat. Ideally, you’ll be between a 3 and a 4.

Halfway through your meal, take a short pause and check in with your body. Ask yourself: “Where am I on the scale now?” If you’re at a 6 or 7, put your fork down and stop eating – even if there is still food on your plate.

If you decide to keep eating, finish your meal and rank your hunger. It’s a good idea to keep a journal for one week to document how you feel during your meals. If you find you’ve reached your satiation point but still feel compelled to eat more, journal that. This could help see if there’s an emotional aspect to your eating.

Repeat any time you feel out of touch with how/why you’re eating.

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37

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Mr

PIG

STAFF SURVEY

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He mans the door of the neighborhood's newest rooftop bar, but there's more to Henry Cordova than just good manners and a fancy suit ...

Job description Stylish host of the Polynesian tiki bar, with a sideline in pig wrangling.

Today’s outfit My favorite work outfit is a floral print suit from Mr Turk. My friends call me Botanical Gardens when they see me in it. The colors range from green to pink, and I pair it with a plain white Hugo Boss dress shirt and gold Prada wing tips.

IMAGE: PHIL O'BRIEN

But on my day off …

I wear a plain white, deep V-neck with drop-crotch tuxedo pants, black hat on backwards, along with my new sock sneakers. They’re the same model that Balenciaga sells but I got them from the manufacturer for way less before they put the branding on it. I don’t do branding. I just moved to Harlem and the best-dressed title is always for grabs – I can’t be caught slipping out here.

Who has style?

You, me … it’s how people see themselves or would like to be seen, the whole package, from dress, to the way they walk

and talk. It’s a reflection of the person’s attitude and beliefs.

A day in my life Starts off with my mini pigs Pickles and Boogie. They usually get the jump on me.

Breakfast for all of us …. we’re all vegan so that’s easy. I try to give them some love in the morning so they feel great all day – maybe a walk in the park – then I go to Chelsea Piers for some basketball and swimming. I grab lunch and head straight to work.

A perfect day …

Would start off very similar, maybe with some additional morning activities, but every day begins by being grateful for all the people and pigs that have helped me make it here and for how much further I still need to go.

Food heaven Cooking with friends, coming up with vegan recipes of our favorite old-school dishes.

The food can look like anything. Vegan arroz con pollo was the dish this Sunday and we nailed it.

Above: Henry, Mr Turk, Prada, and pigs Boogie and Pickles.

Food hell A traditional chef who won’t substitute.

Don't limit my choices. You have to be versatile to survive.

You want to buy me a drink?

Why thanks …

My choice is simple … mezcal on the rocks, no training wheels.

Fantasy dinner party On the guest list are my best friend #1 Cheo Vidal, best friend #1.5 Alan Vladusic, my mom, the Obamas, Jimi Hendrix, Pickles, Boogie, Alexander McQueen, Lance Armstrong, The 1993 NY Knicks, Oprah, and Notorious BIG. When I’m not working …

I hang out at Toloache, which does the best mezcal cocktail in Manhattan; Merilu, for the best pizza in the hood, Blue Ribbon, On The Rocks, and anywhere that is OK with mini pigs.

POLYNESIAN TIKI BAR W42ND ST - 9TH AVE thepolynesiantiki.com

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39

LIVING

40

DIGITAL EDITION

LIVING

LEAN IN

The “kinetically perilous” sculptures of contortionist Jonathan Nosan have found a home … in a penthouse apartment where they have room to breathe Photographs Andrew Brucker and Shane Geraghty

T

here’s a slender, sensual quality to Jonathan Nosan’s ceramics. An elegance – when they are in groups, standing tall, their gilded mouths reaching for the sky like baby birds, but especially when they’re in pairs. They lean in tenderly to each other, as if whispering in a nonexistent ear, or nuzzling at the nape of the neck.

The movement – that slight nod – seems far removed from the art form that led him to pottery in the fist place. But, in fact, they are intimately connected.

“Contortionism brought me to ceramics,” he says. “I was doing a solo show at the Fringe Festival in New York in 2010, and one of the characters in the five scenes, would be, I decided, an urn which, in the final scene, I’d smash. And I decided that, if I was going to destroy each urn, I wanted to create each urn as well.”

He’d never done ceramics before, but he’d often walked past Mud, Sweat, and Tears (now Mud Matters) on 10th Ave and been intrigued. “I’d lived in Japan for three years, so I had a big respect for the art and I’d seen a lot of it, but I had never gotten my hands into it. And this sort of demanded that I get my hands into it quickly. So, I had about three months to figure out how to make six ceramic urns.”

He learned fast. By the end of the three months he had a collection of urns for his show that would play, first, a waste basket, then a water jug, then a tin bucket. In the grand finale, it would

“We have to always be challenging our forms, whether it’s the physical body, or whether it’s porcelain.”

Above: Porcelain and gold leaf towers embrace under a bell jar.

Opposite: Meet the family.

be smashed. “So they all have these incarnations. Which is kind of beautiful, because the thing about ceramic is that it’s basically dirt and mud. And it has every element to it. You need the air, you need the fire, you need the earth, you need the water. It’s very elemental.

“Bob Gereke, who was at Mud, Sweat, and Tears, would always say, ‘There’s a plasticity to the art, and through it, you’re making a form. But that form doesn’t have to stay that form. It’s all about change and pushing it.’

“And I think that has real translation into contortion and physical performance – we have to always be challenging our forms, whether it’s the physical body, or whether it’s porcelain.”

And Jonathan has challenged his physical body more than most. The man who couldn’t touch his toes at the age of 22 has trained his spine and his limbs to bend beyond anything one would imagine the human body is capable of.

His skills have led him to appearances at the Slipper Room, Lincoln Center, and La Mama, on tours around the world, on film, commercials, and in America’s Got Talent.

“I’ve f***ing challenged my body a f*** load!” he laughs. “We can say ‘f*** load,’ right?

“It’s part of my stupid nature. My beautiful nature. It’s how far I can push something. One of my studio mates in London had seen my performance and then she saw what I make and both had what she called ‘a kinetic peril.’”

He needs space to throw his works, – in the old days at Mud, Sweat, and

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41

SIN GIN G LES SO N S

with Elizabeth Saunders

330 7th Avenue - 28th/29th Street and Online 1st Vice-President: New York Singing Teachers Association Member: AEA, AGMA, NATS Gender non-conforming clients welcome F2M & M2F Voice Training Call direct on (860) 874-7184

WWW.ELIZABETHSAUNDERSVOICE.COM/VOICE-STUDIO

MEDICARE

APPROACHING 65 OR OLDER? WORKING OR RETIRED?

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Call Jordon Hafetz at (866) 944 2338 Ext 201 - 311 West 43rd St.

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Aoife Collins Hey, Hell’s Kitchen renters....

Is that lease going to be up for renewal soon?

Has it been on your mind to consider buying a place this time around?

Give me a call to help understand your next steps. You’ll be chatting to another Hell’s Kitchen resident who can help you navigate to find the best options for your home (and pocket!)

Phone: 646.241.8602 Email: ancollins@stribling.com Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker

LIVING Tears (he now works out of a studio on W52nd St), someone walking across the floorboards could send one of fragile pieces tumbling. But once they’re fired, they have an unexpected strength and stability.

“You see the forms and they look like these tall, sort of unstable things, but they’re actually very grounded. I throw them in a way that they have a very solid base weight, so they’re not going to topple over, even though it looks like they should.”

Of course, after the urns were smashed, that should have been the end of the relationship. But this art form has a habit of reeling you in. It’s addictive.

“It’s frustrating at first,” says Jonathan.

“But it quickly becomes this very connective, meditative thing as well.

“A good friend of mine was over from Japan. And when they saw them, they said, ‘What’s within comes without.’

It’s like you make what’s inside of you.

This is my form. And, essentially, I try to break out of my form.”

And, just as breathing is vital to the performance process, so it is with ceramics. In fact, he says it’s integral to bringing the piece out.

“And there’s a metaphor of it in Jewish spirituality, this whole feeling of the breath of life. God breathed into the nostrils of man, and gave us life, and gave us this ability to be here.

So, as I’m making, I do definitely

“It’s like you make what’s inside of you.

This is my form.

And, essentially, I try to break out of my form.”

Above: Jonathan bending over backwards for his art. Below: 24 karat gold leaf on porcelain.

have a soul for the spiritual realm.”

He likes to create groups and families.

So when a potential buyer asks for just one, he’s … reluctant. They belong together. Which is how they’re displayed in architect Cary Tamarkin’s dramatic new condo development at 550 W29th St, with its 20-foot-tall ceilings, massive metal casement windows, and hand-cast limestone Roman brickwork.

And Jonathan’s style continues to evolve. He’s leaving the pieces unglazed, naked, “so you can really feel the porousness of the porcelain.” And he’s added display cases for the first time.

“It’s almost taxidermic,” he says. “It adds a new level of preciousness.”

He’s also experimenting with leaving the 24 carat gold leaf raw, without wiping the excess off. The result is a beautiful fragility, the fragments fluttering precariously in the AC’s breeze. “The nature of it is that, ultimately, it will come off and then it will be smooth. But it’s kind of like an evolution.”

But the inside of the sculptures remains just out of sight … a tiny aperture only hinting at what’s within.

“I feel that it’s the same in humans.

We could either see what’s inside as darkness, or we could see what’s inside as light. And I want to see everything inside as pure light, and just this gold coming out.”

550w29.com nosanceramics.com

Vital

STATISTICS Where: 550 W29th St Built: 2018 Units: 19 (four simplexes, 12 duplexes, three penthouses) Amenities: Private terraces, Washer and dryer, gas fireplaces, Fitness room and sauna, bicycle room.

Cost: $3,750,000 (three bed, three bath) - $12,500,000 (fourbed penthouse)

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43

LIVING

Home decor

heroes

-to stores, Giving a high five to classic pieces, go help others and the people going that extra step to CLEAN CLASSICS

Simple lines, efficient products, clean beauty – does anyone do this better than the Japanese?

These Kawada rice bowls in deep red are not just good for rice – use them to serve up chips, dips, cereal, or for all those odds and ends that are always looking for a home. $24, muji.us/store

HOPE SPRINGS

This clever vase remains flat and twodimensional, until it’s filled with water and takes on a new life.

Just add flowers. $24 for two, shop. cooperhewitt.org

OH, BARCELONA!

Much-copied, never quite matched, the Barcelona chair is one of the most recognized designs of the last century, thanks to Mies van der Rohe’s less-is-more aesthetic.

It doesn’t come cheap – but it’ll last forever. $5,991, knoll.com

WE CAN BE HEROES

Between 1972 and 1980, the Duffy studio photographed David Bowie five times, as Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, the Thin White Duke, Lodger, and Scary Monsters. This rarely-seen print from the Scary Monsters shoot was taken for promotional use, but remained unseen until 2013. $165, store.davidbowie.com

44

DIGITAL EDITION

LIVING MY HERO!

If Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts persists in being your hero, pour your coffee (or tea) into her. This mug is part of Fishs Eddy’s politicians collection (also including Abraham Lincoln, Aaron Burr, RBG, and Oprah). $16.95, fishseddy.com

IS IT A BIRD?

No, it’s a plane, silly. A bed plane to be precise. Inspired by the Disney movie Planes, this is, unfortunately, one that is strictly for the kids.

Price on application, circu.net

SUCK IT UP

A floor-full of succulents … and not a thorn among them. There’s something horticulturally delightful about this rug, from the twice-bankrupt retailer that has risen from the ashes with a new spring in its step. $360, gracioushome.com

CANDY GLAMOR

Holly Suzanne Rader’s work has been described as “blending femininity with modern form.” A classically-trained portrait painter, she’s evolved into a sculptor and mixed media artist, using materials including acrylic, photo collage, wax, resin, paper mâché, sequins, glitter, and even candy in her work. And, because this is Maison 10, 10 percent of the sale goes to Holly’s chosen charity, Housing Works. $2,000, maison10.com

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45

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LIVING

Hey

NEIGHBOR!

Hell’s Kitchen is growing faster than you can say “Where did the summer go?”

Who are these people, you ask? We find out

Michele Lee

Profession: Full-time account coordinator at an ad agency in SoHo, and part-time employee at Bumble.

Budget: $1,500 a month Moving from: Illinois – I graduated from the University of Richmond in May 2018 as an interdisciplinary major in creative marketing and visual arts, and I found a job in NYC a month later.

To: A one-bedroom apartment in a doorman building on W42nd St - 11th Ave. I’m in the living room that has been converted into a bedroom.

Why: I was looking for a place pretty quickly (I had to move in within two weeks) and the broker recommended this one. It was affordable and had everything I was looking for.

Tick list: I wanted a safe neighborhood with an apartment space that wouldn’t feel suffocating. I also wanted an in-unit washer and dryer, as well as a small gym in the building for the times I wouldn’t be running outside.

The broker experience: It was extremely positive – they were very helpful, especially considering the speed of the move. I had to find a place within five days of receiving my job offer.

What I learned: I learned how important it is to live in a space that feels open and homey. After a long day at work, it’s great to be able to lay

“I was looking for a place pretty quickly (I had to move in within two weeks).” in bed and just let my body and mind rest. The apartment is still not fully “homey” yet, but I’ve made sure to get Christmas lights and wall art to fill the bare spaces on the walls.

What sealed the deal: It feels like a calm place to live in the city as a young professional; it also doesn’t hurt that there’s good food around as well.

Above: Welcome to the neighborhood, Michele.

Vital

STATISTICS $ of conversion room in one-bed apartment: $1,500 # floors: 40 plus Amenities: Gym, in-unit washer and dryer, bathroom, full kitchen, controllable AC in bedroom and living room, and a lovely rooftop.

Pet-friendly: Yes.

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47

GALLERY

#W42ST Hashtag your Instagram pics and they could star in the mag!

Fashion Week came and went.

The weather continued to screw with us – delivering mist, and rain, and storms, along with the occasional perfect summer day. And our Instagram family continued to record it all. Remember, anyone can be on these pages. Just tag your images #W42ST and you could be the one whose photograph ends up in the next issue.

48

DIGITAL EDITION

GALLERY

49

DIGITAL EDITION

“It’s a nice second skin so it’s like going to a nude spin class without actually having the horror of going to a nude spin class.”

50

DIGITAL EDITION

STYLE

Heavy

PEDAL

What is Cyc Fitness? How many calories do you burn?

And how do you rate your classmates’ hotness factor?

Sophia Strawser gets all hot and sweaty What is it?

The younger brother of SoulCycle. That brother that ends up growing up to be better, hotter, and smarter. Graduated from Yale in engineering but chooses to do the arts. Ends up making more money in the arts than engineering and causally changes the world. And with a price tag that is $15 cheaper than SoulCycle, it’s the younger brother that you can actually afford to date.

Opposite: Elena Koshivaki-Hasbun is always ready with a motivational profanity or two.

you already worked out so maybe just walk there. I’d suggest the steak salad because you’re not just a hot piece of meat, so the meat you eat shouldn’t be either.

Name that Instructor I don’t need motivational quotes about unicorns fighting the odds, I need someone to yell profanities at me until I’m up in third position. For that, I go to Elena Koshivaki-Hasbun’s (@ekoshivaki) classes.

Hotness scale of fellow sweaters 5/10 if you’re a straight woman. 7/10 if you’re a gay man. And if you’re a straight man, 10/10. Am I saying that so there are more straight men in my weekly classes? I can neither deny nor confirm that.

What’s the one phrase you find yourself yelling in class time and time again?

EKH: “This should be your only workout for today, so give it everything you have.” Or “I don’t care how fast you go or for how long, I care if you are trying with 100% of you.”

Sweat level I’m not hugging anyone after, but I’m also still OK with potentially meeting a cute guy on the subway ride home.

If your bike wasn’t stationary, where would you want it to be headed?

EKH: “I’m so scared riding a bike in NYC on the streets, so I’m very thankful this one doesn’t move. But I would love riding a bike down the beaches and boardwalks.”

On a scale of cardio to cardio, can I eat anything I want the rest of the day?

For 45 minutes, you’re working at 100%.

Don’t think the instructor can’t see that you’re faking putting on resistance, because she can and will call you out. Every class I’ve been to has the perfect balance of climbs and sprints, so you can really push yourself as hard as you need to without spending 45 minutes in one consistent climb, which just leads to slowing down, fatigue, and impending doom. (‘The Climb’ by Miley Cyrus starts playing).

Where to get that sweet, sweet protein afterwards Blue Dog Café is a hop and a skip away, but

What are you wearing?

EKH: “I’m living in Outdoor Voices tech sweat lately. It’s a nice second skin so it’s like going to a nude spin class without actually having the horror of going to a nude spin class.”

There’ll be another workout class reviewed next month. Until then, check out the daily dance that is Sophia Strawser’s life @sophiestrawser

CYC FITNESS 8TH AVE - 44TH/45TH ST cycfitness.com

51

DIGITAL EDITION

STYLE

Sober

IN THE CITY

Is there anything more heroic than quitting the booze and reclaiming your life? Kristen Jongen’s daughter, Mia, takes over her monthly column and makes a powerful case for the defense

M

y mom is my hero. My hero has a weakness, and it isn’t kryptonite. When I was a kid, it was a case of bottles stored in the cupboard labeled “Kristen.”

Some kids enjoy the sounds of waves crashing on the beach to lull them to sleep, but my restful bliss growing up was to hear my mom’s car roll up the driveway at 3am and thump into a park; followed by her attempting to sneak through the front door. In the morning I would awaken with a startle and run up the stairs to triple check that she was still in bed and breathing.

Every family is dysfunctional, but I could have sworn in my adolescent years that my family took the cray-cray-cake. As hard as it was to see my mom emotionally leveled after my parents’ divorce, it was more difficult to see her drown her sorrows in her favorite red. The wine was stained in the cracks of her lips as she kissed me goodnight.

As the years progressed, so did her drinking. She developed three split personalities. There was her sad drunk, her mean drunk, and occasionally her spontaneous, overly affectionate drunk (the one that would come home from work, give me a huge hug and smooch, and tell me what an amazing daughter I was). This was my favorite drunk Kristen. She evolved

IMAGE: JULIO NUNYO

ABOUT

Left: Mia watched her mom transform from drunk to sober ... cold turkey.

into a day drinker. No-one could tell if she was actually laughing at life, or if she was terribly tipsy. During awkward moments, I would corner her and whisper: “Mom, are you drunk?” It would always piss her off.

One particularly bad night, my mom humiliated my best friend during a sleepover. She was cursing and slamming around. She woke up with a terrible hangover and no recollection of the previous evening’s events. I reminded her.

She was mortified and apologized. I don’t

Kristen

know why that day was the day, but it was a turning point.

That day, the woman who is my hero, made a life-changing decision. She decided to attend her first 12-step meeting.

I have never been able to compare anyone’s strength to that of my mother’s.

Not a lot of people believe that such a dysfunctional alcoholic could quit cold turkey. It was not a natural process. There were days when I would come home from school, and she would be on the ground with a toothbrush cleaning the floors to relieve anxiety. As the weeks turned into months, the months miraculously turned into years. It was indeed a remarkable time to be a witness to.

There are famous stories of flashy

“Every family is dysfunctional, but I could have sworn in my adolescent years that my family took the cray-cray-cake.” bullshit transformations, where a girl loses 200 pounds and decides to start her own clothing line, gets five million instagram followers, and then marries a hip hop singer. But then there are the more common transformations that occur every day behind closed doors.

My mom didn’t invent sliced bread, but she did lose the self-hatred, depression, and stress she was riddled with every day.

She lost some of her friends, too, when she got sober. But she gained so much more.

My mom is still my hero. She is my older sister’s hero, and she is my little brother’s hero, too.

My mom’s strength and beauty come from her relentless audacity to meet the disease she will have for the rest of her life and squarely kick it in the ass.

Kristen Jongen is the artist, author, and speaker behind Soul Soup. She writes books on grief, healing, and transformation, and is in long-term recovery from alcohol and drug addiction (www.mysoulsoup.com; kjissoberinthecity@gmail.com). If you’re having a hard time with drugs and alcohol, you can find support meetings at nyintergroup.org

52

DIGITAL EDITION

STYLE

The

paralysis diet How Claudia Chung suddenly started to feel thinner …

Photograph Ilona Lieberman

I

got fat. I got Botox. I got better.

“Please. Don’t let me know my real weight,” I dramatically pleaded with the nurse. “I will epically and utterly spiral.”

“Sure. You’re not alone. We have a few of those,” she replied.

“Oh.” Yep. I am of those. Super.

I love getting check-ups. It feels like the epitome of adulthood. There is something very grown-up about doing preventive tasks like cleaning out your closet before a season change or buying a tube of neosporin because you are acknowledging the fact that, at some point in the future, you will fall on your face and need it. For me, I feel superior when I am playing offense in the game of life. Winning against the lazy me, who’s sunning herself while the world is moving on without her.

And there is also a very good chance I will feel superior to you, if I see you sitting on a park bench doing nothing while I am hustling my way to and from a doctor’s appointment.

My doctor is lovely – maternal, warm and cheery without being overtly and inappropriately friendly. “I’m so proud of you!” she praised when I stopped drinking. “I’m so happy!” she exclaimed when I told her I was going to graduate school. “Tell me about him!” she encouraged when I started dating again.

But most importantly (as in all doctors you trust), I find her touches during examinations comfortable.

They evoke gratitude with every sensation. She is fully present and engaged with my body. The only other time I feel this physically connected to another human being is when I am having intercourse. Sober

ABOUT

Claudia Claudia Chung is a writer who moonlights as a school teacher. She is currently working on a book of essays and stories on the trials, tribulations, and the funny in being a young widow.

“There’s a very good chance I will feel superior to you, if I see you sitting on a park bench doing nothing while I am hustling my way to and from a doctor’s appointment.” and having intercourse. But there is one subject I’ve avoided with my doctor this past year and half. A conversation I did not long to have now or maybe ever. And I was consciously skipping over the matter again and again. My weight.

My weight gain to be exact. The fact is, I’m chubbier than I used to be. And most likely chubbier than I should be.

She knew it. And I knew it. But I still didn’t want to it be said out loud.

That’d make is real. “You’re still in the healthy normal range,” she said after seeing the new and increased number. But her eyes told me that, at the rate I was going, I could be in the obese arena any minute.

Any second.

“I’m trying not to think about my weight this year,” I said too quickly and defensively. “I have a ton going on.”

Silence.

“Okaaaay.” And she left it at that.

I had come in that day, not for a routine check-up but to get a health form filled out for my day job as a teacher. So when the front desk handed me the envelope with my stats, I immediately opened it in the elevator.

What the fuck?! I hadn’t seen that number associated with my name since high school, when I considered the General Tso chicken special from the Happy Wok as a snack before dinner. That wasn’t the only blow. I was also an inch shorter.

There it was in black and white, signed by the doctor I trust with my life. I am shorter and fatter beyond my wildest imagination.

That afternoon, I made my first appointment to get Botox.

“I’m a bit mystified by what you’re doing,” my friend Leah (who also happens to be a top-notch shrink) said when I told her. “You know, Botox won’t change your weight.”

But my logic was that I needed to do something now. I wanted to take action.

Something, anything to divert this mistake I didn’t want to claim. A chubby body that has been feeling uncomfortable and foreign for a year now, was and is my own.

Fat be damned. I will rage a war against wrinkles that are barely visible. I wanted to Trump my way out of this mess that was my body by doing something completely unrelated – injecting poison into my face and paralyzing it.

If you read this column regularly, you know that I’ve been following the shutthe-fuck-up-and-listen-to-your-fuckingbody diet. I never eat the same thing at same time on the same plate. And now I need my body back – lean, healthy, and confident. It’s time to work on myself. I’ve started with my skin.

To be continued…

You don’t have to wait another month for your next dose of W42ST. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for news, giveaways, and the essential guide to the week’s happenings bit.ly/hellohellskitchen

53

PETS

Wagging Waffles

Laila Humans’ names: Ryan and Adam.

Breed: Boxer Age: I just turned two.

What makes me bark: Attention.

Three words that describe me best: Sassy, hyper, loving.

Confession: I try to steal dad’s frosé when he’s not looking.

Instadog: @notsoinnocentboxer

King Human’s name: Charlene.

Breed: Miniature poodle.

Age: Two. What makes me bark: Treats, a ball, when I want to play.

Three words that describe me best: Playful, happy, lovable.

Confession: I like to pee on the carpet!

Instadog: @thekingofkingsssss

54

DIGITAL EDITION

Human’s name: Matt.

Breed: Australian Labradoodle.

Age: Three years old.

What makes me bark: Skateboards, hallway monsters, and the doorbell.

Three words that describe me best: Happy-go-lucky.

Confession: I destroy all of my toys and love eating junk I find on the sidewalk.

Instadog: I’m heavily featured on @mattgrcohen

SUPPORTED BY

tales

These camera-happy canines took a time out from the morning stroll for a quick Q&A with W42ST

Dog day care

FOR FREE

B

Belle Human’s name: Kristine.

Breed: I’m a border collie/retriever/ Shepherd/chow mix.

Age: Three.

What makes me bark: The horses on the street, and the doorbell (even on TV) when anyone comes to visit.

Three words that describe me best: Sweet, friendly girl.

Confession: I leave a fur trail basically everywhere.

Pepsi Humans’ names: John and Mel. Breed: Yorkshire terrier.

Age: Three.

What makes me bark: When I’m asking for attention.

Three words that describe me best: Curious, loyal, mighty.

Confession: I hump my toy monkey.

e featured in Wagging Tales – and get a FREE week of dog day care at AKC Canine Retreat.* Your dog will experience a new level of care tailored to their individual needs and temperament. AKC Canine Retreat welcomes dogs of all backgrounds, shapes, and sizes, and offers a full range of services including day care, overnight care, grooming, training, walking and jogging.

Our professional staff are trained in the most up-to-date methods recognized by the American Kennel Club, and each location features a range of play and rest spaces.

Come visit our locations at W72nd St, W42nd St, SKY, Chelsea, and Tribeca – we’ve got the West Side covered!

Email the pictures of your dog to waggingtales@w42st.com with the answers to our questions, and one lucky dog will get a FREE week of care.* Your name: Pet’s name: Breed: How old?

What makes your pet bark?

Three words that describe them best: Naughty confession: Are you an Instadog? *Dog must pass interview to enter day care

55

DIGITAL EDITION

Design • Decor • Organize Home • Business • Life

Hey neighbor!

OrganizeNY

Juli Oliver Professional Organizer

Join the W42ST community and unlock news, events, the best happy hours in the hood, and weekly giveaways

organizeny.com juli@organizeny.com 315.559.4845 New York, NY

JILLIAN SAGE THAI YOGA STRETCH

Go to w42st.com and subscribe for free

N EW

Where There Is Balance, There Is Success.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and each Friday you’ll receive a New York City insider’s guide to everything that’s happening in Hell’s Kitchen and beyond, plus ticket giveaways and other cool stuff, all direct to your inbox.

TOTAL BODY

STRETCH

IN THE TRADITION OF

THAI YOGA MASSAGE

Introducing the:

IMAGE: KAREN GREATTI

Flexibility • Mobility • Performance MassageEnvy.com/Stretch

30

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Escape the daily stress with 90 minutes of therapeutic yoga practice which enhances flexibility and circulation, relieves tension, anxiety and stress, and detoxifies the body. You will find a sense of peace and calm. It includes passive stretching with massage and acupressure techniques, working along the energy lines of your body. This therapy is performed on a mat on the floor.

90 Minutes: $125 Please contact Jillian directly to make an appointment

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Email jillian@jilliansage.com Instagram @queengotham DISCLAIMER: *Pricing is based on introductory rate available to first time guests. Prices subject to change. A 30-minute stretch session includes 25-minutes of hands-on time and 5-minutes of consultation, which occurs pre and post service. Stretching is generally known to help ease pain and tension and increase mobility. Stretch services are not

this month

A MUSICAL TOUR OF HELL’S KITCHEN FROM PIX11’S TAMSEN FADAL, INSIDER TIPS, BIZ ADVICE, AN INDISPENSABLE HK DIRECTORY, QUOTE OF THE MONTH, AND EVERYONE’S FAVORITE MAP!

DIGITAL EDITION

+ EAT, DRINK, PLAY, DO

w42 st

EATING & DRINKING Adella W43rd st 9th/10th Ave Upmarket, minimalist nook with a communal

Chez Napoleon

The Harrow

W 50th Street - 8th/9th Ave

10th Ave 49th/50th St

Hyper-traditional

Contemporary

Hell’s Kitchen

American cuisine

landmark French restaurant open

with a stellar cocktail program in the

plates & boutique wines..

since 1960 and still dedicated to

coziest of atmospheres. Make The

www.adellanyc.com info@adellanyc.com (212) 273-0737

serving classic comfort food dishes.

Harrow New York your perfect night

Leave your diet at home!

out.

www.cheznapoleon.com (212) 265-6980

www.theharrownewyork.com (212) 757-6977

table serving farm-to-table small

1

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PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS HERE Email drew@w42st.com

5

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own. Knowledgeable staff.

www.beerculture.nyc (646) 590-2139 4

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offers a relaxed environment to enjoy good wines, specialty cocktails, and Mediterranean inspired food & fondue.

www.kashkavalgarden.com (212) 245-1758 12

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10th Ave 45th/46th St

10th Ave - 45th St

A wine bar and restaurant in the

Rotating local craft beer on tap, easy

heart of Hell’s Kitchen, serving

drinking lawnmower beers, cocktails,

oven pizzas and a high quality

dinner & brunch made from locally

sandwiches & shareable appetizers.

selection of rotating crafts at fantastic

sourced ingredients.

Happy hour 3pm-6pm Mon-Fri.

prices. Always interesting draft

www.dianneandelisabeth.com (212) 247-3039

www.HellcatAnnies.com (212) 586-2707

6

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5

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Gebhard’s Beer Culture

Hibernia Bar & Grill

W72nd St - Amsterdam/ West End

W50th Street 9th/10th Ave

Cavernous, low-key taproom known

pub with good food and great craic,

for its wide variety of craft beers, plus

the genuine article. $10 lunch special

burgers & bar bites..

12-4pm, Mon-Fri. Kitchen open late.

www.beerculture.nyc/gebhards

www.hiberniabar.com (212) 969-9707

A huge selection

Fill up a house growler or bring your

In HK since 2004, Kashkaval Garden

Hellcat Annie’s Tap Room

W45th St 8th/9th Ave

rotating selection of drafts and cask.

9th Ave 55th/56th St

Dianne & Elisabeth

Beer Culture

of bottles and cans, and drink from a

10 map reference

Kashkaval Garden

(917) 639-3420 8

Irish neighborhood

6

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Green Fig

Chez Josephine

10th Ave 41st/42nd St

W42nd St 9th/10th Ave

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Kiabacca 10th Ave 45th/46th St Featuring 20 specialty brick

cocktails and wine on tap.

www.kiabaccabar.com (212) 649-4675 13

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Lansdowne Road 10th Ave 43rd/44th St This neighborhood sports bar is a great place to gather for tasty pub food, wings, and a wide selection of beers while watching your favorite team. Back bar for parties.

www.lansdowneroadnyc.com (212) 239-8020 7

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Hudsons

Le Prive

Pier 83, 12th Ave - 43rd St

10th Avenue 44th/45th St

Surf ’n’ turf, tapas,

Modern Israeli

Le Prive is

Return to the joie de vivre of 1920s

cuisine with unique flavor and spices.

and cocktails served on a multi-level

redefining French dining with elegant

Paris, with a blue tin ceiling, red velvet

Influences come from The Middle

yacht with a large deck. Short sailings

style, exquisite dishes, charming

walls and chandeliers lighting up

East, North Africa’s Maghreb region,

on the Hudson for sweeping views of

ambience, and gracious hospitality in

Josephine Baker portraits.

and southern Europe.

the Manhattan skyline.

the heart of Hell's Kitchen!

www.chezjosephine.com (212) 594-1925

www.greenfignyc.com

www.hudsonsnyc.com (212) 630-8840

lepriveny.com (212) 837-2795

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(646) 449-7790 9

11

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58

DIGITAL EDITION

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14

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EAT

Tamsen Fadal’s playlist

They’re the fathers (and mother!) of modern advertising – these are the creative heroes you need to know

C

reative directors and agency heads of the early and mid 20th century paved the way for modern advertising: taglines in Times Square that stretch for city blocks; subway ads that we laugh at and share with friends. These tactics were tested and refined by the best in the business, and are the art in which modern-day marketers and advertisers aspire to create.

Here’s a brief history on advertising, and the 20th-century heroes you need to know:

1

Ted Bates Born in Connecticut in 1901, he founded Ted Bates Advertising in 1940, which grew into the fourth largest worldwide agency during that time. He was known for hard-hitting, hard-selling creative that drove the message home with powerful visuals and repeated taglines.

2

David Ogilvy Born in the United Kingdom in 1911, he is widely regarding as the father of modern advertising

Satisfied Hamilton original cast recording Try A Little Tenderness Otis Redding You and I Ingrid Michaelson Moondance Van Morrison La Vie En Rose Andre Bocelli

HELL’S CREATIVE is a digital ad agency founded by two millennials at Gotham West Market. Interested in having your business question answered and featured in a future column? Reach out to info@hellscreative.com with your request.

(hint: the Ogilvy office is on 11th Ave – do you know where?). He was known for persuasive ads with long headlines and body copy packed with facts.

3

PLAYLIST 1 2 3 4 5

PETS

Bizlist

IL BARETTO 11th Ave - 53rd St It’s a café by day and a wine bar by night. It’s casual, and feels like a place you’d find in the middle of any Italian town. I love the kale salad, paninis, and amazing espresso – and the outdoor seating when the weather gets good.

LIVING

TAMSEN FADAL is the prime time anchor for PIX11 News in New York City, and can be seen weekdays anchoring the 5pm, 6pm, and 10pm newscasts. She is an 11-time Emmy winner and author of The New Single, Finding, Fixing & Falling Back In Love With Yourself. She is an advocate for SHARE Cancer Support and ADAPT Community Network, and has lived in Hell’s Kitchen for 14 years.

DEWITT CLINTON DOG PARK 11th Ave - 54th St If you have seen me around Hell’s Kitchen, I am often with my favorite little pal, my chihuahua, Matsen. We love De Witt Clinton Dog Park, especially since there is an area for little dogs. He hangs with his pals at Tilly’s Walks there too – and it's a great place for an

WESTERLY MARKET 8th Ave - 54th/55th St This is my home away from home, with fresh juices and lots of incredible healthy food. I love the fact it’s independent and always filled with people looking to learn new things about how to stay well.

OUT

SIGNATURE THEATRE W42nd St - 9th/10th Ave This is such a cool space. I am a lover of theater, so I truly appreciate this work of art in Hell’s Kitchen.

My dad is an architect and a fan of Frank Gehry, so it is fitting that I make my way to the Signature Theatre and continue to frequent it as often as possible. Off-Broadway, non-profit, and the talent that comes through here are so special and not to be missed.

early morning stroll with a good cup of iced coffee.

STYLE

HELL'S KITCHEN 9th Ave - 50th/51st St A late-night spot I love, where you can find me munching on chips and guac and their scrumptious Brussels sprout tacos. Named after my favorite neighborhood – it’s a must.

Bill Bernbach Born in the Bronx the same year as Ogilvy, he was one of three founders that created the worldwide agency DDB, best known for the "Think Small" VW mid-century campaign. He was known to tell it like it is, avoid hyperboles, and have

fun with the products to go outside of the box.

4

Jane Maas Born in Dallas in 1932, she worked as a copywriter for Ogilvy and became one of the first women to achieve the creative director title in advertising. A legend known for her part in the "I Love New York" campaign, she went on to run a number of very wellknown agencies and authored key advertising books.

59

DIGITAL EDITION

+ EAT, DRINK, PLAY, DO

w42 st

EATING & DRINKING / SHOPPING & SERVICES Manganaro’s Hero Boy

North River Lobster Co

9th Ave 37th/38th St

Pier 81, 12th Ave - 41st St

Our 60-year anniversary! The original

NYC’s only floating lobster shack.

six-foot Hero will feed 30 to 40 people.

Fresh seafood, mason jar cocktails,

Large restaurant: eat in, take out,

buckets of beer & raw bar. Casual

catering. Reasonable prices!

atmosphere – no reservations.

www.heroboy.com (212) 947-7325

www.northriverlobsterco.com (212) 630-8831

15

19

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The Marshal 10th Ave 4th/45th St

everyone in this sleek bar, from the

sustainability and support for the

corporate world of America to the

community are at the heart of

exhilarating youth of Manhattan.

everything we do.

www.perditionnyc.com (212)-582-5660

The Press Lounge

10th Ave

NYC’s premier

approach to authentic Japanese cuisine.

www.kitchensakebarmethod.nyc (212) 582-2146

17 map reference

10th Ave 47th/48th St Ecuadorable! Quaint eatery serving traditional dishes with modern flair.

Family recipes make Ñaño special.

www.nanobarnyc.com (646) 649-4678

(212) 601-2643 www.sallrestaurantnyc.com

rooftop lounge, with dramatic views, seasonal cocktails, an extensive wine list, seasonally inspired small plates, and welcoming service.

www.thepresslounge.com (212) 757-2224 11

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Specialty coffee & tea, brunch and Korean fusion dinner.

(917) 265-8629

24

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Print Restaurant 11th Ave 47th/48th St

Elizabeth Saunders Voice Studio 7th Ave. 28th/29th St Private, individualized voice/singing lessons..1st vice-president: New York Singing Teachers Association. Gender non-conforming clients welcome (860) 874-7184

www.ElizabethSaundersVoice.com

Fine & Dandy W49th St 9th/10th Ave Handmade accessories for dapper guys.

Ties, bow ties, pocket squares, neckerchiefs, tie bars, cufflinks, money

www.instagram.com/ ut47manhattan

11th Ave 47th/48th St

Ñaño Ecuadorian Kitchen

18 map reference

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Method Japanese Kitchen and Sake Bar

Bringing a multi-cultural New York

cocktails, draft beer, and much more.

W47th St 8th/9th Ave

Hell’s Kitchen. There is room for

- 50th/51st St

with outdoor patio seating, classic

UT47

food, wine, and

10

restaurant in the heart of Midtown

10th Ave 48th/49th St Somewhere between heaven and

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A new American and seafood cuisine

Perdition

liquor at a restaurant where

16

10th Ave54th/55th St

23

Locally sourced

www.the-marshal.com (212) 582-6300

Sall Restaurant & Lounge

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clips, and much more.

www.fineanddandyshop.com (212) 247-4847 2

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Big Apple Meat Market

Fountain House Gallery

9th Ave 39th/40th St

9th Ave - 48th St Our gallery

Serving Hell’s Kitchen and Chelsea for

exhibits and sells original, affordable

over 20 years.We are committed to

art made by local artists living and

bringing our shoppers the best quality

working with mental illness.

meats and groceries to the area.

www.fountainhousegallery.org ariel@fountaingallerynyc.com

www.bigapplemeatmarket.com (212) 563-2555 1

3

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David Ryan Salon W46th St 9th/10th Ave

Hafetz & Associates Medical insurance

Farm-to-table restaurant dedicated

Our mission is provide the highest quality

An independent insurance agency,

to seasonal, sustainable cuisine,

service to all our guests with the utmost

specializing in Medicare Supplements,

with fresh ingredients featured daily.

professionalism. Our staff is dedicated to

Advantage, & Rx plans while offering

Located in the Ink48 hotel.

all aspects of beauty and style – helping

superior customer and broker services.

www.printrestaurant.com (212) 757-2224

you feel and look your best.

www.hafetzandassociates.com jhafetz@srhafetz.com 1-866-99-HAFETZ (994-2338)

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DIGITAL EDITION

www.davidryansalon.com (212) 956-1830

EAT

David Mertem’s DAYLIST

finished a seven-month run Off-Broadway in Afterglow at The Davenport Theatre. You can watch the pilot episode of Queen's English on YouTube and follow the show @QueensEnglishTV on social media. When he’s not acting, David loves traveling, running, cooking, and finding new spots in the city to purchase records for his ever-expanding vinyl collection. Follow his adventures on Instagram @dfmerten & @queensenglishtv.

HK Tennis Academy

Kristin Misik Acupuncture

W39th St 9th/10th Ave

W52nd St 8th/9th Ave

W43rd St 8th/9th Ave

city’s oldest flea markets. Year round, each weekend, you can find antiques, vintage clothes, collectibles and more.

info@hellskitchenfleamarket.com www.annexmarkets.com map reference

Headquartered in New York City, Hell’s Kitchen Tennis Academy is the go-to spot for adults and children to hone their skills. Get a suntan while playing tennis!

www.hktennisacademy.com info@hktennisacademy.com

Barber Shop 9th Ave 46th/47th St & W56th St 9th/10th Ave

Jadite Galleries 10th Ave 46th/47th St Custom framing & art, conservation

High-end, low-cost, blending classic

framing, canvas stretching & mirrors

comforts with contemporary hairstyling.

a specialty. We exhibit contemporary

Our knowledgeable staff of dedicated,

and international artists.

skilled barbers allow every customer a

jaditeart@gmail.com

customized experience. Haircut $25.

www.hellskitchenbarbers.com (212) 470-7204

6

The city’s paddle sports center

serving the Hell’s Kitchen community.

with kayaking and stand up

Specializing in the treatment of pain,

paddleboarding, scenic tours, and

migraines, anxiety, fertility & allergies.

lessons in the heart of New York City.

We accept health insurance.

manhattankayak.com

Kristin@kristinmisik.com (212) 315-1412

(212) 924-1788 5

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Manhattan Plaza Health Club

Maid-Hattan www. maidhattan. com No time to do laundry or clean your apartment? Maid-Hattan does it all for you! Call or text (917) 478-0210 to LAUNDRY INCLUDED.

marzena@maidhattan.com 917-478-0210

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Pier 84, W44th St - 12th Ave

15 Years of clinical experience

schedule your cleaning appointment.

(212) 977-6190

Manhattan Kayak + SUP PETS

Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market

An authentic NY experience, one of the

5

HELL’S KITCHEN 9th Ave - 50th/51st St What’s more Hell’s Kitchen than Hell’s Kitchen Bar? Ryan is one of the head bartenders here and he brings such a warmth and spirit to the place 5:30 pM

ARDESIA WINE BAR W52nd St - 10th/11th Ave A bit off the usual beaten path, this wine bar is amazing for a latenight pour. With great atmosphere, outdoor seating, and a stellar wine list, this place is great for a date night, after-theater drinks, or just another Wednesday night.

10:00 pM

LIVING

IMAGE: BRITTANY ANIKKA LIU

DAVID MERTEN is starring in the new web series Queen's English and just

SIGNATURE THEATRE W42nd St - 9th/10th Ave I am such a fan of Signature. It’s a fantastic place for live theater in the city, with four different spaces that constantly produce new works and incredibly relevant revivals. It also has a great public area that has a cute bar and restaurant. I can’t get enough of it.

7:30 pM

OUT

PIER 84 Hudson River Park I am a sucker for spending time by the water, and that’s tough to get in Manhattan. This park helps with that longing though.

With ample space for tanning and gorgeous views of the Hudson, it’s my favorite place to spend the afternoon.

12:00 pM

that has kept me coming back. With delicious Mexican food, great bartenders, and a truly fierce selection of tequila, this place can’t be beat.

STYLE

GROUND CENTRAL 8th Ave - 52nd/53rd St This is one of few coffee shops in Hell's Kitchen that can still feel cozy and not too crowded if you catch it at the right time. Great coffee and great atmosphere, it’s the perfect place to start a day.

10:00 aM

W43rd St 9th/10th Ave Amid the hectic pace of mid-town Manhattan there is an escape to a calm, peaceful environment, committed to fitness and relaxation.

(212) 563-7001 mphc.com

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DIGITAL EDITION

+ EAT, DRINK, PLAY, DO

w42 st

SHOPPING & SERVICES / OUT / LIVING Massage Envy

The Circle Line

Rolates Pilates

W42nd St 10th/11th Ave

939 8th Ave, Suite 207

Massage, facials, and wellness to

Irish Arts Center

Pier 83, 12th Ave - W43rd St

W51st St 10th/11th Ave

NY’s oldest and largest provider of

Come enjoy a

Music, dance,

help you make the best of your body.

workout within our historic walls

scheduled and chartered sightseeing

theatre, film, literature, and exhibitions

Everyone deserves a customized

where Pilates began. Join us at the

and special event cruises. Operating

that tell the evolving Irish story. Plus

facial, so we make your relaxation and

original Joseph Pilates Studio, check

since 1945.

classes in Irish language, history,

comfort our priority.

our website for class schedule.

music, and dance.

www.massageenvy.com (212) 473-3689

www.rolates.com (212) 247-9603

www.circleline42.com (212) 563-3200 1

Mark Fisher Fitness

Rufskin

W39th St 9th/10th Ave

2002, Rufskin

Established in is celebrating

Group kettlebell

their 15th year

www.irishartscenter.org (212) 757-3318

map reference

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Ensemble Studio Theatre

The New Victory Theater

W52nd St 10th/11th Ave

W42nd St 7th/8th Ave

Building original,

classes and semi-private training

as a men’s fashion label. The lines

provocative, and authentic plays

offered in a fun, inclusive “Ninja

include denim, sportswear, swimwear,

from the ground up, from readings to

Clubhouse” by a team of ridiculous

underwear and accessories. California

workshops to fully-staged production.

humans.

lifestyle is at the essence of the

membership@markfisherfitness. com

brand’s philosophy.

www.ensemblestudiotheatre.org (212) 247-4982

212-356-0020

2

www.rufskin.com

Stiles Farmers Market

MiDoctor Urgent Care

9th Ave 36th/37th St

9th Ave 48th/49th St We are open 365 days so we can provide the best care you need. If you want to see a physician, no appointment is needed. Just walk in and we will take good care of you.

midoctoruc.com (212) 757-2015

NYC’s premier non-profit performing arts theater devoted to kids & families.

See international theater, dance, circus, opera & music at affordable prices.

www.newvictory.org (646) 223-3010

map reference

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Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum

New York Water Taxi

Pier 86, 12th Ave - 46th St

NYC’s favorite

Pier 82, W42nd St hop on, hop off

Experience the legendary aircraft

fresh ground coffee, nuts, dried fruits,

sightseeing cruise. You’ll see the Empire

carrier Intrepid, the first space shuttle,

breads, and more. Family owned since

State Building, Freedom Tower, Brooklyn

Concorde, and the submarine Growler.

1953. Also at W52nd St - 8/9th Ave.

www.intrepidmuseum.org (212) 245-0072

Bridge, and more. Don’t forget your

(212) 868-7070 map reference

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map reference

camera for an up-close photo of the Statue of Liberty!

www.nywatertaxi.com 7

61 W62nd St Certified psychic, medium, and tarot advisor. Individual and group readings.

www.theneyorkmedium.com marina@thenewyorkmedium.com

map reference

fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, pasta,

8

The New York Medium

(347) 486-4996

A full line of farm

map reference

Title Boxing Club W37th St 9th/10th Ave

Get your W42ST here:

“The oldest sport in the world is new

Balloon Bouquets of New York

again and we can’t wait to share our

W43rd St - 9th/10th Ave

experience with you. Empowering.

Exhilarating. Addictive.”

www.titleboxing.com/nycmidtown-west (212) 564-1700

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DIGITAL EDITION

map reference

Coco and Toto

Hair & The City

11th Ave - 51st/52nd St

W47th St - 8th/9th Ave

Castillo Theatre

Epstein’s Paint Center

Kilo 9th Ave - 55th/56th St

W42nd St - 10th/11th Ave

W52nd St - 10th/11th Ave

W43rd St - 9th/10th Ave

Pan Aqua Diving

plus at any of our advertisers

DIGITAL EDITION

DIGITAL EDITION

LAST WORD

“Another definition of a hero is someone who is concerned about other people’s well-being, and will go out of his or her way to help them – even if there is no chance of a reward. That person who helps others simply because it should or must be done, and because it is the right thing to do, is indeed without a doubt, a real superhero.”

Stan Lee

C

omic book legend Stan Lee – the former editor-inchief of Marvel, the man who co-created characters including Spider-Man, the Hulk, the Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Black Panther, the X-Men, and Thor – was born Stanley Martin Lieber on December 28, 1922, in an apartment on W98th St - West End Ave. As a young man, his part-time jobs included writing obituaries, working as an usher at the Rivoli Theater on Broadway, and selling subscriptions to the New York Herald Tribune.

His introduction to comic books came in 1939, when he was offered an assistant job at Timely Comics (which

would later become Marvel), based in the McGraw-Hill Building at 330 W42nd St. His roles included filling inkwells, fetching sandwiches for lunch, and proofreading.

But by the early 1940s, he had been promoted to interim editor, at the age of just 19.

After serving in the US Army, he returned to Timely, but was disillusioned with the westerns and romances he was required to write, and was considering quitting altogether. But around the same time, DC Comics was reinventing itself with a superhero revival, and Stan was encouraged by his wife to experiment at Marvel with the kind of stories he loved – stories featuring flawed, natural heroes

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DIGITAL EDITION

with a tendency to bad tempers, or fits of melancholy, or vanity. They had the same problems the rest of us have: fears about relationships or paying the bills.

In the process, he created mainstream comics’ first black superhero, wrote about the dangers of drugs (via Peter Parker), and contributed to the conversation about racism and intolerance.

He quit writing monthly comic books to become Marvel’s publisher in 1972 and was responsible for the brand becoming the massive multimedia empire it is today.

He founded the Stan Lee Foundation in 2010, supporting literacy projects and promoting diversity in the arts.

PREMIERES WEDNESDAY OCT 24 8P ON STREAM ONLINE AT PBS.ORG/SUPERCATS