W42ST Magazine Issue 8 - Hello summer, it's hot in Hell's Kitchen! by W42ST Magazine

w42st

ISSUE 08 JULY/AUG

INSIDE

Food news Cocktails essential events guide off broadway reviews and previews RELATIONSHIPS FAMILIES WINE BEER HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN ICED COFFEE THE COOLEST INTERIORS PROPERTY GOSSIP

APPETIZERS

1 6 6 500

NY The number of miles of plore city coastline you can ex with Manhattan Kayak.

The number of events planned for the Summer On The Hudson festival this year.

70,000

Count ‘em - the number of lobster rolls we chomp our way through every single week during the summer at the North River Lobster Company.

ssengers the The number of pa y transports every Staten Island ferr g weekends). day (not includin

130

. . . miles of New with Jersey coastliNe, Ndy beaches from Sa . ay M pe Hook to Ca

When summer comes around, Hell’s Kitchen goes in search of fun … YEARS THAT’S THE NUMBER OF TING OO SH N BEE S MACY’S HA RK OFF FIREWORKS TO MA LL BE JULY 4. THIS YEAR THEY’ KLYN BROO E TH M FRO ED EAS REL RGES IN BRIDGE AND THREE BA THE LOWER EAST RIVER.

1884 531894

The year the world’s first modern roller coaster was built at Luna Park, Coney Isla

THE NUMBER OF YEARS THE DELACORTE THEATER IN CENTRAL PARK HAS BEEN PUTTING ON FREE PERFORMANCES.

1,095

nd.

THE YEAR NEW YORK CITY CREATED THE COUNTRY’S FIRST DEDICATED CYCLE PATH.

500 THE NUMBER OF ACRE S OF FIELDS, HILLS, AN D WOODLANDS AT STOR M KING ART CENTER TH AT ARE FILLED WITH SCULPT URE AND ARTWORKS.

THE FLAVOR EXPLOSION IN AMPLE HILLS CREAMERY’S HELL’S KITCHEN SINK ICE-CREAM – DARK CHOCOLATE, GUINNESS EXTRA STOUT, CHILI-SPICED BROWNIES, COOKIE DOUGH AND TOFFEE BAR CRUNCH. YUMMERS!

COMMUNITY

Do you have something going on in Hell’s Kitchen? Tell us all about it news@w42st.com

MEN OF THE MOMENT Fluorescence and fanny packs are the stars of the Coach runway this month

oach presents its SS2016 menswear collection at the inaugural New York Fashion Week: Men’s this month, with an early bird presentation on July 16. Hot off the London Collection Men runway, where it showed for the first time, the brand’s creative director Stuart Vevers has dubbed the aesthetic “Kennedy boys meet Beach Boys meet Beastie Boys.” For those not fluent in fashion speak, this can mean anything from shorts and bombers in fluorescent abstract squiggle print to bold animal print parkas, T-shirts and man bags. Obviously, this being a venerable 34th St leather goods brand, there is leather there too, in patchwork and jacket detailing. And, on the feet, high top sneakers and fluffy poolside sliders. The jury is still out on the fanny packs …New York Fashion Week: Men’s runs July 13 through 16. Steven Kolb, CEO of The Council of Fashion Designers of America, which is launching the event, says: “The American menswear industry has never been stronger or more

Above: Bombers, shorts and sliders – your essential summer 2016 clobber.

creative, and it’s the right moment to start the standalone New York Fashion Week: Men’s to demonstrate this. “As we shine the spotlight on menswear and the collective talent of American designers, we expect the event to evolve and grow significantly in seasons to come.” www.cfda.com; www.coach.com

QUEEN OF CUPS The humble paper coffee cup. A mass-produced, utilitarian part of NY life. But in the hands of Gwyneth Leech, this throwaway object becomes a blank canvas. The artist has upcycled hundreds of cups since she first became fascinated with them in 2009. Inspiration comes via the view of Hell’s Kitchen from her studio window, and from the flowers in Clinton Community Garden,

around the corner from her apartment. “We’re so close we can smell the iris and roses when they bloom in the spring,” she says. “And sometimes we’ll find a tired honey bee that has strayed from the garden hive, in our rear window flower box.” Her work has been shown in public art spaces and shop windows as well as in traditional museums and art galleries. www.gwynethleech.com

Good sport Jon Hart is not a professional athlete. His one major sports victory is a world championship in roller basketball. But a bucket list by the HK-based author took him into the darkest recesses of the sports world. He became a pro wrestler, learning ‘fake’ moves that all but landed him in hospital. He played a season for a championship semipro football team, suited up as a US Open ball boy for three years, and was an amateur caddie for a PGA tournament. After attending mascot school, he performed in a neon gorilla suit at a minor league hockey game. He took part in the World Cup of roller soccer, and ran a race up the 1,576 stairs of the Empire State Building. Man Versus Ball: One Ordinary Guy and HIs Extraordinary Sports Adventures is the book that tells all the tales, and more. “I had grown up hearing about the legendary George Plimpton,” says Jon. “In the back of my mind, I always thought it would be interesting to write about some fun, athletic experiences. “I met some wonderful people along the way, everyone from the eccentric ballpark vendors to the overly enthusiastic mascot teacher to Tom LaGarde, the Olympic gold medalist, who I did the Macarena with. Ultimately, the colorful characters inspired me as much as the actual adventures.” Man Versus Ball is published by Potomac Books

JACI STEPHEN

THE ONLY STRAIGHT IN THE VILLAGE No wonder Jaci still hasn’t met the man of her dreams …

n the UK, there is a TV show that features an over-the-top gay character called Dafydd, who gets very upset at the thought of gays moving in on his territory. “I’m the only gay in the village!” he insists. I, however, am the only straight in the village. I love living in areas that are predominantly gay, even though my friends have pointed out that this may be the reason I have never met a guy. In London, I lived in central Soho; in LA, West Hollywood; and, now, Hell’s Kitchen. I hang out mainly at gay bars because, for a single woman, they’re the safest place to be. And there are a ton load of other reasons why I just love hanging around with gay guys …

IMAGE: NACHO GUEVARA

LOVES

1. They stay out late. Not as late as I do, but you can’t have everything. 2. They like me (I’ve always found that a huge advantage in friendships). 3. You can get your bits out for the lads, as we say (sort of) in the UK, without any fear of being attacked. Yay! 4. They understand my envy of their equipment (actually, I want two). 5. They do not suffer from the same envy of women. A lot of straight men do. (Honestly. Or maybe I’m just a hot chick.)

Above: At the bar. Paying for the drinks. As usual.

And here’s some of the things I’ve learned …

hat is it about guys ‘n’ sport that turns them into wild animals? This month, I was in an Irish bar (that will remain nameless to protect the innocent) and an ice hockey game was showing. Ice hockey fans, I have discovered, are terrifying.

I was nearly killed this month, on the corner of 43rd St - 11th Ave. There were still double figures left on the lights, but a yellow cab came speeding up at such a pace, I froze. There was a screech of brakes and a scream from me. I was an inch from being wiped out. I hate the car versus pedestrian laws here. It’s easy for cars in the UK: red, you stop, green you go. No “If I fancy turning left I’m allowed to, even if the light is red” kind of nonsense. So I’ve decided never to go out again; it’s much simpler that way, even though I have to deal with the stresses of being indoors. Why has some organ-sounding thing 27 floors down in the street near Intrepid started playing Oh Come All Ye Faithful, shortly followed by Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer? Maybe that taxi did run me down and I’ve been in a coma for seven months. If that’s the case, Happy holidays, everyone. Excuse me for not sending a card.

LESSONS

1. I know I’m generalising, but there’s just too much drama. 2. Their parties do not have ONE straight guy for me. EVER. 3. They can’t barbecue like straight men because they get bored after one rib and/or set fire to their T-shirt. 4. I always end up buying the drinks. Why does EVERY gay guy lose his credit card on a night out? 5. They inhabit a veritable candy store that will always be denied to me.

AND ON SPORTING A BLACK EYE

ON (ALMOST) BECOMING A HK CORPSE

Especially when they are sitting on the stool next to you. This particular fan had a frightening name (something like Freddy Hannibal), but let’s call him Kevin, to bring the tension down a bit. I asked whether he was supporting the men in

I got to interview Doctor Who showrunner, executive producer and chief writer Steven Moffat, celebrating the revamped show’s ten-year anniversary.

white or blue. It was the blue ones. “Who are the others?” I asked. “F*****g ISIS! Bunch of beheading b******s.” The men in white scored. Kevin shouted something angry about cats at the TV. When the men in blue scored, he picked up his

chair and threw it. Actually threw it! It threatened to knock me out! I don’t mind swearing and have been known to partake of the odd expletive. But when a lump like Kevin is sitting in front of a TV screen, why do the Scrabble floodgates open?

MY HELL’S KITCHEN

“I ordered the special, bull’s balls on toast. They informed me they couldn’t do the special anymore as they had run out of … toast.”

MY HELL’S KITCHEN

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

DO WHAT?

An unconventional welcome persuaded writer Barry Reeves his home was in Hell’s Kitchen How long have you lived in Hell’s Kitchen? Since 1996

and also the Indian Aaheli. Becco Italian restaurant, Queen of Sheba Ethiopian restaurant – get the injera bread. The best Mexican comfort food is at Tehuitzingo and probably the best Irish bar/restaurant in the neighborhood is Scallywags for the large selection of draft beers and the fresh daily fish and chips and burgers.

How do you think the neighborhood compares to other areas of Manhattan? There’s no other place like it. It still has a local feel to me. I shop locally, at Sea Breeze fish shop, Esposito’s butchers, Amy’s Bread and Stiles Farmers Market, where I’ve seen the same people shopping for years.

What local bars or cafes would you recommend? The oldest bars in Hell’s Kitchen – Rudy’s, which was a speakeasy in 1933; Landmark Tavern, which opened in 1868 when the Hudson River was across the street on 11th Ave; Lansdowne Bar and Pony Bar are always fun. My favorite cafe is Cupcake Cafe. Mike the owner will welcome you with the best cappuccinos in the neighborhood, not to mention the perfect cupcakes. I love Green Nature Coffee House and Cafe Grind, which is very comfortable with delicious soups and food.

And the worst thing? HK is being built up like Legoland, with hotels and apartment buildings literally going up overnight. I guess that comes with change but the noise and pollution at times is difficult, not to mention the pollution from the traffic. A lot of the cool local bars and restaurants are closing at alarming rates – places like Siberia, Collins Bar, the Film Center cafe, Manganaro’s deli, Supreme Macaroni, Cheyenne diner. The dive bars, the cool daytime drinking bars, with the great jukeboxes and similar conversations, are mostly a thing of the past.

How has it changed since you came here? It has changed immensely from the early days of XXX porn stores, prostitutes and the smell of weed on each corner (boy, I miss the old days!). But in other ways it has stayed the same. Particularly around the Port Authority area, which I live near. I still shop, eat and drink mostly in the same places but it will not be long now until they are all gone. I still love Hell’s Kitchen and my heart will always be here but the big buildings and money are arriving.

What’s your favorite place locally? The Producers Theatre, Signature and the Roundabout Theatre always have something fun, creative and entertaining going on. At Pio Pio Chilean restaurant, try the Chilean sea bass. You will not be disappointed. Birdland jazz club. And, in the warmer months, O’Hurleys bar/ restaurant is perfect. Also in the summer the Hudson River community offer free kayaking and free fishing (they supply the poles and bait, fish not included) – who said NYC was expensive?

Who do you admire in the neighborhood? The local business people that have managed to survive the onslaught (plus excitement) of gentrification. Michael Young at the Landmark Tavern, for instance. Also, new business people who have seen the trends and needs of the people in the neighborhood. People like Daniel McLaughlin from Lansdowne Bar, Pony Bar and now his new craft beer and pizza shop Kiabacca.

What do you eat in the area? HK is probably the most diverse neighborhood in all of the five boros now. You can eat anything, from Thai to Ethiopian to Spanish to Irish. I was in a Spanish joint the other night, Sangria 46 on Restaurant Row, and I ordered the special, bull’s balls on toast. They informed me they couldn’t do the special anymore as they had run out of … toast. I love Baluchi’s,

What’s the best thing about HK living? The diverse nature of it all. Rents are still relatively below other parts of Manhattan, but that might – and more likely will – change by the time I finish this sentence. Central Park is just steps from HK, and all the great Broadway shows and off Broadway shows litter our streets. I also love the tranquil beauty of the Hudson River that hugs our coast.

What brought you here? I came to New York in 1991 on a soccer scholarship to a wonderful college in upstate New York called Dominican College. Where are you originally from? Dublin, Ireland.

IMAGES: NACHO GUEVARA

What has your experience of the neighborhood been? I’ve loved this neighborhood since the first day I stepped off a bus at Port Authority in 1991. I walked out on the busy sidewalk and asked this man as he walked by, do you know where 10th Ave is? Without missing a step he turned to me, smiled and said: “Go f*ck yourself,” and continued to walk on. It was at that exact point, that precious moment, that I fell in love with this city. Saying that to an Irish man is equivalent to saying: “Welcome to town.”

Do you have an HK secret? You can trust us, we won’t tell a soul … New York City’s largest S&M club is located in HK. Don’t ask me how I know! Seinfeld was conceived at the Westside Diner and is still frequented by some of the funniest comedians that live in HK – Lewis Black and Dave Attell. If you want to know the neighborhood better, of course, read my book. And also my website www.therollsquad.com. I love this town.

BIOGRAPHY Barry is an author and filmmaker. His last book, A Shot In The Dark – a day in the night of an NYC bartender, was the number one book for restaurant humor on Amazon and was book of the year in The Dublin People. His latest book is for children and is published this fall, with animated movie to follow. Barry’s HK RESTAURANTS Baluchi’s, 9th Ave 37th/38th St Aaheli, 9th Ave 54th/55th St Becco, W46th St 9th/9th Ave Queen of Sheba, 10th Ave 45th/46th St COFFEE SHOPS Cupcake Cafe, 9th Ave - 40th/41st St Green Nature, W42 St - 11th Ave Cafe Grind, 10th Ave - 36th/37th St BARS Scallywags, 9th Ave - 38th/39th St Rudy’s, 9th Ave 44th/45th St Landmark Tavern, W46th St - 11th Ave

COMMUNITY

OUT & ABOUT

If it’s happening in Hell’s Kitchen, we’ve got it covered THE QUALMS PREMIERE

he permiere of Jesse Eisenberg’s The Spoils came to The Pershing Square Signature Center last month. Written and starring The Social Network actor, it is directed by The New Group’s Scott Elliott and also featured The Big Bang Theory’s Kunal Nayyar.

IMAGES: ORTAL MIZRAHI

Clockwise from top: (Left to right) Jesse Eisenberg, Scott Elliott, Michael Zegen, Annapurna Sriram, Kunal Nayyar, Erin Darke, executive director Adam Bernstein; Erin Darke; Kunal Nayyar; Jesse Eisenberg; Wallace Shawn; Annapurna Sriram.

COMMUNITY MY PARK DAY

IMAGES: NACHO GUEVARA

he largest public green space in Hell’s Kitchen – Dewitt Clinton Park – hosted My Park Day with everything from live music, free food and arts and crafts to a whole lot of community gardening. Friends from Covenant House and the Irish Arts Center, as well as local families, all came out to play, making this a real neighborhood affair on a sunny summer’s day.

MUSIC & THEATER

PRIME MEET

When Simon Kirrane met Andrew Leynse, artistic director of Primary Stages, they talked about more than just stage directions …

ike everyone else who lived or worked in Hell’s Kitchen in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Andrew Leynse has tales of grit: “The Off-Broadway movement has been rooted in Hell’s Kitchen and when I began working at Primary Stages, our offices used to be between 42nd and 43rd St, across from Manhattan Plaza. “That whole community has changed incredibly, drastically. Across the street, on the south-east side of 42nd and 9th, and there was a hotel that was a brothel. We’d often get people coming to our offices looking for a … “ There’s a pause while we both search for a suitable description of the oldest career and settle on ‘trade.’ He laughs. “Yes, exactly. We’d have to send them across the street. But that’s kind of how much this community has changed.” Back then Andrew spent time with Primary Stages as a production/literary

MAIN IMAGE: ADRIEN POTIER

“There was a hotel that was a brothel. We’d often get people coming to our offices looking for a ….” manager, then ended up working with a commercial producer named Julian Schlossberg, who’s also a filmmaker. “I worked with him on many Broadway shows and producing in the commercial world before I came back to Primary Stages as artistic director,” he says. It’s interesting to see how a not for profit would benefit from someone immersing themselves in the decidedly for-profit world. “It connected me to a whole world of producers and a way of working that I did not have in the non-profit world,” he says. “That was a great asset to me when I came back.

Andrew Leynse brings the benefit of a commercial background to the theater.

MUSIC & THEATER It’s obviously a very different model in the commercial world. But when you’re running an institution, it’s the story of a bigger picture. “What I find is that you’re cultivating audiences in a different way; similar to how a museum cultivates an audience in the sense that they return each time to look at either a painting one way or in a new way or to discover a new painting, but they return to the same place. So you’re creating and developing a community within that institution.” This idea that Primary Stages is a kind of cultural institution, a Museum of Now, runs through the work the company presents. So what kind of elements does Andrew look for in new work? “For us, it’s the playwright’s voice – how they shape and craft a play, what it says to audiences. “On a practical level, yes you have to think when you’re planning a season: am I going to give my audiences all really dark plays? Are they going to be happy with that? Am I going to challenge them and make them laugh? Or do I want to make them think?” The current season has started and the list to 2016 will include Informed Consent by Deb Zoe Laufer, Exit Strategy by Ike Holter, The Body of an American by Dan O’Brien and Perfect Arrangement by Topher Payne. “[The Body of an American] is a very fascinating, compelling, award-winning play. It’s about Paul Watson, the Pulitzer prize-winning war journalist. When [Dan] wrote this play, he got a grant and he went to Antarctica to interview Mr Watson. It’s quite amazing. “This year, I do think we shook things up a little bit. Maybe that was intentional, but there aren’t necessarily starry named playwrights, but they’re really

“This year, I do think we shook things up a little bit. Maybe that was intentional. They’re really challenging, exciting themes. Very strong plays, very strong writers.”

Above: Get ready for an exciting new season.

2015-16 SEASON August-September 2015 INFORMED CONSENT

The Duke on 42nd Street NYC premiere by Deborah Zoe Laufer Directed by Liesl Tommy

challenging, exciting themes. I think people will take notice. Very strong plays, very strong writers.” It’s obvious Andrew has strong ties with the neighborhood but is also heavily invested in his role and the people he works with. This isn’t a job in any regular sense of the word. He says: “It’s kind of amazing. It’s really one of the best parts of my job, the relationships with all the artists, to be able to have that connection to them and the opportunity to be with them and to be able to help premiere their work. It’s been tremendous. “But also I learn a lot from really smart people. Those kind of relationships are really strong.” I ask Andrew what the enduring nature of theater is, not just in HK where it is, to steal his opening phrase, ‘rooted’ “Well, I see a lot of theater and I think what is always more satisfying to me about spending an evening in the theater is it’s socially connected. It’s with a group of people. It’s done in the moment. It’s live.” www.primarystages.org

September-November 2015 PERFECT ARRANGEMENT

The Duke on 42nd Street New York premiere by Topher Payne Directed by Michael Barakiva

February-March 2016 BODY OF AN AMERICAN

The Duke on 42nd Street New York premiere by Dan O’Brien Directed by Jo Bonney

March-May 2016 EXIT STRATEGY

The Duke on 42nd Street New York premiere by Ike Holter Directed by Kip Fagan

MUSIC & THEATER QUICK LOOK NEW SEASON

Review ON THE 20TH CENTURY AMERICAN AIRLINES THEATRE There’s something about a good musical that’ll give you goosebumps when it hits the mark. It takes you to that place where you’ve forgotten about the world outside and are totally absorbed in what is in front of you. And rest assured, On the 20th Century is one of those musicals. Directed by Scott Ellis, this is one lavish production. The choreography by Warren Carlyle is amazing. The story is a bit of a farce, but a fun farce. Mary Louise Wilson as religious nut Letitia Peabody Primose at times reminded me of my grandmother before we put her away in a care facility. Peter Gallagher as Oscar Jaffee is perfection – a typical theater producer, looking out for himself and his wallet, desperately trying to salvage a failing career all the while trying to keep a cool, calm, stylish exterior. He is funny and who knew he could sing and dance! Kristen Chenoweth as Lily Garland has been the talk of Broadway. She can sing, dance and pull off some very funny one-liners. But unfortunately the day I went to see it, Kristen was off sick and was replaced by Mamie Parris. She was hysterical, and has a voice that blew my socks off. I had no idea who she was, but after her performance, I will definitely be remembering that name!

WWW.ROUNDABOUTTHEATRE.ORG @MATTD’SILVA

Review ON THE TOWN LYRIC THEATRE New York, New York really is a hell of a town! This Broadway revival and 1940s MGM musical is not your everyday stage production. Yes, there is plenty of singing and massive moving set pieces, but this is a show all about the dancing. And it is damn impressive choreography at that! Joshua Bergasse has created some amazing numbers that really take you back to a forgotten era of movement. They made me think of the grand old MGM movies where you had people telling a story through dance and music, and it really works for this production. Yes, the story is a little dated. When sailors are allowed off ship for 24 hours in Fleet Week, they don’t go sight seeing – they generally go chasing women (or men) and partying. And On The Town alludes to that, but in a stylized fashion suitable for the whole family. Tony Yazbeck as Gabey is a great dancer, and his pursuit of Ivy is endearing – but verging on creepy. Jay Armstrong Johnson as Chip reminds you of a friend you had in childhood that made you laugh and it wasn’t until later you realized you were laughing at him! But the stand out performance was Alysha Umpires as Hildy. Alysha delivers one-liners that have the audience in fits of giggles and she so embodies the character that you forget she’s an actor playing a role.

WWW.ONTHETOWNBROADWAY.COM @MATTDSILVA

In the 2014/15 season for Playwrights Horizons, Taylor Mac’s Hir will surely delight. Expect a work that’s funny, unexpected, thoughtful, and challenging. Other artists this season include Lucas Hnath (whose The Christians opens in late August), Jordan Harrison, Danai Gurira, Anne Washburn, and Gregory S Moss. W42ND ST 9/10 AVE

Playwrights Dick Scanlan and Sherie Rene Scott worked with incarcerated men to develop monologues for Whorl Inside A Loop, opening at Second Stage August 4. Also look ahead for King Liz (July 13), the story of a woman who fights to prove herself as a sports agent. We’re hoping for something slightly Jerry Maguire, but with a little more artistic edge W43RD ST 8TH AVE

Review THE VISIT LYCEUM THEATRE This has been one of the most eagerly anticipated shows to open on Broadway for some time. Book by Terrence McNally, music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb and starring Chita Rivera – what’s not to like? Well … maybe the plot? On first reading, the thing that stood out for me was how similar the character of Claire Zachanassian (Chita Rivera) was to real-life Duchess of Alba, who had over 50 titles, married many times and became the wealthiest woman in Spain. The Visit is about a wealthy woman who returns to her home town which has fallen on hard times. However, the townspeople are hoping that, with her return, life and business will prosper again. But there’s a catch … Claire has returned to offer townspeople billions of dollars if they allow her first love, Anton Schell (Roger Rees), to be executed. The cast are fantastic, as are the costumes and sets, and while the story is a little whimsical, all involved have done the best possible job to pull together a curious production. Chita Rivera is mesmerising: her effortless grace as she waltzes, the detail to the performance as she ever so slightly lifts the train of her dress, and the humanity as you see her tremble as she first takes to the stage – she is awesome! And Rees is compassionate and humble – a good match to Rivera. But The Visit is not your typical Broadway musical; more like a Tim Burton production.

WWW.THEVISITMUSICAL.COM @MATTDSILVA

ART PREVIEWS

s n o s a Se

n u s e h t in hat’s

ut w o d n fi mer – ves m u s r own fo f Hillary Ree d s t u h arts s tesy o r e u h o t c f , o d Not all g in the ‘hoo ! p u d l in Ho happen

Above and right: Catch the Andrei Tarkovsky cinema series at the MAD Museum. Far right: Annie Baker brings John to Signature Theatre.

ART PREVIEWS GEORGE EZRA

Terminal 5 We cannot wait to see this brooder in the ‘hood. George Ezra emerged last year as an artist to watch and has pretty quickly gained a dedicated fanbase that loves his unique pop sound and soulful voice. The 21-year-old songwriter and guitarist happens to be pretty easy on the eye too. This should be an energetic show filled with young people, but don’t be fooled. His tunes have a universal appeal and his lyrics have a surprising maturity – Sir Ian McKellen is a fan, seen bopping and lipsyncing alongside the artist in his video for Listen To The Man. Basically, there’s more than one reason to look forward to George Ezra at Terminal 5 on July 28. Get excited by listening to his first single Budapest, and our personal favorite, Cassy O. www.terminal5nyc.com

INFORMED CONSENT

Primary Stages Details about Primary Stages’ 2015-16 season keep rolling out and we couldn’t be more excited for what one of our favorite theater companies has in store for this year. Informed Consent is one of the few shows you’ll be able to catch this summer, generally speaking. Many theaters go dark for summer months, with seasons opening in early fall, so with an opening date set for August, this will definitely be a hot ticket in the neighborhood. The new work by playwright Deborah Zoe Laufer deals with the question of genetics and whether or not DNA determines a person’s destiny. The show, having its off-Broadway premiere and coming off of rave reviews during its run at Cleveland Playhouse, is based on a recent court case between the Havasupai tribe and Arizona State. It’s presented in co-production with Ensemble Studio Theatre as a part of the Alfred P Sloan Foundation Science & Technology Project, so expect a real dive into the question of science versus belief. www.primarystages.org

NEW SEASON

Signature Theatre Keep an eye out for more info about Signature Theatre’s 25th Anniversary season as it’s released in the next few months. From special series and events, the 2014 Regional Tony Award winner is poised to have another inspiring, artful season. Again, their space is a good place to look during quiet months when Broadway openings are few and far between and some of the larger theater companies are taking summer breaks. At Signature, things get started in July with John, a work by resident playwright Annie Baker and directed by Sam Gold. Looking ahead in the season, we are STOKED (sorry, it’s really the only word) for Bill Irwin’s return with Old Hats. Love and Money is another summer premiere to get hot under the collar for; it’s a comedy by AR Gurney – ’nuff said. It’ll be a stellar season. If you’ve thought before about becoming a Signature subscriber, this might be the year to finally do it. www.signaturetheatre.org

ANDREI TARKOVSKY CINEMA SERIES

MAD Museum The Russian filmmaker directed seven feature films that influenced both his contemporaries and many who came after him. With unconventional dramatic structure and the kind of themes that make you really think, MAD is the perfect setting for this summer film series, where quiet museum screening rooms will give audiences the space to take in some seriously design-heavy cinema. The museum promises the following (a lofty promise that will be a welcome difference from the summer blockbusters playing down the street): “Reconsidering the role of films in an age of increasing technology, Tarkovsky saw cinema as not merely communicating information but as ‘a moral barometer in a sea of competing narratives.’” www.madmuseum.org

RUTHLESS!

St Luke’s RUTHLESS! (yes, all caps and exclamation point included) claims it’s coming after Matilda’s fan base. And while we doubt the show will give the Royal Shakespeare Company and Tim Minchin a run for their money, this Gypsy meets Toddlers in Tiaras take on stage moms still looks like a lot of fun. The lead kiddo, Tina Denmark (doncha just wish her name was Ruth?) is a “diabolical tot who will do anything to be a star.” Now she’s returning after 22 years away, as many child stars are wont to do. But this show, which earned a Drama Desk and Outer Critics Award when it originally ran in NYC all those years ago, is a nipped, tucked, tightened-up version. See the tantrums anew in this two act, 90-minute revision of the original. www.RuthlessTheMusical.com

THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY

Westside Theatre This show is coming off of a critically acclaimed run at Dixon Place, if you’re into that kind of thing. (Hint: you really should be. Charles Isherwood doesn’t hand out raves very often, and that’s definitely how we’d describe his February review of The Absolute Brightness.) Yes, it’s a one-man show. Yes, it’s a murder mystery thriller. These factors combined might make you think The Absolute Brightness will be tired and trite, but then you read the description of this show and you see the potential for new life. Funny, since it’s a show about a death. Anyway, the incredible James Lecense leads the show, playing every role. He’s the kind of performer who has the talent and dexterity to make you feel the exact opposite of that “I could do that!” feeling. Come for the twisty-turny plotline, but get prepared to walk away dreaming of his tour de force performance. www.absolutebrightnessplay.com

Left to right: RUTHLESS!; pop cutie George Ezra; AR Gurney is all about the comedy this season.

what’s on in

JULY

Every day’s a playday with our calendar guide to one-off events and ongoing offers around Hell’s Kitchen

July 1 Barenaked Ladies Pier 97

Part of the Last Summer on Earth tour, the Canadian rockers hit the Hudson riverfront. www.hudsonriverpark.org

July 1 & 8 Falun Dafa exercise Columbus Library

Help eliminate stress and enjoy peace of mind at this class described as “slow moving”. Sounds perfect! 1pm start. www.nypl.org

July 5 & 12 Black Angels Over Tuskagee St Luke’s Theatre

The story of an elite World War II squadron of men as they train to become pilots.

Thursdays Movie nights Intrepid

October Sky, Moon, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, Apollo 13 and Wall-E are all on the playlist of Intrepid’s free, open-air movie season. The series ends August 6. www.intrepidmuseum.org

www.stlukestheatre.com

July 11, 18 & 25 Calamity! The Producers Club

Live Music All Summer Long

Two Happy Hours Every Day

A fully improvised, pick-your-own disaster movie. You choose the disaster. The performers save the world. www.irteinfo.com

July 16, 17 Alaska 5000 Laurie Beechman Theatre

Billed “the gayest show you’ve ever seen”, songstress Alaska 5000 presents a night of camp music and irreverent gaiety. www.westbankcafe.com

4pm-8pm, 12am-2am

Brunch from $11 Bottomless Brunch add $15 11am-4pm Saturday & Sunday

508 9th Ave, (Bet. 38th & 39th Street) (646) 490 4803 scallywagsnyc.com www.facebook.com/scallywagsnyc

July 17 & 18 The Maids Intar Theatre

Intar returns from the cutting-edge Orchard Project that develops new plays. Now we get a chance to see what they came up with. www.intartheatre.org

July 24 Family astronomy night Intrepid

A free night of gazing at the stars with high-power telescopes on the flight deck of Intrepid. www.intrepidmuseum.org

what’s on in

AUGUST

It’s a bumper, two-monthlong events extravaganza. No need to thank us – it’s all part of the service.

August 4 Brandon Flowers

Every day Kayaking on the Hudson Pier 84

Terminal 5

www.manhattankayak.com

www.terminal5nyc.com

The creatively prolific Killers frontman flies solo with his hotly anticipated album The Desired Effect.

From skyline tours to sunset sails, there are kayaking activities all day every day for all abilities. Check the website for info.

Aug 15-19 NY Now Javits

Handmade, home and lifestyle exhibitors gather to spread the word on the latest trends and innovations in the industry.

Pier 97

www.hudsonriverpark.org

Seven-time MAC award winner Natalie Douglas presents the songs of a legend – celebrating the music of Dolly Parton. www.birdlandjazz.com

August 20 Sports Festival

Fridays & Saturdays Naked Boys Singing

De Witt Clinton Park

Kirk Theatre

www.nycgovparks.org

www.newyorkcitytheatre.com

A free day of sport and fitness in our local park with learn-toplay sports clinics and fitness activities between 11am and 3pm.

The Somewhere Under Wonderland tour comes to our favorite summer rock venue.

Birdland

Yes, they’re naked. Yes, they’re singing. Need we say more? It’s camp, it’s comedy and, don’t worry, there’s no audience participation.

IMAGE: NACHO GUEVARA

www.nynow.com

August 18 Counting Crows

August 10 Hello Dolly

Saturdays & Sundays Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market

Not Wednesdays Newsical the Musical Kirk Theatre

Make your way here every Saturday and Sunday for the best in vintage finds and collectibles.

Every day (except Wednesdays) the Newsical team brings you updated, ever-evolving comedy lampooning current events.

www.annexmarkets.com

www.newyorkcitytheatre.com

Mondays Bargain bowling

August 27 Next W42ST out

W39th St - 9th Ave

August 18-23 Trio Da Paz & Friends IMAGE: FRANK STEWART

Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola

The Brazilian three-piece – guitarist Romero Lubambo, drummer Duduka Da Fonseca, and bassist Nilson Matta – are joined by friends to play the music of Getz, Jobin and other Brazilian classics. www.jazz.org

Frames

It’s Manic Monday every single week, with $5 bowling games, $5 drafts and $5 vodka drinks from 7pm until closing time. www.framesnyc.com

All around Hell’s Kitchen

We’re taking a bit of a summer break, but we’ll be back with the September Style issue. If you’d like to be featured, contact us on news@w42st.com.

WHAT’S ON

CONCERTS AND FESTIVALS

ways to

Don’t sit home with the air con on and Seamless on speed dial. Get out and enjoy our city – even if you’re on a tight budget. Jessica Wilt explores

he Tuesday after Memorial Day 2013 I was given what I call ‘the gift of employment freedom’ and spent my summer exploring all the amazing free and cheap options New York City and its surrounding area has to offer. Twitter is a great source for finding info about last-minute events and free ticket giveaways, but here are a few of my favorites. Now I’m looking forward to another summer of fun in NYC!

Celebrate Brooklyn concert series at Prospect Park offers a mix of ticketed and free events running through August 12. With everything from Latin alt through NY rockers Interpol to Willie Nelson, pretty much all bases are covered. www.bricartsmedia.org City Parks Foundation’s Summer Stage concert series at Central Park offers a mix of ticketed and free events – including indie pop, dance, R&B and Basement Jaxx – running through September 24. www.cityparksfoundation.org Lincoln Center is the place to be during the summer with Midsummer Night Swing music and dancing running through July 11 – billed as New York’s hottest outdoor party. Then there’s Lincoln Center Out of Doors summer festival, with free live entertainment under the stars beginning July 22 and ending in style on August 9 with Lyle Lovett and his Large Band. www.midsummernightswing.org; www. lcoutofdoors.org Madison Square Park offers three free outdoor music series running through July 29. It’s one of the best ways to enjoy world class performances in the city. The Oval Lawn Series runs on Wednesday evenings and features an eclectic mix of genres; Above Ground brings some of our favorite NYC performers from the Subway to the fresh air; and The Studio Series is devoted to folk, blues and Americana. www.madisonsquarepark.org Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governor’s Island August 15 and 16 is an event not to be missed. Go back in time to

WHAT’S ON the prohibition era, listen to Michael Arenella’s Dreamland Orchestra, dance the Charleston, sip on a St Germain signature cocktail and stroll the lawn where people are dressed to the 1920s nines. www.jazzagelawnparty.com Bryant Park is a fantastic spot for free outdoor events running all summer long including live music, dancing, tai chi, yoga, poetry, ping pong and so much more. Hell’s Kitchen’s own Deanna Witkowski will be performing for the Piano In The Park series on July 24 and August 3-7. www.bryantpark.org

PARKS Spend the day getting lost in nature at Central Park, Prospect Park, Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens, hike the hills of Ft Tryon Park up to the Heather Garden and The Met Museum’s tranquil Cloisters. A little further north you’ll discover more hiking and forest hidden trails at Inwood Hill Park or check out the beauty hiding at the New York Botanic Garden in the Bronx or the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. www.centralparknyc.org; www.prospectpark.org; www.socratessculpturepark.org; www.forttryonparktrust.org; www.metmuseum.org; www.nycgovparks.org; www.newyorkpass.com; www.bbg.org Summer on the Hudson: From pilates, yoga and tai chi sessions to children’s concerts, dance lessons, karaoke, a silent disco, lawn bowling and hulahooping, this free annual festival is running right through to October for the first time. So no excuses, OK? www.nycgovparks.org Summer Streets: On three consecutive Saturdays in August – 2, 9 and 16 – seven miles of NYC streets are open,

“Go back in time to the prohibition era, dance the Charleston, sip on a St Germain signature cocktail and stroll the lawn where people are dressed to the 1920s nines.”

traffic free, to walk, cycle and play. Part of a global movement, there will be workshops, musical performances, salsa dance classes, healthy snacks, a climbing wall, zipline and voice tunnel. Held between 7am and 1pm, the route extends from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, along Park Avenue and connecting streets. Make the most of the space while you can. www.nyc.gov/summerstreets Shakespeare in the Park: The Public Theater’s free Shakespeare in the Park at Central Park is one of the hottest and hardest tickets to catch during the summer. Good luck standing in those lottery tickets lines! The Tempest runs through July 5 and Cymbeline July 23 through August 23. www.publictheater.org

Above: Gardens and parks are just ripe for exploration – and many put on summer events.

continued over

WHAT’S ON Head uptown for Classical Theatre of Harlem’s Shakespeare in Marcus Garvey Park. The Tempest runs July 5 through July 26. www.cthnyc.org

happening on rooftops and parks all over the city – from venues like the old American Can factory in Gowanus and Elevated Acre in the Financial District. www.rooftopfilms.com

Head even further uptown to Inwood Hill Park for the 16th annual Shakespeare Festival including Henry IV July 5 through August 1, with performances starting at 7pm. www.moosehallisf.org

The Bryant Park HBO Summer Film Festival runs on Monday nights through August 24. Films include Footloose (July 27) and Back to the Future (August 24). Get there early and pack a picnic and spread a blanket on the lawn. www.bryantpark.org

Bryant Park offers the longest running Shakespeare in the Park series with Romeo and Juliet from July 17 through August 2 and The Taming Of The Shrew September 4 through September 20. www.bryantpark.org

MOVIES Rooftop Films summer movie series runs through August 22 and offers popup movie experiences with live music

You want open-air movies? We’ve got ‘em! All you have to do is get the popcorn.

NYC Parks Department also curates a wonderful selection of free outdoor movies in various parks and piers all summer, and Hudson River Park’s Pier 63 lawn offers Big Hit Wednesdays starting July 9 through August 20, with The Lego Movie on July 30 and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire on August 13. www.nycgovparks.org; www.riverflicks.com Central Park Conservancy Film Festival runs August 25 through 29. All movies are at least 35 years old including: Fame (August 25), The Blues Brothers (August 26), Airplane! (August 27), Raging Bull (August 28), Superman II (August 29). www.centralparknyc.org

KAYAKING, CYCLING AND BEACHES Three spots for kayaking along the Hudson River in Manhattan are Manhattan Community Boathouse, Manhattan Kayak Company and New York Kayak Company. If you’re looking for some adventure, try Empire Kayaks out on Long Island and explore the inlets near Long Beach, fishing excursions or take a SUP class. www.manhattancommunityboathouse. org; www.manhattankayak.com; www.nykayak.com; www.empirekayaks.com A fun way to spend the day exploring Manhattan is by bicycle. Start at the top of the Hudson River Greenway bicycle path at Dyckman Street in picturesque Inwood (you can take the A train to Dyckman/200th St) and travel down to Battery Park, over to the South Street Seaport or cross Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn Bridge Park. Take the Long Island Railroad or buy a LIRR summer getaway package, rent a ZipCar or hitch a ride on an NYC Beach Bus out to some of New York’s most beautiful beaches. Long Beach, Jones Beach, Robert Moses State Park, Fire Island, the Hamptons and Montauk are all popular summer spots. A little closer to home, take the A train out to the Rockaways and enjoy a day on the beach at Playland Motel and pick up some grub at Rippers at 86th Street. www.playlandmotel.com; www.86badvibes.com

WHAT’S ON New Jersey has beautiful beaches too, with transportation packages offered by NJ Transit. Try Cape May, Atlantic City and Hjordis’ beach, ride your bicycle along The Palisades, or take the Seastreak Ferry to Sandy Hook. www.njtransit.com Explore the Hudson River Valley and Westchester County by way of the MTA’s Metro North rail system, ZipCar or bus. Visit Cold Spring, NY, the Dia:Beacon Museum in Beacon, the Storm King Art Center in New Windsor, the Wassaic Project Summer Festival in Wassaic, take a Hudson River Cruise, go on a winery tour or hike the mountains at Bear Mountain State Park. www.mta.info; www.diaart.org; www.wassaicproject.org; www.stormking.org; www.nysparks.com

FOR KIDS Just off the HK patch, the New Victory Theatre is present its second season of Victory Dance, providing free performances to kids in summer day camps and youth programs over the summer. Running July 8 through 24, companies including Jessica Lang Dance and Martha Graham Dance will help inspire young people to enjoy the contemporary art form. email education@new42.org

FOR FOODIES For nearly 20 years, the test kitchen of New York Times columnist Molly O’Neill was perched in a loft on W36th St, HK. A steady stream of foodies, artists, literati and interns gathered almost nightly to

sample the recipes, exchange views and, late in the evening, navigate the gauntlet to 9th Ave for taxis home. As the neighborhood came into its own, O’Neill moved her kitchen and culinary library to what she calls “a rural Hell’s Kitchen” – Rensselaerville NY where, in a 19thcentury barn and historic house, the learning, cooking and writing continue each summer. A scholars program – aimed at those interested in researching, reporting, and creating food stories for print, radio, and television – runs July 26 through August 9. Then there’s the LongHouse Food Revival, a weekend gathering of the bright lights in food media, featuring presentations, feasting, workshops and a flea market, September 12th through 13th. www.onebigtable.com City Winery’s free Hudson Square Music and Wine Festival runs through August 18. Billed as a fun, free, after-work

Above: There’s oodles of large-scale art at Storm King in New Windsor.

backyard party, tickets are currently on a waiting list. See the website to sign up once more tickets become available. www.citywinery.com The Staten Island Ferry is one of the last remaining vestiges of a ferry system that once transported people between the cities and the boros before the network of bridges was built. It now takes 22 million people a year (70,000 a day not including weekends) between Whitehall Street in lower Manhattan to St George on Staten Island. But the five-mile, 25-minute ride is not just for commuters – it provides a majestic view of New York Harbor, The Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island. All for free! Take the ride straight back again, or hang around to see Staten Island Yankees minor league team play. www.siferry.com

A tap dancer from Ohio, Jessica works as an arts administrator and communications professional in NYC. A passionate educator, advocate, entrepreneur and writer, she enjoys exploring NYC and telling a good story with words and her feet. @JESSICALWILT

WHAT’S ON

Insta summer Our favorite Instagrammers get away from it all

– and their cameras come along for the ride too, obvs!

Doug Leonard

Instagram name: @dougpleonard My favorite escape: For a break from the city, I need to be outside (preferably with a beach). Last December, I traveled to Vieques, Puerto Rico, and fell in love with the island. San Juan is three and a half hours from JFK, and Vieques is a 30-minute puddle jumper from there. A lot of my HK friends will head to Miami for a weekend, but Vieques is another hour or so of travel and feels worlds away. The island is very undeveloped, has amazing restaurants and beaches, and wild horses! I’m already planning my next trip to unplug and unwind. When I get there: I enjoy a welcome cocktail, grab the stack of magazines I’ve brought with me, and head for the beach. Postcard to Hell’s Kitchen: Hi W42ST. Wish you were here. The beaches are amazing and, best of all, empty. I love HK, but you all can keep the traffic and people. Vacation hashtags: It’s #unhashtagable, but let’s go with #40beachesnotrafficlights

WHAT’S ON Jillian Schalk

Instagram name: @jillianschalk My favorite escape: The Jersey Shore, specifically the town of Spring Lake. Just a short train ride south will take you to two miles of uncluttered beach and the longest non-commercial boardwalk in New Jersey. When I get there: I head straight to the sand and soak up some rays. When the sun goes down, I go to The Parker House in the neighboring town of Sea Girt for cold beer and live music. You can always count on a great local band to crank out some Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi. Postcard to Hell’s Kitchen: Greetings from Spring Lake, where I’ve traded the concrete jungle’s hustle and bustle for the surf, sun, and much-needed relaxation. New York, I love you, but this fresh air and gorgeous seaside town is making me want to stay in Jersey a little longer. The Boss may have sang that “down the shore everything’s alright”, but “alright” is an understatement! Vacation hashtags: #JerseyScore #serenitybythesea #NYCyaonMonday

Rob Panos

Instagram name: @NYROB78 My favorite escape: Key West. When I get there: I relax! My long time dear friend Wade is a resident and realtor in Key West. Wade and his husband Shane have a beautiful home and guest suite. Their property is fenced with a beautiful pool and wraparound deck. I usually hang out right at their pool. I love history, so I’m always walking and discovering old plantations, very cool raised cemeteries and historic churches. The architecture is something to appreciate and the simplicity can be humbling. And, being that I love food, like everyone else, I have plenty to choose from – amazing fresh seafood! Postcard to Hell’s Kitchen: Hey guys. Sure is a bummer that you can’t be here with me enjoying the beautiful weather and these amazing beaches. Here’s a postcard to make you jealous. I love you guys so much. Vacation hashtags: #relaxation #love

WHAT’S ON Courtney Ruscin

Instagram name: @courtneya2182 and @sundaysarrow My favorite escape:Long Beach Island, NJ. When I get there: Spotty cell service and my dad’s refusal to have wifi in the house forces detachment and relaxation! Because of, and despite, that I love to spend time with my family, having Uno and gin rummy battles. I go for morning runs that usually end at Ferrara’s Bakery (home of the world’s best jelly doughnut) – which is totally counter-intuitive yet so rewarding. I spend all day watching the surfers and having paddle ball tournaments on the beach, walking back home to catch the always breathtaking sunsets, before a great seafood dinner. Postcard to Hell’s Kitchen:Living that LBI life is easy today. There is a cool ocean breeze, the waves are perfect for riding, and the live music at Tiki Joe’s starts at 5pm. Wish you were here, but we’ll have a few Coronas in your honor. Vacation hashtags: #jerseygem #18milesofhappiness

Maura Lynch

Instagram name: @Maura_Patricia_ Lynch My favorite escape: Anywhere with good food. When I get there: I tend to survey everything carefully before I choose my first taste. On this trip I got off at the wrong ferry terminal on the way to Smorgasburg, but decided to stay and check out the Brooklyn flea market instead. Postcard to Hell’s Kitchen: Sometimes getting off on the wrong stop is the right stop. Vacation hashtags: #bestfriesever #trufflefries #oopswrongstop #getoutofthehood #touristforaday

WHAT’S ON Chelsea Hoagland

Instagram name: @chelseahoagland My favorite escape: The city as a whole! I only arrived in September so I love getting out and just exploring. I think we get too stuck in our comfort zones and routines, and there is a never ending list of things to do here, so to pick one spot is impossible. From Central Park, Chinatown, Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Chelsea, the Upper West and East Side – I love them all and am constantly trying to embrace different activities. When I get there: If I’m going for a reason (meeting friends, going to a restaurant, or shopping) I typically go early so I have time to explore the area. Getting lost in the moment and in a new spot is sometimes the only way you can find that hole-in-the-wall restaurant, or chic boutique. I love to people watch and just take everything in. Postcard to Hell’s Kitchen: It might say: “Look what I just found!” or “You’ll never guess what I just saw” – there is always something fun and crazy going on. Vacation hashtags: #ilovethiscity #exploring #blueskies #beautiful

WHAT’S ON Tanya M Odom

Instagram name: @Tanyamodom My favorite escape: Blue Cliff Monastery. When I get there: I unplug; meditate; slow down. I was captivated by the quiet, beauty, and peacefulness at the mindfulness retreat here. Postcard to Hell’s Kitchen: Dear neighbors, Hell’s Kitchen is a great community, AND breaks from our community are good for our minds and bodies. Sending you all a big hello and invitation from Blue Cliff Monastery, where the focus is on mindfulness and mindful living. Perhaps I will see you there soon? Waving to you from the Buddha Garden near Mindfulness Road (really!), Tanya. Vacation hashtags: #BreatheandSmile #PresentMomentAwareness #BreakfromNYC #Takeabreak #Mindfulnessismorethanafad

Ruth Walker

Instagram name: @w42st My favorite escape: Jump in the car. Brompton bikes in the trunk. Destination Catskills. When I get there: Since we didn’t know where we were headed, that was all up for negotiation. First stop: hiking near Kaaterskill Falls and Colgate Lake, then rummaging in the wonderfully weird thrift shops of Tannersville and Phoenecia (where Kate Pierson of the B52s has her colorful motel in the woods – we knocked on the door but no one was home.) We went in search of a bed for the night in Kingston, where we slept like the dead. Must’ve been all that fresh air! In the morning, we explored by bike, then drove home via New Paltz, stopping for a late lunch by the river. The sun shone on us all weekend. Postcard to Hell’s Kitchen: I’d love to say I miss you, but I’m having too much fun. And how could I be lonely with all these freaky dolls for company?! Vacation hashtags: #badtaxidermy #dollshouse #magicalmysterytour

Main: The Wonder Wheel is one of the amusement parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s iconic attractions.

PHOTO

ESSAY

Ice-cream

CONEY Roll up! Roll up! New York’s favorite fairground escape is brighter than ever Images by Robin Riley

hese days we call it Coney Island, but to the original settlers – the Lenape Indians – it was known as the ‘land without shadows.’ Renamed Konijnen Eiland or ‘Rabbit Island’ by the Dutch, in honor of its large population of furry, enthusiastically reproducing mammals, by the 1800s it had grown to become a popular summer escape for New Yorkers. It was home to the earliest carousels, and the first modern roller coaster, and

freak shows found a home among the clam bars, bath houses, and thrill rides. The Lilliputian Village side show was staffed by 300 dwarfs. A downturn between the 1940s and 1960s closed several businesses and threatened to end this colorful history, but Coney Island is back with a flourish – a new Luna Park has been developed, and there are ambitious plans for a bright new future. So we raise a photographic icecream cone to the cheesy, hot-dogeating, mermaid-parading escape that will forever have a place in our hearts.

continued over 33

PHOTO

ESSAY

Clockwise from top left: Postcard anyone? Coney Island’s food stalls are world famous; Luna Park’s highflying chair ride.

WWW.ROBINRILEYPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

Above: Chairoplanes take to the skies; the colorful carnie folk of Coney; the famous Cyclone wooden roller coaster; reaching for the stars.

PHOTO

ESSAY

“If Paris Is France, Coney Island, between June and September, Is the World.” GEORGE C TILYOU, 1886

WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON

Clinton Community Gardens is an oasis of peace in the center of the city.

WHAT’S ON

SOMEWHERE THAT’S GREEN

Escape the horrors of the city streets and find calm in one of the hood’s secret – and not so secret – garden spaces

e can’t all have a place in the Hamptons to escape to come August. No, for some of us, the minor irritations of life, bills and work get in the way. Sheesh! But even in Gotham, surrounded as we are by towering monoliths of concrete, steel and glass, we can achieve a Zen-like calm in the secret oases of green our ancestors once called … gardens. “It’s important to have neighborhood green spaces in areas like Hell’s Kitchen because parks and gardens provide a much needed respite from the fastpaced concrete jungle,” says Ashleigh Eubanks, of Clinton Housing Development Company, which develops and maintains some of the neighborhood’s key community gardens through Cultivate HKNY. “These types of gardens are also more accessible to the elderly, disabled, and financially challenged. “New Yorkers should not have to travel all the way to Central Park to sit under a tree and be surrounded by foliage.” The spaces are not just used for a quiet moment of calm or a convenient place to sit and have a flat white in the sun; they host photo shoots, live musical performances, picnics, theatrical performances and exercise classes. At Teresa’s Park there is even a lending library, where people can pick up and leave a book. So kick the Hell’s Kitchen dust from your feet, grab a popsicle, and come with us to some of our favorite green spots in the hood …

Juan Alonso Park is growing – watch this space!

“New Yorkers should not have to travel all the way to Central Park to sit under a tree and be surrounded by foliage.”

JUAN ALONSO PARK

Where: W51st St - 11th Ave Why: Named for devoted gardener and longtime HK resident Juan Alonso, this community garden is maintained jointly by Clinton Housing Development Company and the 11th Avenue Tenants HDFC. Extra! Extra! There are separate plots within garden managed by the Juan Alonso Garden Group , and Juan Alonso Park West. Coming soon: Juan Alonso Park East.

continued over

WHAT’S ON TERESA’S PARK

Where: W39th St - 9th Ave Why: The park was first renovated by the Hell’s Kitchen Neighborhood Association in the 1990s but fell into disuse. When longtime local resident Teresa Mattia, who lived on 39th St opposite the park, died from MS in 2012, it was renovated in her memory by CultivateHKNY and CHDC. Extra! Extra! The space is used for everything from fitness classes to picnics.

Coming soon: Cultivate

10TH AVE PLAYGROUND

Where: 10th Ave - 47th/48th St Why: The former parking lot was turned into recreation space after the community lobbied the authorities in the 1960s. It took until 1966 for the acquisition of the land to be approved, and in September of that year $400,000 of state aid was granted. However, land studies delayed the project further and it wasn’t until 1979 that the playground eventually opened. Extra! Extra! The park is equipped with basketball courts, handball courts, and play equipment for kids.

Clockwise from top: Bob’s Park; Alice’s Garden; Marian S Heiskell Garden; Teresa’s Park.

BOB’S PARK

Where: W35th St - 10th Ave Why: Named after Bob Kennedy, onetime resident of W35th St, when this park was opened in 1995, it was the first new park in HK for more than half a century. Extra! Extra! Looking for a place for a postlunch nap? You won’t be alone. It’s not uncommon to find people taking a snooze on Bob’s benches.

MAIN IMAGE: ROBIN RILEY (WWW.ROBINRILEYPHOTOGRAPHY.COM)

ALICE’S GARDEN

Where: W34th St - 9th/10th Ave Why: Alice Parsekian was a neighborhood resident who cared for this garden until her death in 2010. A local legend, she was a passionate gardener. In 2011 groups including Hell’s Kitchen Neighborhood Association, CultivateHKNY, Clinton Housing Development Company, Manhattan Community Board 4 and the Port Authority of NY & NJ revitalised the space, naming after its former caretaker. Extra! Extra! Various plots are maintained by community members, and it is regularly used by school groups for science and arts classes. CLINTON COMMUNITY GARDEN

Where: W48th St - 9th/10th Ave Why: Created in 1978 from a longvacant lot, this space was hand-cleared by HK residents, then lovingly planted with flowers, herbs, fruits, and veggies.

The front section is open to the public, key holders and visitors (if the gate’s locked, just ask to be let in), but it is not a playground, and pets are not allowed. Extra! Extra! All gardening and maintenance is done by volunteers. For gatherings of 10 people or more, you’ll need permission from the steering committee. DEWITT CLINTON PARK

Where: W52nd St to W54th St - 11th/12th Ave Why: Taking up two whole blocks, DeWitt Clinton Park has it all: kids’ playground with painted games, swings, benches, drinking fountains, concrete play mules (named Sal, Pal and Gal), and a frog spray shower. There’s also a dog run, large field for baseball, soccer, basketball, and handball, and the serene Maria’s Perennial Garden, which boasts flowers, rock garden, and plants designed to attract wildlife. Extra! Extra! On August 20, the park hosts a sports festival, with sports clinics and learn-to-play workshops.

HKNY has three new green spaces coming to W52nd St and W53rd St – Captain Post Garden, The Children’s Garden and Adam’s Garden. All are all being financed by Site 7, the affordable housing development coming to W53rd St. A key to all the group’s gardens costs just $2, and you can get one from Community Board 4, 330 W42nd St.

MARIAN S HEISKELL GARDEN

Where: W48th St - 8th/9th Ave Why: With a forest of ailanthus trees to the front, and raised, pie-shaped beds tended by children from the Mid-town West school, this garden is a true community affair. A flagstone path takes visitors past ornamental shrubs and plants designed to attract butterflies. Extra! Extra! Former newspaper executive and conservationist Marian S Heiskell was the co-founder and head of the National Parks of New York Harbor Conservancy. PIER 84

Where: End of W44th St - 12th Ave Why: Opened in 2006, Pier 84 is the largest public pier in Hudson River Park. Activities include kayaking, educational programs, dog park, water play area, cafe, benches and grassy spots. Slap on the SPF, bring a blanket and enjoy the sun and the views. Extra! Extra! The area between the pier and its aircraft carrier neighbor is known as Lake Intrepid, and its calm waters are used for kayak practice.

FOOD & DRINK

MAYAN ROMANCE

There’s a new salsa in town, and it’s made with love in Hell’s Kitchen

eet the Mayans. Known to friends and family as the Salsa God and Goddess, the couple are gearing up for the height of salsa season. Their story is set against the backdrop of Hell’s Kitchen, where they live, where Danny proposed, and where they created their just-launched Casa Maya salsa. The couple met at a mutual friend’s dinner party on a cold January evening in 2014. Danny was helping out as sous chef for the evening. Bella was a guest. “I distinctly remember noticing the handsome gentleman in the kitchen,” she says. “But, of course, I didn’t let on.” Danny adds: “The host encouraged me to introduce myself to Bella, aka ‘the tall brunette.’ so I did. The tall brunette happened to be the girl I’d noticed when she first walked in and who almost caused me to burn the appetizer!” Although she gave him her number at the end of the night, it took him six weeks of texting to get her to finally agree to a date. When they decided to move in together, finding a place in HK was a no brainer. “There are so many fantastic restaurants in the neighborhood,” says Danny, “and it has a distinct feeling of community. “A few of our friends live in the neighborhood as well, so we are able to make use of our back

“I grew up eating Mexican food – for breakfast, lunch and dinner. So salsa was a big part of my upbringing.”

Above: The Salsa God and Goddess hard at work.

yard to entertain. Did I mention we have a backyard? In Manhattan? At the time, Bella really wanted to get a puppy, so we were looking for a place with private outdoor space. Well, we found it and fell in love with our place that we live in now. Unfortunately, we fell in love with our apartment before we learned that there were no dogs allowed. Live and learn.” Born and raised in Texas to a Mexican father and Canadian mother, Danny had grown up eating Mexican food – for breakfast, lunch and dinner. “So salsa was a big part of my upbringing,” he says. After graduating from law school he moved to New York and the search for a taste of home began. “One thing I’ve never been able to find is high-quality, tasty salsa in grocery stores,” he says.

So he started experimenting with his own. “Each of my tios and tias (aunts and uncles) had their own family recipe, there were so many! I tried them all one by one, and then I took the best parts of each and combined them into one.” It was enough for the couple to enjoy the fruits of his labor themselves. But after hosting a BBQ in that back yard last summer, friends urged them to share their salsa with the world. A year on, Casa Maya is born. “Our salsa verde is a tomatillo-based salsa (as opposed to a traditional tomato base),” adds Danny. “We also add avocado for that creamy texture. “Our third product, Dill-icious, was actually created as an accident. One morning I was making a batch of salsa for Bella to share with her co-workers, and instead of using cilantro, I added dill (a fave of Bella’s and a staple in our fridge). It happened to be a delicious mistake; now it’s our most popular product.” www.casamayasalsa.com

WHAT’S COOKING? Gotham West Market has just unveiled its swanky new private dining and event space. The Club Room is designed to cater for anything from an intimate dinner or cocktail party to a cooking demonstration, business presentation, team building activity – even a viewing party

for the Oscars or the Superbowl. Guests can choose from any of the catering options in the market – using a little something from each restaurant, or a full-on meal from their favorite. Up to 60 people can be seated for dinner, or there’s room for as

many as 100 at a less formal event. Extras include a stateof-the-art A/V setup, a fully equipped test kitchen and a 72” projector screen, bike concierge, parking garage, shuttle service, and a customizable photo booth. www.gothamwestmarket.com/ events

FOOD & DRINK

IMAGES: ORTAL MIZRAHI

Let's go

outside

FOOD & DRINK Our pick of the coolest rooftop and patio bars you absolutely MUST be hanging out in this summer. Hillary Reeves is having a margarita …

ew Yorkers are great at lots of things – like not toppling over while standing on a packed, hurtling underground train or walking really fast when said trains are inexplicably stalled due to “signal malfunctions.” But we’re also fantastically talented at making use of every space we can find, which makes sense when you think about how many

dollars we pay as a sacrifice to the square footage gods every month. Perhaps that’s why the rooftop and patio bar has morphed into a religious experience for us come summertime. When the temperature gets above a certain degree, plans with pals or coworkers flip like a switch from “let’s find the coziest, closest happy hour” to “let’s

find the best outdoor spot that hasn’t been discovered yet.” Luckily, HK has a few under-the-radar gems that offer sprawling views of the city, ivy-covered trellises or a kick-your-feet-up atmosphere that we only get to take advantage of these few warm months of the year. Take a look at our fave rooftop and patio bars in the nabe; and find the one that fits your idea of a perfect night out.

continued over

Time for a sundowner: The Press Lounge feels exclusive and glamorous. And get a load of those cracking views!

FOOD & DRINK THE NIGHTCLUB OF TEENAGE DREAMS: HUDSON TERRACE

Ah, Hudson Terrace. The nouveau classic go-to spot for many, it’s sworn by for some and reviled by others. But we say it’s one of those places that feels New Yorky, if sometimes in a cheesy way. Like, not everyone likes to visit Times Square – some straight-up refuse – but no one can deny that being there, among the billboards, tourists and twinkling Broadway lights, feels like the New York you imagined as a small-town teen with big city dreams. That’s how I feel about Hudson Terrace: it’s the nightclub that looks and feels the way you always thought one would. Floors upon floors of club spaces climax with the stunning rooftop bar, filled with a diverse collective of New Yorkers dancing the night away. W46th St - 11th/12th Ave www.hudsonterracenyc.com

SWANKY AND SLEEK: PRESS LOUNGE

I went to Los Angeles one time. It was for a work trip and (somehow) I got a free, one-day stay at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills. I knew I had no business being out by the pool where supermodels and celebrities lounged, but as I strolled out to relax in the garden, the beautiful people who I thought might be unwelcoming, made space for this painfully pale New Yorker and a server brought me a cucumber water right way, like I belonged there or something – it was magical. I get the same feeling at Press Lounge. Whereas other venues try to force the fanciness (and fail), Press Lounge still feels exclusive in a way that’s exciting, not pompous. 11th Ave - 48th St (www.thepresslounge.com)

FOR A FLIRT: BOXERS

Specifically a guy-on-guy flirt, but everyone can enjoy or appreciate the beefy, shirtless eye candy at this sports bar in the center of Hell’s Kitchen. There’s an event almost every night of the week, so plan ahead and maybe you’ll catch karaoke or free pool all evening. We also love that the roof terrace is basically just one story off street level, too. It’s a nice change from the other sky-high venues. 9th Ave - 51st St (www.boxersnyc.com)

Clockwise from (roof) top: Cantina Rooftop; Tequila Lounge; Boxers.

“The open air and cool kid vibe will give you that Brooklyn feel of climbing up your friend’s fire escape in Bushwick, without any L train drama.” NO-NONSENSE AFTER WORK SPOT: BEER AUTHORITY

I’ve never been to Beer Authority other than at 5.30pm on a Friday and I wouldn’t want it any other way. The sports bar and beer hall is both of those things, but with enough space that the baseball bros aren’t in your face. Their rooftop spot

is perfect for a big group, with unfussy picnic tables and snacks to feed a crowd (think nachos and wings, but tasty ones – not the kind that leave you angry you paid $15 for a pile of microwaved Tostitos). W40th St - 8th Ave (www.beerauthoritynyc.com)

FOR THE PICKY PATTY: TEQUILA PARK

I’m guilty of being that hard-to-please girl. Sometimes you spend more time trying to find the perfect spot than you’ll even spend at the bar. Atmosphere is important, you guys! Luckily, the team at the Hudson Hotel just south of Columbus Circle gets it right every time. Their ‘Library Bar, Tequila Park, and Hudson Lodge all sound way too kitschy to work, but they do, to stylish perfection. The summer spot features

FOOD & DRINK but it’s one of my favorite spots to sit and sip on a summer evening. While most other rooftop spots emphasize the drinks and views, Ardesia’s also got some serious foodie chops. Grab a chilled glass of something sparkly and share a toast or two. The airy and welcoming restaurant/bar inside ain’t half bad either. Keep Ardesia in your head as the perfect choice for those will-it-orwon’t-it-rain hazy summer days. W52nd St - 10th/11th Ave (www.ardesia-ny.com)

LOOKING AHEAD: KASHKAVAL GARDEN tasteful Mexican-inspired decor plus more margarita options than you ever knew you needed. W58th St - 9th Ave (www.morganshotelgroup.com)

NOT TRYING TOO HARD: CANTINA ROOFTOP

We love Cantina Rooftop. It’s colorful, spunky, and fun. Plus the drinks aren’t half bad and feature more than your typical martinis and cosmos. Order a delish margarita or on-trend michelada (Mexico’s answer to a Bloody Mary – savory, spicy and boozy!) and lounge on the wicker chairs or snack at the dining tables. While other rooftop bars try to promise ‘atmosphere’ and the perfect night out, Cantina Rooftop is more about promising authentic Mexican fare by executive chef Gonzalo Colin, which I think we can all agree beats sick beats and strobe lights any day. Plus, the retractable roof means you won’t have to give up your new favorite spot when the chilly temperatures hit! W48th St - 11th/12th Ave (www.cantinarooftop.com)

Above: Beer Authority – no-nonsense sun, snacks, and beer. Below: Did someone order a view of the Empire State? That’ll be the Sky Room.

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING MORE THAN A VIEW AND A FANCY DRINK: TERMINAL 5 ROOFTOP

Get tickets to a show then pop up to the music hall’s roof deck beforehand for a breezy beer. You won’t get a panorama view like other roof locations, but the open air and cool kid vibe will give you that Brooklyn feel of climbing up your friend’s fire escape in Bushwick, without any L train drama. W56th St - 11th/12th Ave (www.terminal5nyc.com)

FOR FOODIES: ARDESIA

Their patio is simple and unassuming,

It’s not open yet, but we asked Kashkaval Garden’s owners about the ‘garden’ part of the neighborhood favorite. We hear the space out back, a small yard between a few buildings, will have lots of windows and a roof made of a special high-tech translucent material, which will hopefully make it feel light, airy, and outdoorsy. They’ll call it the Garden Room as the ceilinghigh windows will open onto a vertical hanging garden. The space will also be open all year (including winter) when it will be heated, meaning we don’t have to say goodbye to outdoor spaces come September! 9th Ave - 55th/56th St (www.kashkavalgarden.com)

GOING CLUBBING: SKY ROOM

Every once in a while, the velvet rope treatment is what you’re after. Sky Room should do the trick, where you’ll find bouncers and fist-pumping DJs. This midtown hotspot atop the Fairfield Inn & Suites does have one of the better views you’ll see, with the Empire State Building just a few blocks away, but be prepared for a potential Bobby Bottleservice sighting (hey, sometimes that’s exactly the kind of night you’re looking for). W40th St- 9th/10th Ave (www.skyroomnyc.com)

FOOD & DRINK

COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH

THE SMASH

Select a highball glass and fill the bottom of glass with fresh blueberries. Sprinkle brown sugar over the fruit. Muddle until the sugar has dissolved. Top with ice. Add 3oz Bacardi and stretch with house infused ginger vinegar soda. Stir and enjoy. The Smash was created by mixologists Brian Dunn and Shawn Cioto, and won the People’s Choice Award in InterContinental Hotels & Resorts’ recent Top Shelf cocktail competition.

InterContinental Times Square, W44th St - 8th/9th Ave

IMAGE: ROBIN RILEY (WWW.ROBINRILEYPHOTOGRAPHY.COM)

Ingredients ¼ cup fresh blueberries 1 tsp sugar in the raw 3oz Bacardi Superior 4oz house infused ginger vinegar soda (substitute ginger beer) Ice

STAFF SURVEY

Know anyone who works in Hell’s Kitchen who’d be great for the Staff Survey? Don’t keep them a secret, share the love with news@w42st.com

BE OUR GUEST

While we get out for summer, the rest of the world arrives in our fave city. Debbie Silverstein ensures they heart NY as much as we do How long have you worked at the Washington Jefferson hotel? Siince August 2010. I’ve spent the majority of my hotel career in New York City but found my ‘home’ here in Hell’s Kitchen. Where do you travel from and how do you get to work? I travel in from Bergen County, New Jersey. I drive, which most people think is crazy but it works best for me, especially with the WJ’s location on W52st St. What is your favorite thing about the job? No two days are ever the same. Hotel management never gets boring or stagnant and you always have the chance to meet new people.

What is the team atmosphere like? I am very fortunate to have an extremely dedicated and hardworking team. In the hotel business, it’s all about making people feel welcome and it helps to have a collaborative environment. We continue to support and learn from each other every day. What is the most fun part of working there? I get to meet an array of people each with their own individual personalities and reasons for being in NYC. I especially love speaking with guests and learning about where they come from. It’s most interesting when it’s their first time in NYC. What places do you eat and drink in Hell’s Kitchen? I love when I get the opportunity to dine out in the neighborhood. Some of my

IMAGE: NACHO GUEVARA

What is the question you’re most often asked by guests? Where I like to spend my time in the city. Guests are always curious about where the locals go.

“I especially love speaking with guests and learning about where they come from. It’s most interesting when it’s their first time in NYC.”

Above: Debbie Silverstein, GM of the WJ. Natch.

favorite places are Shimizu (I love the sushi!), Maria Pia (right across the street from the WJ), and Pigalle – a great breakfast and lunch spot. We also hosted our holiday party at Gossip and the staff were raving about the food. Tell us about a hidden gem or two in the neighborhood ... Briciola – its a tiny wine bar that serves Italian wine paired with small bites with a cozy brick-walled décor.

WASHINGTON JEFFERSON HOTEL 212-246-7550 www.wjhotel.com W52ST ST - 8TH/9TH AVE

FOOD & DRINK

GRAB YOURSELF A COLD ONE You’ve worked hard. You deserve a beer. Heck, make that a whole brewery! Ciera Coyan goes in search of summer perfection

IMAGE: ADRIEN POTIER

e all experience the same moment in the summer. It might happen when you’re walking past a seemingly endless pile of smelly, baking garbage. Perhaps it’s when you get to work and you realize you’ve already sweat through your shirt. Maybe it occurs when you’re stuck on a crowded, humid subway platform, pressed up against strangers, and the breeze from the oncoming train reminds you that there are places where summer means something completely different than what it means in NYC. Whenever it happens, at one point or another we’re all struck by a desperate need to flee the city. Visiting a brewery is a perfect summer trip: you’re guaranteed air conditioning. And beer! For the beer snobs, an obvious out-of-town getaway is Vermont. The state boasts some of the most lauded breweries in America, many of which don’t distribute out of state. Tracking down a case of Heady Topper or filling as many growlers as you can with the latest from Hill Farmstead is certainly on the top of any beer geek’s vacation must-do list. But for those who want to do a little less work and a lot more relaxing (read: drinking) there are plenty of breweries worth a trip outside of Vermont’s many offerings. If you’re short on time, one of New York’s best breweries is a quick, MetroNorth ride away. Peekskill Brewery is located in (you guessed it!) Peekskill. It’s a fun, excellent brewery and the perfect daytrip (www.peekskillbrewery.com). The brewery itself is a five-minute walk

Right: More power to her elbow: Neighborhood celebrity Ciera is one of New York City’s top ten bartenders

“Visiting a brewery is a perfect summer trip: you’re guaranteed air conditioning. And beer!”

from the train station. The vibe is relaxed while the food and beer are still taken very seriously. Peekskill’s Simple Sour is a tremendously popular beer right now, even boasting a mention in the New York Times. And the food doesn’t disappoint even a Manhattan restaurant snob – the menu is top-to-bottom delicious. For a larger scale brewery that still maintains its craft integrity, Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown, PA is a great option (www.victorybeer.com). Victory began in 1996, meaning it was early in the American craft movement, and has been putting out consistently great beers ever since. It hosts in-depth tours of their brewing process and the restaurant boasts 300 seats and 24 rotating taps, all just an hour train ride outside the city. It’s a perfect addition to a weekend Philadelphia getaway. For a longer trip (that probably includes a car) one of my favorite breweries is a small, family operation in Freeport, ME. Maine Beer Co (www. mainebeercompany.com) continually puts out astonishingly well-crafted beer. No crazy styles, no gimmicks, just perfection. They don’t do tours, they don’t have a restaurant, it’s all about the beer. They have a charming backstory of two brothers trying to have a small, ethical company and wildly succeeding. Their motto is “do what’s right” and they stay committed to treating employees, their community, and the environment with respect. The brewery is a quick drive from Portland, so if that’s where your vacation is taking you, add a beer stop. Be ready to have your taste buds amazed and your heart warmed.

FOOD & DRINK

NOT CHABLIS AGAIN Jeremy Kaplan urges us to break out of our wine rut and explore the world one grape at a time

rose by any other name would smell as sweet. The famous line from Shakespeare suggests a person’s name has no bearing on what and who they really are. And, while it was true for Romeo Montague, the same can also be said for wine. The noble grape is consumed all over the world, and there are over 10,000 different varieties used in wine production. To be clear, that’s not simply different names for different grapes, but genetically individual and unique varieties. In a country like Italy, nearly 1/10th of those global grapes are turned into wine on a commercial basis. Spain has over 300, Portugal, well over 250. And yet most wine drinkers couldn’t name more than a dozen. Go ahead, try it … I’ll count to 20 … One … two … three…. How’d you do? If you named over 10, you did pretty good. You certainly don’t need to know all 10,000 grapes to understand and appreciate wine – only 18 are used on a consistent basis. These are called noble varietals and are grown and made into wine in nearly every wine making country and region in the world. They include pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon, as well as chardonnay and chenin blanc. Some of the greatest wines in the world are made from these grapes. But what about the other 9,982 varieties? Wine drinkers are lazy and often go for their ‘go-to’ white or reds, rarely deviating. Experimenting means risk taking, and most wine drinkers just don’t want to take that chance. But with so many options, why shouldn’t you try an albarino or godello from Spain, an auxerrois or picpoul from France, or a sweigelt or gruner veltliner from Austria? These grapes are turned into wonderful examples of local wine making tradition, and often provide great value. A top bottle from the Wachau will be a fraction of the price of a top bottle from Burgundy. And the satisfaction can be greater because you’ve tried something new.

Something different? Expand your horizons and start experimenting with your wine choices..

“When you drink these wines you’re drinking a bit of history, time in a bottle, where the winemaker probably deals with this grape and this grape only for generations.” You’ve expanded your wine horizon and palate and started an adventure. If you’re at a wine bar or retailer and are ready to try something different, tell your wine guide what you like and see what they suggest. If you like sauvignon blanc, for instance, you might find yourself drinking a jacquère. If merlot is your thing, corvina may ring your bell. We asked around and found that some grapes off the beaten path are being poured around Hell’s Kitchen. At

Adella Wine Bar, vermentino is offered for its sturdy character but still provides brightness – a nice alternative to pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc. Print pours the somewhat rare red grape trousseau from Jura. A bit funky, it’s delicate and has an easy drinking allure. At Ardesia, godello from Spain is a real crowd pleaser: round yet crisp, a nice alternative to chablis. The beauty of these wines is how special they really are because they are grown nowhere else. I have never seen a fiano di avellino from California; an assyriko from Australia; or a persan from Argentina. When you drink these wines you’re drinking a bit of history, time in a bottle, where the winemaker probably deals with this grape and this grape only for generations. So challenge yourself, challenge your wine shop and challenge your bartender to share something different with you, and you may never look back at chardonnay and cabernet again.

CORK TALK GRIGNOLINO (ITALIAN) Light and aromatic. Great for summer even with a chill. ($24)

NÉGRETTE (FRENCH) Dark with abundant fruit, Easy drinking and age worthy ($15) MOSCHOFILERO (GREEK) Spicy with good acidity. Flowery aromas. Perfect for a picnic. ($19)

A wee piece of Ireland, right in Hell’s Kitchen! Live Music - Wednesday’s 8pm (Irish), Saturdays 11pm

American Classics with Irish Influence Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, Daily $14 Brunch on Saturday and Sunday Sunday Roast - 1pm-9pm

24 Craft Beers on Tap

fncfh o % 0 1 u nd Br Lunch a

this Ad ntion of with Me ME N E STS T or #W42

22 TVs + Jumbo Screen All major sports leagues shown Private events up to 300 people

Tir Na Nog 315 W 39th Street, NYC 212-760-0072 www.tirnanognyc.com Like us on

@TirNaNogTimesSq

FOOD & DRINK

ICE ICE BABY It’s too darn hot for your usual brew – so in summer, New Yorkers just add ice

t’s hot enough to cook an omelet on the sidewalk out there, and the smell of sweat on the subway is threatening to make you pass out. So you reach for your steaming coffee fix – the only thing that can keep you awake in the summer stupor. Add one magical ingredient, however, and you not only have a jolt to the senses but a refreshing brew that cools on its way down. Ice. Holy Hell’s Kitchen, Batman - it’s coffee genius! Make it at home and you get the added buzz of being a bona fide barista. Sort of. Misspelt name on the cup optional.

COLD BREWED

Cold brewing is less bitter than hotbrewed coffee, with up to 67 per cent less acidity. Put your chosen measure of grounds in a pitcher and add cold (or room temperature) water. Cover, and leave it for up to 12 hours in a cool place to work its magic. Strain by placing a coffee filter (or a couple of paper towels) in a fine sieve and pouring the mixture through, separating the grounds and leaving you with a delicious, rich brew. Serve it up in a glass – one part coffee to three parts cold water or milk – with ice, and sugar if like it sweet.

IMAGES: NACHO GUEVARA

HOT BREWED

Make your coffee in the usual way, but make it stronger than usual. Remember, you’ll be diluting it with ice. And if you’re adding sugar, do it now as it will dissolve more easily in the hot water. Let it cool down to room temperature (this’ll take about an hour), then put it in the refrigerator for another couple of hours to finish the job. When thoroughly chilled, fill a glass with your coffee, add ice and milk or cream if that’s your bag, stir well and enjoy.

2 3

1 Above: Making iced coffee is easy as 1, 2, 3 – when 3 is “get it down ya!”

“It’s OK, we won’t judge. Sometimes you just need an extra kick, right?”

FRAPPE

You’re going to need a blender for this one. First, pour in your cup of freshly brewed coffee. Next, toss in some crushed ice and milk. Buzz for around 10 seconds, then, for sweetness, add a couple tablespoons of sugar, flavoured syrup or whatever your heart desires. For a caramel frappe, use chocolate milk, then add caramel syrup and sugar. Once you have the flavour just right, continue to blend until smooth, then drink while congratulating yourself on what a clever coffee fiend you are. Go really nuts and top with whipped cream.

MAKE IT QUICK

No time for grounds and all that kind of thing? Just dissolve your favorite instant coffee in cold water. Add sugar, milk and crushed ice and shake that baby til it’s good and ready.

MAKE IT BOOZY

It’s OK, we won’t judge. Sometimes you just need an extra kick, right? So make your coffee using one of the above recipes, then add a healthy dash of alcohol. What you choose is entirely up to you, of course, but might we suggest equal parts Irish cream and vodka? Try adding a combination of Amaretto and a little Pernod, or a coffee liqueur like Kahlua. Caramel vodka (yes, that IS A Thing!) and iced coffee is a match made in heaven. Or bring a touch of coconut rum or a hazelnut liqueur like Frangelico to the party. And comfort yourself with the knowledge that the sun’s always over the yardarm somewhere!

PROPERTY NEWS IN BRIEF REACH FOR THE STARS

Stella Tower is now advertising its penthouse apartments – four luxury residences atop the W50th St, Ralph Walker-designed gem. But you’ll need deep pockets – penthouses begin at a hefty $10,125,000, with residences sitting at a comparably paltry $4,350,000. The rest of us can merely dream … www.elliman.com

TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER Two developments are breaking new ground in affordable housing

t’s usual for new buildings in Manhattan to include in their plans around 20 per cent of units for lower income families. But, as Bill de Blasio turns up the heat on developers and demands more affordable housing in the city, two projects in Hell’s Kitchen are breaking new ground, setting aside nearly 40 per cent of homes for those in the low to medium income bracket. Clinton Housing Development’s sprawling 102-unit building on W52nd St - 10th/11th Ave will be 100 per cent affordable housing. It is being subsidized by its neighboring project at 525 W52nd St in which, of nearly 400 rental units, around 80 will be for those on a lower income. The move is made possible by the tax exemption program the state’s lawmakers are considering

Above: Artists’ renderings of the two-towered project at 525 W52nd St.

for renewal. It’s worth billions of dollars to developers, and is considered essential to ensuring affordable housing continues to be built in this increasingly expensive city. The $330 million 525 W52nd St development is a joint project between Mitsui Fudosan Group and Taconic Investment Partners, and will be made up of two towers – one 22 stories, the other 14 stories. It is due to complete in spring 2017. Taconic has also bought additional air and development rights in the Clinton building. “It’s pretty unique,” says Charles Bendit, co-chief executive of Taconic. “There is a whole transformation to the West Side that is taking place. We felt like we were in a good position to take advantage of that move to the west.” www.taconicinvestments.com

HOTEL HK

Proof (if it were needed) of the growth of HK as not just a covetable residential area but also a destination of choice for tourists and business visitors, at least five ambitious hotel projects are slated for completion in the neighborhood by 2017. The Riu Plaza New York Times Square (pictured) will be a 600room tower on 8th Ave - 46th St. Then comes the Marriott Courtyard at W34th St - 10th Ave, and an as-yet-unnamed project at 450 11th Ave - 36th/37th St. 400 W42nd St will soar 25 stories. In contrast, the McSam group recently vowed to retain the existing church front in its development at W36th St 8th/9th Ave in sensitivity to the original architecture.

INVESTMENT BUY

A five-story apartment building on 10th Ave - 45th/46th St has just been bought for $21m. The buyer, San Francisco-based SPI Holdings, completed the deal with Salt Equities, which made a tidy profit, having bought the property in 2011 for $3.2m. There are 24 rental apartments in the 19,000 square foot building, with three retail units currently vacant.

PROPERTY

LARGER THAN LIFE Do not adjust your sets. Interior designer Jami Eliason has worked her magic on the studio apartment of celebrity hairdresser Ryan Cotton

t’s a trade-off we all make for living in the most exciting city on the planet. Yes, our apartment is small. Yes, the view from the sitting room is the fine detail of someone else’s brick wall. But come on! It’s New York City! The challenge, then, is to make that tiny square footage of prime Manhattan real estate our own; to make the most of the little space we call home. That was the brief for HK interior designer Jami Eliason, when celebrity hair stylist Ryan Cotton (only Jennifer Aniston’s go-to guy when she’s in town) moved into a fourth floor, pre-war Chelsea studio. “With the exception of the ugly vanity and the ugly kitchen cabinets,” says Jami, “nothing had been touched from the original format. So it was seriously a time capsule.” The kitchen was well past its use-by date (“I think it was the original oven – it was really bad. We didn’t want to even open the door – we didn’t know what we were going to find!”); the bathroom plumbing didn’t work; there were 30 layers of paint on the doors and window frames. And, while Ryan was a selfconfessed lover of all things vintage and antique, there is a limit! “Pretty soon I honed in on the fact that he had a fairly strong vintage aesthetic,” says Jami. “He loves antiques – his mother is an antique collector and he grew up with antiques so has an affinity for things that have been passed down from his own family. That meant we wanted everything to look very collected. “At first he said, ‘I don’t want anything modern.’ But I don’t like to overkill any one aesthetic. You get the clearest representation when you have things that can really pop, then everything else falls into the background. So we worked hard to get that vintage look, mixing few modern pieces in there and, to his surprise, he loved them.”

Above: Double windows become a library wall. Right: Reclaimed wood becomes open shelving. Left: Antique pieces combine with modern for a clean aesthetic.

continued over

Even though the apartment is small and faces another building, it has great windows, says Jami. She made the most of this in the large sitting room by transforming one set of double windows into a library wall. On another wall hangs antique photographs of the night sky, and of Ryan’s family. “He’s also an accomplished equestrian – he showed horses up until a year ago,” says Jami, “so you’ll see bits and pieces of horses here and there because they’re very dear to his heart.” In the cottage-feel kitchen, she installed bead board cabinet fronts and open shelving made of reclaimed wood and custom-made iron brackets, to continue the vintage aesthetic. “We moved the plumbing to put the sink in a more practical place, and went for a tall refrigerator to maximise the space. We also added a brick wall,” she says. “It looks original, but we actually had to pay the mason extra to make them look irregular and cracked, to chunk off some the corners. We had uncovered an original wall in the adjoining room and wanted to carry that through in another spot. But it cost double what it would have done if we’d used normal bricks!” Ryan found a photograph of the sconces as inspiration, and they were then custom made using copper piping and a hand-made copper shade. And, despite the kitchen’s diminutive dimensions, there is still space for a small seating area. “When you have a small apartment,” says Jami, “the more intimate living spaces you can gain the better. Then it feels larger.” The window frames were labor intensively stripped of all their years of paint. “There were at least 30 layers of paint on there. It would have been more cost effective to rip them out and replace them with modern wood frames, but they are the original, hand-welded frames – you can actually see the welding marks. We stripped them and left them raw. They’re incredible. “We also kept the original door and its hardware,” says Jami. “That too had to be stripped and restored. Painstakingly so. And we did the same with the original radiator cover in the library wall. The labor involved was 20 times what it would have been just to tear it all out.” The bathroom, like the kitchen, was a complete re-do. “Ryan wanted to keep the original bath tub, but it just

Top left: A fresh bathroom. Top right: Copper sconces and a stripped back window frame in the kitchen; the original door had 30 layers of paint peeled back. Above: Jami Eliason. Opposite: Equestrian touches and family photos in the sitting room.

“Ryan wanted a shower curtain over the tub but I wouldn’t allow that! I just told him, ‘You’re going to have to trust me on this one.’” wasn’t worth it – the drain no longer functioned,” says Jami. The new white suite includes a boxedin shower over the tub, giving the feel of a wet room. “He wanted a shower curtain but I wouldn’t allow that!” laughs Jami. “I just told him, ‘You’re going to have to trust me on this one.’” He did, and the results are spectacular – a small space that feels at once open and airy.

That same attention to detail extends to the bathroom window – which she framed in black marble – and in the large dressing alcove off the foyer. “Some of the people who have renovated similar apartments in the building walled that space off and expanded the bathroom, but we really wanted to maintain that alcove.” They painted the original brick wall white, put in a handsome bachelor’s chest and, directly opposite, Jami designed a mirrored wall that looks just like a freestanding mirror Ryan had wanted. The demolition took days, the full transformation three months – longer than it might have taken as they were held up by gas repairs. But the result? “It makes the space look gigantic!” And in New York, size, as we know, is everything. www.jamieliasondesign.com; www.ryancotton.com

IMAGES: TEDDY WOLFF

PROPERTY

NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK Searching for the perfect apartment in Hell’s Kitchen? Ian T D Smith tells his personal tale

IMAGES: NACHO GUEVARA

n previous columns I’ve talked about how helping others find their dream apartment could help me find my own. This month I focus on exactly how I made my choice. I employed my real estate agent mother’s method of honing in on my top five wants/needs in an apartment and ranked them, knowing that, inevitably, the decision would be based on the top three. These were: size (one bedroom measuring 700 sq ft), renovation quality (kitchen appliances and bathroom fixtures specifically), and an elevator in the building. Setting a budget between $2,800 and $3,400, I began my search. My first option was in a very tall building on 50th St -10th Ave. It had a doorman, elevator, two outdoor areas and a gym in the building. The unit was around 750 square feet and had brand new appliances and fixtures. Sitting on the fifth floor, it lacked a view. And, at $3,400 a month, it was at the top of the budget. Verdict: The price-point, combined with the long walk to the subway, did not beat out the great gym and beautiful renovation. The second apartment was on 51st St - 8th/9th Ave on the seventh floor with an elevator but no doorman. This baby had a big balcony but the renovation was done eight years ago so the appliances were not quite as new as I would like. At 680 square feet, it was also a little smaller than I wanted, but at $2,750 a month it was a steal. Verdict: Even though I loved the balcony, the space was not large enough to meet my needs, regardless of the great price. My final viewing was on the 40s between 8th/9th Ave. The unit was about to hit the market, it was just slightly over budget, and I was the first renter to see it. A corner unit in a doorman elevator building on the 17th floor, at nearly 800 square feet with a dining room in addition to the spacious living room, it was by far the largest place I’d seen so far. A windowed kitchen and sweeping views

“A windowed kitchen and sweeping views of Hell’s Kitchen set it apart from my 500 square foot walk-up of the past five years.” Above: A spacious living room and sweeping views of Hell’s Kitchen? That’ll be a yes from Ian!

Ian TD Smith is a licensed real estate broker. Contact him at ian@adomee.com

of Hell’s Kitchen set it apart from my 500 square foot walk-up of the past five years. Verdict: The size, view, elevator, full-time doorman, most convenient location and price made it the perfect place for me. Going through this apartment hunt, I gained a new appreciation for just how critical knowing what I wanted helped me choose the best available option. My advice to any of you considering a move is to know where you want to be, exactly what your top five needs/wants are, and working with the most knowledgeable and trustworthy professional you can find.

PROPERTY

Going someplace? d Souvenirs get a bad rap. But get a loa r of these goodies! You can stick you … crappy Statue of Liberty ornament

CITY SKYLINE DINNER PLATE

If there’s one thing New Yorkers know how to do, it’s eat! Fishs Eddy skyline tableware is iconic for all the right reasons, and the range includes everything from mugs and bowls to salt and pepper pots and serving plates. $15.95, www.fishseddy. com

BROADWAY SHOWER CURTAIN

Singing in the shower won’t win you a Tony. But who cares? You can always make believe. Create the right atmosphere with this shower curtain, emblazoned with logos from Broadway shows, and know that you’re helping to support the charity Broadway Cares: Equity Fights AIDS. $32.95, www.delphiniumhome.com

MTA POSTER

DIME CUFFLINKS

The humble dime – the smallest and thinnest of our coins – gets a noble makeover in these dapper, made-in-the-USA cufflinks. $49, www.fineanddandyshop.com

Every year the MTA commissions an artist to design a poster celebrating our muchmaligned transit system. This one, by Olimpia Zagnoli, is from the 2015 collection, but has a vintage feel. $20, www. nytransitmuseumstore. com

PROPERTY HUDSON TOWER PAINTING

An acrylic on wood painting by Pulitzer prize-winning New York Times photographer Librado Romero. Measures 24″x24″. $800, www.domusnewyork.com

LUGGAGE TAGS

Take the yellow New York taxi cab with you wherever you go, thanks to these luggage tags made by New York-based (and onetime W42ST cover artist) R Nichols. The cab is kind of a trademark for the paper cut genius – as well as for the city. Obvs. $6, www.r-nichols.com

NEW YORK ADVENTURE JOURNAL

A pocket-sized travel ledger filled with 25 illustrated pages on which to fill with your memories, notes and cool stuff you do on your travels. $8, www. r-nichols.com

VINTAGE NEW YORK MARBLE COASTER SET

Created using images from vintage NYC postcards. Now every time you have a drink you’ll be reminded of our beautiful city. Bottoms up! $44.95, www.delphiniumhome.com

HERE’S FUN GREAT BASEBALL PUZZLE

We have to be honest: we have absolutely no idea what this is about. But we spotted it in one of our favorite neighborhood stores and thought it was kind of cute. $6, www.fineanddandyshop. com

WE ARE HAPPY TO SERVE YOU COFFEE CUPS A symbol of New York spirit for more than 45 years, we go through 15 million of these paper cups every month. Environmentalist and designer Graham Hill has recreated it in a ceramic version. Now have a great day! $14, www.thestore. madmuseum.org

GALLERY

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

The heat is on. And whether you’re recording Hell’s Kitchen’s summer from the balcony, the rooftop, the pool, or from the cool, air-conditioned comfort of your apartment, you’re doing it via Instagram. Remember, anyone can get involved – just tag your pics #W42ST and they just might end up in the next issue – we’re taking a bit of a break and will be back again in September.

GALLERY

HEALTH & FITNESS

The rhythm is gonna get ya It’s like the best night out – with no hangover in the morning! Ruth Walker wonders why we’re not all dancing to keep fit

’ve left many fitness classes drenched in sweat. A significant number have rendered me red-faced and wheezing. But it’s a rare class that, as well as those satisfying symptoms that prove you’ve well and truly worked your flabby ass off, leaves you beaming from ear to ear, grinning with pure joy. That, my friends, is the power of dance. I don’t have what you’d call natural rhythm (though there are times I’ve been pretty convinced I was shaking it like Beyoncé out on the dance floor). I don’t have ambitions to give Julianne Hough a run for her money. But, man, I do love to dance. The fact that it also improves fitness, sculpts muscles, burns calories … well, that’s just a bonus, right? As well as Alvin Ailey’s program of dance fitness classes that includes Zumba, Cuban, hip-hop and bellydance, the center has just launched three new classes for summer that turn up the heat. I was granted a taster that left me wanting more.

IMAGES: TIBA VIERA, KYLE FROMAN

Masala Bhangra

This high-energy session has been dubbed one of the top five workouts in the US, and it’s easy to see why. Led by Sarina Jain, the ‘Indian Jane Fonda,’ it’s a complete cardiovascular workout blending traditional dance steps (screwing the lightbulbs, anyone?) with all the joie de vivre of a Bollywood movie. “I was born and raised in the US by Indian parents that migrated to the States in the 1970s,” says Sarina. “Both Mom and Dad wanted to make sure we kids would

Above: Michael Tosto lines up a well-aimed right hook.

HEALTH & FITNESS grow up with the best of what the west has to offer without forgetting the East. Dad made sure to send us to India every summer to spend time with our families, our grandparents, and learn to appreciate what the Indian culture is all about. “My father was our rock. He would always tell us to be proud to be who you are and to respect the culture you come from and to stand on our own feet. “One day, my Mom called to say, ‘he is not breathing anymore.’ My father passed away to a massive cardiac arrest at the age of 47. So, to honor him and everything he told us to be proud of, I created Masala Bhangra. I wanted to tell him that not only am I proud to be an Indian woman living in the US but now I teach aspects of our culture though fitness.” Sarina has been working in the industry for 23 years and hosted five seasons of Discovery Channel’s All Star Workouts on FitTV. She has taught at The Ailey Extension for five years, and 2015 marks 15 years since the birth of Masala Bhangra. “The class is for everyone and anyone who wants to get their groove on Indian style,” she says. “It’s open for everyone, from those who are just starting to work out to those who have been working out for years. Students can expect to build stamina. They can expect to open up their mind and hearts. They can expect to learn a routine without feeling intimidated. They can expect to step into a different world and get lost in the music and dance of the Indian culture. They can expect to lose weight and get stronger both mentally and physically.” Still not convinced? One of her students has lost more than 50lb by coming twice a week, and is now on the Masala Bhangra World Dance Celebration performance workshop.

DanzaTone

Looking for 60 minutes of non-stop dance that’ll sculpt your body, invigorate your mind, and rejuvenate your soul? Join the line, then, for this combination of dance, plyometrics, stretch, and relaxation. The focus is on maximizing core strength while also working on legs and general flexibility. You’ll get a mix of music, incorporating merengue, mambo, bachata, salsa, reggaeton, dembow, and hip-hop. Making sure the rhythm gets ya is Jose Manuel Ozuna, born in the Dominican Republic, who began his dancing career at the age of 16. He’s worked with some

Calendar Masala Bhangra Mondays: 8pm-9pm Saturdays: 10:35am-11:25am The Ailey Barre Thursdays: 6pm-7pm DanzaTone Saturdays: 9:30am-10:30am

“I remember my first performances, dancing barefoot, the power and freedom I felt. I want to share that same excitement of movement and performance with all who attend my class.” of the most important artists in the contemporary Cuban dance movement, and is a certified fitness instructor. “Fitness is not like a drive though,” he says, “it’s not a quick fix. We want to motivate the public to know that they can find their own strength and that they are stronger than they think.” Dance skills are not required – but a willingness and commitment to take part are. “Results include a boost in selfesteem, more energy, muscle definition, muscle strengthening, co-ordination, stress release, natural cleansing, and of course weight loss. “We have had both women and men with a weight loss that ranges from 20 to 150lb. In losing weight, they increase both muscle mass and strength, which has helped them maintain their weight loss and a healthier lifestyle. “Our philosophy is to teach students that the workout doesn’t get any easier but they get stronger. We try to switch the routines, exercises, and techniques around to keep the class creative, and at the same time the students see and experience their fitness level growth which motivates them to stay on the right track.”

The Ailey Barre

Coveting the long, lean lines of a ballet dancer? Frankly, who doesn’t? This class is intended to help us all on the road there. Increasing flexibility and, with luck, exuding balletic power and grace, the underlying theme is that the classic ‘Ailey body’ is within reach of all of us. Led by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater principal dancer, teacher, faculty member and trainer Sarita Allen, you’re in the most capable hands possible. Sarita was personally taught and certified by Joseph Pilates and trained with Julio Horvath, creator of the Gyrotonic Expansion System. “I remember my first performances with AAAD, dancing barefoot, the power and freedom that I felt through my training,” she says. “I want to share that same excitement of movement and performance with all who attend my class.” Ailey Barre addresses the core principles of posture and alignment so, she says: “Being fit is not a requirement since body placement and positioning are essential for all optimal fitness endeavors, even common activities such as walking. You just have to be willing to have fun and sweat!” The results, she says, are immediate. “You will feel good, your body will be aligned and vibrant, the ‘kinks’ ease out. Health benefits include noticeable muscle strength, long and lean muscles, a stronger core, better posture, more energy ... even weight loss.” The class combines resistance bands and cables with the barre. But, more than that, says Sarita. “It’s infused with historical enthusiasm through a great calorie-burning fitness routine. You leave feeling like you literally ‘performed’ the class. It’s a great confidence builder.”

www.alvinailey. org A letter to Sarina Jain “When I started Alvin Ailey classes two or three years ago, I first started doing the African dance, but every time I finished that class and saw all the happy faces going into your class it made me wonder what is that class all about? When I heard the music for the first time and how excited you were to see everyone and how encouraging you were and still are, that made me want to join your class. Although I am not able to come that often, the Mondays that I am able to attend are always so much fun.”

RELATIONSHIPS

DESTINATION I DO What’s that we see? A whole world of couples headed this way – and there’s just one thing on their minds, says Christopher Shelley

IMAGE: CHRIS CHEN STUDIOS

ot every visitor to New York City comes here to grin at a selfie-stick and block our path to work. Thousands come to get married. New York City is the world’s destination wedding venue. Even in the heat of summer, when New Yorkers flee the city, couples from all over the US, Europe, Australia, Canada and other countries come here to legally wed. I’m a wedding celebrant with a goofy track record, so these couples hire me to create and officiate their ceremony. Often, they trust me to find a location for their wedding too; this is where I have fun. I’ve been doing wedding experimentation with tourists for years. Why New York City? Some of their relationships have history here; sometimes one of them lived here, or they fell in love here on a previous vacation. One couple conceived their daughter here. (Oh what a night!) Often, their New York wedding is part one of two. Later, they have a second, larger ceremony back home. What their families will never know is that the one in NYC is the one that means the most to them. It’s the first, without the family stress-monster looming over them. It’s also much more fun and, most importantly, it’s entirely theirs. My ceremonies thrive on humor, creativity and celebration, qualities that are often absent in all but celebrant-designed ceremonies. In Central Park, they’re drawn to Cop Cot, Belvedere Castle and Shakespeare Garden, but the iconic hot spot is Bethesda Fountain. This is where I feel most like a street busker. One onlooker turns into five, then ten, then 20. One British couple at the fountain had 100 awe-struck tweens from a Bronx school cheering for them by the time I pronounced them husband and wife. It was the first wedding those kids had ever seen and I wanted to tell them: yes, weddings are always that fun. The High Line is becoming a wedding

Above: Do you take this man? Chris marries yet another happy couple in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge.

“Even in the heat of summer, when New Yorkers flee the city, couples from all over the world come here to legally wed.” destination. Lincoln Square attracts matrimonial mayhem. Dumbo and the Brooklyn Bridge are popular. Rockefeller Center offers the chance to get married and do the NBC tour in the same afternoon! Grand Central Terminal lures only the most daring of wedding clients: Australians. Australians are up for anything, and Australians love me. I think I’ve married half of Australia, and the other half hasn’t met the right person. A wedding at Grand Central only works if it doesn’t look like a wedding,

because weddings are not allowed there, technically. Ken and Melissa from Melbourne filmed their Grand Central wedding in brief segments, with different sections of the ceremony filmed in different parts of the terminal: we told their love story on a staircase, did ‘the asking’ by the information clock, and exchanged rings at Cipriani’s bar. Later that month, they showed the video of their daring New York wedding at a huge party back in Melbourne. Jimmy Fallon would be proud: the whole thing was ready-made for YouTube. After Super Storm Sandy shut down the City Clerk’s office, I performed two emergency weddings for two Swedish couples at their hotel. I led a Canadian couple on what I called a ‘walking tour wedding’, with friends performing readings along 5th Avenue, a ‘unity pretzel’ from a cart guy, and rings exchanged in front of the Rockefeller Christmas tree. Not all foreign couples do minimalist elopements. One couple brought over 100 people from India and Holland to see me marry them at Alger House, down in the Village. A New Zealand couple brought 200 people all the way to NYC to see their Mondrian Soho rooftop wedding. I guess they don’t have rooftops in New Zealand. The improvisational experimentation I get by working with NYC visitors fuels my meticulously-planned American weddings. By stepping out of their comfort zone to get married, these jet-setting couples make me step out of mine. Love stories can be told a million ways; the more I tell, the better I get. I welcome visitors from around the world. I tell them: come to my city to get married, I have some things I want to try. Just leave your selfie sticks at home. Christopher Shelley is an NYS wedding officiant and celebrant and resident of Hell’s Kitchen Read all about his job at www.IlluminatingCeremonies.com.

RIDE LOCAL

FIRST RIDE ON US* 419 WEST 55TH STREET/NYC

MIDTOWN WEST’S ONLY BOUTIQUE INDOOR CYCLING STUDIO

212-776-4335 WWW.REVOLUTIONS55.COM

* COMPLIMENTARY RIDE WITH REGISTRATION. $28 + TAX VALUE.

HEALTH

Role models

Family rebel, mascot, lost child – which are you? asks Dr Tama Lane

s Leo Tolstoy said: “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Yikes! Makes sense, then, that television shows and films tend to focus on the sea of polychromatic unhappy families and expertly put ‘fun’ in dysFUNction. We all love a little family dysfunction, especially when it involves a smorgasbord of scheming and plotting for power, illicit affairs, and drug addiction. The families of Empire, Game of Thrones, and Breaking Bad make us believe, even for a brief moment, that our own families are normal – boring even. As TV ratings have proven, happy, clappy families are not as relatable as dysfunctional ones. Perhaps the over-the-top drama is not a common occurrence, but some level of dysfunction does exist within many families. Our family ‘pack’ is the first we identify with and plays a significant part in shaping our beliefs, choices, identity, and roles. Regardless of the level of dysfunction, these roles take on an emotional responsibility. They are formed in early developmental years and maintained within the family system for a specific reason. Sound familiar? What was/is your role? Sometimes the conscious or unconscious appointment of roles may change based on family needs. Did yours change over time?

The rebel/scapegoat

Otherwise known as the ‘problem child’ who gets into trouble. This individual’s behavior warrants negative attention and is a great distraction by diverting notice from the real family issues at hand.

The mascot

Rah, rah, rah! The mascot is the ‘funny’ kid who uses comedy to ease others’ unease and lighten the mood. The mascot provides a temporary soothing balm, while diverting attention away from tensions.

The good girl (or boy)/hero

Otherwise known as the ‘perfect child’ (often the eldest child) – respectful, dutiful daughters and sons, responsible, talented,

can stake a claim on your future, stalk, and seep into many crevices of life. For instance, in adulthood, the lost child may have difficulty forming healthy attachments, be emotionally numb, and continue to hide in plain sight. While it is challenging to construct a healthy life and relationships if the emotional and psychological foundation is not solid, it is never impossible. The wonderful aspect of growing up is gaining insight, perspective, autonomy, control, and choice.

“We all love a little family dysfunction, especially when it involves a smorgasbord of scheming and plotting for power, illicit affairs, and drug addiction.”

Childhood roles do not define you. Taking a critical look and becoming aware of your role with your family or groups, in general, is important. However, the roles themselves are not necessarily a bad thing. They can actually be useful in adulthood (ie a mascot who becomes a motivational speaker). A problem occurs when an individual becomes stuck in that role and/or feels it limits them to be their true self.

The lost child

Be who you are now. We are comfortable with all things familiar. This includes people, places, situations, relationship dynamics, and even roles within groups. Sadly, some family and childhood friends will expect nothing to change as the years go by. Breaking out of a childhood identity is no easy task. It takes courage to find your true identity outside of an appointed role. However, when others deny or ignore this change, barriers to closeness in relationships emerge. Remember, never waste energy to justify who you are now. Rather, focus on building anew: 1. Be specific about what you would like and need in your relationship. 2. Set limits and boundaries.

Whatever part you play, childhood roles

Letting go of family roles can be both scary and liberating. The best choice you can make is to navigate through your life and live as the person you truly are inside, rather than who others say you are or want you to be. “You are not who they say you are. You are who you say you are.” Jason Alexander

good in school, and always do the ‘right things.’ Essentially, this child makes the family look good. The heroes remedy the dysfunction and are the fixers for the family’s emotional life. Often this role is accepted and encouraged at the expense of the individual. This child strives to remain unnoticed, and withdraws to self-preserve – quiet, a loner, and minding their own business. By remaining invisible, family anger is never directed at them. They might also cope by immersing in activities, sports, friendships – any means of escape.

Dr Tama Lane is a clinical psychologist who is a proud resident of W42ST. She has her private practice of the UWS (www.nypng. com) and is an activist for survivors of trauma and torture. You can email her at drtamalane@ gmail.com, twitter @ DrTamaLane, Facebook Dr Tama Lane

nachoguevara.com nachoguevara73

facebook.com/nachoguevaraphotography

RELATIONSHIPS

TO PRENUP OR NOT TO PRENUP … THAT IS THE QUESTION Think it’s unromantic? Think again, says Jonna Spilbor

he average cost of a wedding in New York City is a whopping $75,000. Since the typical bash, start to finish, lasts about six hours, that’s one pricey party. Whether you intend to drop the equivalent of your annual salary on your big day or not, the average couple puts a great deal of time and thought into planning their wedding, but how much energy do they spend planning for their marriage? Most brides (and grooms, for that matter) will lose sleep over such minutiae as what color butterflies to release, the precise number of rose petals to toss, and whether the flower girl should wear her bangs parted to the left or to the right, but when I ask them whether they’ve prepared a prenup, I get a look of sheer insult, as if I’ve just accused them of not demanding the amuse bouche be gluten-free. “We don’t need one of those,” is the standard reply. To which I’ll respond: “Is that because you’re coming into the marriage with a dowry, or perhaps a hope chest, and no job, money, property, pets, future inheritance or kids? If so, then you’re right, you don’t need a prenup. You need a handsome prince and maybe a giant pumpkin on wheels.” But everyone else does. So what is a prenup? Short for prenuptial agreement, it is a contract entered into before marriage which will dictate who gets what in the event your marriage happens to fall within the 70 per cent of those ultimately ending in divorce today. Most of the couples I’ve counseled who are hesitant to enter into a prenup claim its “like planning to fail” and is “unromantic”. These, of course, are notions easily dispelled, since we don’t buy insurance to wrap ourselves around a tree, and there is nothing more romantic than entering into wedded bliss with your eyes – and your expectations – wide open. Still skeptical? Here are my top three reasons for making a pre nup more important than picking the DJ.

“There is nothing more romantic than entering into wedded bliss with your eyes – and your expectations – wide open.”

YOU ARE COMING INTO THE MARRIAGE WITH STUFF The “stuff” I’m talking about here isn’t your favorite Prada or the Breitling Grandma bought you for your college graduation. These types of things – gifts or other items you own pre-marriage that do not really increase in value will remain yours in the event your “I do” later becomes “I’m done.” But if you have stuff that increases in value, like a business, real estate or other investments – or even yourself, ie you plan to get a degree or are in the process of getting one when you marry – the increased value typically becomes part of your marital pot upon divorce. Let me give you an example. You and your fiancé intend to live in the apartment you inherited when your great Aunt Ida passed. That apartment is your property; however, during the marriage you make improvements using marital funds. If you later divorce, your spouse will be able to make a claim for a portion of the value of the apartment. These types of property wrestling matches not only become expensive, but will surely have Aunt Ida rolling over in her grave. A prenup can avoid that entirely.

THIS IS NOT YOUR FIRST RODEO If this is not your first walk down the aisle – and let’s assume you’ve already divided your stuff once before – the best

way to preserve your already smaller piece of pre-marital pie is to contract to keep it. Cash and investments split easier than amoeba during divorce, which means you may lose the increased value of these accounts the second time around if you do not protect them. What’s more, people who make multiple trips down the aisle oftentimes have children from prior relationships. Every dime you lose during divorce is one less dime to leave those children.

BOTH OF YOU WORK AND INTEND TO KEEP WORKING Divorce laws in New York changed in 2010 to strongly favor what’s known as the ‘un-monied’ spouse. So the higher wage-earner (the ‘monied’ spouse) may be forced to pay what’s called ‘interim maintenance’ (think alimony payable before you’re divorced) – up to a third of your income! Entering into a prenup will allow you to control, if not eliminate, the amount of maintenance one would have pay to the other during – and after – divorce.

Jonna M Spilbor is a Hell’s Kitchenbased attorney, columnist and legal analyst appearing regularly on television, radio and print. She’s a dedicated blogger at www. gutsygirlsguide. com, podcaster and the founder of a series of Positively Divorced Empowerment Workshops.

WHAT A PRENUP WON’T DO It will not allow you to limit custody or visitation of your children, nor will it allow you to eliminate the paying of child support. It will also not allow you to leave one spouse destitute and living in a cardboard box. If it does, it may be invalidated. And don’t try to have your spouse sign your prenup in the limo on the way to church. A valid prenup needs to be signed with neither party under duress, and each party should have a separate attorney review it. It also requires full and honest disclosure of each others’ assets. My philosophy? Entering into a contract pre-marriage while you two love each other will save you thousands of dollars during divorce when you don’t. All of us expect to have a happy marriage. A prenup just might be the thing that allows us to also have a happy divorce.

PETS

Wagging Winston

IMAGES: PHIL O’BRIEN

Nixie Breed: Miniature schnauzer. Age: 11 years. Best friends: Otto, another schnauzer. What makes me bark? People coming to the door. Three words that describe me best: I’m bossy, stubborn, and sweet. My confession: I’ve got less patient in my old age – I get impatient with young pups.

Jackie Brown Breed: Boston terrier. Age: 13. Best friends: Munchie. What makes me bark? Anytime the doorbell rings. I force everyone to play with me and when they don’t play I bark at them. Three words that describe me best: Bossy, human, and friendly. My confession: I fart a lot when I’m on the plane and my human has to carry a small can of Febreze.

Breed: Yorkie. Age: Nine months. Best friends: Freddie, and also Porter. What makes me bark? Large trucks. They make me scared because I’m kinda small. Three words that describe me best: I love everyone, I’m patient, and I’m forgiving. My confession: I have a teddy bear called Kevin, and my human thinks that sometimes we’re a little too close, so Kevin’s been taken away for a while.

tales

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

Take a

w o w w o b

S Munchie Breed: Yorkie Age: Five years old. Best friends: Jackie and Trouble – they’re my best friends! What makes me bark? Everything! I’m a talker. Three words that describe me best: Lovable, playful, and I’m real friendly. My confession: When I don’t want to leave the park I just sit down and won’t go anywhere.

o many of you have contacted us, asking how your own happy hound can be included in Wagging Tales. Well, we’ve heard your pleas, duly considered them, and thought, hey, what the heck, why not? (We must have been barking mad not to have thought of it sooner!) This all means, of course, that you can now send us the finest photograph you can find of your furry best friend, answer the questions below, then cross your paws you’ll be included in our monthly column of local canine celebrities. Your name: Dog’s name: Breed: How old? What makes your dog bark? Three words that describe them best: Naughty confessions (dish the dirt – not literally, of course!): Got that? Send everything off to us at waggingtales@w42st.com and we’ll do the rest.

PETS

Creature comforts Treats for cats and dogs have moved on since the days of balls of wool and sticks – check out these presents for new ways to cosset your favorite furball Personal pet shopper Carla Duval

THE GETAWAY CAR

A WEE BIT NIPPY

Car shape dog bed, $45, www.bingpet.com

Eskimo Ice House, $5.70, www.munchkinpets.com

CHILL OUT

SAFETY IN STYLE

Chilled pet bowl, $25.99, www.frostybowlz.com

Doggy life vest, $24, www.funnyfur.com

Fido’s getting on in years and might need something flashy to make him feel like a pup again. We all know what that’s like (or will), so give your dog a paw with this bed that boasts comfort and pizzazz.

Perfect for both water and food, this bowl keeps things cold for your pet for 14 or more hours even in 90-degree weather. It’s non-toxic and dishwasher safe, so no need to lose your cool!

Even the tiniest of friends can overheat in summer. This igloo-modeled hamster house comes with a cooling aluminum base designed to provide relief for little, furry bodies on blistering hot days.

Every Olympic swim medalist once needed floaties, and so does your pooch. This life vest is designed for maximum buoyancy and visibility, so you’ll always be able to Find your Nemo enthusiast.

PETS

SAY IT AND SPRAY IT

I SCREAM, YOU BARK

THE PURRFECT PATRIOT

Pet sunscreen spray, $18, www.coolasuncare.com

Ice-cream mix, $6.99, www.petgiftz.com

Feline Soft Claws, $9.05, www.petedge.com

TAKE A HIKE

ANCHORS AWAY

PLEASE PLAY RESPONSIBLY

Grip Trex dog booties, $69, www.llbean.com

Nautical water dog toy sets, $24, www.houzz.com

Grrrona Beer Dog Toy, $12, www.tailsinthecity.com

Humans aren’t the only ones who need protection in the sunshine; dogs and horses are just as susceptible to skin cancer. Shield your furry friends with this vet-recommended sunscreen.

For adventurous canines getting in touch with their wild side, these booties will keep all sizes of paw safe and clean. They’re designed after human cross-training shoes and are as breathable as they are grippable.

Can’t stand the puppy dog face when you buy yourself an ice-cream on a walk with your favorite pooch? Now you both can indulge. All natural and in four yummy flavors, you’ll find yourself drooling over Fido’s bowl.

Lying on the deck of a boat while smelling the salty sea breeze and soaking the rays of the sun is the doggy dream. Do the next best thing and get your First Mate these first-rate nautical toys.

Keep kitty from starting a revolution against your furniture. Guaranteed safe and comfortable, each Soft Claws nail cap pack has 40 red, white and blue clips that last up to six weeks.

Nothing beats cradling a tall one on the beach with your toes nestled warm in the sand. Watch the tide roll in and out with your pup and toast, “Cheers,” to the good life as you sip and (s)he chews the day away.

Animal Care