W42ST Issue 35 - The Kindness Issue

w42st ISSUE 35 NOVEMBER 2017 FREE

MISSING since November 2016

THE KINDNESS ISSUE

AN INDISPENSIBLE GUIDE ON HOW NOT TO BE A JERK IN THE BAR, ON A DATE, AT THE GYM & WITH THE FAM

When Woody confronts the evil boy next door – the one who’s just strapped Buzz Lightyear to a rocket in Toy Story – he implores him: Play nice. OK, he starts by freaking out the little jerk, but the message is clear: why can’t we all just get along? Niceness, it seems, is endangered. Online trolling is on the rise. Real world bullying has never gone away. A year after the Presidental Elections, bad manners, vulgarity, and disrespect seem to have become an integral part of daily life. So we’re on a mission to bring back kindness. In these pages you’ll find hints and tips on approaching Thanksgiving with empathy, grace, and humor. Enjoy, and have a wonderful holiday.

Ruth Walker Editor, W42ST

THE TEAM THAT BROUGHT YOU W42ST

PUBLISHER PHIL O’BRIEN

EDITOR RUTH WALKER

FOUNDING EDITOR SIMON KIRRANE

SENIOR ART EDITOR LEE CAPLE

phil@w42st.com (646) 535-4407

AMBASSADORS KRISTIN NORIEGA HERSHEY MILLER OLIVER GUMMERT

ruth@w42st.com (646) 847-9645

lee@w42st.com

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR SANDRA MANGAN

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR RON STERN ron@w42st.com (201) 774-2432

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

sandra@w42st.com CONTRIBUTORS

NACHO GUEVARA TYLER MOUNT SARAH FUNK CARLA DUVAL SAMINA KALLOO CLAUDIA CHUNG

GREG SALVATORI STEPHEN FIELD CIERA COYAN CHRISTOPHER SHELLEY LUCAS WOMACK

MATT D’SILVA MARK FISHER MARY GENEVA MARK BLANKENSHIP KRISTEN JONGEN

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be used without written permission of the publisher ©2017. Please note: Every effort has been made to avoid errors, misspellings, and omissions in this publication. However, if you spot one please accept our sincere apologies.

CONTENTS November Edition 10

PEOPLE

OUT

6 MY HELL’S KITCHEN

20 STAGE TO TABLE

8 EVENTS

22 IT’S SHOWTIME

Drag queen and political campaigner Marti Gould Cummings on getting angry ... then getting proactive.

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

10 BE KIND

Manners are on the decline.

Rudeness is on the rise. Blame the internet. Blame #45. Whatever the cause, we’re on a mission to make New Yorkers nice again.

New York’s most trending concierge curates a very special evening of entertainment.

Our new, at-a-glance guide to all things Broadway and Off-Broadway from our friends at including star ratings and reviews by real people.

25 THEATER INSIDER

Our series on Broadway’s unsung heroes continues this month with a hard-working swing.

46 GALLERY

26 FANGIRL

66 LAST WORD

29 OPENING SOON

Our Instagram picks of the month.

Hashtag your photographs #W42ST to get involved.

The 12 Kinds of Kindness project put “missing” posters all over the East Village. What happened next?

Tyler Mount’s latest Broadway obsessions in his exclusive column for W42ST. The arts are booming as the neighborhood gets two new theaters ... and a shed.

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EAT

30 BROADWAY EATS

The industry’s producers have their clubhouse back – who will be throwing the martinis?

34 STAFF SURVEY

By day, he’s a spin instrutor; by night, he’s making bacon and pouring shots. Meet Bremen Menelli.

36 SMOOTHIE WORK

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It’s the breakfast of champions.

But now the smoothie game is even stronger.

LIVING

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38 12 APARTMENTS

The family who lived in a different neighborhood every month ... and loved it! But what did they think of Hell’s Kitchen?

43 TAKE FIVE

How much will a one-bedroom apartment on the west side cost you? We take a look.

44 GIFTS

Interiors inspiration from the heart.

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STYLE 48 TRAVEL

This month, Sarah Funk is in Seoul ... living life Gangnam style.

50 THE BIG BREAK-UP

Claudia Chung has had some bitter break-ups. But the most recent was the hardest.

53 SOBER IN THE CITY

Four favorite spots where boozing doesn’t have to be part of the territory.

57 KTCHLST

Insider tips from locals, plus the best of HK, from restaurants to bars,

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COVER Victoria Black is a letterer and graphic designer working in Brooklyn. She’s obsessed with typography and donuts. She’s worked with the Art Directors Club, Penguin Books, Brooklyn Grooming Co and local artists.

One time, she made Karl Lagerfeld very upset. thevictoria black.com

44 photographers to galleries. Contact phil@w42st.com to be on the list.

PETS 56 WAGGING TALES

Two pages of Hell’s Kitchen’s most handsome pups, all ready for their close-up. Get involved by emailing waggingtales@w42st.com.

DISCLAIMER: *Offer good for first-time guests only. Intro massage or intro facial session is a 60-minute session consisting of 50 minutes of hands-on services and a total of 10 minutes for consultation and dressing, which occurs both pre and post service. Prices subject to change. Rates and services may vary by franchised location and session. Not all Massage Envy franchised locations offer facial and other services. For a specific list of services, check with specific franchised location or see MassageEnvy.com. Additional local taxes and fees may apply. Each location is independently owned and operated. ©2017 Massage Envy Franchising, LLC.

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MY HELL’S KITCHEN

BIO

Drag queen Marti Gould Cummings founded the HK Dems club a year ago and, in September, helped candidates Tom Shanahan and Marisa Redanty become District Leaders of Hell’s Kitchen. The result ended a 120-year reign of the McManus Midtown Democratic Club. Marti recently got married, and performs six shows a night in NYC (“it’s my Bette Midler schedule”).

MARTI’S HK Kahve, 9th Ave - 51st/52nd St Schmackary’s, W45th St -

8th/9th Ave Poulette, 9th Ave - 52nd/53rd St Vynl, 9th Ave - 51st St El Centro, 9th Ave - 54th St Annabel, 9th Ave - 53rd/54th St B Side, W51st St - 8th/9th Ave Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market, W39th St - 9th/10th Ave Stiles Farmers Market, W52nd St - 8th/9th Ave Couture du Jour, W44th St 8th/9th Ave

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MY HELL’S KITCHEN

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

Political

MARTI

Marti Gould Cummings was making a pretty good living as a drag queen. Then #45 happened …

Photographs James Avance My Hell’s Kitchen story …

I moved to New York when I was 17 [he’s now 30], two weeks after high school.

I look back now and think: “That was insane! Who thought it was a good idea to throw my ass into New York two weeks after high school?” But I did it, and enrolled in the American Music and Dramatic Academy on the Upper West Side. But I always wanted to live in Hell’s Kitchen. And once I became successful as a drag queen, I was working four or five nights a week in the neighborhood and it just made sense to move. I got a place on W49th St six years ago and I love it.

The drag thing was an accident …

That was not on the vision board! But I did a show on Broadway and played this androgynous character. My boyfriend at the time said: “You’re having so much fun with this, you should explore a drag character.”

It started out very punk – but within a year, I’d quit my day job and was working full time as a drag queen. I didn’t know how to be a stand-up comedian, I didn’t know how to put on my show, or promote my show, but over that first year I learned how to pull in an audience and how to interact with guests and negotiate pay. I wasn’t afraid to ask questions. Which is kind of what I’m doing with politics.

Why politics, you ask?

Why not? Obviously I always voted, but I wasn’t really involved in politics. Then this last election happened and it was like the stages of grief: stunned, pissed, I grieved a little, asked a lot of questions, then I was just like: “Woah! Bitching and moaning isn’t doing anything. What can we do?”

Opposite and above: Marti in and out of drag.

“I tell poop jokes for a living, so this is very strange.”

I talked to my friend Corey [Johnson], who’s a city councilman, and he said I should join a Democratic Club. I researched and couldn’t really work out how to join this thing. Then he said: “Have you ever thought about starting one?”

I didn’t even know what a Democratic club was or the work they do. So I just put on my Facebook: “Let’s start a club.” I googled a how-to guide, contacted all my elected officials …

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The power of drag social media – let me tell you! You put it out there and they come.

Gradually Dick Gottfried, Linda Rosenthal, Brad Hoylman got involved, then eventually Jerry Nadler, our congressman. It was really wild. I tell poop jokes for a living, so this is very strange.

What even is a Democratic Club?

We work in the community and campaign to get candidates elected – which we just did. What we’re really trying to do is make it a community home. This neighborhood has so many people who have been here for generations, and now you have all these new people like me. Our goal is to bring them together so they’re all taken care of.

I’ve lived in many neighborhoods in NY but this is the one where I feel I can walk down the street and I know the coffee shop will know my order.

My friend Zach owns Schmackary’s and I remember we would watch Real Housewives together and he would make me cookies and say: “I think I want to open this bakery …”

I can sit on the bench outside Kahve and I don’t ever have to get on my phone and make a lunch plan because I’ll see so many people I know.

That’s what I love about Hell’s Kitchen.

I want that to be the experience of our members – that they have a base to go to, that they have a community. Because our world is chaotic, New York is very large, and people want that human connection, especially in today’s political climate.

My neighborhood secret …

I have a key to the garden on 48th St. I love that garden – it’s so sweet. I also love the flea market on 39th St. Oh my God, that’s a drag queen’s dream! And Stiles farmer’s market on W52nd St – I get two or three bags of fresh fruit and vegetables for about $20.

I know what you’re going to ask next …

Will I stand for office? I just launched a TV show, I’m president of this club, I’m doing about a billion shows a week, and I just got married, so my life is a little chaotic right now. But it’s a discussion I’m open to for maybe two or four years down the line. If I’m to run, I have to find the office where I’m best able to serve the people who vote. And that’s something I’m heavily researching right now. But it’s on my mind.

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NOVEMBER LET’S BE HAVING YOU,

Our top ten events this month

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SpongeBob Squarepants Palace Theatre

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Bikini Bottom comes to life, thanks to music by Steven Tyler, Cyndi Lauper, They Might Be Giants, The Flaming Lips, Sara Bareilles, John Legend, Lady Antebellum, Panic! at the Disco, Plain White T’s, T.I. and David Bowie. Phew! Previews begin November 6. spongebobbroadway.com

Meteor Shower

West Side Story at 60 Reimagined

Booth Theatre

Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola

Multi-Grammy Award nominee Bobby Sanabria performs numbers from his recent album, Multiverse, along with new arrangements and interpretations of Bernstein’s complete West Side Story score, which fused progressive big band jazz, lyric opera, modern dance, and Latin rhythms. November 17 through 19. jazz.org

Downtown Race Riot Pershing Square Signature Center

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Chloë Sevigny stars in The New Group’s play set amid a summer riot of 1976 between black and white in Washington Square Park. Opens November 14. thenewgroup.org

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Amy Schumer makes her Broadway debut alongside Laura Benanti in Steve Martin’s musical about two couples in marital free-fall. Previews begin November 1, with an opening night set for November 29. meteoronbroadway.com

The Whistling Girl Irish Arts Center

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Combining dirtycabaret, electronicvaudeville, rock, and jazz, the sardonic work of the work of Dorothy Parker comes to life, channeling the spirit of an American literary icon during her years of notoriety in New York. November 17 and 18. irishartscenter.org

Time and the Conways American Airlines Theatre Downton Abbey countess Elizabeth McGovern returns to Broadway to star in Roundabout’s new production of a JB Priestley play set over 19 years in post-war Britain – at the crossroads between today and tomorrow. Opens October 10. roundabouttheatre.org

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9 The Parisian Woman

Secret Supper: The Musical

Hudson Theatre

Uma Thurman, Phillipa Soo, and Blair Brown star in a new play from the writer of House of Cards, Beau Willimon, set in Washington, DC after the 2016 election. Previews begin November 9. parisianwomanbroadway.com

Location: unknown Between November 9 and 19, Spring Street Social Society will present and immersive, pop-up experience featuring a seated, coursed meal.

But this will be no ordinary dinner. Oh no! The chef might break into dance. The sommelier might juggle wine bottles. A fellow dinner companion might suddenly burst into a soliloquy. We love a mystery ... ssssociety.com

Springsteen on Broadway

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Walter Kerr Theatre

The Boss plays a solo acoustic set Tuesday through Saturday, combining guitar, piano, and stories. The run has just been extended through February .. and a digital lottery announced. So you may be in with a chance of getting tickets after all! brucespringsteen.net

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Andy Weir Intrepid Museum The author of The Martian comes to Hell’s Kitchen – and the Space Shuttle pavillion on the deck of Intrepid – on November 14 to launch his latest book, Artemis, a crime caper set on the moon. He’ll discuss the book with Jeffrey Kluger, author of Apollo 8 and Apollo 13. intrepidmuseum.org

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nice

Play

What’s with the mean streak?

We’re starting a campaign to make kindness cool again Words Ruth Walker

ILLUSTRATION: VICTORIA BLACK

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hen writer Barry Reeves – interviewed in this esteemed publication a couple of years ago – recounted his arrival in Hell’s Kitchen, he had this to say: “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, ‘Do you know where 10th Ave is?’

“Without missing a step he turned to me, smiled, and said: ‘Go f*ck yourself.’ It was at that exact point, that precious moment, that I fell in love with this city.”

So, yeah, New Yorkers have a bit of a reputation for being rude.

Travel + Leisure magazine has repeatedly crowned us “America’s rudest city,” there’s a whole Yelp thread about our bad attitude (from tourists who just don’t get it), and learned academics have written lengthy papers about it. I don’t think we’re rude; most of the time, we’re just in a hurry.

But the world is changing.

Manners are deteriorating.

Personal pet peeves? People who don’t say thank you when you hold the door for them or step aside to let them pass. Just vulgar!

Also, those who continually check their phone in company.

Rude! Some of us pay more attention to our phones than

“Fat shaming, victim shaming, slut shaming, revenge porn … all A Thing. In the real world as well as the virtual one.” our families. Care more about our dogs than the homeless and the helpless. And the internet has turned us into trolls – the distance and relative anonymity depersonalising the art of conversation and opening the floodgates for a barrage of behaviour ranging from annoying to terrifying.

In a survey of more than 3,000 Americans, 47% said they’d personally experienced some sort of online harassment or abuse. That figure rises to 65% when you’re talking about 16 to 29-year-olds.

Last year, the deputy Washington editor of the New York Times, Jonathan Weisman, left Twitter (he had nearly 35,000 followers) after a series of anti-Semitic messages.

Feminist writer and blogger Jessica Valenti also left social media after receiving a rape threat against her

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five-year-old daughter. (Both have since returned to Twitter.)

Ed Sheeran quit the platform this summer, saying: “I can’t read it. I go on it and there’s nothing but people saying mean things. One comment ruins your day. The headfuck for me has been trying to work out why people dislike me so much.”

Fat shaming, victim shaming, slut shaming, revenge porn … all A Thing. In the real world as well as the virtual one.

In September, 18-year-old Abel Cedeno stabbed a classmate in the Bronx after friends claimed he’d been a victim of a campaign of racist and homophobic bullying.

And our Commander in Chief is a stranger to the words “respect,” “dignity,” and “grace.”

Since when was any of this OK? Have we forgotten that we’re all human beings?

In case anyone is still unclear on what does and does not constitute good manners in this confused modern world, the next few pages contain an indispensable guide to not behaving like an asshole in the bar, on a date, in the theater, at the gym, and with your Trump-voting family members who think Harvey Weinstein is just a misunderstood pussycat.

And, when you’re done with that, try a little self-love. Really, you’re doing great. Peace out.

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Back home with the fam

It’s Thanksgiving. The turkey is roasted, the Trump napkins are on the table, and the confederate flag is in the yard. If this is home for you, Christopher Shelley has some timely words of advice

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hanksgiving: the shortened version of the sentence: “THANKS a lot for GIVING me this intolerable family.” Many of you will travel back home this month, back to a place you tried desperately to leave years ago, in order to celebrate the way the pilgrims intended: by eating until your large intestine explodes, watching football players maintain concussion statistics, and making small talk with people you choose to avoid the rest of the year.

It may be that some of these humans you call family will have different political views than you.

While it will be tempting to puncture their misinformed rhetoric with snarky barbs, remember: you’re going to have to see them again for other holidays in about a month. So here are some tips for navigating our annual social minefield to make sure the only dumpster fire is your mother’s threebean casserole. Why does she top it with anchovies?!

When entering the house, take off your “Dumb Hats Won’t Make America Great Again, They Will Only Make Dumb Hat Makers Rich” hat; it’s rude to wear a hat indoors.

If someone mentions building the wall, don’t suggest we build the wall using the corpses of all the people who will die if we repeal Obamacare. Instead, quote Robert

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Frost’s ‘Mending Wall,’ using the line: “Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,” explaining how you think that “something” stands for “most of America.”

If your brother’s new baby does something clumsy with a toy, don’t remark that he looks like Trump trying to figure out how to change a roll of toilet paper. Instead, spill red wine on his white divan and rush to the kitchen to fetch towels.

When listening to your mother’s third husband talk about how the travel ban will bring coal jobs back to forgotten white people, summon your inner Charlie Rose, listen politely, then throw us to commercial. If they ask who you’re talking to, look serious and whisper: “God.” If your father objects to you kneeling during the national anthem before the football game, propose to your girlfriend to throw him off. Explain your bluff to her later, explaining that you love her but you’re just not ready. If she’s the one, she’ll admire your quick thinking.

When your uncle’s coke-addictcountry-club girlfriend lauds Melania Trump for being a good role model, don’t throw a roll at her; she won’t get it.

Instead, ask everyone if they remember the fembots from the Austin Powers movies, doing your imitation of one trying to ladle gravy. Add: “Yeahhhhhh baby!”

If your grandfather blows out the bathroom and forgets to Febreze, don’t remark that “this is what it’ll be

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like if Trump nukes North Korea.” Instead, light a scented candle and pretend you’re praying for China to get more involved.

No matter how much your family vilifies you for spouting what they consider to be outrageous leftist, elitist propaganda, don’t pick up the turkey and throw it against the wall. Throw your mother’s three-bean casserole against the wall; nobody wants it now, nobody wants to take it home, nobody wants to have it for lunch tomorrow.

Most importantly, remember that our country was founded on the idea of free speech. Let your relatives share their opinions with you.

Hear them. Let them exercise their first amendment. You don’t have to agree with them. You probably won’t, and they won’t agree with you either. Civility is the mark of an advanced culture. Civility comes from the art of agreeing to disagree. Aim for civility, knowing that millions upon millions of people have your back. Aim even higher than civility: aim for learning. A person can learn something from literally any situation; what will you learn at Thanksgiving?

Give thanks for your family.

They worked hard to raise you well so you could be anything you want to be, even if what you want to be is the opposite of them.

Be a civil human being. Don’t be a three-bean casserole.

Christopher Shelley is a Hell’s Kitchenbased wedding officiant and life-cycle celebrant and bona fide fan of true love (illuminating ceremonies. com)

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At the gym Share your equipment, but keep your sweatjuice to yourself, says Mark Fisher. Yes, SWEATJUICE!

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et’s start by stating the obvious: gyms are fundamentally pretty weird.

After all, gyms are public spaces where people, mostly strangers, gather in close proximity to physically exert themselves while sweating and straining.

Sprinkle in varying levels of social awareness, and you’ve got a recipe for some fascinating displays of humanity.

While you can’t control the actions of others, and gyms will always attract their share of … ahem ... eccentric behavior, there are things you can do to be a good gym citizen. Below is a handy dandy list of things to consider.

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Let others work in and share your equipment In gym culture, there’s a concept called “working in.” Simply put, when you’re resting in between sets, someone may ask you if they can “work in” and use your weights or equipment while you’re resting.

The appropriate answer here is almost always yes. Particularly if you’re just using the bench to sit while you check your phone in between sets, arguably another no-no in and of itself.

If you have a program that requires you to monopolize some weights or a piece of equipment for an extended time without allowing anyone else the chance to use them, it’s probably time to build a home gym.

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Minimize ostentatious grunting We all know that lifting weights isn’t going to feel like butterfly kisses. And some vocal grunting here and there at the end of a set is something any dedicated gym-goer will understand.

But if you’re finding you make deafening cries for help on every single rep of every set, you have crossed the bounds of good taste.

Let your fellow gym-goers lift In peace and resist the temptation to help or “mansplain” Many a well-intentioned gym aficionado feels called to advise their brethren. After all, when you’ve read two books and several issues of Men’s Health, you have learned some things that you may feel an itch to share.

And while this comes from a good place, remember, you never quite know someone’s fitness journey. This is all the more important if you’re a burly fellow hoping to instruct a female gym-goer on the “right way” to do an exercise in a misguided attempt at chivalry.

If people would like your help, let them ask you first, but otherwise let them train in peace.

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Put your weights away If you find yourself using lots and lots of weights, well, that’s awesome! Congrats. You are very strong. That’s neat.

Happily, you’ve earned another privilege. You get to burn more calories by re-racking all your weights in an orderly manner. This is all the more important if you are very strong, as smaller humans may find their workout dampened when their warm-up becomes putting away 600 pounds of weights before they can even begin.

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Be mindful of hygiene Listen, we get it. The whole point of the gym is to experience some physical effort. And that means you may not smell like roses. However, be sure to use appropriate amounts of deodorant, wear clean clothes, and avoid going heavy on smelly perfumes, colognes, or lotions.

And if you’re a heavy sweater, be sure to wipe off your bench and any other equipment that’s covered in your sweatjuice!

(I’m sorry I used the term “sweatjuice” :-( )

Wear appropriate attire Now I admit this one is very gym specific. Admittedly, if you work out at Mark Fisher Fitness, you’re going to have more leeway than most.

However, if you don’t work out in one of our Enchanted Ninja Clubhouses of Glory and Dreams, you’ll likely want to wear clothes you can move in and that are not deeply distracting to your fellow gym-goers.

So, it’s likely best to leave your man-thong at home and keep your nipples covered.

Mark Fisher is ninja master and co-owner at Mark Fisher Fitness (markfisherfitness.com)

Be considerate, be selfaware, be kind!

In closing, being a good gym citizen isn’t entirely different from being a good human in any group environment. Be considerate of the needs of others and be willing to share. Be self-aware of how you’re taking up space, your hygiene, and any other potentially distracting behaviors.

And, most of all, be friendly. While not everyone is going to the gym to make friends, there’s no reason to scowl at people in between sets.

A warm smile goes a long way to making your gym a friendlier and more welcoming place.

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Dating It’s a jungle out there when it comes to finding a mate.

But, says Mary Geneva, that’s no reason to act like a snake

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uy who ate both of our sandwiches on the way to meet me for a picnic = mean dater.

Girl who is on time and attentive during the date = kind dater.

Guy who ghosted on you after two dates = mean dater.

Guy who sends you a text to make sure you got home OK = kind dater.

Girl who talks about her ex and herself the entire date = mean dater.

We sometimes don’t treat our dates with the respect they deserve. I recently ran into a friend who was heading to happy hour with two Tinder dates lined up: one at 6pm and another at 8pm.

How can we truly get to know the person in front of us when we’ve got the clock ticking to head off to date #2?

What’s the point of dating if we’re not genuinely interested in learning about the other person?

They could potentially end up being our life partner. So, how to be a kind dater?

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Consider everyone as a person, not a profile We are unique, and with each date we can discover something new about ourselves and each other.

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Above: Just because you’re not really interested is no excuse for ghosting.

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Talk is not cheap Give your potential date a ring (on the phone) before you meet. You can get an idea of whether or not the prospect will be fun to hang out with. I’ve been told by suitors that they actually like it when a girl calls before a date. Of course, he gets bonus points if he calls first!

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Have a positive attitude and know yourself – it’s the only way to separate your ego from your soul Don’t be judgmental when you first meet your date. I’ve always tried to approach a date with a new guy with a fresh, positive outlook and make every possible effort to NOT let past dating disasters interfere with the man of the moment.

Remember, there is no universal truth when it comes to individuals.

We all have our own strengths and weaknesses. The trick is to find someone whose personality complements yours, and vice versa.

Of course, if he’s simultaneously picking his nose and scratching his ass, and/or constantly adjusting his balls, move along.

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Put your cell phone away There’s no need to have your cell phone sitting on the bar during a date. They deserve your undivided attention. It’s not a good sign if your date constantly checks their cell phone, or leaves it on the table so they can glance at it for any incoming messages. If they answer the phone or text during a first date, that’s even worse. These faux pas should be taken as a warning sign of what’s to come. If they run their own business, it’s even more important that they are able to separate work from play.

“Of course, if he’s simultaneously picking his nose and scratching his ass, and/or constantly adjusting his balls, move along ... and if your date sends you any dick pics, RUN!”

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Be a good conversationalist Empathize with your date. Ask questions about the other person.

Focus on your date’s eyes when you talk. If they’re looking around the room, it’s a pretty good indication that you deserve better. If their conversation consists of an endless monologue about their job, you might get sick of it fast. No matter how much money they make, or how much you might fantasize about jet setting around the world with them, if you can’t shake the nagging twinge in your belly that they’re a self-important asshole, move on.

On the other hand, If their conversation shows they are genuinely interested in you, chances are there are more dates in your future.

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Ditch the ghosting act Let’s stop with the ghosting, people! It’s just flat

out rude. We are adults and should be able to politely tell someone we are not interested, rather than falling off the face of the earth only to be seen again trolling around on multiple dating sites.

If you get ghosted, it’s OK to move on without looking back. There’s no point replaying that last date in your mind over and over again, or trying to figure out if you did something wrong.

Some things simply can’t be explained.

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No dick pics please If your date sends you any dick pics, RUN!

Simply be kind.

Treat someone how you would want to be treated.

If they don’t call or text, aren’t enthusiastic about seeing you, cancel your first date, don’t try to set up a second or third, avoid you when you’re trying to introduce them to your friends, or don’t want to introduce you to theirs – WALK AWAY! So, while I fully advocate welcoming each new prospect with an open mind and an open heart, you should accompany those very friendly body parts with open eyes and ears. The vast majority of your dates are not going to develop into lasting relationships. However, going on lots of dates helps mold us into a better person and smarter dater.

And yes, in case you’re wondering, open legs are a no-no.

Hold out on sex as long as you can. You’ll both respect each other more and the build-up is very exciting!

And if the relationship doesn’t work out, be respectful. Don’t be a mean dater!

Mary Geneva is a sales professional by day and serial dater by night. In her book Nicknames, she tiptoes into the dating pool accumulating late-night, drunken scraps of paper and text messages outlining unbelievable – yet totally true – events. She lives, works, and plays in New York City, and calls Hell’s Kitchen home, along with her rescued pets, pup Valentino and kitty Diva. Follow her adventures on Twitter and Instagram @marygenevaNYC

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r theate In the

SOHO’S FAVORITE

BURGER

RESTAURANT SINCE 2006

NOW OPEN IN

Ugh! Some people can be so rude! But, says Mark Blankenship, when it comes to Broadway, most misdemeanors can be handled with a smile, a cushion, or a well-aimed lie

S

ometimes, Broadway is a haven for the human spirit, with artists and audiences joined together in their mutual appreciation of artistic truths and catchy show tunes. Sometimes, though, it’s hard to appreciate that glory because the jerk in the next seat is coughing, texting, and eating pad thai. All at once.

It’s tempting to spit venom at these ruffians, but Broadway deserves better than our bile.

Here are ways to take the high road with theater patrons who forget how to behave.

HELL’S

1

HAPPY HOUR

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KITCHEN

12-8pm

832 8th Avenue

The seat creepers They take your armrest. They let their coats and purses spill into your lap. But you can respond by making a joke. As you politely nudge them back into their space, say something like: “It’s always so intimate in these theaters, right?”

You’re making your point without calling them out.

The tallboys (and tallgirls) Maybe you’ve settled in for a nice, juicy drama when you realize the person in front of you is so tall (or has such big hair) that you can’t see around them. But what can they do? Shrink on demand? The good

Between 50/51 Street 16

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news is that Broadway theaters typically have cushions that you can put on your seat for some extra height. Just ask an usher, and you can avoid hissing at someone who happens to be six-four.

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The thumbs-downers Perhaps you’ve heard folks at intermission loudly disparaging a show. And perhaps you don’t need all that negativity in your life. One fun trick is to lie and tell the haters you’re related to someone on stage.

That’ll shut ‘em up! But if deception isn’t your thing, it’s probably easiest just to step away until the second act begins.

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The chatty Cathies (and Charlies) Of course, some people start talking trash during the actual performance. Or else they start yammering about what they don’t understand in the plot, or which Netflix show they saw the lead actress in. Remember that shushing someone makes the noise problem even worse. If the talker is behind you, turn around quickly, with a smile, and make a “hush yourself” gesture. If they’re in front of you, just lean in and say: “Hi. Please keep it down.”

Directness doesn’t have to be rude.

r ba At the

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The seat grabbers It happens sometimes: you show up and there are people in your seat. No need to panic, since the staff are trained for this type of emergency.

If you think someone is in your space, just grab an usher and calmly explain the problem. Almost always, the mix-up can be quickly explained.

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The phone people Is anyone more loathed in the theater world than the person who receives a text or a call during a performance? We’ve all heard stories of actors yelling at these folks from the stage, and we’ve seen fellow patrons unleash hell on someone whose device starts chirping and glowing. But let’s face it: we’re all going to forget to turn our phones off at one time or another, so in those moments, it’s probably kindest to just bite our lips as the person frantically digs through their bag in search of their device. They’re probably burning with shame, so why make it worse? But if you see someone texting or calling ON PURPOSE, feel free to politely but firmly ask them to stop. And after the show, feel free to text your friends about how tacky they were.

Mark Blankenship is director of community and content for ShowScore, the online home for theater fans. Don’t miss our regular new feature on page 22 (show-score.com)

It’s not rocket science, people.

But when alcohol enters the equation, says Ciera Coyan, manners can go down the toilet

G

rowing up in a religious family that happened to include quite a few teachers, manners were of the utmost importance. Manners are a form of kindness. They say: “I care about you and your experience.”

While I understand that, in a bar, the employees are being paid to care about customers, a few basic manners makes everybody’s experience better.

Here are a few tips that might seem like common sense, but tend to get lost once alcohol is added to the mix.

1

If you dislike your drink, it doesn’t hurt to politely ask for something different. What does hurt, however, is rudely saying you dislike your drink and demanding another.

I once worked at a bar where I had full discretion to exchange drinks. One night a group of barely 21-yearold bros started asking about specialty cocktails.

Instead of listening while I tried to describe the drinks, they started shouting their orders.

After I’d made their drinks, one of the boys declared his gross and demanded another. I told him that, since he had rudely interrupted me while I was trying to help him I

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wouldn’t exchange his drink. He was livid, argued that his family owned several bars and restaurants, and that I wasn’t allowed to say no to him. I responded that if his family actually did own bars he should know not to be an asshole to the bartender and promptly cut him off.

2

Walking out on a tab is annoying, but with credit cards the tab usually still gets paid. However, a bar often won’t add a tip to an abandoned bill. I can’t tell you how many people have left their cards and come back the next day to pick it up without a word about tipping. If you leave your card, please pick it up prepared to leave cash for the bartenders on duty the night you left it.

While walking out is annoying, flatly refusing to pay is terrible manners. I once had a customer who racked up a pretty significant tab, as the drunker he got the more generous he got, offering to buy rounds of shots for people.

At the end of the night his card was declined. I informed him the bar was keeping his ID as a form of collateral, and he could come back to get it the next morning with another form of payment. He got furious and started arguing with me, which led to arguing with another customer, which led to him punching said customer, which led to me calling the cops.

The cops arrived and, much to my delight, he shoved one cop then ran.

They ended up arresting him and prosecuting. Had he politely agreed to come back the next day, the whole fiasco could have been avoided.

3

When hitting on a bartender, try to avoid discussing bodily fluids. I once had a customer drunkenly tell me specifically where on his body he wanted which of my fluids. Unfortunately, he happened to be standing next to my (very religious) mother. That night didn’t end well for any of us. And once again, his bad manners prevented him from getting what he wanted.

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MY HELL’S KITCHEN

yourself To

Learning to accept ourselves in a world that tells us we’ll never be good enough – could that be the ultimate act of kindness, wonders Lucas Womack

T

he minister approached the pulpit on a sunny Sunday evening. The title of his sermon, “The Homosexual Agenda,” was crudely emblazoned across a background of two men cuddling on a bench.

PowerPoint 2000 at its finest.

The minister first laid out a biblical case against homosexuality, followed quickly by a detailed outline of what he saw as threats to the church if it accepted homosexuals into the fold: the corruption of marriage, bestiality, pedophilia (including a detailed description of NAMBLA) – slide after slide, the data was endless. And 13-year-old Lucas sat in the second row, craning his neck to see that data, taking notes; all the while raging with hormones and a severe sense of guilt for existing.

Of the hundreds (and hundreds) of sermons I ingested growing up, I could maybe give you a vague description of ten. The rest? No idea. This one, though, stuck with me, even before I reconciled the way I feel about men. Moments like this treat our subconscious and unconscious like a host, draining them of their energy. And every moment like this, with every day that passes, quietly whispers:

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“All those tiny moments whispering in my head create a roar to the point where I say things to myself that I would never – ever – say to a loved one.”

“You’re not enough.” I’ve never been good at what people call “self-care,” or even “self-love.” When it comes to my friends, I’m always available to be a listening ear, offer support, and cry with them. But when I need to take a moment to step away and recharge, when I need to do something

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Lucas Womack is a writer and performer. He also hosts a monthly variety show, The Varietal Hour, at Under St Marks. You can follow him on Twitter @lucas_ womack.

Forewarning: he often tries to start Twitter wars with prominent Evangelical leaders.

for myself, I don’t show up for myself. Even to the point of, at this moment, in my late twenties, if you asked me what I need to recharge right now, I couldn’t tell you. I get lost in the mire of world events and everyday life events and struggle to find any way out. And all those tiny moments whispering in my head create a roar to the point where I say things to myself that I would never – ever – say to a loved one.

Isn’t it interesting that we often treat ourselves so much worse than our friends, family, lovers?

When I try and find acceptance at the bottom of a beer bottle or in the eyes of another man or the words of a supervisor or staying busy just for busyness’ sake, I reinforce that minister’s message. I accept the invitation to baptize myself in shame. And that moment continues its parasitic path.

But in my search for self-care and self-love, I’ve discovered small actions feed into reconstructing a more positive overall mindset.

When I don’t obsess over what people think of me, try to fill the two-dimensional avatar of myself they see, tap on the dating apps to see if people think I’m attractive, drink until I think the darkness will shut up, or participate in endless other ways I’ve created to harm myself – when I don’t do those things, I reject that Sunday evening moment and all the others that drain my consciousness. I reject the patriarchy and toxic masculinity that told me that, as a faggot, I will never be enough.

And eventually I’ll eliminate the middle finger to the abusers from the equation. Because while that anger is an important step, it still makes my self-care about them.

I hope one day I’m kind to myself because that’s just what I do.

Growing up gay in the South can do a number on your selfworth. I may have internalized that homophobia, but every day that I get out of bed and dare to live out of the closet, I show myself a little bit of kindness.

OUT

STAGE toTABLE

W

hen it comes to theater, the autumn is like spring to me. But this year, between the late warm weather and the tendency for premieres to delay until early next year, it just didn’t seem like the new theater season was ready to bloom yet.

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“If you love musicals, this was like ordering pizza with double everything on it!”

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I’ve been kvetching about the odd casting of Lauren Ambrose as Eliza Doolittle in Lincoln Center’s upcoming revival of My Fair Lady and kvelling about Bernadette Peters taking over Hello Dolly! while watching a smattering of good plays get set to open, but the only big offering on the musical front was Manhattan Theatre Club’s impressive review Prince of Broadway, a retrospective of Harold Prince’s 60-plus years of work on the Great White Way. If you love musicals, this was like ordering pizza with double everything on it! Mr Prince himself recreated roughly 30 numbers from 16 shows with a varied and richly talented cast of theater

IMAGE: NACHO GUEVARA

Every month, Hell’s Kitchen’s most popular concierge, Stephen Field, will reveal his favorite neighborhood secrets and curate an evening’s entertainment for our pleasure.

This month, things get a little hazy after he goes on a wine crawl…

OUT vets. Tony Yazbeck tore into ‘The Right Girl’ from Follies, with tap dancing full of anguish and pathos, easily the night’s most amazing number. But Bryonha Marie Parham gets a huge mention for rocking the title song of Cabaret and making it her own with such lungs of steel that I don’t remember her breathing – the sound just kept going.

It was a nice appetizer, but the main courses won’t start to arrive until the first original musical of the season, The Band’s Visit, opens on November 9.

An old friend who is an HK expatriate now living in Minnesota was visiting so I decided to indulge with him in something I frequently recommend to my hotel guests: a wine bar crawl.

It was a beautiful night so we began at Adella because we could sit outside. They do a whole American tapas/comfort food/ raw bar with super cool International wines, and I was excited to try a wine flight for the first time. We paired it with a dozen oysters, which showed considerable restraint on my part because I discovered my love of oysters late in life and have to resist eating an embarrassing amount as though I’m making up for lost time. The wines from the Veneto region were awesome, especially the brut rosé, which shone with the oysters.

Heading up 10th Ave, I remembered how I knew I was going to love Dianne and Elisabeth even before it opened. Owner Charlie Marshall just has a gift for making you feel welcome, and this place is really special. Its simple decor is farmhouse clever with touches of city chic.

We sat at the bar and my bartender buddy Marco announced that something new was on the menu: gourmet corn dogs! Obviously there was no way I could resist. I also wanted the Bay scallop poppers because the aioli they come with is, I suspect, made with some type of illegal substance rendering you unable to stop eating it.

“By the time we arrived we’d already had several glasses of wine. I know we had a selection of seven cheeses. I remember bits of the pairings: honeycomb, Graham crackers, something pickled, and … chocolate?

Opposite: On Stephen’s mind this month: Bernadette Peters, Harvey Fierstein, and oysters.

We stayed fancy and had the sparkling Blanc de Noir, Grüet Brut from New Mexico of all places. I don’t know where they sourced that from but it certainly makes the wine list unique… and it’s good.

We could have stayed longer, but didn’t want to overindulge in one place. And is there anyone who doesn’t love Casellula? It’s a little box of deliciousness that is so unique and beloved it would be hard to imagine our neighborhood without it. I’m particularly partial to this place because it stays open late so I can go after an evening shift at my hotel and relax.

By the time we arrived we’d already had several glasses of wine so things are a bit hazy. I know we had an “orange” pinot grigio from Slovenia and a selection of seven cheeses. I remember bits of the pairings: honeycomb, Graham crackers, something pickled, and … chocolate?

With the little flickering candles and serene atmosphere, it was just the right way to end our local wine bar crawl.

Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, we had an abundance of live theater and, in 1983, Harvey

Fierstein’s Torch Song Trilogy was the first professional play I saw.

When I heard Second Stage was producing a major revival, my first thought was how the script might play to modern audiences? What shocked, aroused, and titillated me at the age of 16 might come off as dated; the humor may fall flat. We are no longer shocked by a play about a drag queen looking for true love, or discussions of married people’s bisexual tendencies, or a woman’s boyfriend’s ex-boyfriend coming for the weekend with his current boyfriend.

Now performed in two acts and titled simply Torch Song, it’s beautiful to see how as a society we have grown into the themes and dreams of the play: acceptance by family, gay adoption, the right to live and love as we please. I was touched by the humanity Fierstein put into the script and tickled by how quick-witted his one-line zingers still are. Whether berating his slightly thick-headed bisexual love interest (Ward Horton) or scolding his adopted semi-truant son (Jack DiFalco) in motherly tones, Arnold, delivered in a clownishly manic and heart-on-hissleeve performance by Michael Urie, is our guide to how gay people looked for love in the era before AIDS. Full of self-doubt but also full of heart, he takes us from backstage at a drag show – “I have been young and I have been beautiful ... just never at the same time!” – to the backroom of a sex club, exclaiming during anonymous sex: “I can’t wait to know your name!”

But it is the Act 2 arrival of “The Jewish Mother,” knowingly played by the wonderful Mercedes Ruehl, that really brings out his mettle. Faced with her inability to relate to the life he has created and against some very strongly expressed homophobia, he stands firm and demands respect.

Torch Song is a slice of life that still surprises, but it’s much more than a period piece. Performing through December 3.

ABOUT Stephen

Stephen Field is concierge at Ink48 Hotel. He’s an acclaimed “Hell’s Kitchen guru” and has been a trending topic on TripAdvisor.

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IT’S SHOWTIME! TOP 5 POLITICAL SHOWS

SHOW SCORE

They’ve got ideas, and they’re not afraid to use them!

1. THE BAND’S VISIT

Member Susan 6100 says: “You’ll enjoy being reminded, in wellwritten songs & dialogue, that human beings, even in the Middle East, still have quite a lot in common.”

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2. JUNK

Member Marcia 6059 says: “[I love] the fast-paced, sharp dialogue and morally ambiguous characters.”

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$49

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STUDENT RUSH

3. JESUS HOPPED THE ‘A’ TRAIN

Member Eleanor 85 says: “This makes theater worthwhile: brilliant, insightful writing performed by superb actors about socially and emotionally wrenching subject matter.”

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4. TOO HEAVY FOR YOUR POCKET

Member Stephanie 94 says: “It’s a different side of the Civil Rights Movement, and it’s great to see an amazing writer’s work at the beginning of his career.”

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5. AFTERGLOW

Member Shane H says: “[I love] that it doesn’t shy away from the importance of sexuality in a gay relationship.”

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$30 $25

ON TODAYTIX

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ON TODAYTIX

DETAILS CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS

Say hello to our new monthly feature, compiled with a little help from our friends at Show-Score.com.

It’s your essential, at-a-glance guide to Broadway and OffBroadway: the deals, the under-the-radar buzz, the controversy … and bite-sized reviews by real theatergoers

See it again

KINKY BOOTS Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein’s hit musical is now in its fifth year at the Al Hirschfeld Theater. To celebrate that milestone, the original leads are back: Tony-nominated Stark Sands plays Charlie Price, who has inherited a failing shoe factory, and Tony-winning Billy Porter is fierce Lola, who clues him in to a fabulous underserved market: drag queens!

Brand new and buzzy

SOLSTICE PARTY A casual weekend with friends turns sinister in the new work by rising playwright Susan Soon He Stanton and Live Source Theater Group. The play begins previews November 2 at the ART/New York Theaters on W53rd St. Solstice Party deals with the dangers of group-think and is “a Jonestown parable for the Trump era.”

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“A super fun evening of theater that also has a message and will bring a lump to your throat.” - Maureen H 6154 “Pop candy score. Shiny costumes. Great message!” - OntheAisle

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Love it or hate it

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE

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New Yorkers have opinions and aren’t shy about sharing them.

Director Alexandra Spencer-Jones’ adaptation of Anthony Burgess’ dystopian classic, now playing at New World Stages, is a particularly polarizing night of theater. The stylized show, heavy on movement and dance, features an all-male cast including the show’s original London star, Jonno Davies.

Which side of the fence are you on? Join the robust debate at Show-Score.com.

“My idea of perfect NYC theater! It’s not for your mom or ladies who lunch.

It’s theatre for now” - Jill C “A very expressionist vision of this classic dystopian tale.” - Jerry 3

Business of B’way

We’ve heard that the best way to make a small fortune on Broadway is to start with a larger one. But how true is

that joke? Get all the answers and the inside scoop from Jessica Genick, a producer of ten Broadway shows, at “The Business of Broadway,” an

TOP 5 SHOWS OUT OF THE HOOD

in-person salon on December 2 at 4pm at Primary Stages.

Bring questions, and expect interesting answers. show-score.com

SHOW SCORE

These bad boys are worth calling an Uber for

1. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

Where: Cherry Lane Theater Member George 1776 says: “It’s funny, fast-paced, charming, and has perfect comedic timing.”

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2. PEOPLE, PLACES, AND THINGS

Where: St Ann’s Warehouse Critic Fiona Montford says: “The arc of the character ... is awe-inspiring and utterly convincing.”

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3. NUTCRACKER ROUGE

DETAILS CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS

Where: Theatre XIV Member Marcy says: “Ballet/opera/circus/jazz/pole-dancing in pasties and G-strings? Sounds like fun!”

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$60

AT SHOW-SCORE

$41

AT BOX OFFICE

$65

AT BOX OFFICE

4. THE ELEPHANT IN EVERY ROOM I ENTER

Where: New York Theatre Workshop Critic Rudy Gerson says of this about show about a man with Tourettes: “The performance is demystifying and educational.”

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5. FIERCE AND DEADLY 1988

Where: Arlene’s Grocery Member DanInNYC says of this interactive murder mystery set at a vogue drag ball in the 80s: “Don’t go if you’re shy!”

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NOT ON SALE YET

$30

ON TODAYTIX

“The bodies are lovely; the ideas are lacking.”

- TooFrank “Confusing, Disappointing, Excruciating, Overrated, Slow.”

- Michael 7279

Did you know?

Child actor Iain Armitage has won a devoted, theater-loving following with his YouTube Account Iain Loves Theater.

He crossed over to mainstream celebrity this year with small roles in two movies (Our Souls at Night, The Glass Castle) and two very-big-deal TV gigs. He played the son of Shailene Woodley on the Emmywinning miniseries Big Little Lies and leads The Big Bang Theory’s spin-off Young Sheldon, airing Thursdays on CBS.But did you know showbiz is in his blood? His mother is theater producer Lee Armitage and his father is the Tony-nominated actor Euan Morton, who first hit Broadway playing Boy George in the pop star’s autobiographical musical Taboo. Morton is currently playing King George in Hamilton, so his proud son has been on a Hamilton kick on his Instagram account.

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

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

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OUT

THEATER BEHIND THE SCENES:

Swing In our series on Broadway’s unsung insiders, this month Carla Duval meets the musical theater equivalent of a back-up goalie

BIO Having multiple personalities is all part of the job for Tony LePage, the swing for five of the six male roles in Come From Away.

IMAGE: NACHO GUEVARA

THE JOB … is the musical theater equivalent of a back-up goalie in hockey. I am at the theater every night, off stage watching the show in case any one of the five people I cover were to get hurt or sick. I also cover people when they take vacations.

THAT FIVE-MINUTE CALL Generally, you find out late morning on the day of the show. People wake up, try out the voice and, if it’s not working, they call out. The shortest notice I ever got was at

the five-minute call when I was in Rock of Ages, but I’ve also gone on mid-show a bunch of times. Not surprising, as ‘80s-rock screaming is not easily done when you’re under the weather.

STAYING ON TOP OF ALL THOSE ROLES … is an interesting little mind puzzle. I think it’s just a matter of really knowing the whole show, having a running sense of where everything is in relation to the others, as well as keeping a detailed set of notes. The first full cast rehearsals are always the nightmare. I have a moment during this time when I think: ‘They’ve made a huge mistake, this is not possible,” or “Where’s the bar?” But

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it soon starts to click in, and we get into our rehearsals and it begins to make sense.

THIS WAS ODD …

I played both the German father (Hertz) and son (Franz) in Rock of Ages. Hertz is a militaristic, domineering, 50-year-old tyrant and Franz is an effeminate, joyous, bubbly 17-year-old who is terrified of his dad. One day I played the father at the Sunday matinee then shaved off my goatee and played the son that same night.

BUT THIS WAS ODDER …

At the end of the show we sing the play-off ‘Don’t Stop Believing.’

I was singing the final note, when suddenly someone threw what

I thought was a T-shirt onto the stage. I picked it up – it was a very large pair of women’s underwear.

If I could have a photo of my face in the moment, it would be my new headshot.

DON’T MISUNDERSTAND ME No, I don’t get to perform on stage every night, but I stopped seeking external validation a long time ago. Just keep an open mind when you see that little piece of paper in the Playbill with the understudy’s name. We are thrilled to be up there, and we have worked extremely hard to give you the show you came to see. You are watching someone get their shot, and that’s pretty special too.

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OUT BROADWAY ACTOR ALEX NEWELL

His voice is out of this world, and he has all the sass needed to make a Broadway icon. Straight from starring on Glee, Alex brings his insane vocals to Once On This Island and has me wondering why my mother lied and told me I was talented for so many years.

BROADWAY ACTRESS JANET DECAL

#FANGIRL The life and obsessions of Tyler Mount

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Instagram

OBSESSION

very month, Broadway’s most brilliant vlogger brings you his favorite things, whether it’s his #1 tune on Spotify repeat, his latest crush, or neighborhood recommends. We’re hanging on his every word …

Nothing is more refreshing than a Broadway star who is equal parts brilliance and kindness – and Janet exemplifies this principle. She is charming, stupid talented, and plays the hottest Eva Peron (in Prince of Broadway) the world has ever seen.

If I was straight, Janet Decal would definitely be married to me.

MUSIC OBSESSION “ARE WE THERE YET” by TIMEFLIES

If you want to know what’s on “Repeat 1” on my Spotify this month, it’s this one. Nothing gets me more excited than a sappy millennial love song that pumps me up to live my best life. Timeflies 'Are We There Yet' is a much needed reminder that we are too #BLESSED to be #STRESSED.

INSTAGRAM OBSESSION @THEJONNODAVIES

BROADWAY SHOW

Talented. That body. British. Need I elaborate?

TYLER IMAGE: NACHO GUEVARA

YOUTUBE VIDEO KID SCRELTS “LET IT GO” WITH IDINA MENZEL

I have to admit, I’m personally responsible for 1 million of this video’s 16 million views. What’s more to love than an outrageously talented eight-year-old diva who can riff for days and out-sing the diva his parents paid $300 for him to see? Nothing. The answer is nothing.

ONCE ON THIS ISLAND

One of the first openings of the 20172018 Broadway season is one you can’t miss. Stacked with outrageous talent and an incredible score by Broadway vets, Once On This Island is an immersive treat you have to see to believe.

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OUT TELEVISION SHOW WILL & GRACE

Broadway

ACTRESS

Growing up, I loved watching Will & Grace.

That’s why the series reboot, now running on NBC, is more exciting to women and gay men across America than a new Celine Dion Greatest Hits box set.

MUST-HAVE BEAUTY/ WARDROBE OBSESSION J CREW FLANNEL AND VEST

It’s officially fall, y’all – and that can only mean one thing.

If you need me, feel free to find me waist deep in J Crew’s fall collection, crying at the sight of all the flannels, and vests, and boots, and scarves, and gloves, and thick socks, pajama sets, and those huge spherical ice-cube molds you use to impress your Tindr dates when you pour them a Jameson on the rocks.

LOCAL BAR

RUDY’S

There are NYC dive bars, and then there are “buy one $6 well drink and we’ll serve you free hotdogs all night” NYC dive bars. Complete with a six-foot-tall pig outside of the entrance (just in case you missed the drunk girls screaming), Rudy’s is one of my favorite spots in the city for an old-fashioned, affordable, good time.

LOCAL RESTAURANT EMPANADA MAMA

Recently devastated by an electrical fire that left the restaurant out of business

“The series reboot is more exciting to women and gay men than a new Celine Dion box set.” for months, Empanada Mama is a glorious deep-fried phoenix that rose from the ashes – literally. This Hell’s Kitchen hotspot is always poppin’ and taught me a valuable lesson – never take your food obsessions for granted.

#THROWBACKTHURSDAY DINOSAUR SHAPED CHICKEN NUGGETS

Growing up, nothing was more satisfying than coming home after a hard day’s work watching Elmer’s Glue dry on your finger and listening to Now That’s What I Call Music 4 to piping hot chicken nuggets shaped like dinosaurs. Because, let’s be honest, normal-shaped nuggets totally did not taste as good

Above: Janet Decal has it all going on.

Hottie of the month

HOTTIE OF THE MONTH @KENBEK Straight from The Red Hot 100 (AKA the motherlode for anyone who loves a hot and ripped ginger), Ken is living his best life working as a fashion model in Hong Kong and reminding all of us he will always have redder hair and one more ab than we ever will.

OBSESSION GRAB BAG ANTHONY CROUCHELLI FITNESS

In the past few months, I’ve decided to overhaul my personal fitness (because abs, duh) and Anthony was my secret to success. Patient, knowledgeable, and fluent in all of the choreography from Step Up 2 and 3, Anthony is the full package at incredible value (AnthonyCrouchelliFitness.com).

ABOUT TYLER Broadway fan girl turned YouTube Star, Tyler Mount, is the creator of the wildly popular web

series “Playbill’s The Tyler Mount Vlog”. Seen by over two million people in 168 countries, former guests include Gloria Estefan, Jerry Mitchell, Anthony Rapp, Todrick Hall, Perez Hilton, Laura Osnes, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, and many more of Broadway’s biggest stars. New episodes every Monday & Thursday at noon- Playbill.com/Tyler | @TylerGMount

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OUT The Kitchen gets two

NEW THEATERS... and a shed Cultural history is being made, says Matt d’Silva

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ell’s Kitchen. Sometimes known as Clinton. Other times Midtown West. It is also synonymous with the Theater District. And the neighborhood is about two get two more (plus a shed!), to bring an even more diverse numbers of performances to the stage.

Late last year it was announced that MCC Theater would be relocating from the West Village to Hell’s Kitchen.

Construction is underway on W52nd St - 10th Ave to create a custom space that will house the theater company, administration offices, rehearsal rooms, and two theaters.

With over 30 years producing outstanding works, MCC (Manhattan Class Company) has become one of the leading Off-Broadway Theater companies. It has a history of bringing ground-breaking productions to the stage, including Penelope Skinner’s The Village Bike; Robert Askins’ Hand to God; Sharr White’s The Other Place (a Broadway transfer); a fully reimagined version of the legendary musical Carrie; and Alexi Kaye Campbell’s The Pride.

Second Stage is also moving. The old Helen Hayes Theater on W44th St - 7th/8th Ave has been acquired by the theater company, who have charged designer David Rockwell with renovating the space.

Originally built in 1912 and called the Little Theater (it only seats up to 300 people) Helen Hayes is the smallest house on Broadway, but a perfect fit for Second Stage, whose intimate productions will work beautifully in a smaller space.

The company was formed in 1979 with the aim of producing second stagings (hence the title!) of works by American playwrights, with the hope

“It’s housed in an old converted bank with the original safe still located in the lobby.” of them reaching a wider audience. It has presented multiple Pulitzer Prize winners, including 2015’s Between Riverside and Crazy, 2012’s Water by the Spoonful by Quiara Alegria Hudes, and 2010’s Next to Normal by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey. It also brought Dear Evan Hansen to the stage.

It opened the space on W43rd - 8th/9th Ave in 1999. A converted bank, it still has the original safe in the lobby. And fear not – Second Stage will continue to operate from both venues.

Both MCC and the new Helen Hayes are due to open in 2018.

David Rockwell is also in charge of

DIGITAL EDITION

Above: The Shed will be housed in a huge retractable shell.

designing The Shed at Hudson Yards, in collaboration with Diller Scofidio + Renfro.

This will be a multipurpose art space encased in a retractable glass shell that can double the size of the building to over 200,000 square feet. It is scheduled to open in spring 2019.

And it was just announced last week that the improvisational comedy group Upright Citizens Brigade – co-founded

by Amy Poehler – is to leave its Chelsea home and move into the old Pearl Theatre on W24nd St - 10th/11th Ave. The Pearl filed for bankruptcy in June. Live shows are due to start again by December.

Over the years Hell’s Kitchen has lost a number of beautiful historic theater venues. But with so many residential and commercial developments taking place in the neighborhood, it’s refreshing to see theater spaces are also being given priority.

Follow Matt D’Silva on Twitter @ MattDSilva

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EAT

THE SHOW must go on

Veteran restaurateur Shelly Fireman talks Broadway big-hitters, naked women, and longevity. Just don’t ask him his age ...

Words Ruth Walker Photographs Nacho Guevara

I

may have started off on the wrong foot with Shelly Fireman. Perhaps, in retrospect, it wasn’t such a great idea to kick off our chat by asking the veteran restaurateur his age.

“What? Are you kidding me?” he barks.

“How old are you, baby? How much money do you have in the bank? When did you have sex last? Who did you vote for?

Don’t start with me with those leading questions.”

He jabs, I duck, we laugh. It’s all in jest, of course. But he still manages to dodge the question about his age (I have it on good authority that he’s in his late 70s).

He entered the notoriously fickle restaurant game in 1974, with Cafe Fiorello at the Lincoln Center, and now presides over seven in total, including the Brooklyn Diner, Trattoria Dell’arte at Carnegie Hall, and the now revamped and much-loved “Broadway’s Clubhouse,” Bond 45.

“It was a dark day on Broadway when Bond 45 went away,” says Michael Mayer, the director who won a Tony for Spring Awakening and went on to direct the hit NBC show about the making of a Broadway musical, Smash. “I loved that place so much I made sure that Anjelica Huston threw her first drink at Michael Cristofer in the Smash pilot there.”

For a decade, it had been the go-to place for Broadway insiders to wheel, deal, and whet their creative juices. Then Toys R Us bombed and Bond 45 lost its W45th St home.

But you can’t keep a Bronx-born Jew of uncertain age (one of his favorite jokes is that an Italian is a Jew with muscles) and with fire in his belly down for long. Fireman is back, even closer to the Broadway action, sharing a block with Hamilton, Charlie and the

“Who the fuck’s going to remember me? At least if I make sculpture, maybe someone will remember me!”

Chocolate Factory, and (soon) Escape to Margaritaville. Hamilton set designer David Korins has worked his magic on the space’s aesthetic, and The Lion King lighting designer Don Holder took care of the Edison bulbs.

And center stage? A life-size bronze sculpture by Fireman himself, depicting a nubile naked lady.

Sculpture is a craft he started as a teenager. “I just wanted to do something I couldn’t do,” he says. “Then I stopped. I could have spent hours doing it but it didn't seem a way to survive in the world.

“I hung around with a lot of artists.

They were in pain. They were dead broke.

Truthfully, I didn’t want to be that dead broke and I didn’t want to be that stoned out either. So I forgot about it.”

Then he moved to Italy, got a house in an artist’s community in Camaiore, Tuscany, and found his passions reignited.

“It was a sheer accident, but I made a lot of friends, bought some pieces. I loved the people but some of their work wasn’t that interesting.

"One day I just said, ‘Sure, I’m going to do it. I was on a roll.”

But he doesn't find it relaxing. On the contrary, it’s hard work. “It’s a job,” he says.

“I do it to pull that other part of myself out.

I don’t want to talk about food all day. I

DIGITAL EDITION

don’t want to talk about sex all day. But it makes me smile, that’s all.”

And the subject matter?

“I like naked ladies – is that something I should be ashamed of? I like girls with clothes on too,” he adds.

He’s also an avid collector, and owns pieces by Warhol, Francis Bacon, Julian Schnabel, Leroy Neiman.

It was Neiman who encouraged him to take up sculpting again. “I was having lunch with him in one of my restaurants.

He gave me a beautiful piece of art to put on my wall, he looked up and said, ‘500 years from now, somebody’s going to remember me for me art. Who’s going to remember you?’ And he was right – who the fuck’s going to remember me?

“At least if I make sculpture, maybe someone will remember me!”

Will anyone remember Bond 45? Will the wheelers and dealers have found an alternative place to dine since their old haunt closed?

“I once had a girlfriend,” says Fireman.

“She dropped me. I found an alternative.

There’s always an alternative. So I don’t think about that. The point is, why shouldn’t they eat in my house? I have a nice house. I’m a neighborhood guy.

“If you want gossip,” he teases when I press him for names, “I’m not going to give you it, because they’re my friends.”

But he does roll off a few of his bighitting customers. Bob Wankel, president of The Shubert Organization is one.

Jimmy Nederlander Jr another.

“Wait a minute,” he stops suddenly.

“Trouble is, if I mention three, four, five … first, it sounds like bragging and I don’t like that. And I’ll leave people out – my friend Jerry Frankel [the producer of Come From Away and Fiddler on the Roof] or Roy Furman

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Opposite: Fireman, with one of his cheeky sculptures.

EAT [Hello Dolly!, Mean Girls, and Carousel], or Jeffrey Seller [Avenue Q, Rent, In The Heights, Hamilton], or, my God! I’ll leave out Shirley Shapiro and she’ll hate me!”

So with a sweep of his hands he announces: “The cast. The backstage guys. Everybody’s invited! I love you all!”

Fireman has been going to Broadway shows since his mother took him at ten years old. They’re in his blood, part of his culture, part of New York. “It’s like the Statue of Liberty, Lincoln Center.

“It’s not luck, it’s hard work, a lot of studying, a lot of stealing from others. And it’s a lot of team work."

Opposite: Harold's food philosophy?

If it tastes good, eat it.

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“We were poor growing up …” then he corrects himself. “No, not poor, we were broke. There’s a difference. But we ate very healthy. My aunts were Europeantrained cooks so my mother had a sense of eating fruit before you start a meal to help you digest. We always had fruit before we ate. And we ate as a family – that we don’t have today.”

These days, he still eats healthily – which must go some way to explaining why he’s still going strong. What’s the secret of his success?

“If I told you,” he says, straight-faced, “you’d have to pay me for it. Truthfully, I don’t want to tell people. I work too hard for it – why should I give it away for free?

You go to your lawyer for information, you pay. You go to your doctor for medicine, you pay.

“It’s not luck, it’s hard work, a lot of studying, a lot of schlepping around, a lot of eating, a lot of stealing from others, a lot of work. And it’s a lot of team work – you can’t do this by yourself. It’s not a job for one guy.”

He’s also a perfectionist. “A humble one,” he says. “And a realistic one, knowing it can’t happen. But I hope you don’t notice how imperfect I am.” bond45ny.com

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STAFF SURVEY

Spin

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

CYCLE

Bacon … gym … bacon … gym.

Bremen Menelli’s life is all about balance Photograph Nacho Guevara

Job description Bartender.

And your "other" job?

Spinning instructor.

How do you combine the two?

It’s super easy most of time. At the bar I usually work nights and I keep the days to teach spinning classes. It just becomes hard when I have to get up very early after a long night at work. And when I say “long night,” trust me, you don’t want to know what I mean by that. But there’s nothing like a cold shower and a cup of coffee to put me ready for the day.

What does an average day look like?

I get up after my third alarm. It depends how late I went to sleep the night before.

I make some coffee and I start getting ready to teach my first spinning class of the day at 7am. Yes, 7am. That means I have to be up at 5.30am. Now you understand the reason for three alarms.

Before leaving, I feed and give lots of kisses to my five-month-old puppy, Hugo, who’s becoming a big boy, then I leave him with his other daddy.

At 6.15am, I'm usually riding my bicycle to the gym. I love doing that because it makes me feel more motivated towards getting the day started. When I see people early in the morning – running, cycling, doing something to make them feel good – it really inspires me. Before class, I usually record my first video of the day for my Instagram followers and a few co-workers who love to spy on what I’m doing. You can also check it out on @Bremen_fitness.

At 8am when class is over, I finally feel awake … so I take a selfie. I have breakfast.

I make a Boomerang. I work out. I take

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Opposite: Look at that face – hard to believe he had a 5.30am alarm call!

“It just becomes hard when I have to get up very early after a long night at work.

And when I say 'long night,' trust me, you don’t want to know what I mean by that.” another selfie. I have to keep my [107k] followers and stalkers attentive.

By 10.30am, I’m riding my bike back home. Hugo is probably at the door waiting for me. I take him for a walk.

Around 12.30am: lunch! Then I take a quick nap if Hugo allows me – it depends on how playful he is.

At 3pm it's time to feed and walk Hugo.

Then I have another cup of coffee to keep my day going.

At 4pm I’m back at the gym to teach my second spinning class of the day.

By 5.15pm I have some food at the Amish Market. On the way to the bar, I can’t forget to grab my cafe mocha at Kahve. That's my boost for the night.

By the way, I think I've become addicted to caffeine but that's OK, who doesn't like coffee?

By 6pm I’m at BarBacon behind the bar. My night is just getting started.

Between fun music and sometimes songs that are a bit too emotional depending on the manager's mood, a few hours goes by.

A few shots with some fun customers and, before I know it, I'm done and walking

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home, grateful that I'm only four blocks away. Time to go to bed and start all over again the next day.

The best thing about both jobs?

The people.

And the worst?

The people!! Just kidding. I meant to say people with negative attitude.

OK, talk to us about bacon.

Love it? Hate it?

I hate to love it.

How many spin classes does it take to burn off a BarBacon brunch?

To be honest, two to five classes. But we can pretend that it would take 10 classes so I can see you more often in the spinning studio.

If you could only eat one kind of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Rice and beans. By that I’m going to let you guess where I am from. You might have thought I'm Latino, haven't you? Yes, I'm Brazilian.

The five/ten-year plan?

I would love to have a impact in the fitness world. I want to have a program plan with my name on it; something different that isn't out there yet. I want to be an inspiration for people to change their lives and believe they can do better every day.

Through this I'd want to achieve financial stability, marry, and have two kids.

BARBACON (646) 362-0622 9TH AVE - 54TH/55TH ST barbacon.com

STAFF SURVEY

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EAT

FIVE WAYS

to

SUPERCHARGE

your SMOOTHIE

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EAT You think your quick breakfast drink packs a punch?

Samina Kalloo has ways to make it even more powerful

T

hey’re one of the quickest breakfast options out there.

Who could live without smoothies? The amount of goodness you can pack into a single glass is limitless.

Smoothie lovers, including yours truly, are always on the lookout for new ways to kick it up a notch. But, with the sheer number of powders and supplements claiming to be miracles in a bottle, it can be hard to know the difference between those that deliver on their promise and others that simply drain your wallet.

Amp up your smoothie game with these five superfood add-ins that are backed by science.

Maca root powder Commonly referred to as Peruvian ginseng, the maca plant has been cultivated for more than 2,000 years and called upon as a natural remedy to enhance fertility in humans and animals.

According to the journal Evidence-Based Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, maca could help prevent several diseases and may help relieve symptoms of osteoarthritis. In fact, studies have shown maca has great potential as an adaptogen, a natural substance which has the unique ability to help the body manage stress.

Collagen peptides Sounds crazy, but adding connective tissue from cows and fish to your morning smoothie has become super trendy. Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies, thanks to its presence in muscles, bone, skin, and tendons. As we age, collagen production declines. So it seems like a no-brainer to add it back into your diet right?

Collagen peptides powder is hydrolyzed collagen, which means it has been broken down into smaller units, making it easier to be absorbed by the body and quicker to dissolve in hot and cold liquids. A recent article in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology revealed clinical evidence that specific collagen peptides can improve skin moisture and structure. Want more?

These peptides may even counteract

Left: Adding powders, berries, and other superfoods will ramp up your smoothie game.

“Smoothies can be your best friend or worst enemy depending on what you put in the blender.” skin aging (um… yes please!) According to one study in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 160 athletes with activityrelated knee pain were given 5g of bioactive collagen peptides (BCP) or a placebo. The results showed that the pain was significantly reduced in the BCP group by 37.5%, showing promise of BCP as a secondary preventative approach for the treatment of joint pain.

Spirulina This is one of the most talked-about superfoods today. The blue-green “miracle” algae is an antioxidant powerhouse packed with protein (more than red meat!), vitamins, and minerals, including a high dose of bio-available iron without the side effects of constipation.

Research has shown spirulina may help detox the body of heavy metals, promote immunity, and help protect against inflammatory conditions such as cardiovascular disease, colitis, arthritis, and allergic rhinitis. If you choose to give this wonder food a shot, it’s imperative you use a reputable brand that is held to the highest of standards and free from contamination.

Goji berries With a reddish-pink hue, mild tangy flavor, and myriad health benefits, goji berries have become increasingly popular as a smoothie add-in. Also referred to as wolfberries, these tiny wonders have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years.

Not only do they contain all eight essential amino acids, making them a complete protein, but according to the Cleveland Clinic, a quarter cup provides

DIGITAL EDITION

340% of your daily recommended Vitamin A and 40% of your Vitamin C. Bee pollen We all know bees as those pesky little bugs that sting, but let’s put those thoughts aside and focus on the incredible benefit they offer to our health. Did you know that bee pollen contains almost all of the nutrients required by the human body?

Research has shown it to be a valuable apitherapeutic (that’s an an alternative therapy using bee products) with powerful antifungal, antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties that can also boost immunity.

Considered one of nature’s most nourishing foods, bee pollen is rich in vitamins, minerals, protein, fatty acids, and antioxidants – making it the perfect addition to any smoothie. Be sure to buy bee pollen from a reputable company and make sure it’s free of chemicals and pesticides.

It might seem overwhelming to decide which smoothie booster to try, or to just pulverize them all at once, but always to start small and gauge your body’s reaction. Whether you keep it simple with strawberry-banana or prefer a more decadent combination of peanut butter and chocolate, smoothies are one food where you can craft what you crave – but they can also be your best friend or worst enemy depending on what you put in the blender.

Steer clear or processed ingredients and sweeteners and stick with whole foods. With all of the ingredient options, it can also be easy to overdo it on calories so be mindful of portion sizes and measure everything out before blending.

The good news is that you really can’t mess up a smoothie. Have fun exploring new flavor combinations and in no time you’ll be feeling your best thanks to the power of superfoods.

Samina Kalloo RD, CDN @cookingfortots @SaminaKallooRD

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LIVING

HK stairs

Chelsea keys

keys East Village

Bronx keys

me!

Another great neighborhood dinner 38

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Staten Island here we co – in E W’burg

LIVING

12 apartments,

5 BOROS, 12 months

When Felix and Christina were issued with a rent hike, they had a unique solution to the problem Stop #10 –

the Bronx

Moving day

Words Ruth Walker

F

elix Zeltner and Christina Horsten’s predicament won’t come as too much of a surprise to those used to tales of apartment-hopping New Yorkers.

It’s their solution that was extraordinary.

The couple – he’s German, she was born in New York – spent three happy years on E80th St … until they discovered their landlady didn’t like kids. Which was inconvenient, considering they’d just arrived home from the hospital with a new baby in tow.

They were duly evicted, but, undeterred, found a new place in Park Slope instead. It was a world away from the Upper East Side – “where people put rubber boots on their dogs when it’s raining and people carry other people’s handbags” – but it had its own set of unique charms. While also “very white and not poor,” it was much more family oriented.

“Family obsessed, in fact. And very judgmental.”

Then their landlord put their rent up $400 a month. No negotiation.

No joke. Faced with the prospect of finding yet another place, they started to seriously entertain a concept they’d been toying with for a few months.

“We really wanted to live in every neighborhood,” says Felix, “and we couldn’t decide where to go.”

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Left: A year of moving apartment every month in pictures.

continued over

Christina adds: “We can’t remember who, but one of us said, ‘Well, maybe we could just live in all of them, but for a few weeks for the year.”

And so the idea of NYC12x12 began to take shape. They’d stay in a different apartment in a different neighborhood each month for 12 months. With baby Emma in tow. And full-time jobs to manage (both are journalists).

“We started talking about this idea to our family and friends,” says Christina.

“Everyone back home in Germany was like, ‘This is the worst idea ever.’”

“They didn’t understand,” says Felix.

“It didn’t compute with them. Which, I think, pushed us even more.”

“But everyone in New York was like, ‘What a great idea!’” says Christina.

“The biggest goal we had was to live in all five boros,” says Felix, “which New Yorkers thought was completely insane – why would you live in Staten Island?”

More of which later.

Anyway, by the time moving day arrived, they’d sold or given away most of their belongings (hello, Housing Works; hello, Park Slope sidewalk) and were headed to their first new neighborhood: Long Island City.

In each apartment, they hosted a neighborhood dinner. And this first one led to a couple of news stories, a flood of subscribers to their newsletter, and a not inconsiderable number of invitations from other New Yorkers wanting the family to visit their neighborhood.

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LIVING Buoyed up, after a month was over, they found a beautiful floor-through loft in Chinatown.

They couldn’t have afforded to live in a place like this full time but, for a month? It was definitely within budget. And one of the major highlights of their stay here was finding fantastic, affordable childcare for Emma, who was now a year and a half.

“We found out about it at our dinner,” says Felix. “You can’t even google it, it’s so under the radar.”

From here they went to “an amazing studio with the nicest neighbors” in Harlem. Then Brooklyn, where things hit a rough patch. Their Airbnb rental (which they’d paid for in advance because they were desperate) turned out not to exist, and they were left on the sidewalk, with all their worldly belongings packed in a rental car down the street.

They got their money back, but they hit a real low, emotionally.

“We had a moment where we sat down and thought, ‘Is this worth it?’ It was definitely rock bottom. Right after that the whole Trump thing happened and we were just in total depression.”

They went back to their friend’s apartment in LIC to lick their wounds.

And then something surprising happened. It just started to get easier.

People would get in touch with cool apartments to let, places they could cat sit and dog sit.

They stayed in East Williamsburg, South Bushwick, and Dumbo. The Upper West Side, Chelsea, Washington Heights, the Bronx, East Village, Staten Island.

They found an idyllic two-week rental in Hell’s Kitchen, and, last stop: Seagate, in Coney Island.

Geniuses among you will notice that adds up to more than 12. But let’s just say that, after they were scammed, the whole “rules” thing went out the window.

“It was our stupid idea so we get to make our own stupid rules,” laughs Christina.

And there were plenty of (more positive) surprises along the way. “Neighborhoods that were the least popular were the most fun to be,” says Felix.

“The South Bronx apartment was gorgeous,” says Christina. “Round the corner was the best Mexican restaurant I’ve ever eaten at, and people were so

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Testing the bed in Staten Island

Hello Bronx!

“Hell’s Kitchen is like the real estate jackpot. You have old New York, new New York, you get the water, you get the city ... you’re in the middle of everything.” sweet. Our neighborhood dinner went on for hours and we didn’t even get to order food because people just wanted to talk.

“We went to church on the weekend,” says Felix. “Nobody knew us there, it was a community church, African American Baptist. We could have been tourists, but people were very, very warm. I’ve not experienced anything like that in New York. They were literally coming to us after the service, hugging us, so stoked that we were there.

“And I loved Staten Island,” he adds.

“Every second of it. We stayed at St George. You get off the ferry, walk up the hill, turn around and you have this

DIGITAL EDITION

Above: Both The Bronx and Staten Island were full of surprises.

sort of San Francisco view of wooden houses and the harbor, then you have the skyline.

“We had a very diverse neighborhood.

The people were very welcoming and very open.”

In Hell’s Kitchen, they had a fabulous apartment on W47th St. “It was the exact opposite of Park Slope,” laughs Christina.

Refreshingly, as a young, white family, they were in the minority. “I loved being surrounded by all this diversity.”

“Hell’s Kitchen is like the real estate jackpot,” says Felix. “You have old New York, you have new New York, you have younger people, you have older people, you get the water, you get the city – as crazy as it can be on Times Square – and you’re in the middle of everything. You just reach out and grab whatever you need.”

And Christina found her daily coffee fix at The Jolly Goat.

“It was one of those neighborhoods I felt I could get anything at any hour of the day at a quality that totally overwhelms you,” she says.

They sourced most apartments through a website called The Listings Project, which serves artists and the creative community.

They learned to be minimalists – “when we travel these days, we don’t pack, we close our suitcases” – and to be less attached to all the stuff that can tie us down. “It’s totally changed my perspective,” says Christina. “I found it so liberating.”

Some months were incredibly stressful, but little Emma took it all in her stride – “for her, every new apartment

IMAGE: LOUISA MARIA SUMMER

LIVING

was like a new playground. “People would say, ‘Why are you doing this?

Every neighborhood looks the same, there’s a Starbucks on every corner,’ but that’s bullshit,” says Felix. “Living in Chinatown and living in Harlem – they’re so unique. It’s like they’re on a different planet. And to see that still exists, even though there’s a Starbucks on every corner, is just wonderful.”

Sure, they could have just explored any neighborhood for the day and the cost of a subway ticket.

But, says Christina: “To live somewhere, to get up and feel the vibe

Above: At home in Hell’s Kitchen ... for two weeks.

of that neighborhood, to get a coffee every morning is so different in Hell’s Kitchen than it is in Long Island City.

That’s so great – the people you meet, the little things you experience.”

And that’s the crux of the matter.

Because a neighborhood is more than an apartment’s four walls or the great Mexican restaurant or cool artisanal coffee shop downstairs; it’s the people who tie it together.

“For me, the dinners were the best part of the project,” says Felix. “I get goosebumps just thinking about it.

Some people seem to have this longing

DIGITAL EDITION

to get their neighborhood story out, and as New Yorkers we don’t have the time to sit down and open up.”

And so, while they certainly don’t want to do this for ever (they’re currently holed up in the Lower East Side), they’re kind of hooked, and are thinking about how they might be able to continue the project.

“It’s definitely living outside of your comfort zone and that can be scary and crazy, but we’ve learned so much and met so many incredible people.

“I didn’t know people were so proud of their neighborhoods.” nyc12x12.com

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LIVING

Five of

THE BEST

What will a onebedroom rental apartment set you back?

Phil O’Brien goes on the hunt

W

ell, the median price for a no-fee one-bed in a luxury building is $3,674 per month.

So we found the most expensive on the market ($6,095), the nearest to the median, and a “cheapie” (at $3,000), plus a couple of other options (where a broker fee would apply).

Highest (through a broker)

Lowest (through a broker)

Where: If you want the top of luxury in your one-bedroom apartment, look no further than Trump International at 1 Central Park West.

Apartment #28F has 1,287 sq ft of luxury, with two bathrooms and city views.

How much: $8,900 per month.

Contact: Sule Haskell at Douglas Elliman at (212) 891-7128.

Where: 453 W46th St – #3B is above Westside Animal Hospital and is in a five-story walk up.

Cost: The rent is listed at $1,795.

Contact: David Peralta at (201) 640-0429.

Highest (no fee)

Median (no fee)

Lowest (no fee)

Where: Instrata at Mercedes House.

Cost: Apartment 28N will set you back $6,095 per month. Why so much? It’s the terrace. You can get a one-bed for $3,987 without the outdoor space.

Contact: Instrata at (844) 856-4729.

Where: 505 W37th St. Cost: If you’re happy with the median price, TF Cornerstone has apartment #1102 for $3,700. This gets you a balcony too.

Contact: TF Cornerstone at (877) 505-3737.

Where: Brodsky Organization has a one-bedroom apartment at 360 W43rd St (S22B). This building has also been known as “The Presidential.”

Cost: $3,000.

Contact: Brodsky at (212) 262-2100.

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LIVING

Red winners

Give your life – and your apartment – a little fall makeover

HOT DAWG

Inspired by her rescue dog Valentino, HK hottie Diana Kusko has handmade a selection of doggie bow ties.

They’re too damned cute! $12, bowdawgties.com

LAP OF LOVE

These delicate cotton voile napkins have culled text from the love letters written by some of the world’s literary greats, including Honoré de Balzac, Lord Byron, James Joyce, and John Keats. $58 for a set of four, domusnewyork.com

TEA FOR YOU?

It’s hard to stress how much we’re loving this enameled metal teapot. A collaboration between Italian design company Seletti and Toiletpaper magazine, it manages to blur the lines between art and the everyday using a kitschy mix of pop iconography, candy-colored pastels, and black humor. Get the kettle on. $140, beambk.com

RED BED

There’s an oriental chic to the Analise comforter snooze set. It comes with quilt, sheet, pillowcases, and tote bag to carry it all – presumably when you have a grown-up sleepover. $169, urbanoutfitters.com

TRUTH CUSHION

Never a truer word! Alexandra Ferguson makes pillows using modern mantras (we couldn’t resist the denim “Struggle Is Real”, but maybe YOLO, LOL, or Text Mom is more you).

Alternatively, customize one with your own message. $97, alexandraferguson.com

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LIVING

WASH AND DRY

Hell’s Kitchen is defined by its distinctive mix of low-rise walk-ups and high-rise glass and steel. Wash your dishes old style and celebrate the architecture with this brownstone tea towel. It’s made in BK, but we won’t hold that against them … $17.50, withlovefrombrooklyn.com

OH TALLULAH!

JUST COASTING

Each of Sesame Letter Press’s heavy-weight coasters is printed using a 19th-century press in Brooklyn. The designs come in a set of eight – these are a few of our faves. $14, sesameletterpress.com

Everyone should have Tallulah Bankhead on their wall.

Ideally in a mixed media piece of art by Holly Suzanne Rader, combining glittering flowers, leaves, butterflies, and bees made from hand-placed beads, sequins, and crystals, with lace strips and magazine clippings. A true one of a kind. Ten per cent of proceeds goes to the One America appeal, a joint appeal by all five living former American Presidents to support victims of Hurricane Harvey $9,500, maison10.com

HOT SEAT

The Imola chair has cool design touches like the brushed steel base and elegant curves, but is still big enough to curl up in when your favorite trashy TV program comes on. $3,489, boconcept.com

DON’T WORRY …

Inside each red Happy Vibes box is a truffle and a message. Kind of like smiley fortune cookies. Only better. And they’re made right here in Hell’s Kitchen. $3.99, happyvibes.nyc

DIGITAL EDITION

45

GALLERY

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

We're feeling fall, big time. Maybe it's the weather. Maybe it's the pumpkins on the sidewalk. Maybe it's the annual appearance of cosplay genius on our streets that reminds us Comic Con is here. Whatever.

It feels good. Remember, anyone can join in the fun. Just tag your images #W42ST and you might be the one whose photograph ends up in the next issue.

46

DIGITAL EDITION

GALLERY

DIGITAL EDITION

47

STYLE

Living life

Gangnam style

There was only one option for home base when Sarah Funk’s travels take her to South Korea. Bring on the horses …

G

angnam Style. We’ve all seen the outlandish video

by South Korean musical artist Psy, yet few have actually been to the neighborhood itself. For me, it was a no brainer where I would live while in Seoul. Gangnam it would be; in all its glitter, and imaginary horse dance glory.

In a jet-lagged haze, I wandered through the streets on my first night, craving spicy and flavor-packed Korean food. There were zero signs in English and few restaurants were able to translate their menu. Nevertheless, when all else fails, following my nose always leads to a delicious meal. I still don’t know what I ate that night, because the smiling waitress only spoke Korean, but what I do know is that it was pure bliss.

If you don’t speak Korean there are two main options when visiting Seoul; stay in the touristy areas or embrace the unknown. The latter is always the better choice for me, and usually leads to epic experiences. I highly recommend you take this path.

One example of diving into the heart of Seoul is to experience K-pop first hand. This is a bedazzled, androgynous music style that can only be compared to a modernized version of 90s pop bands. Attending one of their live TV shows is an absolute must. It’s an hour and a half of matching boy band costumes, confetti explosions, and fans so elated

48

“It’s an hour and a half of matching boy band costumes, confetti explosions, and fans so elated you’d think Oprah had given them each a new car.” you’d think Oprah had given them each a new car. Tickets aren’t easy to get, but if you can snag one you’ll have a colorful afternoon.

To truly feel the “soul” of Seoul, one must experience it as the locals do: eating sloppy noodle dishes in late-night markets, singing karaoke with new Korean friends, embracing the warm wave of cup after cup of soju (the local liquor) as the neon lights fade into dawn … or perhaps simply living a life of Gangnam style first hand. Whatever way you choose, know that Seoul is one city you’ll want to return to.

That’s all for this month. See you next time in Vietnam.

Sarah left her Hell’s Kitchen home in January to travel the world, living in a different country for a month every month. To follow her adventures, visit sarahfunky.com.

DIGITAL EDITION

N Seoul Tower

STYLE Tips

Left: Feeling contemplative at the Jogyesa Buddhist Temple.

Download the Korea Travel Books app before you go and have access to several digital guidebooks while you explore.

Go to VisitKorea.or.kr for amazing local events and Korean tourism information in English (many other sites are only in Korean).

Google maps barely works here – use Kakao maps instead.

Do Korean cooking class (twitter.com/ jerichobar).

Night dining food tour (ongofood. com).

Live K-Pop show (visitkorea.or.kr for tips on getting tix).

Rent and wear Hanboks, traditional Korean clothing (go3355.co.kr).

Explore Gangneung, one of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics host cities.

Odaesan National Park, great for hiking.

Jeju Island, off of the coast of Korea, a popular getaway destination for locals.

Sarah's progress

I 'm h e r e!

DIGITAL EDITION

See Namsan Seoul Tower, a landmark and cultural center (seoultower. co.kr).

Namsangol Hanok Village, learn traditional Korean crafts and calligraphy (hanokmaeul.or.kr).

Bukchon Hanok Village, a traditional Korean neighborhood with boutique shops.

Gyeongbokgung Palace, a massive royal building – with free admission if you wear a traditional hanbok (royalpalace.go.kr).

Bongeunsa Temple, where you can experience real Buddhist culture in the heart of Gangnam (bongeunsa. org).

49

STYLE

Breaking up

WITH A GHOST

As Claudia Chung comes to terms with the death of her long-term partner, the territory starts to feel all too familiar

PHOTOGRAPH: THIEN DANG

I

threw out his shit and called the police.

It was all so very Jerry Springer.

“You’re a psycho and a petty crook! God, you can’t even be a smart, international con like Anne Hathaway’s guy!” I screamed into my phone as I rumpled his Armani suit into a big, black trash bag. I’d scraped the bottom of the barrel.

At the time, my life was at such a low point that the devil was my landlord, boss, and lover. I could feel my career slipping away each week as I was being pushed out of my firm. I was newly single and it was entirely my fault. And I was fat. No, I was obese.

Every night, I hit the bottle and ate Chinese take-out while watching episodes of New Adventures of Old Christine on repeat. Why wouldn’t a nice, handsome, successful, young man want to date a fat Korean chick, who passes out alone in her apartment with General Tso chicken or an egg roll still in her mouth? And has vodka by her night stand on a Saturday night. Am I right, gentlemen?

That’s when I took up with Eddie.

I met Eddie in a park in the West Village and by the end of the night, I was making out with him on a bench surrounded by homeless people. It never occurred to me to ask why he was there alone. But remember the episode of Sex and the City when Carrie meets that hot political writer from George magazine in Central Park?

Well, why not me too? Except Eddie was more like a character from The Sopranos than SATC. And he had the manners of a gorilla. I ended up spending a week and a half with him, by which point he’d started to steal from me – jewelry, money, even my piggy bank that said "Lotto Loot."

So, this was it. I’d hit my break-up bottom number one.

Jack had left all my stuff with his

50

doorman and that was that. We were finished. No calls. No e-mails. Nothing.

He just left a pile of my belongings in the mailroom. And it was a lot. Years of love, friendship, sex, and laughter in a big heap.

At the tail end of our relationship, I’d purposely left more of my things in his apartment. A smart, rational person would have started to take their shit back home but not me. I believed if I started spending more time with my stuff in his home, somehow and someway, we’d be happy again. We weren’t. It was my hope that, by merging our possessions, we’d merge back into a loving couple instead of two people living separate lives. We didn’t. I was behaving like a dog that urinates on her favorite fire hydrant every day. If I peed enough on this one lovely yellow hydrant, it would be the only hydrant I’d ever need.

It wasn’t.

After discovering my stuff in the mailroom, I fell to the floor and sobbed.

The very understanding doorman tried to hail me a cab but failed. For some reason, they all drove off when they saw me – a hysterical and disheveled looking girl with a pile of crap. I found an abandoned shopping cart near Port Authority and pushed my belongings all the way to my West Village apartment, crying the whole time.

That was break-up bottom number two.

Break-up bottom number three came in the form of my longtime love Larry hitting the floor and dying of a heart attack.

There were no alternate plans. This was it. I’d found my guy, my fire hydrant, my everything. Until life said fuck you.

After the initial shock and not wanting to leave the apartment for a month, it started to feel just like any other break up; just shittier.

My inbox was 75% emptier because there were no email banters with my partner. And my weekend plans were just

DIGITAL EDITION

Opposite: When your love dies on you, you lose the right to act like an asshole.

that … MY plans. There was no one else to consider – a singular sensation that made me want to crawl out of my body and slap myself.

Then there were the logistics of daily chores. After so many years of cohabitating, we had our pre-established roles. Larry did the laundry. Once the clothes were clean and dry, he left them by the front door. It was my job to fold and put them away. Larry was the laundry guy until the day he died. It took an entire afternoon for me to figure out how to load money on to our laundry card and use the washer and dryer downstairs. I did three loads that day and felt like a champ.

As a couple, we knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses. I was great at making quick and healthy dinners with minimal clean-up (weekday meals), while Larry’s cooking endeavors took hours … with hours of clean-up afterwards (weekend meals). Now, as I come to terms with being alone, I batch cook on the weekends and eat leftovers on weekdays while watching The Munsters on Cozi TV. The absolute worst part of breaking up with a ghost, though, is you lose all rights to be an asshole. My modus operandi after a break-up in the past has been to hate the other person with a passion. For example, if I was the one that cheated on him, it was clear he’d made me do it. And I hated him for making me a cheater.

I’d be repulsed when I found out my former lover was with someone new. It was jarring and incomprehensible. I’d be confused. Angry. Betrayed.

But you can’t do any of that with someone who didn’t leave you by choice.

You know they loved you. And possibly still do love you … somewhere in space … as much as you still love them here on Earth.

My break-up bottom number three is ongoing, quiet and constant. And a bottom I never wish to visit again.

"After the

initial shock

and not wanting to leave the apartment for a month, it started to feel just like any other break up; just shittier."

DIGITAL EDITION

51

STYLE

Sober

IN THE CITY

In the first of a new regular column, Kristen Jongen discovers a life without booze doesn’t have to be dull

I

n my previous life, “happy” hour(s) started after work and lasted until I went to bed. When I quit drinking, I discovered that I had six additional “unhappy” sober hours of time to kill ... per evening! This was paralyzing. I couldn’t imagine a future without wine in it.

That was six years ago. I’m grateful to report that, since those days, I’ve never woken up wishing I had gotten drunk the night before. Not once.

Whether you’re one of the 30% of Americans who never drinks or are incorporating a new lifestyle, this column dedicates itself to discovering the city that never sleeps through an atypical lens. Here, we gather and commune over the bizarre realities of being sober in an inebriated world.

To kick things off, I’ve chosen four of my top sober-friendly HK hangouts.

De Witt Clinton Dog Park

W52nd St - 11th Ave Dogs don’t drink, so alcohol is not allowed.

Yippee! Drunkards are frowned upon and arrested. Wahoo! This is a great place to get to know your neighbors. Rowdy pets act as a social lubricant to invite casual conversation. The park is a great mix of theater folks, make-up artists, dancers, and techies. Aside from a plethora of designer dog coats, human pretense is left at the

ABOUT

gate. Here, you can meet a new friend that will remember you in the morning.

Pocket Bar

W48th St - 9th/10th Ave Because, let’s face it, you don’t have to get wasted to enjoy a great sing-along. It’s common for the entire establishment to break into song – even sober folks and tourists sing at the top of their lungs.

Aside from the lack of non-alcoholic options (soda water is all they offer), they have a Cheers vibe. It’s easy to believe that, if you hang around long enough, eventually, everyone will know your name.

Kristen

Below: Kristin provides instructions for a sober life in an inebriated world.

Kahve

10th Ave - 46th/47th St This brilliant idea is a European-themed coffee and wine bar combination. I met my co-lifestyle (my new term for nonsober/sober relationships) friend at Kahve recently. She was happy to order a glass of wine without feeling like an edgy bitch in my presence, and I was comfortable ordering a cappuccino without being the single jackass ordering coffee at a liquor bar. This place is a win/ win. You will not get the stink eye from a booze-pushing server here. This idea is way overdue. Bravo, Kahve!

Citizen M Bar

W50th St - 7th/8th Ave Not only does this trendy place manage to comfortably relieve the pressure of a sit-down restaurant, but it avoids the noise of a crowded bar. Comfortable couches and chairs are available for relaxing in, art books to browse through, and outlets to plug your laptop in. The bar serves coffee drinks as well as liquor. But my favorite part of Citizen M is the laidback atmosphere.

The staff never ... ever, make you feel rushed.

Now that you have some safe places to visit, tune in next month. We will discuss the awkward joys of sober sex. Until then, as my mother would say: “Make smart choices.”

Kristen Jongen is the artist, author, and speaker behind Soul Soup. She writes books on grief, healing, and transformation, and is in long-term recovery from alcohol and drug addiction (www.mysoulsoup.com)

DIGITAL EDITION

53

PETS

Wagging Brontë

Marigold

Human’s name: Jules.

Breed: Yorkshire terrier.

Age: Three.

What makes me bark: Pigeons!

My three favorite words: Brush, treat, and bathtime (OK, maybe not so much bathtime).

Instadog: My pix can be seen on mommy’s @JKovisars.

Human’s name: AJ. Breed: Jack Russell terrier mix.

Age: Four.

What makes me bark: When my human goes away.

Three words that describe me best: Funny, sweet, lazy.

Confession: I try to sneak human food.

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tos Jackson Chewie Ma Human’s name: Eva. Breed: I’m a chiweenie mix.

Age: I turned one year old in June What makes me bark: People in the hallway and loud noises.

Three words that describe me best: Sweet, playful, caring.

Confession: I like baths.

Instadog: My mama thinks I’m too young … but I think I should have one.

Remy and Obi Humans’ names: Matt, Chris, and Cait.

Breed: Bichon and terrier.

Age: Nine and five.

What makes us bark: Greeting anyone or anything. Bark!

Bark! Bark! Oh, and we looove cheeeeese!

Three words that describe us best: Feisty, yappy, cuddly.

Confession: We suffer from LDS: Little Dog Syndrome. We think we are big and bad.

Want to see your pup on this page?

DIGITAL EDITION

tales

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

Ron

Hudson

Papito

Humans’ names: Matt and Claudia.

Breed: British Bulldog.

Age: 10 months.

What makes me bark: The wind chimes in the back yard.

Three words that describe me best: Stubborn, handsome, hungry.

Confession: I have to be in the bathroom every time my dad is in there or else I cry.

Instadog: @BigRBulldog

Human’s name: Karen.

Breed: Miniature pinscher.

Age: One and a half.

What makes me bark: Anything with wheels: bikes, scooters, and cleaning carts.

Three words that describe me best: Photogenic, athletic, and protective.

Confession: I think it’s funny to fart on my papa. He hates it! I’m such a stinker lol :) Instadog: @hudrockminpin

Human’s name: Perla.

Breed: Yorkie.

Age: Four and a half.

What makes me bark: Strangers at the door.

Three words that describe me best: Playful, athletic, kisser.

Confession: I sneak into Mom’s bedroom whenever I can.

Dill Human’s name: Jared.

Breed: Puggle.

Age: Five (but I’m still a puppy).

What makes me bark: Seeing someone I love (happy bark); when someone is eating or playing with their phone in front of me (unhappy bark).

Three words that describe me best: Silly, snuggly, hungry.

Confession: I’ll try eating *anything* off the ground.

Instadog? Dad posts pics of me occasionally on @jjjamesson.

Send it to waggingtales@w42st.com and we’ll do the rest.

DIGITAL EDITION

55

THIS KITTY’S STANDING FOR CITY COUNCIL!

this month

ZIGGY’S FIVE FAVORITE TACOS, DANIEL ROWAN’S PLAYLIST, A DAY IN THE LIFE OF CAROLINA RIVERA; PLUS HELL’S KITCHEN BUSINESS DIRECTORY, QUOTE OF THE MONTH, AND EVERYONE’S FAVORITE MAP DIGITAL EDITION

+ EAT, DRINK, PLAY, DO

w42 st

EATING & DRINKING Annabel

Chez Napoleon

Green Fig

9th Ave 53rd/54th St

W 50th Street - 8th/9th Ave

10th Ave 41st/42nd St

A neighborhood

Hyper-traditional

Modern Israeli

9th Ave 55th/56th St

restaurant that invites you to stay for

Hell’s Kitchen landmark French

cuisine with unique flavor and spices.

In HK since 2004, Kashkaval Garden

a while. The menu features artisan

restaurant open since 1960 and still

Influences come from The Middle

offers a relaxed environment to enjoy

pizzas, New American appetizers &

dedicated to serving classic comfort

East, North Africa’s Maghreb region,

good wines, specialty cocktails, and

entrees & homemade desserts.

food dishes. Leave your diet at home!

and southern Europe.

Mediterranean inspired food & fondue.

www.annabelnyc.com (212) 245-2215

www.cheznapoleon.com (212) 265-6980

www.greenfignyc.com

www.kashkavalgarden.com (212) 245-1758

1

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5

(646) 449-7790 9

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Ardesia

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12

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Kiabacca

Dianne & Elisabeth

Hellcat Annie’s Tap Room

10th Ave 45th/46th St

10th Ave - 45th St

wines, happy hour, cheese boards,

A wine bar and restaurant in the

Rotating local craft beer on tap, easy

specialty brick oven pizzas and a high

and cocktails. Come for wine social

heart of Hell’s Kitchen, serving

drinking lawnmower beers, cocktails,

quality selection of rotating crafts at

on a Saturday 2pm-5pm for off-the-

dinner & brunch made from locally

sandwiches & shareable appetizers.

fantastic prices. Always interesting

list wines and menu favorites.

sourced ingredients.

Happy hour 3pm-6pm Mon-Fri.

draft cocktails and wine on tap.

www.ardesia-ny.com (212) 245-2215

www.dianneandelisabeth.com (212) 247-3039

www.HellcatAnnies.com (212) 586-2707

www.kiabaccabar.com (212) 649-4675

W52nd St 10th/11th Ave International

1

6

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4

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Beer Culture

Dutch Fred’s

W45th St 8th/9th Ave

W47th St 8th/9th Ave

A huge selection

Bar inspired by

of bottles and cans, and drink from

the veteran policeman who gave

Japanese ramen shop serving slow-

a rotating selection of drafts and

Hell’s Kitchen its name. Serving craft

cooked pork and vegetarian broths,

cask. Fill up a house growler or bring

cocktails, a cosy space with a nod to

plus dumplings and drinks. From

your own. Knowledgeable staff.

1910s style.

ramen pioneer Hideto Kawahara.

www.beerculture.nyc (646) 590-2139

www.dutchfreds.com (646) 918-6923

www.hidechanramen.nyc (212) 969-0066

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3

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10

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Return to the joie de vivre of 1920s

The go-to spot in Hell’s Kitchen for

and cocktails served on a multi-level

Paris, with a blue tin ceiling, red velvet

great-tasting sandwiches, soups,

yacht with a large deck. Short sailings

walls and chandeliers lighting up

salads, juices, and smoothies, extra

on the Hudson for sweeping views of

Josephine Baker portraits.

fresh, and prepared in front of you.

the Manhattan skyline.

www.chezjosephine.com (212) 594-1925

www.freshfromhell.com

www.hudsonsnyc.com (212) 630-8840

DIGITAL EDITION

Wine and spirits from families — not factories — all over the world. Order online for free delivery. Free tastings Thursday and Friday, 5pm-8pm.

kitsunderground.nyc (212-262-6000) 7

Pier 83, 12th Ave - 43rd St Surf ’n’ turf, tapas,

map reference

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Lansdowne Road

Hudsons

11

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TurnStyle, Columbus Circle

W47th St - 8th/9th Ave

8

13

W53rd St 8th/9th Ave

W42nd St 9th/10th Ave

map reference

Featuring 20

Kit’s Underground

Fresh From Hell

(212) 956-4355

10th Ave 45th/46th St

Hide Chan Ramen

Chez Josephine

4

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Kashkaval Garden

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

www.lansdowneroadnyc.com (212) 239-8020 5

map reference

EAT

Carolina Rivera’s DAYLIST 10:00 AM

6:30 pM

9:00 pM

CAROLINA is manager of House of Brews, on

DUTCH FRED’S W47th St - 8th/9th Ave I’ll get whatever Francesco

W46th St. She’s just completed the 40-mile Tour de Bronx.

BRAZEN TAVERN W44th St - 8th/9th Ave Time for a pit stop at Brazen Tavern. There are lots of other workers and bar friends around here. I’ve moved on to wine by now.

12:00 AM HIBERNIA W50th St - 9th/10th Ave After midnight .... the party hard girl in me might just sneak to Hibernia for a night cap and the cheese fries. After that, regulars have maybe seen me salsa …

OUT

PIO PIO 10th Ave - 43rd/44th St After an afternoon catching up on chores, I meet friends at Pio Pio. I’ll start with a pisco sour (it reminds me of home in Chile). I usually go for ceviche then the Peruvian combo.

11:00 pM

STYLE

SCHMACKARY’S W45th St - 8th/9th Ave On my day off, I get up around 7am and go for a bike ride or to the gym. Then I’ll head to Schmackary’s for a small hot coffee with almond milk.

(their Italian mixologist) has to offer. My favorite so far is the Kinky Boot – pretty with a base of gin and a pink flower.

LIVING

Ziggy’s eatlist

PETS

This month, every day is taco Tuesday. Ziggy chooses his five favorites in the hood.

Now all you have to do is eat those babies. You’re welcome!

About Ziggy Z Shrimp at Otto’s Tacos

9th Ave - 48th/49th St Small but with a lot of chutzpah. Smartly seasoned with serrano cream and onions, this is the shrimp tacos to beat in the entire city, me claims

Z Carnitas at Taqueria Diana

9th Ave - 39th St As with many things in life, it gets juicier as it gets older. Slowly cooked porkiness, almost like they do in Mission, SF.

Z Lengua at Tehuitzingo

10th Ave - 47th/48th St I’ve brought many visitors for these tender delicacies that are sort of life changing. Some turned into big fans, some religious, and some ended up in therapy.

Z Garbanzo Y Hongos at Choza

Gotham West Market, 11th Ave - 44th/45th St As for veggie tacos, this little guy is tough to beat. Mushroom and chickpeas with “chana masala” like salsa negra.

DIGITAL EDITION

Z Carnitas at Tacuba

9th Ave - 53rd/54th St This is the entree, not the “tacos.” You make your own tacos with wonderfully greasy suckling pig and chicharron.

CHICHARRON!

Father of two, husband to one, Ziggy has been exploring NYC’s food scene for the past 30 years.

Author of the Hell’s Kitchen Survival Guide, he also blogs at www.EatingWithZiggy. com. When he’s not driving his kids around, he leads tourists and locals on food tours in Hell’s Kitchen, Brooklyn, and other neighborhoods. www.eatingwithziggytours.

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+ EAT, DRINK, PLAY, DO

w42 st

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

Mercury Bar West

SoHo Park Burger

9th Ave 37th/38th St

9th Ave 45th/46th St

8th Ave 50th/51st St

Our 60-year anniversary! The original

Swap stories with locals in a bar

six-foot Hero will feed 30 to 40 people.

where the wine and the talk flow until

Large restaurant: eat in, take out,

the early morning hours, and watch

catering. Reasonable prices!

sport on large-screen TVs.

www.heroboy.com (212) 947-7325

mercurybarnyc.com (212) 262-7755

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7

19

10th Ave 4th/45th St

Ñaño Ecuadorian Kitchen

Locally sourced

10th Ave -

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

Ties, bow ties, pocket squares, neckerchiefs, tie bars, cufflinks, money clips, and much more.

www.fineanddandyshop.com (212) 247-4847 3

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Fountain House Gallery

Christian Miles Photography

9th Ave - 48th St Our gallery

food, wine, and liquor at a restaurant

47th/48th St

www.cmilesstudio.com

exhibits and sells original, affordable

where sustainability and support for

Ecuadorable! Quaint eatery serving

A Hell’s Kitchen- based photographer

art made by local artists living and

the community are at the heart of

traditional dishes with modern flair.

specializing in actor headshots and

working with mental illness.

everything we do.

Family recipes make Ñaño special.

actors photography, model portfolios,

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

www.nanobarnyc.com (646) 649-4678

children’s photography and New York

www.fountainhousegallery.org ariel@fountaingallerynyc.com

16

The Press Lounge

W47th St 7th/8th Ave

11th Ave 47th/48th St

hours, karaoke and all sporting events shown on big screens.

www.themeanfiddlernyc.com (212) 354-2950 map reference

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS HERE Email sales@w42st.com

city events.

info@cmilesstudio.com

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The Mean Fiddler

musical nights, plus DJs. Happy

6

14

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Irish pub with a lively atmosphere,

60

(212) 757-4667

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The Marshal

SoHo’s favorite burger spot since 2006, now open in Hell’s Kitchen! 12 beers on tap, full bar, three floors including outdoor patio, lounge area, two bars, and dining. Happy hour 3-7pm.

Fine & Dandy

Greg Salvatori

W44th St 9th/10th Ave

www. gregsalvatori. com

Owners Luisa and Nicki work with artisans around the

dramatic views, seasonal cocktails, an

globe to source unique home decor

extensive wine list, seasonally inspired

items, gifts, and jewelry. Candles and

small plates, and welcoming service.

cards make it a one-stop shop.

www.thepresslounge.com (212) 757-2224

www.domusnewyork.com (212) 581-8099 2

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A professional

Farm-to-table restaurant dedicated

photographer for over two decades,

to seasonal, sustainable cuisine,

serving an international clientele

with fresh ingredients featured daily.

spanning the world of publishing, the

Located in the Ink48 hotel.

performing arts, and the corporate

www.printrestaurant.com (212) 757-2224

arena.

(917) 414-2199

eduardo@epatinophoto.com

DIGITAL EDITION

artist, and author of Beards of New York. His work has been published in international publications, and exhibited in Europe and the US.

(347) 3990 875 info@GregSalvatori.com

Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market

www.epatinophoto.com

11th Ave 47th/48th St

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An award-winning photographer,

Eduardo Patino

Print Restaurant

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Domus

NYC’s premier rooftop lounge, with

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W39th St 9th/10th Ave An authentic NY experience, one of the city’s oldest flea markets. Year round, each weekend, you can find antiques, vintage clothes, collectibles and more.

info@hellskitchenfleamarket.com www.annexmarkets.com 5

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EAT

Daniel Rowan’s plAYLIST

He recently wrapped up the historical drama The Dreyfus Affair at BAM, and returned to his Texas home to play Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar.

Instagram @drowanj

Indie list

Marni Halasa is fighting for independent small business.

Here are five of her faves

Skylight Diner

IMAGE ON THIS PAGE AND COVER: GREG SALVATORI

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Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market

W39th St - 9th/10th Ave

Rudy’s

Everyone loves a flea market, especially if you can find that perfect leather jacket, a watercolor painting that looks authentically Monet, and perhaps a puppy with adorable eyes. HKFM is the gift that keeps giving – it supports the Hell’s Kitchen Foundation, which gives arts grants to visual artists living and working in Hell’s Kitchen.

9th Ave - 44th/45th St

Famous for being NYC’s most historic dive bar (as well as the place for free hotdogs and cheap beer), the Hell’s Kitchen haunt also has a reputation for helping folks in the community. Not only did they work with neighbors and CB4 to install a roof in the backyard to curb noise, they also hire locally and provide meals for patrons during all the major holidays. According to manager Danny DePamphillis: “We’re really a

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Stiles Farmers Market

9th Ave - 36th/37th St

Steve Stiles should be the

DIGITAL EDITION

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Skip Tracing - Mild High Club Petals - TOPS 2 Good 2 be True - Nite Jewel Yes Sir, I can Boogie - Baccara Molasses - Hiatus Kaiyote

MARNI is a lawyer and performance activist standing for the Eco Justice Party in the city council elections on November 7. Her campaign is focused on protecting small businesses (marniforcitycouncil.com)

family for those in the neighborhood who may not have real family around.

The bar is more than just a place to consume liquor, it’s where people gather to talk, share ideas and create community.”

Owned by Greek entrepreneurs, George Sn, George Jr, and Teddy, the father and two sons, work hard every day to keep their diner, a historic slice of restaurant Americana, going strong.

TOP 5 TRACKS OF FALL

posterchild for a phoenix rising from the ashes. Last May, the owner of an affordable supermarket opened up shop again, just a few blocks from where the family-owned business was displaced by development in 2013. The market has bucked the trend of affordable supermarkets biting the dust due to exorbitant rents, with the help of Manhattan Plaza residents and CB4.

5 Sonny’s 10th Avenue Meat Market 10th Ave - 51st/52nd St

Sonny is like the small business Energizer bunny: he never stops working! In the business for nearly 50 years, Sonny’s Meat Market is more than a nostalgic experience, it’s the gold standard on how to shop in your neighborhood: fresh, affordable, and convenient.

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PETS

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W34th St - 9th/10th Ave

9TH AVENUE VINTNER 9th Ave - 46th/47th St My boyfriend Max and I love to host, so grabbing a couple bottles of wine here is too easy.

LIVING

IMAGE: RYAN PFLUGER

URBAN MARKET W47th St - 9th/10th Ave I go out of my way to pass this corner everyday just so I can say hello to the

DANIEL is an actor who has lived in Hell’s Kitchen for about two years.

SHENG CLEANERS W46th St - 9th/10th Ave Sharon! She can repair, tailor, and get any stain out of anything.

OUT

ST KILDA COFFEE W44th St - 8th/9th Ave I can’t say enough good things about Artie. I met him at three different espresso places in different neighborhoods. Little did I know he was drumming up his own place, in MY hood. I always go for a cappuccino with the Australian tradition of a bit of cocoa powder.

bodega cat, Pancha. She’s a local celeb.

STYLE

MARK FISHER FITNESS W39th St - 9th/10th Ave There’s no better way to start the day. These ridiculous humans literally changed my body and my mindset. I’m actually excited to go to the gym.

+ EAT, DRINK, PLAY, DO

w42 st

SHOPPING & SERVICES / OUT / LIVING Jadite Galleries

Rolates Pilates

10th Ave 46th/47th St

939 8th Ave, Suite 207

Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum

Hillary Davis Sothebys International Realty

Pier 86, 12th

Custom framing & art, conservation

Come enjoy a workout within our

Ave - 46th St

Expert in the Hamptons sales and

framing, canvas stretching & mirrors

historic walls where Pilates began.

Experience the legendary aircraft

rentals. Summer may be over,

a specialty. We exhibit contemporary

Join us at the original Joseph Pilates

carrier Intrepid, the first space shuttle,

but there are still some beautiful

and international artists.

Studio, check our website for class

Concorde, and the submarine Growler.

properties out there. Give me a call.

jaditeart@gmail.com

schedule.

(212) 977-6190

www.rolates.com (212) 247-9603

www.intrepidmuseum.org (212) 563-3200

(631) 613-7342 Hillary.Davis@sothebyshomes. com

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Massage Envy

The Circle Line

W42nd St 10th/11th Ave

Pier 83, 12th Ave - W43rd St

Massage, facials,

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Irish Arts Center

Isaac Halpern Halstead Property

W51st St 10th/11th Ave

NY’s oldest and

I live in Hell’s

and wellness to help you make the

largest provider of scheduled and

Music, dance, theatre, film, literature,

Kitchen and I specialize in sales and

best of your body. Everyone deserves

chartered sightseeing and special

and exhibitions that tell the evolving

rentals in the neighborhood. Contact

a customized massage or facial, so

event cruises. Operating since 1945.

Irish story. Plus classes in Irish

me to find the perfect home for you!

we make your relaxation and comfort

www.circleline42.com (212) 563-3200

language, history, music, and dance.

(646) 641-0145 ihalpern@halstead.com

our priority.

www.massageenvy.com (212) 473-3689

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Nacho Guevara Photography

The New Victory Theatre

W52nd St 10th/11th Ave

W42nd St 7th/8th Ave

Building original, provocative, and

I’m a professional portrait and

authentic plays from the ground up,

fashion photographer committed to

from readings to workshops to fully-

producing highly creative pictures

staged production.

with a unique look.

www.ensemblestudiotheatre.org (212) 247-4982 2

map reference

Ensemble Studio Theatre

www.nachoguevara.com

iguedur@gmail.com (773) 441-9455

www.irishartscenter.org (212) 757-3318

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

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

www.newvictory.org (646) 223-3010 5

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Yotel 10th Ave 41st/42nd St A new breed of hotel with wow-factor. Stylish and contemporary, with gym, luggage storage robot, flexible rates, and the largest hotel terrace in the city.

www.yotel.com (646) 449-7700 1

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YOUR BUSINESS COULD BE LISTED HERE TOO Just email sales@w42st.com to find out how

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DIGITAL EDITION

Take our SURVEY! Win BROADWAY tickets!

STAFF SURVEY

w42st.com/survey

Tell us a little bit about yourself and you could win a pair of tickets for a top Broadway show.

Just fill in our reader survey (it's simple, painless, and will only take a couple of minutes of your valuable time) and you'll be automatically entered into a drawing to win.

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DIGITAL EDITION

DIGITAL EDITION

LAST WORD

“People in New York care more about helping dogs than other humans.”

Jessica Walsh, 12 Kinds of Kindness

L

ast year, designers Jessica Walsh and Tim Goodman, the couple behind 40 Days of Dating, came up with a new concept. A 12-step program designed to explore their own selfishness. Step 2: Open Your Eyes.

They were testing a theory known as “bystander apathy,” which claims that, the more people around you, the less likely you are to help someone in need.

The pair hung hundreds of missing people signs all over the East Village with their faces on them. They then sat on one of the most popular street corners all day to see if anyone would notice them, try to help, or call the

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number on the sign. “We had plastered the streets with these signs on every tree, lamp post, and bus shelter, to the point that it was impossible not to notice them before walking past us,” said Jessica.

Thousands walked by. A few took photographs of the signs. But no one stopped. “It made me realize that New York has become filled with walking iPhone zombies with their heads in the clouds, myself included.”

They then carried out the same experiment with a dog?

“The response was beyond anything we could have imagined. Within minutes

DIGITAL EDITION

of us putting up the signs and leaving the dog tied up on the street corner (don’t worry, we left him water and we sat across from him on a bench to make sure he was safe), the phone calls began pouring in. Within 20 minutes we had to stop the experiment, because there was a major commotion of people trying to help the dog.”

The experience caused them both to examine their own attitudes to those around them. Find out what they did at the website below, and get some ideas about how we can all be a little bit kinder.

12kindsofkindness.com