by Phil O'Brien October 24, 2020 October 24, 2020
If you've ever been up on a Hell's Kitchen rooftop to look at the city at night, you should read the story of Matthew Knott. He's an Australian journalist who came to the neighborhood in June for his friend's 30th Birthday party. He moved away from the small gathering on a 5th-floor rooftop to head to the bathroom and "stepped out onto what I thought was concrete, but found there was nothing under my feet. Suddenly I was free-falling through the night sky, with my back parallel to the ground, like Don Draper in the opening credits of Mad Men. Instead of walking across the roof, I had stepped into an air shaft." He survived, read more…
What's been happening this week…
The plastic bag ban is back in New York City. Single-use bags will no longer be available at the grocery stores, so remember to take your tote! By the way, we might have some W42ST totes for sale soon… Want one?
We featured movie nights at Hudson Yards (with a great picture of "West Side Story" by Uri Finzi). This weekend the big screen is being taken over by football. Check out the schedule here. Watching live sports is free, on a first come first served basis.
The tragedy of teenager Matthew Pierre's fatal fall at Manhattan Plaza and the grief of his family and friends occupied our hearts this week. The words of his mom, Jeri, said it all: "Rest in Power my handsome sweet young King!" There is a GoFundMe raising money to support the family.
We caught up with Luisa at Domus as she added another multi-colored knitted tree cozy to outside the shop. This version shows support for essential workers and Black Lives Matter. Domus's tree cozy project has been a 12-year tradition!
Target opening on 10th Avenue has produced mixed reactions, but lots of shoppers. What's been your experience?
Taste of Times Square is back, and it's for a week this year. There are 20 restaurants participating, and Tony's Di Napoli has set up fancy dining in the middle of Times Square.
We took a wander along 42nd Street and brought updates on Grand Central Terminal, Pershing Square, and Bryant Park. The good news is that Ice Skating and the Winter Market are coming soon.
There was a big welcome for Dolly Varden — Hello Dolly! The new cocktail bar on W51st Street opened last night.
No big surprise that jobless figures are soaring because of the pandemic. (NY Post)
Good to see King Nyani featuring in this pick of the best outdoor art installations. (amNY)
New Citi Bike stations are coming to the neighborhood. (Patch)
NYPD is preparing for all eventualities (including overtime) as election day nears. (Gothamist)
Balthazar wine swap proves a costly mistake – but it left one young couple smiling. (Decanter)