Life in and around Hell’s Kitchen, NYC
The weather’s been less-than-ideal today for gardening, but the Daffodil Planting Day/Adopt-a-Pedestrian-Island Day (previously) still went ahead today.
The turnout wasn’t too great – the weather combined with the location out at 36th & Dyer didn’t help – but there were people working on some of the pedestrian islands, which should look very nice when they finish. Hopefully the flowers take hold before winter hits.
Go Sushi, on the corner of 51st & 9th, has closed its doors. The place had been open for over 8 years, with its bright neon signage always standing out.
It’s been a long time coming, but it looks like this is the first step of Vynl’s big move one store over. Back in the start of June we noticed the application submitted by Vynl to make the move into Go Sushi’s spot, but until now nothing had come of it.
We’ll be watching the spot closely to see what happens now. In the mean time, memories:
Exciting day today with another street fair on down 8th Ave. Even though the weather was on the verge of raining the whole time, that didn’t stop hundreds of people from turning out.
These street fairs have about as much personality as a brick – they’re exactly the same every time, and it’s gotten to the stage where each block is basically just repeating the stalls from the last one. Here’s the kind of “trendy”, “unique” things for sale:
I counted at least five phone case stalls and four “light up t-shirt” stalls within the five blocks I could handle, yet probably only three different types of food available (from around 10 stalls).
Save yourself the trouble and go over to 9th Ave to the HK Flea Markets. They’ve still got some character, plus the crowds are smaller.
If you didn’t see the signs up today, there’s art show running until 6pm at Shop Studios on W 49th St between 9th & 10th.
What you can look forward to, from their Facebook page:
100 Original Works of Pop, Fine, Abstract Expressionism inspired by live models, construction and broadcasting communications.
An update on the Bar Nine renovations saga, looks like they’ll be reopening tomorrow after some of the quickest renovations ever.
The refreshed interior:
Should be a big night tomorrow night.
The 43rd St Kids Preschool are holding a fundraising bake sale today at the corner of W 43rd & 9th Ave, with all kinds of sugary treats.
The stall’s running until 6pm this evening, so stop by and grab a cupcake!
Who can say no to cake?
In case you’ve missed it, Hudson Yards is going to be A Big Deal™. It’ll also bring some major changes to the area. Here’s a look at the neighboring tenants bracing for what the future holds.
No big deal, the Landmark Tavern, which has been open for almost a century and a half at 46th & 11th, is apparently haunted.
An in-depth look at the Hell’s Kitchen Farm Project on the roof of the Metro Baptist Church on W 40th.
A taste of what it’d be like having to leave the neighborhood.
Corey Johnson will be moving from his position as chair of Community Board 4 up to City Council, potentially triggering a changing of virtually all the “officers” of the board.
Not wasting any time, Limón Jungle have completed their expansion into the neighboring store, doubling the size of the restaurant. The new half is mostly a bar, and is already attracting a crowd.
Outside Bello at 56th & 9th today. Italian restaurant…Rolls Royce…very Mafia-esque vibe.
It’s Friday, so here’s a quick, light-hearted link to welcome the weekend. Over at the real estate site Movoto’s blog, they’ve done their research and put together the real estate listing for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle’s lair, coming to the conclusion that the infamous sewer resides somewhere below the streets around W 49th St & 10th Ave. Clocking in at the low, low price of almost $11 million, it looks like even cartoons aren’t immune to the skyrocketing Manhattan real estate market.
They’ve also done the listings for other television hangouts, including the Ghostbusters Firehouse and 123 Sesame Street, among others, so go ahead and waste your Saturday on that.
CHEKPEDS and the Hell’s Kitchen Neighborhood Association are running their annual Daffodil Planting Day on Sunday, where they’ll be planting hundreds of daffodils, as well as giving you the chance to “adopt” your very own pedestrian island.
Here’s the flyer with the full details:
The day starts at midday at W 36th & Dyer Ave, and if you decide to adopt one of the pedestrian islands along the 9th Ave bike path, you’ll even get free trowels and plants!
Outside the gutted Bar Nine. I’m sure it’s legit.
Lots of transit news today! Again from CHEKPEDS, the Bolt Bus stop near Penn Station at 34th & 8th will be relocating far west to 33rd & 11th, after a decision at last night’s community board meeting.
Bolt Bus were hoping for the relocation to be at 39th & 10th (see the notice below), but because of the strong pushback from the community at the meeting, were instead given the 11th Ave spot.
Fellow bus line Megabus moved from their stop last year at 41st & 10th – just two blocks north of Bolt Bus’s original proposed new home – to opposite the Javits Center west of 11th Ave on 34th St – now just one block north of the replacement Bolt Bus stop – which went down with any dramas. The Bolt Bus move should also follow suit.
Of course, if you’re ever been unlucky enough to have had to catch one of the late-night departures from the Megabus stop, you’ll know just how generally seedy that whole area around the rail yards is at 1am, so Bolt Bus passengers will soon get to experience that fun for themselves. Then again, the additional bus service on that block might help bring some more life to the area at night, at least until the High Line extension, the 7 Line extension, and Hudson Yards are ready.
CHEKPEDS aren’t wasting any time after this victory from the community. They’ve already set their sights on 42nd & 8th and the swarm of buses hassling offering people trips to Woodbury Commons, etc, so look out for that battle.
The intersection at W 42nd St & 9th Ave is a bit of a gauntlet for pedestrians, and almost always has a police officer directing traffic during peak hours of the day. As of today, however, members of CHEKPEDS have managed to get the way the lights work changed. From their posting:
When the light turns red on 9th Avenue, pedestrians now get the WALK signal immediately, while the cars turning from 9th Avenue do not have the green arrow. If the drivers try to turn south, the eastbound traffic prevents them from doing so. As the pedestrian countdown comes to 0, the westbound cars turning south get a green arrow, while the eastbound traffic is stopped.
It took seven years for CHEKPEDS to get the lights changed, but now that it’s here should hopefully make that extremely busy intersection a bit safer for pedestrians.
It’s good to see changes being made to help improve safety on the intersections along 9th Ave. Earlier this year, just one block south at 41st & 9th, a 69-year-old woman was killed in a hit-and-run when a van made a “right hook” onto 41st St, so it’s hard to disagree with the changes. We’ll be looking to see if changes like the one today spread to other intersections.