Hell’s Kitchen Local

It’s centrally located and a cocktail bar, with a daily happy hour of good drinks. Essentially, it’s a meeting spot for my friends. I usually organize via text chains to meet up.

The staff here are incredibly knowledgeable about wine and spirits. They have great prices, offer delivery, and occasionally host wine tastings. Javi is one of the main reasons I enjoy shopping there. He’s always ready to help and does it with a smile. They also keep treats on hand for dogs, which is perfect if you’re like me and take your dog everywhere.

This restaurant has delicious catfish, Cajun fries, lobster mac and cheese and cocktails to-go, which I’ve packed for summer picnics in Central Park. The mango margarita has a real kick!

Hell’s Kitchen Park is one of my favorite places in the neighborhood. It’s a true West Side community hub where you’ll always find dedicated community gardeners tending to the space and neighbors stopping to catch up with one another. No matter when you visit, you’re bound to run into a familiar face. I’m especially proud to have led the team that installed the wall mural there, adding another layer of beauty and vibrancy to this central gathering place for our community.

Cubby’s is run by my good friend Charles, my old coworker at Pastis! I remember we would talk about our futures together on our breaks — his dream of opening up his own establishment and my passion for public service. I visited again recently and it was quite emotional to see where we have both ended up.

I love to cook, and when I crave making ox tail or lamb neck stew, this is where I go. They stock cuts you won’t find in the more curated parts of Manhattan, along with produce that still assumes people actually cook. It is also remarkably affordable. I love walking into their meat refrigerated chamber. I admit to visiting the store with ulterior motives in the very hot summer months just to be able to walk into the refrigerated meat chamber. During a heat wave, it amounts to finding heaven, (only to be sent back to hell).

We always called it 52nd Street Park — so many memories growing up there.

Taking the kids to their baseball or flag football games, have a catch, play basketball, pickle ball, tennis…

This fairly new massage parlor right by my building couldn’t be any better. Their practitioners do exquisite bodywork; it’s sparkling clean and it stays open daily until 11pm. I often treat myself to a back massage and reflexology.

I love that in the middle of Manhattan you can suddenly find a place that feels peaceful and surrounded by nature. I discovered this park while walking around the neighborhood when my parents were visiting me in New York. We were all fascinated by it — how calm it felt and how it exists thanks to the community that cares about it. It’s one of those little hidden places that make the city feel special. I haven’t been there in a while and I really miss it there.