Hell’s Kitchen Local

Hells Kitchen Pilates makes me happy because it’s more than just a place to train — it’s where I’m building a new pilates community. I’m meeting friends who are also my neighbors, and I’ve found the perfect space to focus on my body and practice what I love. I actually discovered it by chance one day while walking through the neighborhood. I decided to take a different street than usual and saw Nadya, one of the owners, with her beautiful dog Lucky, cleaning a new space that said “Pilates.” I asked her about it and told her I would love to work there — and now I get to be part of this amazing community every day.

The drinks are great, and their fried pickles are out of this world. On sunny days, I love hanging out with my dog. The staff is super friendly, making it such a wonderful place to chill and enjoy the vibes!

Italian food! It’s my upbringing, and I love the staff, who can clock that I’m also Italian when I walk in. You can’t underestimate the quality of a classic Italian meal or a stuffed artichoke.

For over 100 years the women in my family came together to make a recipe which required suet (yes — raw beef fat). As the years passed, Esposito became one of the only places in the city to get it. Thankfully, we have moved on to the vegetarian version of the same dish!

I love FLEX mainly because of my favorite bartender Gio. I have known Gio since 2010, so coming to FLEX for a beer (or three) always feels like the perfect LGBTQ+ home!

I love the smell of pies and cakes baking as it swirls through the air when I walk by. Since switching to a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle, I don’t stop in as often as I used to — but when I want to treat myself, I indulge in their raisin bran muffins.

Hell’s Kitchen Park is a real neighborhood park, made even more so by the local volunteers who help maintain the plantings, and those who promoted the new mural on the east building facing the park. This is exactly the kind of public space this City needs more of. It became one of my favorite places and a core memory from this campaign: standing in that park surrounded by the labor leaders and rank-and-file members from the unions backing this race, looking out at a crowd of working New Yorkers who built this city and still fight to make it work for everyone. That’s the coalition I’m running with, that’s the neighborhood I’m running for, and Hell’s Kitchen Park is where it all came together.

My youngest son’s favorite quick stop to grab a slice or two to go.

I couldn’t pick my top 10 places and not mention Flaming Saddles. It’s a guilty pleasure. I’m from Texas and sometimes I just wanna have a beer and sing along to Reba, OK!?

If you’re lucky enough to catch a show here, you’re guaranteed a great time. The 52nd Street Project does so much for children and our community. The mentorship they provide—connecting kids with professional theater artists and helping them develop their creative voices—is truly remarkable. I would absolutely recommend seeing a performance there.