Hav & Mar on 26th & 11th is a hidden gem

Hav & Mar is a hidden gem on 26th Street & 11th Avenue. Nailing the industrial loft look, this is an Ethiopian/Swedish fusion restaurant (yes, those two things can evidently be fused) by Marcus Samuelsson, who is also the head chef of Red Rooster in Harlem. The bar wraps around and while it says you need reservations, you really don’t most of the time (especially if you sit at the bar). NYT write-up here.

This place calls itself a “seafood house” but that honestly its selling itself short—it has a 10/10 lamb pasta and a 10/10 short rib biryani (which says it’s for 2-4 people, but unless those 4 people have extremely small stomachs, it’s closer to 2). The block-approved move is to get the seafood tower (called the “Black Mermaid Tower”) and then head for the Havatini 2.0 (rigatoni pasta with shrimp and crab) or the branzino. There is also a menu option to just let the chef pick for you, and after giving them a few preferences, you really should just go with that. Trust the experts.

Highly recommend.

Chalamet riding around our block

Recognize that ATM in the background?

Flea Market this Saturday in the food hall on 26th & 11th

There’s a flea market this Saturday at Olly Olly, which is the food hall on 26th and 11th (a little south of Porchlight). Here’s the Instagram post.

As an aside, let me take this opportunity to plug Olly OIly food hall, which has an incredible little assortment of pizza (Honey Pie Pizza), Thai (Kinn Thai), kebabs, coffee, a bar, etc. This place is a little out of the way for the rest of the city so I consider it on us to support.

New Equinox coming to 11th Ave & 28th Street

It looks like we’re getting a new Equinox at 28th Street & 11th Avenue (right next to Porchlight)—it’s called Equinox Terminal Warehouse and you can read about it here: https://www.equinox.com/clubs/new-york/midtown/terminal-warehouse.

They’re definitely matching the loft decor of the neighborhood with exposed beams, brick, etc. Reposted some pictures from the Equinox website above. This should offset some of the traffic at the Hudson Yards Equinox, which is incredible—particularly the pool deck—but also difficult to find a spot in around gym rush hour.

I’m not sure this is an “all access” location where you can get in with a standard Equinox membership; I think might be a “destination” (i.e., elevated membership) club, similar to Hudson Yards and Printing House. Will try to get in touch with the Related team (which owns Equinox and which built Hudson Yards) and find out more information.

Jalen Brunson, man

You have to love it from Jalen Brunson—normal-sized, crafty, and clutch, all of which was on display in Knicks/Cavs Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The big TV screen in Hudson Yards is playing all of these games if you don’t want to trek over to our neighborhood arena, MSG. Schedule for the big Hudson Yards TV here.

Brunson put on an absolute show at MSG cooking James Harden and leading the Knicks from 22 down in the 4th quarter to steal Game 1 from the Cavs. Knicks in 5, probably.

You might see Andy Samberg on the block

Right next to Chelsea Park on 28th.

Andy Samberg and Annette Benning feature in a movie called “42.6 Years” that is currently filming on our block.

I believe its a rom-com to be released on Amazon about a man who wakes up from a failed experimental lifesaving procedure in which he was cryogenically frozen for 42.6 years—before then realizing he wants his ex-girlfriend back. Here’s a further description.

Giant bear in Hudson Yards?

This giant bear is in Hudson Yards through May 17 as part of a new art installation by Brendan Murphy called “Love Matters…Everywhere.” I believe its supporting some type of bear collectible release by the artist. Post on Instagram.

Ci Siamo is the best place to eat in New York according to Yelp

The best place to eat in New York according to Yelp in 2026 is Ci Siamo, in Hudson Yards right near the back entrance of Whole Foods (yelp.com/article/top-100-us-restaurants-2026).

We can confirm that this place is absolutely bustling and nails the elevated but casual vibe. It is also huge for NYC, with tables near the bar that they almost seem to be reserving for walk-ins. My parents in fact visited NYC recently and, at my suggestion, wandered into Ci Siamo with no reservation on a Thursday night. The servers sat them down within 10 minutes next to the bar—and then really killed what we’re deeming the block-approved move: lamb chops and smashed potatoes. Brought us non-alcoholic cocktails and cookies after dinner for free and for no particular reason.

No pretentiousness for a restaurant of this quality. Highly recommend.

Tunnel to another dimension.

Reposting this from a few years ago to remind the block that there are more creative ways to get from 28th Street to 27th Street than 10th Avenue.

On the south side of 28th Street between 10th & 11th Avenues is an arched brick tunnel with lights that says “Jardim” on the top, which evidently means “garden” in Portuguese. The tunnel connects two fancy apartment buildings that were completed in 2019 called “Jardim Sul” (meaning “south,” i.e., on 27th Street) and “Jardim Norte” (meaning, you guessed it, “north” on 28th Street). The architect is a Brazilian named Isay Weinfeld, who has a modernist, minimalist, contemporary style and who has an extensive portfolio of residential and commercial buildings in his native country.

Take us to the promised land, Isay, if not 27th Street.

Update: As Guy Fieri points out in the comments below, this passageway is now “closed to thru traffic.” Further note that you obviously can leave whatever name you want in the comments..

Penny Linn, a needlepoint shop, opens on our block

“Needlepoint” is a type of embroidery in which yarn is stitched through canvas, and earlier this month a needlepoint store called Penny Linn opened right next to Hudson Market on 28th Street & 10th Avenue. You can read about its history here.

Created in 2020 (and born out of an idea in a Chelsea apartment), Penny Linn looks like it has a bit of a cult following among stitchers. It’s also community-minded—from the article above:

“The store will serve as both a retail destination and an experiential hub, offering customers the opportunity to shop thousands of canvases and accessories while also engaging with the brand through in-person classes, events, and community programming. From beginner workshops to designer meet-and-greets, the space is designed to foster connection and creativity.”

Great to have this on our block.

Buddha now greeting us on 30th & 10th

The pigeon has officially been replaced (long live the pigeon)! The pigeon was called the “The Dinosaur” by the way (https://www.thehighline.org/art/projects/ivan-argote/), which I can’t say I totally understand.

The Buddha’s official name is the The Light That Shines Through the Universe—and it is the fifth installment in that spot after the lady, the plane, the pink tree, and the pigeon (these are not the official names but they are how I remember them).

Crafted by Vietnamese artist Tuan Andrew Nguyen, the sculpture pays homage to the Bamiyan Buddhas, two 6th-century colossal statues in Afghanistan that were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001. Reincarnation and radical acceptance might be two of the secrets to happiness, and if that is right, happy to have this installation around our neighborhood.

Wine Shop by Death Ave does tastings every Thursday

Wine Shop by Death Ave is an absolute hidden gem wine shop in the city. Managed by the disarming, approachable, and supremely knowledgeable Manny—I predict that you will walk in here, get a recommendation from Manny given that he’s tried and has opinions on literally everything in the store, and walk out with something you’ve never had before and a little story about the wine for whoever you’re drinking it with.

This place is great for a gift because the wines are quirky and unusual—and Manny will let you walk out with the tags on the wine, which gives a fun little description of what your giftee is about to drink.