Penn Station is getting an $8 billion renovation

Penn Station is rolling towards a massive renovation after Amtrak picked a developer to build the project last week. Gothamist story here with renderings: https://gothamist.com/news/exclusive-renderings-of-penn-station-overhaul-show-trumps-name-with-presidential-seal.

It looks like our home arena MSG will be undisturbed. The inside does have a distinctly Trump-vibe, which I suppose is part of the messy process and transactional process of getting a project like this through the federal government.

This association is however a “yes in my backyard kind of place” so initial reaction is—excited for this.

Gelato place called Chocolate Lounge is opening next week on 29th & 10th

We’re getting a new gelato place right next to Prestige Marketplace on the corner of 29th & 10th. I talked this morning to the owner, Fadr, who confirmed that this is opening next week. Very cool to see this spot, which has been vacant for a while, get filled up.

There is really quite a fight over the housing on 27th & 10th

There is currently quite the fight over the Elliott Houses on 27th & 10th. Comprised of approximately 4,500 residents living in 17 buildings, NYC’s government wants to knock the buildings down and replace them with 6 high rises that current residents would move into and keep the same rent. The politically difficult kicker of sorts is that the city also wants to build 9 “mixed income” towers—meaning they would include both 1k “affordable” units and 2.4k “luxury” units. And the $1m question of course is: what happens to the current residents while all this is being built? Suing to block the development, which was supposed to start last December, are about 20 senior citizens living in the houses, and the seniors just won a TRO to hold off development while an appeals court hears the case. You can see the NYT write-up here.

The city and developer (which is called “Related” and which built Hudson Yards and the Zaha Hadid building) do have answers to that million-dollar question, which is that 94% of residents will be able to remain in their homes while the new towers go up (I do have some obvious questions about that). The remaining 6% will be temporarily relocated to “refreshed” apartments during construction. The development would be complete at earliest in 2041.

We’re going to try to stay as apolitical as possible around here (there is no angle after all), though if it matters to you what other people think (it shouldn’t), Mamdani supports the initiative, Erik Bottcher (the NYS senator representing our neighborhood) supports, and Kennedy kid who I’m sure has spent a lot of time in public housing is against. What I can say though is that I’ve been in the buildings and somebody needs to do something (and certainly neither you nor I have); NYC has an housing problem and the Occam’s razor solution is to build more housing; and 20/4500 is about 0.4%.

If you’d like to write in with a perspective, please do so.

More about that new Equinox opening at Terminal Warehouse [updated 7/2/26]

[Updated 7/2/26] A group of block residents visited the soon-to-be-new Equinox location on June 26, 2026 at Terminal Warehouse, which is the large brick building on 11th Avenue between 27th & 28th. We spoke to the managers (thank you Dominick McClure and Alyssa Rosoff) and below is the latest on the location. Thank you also to neighbor Danielle Liberman for helping put these notes together:

• Currently targeting a fall opening, with the official date expected to be announced 30–60 days in advance.

• Will be a “Destination Club,” meaning you can’t get in with a regular “all-access” membership. You have to have to have the elevated Equinox membership which allows you to get into, e.g., the Hudson Yards and Printing House locations. Upshot: if you belong to the Hudson Yards location, you can automatically go here.

• Alternatively you can get “single-club” access here for $280/month if you sign up right now, but that will only increase as we get closer to club opening.

• Club will focus heavily on weights and recovery (like very cold showers) rather than cardio and group fitness.

• Only two class formats are currently planned: PGX (“playground experience”) strength training and reformer Pilates (capped at 12 people per class, $35/class).

• Recovery amenities will include sauna, steam room, and hyper-cold showers.

• Managers (Dominick and Alyssa) are focused on community-building and are interested in our views on how to do that. Organized running clubs? Other gatherings? Fact is this location is close to Hudson Yards but far enough away that it’s likely to be more full of people who live in the neighborhood rather than people just work in Hudson Yards.

• Dominick and Alyssa are also soliciting views right now on how we’d like the gym to look, equipment/amenities we might like to see, etc. Reach out to us if you want a say!

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.