A Pleasant Trip to The Way West Side of Town.
Valerie Smaldone shares her Hell’s Kitchen finds.
I rarely have the opportunity to take a day just for pure enjoyment and fun. Like many of us, I spend a great deal of time working. Thanks to a dear friend from Mexico, in New York for just one day, I stopped the weekend “catching up” that I normally do, and took a good chunk of time to meet her and enjoy the city.
We met at a truly authentic Italian cafe, Sergimmo Salumeria, where delicious-looking Italian specialties abound. I chose to have a good cup of cappuccino only, but plan to go back to check out the delicious dishes that I saw.
Then, we were off to the new The Tank theatre space on West 36th Street. A not-for-profit theatre company dedicated to developing new works, I reminisced as I walked into the space, remembering the time I spent at this theatre years ago, performing in a play that I co-wrote. But I digress.
The Tank currently presents a new play, “Real” by Rodrigo Nogueira. A fascinating study of people connected by the intense drive to live an authentic life, through two different times, woven together by a classical fugue.
This is the kind of play that is difficult to describe, but far easier to comprehend when you go to see it, which I recommend you do.
“Real” plays through January 20 at The Tank, 312 West 36 Street.
Then it was time for a glass of wine and some appetizers at Tavola on 9th Ave and 38th Street. This popular restaurant is beautifully designed with a nice menu, and a wood burning pizza oven. It was a Sunday night and it was packed.
I normally never think of going to 9th Avenue, especially in the 30’s. But things are rapidly changing. And this part of town is becoming very, very cool.
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“Bagels and Broadway with Valerie Smaldone”
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The only food and theatre focused radio show in New York.
Valerie Smaldone is a 5-time Billboard Magazine Award winner and is well known for her unprecedented success holding the #1 on-air position in the New York radio market on 106.7 Life-FM, an iHeart station. She has hosted, produced, and created several award-winning nationally syndicated programs featuring in-depth interviews with stars like Paul McCartney, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Elton John and Mariah Carey among others. Her radio talk show "Bagels and Broadway" highlighted theatre and food personalities. She is an accomplished interviewer and voice artist heard on commercials, narrations, promos and audiobooks, as well as a sought after live announcer.
Most recently, Valerie produced and directed a film, The Thursday Night Club, featuring pop diva Gloria Gaynor in her movie acting debut. She is one of the creators and producers of a docu-series, Divine Renovation, starring Erik Estrada, on streaming networks soon.
