Heather Holland Wheaton, a tour guide, short story writer, background actor and campaign staffer, moved to New York in 1987 and has lived here ever since. This is Heather's West Side Story.
So what is your New York story? Were you born here or are you a recent arrival?
I should have been born here. My father came here from Kansas to be an actor and lived on 52nd Street. My mother (who is from Rhode Island) came here to work in publishing. They met, fell in love, got married and moved to Buffalo. But when I came to New York for the first time when I was 5 years old, I decided I had to live here. But I didn't come here until 1987.
What was your first job and what are you doing now?
I really wanted to work at SPY magazine, but that didn't happen, so I ended up as the supervisor of the art and architecture department at Barnes & Noble on 5th Avenue and 18th Street. My office was up this hidden staircase, so I could eavesdrop on customer conversations.
These days I'm a tour guide, a short story writer, a background actor, and a campaign worker – all jobs I love.
What's your favorite moment in New York so far?
It was the first copy of my self-published book. 8 million stories per minute in New York It's available on Amazon, but I truly believe that most of the time you spend in New York passes by unnoticed in the hectic life of New York, meeting people who will go on to have a major impact on your life.
Why do you like Hell's Kitchen?
As I always tell tourists, Hell's Kitchen is the heart of the universe: filled with the most talented people, interesting characters, quirky history and legends, a cluster of century-old row houses with uneven floors and brick-topped windows, great food, and bars that make for great conversation, but also a real sense of local pride and community.
What is your super power or hidden talent?
I notice things that most people don't notice, and I write it all down.
Is there anything else we should know about you?
I have lived in Hell's Kitchen for over 30 years and can't imagine living anywhere else. It's a long story – COVID, my roommate moving, my neighborhood friend moving to NJ, giving up my rent stabilized apartment to move into his apartment (so stupid!), him moving back and me being unable to afford my Hell's Kitchen apartment anymore, and then I didn't get on the waiting list for Manhattan Plaza.
So, if you're looking for a great roommate who is quiet, doesn't cook much, showers at the gym, respects your privacy, pays rent and bills on time if not early, has a good sense of humor, and likes to clean, I'm the perfect fit.
Heather's Favorite Hell's Kitchen Place
Oasis Community Garden — West 52nd Street (intersecting 10th and 11th Streets)
Oasis is the perfect symbol of Hell's Kitchen. A pile of rubble that was once home to two row houses was given over to a group of kind neighbors to be a community garden, several of whom still garden there. I have my own plot there, a small plot where I grow pumpkins, rhubarb, lavender, and basil. My next-door neighbor on the lot next to mine is the artist Jim Sefens, who is always a pleasure to see. He's a true historian of Hell's Kitchen and extremely resourceful. You can still find bricks in your bargains, most of which were made in the neighborhood.
American Retro Bar & Grill — 785 9th Avenue (bordered by 52nd/53rd St. West)
I sit at the bar and do second drafts and edits, and I love having a burger and chatting with the owner, Mike DeLeo.
TMPL – Hell's Kitchen — 355 W49th Street (adjacent to 8th/9th Ave)
The saltwater pool is a womb-like place and my favourite place to think about a piece I’m writing or just sit there and think about nothing at all.
Jasper's Taphouse & Kitchen — 761 9th Avenue (corner of W51st)
I love sitting outside and writing the first draft of a short story. It's also a great place to socialize and people watch. The food is great and the staff is fantastic.
Smoke Scene N Vape — 786 9th Avenue (bordered by 52nd/53rd St. West)
I feel so happy when I go to say hello to my cat Charlie. I'm not a cat person, but I love Charlie. Sometimes he comes running to say hello to me, but most of the time he just sits curled up in my office chair. His picture is in the general store's cat book. He's really a celebrity.
Schmuckally — 362 W45th Street (bordering 8th/9th Ave)
The best cookies on earth and everyone who works there is so nice.
Fountain House Gallery — 702 9th Avenue (corner of W48th St.)
I love the artwork on display there and I love that Fountain House gives artists a place to put their artwork out there.
Salvation Army Thrift Store & Donation Center — 536 W46th Street (bordering 10th/11th Ave)
It's great to have an elevator, but it was fun to see the cartoons on display on the way up the stairs. I'm always on the lookout for outfits that I would never wear in real life, but would look great in court. Law and order Or Gala daredevil.
Westside Home Center Co., Ltd. — 778 9th Avenue (corner of W52nd St)
The staff there are so knowledgeable about repairs that the manager would say, “We'll take care of it next week.” They've never had a toilet paper shortage during the pandemic.
Entire 9th Avenue — between W 34th Street and W 59th Street
This is the heart of Hell's Kitchen. There's always action, there's always something going on. It's dramatic, it's hilarious, bagpipes playing at 3am, Yorkies in pink sweaters barking sassily at pit bulls, drag queens arriving late for brunch, ice cream trucks driving through snowstorms, delivery men taking a break on modified electric bikes. 9th Avenue has it all.
Follow Heather on Instagram @heatherhollandwheaton and check out her website If you know someone who would be perfect for West Side Story (or would like to nominate yourself), fill out this form: w42st.info/WSSnominations
For more West Side Stories and reader recommendations, check out the Hell's Kitchen Local app on W42ST.
