Jill Blackford, co-founder and senior program manager of Hell's Kitchen Community Cupboard, grew up in Nashville and moved to Hell's Kitchen in 2009. When she's not organizing food distributions, she can be found hanging out with her adopted puppy, Zeus, which is her West Side Story.
So what is your New York story? Were you born here or are you a recent arrival?
I grew up in a small town north of Nashville, but moved here from Washington DC in November 2005. I majored in International Relations in college, so DC seemed like the right place to start my career. I found a great job and met a lot of great people, but after a few years I realized that DC was really small and restrictive. To give an example, after moving here, in DC, if someone says, “Hey, let's go to a restaurant in (blank),” and you've never heard of the restaurant, you probably won't go because you already know all the good ones. There's always something new and exciting here, which fits my energy and endless curiosity perfectly. I moved to Hell's Kitchen in 2009, and I can't imagine living anywhere else.
What was your first job and what are you doing now?
Technically, my first job was working for my parents. My stepfather (now retired) was a very creative entrepreneur who opened an old-fashioned photography shop on Music Row in Nashville. I spent several summers in high school photographing women dressed in barmaid corsets and sitting at the counter of the Music City Saloon with a bottle of Jack Daniel's. I now work at the Nasdaq Foundation, where I support organizations that help entrepreneurs like my stepfather get their start and teach underserved communities how to invest in the capital markets.
What's your favorite moment in New York so far?
In my past jobs in New York, I had the opportunity to go on site visits to some really amazing nonprofits, like Rocking the Boat in the Bronx, where I went out on the Bronx River to watch students sail in boats they built, or RISE in the Rockaways, where I went out with students to Jamaica Bay to study the wildlife. But my favorite was going with the Billion Oyster Project in a little boat to the mouth of the Gowanus Canal to look for wild oysters. They were really gross, and I thought there would never be any, but we found loads. The work they're doing to restore oyster reefs in New York Harbor is really amazing, and I recommend you check it out.
Why do you like Hell's Kitchen?
A snobby Brooklynite once said of me, “Of course I live in Manhattan. This is what Southerners think New York should be.” But guess what? Come on. Hell's Kitchen is a smaller (but much more diverse!) tight-knit town. I've been lucky to meet so many friendly and caring people in my neighborhood. Go to Target or walk down 10th Avenue and you're bound to see someone you know. Take that, Brooklyn!
What is your super power or hidden talent?
I'd say my superpowers are my outgoing personality and my big smile. I genuinely enjoy talking to people and listening to them (mostly), and a big smile and greeting goes a long way in putting people at ease. I also think I use my friendliness to convince people to trust me and do things my way. But what's a superpower without an edge?
Is there anything else we should know about you?
I am one of the organizers of the Hell's Kitchen Community Cupboard. The Cupboard is located outside Ryan Health Clinic on 10th Avenue between West 45th and West 46th Streets. The Cupboard is a mutual aid organization with two goals: reducing food waste and reducing food insecurity, and it's been so wonderful to see it take root in Hell's Kitchen. I've met countless neighbors there that I would never have met elsewhere, and have made some really close friends. I also love that our philosophy is always to assume the best intentions. This can be hard sometimes! But I try to remember that you never know someone else's situation or what's going on with them that day or week, and that we are all just neighbors trying to survive and thrive in this little corner of Manhattan. Shout out to all the amazing volunteers who help pick up food and keep the cupboards clean and tidy every day. We are always looking for people to join us. If you would like to join as a volunteer, please email hkcommunityfridge@gmail.com. We are always in need of food, too. If you run a local business that you'd like to donate to on a regular basis, send us an email and we can send a volunteer to come pick up your donations. And of course, reach out to your awesome neighbours who are happy to stock and share food in their cupboards. (Just to be clear, we happily accept unopened, shelf-stable and expired food in the cupboards, but please do not put clothes or other non-food items in them!)
Jill's Favorite Hell's Kitchen Place
Coco and Toto — 730 11th Avenue (intersecting W51st/52nd St)
I got a dog about a year ago and quickly realized that he couldn't be left home alone all day while I was in the office. I take my dog to Coco & Toto dog daycare twice a week and he absolutely loves it. The staff is super friendly, I enjoy chatting with the owner, Ron Brucki, when I drop him off in the morning, and it gives me peace of mind knowing my dog is safe and well looked after while I'm at work. Plus, he's an energetic dog who's tired when I get home in the evening, so I can relax.
Rudy's Bar & Grill — 627 9th Avenue (intersecting W44th/45th St)
There was a time in the early 2010s when I used to go to Rudy's almost every Thursday night for Drinking Liberally, a national social group started by friends in Rudy's backyard that meets to socialize and talk politics. I don't go as often now, but I still feel like I'm home when I walk in and order a pitcher of Rudy's Red to share with a friend.
Domus — 413 W44th Street (bordering 9th/10th Ave)
Domus is a really nice little store where you can buy gifts and greeting cards. It's always my first stop when I'm looking for something unique or special to give to a friend. They also have the best selection of Christmas tree decorations and I think most of my purchases come from here.
Veritas Studio Wines — 527 W45th Street (adjacent to 10th/11th Ave)
Veritas has a great wine selection and the staff is always happy to recommend great wines based on your tastes, what you're making for dinner, or the mood you're in. They also have a ton of dog treats, which my dog loves.
Amy's Bread and Sullivan Street Bakery — 672 9th Avenue & 533 W47th Street
May I break the rule and name Amy's Bread and Sullivan Street Bakery as my favorite bakeries in a tie? Not only are their breads and pastries absolutely delicious (Amy's Chocolate Sourdough Twists and Sullivan's Bomboloni are my favorite treats), but they also both donate surplus bread each day to the Hell's Kitchen Community Cupboard so that we can share with our neighbors. How awesome is that?
Current situation in New York — 734 10th Avenue (corner of W50th St.)
If anyone wants to have a beer in Hell's Kitchen, As Is is my go to place. They have a great selection of draft beers, great cocktails and a very relaxed atmosphere. You can't go wrong here.
Poulet Rotisserie Chicken — 790 9th Avenue (intersecting W52/53rd St)
To be honest, I never actually go to Poulette, but I often order delivery from them. Their rotisserie chicken is so good, their sides range from healthy (green beans and mushrooms!) to not-so-healthy (yes, macaroni and cheese!), and their delivery is always fast. It's comfort food. What's not to like?
Delicious Handmade Noodles II — 648 9th Avenue (intersecting W45th/46th St)
I love all the new Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong, but my favorite is Tasty Hand Pulled Noodles. Whether you're sick or not, their wonton noodle soup is amazing and their fried noodles are great too. Highly recommended.
Gotham West Market — 600 11th Avenue (intersecting W44th/45th St)
I was skeptical like everyone else when they decided to put basically a food court on 11th Avenue instead of a grocery store or something more convenient, but Gotham West Market has become the de facto meeting space for HK Cupboard organizers, with plenty of food and drink options and the ability to sit down with your laptop and work as much as you need to. La Palapa has a happy hour with wine and frozen margaritas until 8pm, and dell'anima has great cocktails and snacks. If you're craving something sweet, Petee's has great pies. A moment of silence for Corner Slice, which has my favorite slice in the neighborhood.
Follow @jillyblackford on Instagram and check out the HK Cupboard. If you know someone who would be perfect for West Side Story (or would like to nominate yourself), fill in this form: w42st.info/WSSnominations.
For more West Side Stories and reader recommendations, check out the Hell's Kitchen Local app on W42ST.
