“Playing Brings Me Back to the Way I Felt as a Girl, and That’s Priceless” — Carol Klenfner Shares Her West Side Story

Freelance publicist and multiple medal-winning ping pong player Carol Klenfner moved to Manhattan Plaza five years ago after spending several years on the waiting list. This is her West Side Story.

So what’s your New York story? Born here, or just arrived?
I was born in Queens, have been a Manhattan resident since college days at Barnard, and a Hell’s Kitchen resident for five years (ever since I got the fateful call from Manhattan Plaza that I’d hit the top of the list, after a five-year wait).

What was your first job? What do you do now?
My first job out of college was receptionist/assistant at WRVR, the non-commercial radio station at Riverside Church. One of the producers at the station tapped me to help him and he taught me to write press releases for his programs (interviews and jazz) and accompany him to openings of cultural events and screenings. As I sorted his mail — invitations, books, movie tickets — I saw that women were the heads of the PR departments, which was most unusual back then. So when I left that job, I headed towards PR, using my writing samples from the radio station to find a job in publicity.

After a few years’ experience in the field (publishing, statewide labor union elections, non-profits), I realized what I truly wanted was to work in the arts. I eventually struck gold when I got a job in the small New York office of an LA-based PR agency that handled 50 of the biggest rock and roll bands (Elton John, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Aerosmith, etc.). Within the year, my boss left to manage a one-hit wonder (Looking Glass), and I was promoted to VP/head of the NY office. This was in the 70s when every kid in America wanted to work in rock and roll, so I was in heaven.

Now after many years working in-house and in PR agencies,  I run my own freelance boutique publicity agency, specializing in entertainment (legendary rock photographer Bob Gruen , Brooklyn’s Brave New World Repertory Theatre, the International Black Theatre Festival) and also other accounts like the Park Slope 5th Avenue’s BID and local Hell’s Kitchen business PingPod (W37th Street) where I play competitive ping pong a few times a week.

What’s your favorite New York minute (or moment) so far?
I’m a huge fan of Central Park and try to work a walk into my schedule whenever possible. My favorite way of getting to the Upper East Side is to take the C train up Central Park West and then cut across town by foot, ambling through the Park on weekdays when it’s not completely packed. A walk in Central Park gives me a beautiful “slice” of serenity, which is sometimes hard to get in Manhattan. Those New York minutes spent in the Park are always restorative.

Share with us why you love Hell’s Kitchen
Hell’s Kitchen is the beating heart of Manhattan, a place I always wanted to call my home ever since I was a kid growing up in the sleepy suburbs of Queens. For the past five years, I’ve lived in the neighborhood at Manhattan Plaza, for which I am very grateful. I love how close it is to everywhere I want to go — uptown, downtown or Broadway.

What’s your superpower or hidden talent?
Nine years ago, recently widowed and laid off from a full-time job in the Great Recession, I happened to watch a documentary on Channel 13 (PBS) called Ping Pong that focused on the World Masters Championships for seniors. It told the stories of four players, aged 80 to 100 (!) who were competing in the tournament despite the challenges of age. They were driven by the will to compete, to win, to live. Then still in my late 60s, I thought “that’s a sport I could take up!” — and I did!

Over the past few years, I’ve racked up an impressive collection (41+) of gold, silver and bronze medals in senior events in NY, NJ, CT and national events throughout the country, but last year was a new high. I won the Gold Medal in my age group at the National Senior Games, fulfilling a dream I didn’t even know I had!

Ping pong has changed my life in significant ways — adding activity, competition, friends, fitness, new clients, new community and even a book club to my life. Playing brings me back to the way I felt as a girl — and that’s priceless. Just as the people in the documentary inspired me, I now hope to inspire others. I’m living proof that it’s never too late to take up a new activity, fall in love with it and go where it leads. And next month will mark a full circle for me. It’s going to take me to Rome, site of the huge World Masters Championship tournament, where I’ll compete with 6,100 other seniors from around the world.

What else should we know about you?
My table tennis journey has generated my 15 minutes of fame, which has been fun and exciting. Three high points were 1) a profile on NY1 with the wonderful Roger Clark, 2) a feature in the Wall Street Journal (My Fitness Routine), and 3) a segment on Channel 13’s MetroFocus in 2018 which won the station an Emmy Award!

Carol’s Favorite Hell’s Kitchen Places

Little Pie Company — 424 W43rd Street (bw 9/10th Ave)
I love walking by the Little Pie Company in the morning when the aroma of their fruit pies baking fills W43rd Street with the most delicious smells — butter, berries, chocolate. When I signed my lease at Manhattan Plaza, I celebrated with the most spectacular Apple Turnover I ever had.  Then I had to promise myself to NOT make that an everyday occurrence, just for celebrations and special occasions!

Dalton’s Bar & Grill — 611 9th Avenue (bw W43/44th St)
The best Irish bar in the neighborhood, period. Friendly people, great fries and Sean, Dalton’s owner and host, who watches over everything.

Domus – 413 W44th Street (bw 9/10th Ave)
Whenever I need a present, a greeting card, or something nice for my apartment, Domus is my destination. The lovely owners give great gift advice, curate a wide array of interesting items and are fun to talk to. And it’s literally around the corner.

Pier 84 – W44th Street at 12th Ave
Sometimes, I want to see the Hudson River, so I head out to Pier 84. It’s got a lot going for it: benches all the way out to the middle of the river, kayak classes that I always wish I had time for, the Intrepid, a dog run, shade. Perfection.

PingPod — 321 W37th Street (bw 8/9th Ave)
My home away from home. You can find me here playing 4-5 times a week. PingPod has the best conditions for table tennis — lots of space, high ceilings, great lighting, top-level tables, lots of balls — and some of the best coaches in the Western Hemisphere.

DK Restaurant NYC — 207 West 36th Street (bw 7/8th Ave)
OK, maybe it’s a little too far downtown to be officially in Hell’s Kitchen, but it’s close. And it’s a terrific restaurant where everything from prime steak and fresh fish to pasta is delicious. Denis, the owner, and his professional staff make you feel at home whether you sit at the bar or dine at a table. Top notch food, exceptional wine list, always a great experience. Great for celebrations.

Norma Hell’s Kitchen — 801 9th Avenue (at the corner of W53rd St)
This is the place I go when I want great southern Italian food. Awesome pasta, pizza, rice balls, everything.

Sullivan Street Bakery — 533 W47th Street (bw 10/11th Ave)
Omg, everything they make is delicious — so if I want to keep my training regime, I can’t come here very often. But my dreams are filled with memories of the bread and the sandwiches.

International Grocery — 543 9th Avenue (bw W39/40th)
This store is a throwback to the old 9th Avenue, a savory snapshot from years gone by. I love their Greek specialties — stuffed grape leaves, taramasalata, bean salads, feta cheese. It’s where I buy my nuts, olives, spices, coffee and olive oil. And the guys who work there are the best.

Poseidon Greek Bakery — 629 9th Avenue (W43/44th St)
When I want a great spanakopita, this is my destination. And they make trays of little spinach pies — perfect for cocktail parties.

You can follow Carol in Instagram at @carolklenfner_ or on Facebook . If you know someone who would make a great West Side Story (or you would like to nominate yourself), please fill in this form — w42st.info/WSSnominations .

You can check out more West Side Stories and reader recommendations on W42ST’s Hell’s Kitchen Local App .

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