By Gus Saltonstall
The Upper West Side community is stepping up in the effort to solve the snack-pile mystery of West 78th Street.
For those who might have missed West Side Rag’s original article, piles of high-fiber snack foods have been appearing on the north side of West 78th Street between West End Avenue and Riverside Drive for months without explanation.
Following Tuesday’s piece, block resident and photographer Melanie Landsman reached out to share additional details.
Landsman moved to West 78th Street in the fall and has been since documenting the piles.
“This has been quietly catching my attention since I moved,” she told the Rag. “Literally zero clue who is doing this. The piles are always east of 321 West 78th Street, usually right past it. It’s an expensive treat for the birds, so no idea why someone would waste perfectly good nuts.”
Landsman has been documenting the piles when they appear, but admits she might have missed some of them.
- February 5: Half potato chips (possibly Ruffles), half almonds.
- March 21: Pretzels
- June 8: Thai Chili almonds from Trader Joe’s.
Additionally, Eve Epstein, who originally alerted West Side Rag to the snack piles, was able to shed some light on the almond and pretzel component of the happening.
“Are they roasted or unroasted? Salted or unsalted? Organic or not? Pretzels – Snyder’s? Rold Gold? There’s clearly more investigative work to be done?” commenter Peter rightfully wrote under the Rag’s original article.
That’s where Epstein, also a resident of the block, stepped in.
“Hi Peter- the almonds are always roasted and seem flavored- never plain,” she responded. “Pretzels always traditional pretzel shape but not regular sized or tiny- that in between size.”
Other theories shared as possible explanations for the piles from Rag readers included some sort of “Harriet the Spy” type code communication, offerings to a vegan god, voodoo, and George Soros.
None of these have been confirmed.
The Rag will continue to share important updates.
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I’m on the edge of my seat for more updates! Maybe this new evidence will be the key to cracking the case.
In a city and neighborhood with a persistent and pervasive rat problem, not sure I find this as funny and entertaining as others do.
I think we should organize a stake-out!
Voodoo offerings
So many UWS nut jobs feeding birds. I want to scream every time I see it. My money’s on a pigeon feeder.
How’s that block doing on mice, rats, and roaches?
Possibly someone is leaving the food for our local homeless population.
FWIW, the Thai Chili Almonds from Trader Joe’s are absolutely delicious.
(Obviously not delicious enough to eat off of the NYC payment!)
I dunno, Snax. I once watched a (probably drunk) woman eat spilled Cheetos off the floor of the 1 train one evening.
Setting aside that it is illegal to feed pigeons in NYC (though, yes, other birds may benefit from these treats), the person doing this is really just feeding the rats – which we are all trying to get rid of. I cannot believe it would be that difficult to find out who is doing this, and get them to stop. I love birds (even the lowly and maligned pigeon), but I don’t like rats. And this person is feeding more rats than birds. It needs to stop.
Easy – this is the aliens returning what they don’t like. When pistachios, Twizzlers, and M&Ms are nowhere to be found that tells you something.
Let’s parse the possible profile of the perpetrator. (you’re welcome) If it’s a citizen who is feeding the: 1) birds (generic), 2) birds (specifically pigeons), 3) rats and mice (weird), 4) raccoons (adorable but only when you spot them in the trees), someone needs to let them know that some of these food items will make the animals very sick (Thai Chili almonds), or have no protein value (pretzels and potato chips), UNLESS the citizen WANTS to eliminate the animals, in which case the Thai Chili almonds might work, or perhaps the other items are laced with poison? I put my money on an eccentric, well-meaning, UWSider, aged 55-85 – which narrows the possible perpetrator to approximately 80% of the folks who live between 70th and 96th street (<random range).
Ageist much? Why not an eccentric, well-meaning second grader whose family is wondering why all the snacks are disappearing?
Ugh. This is such a non-story. Please don’t make it a mini-series.
It’s garbage on a NYC sidewalk.
Oh where is your sense of fun??? With all the serious stuff going on in the city and beyond, we need silly distractions!
It’s a slow news week
This is nuts. I mean, it really ruffles my feathers.
How are we so sure they are Thai chili almonds? Did someone sample them?
To the person making the snack piles, please stop. The Upper West Side has a rat problem and rats are gonna love those snacks. There are certain blocks I avoid walking after 8pm because of rats , they come out at night.
Please stay on top of this important story. We deserve to know the truth!
I twist myself into a pretzel going nuts over this!
@Ian Alterman
it is absolutely NOT illegal to feed pigeons in nyc, stop spreading untruths. You 1000% made it up
You are correct. Urban myths die hard.
[…] Holmes and Watson were called in to investigate the snack-pile mystery of West 78th Street, which you can read about – HERE. […]