Gary B. Martin is an illustrator and animator who has lived on the Upper West Side for more than three decades. His Sunday illustrations for West Side Rag chronicle life in the neighborhood, New York City, and the Universe.
Watch for Gary’s illustrations on Sundays in the Rag and see them all here. For a broader range of Gary’s work, including animations and other motion graphics, please visit www.martoons.com
Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here. And check out the Support button below.
Truly, beauty is everywhere! Thanks for reminding me to look around.
That is so so so sweet. It also makes me a bit sad. I moved from the UWS to midtown about 20 years ago and I will always miss it. I always tell people that I still consider the UWS to be my hometown. Thanks for the reminder Gary.
Gary, City Diner and Thalia Theater just make it into the UWS. My recollection is that your view is that anything east of Broadway is not truly the UWS.
City Diner and Thalia are WEST of Broadway.
I think we all feel that way!
Love the new little friend in this one and the drawing is wonderful. Captures perfectly why I love living here.
Too elegiac for comfort, like he’s kissing the UWS goodbye.
I used to think you had to know everything about the city to be a real New Yorker. As you remind us, Gary, you just need to love it, despite its flaws and frustrations…although a little local knowledge doesn’t hurt.
Thanks again, Gary, for my weekly smile.
Sweet reminder to stop and look around at all that’s good in our world. Nicely done, Gary.
So many things to love and that is why so many of us fight so hard to protect it from rapacious developers and corrupt politicians.
Ah — the soft side of Gary. Regardless the side — always brilliant!!
I’ve loved all of the “Martoonerville” comics that Gary Martin has shared over the past several months, but this is my favorite. As a new resident of the Upper West Side (after 32 years in Hell’s Kitchen), this week’s strip captures EXACTLY how I feel about my new neighborhood.
The UWS is a special place! Thanks for the reminder.
Love NYC! Through all the changes, it will always be home. Your cartoons are so amazing Gary!
Right in the heart.
Related: I hope Symphony Space reopens the Thalia bar area as a jazz club/bar one day…
Home is where the heart is. I ❤️ UWS!
Love.
We are so lucky to be in the most beautiful neighborhood in NYC.