By Gus Saltonstall
It had been a peaceful few months on West 78th Street between West End Avenue and Riverside Drive.
A high-fiber snack food mystery had come to light on the block this past summer, as multiple residents reported large, unexplained piles of almonds, pretzels, and chips randomly appearing from February to June on the north side of the West 78th Street block.
Nobody knew who was creating the piles. And, more importantly, why?
West Side Rag dug into the mystery at the time, but the case went cold.
According to multiple residents of 78th Street between West End Avenue and Riverside Drive, no snack piles appeared on the block from mid June through October.
Everything changed on October 25.
The snack piles returned on West 78th Street, but this time with a twist.
Ziploc bags!
The almonds, which, as they did in the summer, appear to be the Thai Chill flavor from Trader Joe’s, along with some sort of potato chip, were left in two Ziploc bags on the north side of West 78th Street between West End Avenue and Riverside Drive.
The new development leaves questions.
Do the Ziploc bags intend to put to rest the theory that the snack piles were left for birds? What about the fact that at least one of the bags was clearly left open to some extent, and not purposefully sealed?
The snacks are also double-bagged. Does this mean something?
Melanie Landsman, who has been documenting the appearance of the snack piles, was also left speculating on this new version of the West 78th Street snack piles.
“I don’t really know what the return means. I wonder if I’ve discovered the origins of the snacks: maybe they always started in bags but I never saw that stage,” Landsman told West Side Rag in a text message on Sunday. “Maybe it indicates something else. Hard to say!”
No doubt that the use of the Ziploc bags, though, takes away from the theory that the snack piles are ceremonial in some way.
As you can see, the former snack piles without the Ziploc bags were much more circular in appearance.
West Side Rag will continue to keeps its eye on this developing situation.
Read More:
- The Almond and Pretzel Mystery of West 78th Street
- New Details Emerge in the Snack-Pile Mystery of West 78th Street
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Any indication on flavor of the chips?
All that, AND a bag of chips???
I’m wondering if there are any Ring or other security cameras where the snacks are deposited. I could be wrong, but I’d bet the distributor of these tidbits does his/her work under the cover of darkness.
Coincides with School. Maybe some kid didn’t like the snacks Mom packed and dumped them out before going home. This time they ditched the whole bags in a hurry not to get caught.
my mom packed like 10 almonds for me, who packs a pound of almonds to take to school???
Well the mom thinks the kid really really likes the snacks cause none are coming back home uneaten. So she keeps packing more and more snacks! ha ha
This is one of the best theories yet. Would align with the lack of snacks from the end of June until now. Could be an elementary/middle school student who is being sent to school with the snacks, and has been dumping the contents because they don’t like them/maybe thinks they are feeding the birds or squirrels. Now, the kid just dumped the whole bag.
Who would double Ziploc a snack bag? A parent.
If so the kid needs to be taught not to litter.
Most probable. Nothing nefarious here.
Should be examined be a certified laboratory for contaminants.
It really should. Grab them, send them to a world-class lab (can’t leave things to chance), pay for it, post the results here. We’re grateful.
Or just don’t eat random food you find on the sidewalk.
Maybe they were left for homeless people?
Could it just be a prankster who finds all the ridiculous attention this stunt is getting amusing?
Someone needs to do a stakeout!
Great article and comments. Stories like this one is why I support the West Side Rag.
I’m sorry but this reporting has been making me legitimately insane; have y’all forgotten that homeless people exist and that perhaps someone is leaving snacks for them lmfao
Someone was leaving snacks for the homeless by pouring them on neat little piles directly on the ground (at least 2x prior reports) – but now they graduated to double-bagging them for extra …safety?
Indeed, let’s leave food( bagged or not) on a FILTHY dirty sidewalk for the Homeless to eat. Sounds like a Brilliant idea SMH.