Why the West Side (Pandemic Edition): John French of Twisted Sister
John French is a passionate Upper West Sider who has played many roles in his career and philanthropic efforts. He’s best known as the founding member of Twisted Siste … Read the rest of this entry >>
Another Perspective: Sheltering Out of Place, Missing My People and Tuna Fish
I miss the city. I’m 71 years old and my husband is 75, so we, our dog, and our pre-existing conditions rushed out of Manhattan more than two months ago, urged on by surprisingly insistent younger pe … Read the rest of this entry >>
Pandemic Nights: March-April, 2020
If you stand near Wollman Rink at the southern end of Central Park at 7 p.m., when New Yorkers throw open their windows and applaud the health … Read the rest of this entry >>
Professor Who Teaches Popular NYU ‘Happiness’ Course Offers Advice on Keeping it Together
Mental health is often thought of as the absence of symptoms of mental suffering, chief among them stress, anxiety and depression. But it wasn’t a … Read the rest of this entry >>
Weekend Column: How Did Coyotes Get To Central Park And What Do Wolves Have To Do With It?
Humans may be stuck inside today, but coyotes are still roaming around. In fact, there have been several coyote sightings in Central Park in recent mo … Read the rest of this entry >>
The Answer Column: Is A Hallway Soirée Okay?
On Monday, we posted the story of three couples who met in their common hallway — six feet apart as verified by a tape measure — for a nig … Read the rest of this entry >>
The Bird Bulletin: A Guide to Birding from Home
For those of us able to work remotely, each day can feel monotonous and draining—hunched over our computers, staring at screens, and stuck on endless streams of back-to-back Zoom meet … Read the rest of this entry >>
Why the West Side (Pandemic Edition): Victoria Clark
Tony Award winner Victoria Clark has graced the Broadway stage and the small screen too -- taking on memorable roles on shows like the dramatic series “Homelan … Read the rest of this entry >>
Column: Patriotism is Tricky Sometimes, But I’ll Salute the Thunderbirds
I won't go much into my complicated relationship to my patriotism. Except to say, while I could have done without all the lapel … Read the rest of this entry >>
UWS Encounters: Of A Fourth Kind
Shopping at Fairway Market last night, I saw an unmistakable half-face. Like everyone else, Richard Kind had a mask on in the produce aisle, but there … Read the rest of this entry >>
Column: An Italian Restaurant Becomes a Grocery Store and Cooking Consultant Rolled in One
Upper West Siders are desperate to find stores spacious enough to allow 6 feet of distance between people, delivery services that will take our calls and make deliv … Read the rest of this entry >>
UWS Encounters: Hidden Assets
Can’t get flour or yeast/Or even toilet tissue/But shortages of goods/Are not my … Read the rest of this entry >>
UWS Encounters: John Prine, The Drummer, and Larry Hart
I’d never heard of John Prine until CNN reported he died of COVID-19. I listened to his work on youtube last evening. His songs are wonderful. So many good pe … Read the rest of this entry >>
Why the West Side (Pandemic Edition): Susie Essman
Susie Essman is an actress, comedienne and a neighborhood treasure! You’d be hard pressed to find someone more passionate about living … Read the rest of this entry >>
The Answer Column: What Is Price Gouging And How Is It Determined?
Several readers have written in asking for an explanation of price gouging. The possibility for it happening obviously exists as certain … Read the rest of this entry >>
Sheltering Solo On The Upper West Side: Tell Us About It
The other day, we posted a story about a man who put up a flier in Central Park, a kind of personal ad, seeking a mate. “I was single when … Read the rest of this entry >>
UWS Encounters: A Bird and a Biker
I was working from home, and a little bird visited my windowsill for the first time, and chirped something for a few minutes. It was hop … Read the rest of this entry >>
Column: How to Keep Your Physical Distance, But Maintain Social Connection
As anxiety mounts, along with illness and death in New York City and around the country, we’ve been asked to hunker down wherever we call home, for wha … Read the rest of this entry >>
Why the West Side (Pandemic Edition): Steve Guttenberg
West Side Rag ran an interview series with creative locals for years that we called "Why the West Side." In these strange times, we're checking back in … Read the rest of this entry >>
UWS Encounters: Universal Basic Goodness, Quarantines Gone By, A Revelation
Two neighbors I knew offered to shop for me and a third I didn’t know. I was reassured of the universal basic goodness of … Read the rest of this entry >>
