Book Review: ‘We Are Staying’ Captures a Flashpoint in Upper West Side History and the Evolution of the Neighborhood
In the summer of 1977, New York City was about as far from the tourist mecca it is today as can be imagined. The Bronx was burning, a serial kille … Read the rest of this entry >>
How a School Battle on the UWS Sparked Cynthia Nixon’s Bid for Governor
Cynthia Nixon smiled, joked with kids and shook hands outside the entrance to PS 75 on West 94th Street during dropoff on Friday mo … Read the rest of this entry >>
How the ‘Garden People’ of Riverside Park Grew a Community
It is always a joy and often a surprise to stumble upon a quiet place where nature abounds in the midst of New York City. Such is the 91st Street Community G … Read the rest of this entry >>
Short Film: A Photographer Turns His Lens on Our Changing Neighborhood
Stephen Harmon has been photographing the Upper West Side for decades, walking around the neighborhood and taking shots of the various chara … Read the rest of this entry >>
Photos: Mrs. Maisel Takes Over the Upper West Side
On Thursday, the Amazon show The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was filming throughout the Upper West Side, and locals snapped photos of vintage … Read the rest of this entry >>
Throwback Thursday: Remembering ‘Old John’
Stephen Harmon took this photo sometime in the late 70's or early 80's at 72nd Street and Broadway. "Old John the accordion playe … Read the rest of this entry >>
The New Hotel Belleclaire Entrance Takes You Back in Time
The Hotel Belleclaire on Broadway between 76th and 77th has undergone a major exterior renovation, and it recently revealed its new entran … Read the rest of this entry >>
Throwback Thursday: An Author Remembers the Roaches, the Muggers and the Milk Machine
At risk of sounding like the Ancient Mariner, I remember how Book Culture’s block looked when I moved to New York City in 1970 to … Read the rest of this entry >>
R.I.P. Philip Roth, Upper West Sider; Where are Those Mystery Initials?
Philip Roth, one of the great American authors, died on Tuesday. Roth spent his last years living quietly on the Upper West Side, t … Read the rest of this entry >>
Small Business Focus: Murray’s Sturgeon Shop
You won’t find schmaltz (either “excessive sentimentality” or “clarified chicken fat”) at Murray’s Sturgeon Shop, on Broadway between 89th and 90th St … Read the rest of this entry >>
Throwback Thursday: Business Cards and Receipts to Make Your Mouth Water
West Side Rag reader David saved receipts and business cards from some iconic Upper West Side businesses and sent us the … Read the rest of this entry >>
Finalists Chosen to Craft Elizabeth Cady Stanton/Susan B. Anthony Statue in Central Park, as Girl Scouts Contribute
The process to bring the first statue of an historic woman to Central Park moved ahead this week, as the Statue Fund chose its four finalists to construct the st … Read the rest of this entry >>
The Dakota Sure Cleans Up Nice
The Dakota on 72nd Street and Central Park West has had extensive work done on its roof, and the results were recently revealed … Read the rest of this entry >>
Landmark Synagogue Celebrates Historic Birthday: The Jewish Center Turns 100
SPONSORED: Much has changed about the landscape of the Upper West Side over the course of the past hundred years, but one of our historic institutions is as vibrant as … Read the rest of this entry >>
A Journalist Studies His Boyhood Block, and Finds a Wild History
A little over a year and a half back, thanks to the W. 102nd & 103rd Streets Block Association blog, I received a message from New York Times journalist and e … Read the rest of this entry >>
Throwback Thursday: A Flower Shop That Was Out of This World
Once upon a time in what now seems like another world, there was a little flower shop on Columbus and 73rd Street between the years of 1974 and … Read the rest of this entry >>
Small Business Focus: A Tumultuous Year for Mom and Pop on the Upper West Side
When asked what she wanted to do, my 17-year-old goddaughter, visiting from California the week before Christmas, didn’t hesitate: “Go shopping,” she … Read the rest of this entry >>
Throwback Thursday: Remember CDs?
For years, the Tower Records at 66th and Broadway was a gathering place for Upper West Siders who didn't yet have Spotify because it wasn't inven … Read the rest of this entry >>
Powerhouse Wins Landmark Designation Just as Glassy Towers Encroach
Welcome to the Upper West Side, where even our powerhouses are historic! A powerhouse designed by prominent architect Stanford Whi … Read the rest of this entry >>
For Sale: Two Turrets In An Upper West Side Castle
An apartment that contains two massive turrets of a former hospital at 455 Central Park West between 105th and 106th Street is for sale, a … Read the rest of this entry >>
