West Side Rag
@westsiderag
The Upper West Side's source for news, events and opinions. Written by locals for locals.
The block on Riverside Drive between 105th and 106th streets looks so serene. But is it? Not even close. A senior citizen dared a grand escape, Bennie the Bum lost not one but two legs, and a Hiroshima survivor is telling stories of history’s darkest day. 👉 westsiderag.com/2026/08/08/the…
Sarabeth's, the iconic UWS brunch spot, is in danger of being evicted by the building's owner for nonpayment of rent. www.westsiderag.com/2026/08/03/m...
The jogger who was hit by an e-bike in Central Park on July 7 has emerged from a medically induced coma. www.westsiderag.com/2026/07/27/m...
We usually measure a neighborhood by what there is to do. But what about what it lets us not do? With its gazillion benches, the Upper West Side almost seems a little pushy, like it’s asking: Hey, you still good? Need a moment? Sure you wanna move on? 👉 www.westsiderag.com/2026/07/25/t...
Editorials appearing in two mainstream news sites are pushing back against a law to ban horse-drawn carriages. www.westsiderag.com/2026/07/20/m...
It all started with a horse that was designed in a terribly impractical way to transport its passengers. In the butt? What? From there, I took an epic detour home. Read our weekend column: www.westsiderag.com/2026/07/18/t...
Two soon-to-be-third-graders are hoping they've set a world record by visiting 41 city playgrounds in a single day. www.westsiderag.com/2026/07/13/m...
The Upper West Side is getting thirsty💧Read our weekend column: www.westsiderag.com/2026/07/11/t...
Vera Atkins, age 8, captured this photo of a red-tailed hawk atop the jungle gym at the Wild West Playground. www.westsiderag.com/2026/07/06/m...
Vacation mode doesn’t require a whole new set of sights. A step out of routine is enough, and the small sliver of the Upper West Side we know becomes a wide unknown again. We could go on quite a trip just around the corner: www.westsiderag.com/2026/07/04/t...
Rev up the air conditioners—you're going to need them, with temperatures expected to climb into the triple digits by week's end. www.westsiderag.com/2026/06/29/m...
A special Lincoln Center concert series for people with dementia made news around the world last week. www.westsiderag.com/2026/06/22/m...
Upper West Siders, meet your daddy. A man who had such a huge impact on our neighborhood that history remembers him as the “Father of the Upper West Side”: Cyrus Clark. Read our weekend column: www.westsiderag.com/2026/06/20/f...
[Sponsored Post] Playgarden Prep School is proud to offer a NEW French Immersion program, available for students enrolled in Preschool or Summer Camp. Playgarden's unique language immersion experiences are designed to support early cognitive development and cultural curiosity. Read more in comments👇
Meet the next generation of Barney Greengrass ownership. www.westsiderag.com/2026/06/15/m...
Do you ever have those days when it all gets just a tiny bit too much? When you're one minor inconvenience away from becoming somebody else's unfortunate New York moment? Lucky for me, the Upper West Side always knows exactly how to win me back: www.westsiderag.com/2026/06/13/t...
[Sponsored Post] “An emotional, funny, and unexpectedly fascinating documentary” - Savoir Faire Attend the world premiere engagement of IOWA VET: DOGS, CATS, CORN, & MURDER. Running at Cinema Village through June 18 only. Buy tickets at IowaVet.net Read more in comments👇
[Sponsored Post] This Sunday on the UWS: Mahler’s ‘Titan’ + a world premiere, back-to-back, no intermission. The Second Ending Ensemble at Alice Tully Hall, June 14 at 3pm. Great seats still available! lincolncenter.org/venue/alice-...
Today's forecast calls for crystal-clear skies and a high of 78 degrees, but we'll be approaching record-breaking highs by week's end. www.westsiderag.com/2026/06/08/m...
Would you walk from 72nd Street to 96th Street? No problem. From 72nd Street to Times Square? Maybe not. That’s all the way down in Midtown! Roughly the same distance, but a completely different world. Emotionally remote. Read our weekend column: www.westsiderag.com/2026/06/06/t...
Vox is setting up bug traps in Central Park in an attempt to discover new insect species. www.westsiderag.com/2026/06/01/m...
Losing a supermarket can feel like a much bigger deal than it should. Read our weekend column about grocery grief, German checkout culture, and displaced Trader Joe’s shoppers marching north: www.westsiderag.com/2026/05/30/l...
The forecast calls for showers this morning, but clearing in time to get outside this afternoon. Happy Memorial Day, everyone! www.westsiderag.com/2026/05/25/m...
On this day in 1910, not much happened — and that was very good news. Here's why: www.westsiderag.com/2026/05/18/m...
Ready for Sheep Season? Read our weekend column: www.westsiderag.com/2026/05/16/w...
