https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/politicians-praise-favorite-restaurants-in-2026-industry-survey-IF6250082 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-10-07T14:28:54-04:00 Politicians Praise Favorite Restaurants in 2026 Industry Survey https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/politicans-praise-favorite-restaurant_4-11160968_20261004155114.jpg Caravan of Dreams, 405 E. 6th St., a favorite of District 2 Council Member Harvey Epstein. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/politicians-praise-favorite-restauran_4-11160971_20261004155117.jpg District 5 Council Member Julie Menin is passionate about the crepes with raspberry jam at Budapest Cafe. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/politicians-praise-favorite-restauran_4-11160972_20261004155118.jpg A wall of sake of Sakagura, where one might find District 4 Council Member Virginia Maloney https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/blessing-of-the-animals-what-happened-to-the-alpacas-llamas-and-camels-DC6260140 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-10-07T16:31:13-04:00 Blessing of the Animals: What Happened to the Alpacas, Llamas and Camels? https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-10-05-155213_4-11165574_20261005161126.png Luke Jerram’s monumental “Gaia” installation hangs aloft in the nave at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. In Greek mythology, Gaia is the personification of our planet, often referred to as “Mother Earth.” https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/feast-of-st-francis-of-assis-at-st_4-11165291_20261005161127.jpg The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi at St. John the Divine still features the blessing of the animals, although the procession of exotic animals including camels and llamas was not held this year. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/dancing-at-st-john-the-divine-on-st_4-11165575_20261005161127.jpg Exuberant dancing in the aisles is part of the celebration of St. Francis of Assisi at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/michael-and-leo-with-dogs_4-11165576_20261005161127.jpg Michael Abea-Ruiz and his husband, Leo, have been coming to this event for seven years. They looked forward to getting blessings for their three Dachshunds. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/blessing-of-animals-sign_4-11165577_20261005161127.jpg The sign out front of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine lets all know the blessing of the earth and animals in conjuntion with the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi is on. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/mila-the-spicy-shih-tzu_4-11165578_20261005161127.jpg Upper West Sider Mariana Santibañez brought her Rottweiler-Lab mix, Bruce, and Mila (above) described as “a spicy Shih Tzu.” https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/ues-uws-targeted-for-more-affordable-housing-development-DD6252630 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-10-08T10:22:22-04:00 UES, UWS Targeted For More Affordable Housing Development https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-10-02-at-4-29-27-pm_4-11160659_20261002163121.png The Upper East Side and Upper West Side have been targeted for“fast-track” affordable housing development by the Mamdani administration. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-10-02-at-4-32-28-pm_4-11160775_20261002163655.png Fast-tracking would grant developers expedited project approvals in the targeted UWS and UES districts. https://www.westsidespirit.com/city-arts/a-family-faces-the-music-in-new-off-broadway-play-LC6271692 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-10-08T17:06:47-04:00 A Family Faces The Music in New Off-Broadway Play https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/jonathan-silverstein-p-w_4-11180412_20261008162420.jpg Jonathan Silverstein is an award-winning director and producer who teaches directing at The Tepper Semester/Syracuse University and an ongoing scene study class in Manhattan. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/debbie-goodstein-print_4-11180411_20261008162418.jpg Playwright Debbie Goodstein is an award-winning filmmaker who recently turned to theater. She is a graduate of Brown University and holds an MFA from Columbia University. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/poster-cast-of-the-blue-violinist-ove_4-11180408_20261008162418.jpg In “The Blue Violinist Over West End Avenue,” a Jewish family‘s celebration is disrupted by an unexpected guest—a pro-Palestinian organizer. They are watched over by a mysterious blue violinist—a character inspired by Tevye, from “Fiddler on the Roof.” https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/biker-killed-in-central-park-dodging-off-leash-dog-is-id-d-GB6267338 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-10-08T17:31:42-04:00 Biker Killed in Central Park Dodging Off-Leash Dog is ID’d https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/east-drive-near-east-84th-street-4-11_4-11172111_20261007175337.jpg A 71-year-old man was killed after flying off his bike while avoiding an off-leash dog on East Drive, near E. 84th Street, on October 5. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/east-drive-in-central-park-4-11139228_4-11172313_20261007175511.webp The incident occurred in the same exact portion of Central Park where Rich O’Brien, a 41-year-old steamfitter, walking to work was fatally struck by a cyclist less than two weeks earlier. https://www.westsidespirit.com/voices/byford-right-to-blast-mta-and-lieber-over-penn-station-stall-turvey-JL6269658 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-10-08T18:17:27-04:00 Byford Right to Blast MTA and Lieber over Penn Station Stall: Turvey https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/sam-turvey_4-11174186_20261008174545.jpg Sam Turvey, an activist on Penn Station redevelopment plans, talks to the press after a demonstration back in 2022. He says Amtrak’s Andy Byford is justified in blasting MTA chief Janno Lieber for stalling on the station’s multi-billion renovation plans. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/theater-at-msg_4-11180634_20261008181728.jpg The Infosys Theater that fronts the Eighth Ave. side of Penn Station would be torn down to make way for new grand entrance that will allow sunlight into the nation’s busiest rail terminal. The author says the MTA should get on board with the Amtrak-led plan. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/penn-club-supervisor-discrimination-lawsuit-EY6265431 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-10-08T23:05:38-04:00 Penn Club Supervisor Says Workplace Complaint Cost Her Job https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/penn-club-exterior-30-west-44th-street-comp_4-11170430_20261007120910.jpg The Penn Club of New York at 30 West 44th Street in Midtown. A former supervisor has sued the club and two managers, alleging discrimination and retaliation. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/penn-club-interior-lounge-complaint-png-11_4-11170433_20261007120910.png An interior lounge at the Penn Club of New York in Midtown. https://www.westsidespirit.com/home/tishman-speyer-takes-over-chrysler-building-lease-for-225-million-FC6271968 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-10-09T10:59:21-04:00 Tishman Speyer Takes Over Chrysler Building Lease For $225 Million https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/chrysler-building-nyc-20090519-rm-094_4-11180526_20261008172252.webp Tishman Speyer has taken over the Chrysler Building lease for $225 million, and plans on serious renovations. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/mamdani-s-oct-7-mourns-victims-but-blasts-israel-s-war-in-gaza-as-genocide-YF6272706 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-10-09T11:09:19-04:00 Mamdani’s Oct 7.: Mourns Victims but Blasts Israel’s War in Gaza as “Genocide” https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/mamdani-israel-gaza-protestors-lander_4-11181058_20261009082252.jpg Mayor Mamdani, Brad Lander, Phylisa Wisdom at Union Square Oct. 7 vigil (left) Oct. 7 were taunted by pro-Palestinian and pro-Hamas protestors, one holding sign for Hamas leader Yahwa Sinwar.