https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/petition-to-bar-mamdani-from-9-11-ceremony-sparks-support-backlash-DH6108005 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-08-17T13:18:50-04:00 Petition to Bar Mamdani From 9/11 Ceremony Sparks Support, Backlash https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-12-at-11-35-07-am_4-11000031_20260812113537.png Over 87,000 people have signed a controversial petition to encourage event organizers to bar Mayor Zohran Mamdani from the 25th Anniversary Ceremony for 9/11. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/some-e-bike-safety-bills-introduced-but-menin-drops-registration-call-YD6115203 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-08-17T13:56:54-04:00 Some E-Bike Safety Bills Introduced but Menin Drops Registration Call https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-14-at-4-30-36-pm_4-11013428_20260814163059.png A press conference on August 4 called for the passing of 17 new laws regarding E-bike safety and registration. Since then, Menin appears to be backing away from one of the planks for corporate registration of e-bikes used by deliveristas. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/elizabeth-street-garden-saved-after-long-preservation-fight-LH6119728 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-08-17T15:58:13-04:00 Elizabeth Street Garden Saved After Long Preservation Fight https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/elizabeth-street-garden-party_4-11017905_20260817155200.jpg Fans of the Elizabeth Street Garden celebrate now that Mayor Zohran Mamdani has abandoned city plans to erect low income housing on the neighborhood greenspace. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/joesph-reviner-inside-garden_4-11017046_20260817155159.jpg A co-creator of the Elizabeth Street Garden, Joseph Reiver, celebrates the final victory on Aug. 15 https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/people-on-line-outside-elizabeth-st_4-11017908_20260817155201.jpg Long lines formed as residents awaited a chance to get into the Elizabeth Street Garden to celebrate now that the city no longer wants to use the space to build affordable housing. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/guy-inside-elizabeth-st-garden_4-11017903_20260817155203.jpg Local artist John Just, who said he lived in Hawaii for years, enjoys the chance to read a book in a peaceful garden setting. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/uws-women-s-shelter-draws-ire-of-neighbors-calls-for-reforms-CB6120114 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-08-17T17:47:19-04:00 UWS Women’s Shelter Draws Ire of Neighbors, Calls for Reforms https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-17-at-3-40-49-pm_4-11017876_20260817154233.png A women’s shelter on West 59th Street has recently come under fire after local parents and residents raised concerns over safety issues, due to the shelter’s proximity to a children’s playground. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-17-at-3-41-00-pm_4-11017877_20260817154240.png The 59th St Women’s shelter, run by non-profit Project Renewal, borders the Gertrude Ederle Playground, between West End Ave. and Amsterdam Ave. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-17-at-3-40-23-pm_4-11017874_20260817154220.png According to parents, the location of the shelter is not ideal due to the amount of schools (from elementary to college) and families in the area. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-17-at-3-40-37-pm_4-11017875_20260817154229.png The shelter features 200 beds in dorm-style rooms, as well as a collection of health and behavioral services for residents. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-17-at-3-38-35-pm_4-11017209_20260817154209.png Saritha Komatireddy, a candidate running for NY Attorney General, joined parents at an Aug. 15 press conference on the issue. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/3e0a8021_4-11018188_20260817163918.jpg A primary concern for parents includes shelter residents engaging in public nudity in front of children who used the nearby playground, although it should be noted that it is not verified that the people engaging in the objectionable behavior are shelter residents. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/a-tale-of-two-uws-trader-joe-s-renovations-remodel-reopening-CH6108859 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-08-17T17:49:48-04:00 A Tale of Two UWS Trader Joe’s: Renovations, Remodel, Reopening https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/6e890fbd-aeef-44fe-9d8e-9d3e6180884e_4-11014083_20260814222917.jpg The 72nd Street Trader Joe’s has remained closed for the past four months, due to a planned remodel of the refrigeration and vertical transportation systems. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/ac8eecbf-8bb0-48a5-89e2-26cf9dcefd88_4-11014085_20260814222917.jpg Currently, the 72nd Street location does not have a set reopening date, though devoted customers are speculating the store to open again in September this year. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/487b0fae-0c5e-449d-90e9-8ebf435ef8a4_4-11001368_20260814222917.jpg While the 72nd Street location has remained closed, the nearby 93rd Street location has become a replacement go-to for UWS Trader Joe’s customers. https://www.westsidespirit.com/city-arts/busting-asian-stereotypes-groundbreaking-film-redefines-ballet-YG6091098 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-08-17T18:16:06-04:00 Busting Asian Stereotypes: Groundbreaking Film Redefines Ballet https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/about-face-disrupting-ballet_4-10987866_20260806135257.jpg Georgina Pazcoguin is featured in “About Face: Disrupting Ballet.” The documentary shows how she joined the fight to rid the ballet world of negative Asian stereotypes. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/phil-chan-1_4-10987869_20260806135258.png Phil Chan, a director and choreographer, is featured in the documentary, “About Face: Disrupting Ballet.” https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/crime-watch/man-charged-with-hate-crimes-for-attack-on-central-synagogue-GB6120787 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-08-17T20:46:22-04:00 Man Charged With Hate Crimes For Attack on Central Synagogue https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/central-synagogue-lexington-avenue-n_4-11017981_20260817162532.jpg Central Synagogue (pictured above in 2023) has been serving practitioners of Reform Judaism since being consecrated in 1872. There is reportedly no ongoing threat to the temple, the NYPD says. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/hp3d5ipxkaaq1pt_4-11018119_20260817162533.jpg Larry Montes, 46, has been charged with hate crimes in connection with an August 14 attack on Central Synagogue. https://www.westsidespirit.com/city-arts/artist-nicole-cooper-s-work-offers-new-ways-to-think-about-climate-AE6116266 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-08-18T12:10:29-04:00 Artist Nicole Cooper’s Work Offers New Ways to Think About Climate https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/artist-nicolecooper-studio-jan2024-v_4-11017985_20260817165137.jpg Nicole Cooper has shown her work across the U.S. While her medium is often oil on canvas, she has been experimenting with new materials. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/artist-img-5420-jpg-11017986-11017986_4-11017986_20260817165138.jpg Climate artist Nicole Cooper stands in her workspace in the Art Center at Governors Island. This year, Cooper is one of 19 of the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s Art Center Residents. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/artist-img-5193-jpg-11017990-11017990_4-11017990_20260817161501.jpg While much of Nicole Cooper’s work in the past has been oil painting on canvas, she has been experimenting with new mediums and processes during her residency, including hand weaving. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/artist-img-5189-jpg-11017994-11017994_4-11017994_20260817165141.jpg Nicole Cooper has filled her workspace at the Art Center at Governors Island with a mixture of past works and new inspiration. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/artist-nicolecooper-changeofheart-oil_4-11017992_20260817165142.jpg Nicole Cooper painted “Change of Heart,” an oil painting on canvas in 2020. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/artist-weavingpossiblities-oiloncanva_4-11017993_20260817165143.jpg Nicole Cooper painted “Weaving Possibilities,” an oil painting on canvas in 2024. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/artist-img-5187-jpg-11017987-11017987_4-11017987_20260817165144.jpg Nicole Cooper has been exploring the concept of regenerative relationships through her new project. This focus led her to experiment with paper making, which she did using mushrooms. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/menin-now-leading-opposition-to-a-3rd-avenue-homeless-shelter-IY6122208 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-08-18T17:52:26-04:00 Menin Now Leading Opposition to a 3rd Avenue Homeless Shelter https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-18-at-3-53-22-pm_4-11019228_20260818155532.png NY City Council Speaker Julie Menin wrote a letter to the commissioner of NY’s Department of Social Services opposing a planned homeless shelter on the UES, citing safety concerns. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/upper-west-side-neighborhood-event-calendar-aug-20-26-DE6125566 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-08-19T12:04:34-04:00 Upper West Side Neighborhood Event Calendar: Aug. 20 - 26 https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/loeb-boathouse-webp-via-www-centralpa_4-11022149_20260819120436.webp loeb-boathouse.webp via www.centralparknyc.org https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/ny-historical-society-via-nyhistory_4-11022153_20260819120438.jpg ny historical society via nyhistory.org