https://www.westsidespirit.com/city-arts/sing-for-hope-celebrates-25-years-with-25-pianos-bringing-music-to-the-streets-of-new-york-AL5863301 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-05-19T15:56:01-04:00 Sing for Hope Celebrates 25 Years with 25 Pianos, Bringing Music to the Streets of New York https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/dfe06dd1-fcb5-440c-a6f6-8d41ff742cd5_4-10733381_20260519114459.jpg During the powerful finale of the launch ceremony, 25 players took to the pianos to simultaneously perform a resounding rendition of Bach’s prelude and fugue in C major. (Photo: Jacqueline Gordon) https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/b3490b06-5ec5-432c-bf24-4b79f8d27fcf_4-10733382_20260519114500.jpg Sing for Hope presented award-winning actress Laura Linney with the 2026 Sing for Hope Art for All award during the ceremony. (Photo: Jacqueline Gordon) https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/d78915db-aeb0-447a-b43d-629680e869ad_4-10733383_20260519114502.jpg Christopher Spinelli’s ‘Monarchs and Milkweed’ piano was one of 25 pianos revealed during the launch event, inviting passersby and pianists to play over the course of the day. (Photo: Jacqueline Gordon) https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/e4634402-fbb8-4857-83ff-03eb63e2f8f4_4-10733384_20260519135045.jpg P.S. 180’s student choir was one of many groups of musicians gathered around a Sing for Hope piano to perform a collection of songs throughout the day. (Photo: Jacqueline Gordon) https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/karen-s-quirky-new-york-nac-awards-medal-of-honor-to-the-new-yorker-ed-david-remnick-YL5863540 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-05-19T16:18:10-04:00 Karen’s Quirky New York: NAC Awards Medal of Honor to The New Yorker Ed. David Remnick https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/9-rempel-kqny-may-2026-david-re_4-10733772_20260519134208.jpg David Remnick addressing the Medal of Honor ceremony attendees at NAC. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/1-rempel-kqny-may-2026-david_4-10733687_20260519134206.jpg David Remnick and Karen Rempel at NAC. They share an October 29 birthday. Tara Cortes, NAC President, and Nicholas D. Lowry of “Antiques Roadshow” chat at the right. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/2-rempel-kqny-may-2026-karen_4-10733760_20260519134206.jpg Karen Rempel and Linda Zagaria, former NAC President. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/3-rempel-kqny-may-2026-dinner_4-10733763_20260519134206.jpg Karen Rempel and author Mary Norris (in green sweater). https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/4-rempel-kqny-may-2026-david-re_4-10733766_20260519134207.jpg David Remnick addresses an enraptured audience. Remnick’s wife, the elegant Esther Fein, is third from left. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/5-rempel-kqny-may-2026-julie-ju_4-10733769_20260519134207.jpg NAC Literary Committee Chair Julie Just and author Mary Norris. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/6-rempel-kqny-may-2026-msn-port_4-10733775_20260519134208.jpg Michael Shane Neal’s portrait of David Remnick will join a host of literary luminaries in NAC’s portrait gallery of Medal of Honor recipients. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/donald-macdonald-glass-ceilinged-bar_4-10733778_20260519161756.jpg The black-tie crowd gathered in the NAC’s historic Donald MacDonald glass-ceilinged bar after the ceremony. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/8-rempel-kqny-may-2026-kurt-wie_4-10733781_20260519134208.jpg Pianist and ASCAP award-winning songwriter <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.kurtwietingmusic.com/" target="_blank">Kurt Wieting</a> graciously tickled the grand’s ivories against the backdrop of the meticulously restored dining room doors of Tilden Mansion, built in the 1840s and home of the National Arts Club since 1905. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/scoop-act-takes-on-formidable-foul-foe-nyc-dog-poop-BJ5865113 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-05-19T19:06:33-04:00 SCOOP Act Takes on Formidable, Foul Foe: NYC Dog Poop https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/55272314644-229c90ce62-k_4-10734639_20260519162424.jpg Manhattan politicians such as NYC Council Speaker Julie Menin (left) and Council Member Harvey Epstein (right) are collaborating on a new legislative priority: eliminating stray dog poop from NYC. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/55272213843-12c464d282-k_4-10734651_20260519162425.jpg Menin says that “The Council is as eager as golden retrievers to tackle this issue.” https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/long-island-rail-road-back-on-track-after-three-day-strike-AI5864705 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-05-20T09:15:29-04:00 Long Island Rail Road Back on Track after Three Day Strike https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/lirr-trains-rolling_4-10734686_20260519171132.png Train traffic moving through Sunnyside Yard on May 19, 2026 prior to the planned noon resumption that day of Long Island Rail Road service after a three-day strike. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-05-18-111321_4-10734689_20260519171134.png Striking workers who had picketed Penn Station (above) and other major rail hubs, were back on the job May 19 and full service was expected to be operating by the time of the evening rush hour. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/janno-lieber-and-gov-kathy-hochul_4-10734692_20260519171135.jpg Gov. Kathy Hochul (left) and MTA Chair &amp; CEO Janno Lieber at MTA Headquarters on the evening of May 18, where they announced a tentative labor deal with five Long Island Rail Road unions which had been on strike for two days. The strike officially ended at midnight that night. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/lirr-pres-robert-free-mta-photo_4-10734302_20260519171136.jpg LIRR President Robert Free announced the resumption of trains to Long Island shortly before Noon on May 19. He said by 4 p.m., there would be a full complement of afternoon rush hour trains https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/janno-lieber-and-gov-kathy-hochul_4-10734694_20260519171137.jpg Gov. Kathy Hochul (left) and MTA Chair &amp; CEO Janno Lieber at MTA Headquarters on Monday, May 18, 2026, where they announced a labor deal with five Long Island Rail Road unions who had been on strike for two days. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/upper-west-side-neighborhood-event-calendar-may-21-27-GH5867945 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-05-20T12:05:06-04:00 Upper West Side Neighborhood Event Calendar: May. 21-27 https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/met-fifth-avenue-via-www-metmuseum_4-10736821_20260520120508.jpg met fifth avenue via www.metmuseum.org https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/juilliard-via-www-juilliard-edu_4-10737019_20260520120508.jpg juilliard via www.juilliard.edu https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/as-world-cup-nears-mamdani-widens-busy-sixth-avenue-bike-lane-GH5867668 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-05-20T12:28:43-04:00 As World Cup Nears, Mamdani Widens Busy Sixth Avenue Bike Lane https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/img-1889_4-10735825_20260520121450.jpg The Sixth Avenue bike lane, which the Mamdani Administration is set to widen, is currently one of the busiest in the city, with many New Yorkers and visitors utilizing the lane each day. (Photo: Jacqueline Gordon) https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/downtown-urban-arts-festival-prepares-for-its-24th-season-XL5863321 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-05-20T16:06:01-04:00 Downtown Urban Arts Festival Prepares for its 24th Season https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/duaf_4-10738591_20260520144019.jpg The Downtown Urban Arts Festival will be presenting the work of 20 playwrights for its 24th season. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/lamama-still_4-10739146_20260520165630.jpg Most of the performances will be taking place at La MaMa Experimental Theatre. After being located in the Theatre District for the past few years, the festival is making its way back downtown. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/grandma-who-fell-into-an-uncovered-manhole-was-scalded-to-death-med-examiner-LK5862793 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-05-20T19:32:55-04:00 Grandma Who Fell Into an Uncovered Manhole Was Scalded to Death: Med Examiner https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-05-20-at-12-34-35-pm_4-10733033_20260520153818.png A manhole cover sits near East 52nd Street and Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan following the death of Donike Gocaj, 56, who authorities said fell into an uncovered manhole after stepping out of her vehicle Monday night, May 18, 2026, in New York. Investigators are continuing to examine the situation. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/unknown_4-10738862_20260520153823.jpg Donike Gocaj, above with two of her grandchildren. She died in a freak accident when she fell down an uncovered manhole on May 18 after stepping out of the front door of her parked car.