https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/packed-plazas-quiet-stores-inside-rockefeller-center-s-world-cup-fan-village-FB6012979 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-07-08T17:44:24-04:00 Packed Plazas, Quiet Stores: Inside Rockefeller Center’s World Cup Fan Village https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-08-at-4-08-26-pm_4-10901296_20260708162402.png Rockefeller Center has been reimagined and redecorated as LED screens go up and the city prepared for the home stretch of the FIFA World Cup. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-08-at-4-08-02-pm_4-10901299_20260708162411.png Rockefeller Center’s Channel Gardens transformed into Champions’ Gardens, celebrating the eight nations that have ever won the World Cup. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-08-at-4-07-56-pm_4-10901302_20260708162419.png Artist and designed Mr. Flower Fantastic built the floral soccer balls seen here. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-08-at-4-07-40-pm_4-10901305_20260708162424.png The Coca-Cola Fan Zone in Fan Village provided some colorful backgrounds and photo opportunities, alongside temporary tattoos and, of course, Coca-Cola. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-08-at-4-07-36-pm_4-10901308_20260708162432.png The 27-foot trophy isn’t even close to the only stop LEGO has pulled out this World Cup. The LEGO store and Fan Village pop up display a wide variety of FIFA-themed products, including this intricate piece. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-08-at-4-07-30-pm_4-10901311_20260708162437.png The 1,363,403-brick LEGO FIFA World Cup trophy, standing at 26.5 feet. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-08-at-4-07-24-pm_4-10901314_20260708162442.png Easy access to Fan Village depends on the time of day; at around 2:30 before the Colombia-Swizterland game on July 7, lines were Nonexistent, but closer to the 4 p.m. game time, the area began to fill up. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-08-at-4-08-35-pm_4-10901317_20260708162448.png A crowd of mostly Colombia fans gathered to watch the pre-game programming on July 7. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-08-at-4-08-44-pm_4-10901320_20260708162456.png Maps and guides for Fan Village line the streets surrounding Rockefeller Center. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/truck-transporting-lithium-ion-batteries-and-e-bikes-explodes-LF6007049 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-07-09T12:21:09-04:00 Truck Transporting Lithium Ion Batteries and E-Bikes Explodes https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/bs4i0129_4-10895689_20260706154901.jpg FDNY responded to a call about a truck fire in Chelsea at 3:11 p.m. on July 5 and discovered e-bikes with lithium ion batteries had erupted. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/joco-bike-pulled-pulled-from-burning_4-10899949_20260708122103.jpg One of the JOCO e-bikes pulled from the back of the cargo truck. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/charred-joco-bikes_4-10899952_20260708122104.jpg About a half dozen charred JOCO e-bikes were pulled from the back of the cargo truck where the fire erupted on July 5. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/bs4i0154_4-10895733_20260706161049.jpg The truck that was transporting the e-bikes in its cargo hold appeared to be a total loss after firefighters extinguished the blaze. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/did-you-hear-the-gossip-mamdani-started-a-whatsapp-channel-for-spanish-speakers-FB6012698 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-07-09T13:25:07-04:00 Did You Hear the Gossip? Mamdani Started a WhatsApp Channel for Spanish-Speakers https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-08-at-3-05-24-pm_4-10901183_20260709132417.png Link to join “El Chisme Oficial de NYC” WhatsApp channel https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-20260708-150936_4-10901249_20260709132418.jpg Mayor Mamdani announces Gotham F.C. will move to Queens (top), and delivers first voice note (bottom). https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/murders-down-but-hate-crimes-shootings-rise-in-manhattan-HH6009823 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-07-09T13:57:31-04:00 Murders Down, But Hate Crimes, Shootings Rise in Manhattan https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-07-at-4-19-33-pm_4-10898237_20260707162058.png NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced historic murder and shooting lows in NYC alongside Mayor Zohran Mamdani at a July 2 press conference. But in Manhattan it was a mixed bag: murders are down but shooting incidents and hate crimes are surging. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/legionnaires-disease-detected-in-east-village-housing-complex-XY5980374 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-07-09T14:08:56-04:00 Legionnaires’ Disease Detected in East Village Housing Complex https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/haven-plaza-exterior-town-4-10769885_4-10869562_20260626161112.webp Legionnaires’ disease has been detected in the water system of Haven Plaza, a housing complex in the East Village, after an NYC Health Department probe. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/havenplace2-1_4-10869567_20260626161112.jpg Residents at the housing complex have been advised against taking showers, especially those with preexisting health conditions such as lung disease. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/legionnaires-disease-outbreak-hits-ues-with-23-new-cases-FF6007315 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-07-09T14:24:01-04:00 Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak Hits UES, With 23 New Cases https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-06-at-4-36-29-pm_4-10895811_20260706165741.png A new Legionnaires’ disease outbreak has struck the Upper East Side, resulting in 18 cases so far. Health Department Commissioner Alistair Martin spread the news locally on July 4 (above). https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/legionnaires-disease-sign_4-10895954_20260706170118.jpg A warning on the NYC Health Dept. instructs UES residents to monitor for symptoms, as officials investigate the origins of the latest outbreak of Lenionnaires’ Disease. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/closed-circuit-cooling-towers-4-96942_4-10895885_20260706164225.webp Health officials are testing cooling towers in the area for the presence of the disease. Pictured above: a generic example of a cooling tower. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/whitney-museum-opens-its-doors-for-free-during-west-side-fest-MC6015086 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-07-09T14:56:10-04:00 Whitney Museum Opens Its Doors for Free During West Side Fest https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/west-side-fest-family-music-whitney-jpg-10_4-10905365_20260709124630.jpg A child interacts with a musician during West Side Fest programming near the Whitney Museum. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/west-side-fest-visitors-vessel-hudson-yards_4-10905483_20260709124632.jpg Visitors celebrate West Side Fest near Hudson Yards. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/west-side-fest-family-artmaking-whitney_4-10905486_20260709124738.jpg Children take part in hands-on art making activities during West Side Fest. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/west-side-fest-drummers-hudson-river_4-10905539_20260709124903.jpg A drum group performs along the Hudson River during West Side Fest. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/west-side-fest-artist-studio_4-10905542_20260709124941.jpg An artist works in her studio as part of West Side Fest-related programming. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/city-buses-to-speed-up-with-mamdani-s-new-800-milllion-plan-BB6012289 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-07-09T15:50:08-04:00 City Buses to Speed Up With Mamdani’s New $800 Milllion Plan https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/bus-plan_4-10900074_20260709153119.jpg In a new bus plan announced by Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul, buses in NYC are set to improve their times by up to six minutes in some of the city’s busiest corridors. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-08-at-12-55-40-pm_4-10900142_20260709153119.png Mayor Mamdani announced the new bus plan at a press conference July 8. https://www.westsidespirit.com/city-arts/manifesting-marilyn-reintroduces-the-woman-behind-the-icon-YF6016472 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-07-09T16:18:42-04:00 “Manifesting Marilyn” Reintroduces the Woman Behind the Icon https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-09-at-2-48-35-pm_4-10908438_20260709150737.png The penultimate space in the “Manifesting Marilyn: The Making of an Icon” exhibition is a cinematic installation tracing the star’s evolution from Norma Jeane Mortenson. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-09-at-2-47-19-pm_4-10908441_20260709150746.png The exhibition is on at Genesis House, at 40A 10th Avenye between 13th and 14th Streets in the Meatpacking District. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-09-at-2-47-28-pm_4-10908444_20260709150754.png ”The Headline Room” is the first stop in the exhibition and reimagines the headlines written about Marilyn Monroe during her lifetime, focusing on her achievements as a business woman rather than her looks or gossip. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-09-at-2-47-33-pm_4-10908447_20260709150802.png An up-close example of a headline posted within “The Headline Room.” https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-09-at-2-47-44-pm_4-10908450_20260709150808.png In “The Library,” three genuine copies from Monroe’s collection are on display, including Maurice Zolotow’s “Oh Careless Love.” Publishers sent an advance copy to Monroe on Zolotow’s request along with a letter, displayed next to the book copy. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-09-at-2-47-54-pm_4-10908453_20260709150814.png Also in “The Library,” three phones sit atop a rounded table and play audio from Monroe’s interview with LIFE Magazine, her final interview before her death on Aug. 4, 1962 at the age of 36. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-09-at-2-48-59-pm_4-10908456_20260709150820.png In “The Office,” one can see a script, the actress’s Screen Actors guild card, an address book, financial records, a call sheet, and more. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-09-at-2-48-05-pm_4-10908459_20260709150827.png A close up on Monroe’s address book; she visibly wrote in Sinatra’s address by hand, while all other entries (including Sinatra’s name) were typed up by her secretary. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-09-at-2-49-15-pm_4-10908462_20260709150831.png “The Vanity” contains a couple of pieces from Monroe’s collection, including a blouse by Emilio Pucci, one of her favorite designers. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-09-at-2-48-41-pm_4-10908465_20260709150836.png Another still from the cinematic installation and fifth space in the exhibition, formally titled “The Screen Experience–The Transformation.” https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-09-at-2-48-48-pm_4-10908468_20260709150843.png The final space in the exhibition is “The New Beginnings Hall.” Visitors can draw on the screen depicted on the left, and then see their creation float across the larger starry screen on the right. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-09-at-2-49-22-pm_4-10908471_20260709150851.png Beyond the exhibition, Genesis House is home to a high-end restaurant alongside relaxing indoor and outdoor spaces and an extensive library collection. Within this collection is a section dedicated exclusively to Monroe; curators sourced copies of books that Monroe had from all around the world, and even obtained some copies published the same year as the ones Monroe had. https://www.westsidespirit.com/city-arts/kira-marie-britt-is-a-selfless-swiss-army-artist-IB6012813 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-07-09T17:44:42-04:00 Kira Marie Britt Is A Selfless Swiss Army Artist https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/kira-marie-britt-swiss-army-artist_4-10901259_20260708162231.jpg Swiss Army artist Kira Marie Britt is pictured here. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/swiss-army-artist_4-10901323_20260708162659.jpg Swiss army artist’s ew key chain line features detailed fan art such as this redrawn picture of Calcifer from Howl’s Moving Castle. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/kira-marie-britt-selfless-swiss-army_4-10908700_20260709154655.jpg Kira Marie Britt is pictured here at one of her artist markets. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/mta-to-expand-fines-through-bus-mounted-cameras-to-m7-route-EF6016060 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-07-10T13:51:19-04:00 MTA to Expand Fines Through Bus-Mounted Cameras to M7 Route https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/img-2443_4-10908538_20260709151758.jpg The MTA will begin to issue fines to vehicles through bus-mounted cameras along the M7 bus route, which runs from West 147th Street to West 14th St. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-09-at-2-20-02-pm_4-10907569_20260709143727.png The M7 bus route currently has 55 stops that run from West 14th St. in Chelsea up to West 147th Street in Harlem. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/blocked-streets-evacuations-after-steel-beams-buckle-at-midtown-tower-HH6009485 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-07-10T14:41:23-04:00 Blocked Streets, Evacuations After Steel Beams Buckle at Midtown Tower https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/shot-of-buckled-beam_4-10911586_20260710114756.jpg Workers installed temporary support beams inside the construction project where steel beams buckled and floors sagged on July 7. By July 10, temporary beams on floors nine through the roof of the 37-story building. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/structural-beams-buckle-at-under-reno_4-10898709_20260707220117.webp FDNY members wait outside the building at 235 E. 42nd St. on July 7 after construction workers spotted buckling steel beams and sagging floors that triggered a mass evacuation of nine midtown buildings. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/img-2006_4-10898712_20260707220119.jpg A resident of the frozen zone in a dispute with an NYPD officer after being told he cannot return home. Nine buildings in the area were forced to evacuate over fears of a potential building collapse. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/workers-inside-235_4-10912361_20260710143322.jpg Workers can be seen inside the tower at 235 E. 42nd St. as they work to shore up the building after steel beams buckled on July 7. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/inflateable-rate-at-235_4-10912364_20260710143322.jpg Union members bring out an inflatable rat on July 8 to protest non-union contractors working at 235 E. 42nd St. which where a building under renovation was damaged when steel beams buckled and floors sagged. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/woman-pulls-suitcase-on-e-43-st-ap_4-10912367_20260710143323.jpg A woman who was forced to evacuate pulls a suit case near the site of a damaged building at 235 E. 42nd St. on July 7 https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/cross-town-bus-turned-away_4-10901586_20260708182700.jpg Cross town buses were still being turned as the street in front of the damaged building at 235 E. 42nd St. remained closed to traffic on July 8, a day after steel beams buckled causing several floors to collapse. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/carpenters-union-truck_4-10901589_20260708182702.jpg The Carpenters Union stationed a truck with the sign “Shame on Metro Loft” at Second Ave. and E. 43rd St. on July 8 to call attention to the developer who is converting an office tower to residential housing with a largely non-union workforce. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/mayor-mamdani_4-10899758_20260708112743.jpg Mayor Zohran Mamdani addresses the press at the scene of the former Pfizer HQ where there was a partial collapse of several floors in the 37-story building that is being converted to residential housing. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/img-1989_4-10898715_20260707220123.jpg Press gathers on Third Avenue while building workers take questions. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/traffic-allowed_4-10909012_20260709172810.jpg By Thursday, July 9, traffic was being allowed to pass in front of the stricken building (right) on East 42nd Street but traffic was still blocked on East 43rd Street, on the side of building closest to the buckled steel beams. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/laborers-intenational-union_4-10909011_20260709172811.jpg Anthony Williamson (left), business agent and executive board member of the Laborers’ Intenational Union, blasted developer Metro Loft for using non-unionized contractors on the site of the damaged 235 E. 42nd St. building. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/yale-student-accused-of-sexually-abusing-mom-of-4-on-r-train-NA6020186 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-07-10T14:55:31-04:00 Yale Student Accused of Sexually Abusing Mom of 4 on R Train https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/yale-student-ari-shtein-webp-10911727-10911727_4-10911727_20260710143617.webp Ari Shtein, who is accused of sexually abusing a 30-year-old woman on the R train, fled the scene on June 28 but surrendered to cops on the morning of July 8.