West Side Rag

Welcome to The Rag! We're glad you're here and hope you take some time to explore all that we have to share. The Rag is an online newspaper and blog dedicated to the Upper West Side of Manhattan, featuring insights and stories from locals who call this vibrant neighborhood home. Our coverage includes topics such as real estate, crime, new and closing businesses, parks, and much more, along with engaging columns about community life. Geographically, the Upper West Side spans from 59th to 110th Streets and is bordered by Central Park and the Hudson River. However, we’re open to covering events beyond those limits. If there’s something happening at St. John the Divine on 112th Street, we’ll report on it. And if Keanu Reeves were to dance in his underwear at 58th Street and 10th Avenue, you can bet we’d share that story too! Since its launch in 2011, The Rag has quickly gained recognition, winning accolades as one of the top neighborhood blogs in the city by the Village Voice in its first year. Life & Style Weekly praised us as “The best insider source about Manhattan’s Upper West Side,” while BrickUnderground described The Rag as “wry, addictive, and up-to-the-minute.”

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Woman Shot on Upper West Side: Police

5 days ago | westsiderag.com | Gus Saltonstall

By Gus SaltonstallA woman was shot Thursday night on the Upper West Side, a police spokesperson confirmed to West Side Rag. The 55-year-old woman was grazed in the hip by a bullet around 8:40 p.m. at 108th Street and Central Park West, NYPD said. She was taken to Mount Sinai Morningside in stable condition, police added.
UWS Weekend: Great Things To Do in the Neighborhood

5 days ago | westsiderag.com | Gus Saltonstall

It’s Mother’s Day on Sunday, so let’s celebrate Mom, UWS style, this weekend! If you aren’t busy gift shopping on Saturday, keep in mind that it’s the 4th Annual Japan Parade and Street Fair (11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on West 72nd Street and Central Park West; parade begins at 1 p.m.), and the Hispanic Society Museum and Library’s Spring Tardeada (3741 Broadway between 155th and 156th streets), with all the museum’s exhibitions on view, plus music, a ceramics workshop and a show of high schoolers’...
The Watermark at Brooklyn Heights: New York City’s Premier Senior Living Destination

5 days ago | westsiderag.com | Gus Saltonstall

In the heart of one of the city’s most iconic neighborhoods lies a senior living community unlike any other. The Watermark at Brooklyn Heights has redefined what it means to age with grace, style, and purpose. From elevated dining experiences and comprehensive wellness offerings to cultural enrichment and concierge-level service, this luxury community sets a new standard for senior living in the city.
Caring for Upper West Side Pets at the Tail End of Their Lives

6 days ago | westsiderag.com | Andrea Sachs

By Andrea SachsWhen I first spotted Jimmy at an animal shelter in 2011, he was a long, lean one-year-old cat. His sister had been adopted separately the day before, and he was already lonesome. When I petted him, he licked my hand. Troth plighted!Three weeks later, I skeptically asked the animal behaviorist at a different shelter to find me a young female cat who got along well with other cats. Amazingly, she did.
Dogs That Attacked Penny the Chihuhua on the UWS Will Remain in Owner's Custody for Now: Town Hall

6 days ago | westsiderag.com | Gus Saltonstall

By Gus SaltonstallA large, emotional crowd gathered Wednesday afternoon at an Upper West Side community center to demand action against the accused owners of two pit bulls that viciously attacked Penny, a 10-year-old chihuahua, over the weekend on Columbus Avenue at West 85th Street.
Upper West Side Has Raised the Most Money in NYC for Democratic Mayoral Candidates This Cycle

1 week ago | westsiderag.com | Gus Saltonstall

By Gus SaltonstallNo neighborhood in New York City has raised more money for Democratic mayoral candidates this cycle than the Upper West Side, according to The New York Times. On Tuesday, the Times published a breakdown of the amount of money raised by residents in each New York City neighborhood, as well as the number of total donors in each nabe.
Openings & Closings: The Shoe Tree; Aura Yoga + Pilates; Spice Lamb; Open Streets; American Folk Art Museum

1 week ago | westsiderag.com | Scott Etkin |Lisa Kava

By Scott Etkin and Lisa KavaThe Shoe Tree, the longtime shoe store at 2876 Broadway (between West 111th and 112th streets), is closing this summer. The shop has been in the same location since 2007, run by co-owners Karen Dixon and her husband, Essam Moussa, who live in the neighborhood. Initially they sold only children’s shoes but expanded into adult sizes over the years as their customers grew up. On a call with the Rag, Dixon described their loyal customer base.
Upper West Side Museum Set To Close This Summer for Renovations

1 week ago | westsiderag.com | Gus Saltonstall

By Gus SaltonstallThe American Folk Art Museum on the Upper West Side has announced it will be temporarily closing this summer for renovations. The museum, located at 2 Lincoln Square, near the corner of Columbus Avenue and West 66th Street, will shutter for its “most significant” renovation work in the last 30 years. In preparation, the museum began closing some galleries on May 2, and further closures will continue in stages until June.
Vicious Dog Attack on Upper West Side Puts Chihuahua Into ICU: 'I Am Incensed'

1 week ago | westsiderag.com | Gus Saltonstall

By Gus SaltonstallA violent dog attack took place Saturday on the Upper West Side. Penny the chihuahua was walking on Saturday with her co-owner Laura Claus around 7:30 p.m. on Columbus Avenue at West 85th Street, when she was attacked by two pit bulls, according to Claus, multiple eyewitnesses, video evidence, and the police. “Penny passed them on the side of the sidewalk, and one of the dogs lunged at her,” Claus, an Upper West Sider, told West Side Rag.
'Valley of the Rats' on UWS Block; See UWS Projects Set To Receive City Funding; Another UWS Bank Clock out of Commission

1 week ago | westsiderag.com | Gus Saltonstall

Monday, May 5, 2025Sunny. High 71 degrees. The spring showers are upon us. Rain is forecast for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday this week. Temperatures will sit between 53 and 75 degrees. NoticesOur calendar has lots of local events. Click on the link or the lady in the upper righthand corner to check. Monday is Cinco de Mayo. Sunday is Mother’s Day. West Side Rag extends a heartfelt thank you for the many kind messages about the loss of West Side Rag’s co-owner Robert Tannenhauser.