Spring is... Bright Colors

We couldn't resist the great colors on these sneakers. They seemed like a good way to kick off spring.

Belvedere Castle in Central Park

Most NY'er's think of Central Park as a great place to get 'your green on.' And it is, but it also has some great historic buildings tucked inside its borders.

At Belvedere Castle you can study up on your tree knowledge or learn about the common birds in the area.  A free exhibit covering two floors of the Castle is also provided. You can grab a Discovery Kit and go Birdwatching in the woodland Ramble. Its an especially good place to visit with kids who are pretending to be knights and princesses. ;-)

NYRR Youth Programs

Yesterday I got to experience one of the NYRR youth outreach programs - their Youth Jamboree. Positioned as wellness events, it combines track and field contests with a family health fair. This event takes place 3 times during the year at 2 different venues - the Armory Track on 168th St and Randall's Island Icahn Stadium.

NYRR's youth programs help fulfill the organization's purpose: to transform lives through running.

The UWS is in Bloom

Come spring time there are a few trees that come in and out of bloom very fast...these are two.

Horse and Buggy

The carriages were out in full force yesterday, lined up along Central Park South attracting all the tourists.

1st Robotics Competition

Dean Kamen sponsors the 1st Robotics Competition at the Javitz Center this weekend.

Great high school program.

UWS Georgia's Cafe Closed for Good

After a devastating fire that injured three people in December, Georgia's Cafe & Bakery on the Upper West Side (89th & Broadway) won't be reopening any time soon, West Side Rag reports.

Sad - it was a great place to grab and coffee and pastry on the way to work.

Spring Means...the Bodega Has Lots of Roses!

Spring Means...Longer Days at the Playground

With the temperatures hitting 60 today, and higher ones promised this week, it seemed like spring kick-started early this month. We'll have to do a re-write on the idiom "March comes in like a lion, and goes out like a lamb."

It was a full house today at Hippo Playground - why not spend every last minute outside before dinner. You can be guaranteed of a tired kids at the end of that day!

Spring Means...Biking

There were lots of bright colors in Central Park yesterday. No, the flowers were not poking their heads but there were teams of bicyclists prepping for the season in their colorful spandex!

Check out www.bikenewyork.org for events, information and advocacy updates.

Rezoning Business on the Upper West Side

On December 8, 2011 I wrote a post about the changing face of the business profile on the Upper West Side. Smaller business were being squeezed out by higher rents and those business who could afford the rent - banks and national retail chains - were moving in, altering the face of the high-street.

Certainly I was not the only one talking about this change, and our Councilwoman Gale Brewer was listening. Tonight, Community Board 7 is scheduled to vote on the city's proposal to limit the size of storefronts in the area. While many residents, as well as local Councilwoman Brewer, are in favor of the new zoning plan, it faces large opposition from landlords, brokers and area business improvement districts.

The rezone proposal plans to limit the street frontage of all new stores to 40 feet. At the same time, the new rules would narrow the frontage allowed for banks far more, to just 25 feet on the avenues.

Of course there are arguments against the rezoning -  the market demand should decide what happens;  larger shops bring more foot traffic, and provide jobs; the rezoning could deter new business from entering the community and would certainly add the need for a broker whose expert knowledge (read 'fees') would be needed to navigate the complexity of the new restrictions and parameters.

The results of this vote will help shape the future of retailing on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Check back for the results.


March 21,2012 Update
The local community board voted 37-0 on March 6 to endorse the Department of City Planning's proposal. Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer declined to comment on the plan, but will meet with opponents today to hear their concerns. He has until April 5 to issue his recommendation. A public hearing will be held in April.

Read more: http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20120321/INS/120329983#ixzz1pkn2ZQvE











Sources: Crains New York and Community Board 7

Animals Sharing Their Thoughts

New York City is home to all kinds of people. The communities that make up this town – the far right, far left, the avant-garde, and those that defy any categorization by hovering a few feet off the ground - are what make living here a cool life experience.

But our animals also have character and a healthy does of attitude…and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

How can you not love the Bronx Zoo's Egyptian Cobra, Mia @BronxZooCobra‏? Last summer she tried so hard to escape – we were all rooting for you Mia! She’s got the best sense of humor of any snake I know.



@CathedralPhil is a white peafowl that lives on the beautiful grounds of St. John the Divine with brothers Jim and Harry. Phil has a wonderful dry banter, and is always respectful and thoughtful with his tweets, as you might expect from a church-going bird.

Central Park peacock @CentralPeacock is trying but lacks Mia’s sense of humor, and...stopped...tweeting ...hmm...at the end of last year. I wonder...maybe he suffered the same fate as Pale Male’s mate Lima. She ate a poisoned Central Park rat. That’s sad.

Punxsutawney Phil @GroundhogPhil the Groundhog Day groundhog, from Pennsylvania, has a sense of humor that rivals Mia. Yes, its that good that he deserves a nod, even if he is from out of state.

And then there is @GovsIslandCat Molly Brown. She’s a cynical city cat, and despite the fact that Molly hasn’t tweeted since June 1, 2011 - you need to make a better effort girl – she has an impending featured segment on Animal Planet’s “Must Love Cats”. On March 5 at 8:00 PM, Animal Planet’s John Fulton meets Molly Brown and interviews the @Gov_Island staff members about discovering Molly on the Island and what her life is like now.

Hey, you animals...who else is out there are out there sharing their thoughts…?

BREAKING: President Obama Visiting The Upper West Side Today (West 67th Street)

BREAKING: President Obama Visiting The Upper West Side Today (West 67th Street)

President Obama was in our 'hood today! I took public transportation so had no problems moving about.

Little Miss Matched Sample Sale

When: Friday March 2nd from 9:00am - 5:00pm
Where: 307 7th Ave (btwn 27th & 28th), 5th floor in NYC
What: Fabulous socks, apparel, shoes & accessories for girls of all ages!

You can see more on Facebook.

New York International Children's Film Festival

Celebrating its 15th year, the countries largest film festival for kids and teens will present more than 100 groundbreaking new works throughout the month of March.

The New York International Children’s Film Festival gives movie-lovers the opportunity to see U.S. premieres of international films and get sneak previews of the best upcoming shorts, features, and documentaries. NYICFF is an Oscar-qualifying festival, and in the past four years alone it has screened 11 films that were later nominated for Academy Awards.

Along with a carefully selected collection of feature films from around the world, this year’s festival includes six short film programs, kid-friendly opening and closing galas, filmmaker Q&A's, film making workshops, and the NYICFF Awards Ceremony on March 25, when the 2012 jury -- including silver screen greats like Susan Sarandon and Uma Thurman -- will announce the best of the fest.


The festival runs March 3-25 in various locations around New York City.
You can buy tickets here .