It's no secret that former city DOT commissioner Iris Weinshall has been working hard behind the scenes to liberate her neighborhood from the menacing Prospect Park West bike lane, which has been terrorizing locals by calming PPW's notorious traffic and increasing bicycling. And it's also no secret that Weinshall's husband is none other than supposedly avid cyclist Chuck Schumer, the New York Senator who once told the Post, "The bike people drive [Weinshall] crazy, but they know they have an ally in me." Well, that was six years ago; it looks like Schumer's allegiance has shifted. more ›

Manhattan's Community Board 7 probably had no idea what it was getting into when it asked the DOT to present a plan for bike lanes on Columbus Avenue between 77th and 96th Streets. The bike lane wars have previously torn apart Williamsburg, Park Slope, and Soho, and now the Upper West Side is getting its taste of the hot hell that is municipal transportation planning. What's funny about this latest bloodbath dispute is that the same people who requested the DOT's proposal are the ones now fighting against it! more ›

Everything's fine! However, earlier this afternoon a crane struck a piece of scaffolding at an Upper West Side rental building that is under construction. The location was 775 Columbus Avenue, part of the new Columbus Square complex, and the Real Deal is reporting there are no injuries, "but emergency personnel were on the scene, making sure the crane was secure. It was not clear at press time what caused the collision." more ›

The NY Post reports that decidedly un-glitzy Columbus Avenue bar (which serves food, including bangers and mash) Emerald Inn will be closing next year. Another neighborhood joint closing isn't surprising, but it's a little depressing, given how owner Charlie Campbell found out: "he only got the bad news when he saw the location advertised for lease on the Web site of real estate brokerage CB Richard Ellis." Apparently the landlord is doubling the rent to $350,000/year for the 800-square foot space. An Emerald Inn patron lamented, "We used to have all these ma-and-pa shops," but these days, there are higher-end and trendier neighbors--like a sleek Lancome location next store and Intermix and Magnolia Bakery across the street. We hope mom-and-pop stores, like Stationary Toys World on West 72nd (between Amsterdam and Columbus), can weather through it. more ›

Police say a Pennsylvania resident was fatally shot in his car last night, when "two gunmen walked up to the car and one...fired a single shot into the sedan." The shooting occurred at Columbus Avenue & West 91st Street; the victim's girlfriend had been sitting next to him. The wife of a witness said, "My husband saw the guy running by him" on West 90th. "There was blood on the back of his head and T-shirt." The Daily News adds, "Six people were shot in a series of attacks in Harlem - starting at 8:30 p.m." None of the victims are expected to die. more ›

The holy Shake Shack in Madison Square Park, adored for its succulent burgers, righteous shakes and hellish lines, will soon expand into multiple locations. Owner Danny Meyer has signed a lease for a branch at 366 Columbus Avenue (at 77th Street), the former home of New Orleans import Jacques-Imo's. The new location will be entirely indoors, enabling delicate Upper Wide Siders to do their time on line out of the elements. more ›

Or so they say. Well, maybe, maybe not, but regardless, we wanted to give you some options for food and drink-related events on Valentine's Day. more ›

Starting in the afternoon, the masses traveled to the Upper West Side yesterday to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons get inflated on West 77th and West 81st Streets between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue. By 6PM, crowds were penned in for blocks - it took us about 30-40 minutes of shuffling and snaking around before we could get close to any balloons. We suspect the Broadway stagehands' strike as well as... more ›

Tomorrow is one of our favorite days of the year: The annual Thanksgiving Eve inflation of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons! more ›

Eater confirmed that cupcake confectioner heavyweight Magnolia Bakery is opening its first branch location on Columbus Avenue and West 69th Street. Magnolia owner Steve Abrams, an Upper West Sider, told Eater, "My friends who know I own Magnolia keep asking when I'm going to open them a bakery up here. So I think it's time." more ›

Vynl, 507 Columbus AvenueOn three separate nights cameras caught the critters feasting "on scraps that were left on the dirty kitchen floor and climbing over crates of glassware" at Da Silvano's (pictured top left). The owner there said the problem was caused by nearby construction and recent renovations and claimed he will be throwing out everything edible in the restaurant and starting fresh. Ah, not even the celeb hot spots can escape the wrath of roaches and rodents. more ›

Seething over their many, ignored complaints about new construction at 808 Columbus Avenue, residents of Park West Village held a rally to demand an investigation. All 280 apartments at one Park West building, 784 Columbus, were evacuated when a retaining wall collapsed at the 808 site on Wednesday night. However, there were a number of calls to the Department of Buildings from 784 residents, complaining that the building was shaking as workers blasted in the 808 site. more ›

Residents of 784 Columbus Avenue are saying "I told you so" as the Department of Buildings continues its investigation into the retaining wall collapse at 808 Columbus Avenue. Residents at 784 have been complaining about the new constructions for some time and detailed how they've been wearing earplugs and noise-canceling headphones. more ›

Hundreds of residents near West 97th Street and Columbus Avenue were evacuated when a retaining wall collapsed last night. more ›

Rappers Ja Rule and Lil Wayne both found themselves ending their weekend with arrests last night. The separate incidents both took place in the city. more ›

Two robbers targeted the apartment of Juanita Pena, a 100-year-old wheelchair-bound woman, in the Frederick Douglass Houses at 100th Street and Columbus Avenue on the Upper West Side yesterday morning. The two men knocked on the door and pushed in when Pena's home health care worker went to answer. They tied her up and put her in a bathroom; when Pena's 71-year-old son came by, they also tied him up with duct tape and put him in the bathroom. more ›

If you were watching WABC 7 last night, you noticed that it suddenly went black - and stayed that way until around 1AM. The studio needed to be evacuated after a smoky fire started near the set of Live with Regis & Kelly at its Columbus Avenue and 66th Street location. According to the NY Times, a "light bulb had set a curtain on fire." Here's what WABC 7 said during their segment about the fire:

The fire broke out on Channel 7's main studio before the 11:00 p.m. Newscast, an electrical malfunction set fire to a large stage. more ›

There are special, electrical treats tonight. In Brooklyn, Prospect Park in Lights will be illuminated, with a special ceremony at Grand Army Plaza at 6PM. If you can't make it there in time, take comfort in knowing that four of the park's entrances will be lit up through January 7. more ›

September 16: Waldemar and Nadia at Telepan - Late Summer Cheeses more ›

Sam Champion, the WABC 7 meteorologist weathercaster (thanks for correcting, Toby) (not the band), will be the new Good Morning America weathercaster. Crain's reports that since Champion has been at WABC for 18 years, "his imminent departure could hurt the station as it competes with WNBC and WCBS." Gothamist would have to agree - Sam Champion is a cornerstone of the local NYC weather. The only current city weathercasters we know off the top of our head is Janice Huff. (Sure, we know Dr. Frank Field - and his son Storm - and Mr. G, but that's from their days on WCBS and WNBC.) We suppose Sam is eyeing the Al Roker transition (remember when he was the WNBC 4 weatherman?) but we'll miss seeing him on Columbus Avenue before and after his tapings. more ›

Fromagers Waldemar & Nadia team up with Telepan Restaurant for the third in a series of Saturday afternoon cheese and wine tastings. This time around they have paired summertime artisanal cheeses with wines from Telepan's list. You'll learn all about each pairing while you sip and taste. $65 per person, reservations are required. Call 212-580-4300 for reservations. 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m., 72 West 69 Street, between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West. more ›

Gothamist and A Hamburger Today bring you the best burgers from across the nation right here at Water Taxi Beach. We've told you about it plenty -- all the details are here. more ›

The NY Sun looks at Lincoln Center's redesign as the arts organization broke ground on the first part of their redevelopment plans:

The project is already underway, and the public will start to see evidence of construction soon. The Paul Milstein Plaza, which extends over 65th Street and is a hangout for Juilliard students, will be destroyed, and a temporary footbridge constructed between the Rose Building and the plaza level by Lincoln Center Theater. This will eventually be replaced by a translucent glass footbridge. more ›

We were walking around the Upper West Side when we noticed that part of West 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue had been cordoned off by a film or TV production. Was it more Bruce-and-Halle filming? Or August Rush? Or Dedication? Or a Law & Order? But actually it was Reign O'er Me. Gothamist wracked our brain, because the name had sounded familiar... and then we found a production letter: It's the September 11-related movie with Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle. Oh, boy. On IMDB, it's called Empty City, and the description is this:

A man (Sandler) who lost his family in the September 11 attack on New York City runs into his old college roommate (Cheadle). Rekindling the friendship is the one thing that appears able to help the man recover from his grief.

Today's the day for Beaujolais. As we learned last year, Beaujolais Nouveau is a "light bodied, fruity, easy-to-drink red wine made from the Gamay grape" and it comes out every year on the third Thursday of November -- which is today, conveniently. Many, many wine shops are offering tastings. Visit LocalWineEvents.com to find a tasting in your neck of the woods tonight, this weekend, or sometime next week. more ›

The New York Times reports that the newest addition to the Rosa Mexicano empire is scheduled to open this Saturday. Fingers crossed -- it's always good to have another location for our passionfruit margarita and fresh guacamole fix. Also open: Cookshop, from the folks who brought you Five Points, (yes, we know about all the damn hype); 156 Tenth Avenue (20th Street), (212) 924-4440. Also "Loft, a lounge and restaurant mixing Asian and Mediterranean, 505 Columbus Avenue (84th Street), (212) 362- 6440. Scarlatto, a Roman-style restaurant in the former Pierre au Tunnel space: 250 West 47th Street, (212) 730-4535." Florence adds that Black Pearl is opening in Park Slope at 833 Union Street: "[t]his is a new spot for seafood prepared by Frederico Duarte, who worked at Dos Caminos and Da Silvano." The name and early rumors make us think it's related to the East Village clam shack hidden in the back of Julep, but Dos Caminos and Da Silvano hardly make us think of lobster rolls. more ›

September 12: Save New Orleans Cocktail Hour more ›

Tonight, be sure to catch a sneak peak at this summer’s upcoming movies: MoMA’s Department of Film and Media presents Gus Van Sant’s Last Days, inspired and "loosely" based on Kurt Cobain’s last days before his suicide (with Michael Pitt as the struggling, Seattle-based grungy musician), at 9:00 PM, as well as Van Sant’s Elephant at 7:00 PM. $10 more ›

June 13 - 26: Festival de Helados more ›