Street fair time again… Today it’s the Valley Restoration LDC Amsterdam Avenue Festival. The action runs from 12:00 – 5:00 pm on Amsterdam Avenue, between 96th & 106th Streets.

If you’re looking to get your drink on tomorrow night (Thursday, 5/2) while contributing to a good cause, there’s a nice event taking place at The Gin Mill (442 Amsterdam, between 81st/82nd). They’re holding a fundraiser to benefit people affected by Boston Marathon bombings.

It’s been more than a year since a liquor license application first appeared on the window of the Beacon Hotel (2130 Broadway, between 74th & 75th), indicating something was in the works. That something is the swanky looking Beacon Bar, which finally opened its doors last Friday.

UPDATE 5/3: Simit + Smith’s VP of Marketing posted a note in the comments about this — as I had speculated, this appears to have been a clerical issue. You can read the comment in its entirety below, but here’s the pertinent information: “I wanted to update you and your readers about the Simit + [...]

Posted yesterday about Gymboree closing shop at 2271 Broadway (between 81st & 82nd). Thanks to a tip from a reader, it looks like there may be more to this story.

Wrote back in October about Park West, a bistro from the owner of neighborhood stalwart Pomodoro that was slated for 103 W. 70th (between Amsterdam & Columbus). Six months later, it’s finally here — the bar/restaurant opened its doors on Saturday night.

Wrote back in February about a reliable source telling me that Upper West Side Mexican restaurant Jalapeno is slated to move into the former Lansky’s Old World Deli space at 235 Columbus (Lanksy’s unexpectedly closed near the end of February). The move is now confirmed, as Jalapeno recently applied to Community Board 7 for a [...]

It’s been eight months since Turkish restaurant Savann suddenly closed shop at 414 Amsterdam (between 79th & 80th). I heard at least one rumor at the time that they would reopen, but it never happened. The space is now slated to become the Upper West Side’s newest Pinkberry.

It’s been exactly four months since Cocina Economica Mexico opened at 452 Amsterdam (between 81st & 82nd) in the former Recipe space (same owners). The crew from Serious Eats recently went to check it out and file a review.

I’ve been getting questions from readers about the construction taking place at 670 Columbus (between 92nd & 93rd), so it seems like a good time for an update. Despite some rumors going around about this becoming a Bed Bath & Beyond, it’s actually slated to be a Party City superstore.

Still trying to get back to a normal posting schedule and have a huge backlog of opening/closing news. A new restaurant called The Ellington recently opened at 936 Amsterdam (corner of 106th). While the space has a jazz theme and pays homage to the great Duke Ellington — West 106th Street is also known as [...]

The folks over at Village Voice LOVE to put out “10 Best” lists for just about every conceivable category you can think of. Last summer, the UWS nabbed five of their top ten picks for “Best Pastry Shops In NYC.” In the fall, the neighborhood snagged six spots on the 2012 “Best Of NYC” list [...]

Attention Upper West Side beer lovers: On Tap — the specialty beer shop that opened at the Time Warner Center Whole Foods back in 2011 — is hosting “Thirsty Thursdays” every week in April (starting tomorrow, 4/4). Each evening will feature free samples from local breweries.

UPDATE 5/7: Emerald Inn Targeting June 1st For 72nd Street Opening Wrote back in February that Emerald Inn — an Upper West Side fixture since 1943 — was facing closure due to a massive rent increase. It now looks like the UWS institution has found a second life and will relocate from 205 Columbus (between [...]

Since we’re in the midst of Passover, it seems like a good time to mention the upcoming celebration of Israel’s 65th anniversary. A variety of Upper West Side organizations are coming together to organize The UWS Celebrates Israel @65, a six day event that features a slew of free events open to the public from [...]