If you’re a bicyclist looking for some good karma, the 15th annual Blessing Of The Bikes takes place at the Cathedral Church Of St. John The Divine tomorrow morning (Saturday, 4/20). The blessing is open to people of all faiths (or no faith) — the event’s founder is Jewish.

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 [...]

I’ve gotten notes from a slew of readers in recent days about new anti-Islam ads that have appeared in various subway stations around the Upper West Side and New York City — the photo above is from the 1-train station at 86th Street. The ads, featuring an image of the World Trade Center towers burning [...]

Mentioned this in today’s Free & Cheap UWS Events post, but I figured it deserved a last minute shout-out. There’s an LGBTQ Chanukah party taking place on the Upper West Side tonight, Saturday 12/15. It’s billed as “the oldest and largest NY LGBTQ Jewish Community wide holiday party.”

Posted over the weekend about the bizarre-but-fantastic annual animal blessing at the UWS Cathedral Church Of St. John The Divine. Gothamist has 28 photos from the day’s festivities, via photographer Katie Sokoler. If you prefer video, I found these two of the animal procession into the church:

Free and cheap events in the neighborhood on Sunday, October 7th, 2012…

Sunday marks one of the most bizarre — yet equally fantastic — annual Upper West Side traditions: The blessing of animals for St. Francis Day at the UWS Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine (1047 Amsterdam, at 112th). The morning service is followed by an afternoon “fair” in the courtyard featuring an incredible array [...]

And we’re back… Twenty-four (24!) free and cheap events in the neighborhood on Thursday, April 19th, 2012… I’m trying something new by breaking things down into categories rather than just one long list by time of day. It’s a work in progress and I’m not sure I’m going to stick with it — the formatting [...]

Well here’s something you don’t see every day: Decapitated chickens in Central Park.

UPDATE 4/6: You can add this to the list — Ladino Tapas Bar & Grill, NYC’s first kosher tapas bar The first evening of Passover is this Friday (4/6) — just a few days from now. If you don’t have plans and are looking for some dining options, @ReporterLeslie had a nice write-up this morning [...]

“So, Russell Simmons, Chelsea Clinton, and a rabbi walk into the JCC…” It sounds like the beginning of a bizarre joke, but it’s actually a “Conversations” event taking place on the Upper West Side next month.

The 21st Annual New York Jewish Film Festival had its opening last night and daily screenings are now running through January 26th. Presented by the Jewish Museum and the Film Society Of Lincoln Center, the festival is “a preeminent showcase for world cinema exploring the Jewish experience.”