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:

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 [...]

UPDATE 6/21: Pet Central is officially open Frequent tipster Jim sent in the photo above, showing a new Pet Central store is moving into the space at 2643 Broadway (between 100th & 101st).

Free and cheap events in the neighborhood on Wednesday, February 15th, 2012…

What’s with Upper West Side pets falling from the sky? In June, a cat fell 12-stories and lived to meow the tale. Less than a month later, another cat fell 20 (twenty!) stories and survived, while a third cat survived a fall of inderterminate distance after being dropped by a hawk that picked him up [...]