West Side Rag
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irst of all, Welcome to the Rag! Thanks for coming by, and I hope you stay awhile and check out what we have to offer. The Rag is an online newspaper/blog that covers the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and it’s written by Upper West Siders. We cover real estate, crime, store openings and closings, the parks and many other topics, and we publish colorful columns about the neighborhood.
As far as geography goes, the Upper West Side stretches roughly from 59th to 110th Streets and from Central Park to the Hudson River. But we’re flexible: if something is going on at St. John the Divine on 112th, we’ll cover it. If Keanu Reeves strips down to his underwear on 58th Street and 10th Avenue and starts to dance, we won’t let geographic boundaries get in our way. Oh yes, we will tell that story.
The Rag started publishing in 2011 and in its first year was named one of the four best neighborhood blogs in the city by the Village Voice. Life & Style Weekly called the site “The best insider source about Manhattan’s Upper West Side.” BrickUnderground said the Rag is “wry, addictive, up-to-the-minute.” Source
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Media Outlet details
| Scope | Hyperlocal |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Country | United States of America |
| Media Market | New York |
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Recent Articles
Search ArticlesJake’s Dilemma, Popular Upper West Side Bar, Will Close After 32 Years
The inside of Jake’s Dilemma. Photo courtesy of Mark Bollettieri. By Gus Saltonstall Jake’s Dilemma, the incredibly popular Upper West Side bar at 420 Amsterdam Avenue, will close next month after more than three decades of business, the restaurant announced Tuesday on its Instagram. “After 32 years on the Upper West Side, we’re heartbroken to share that we lost our lease, and Jake’s Dilemma will close its doors on October 18,” the bar wrote. “Jake’s has been so much more than a bar.
Openings & Closings: Brasserie Boulud; Szechuan Gourmet; Wednesday Health; Gracie’s Laundry; Velvet Cowboy
Brasserie Boulud. Photo by Julia Ornedo. By Lisa Kava and Julia Ornedo Brasserie Boulud, a modern French brasserie by Chef Daniel Boulud, is opening on September 17th at 1900 Broadway (at West 64th Street). The space was formerly the home to three Boulud-backed eating establishments: Boulud Sud, Bar Boulud, and Epicerie Boulud. All three closed in July 2025, and it was announced that the chef was planning a future opening of a new venture which would combine the three spaces into one.
Man Indicted for Alleged Antisemitic Stabbings on the Upper West Side: Manhattan DA
WSR. By Gus Saltonstall Raul Morales has been indicted for attempted murder and assault as a hate crime in connection with stabbing two men in July on the Upper West Side, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced on Tuesday. “As alleged, Raul Morales violently assaulted two innocent New Yorkers for no other reason than his belief they were Jewish,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, in a news release.
NYC Public School Calendar for Upper West Side Parents
Leave a comment Please limit comments to 150 words and keep them civil and relevant to the article at hand. Comments are closed after six days. Our primary goal is to create a safe and respectful space where a broad spectrum of voices can be heard. We welcome diverse viewpoints and encourage readers to engage critically with one another’s ideas, but never at the expense of civility. Disagreement is expected—even encouraged—but it must be expressed with care and consideration.
UWS Historical Photo Challenge No. 35
By Rob Garber for the Bloomingdale Neighborhood History Group Welcome to another installment in the Rag’s Historical Photo Challenge. The image above was taken somewhere on the Upper West Side, sometime in the past. Can you figure out where, when, and what it shows? Look closely; this week’s challenge photo, like the others in the series, includes clues that will help you identify the scene, if you’re a dedicated UWS history sleuth.
Meet the Man Who Sells Used Books on the Street Outside of Columbia University
Olson selling books to Chris Lee, who came with a list of books she was looking for. Photo by Alexia Massoud. By Alexia Massoud The buzz on Broadway never stops; everyone is walking — or likely rushing — somewhere, be it class, work, or the subway at 116th Street. But for a few minutes on a busy day, Paul Olson’s used-book table serves as an escape for readers to stop and browse — and, if they’re lucky, walk away with a $4 copy of a great read in good condition.
83-Year-Old Upper West Sider Has Been Missing For More Than a Week
Leave a comment Please limit comments to 150 words and keep them civil and relevant to the article at hand. Comments are closed after six days. Our primary goal is to create a safe and respectful space where a broad spectrum of voices can be heard. We welcome diverse viewpoints and encourage readers to engage critically with one another’s ideas, but never at the expense of civility. Disagreement is expected—even encouraged—but it must be expressed with care and consideration.
Monday Bulletin: Remembering a Beloved UWS Bar; What’s Next for the Man Behind Extell?; Columbia Under Increasing Pressure to Reopen Campus; Carriage Horse Falls in Central Park
Photo by Yvonne Vávra. Today is Labor Day, Monday, September 7th, 2026 Summer 2026 looks like it’s going to wrap up on a high note, at least when it comes to the weather: Today’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies, with a high of 78 degrees — perfect weather for end-of-summer celebrations.
Here’s the UWS Dish: El Mitote’s Quesabirrias
El Mitote’s quesabirrias. Photos by Yana Krasnitskaya By Yana Krasnitskaya I’ve frequently heard people complain that it’s hard to find good Mexican food on the Upper West Side. Sometimes, after biting into a subpar burrito or a limp, under-stuffed taco, I find myself agreeing, but then I come across an example that proves the exact opposite – as was the case recently, when I popped into El Mitote on Columbus Avenue.
Upper West Sider Native Wins in Doubles and Joins Carlos Alcaraz on Arthur Ashe Stadium
Alexander Kovacevic in the backward white hat playing with his doubles partner. Photo by Tracy Zwick. By Tracy Zwick Aleks Kovacevic, who grew up in the West 90s, is through to the second round of doubles at the US Open following an electric match on Saturday in which he and his partner, Mac Kiger of Katonah, New York, beat two Californians – Jenson Brooksby and Marcus Giron, 7-6, 7-5.