Somewhere in the Mediterranean

Boulevard, Broadway

By Claudie Benjamin A painting that captures the mood and cultural pride of a certain time and place? Certainly, that describes the huge, riveting work called Voice of Peace by Adi Oren highlighted at the Dagon Restaurant at 2454 Broadway. Painted in the...

The Last Generation for Dry Cleaners

Boulevard, Broadway

By Claudie Benjamin An ongoing challenge confronting the dry cleaning industry is addressing the safety of the non-water chemical products used for cleaning. According to an article in the environmentalist publication, Enviro-Forensics: Turning Environmental...

Buildings, Businesses, and People in Digital Murals

Boulevard, Broadway

By Claudie Benjamin If you google Stoddard Theater on Broadway at 2431 Broadway, the New York Public Library’s digital collection will yield a small black and white photo (inset) of the Upper West Side theater taken in 1933 by Wurts Bros., a professional...

Christmas Trees 24/7

Boulevard, Broadway

By Claudie Benjamin Tree drove from Florida in his van and met up with Yaya in North Carolina. They continued on to NYC to pick up their gig selling Christmas trees and wreaths on the Upper West Side. The two vendors, employees of Evergreen, a large Brooklyn-based...

Pharmacy’s Boutique Vibe

Boulevard, Broadway

By Claudie Benjamin Even among the oldest Upper West Siders, memories are receding quickly of once omnipresent dark paneled and shelved pharmacies displaying decorative apothecary jars filled with blue, green, or amber liquid and a not-just-for-display mortar and...

Finding Treasure

Boulevard, Broadway, Community Board 7, Dept. of City Planning

By Claudie Benjamin In the mid-1970s, Louisa and John Craddock were a young adventurous couple being priced out of their apartment with a view of Central Park. Then they heard about what seemed like a great deal. Now in 2022, almost 50 years later, Louisa is...