https://www.otdowntown.com/news/cuban-odyssey-isla-makes-its-off-broadway-debut-XL6085617 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-07T17:57:53-04:00 Cuban Odyssey “Isla” Makes Its Off Broadway Debut https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/isla-key-art-1000x600_4-10976083_20260803180916.png “Isla,” an original play from the acclaimed theater company Hit The Lights!, stars (l to r.) Tiffany Iris as Alina, Daniela Delahuerta as Carmen and Samantha Blain as Lulu, and is co-directed by Roman Sanchez & Mikayla Stanley. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/samantha-blain_4-10976084_20260803182734.jpg Samantha Blain is a television actress and writer, as well as a founding member of Hit The Lights! theater company. “Isla” is based on the true story of her family’s 1960s exodus from Castro’s Cuba. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/isla-with-hit-the-lights-photo-credit_4-10976085_20260803182734.jpg Hit the Lights! is famous for its use of shadow puppetry, playing with light and dark, and magical themes. Puppetry by Casey Scott Leach, Erica Knight, and Jessie March. https://www.otdowntown.com/features/healthy-manhattan/tomato-is-revered-today-but-it-was-once-feared-as-poison-apple-YY6098427 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-07T18:46:23-04:00 Tomato Is Revered Today But it Was Once Feared as “Poison Apple” https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/woman-eating-a-tomato_4-10991876_20260807184222.jpg If she was in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries, she would not dare eat that tomato which was given the feared nickname “poison apple.” In the modern era, not only is it revered as as a tasty and versatile food, the tomato has serious and newly discovered health benefits. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/new-lawsuits-filed-over-harlem-legionnaires-outbreak-YY6098256 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-07T18:50:56-04:00 New Lawsuits Filed Over Harlem Legionnaires’ Outbreak https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-07-at-5-16-48-pm_4-10991856_20260807171850.png New York City is facing new lawsuits related to last year’s deadly Legionnaires’ outbreak in Harlem, with the support of Ben Crump (right) and the Reverend Al Sharpton (right). At an August 6 presser, June Cooley (above, center) said that her family has “PTSD” over her mother’s infection. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-07-at-5-17-25-pm_4-10991863_20260807171854.png Nunzio Quino, a construction worker who sued a contractor tied to the outbreak last year, says that “people try to hide when there’s something wrong.” https://www.otdowntown.com/news/traffic-chaos-continues-days-after-water-main-bursts-in-east-village-MJ6092187 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-08T14:38:43-04:00 Traffic Chaos Continues Days After Water Main Bursts in East Village https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/day-one-of-water-main_4-10991935_20260808143901.jpg Steam was still billowing from mid-block on Aug. 3 after a water main break at the intersection of First Ave. and East 14th Street earlier that afternoon. Traffic would remain snarled for days as the intersection could remain closed. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/night-work_4-10991936_20260808143901.jpg City workers were still laboring into the evening on Aug. 7 trying to repair the roadway at the intersection of East 14th Street and First Avenue. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/3e0a7556_4-10981524_20260808143902.jpg Construction and Con Edison workers were at the scene excavating the roadway two days after the Aug. 3 water main break. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/3e0a7552_4-10981518_20260808143905.jpg NYPD and NYC Transit officials stood by the enclosed entrance to First Avenue on 14 Street, redirecting vehicles away from the zone. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/3e0a7557_4-10981525_20260808143908.jpg Traffic is being stopped and redirected westbound on East 13th Street towards Second Avenue. Outside the intersection closure, there was honking and congested movement of vehicles. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/legionnaires-disease-some-city-council-members-blame-mamdani-DF6052126 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-09T15:47:41-04:00 Legionnaires’ Disease: Some City Council Members Blame Mamdani https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-22-at-2-24-17-pm_4-10942901_20260727142754.png City Council Speaker Julie Menin (center), who represents an UES district, stands with council members including Harvey Epstein (far left), Virginia Maloney (second from left) and Queens Council Member Lynn Schulman (third from left) to discuss the city’s response to a Legionnaires’ outbreak. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/east-village-shop-says-thanks-with-irish-soda-bread-giveaway-MX6099592 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-09T16:53:04-04:00 East Village Shop Says Thanks with Irish Soda Bread Giveaway https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/long-lines_4-10992136_20260809151454.jpg Long lines formed outside Mary O’s Irish Soda Bread Shop as owner Mary O’Halloran gave thanks to old and new friends with a free giveaway to each customer of two of her renowned scones. She urged customers to eat one and give the other away. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/busy-kitchen_4-10992133_20260809151453.jpg Mary O’Halloran (center in black) oversees a busy kitchen. She is chatting with Brandon Stanton, the founder of Humans of New York that featured Mary O’s Pub in a story five years ago that went viral and catapulted Mary O’s to national fame. Those are Stanton’s young children in the kitchen. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/patrick-o-halloran_4-10992016_20260809145823.jpg Patrick O’Halloran, one of Mary O’Halloran kids, recently graduated from Trinity College, Dublin, but was back behind the counter of Mary O’s Irish Soda Bread Shop as the pub gave thanks by giving away two free scones to every customer as a way to say thanks. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/signing-in_4-10992130_20260809151452.jpg Friends of Mary O’Halloran (from right to left) Tami Ellen McLaughlin, Lori Goldberg and Shelley Ann Quilly hand out sharpies to waiting customers that featured a story that appeared in the neighborhood blog Humans of New York that first ignited the social media frenzy that catapulted Mary O’s to national fame. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/bomb-squad-canine-dogs-and-softee-stars-of-6th-precinct-s-national-night-out-YX6099643 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-09T17:49:49-04:00 Bomb Squad, Canine Dogs and Softee Stars of 6th Precinct’s National Night Out https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/6th-precinct-national-night-out-1-jpg-1099_4-10992070_20260809154224.jpg National Night Out Against Crime occurs on the first Tuesday of August and is celebrated in every precinct in the city. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/6th-precinct-national-night-out-3-jpg-1099_4-10992075_20260809155328.jpg National Night Out provides community members an opportunity to get to know their local law enforcement and police and locals took advantage at the 6th Precints event in the Village on Aug. 4 https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/6th-precinct-national-night-out-4-jpg-1099_4-10992077_20260809155331.jpg The explosive detection canines, more affectionately known as bomb dogs, were among the biggest attractions of the 6th Precinct’s National Night Out on Aug. 4 https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/6th-precinct-national-night-out-2-jpg-1099_4-10992073_20260809155333.jpg Ed, a volunteer at the event, handed out knickknacks and refreshments. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/6th-precinct-national-night-out-5-jpg-1099_4-10992079_20260809155336.jpg Each National Night Out event has its own festivities and treats. The 6th Precinct’s King Softee ice cream truck, dispensing free treats was a fan favorite. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/6th-precinct-national-night-out-6-jpg-1099_4-10992081_20260809155339.jpg The 6th Precinct currently houses the New York Police Department Bomb Squad. Officers turned on the lights for children as they looked at the vehicles. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/6th-precinct-national-night-out-7-jpg-1099_4-10992071_20260809155341.jpg Officers enjoyed King Softee ice cream too. It was a big hit at the 6th Precincts National Night Out.