https://www.otdowntown.com/news/school-year-finally-starts-features-first-2-k-programs-DG6190306 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-09-12T09:08:53-04:00 School Year Finally Starts; Features First 2-K Programs https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/alex-zimmerman-photo-of-mirlene-casmi_4-11095265_20260911194333.jpg Mirlene Casimir after dropping off her son at 2-K https://www.otdowntown.com/news/pilgrims-flock-to-ground-zero-pub-for-9-11-memorial-DG6190713 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-09-12T10:26:22-04:00 Pilgrims Flock to Ground Zero Pub for 9/11 Memorial https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/light-tower-seen-from-o-hara-s_4-11095356_20260912102510.jpg The 9-11 tower of lights as viewed from the popular downtown pub O’Hara’s a short distance from Ground Zero. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/ben-tractenberg-photo-at-o-hara-s_4-11095336_20260912093506.jpg Members of service, their families and New Yorkers gathered at O’Hara’s Pub near Ground Zero on the 25th Anniversary of 9-11. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/kate-honan-shot-at-o-hara-s_4-11095341_20260912093506.jpg Bronx-born Carlos Mariduena was a went to O’Hara’s Pub near Ground Zero on the 25th Anniversary of 9/11. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/patches-in-o-hara-s_4-11095344_20260912095308.jpg Members of uniformed services from all over the world leave their patches at O’Hara’s Pub near Ground Zero, Sept. 11, 2026. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/moment-of-silence-at-o-hara-s_4-11095347_20260912095308.jpg A uniformed service member observes a moment of silence at O’Hara’s Pub. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/photos-from-o-hara-s-after-9-11_4-11095350_20260912095309.jpg O’Hara’s Pub had pictures from around Ground Zero after 9/11. https://www.otdowntown.com/features/healthy-manhattan/apology-accepted-the-fine-art-of-saying-i-m-sorry-BG6190074 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-09-12T11:05:45-04:00 Apology Accepted: The Fine Art of Saying ‘I’m Sorry’ https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/5-apology-languages_4-11095205_20260912110531.jpg Jennifer Thomas, co-author with Gary Chapman of “The 5 Apology Languages” says often a simple, “I’m sorry” is the best apology. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/vornado-unveils-new-rendering-for-tower-across-from-penn-station-YX6189076 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-09-12T11:32:00-04:00 Vornado Unveils New Rendering for Tower Across from Penn Station https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/new-rendering-of-15-penn-plaza_4-11094729_20260911162824.jpg The new rendering by Vornado for space across from Madison Square Garden/Penn Station on Seventh Ave is shorter than the original plan, but the new tower will still be the fifteenth tallest building in the city and is proposed to be four feet taller than the Chrysler Building. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/9-11-photographer-recalls-three-iconic-shots-taken-amid-chaos-LL6184841 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-09-12T14:58:18-04:00 9/11 Photographer Recalls Three Iconic Shots Taken Amid Chaos https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/shannon-stapelton_4-11080304_20260911130536.jpg Photographer Shannon Stapleton at a visit to the reflecting pool marking the 20th anniversary of 9-11 in 2021. He’s proud of the award winning work he did that day, but says he rarely ventures back to Ground Zero. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/photo-of-mychal-judge_4-11094227_20260911135757.jpg An exhibit in the Fire Museum features the Shannon Stapleton photo of Father Mychal Judge who died on 9-11. At the time, Stapleton said he had no idea that he had captured a photo of the beloved FDNY chaplain. It would become known as the “American Pieta.” https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/turnout-jacket-of-fr-mychal-judge_4-11094230_20260911135758.jpg The turnout coat and helmet worn by FDNY chaplain Father Mychal Judge is on permanent display at the recently reopened Fire Museum on Spring Street. Shannon Stapleton’s iconic photo is part of the exhibit. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/fr-mychal-judge-sculpture-flickr-crea_4-11094233_20260911135758.jpg A Waterford crystal etching of the famous Shannon Stapleton photo of FDNY chaplain Mychal Judge being carried in a chair by five men sits in the firehouse directly across the street from St. Francis of Assisi Church. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/east-harlem-food-fight-grocers-sue-mamdani-over-city-owned-store-KL6159297 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-09-12T15:05:37-04:00 East Harlem Food Fight: Grocers Sue Mamdani Over City-Owned Store https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/mamdani-holds-plantains-july-27-2026_4-11056809_20260831170855.jpg Mayor Zohran Mamdani holding a pair of plantains at a press conference on July 27 regarding city-owned grocery stores. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/sarith-komatireddy_4-11056820_20260831171636.jpg Saritha Komatireddy, who is running for NYS Attorney General, represented the Multicultural Business Coaltion, the National Association of State Latino Chambers of Commerce, and several other Latino business groups outside a deli on Aug. 27 https://www.otdowntown.com/news/bryant-park-9-11-tribute-reflects-on-losses-25-years-later-XG6190000 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-09-12T15:13:13-04:00 Bryant Park 9/11 Tribute Reflects on Losses 25 Years Later https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/9-11-bryant-park-2-jpg-11095234-11095234_4-11095234_20260912004751.jpg On one chair, a red bandana and note commemorated the life of Welles Crowther, a stock trader and volunteer firefighter who saved as many as 18 lives before he died in the South Tower. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/9-11-bryant-park-1_4-11095164_20260912004753.jpg Bryant Park’s lawn was transformed on Sept. 11 by a heart-wrenching visual representation of the lives lost on 9/11. All chairs faced south, toward Ground Zero. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/9-11-bryant-park-3_4-11095279_20260912004755.jpg Visitors of the memorial walked the rows of chairs and read the notes others had left. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/9-11-bryant-park-4-jpg-11095252-11095252_4-11095252_20260912004758.jpg At the memorial’s entrances, visitors wrote notes and were given white carnations. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/9-11-bryant-park-5-jpg-11095253-11095253_4-11095253_20260912004800.jpg Mementos, such as a red rubber duck, were placed on some chairs along with notes mourning people lost on 9-11. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/9-11-bryant-park-6-jpg-11095254-11095254_4-11095254_20260912004803.jpg In a tribute to each known life lost at the World Trade Center on 9-11, 2,753 chairs were set up on the lawn of Bryant Park. The of the chairs, that were placed starting at 4 a.m. on 9-11, all faced south toward Ground Zero. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/7-jpg-11095255-11095255_4-11095255_20260912004805.jpg Visitors from as far as the U.K., France, and China wrote notes expressing condolences, underscoring 9-11’s wide reaching impact. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/9-11-bryant-park-8-jpg-11095256-11095256_4-11095256_20260912004807.jpg Visitors wrote notes to colleagues, friends, and family members they lost during 9-11. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/9-11-bryant-park-9-jpg-11095257-11095257_4-11095257_20260912004810.jpg The memorial was a unique, poignant remembrance of 9-11’s 25th anniversary. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/9-11-bryant-park-10-jpg-11095258-11095258_4-11095258_20260912004812.jpg Some visitors sat in the chairs, taking in the impact of the tragedy. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/somber-ceremony-marks-25th-anniversary-of-9-11-at-fdny-museum-HX6189810 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-09-12T15:17:19-04:00 Somber Ceremony Marks 25th Anniversary of 9/11 at FDNY Museum https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/tempimagec93boy_4-11095168_20260911172821.jpg FDNY Museum Executive Director Dominick R. DeRubbio—whose uncle, an FDNY member, was killed at the WTC’s South Tower on 9-11—helmed a ceremony there marking the 25th anniversary of the attacks. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/tempimage7l7hao_4-11095171_20260911172823.jpg The FDNY Museum ceremony included the ringing of a new memorial bell (above), which was forged in the official foundry of the Vatican and flown in from Italy. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/tempimagedijypp_4-11095152_20260911175041.jpg Politicians included Council Speaker Julie Menin and Council Member Christopher Marte attended the ceremony. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/tony-dapolito-center-still-faces-doom-new-tower-plan-revealed-cb2-AK6185893 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-09-13T15:13:30-04:00 Tony Dapolito Center Still Faces Doom; New Tower Plan Revealed: CB2 https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-09-10-at-3-06-49-pm_4-11091520_20260910171918.png The NYC Parks Dept. has further detailed their involvement in a planned housing project at 388 Hudson St., where they would oversee recreational space. Its construction would coincide with the destruction of the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/tony-dapolito-rec-center-resize-crop_4-11091588_20260910172545.webp The 117-year-old Tony Dapolito Center has been closed since 2021 due to accumulated disrepair, with local residents and advocates calling on Parks Dept. officials to fully restore and reopen it. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-09-10-at-3-06-03-pm_4-11091584_20260910172338.png The new 388 Hudson St. project, still in the design and approval stage, could include a six-lane pool (above). https://www.otdowntown.com/news/crime-watch/anti-jewish-hate-crime-in-fidi-burglary-at-most-holy-redeemer-DI6192063 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-09-13T16:21:57-04:00 Anti-Jewish Hate Crime in FiDi; Burglary at Most Holy Redeemer https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/anti-jewish-hate-crime-fidi-burglary_4-11095648_20260913152657.jpg Wanted for anti-Jewish hate crime on Whitehall Street (left); Most Holy Redeemer burglary. https://www.otdowntown.com/food-drink/sarabeth-s-long-beloved-for-brunch-closes-two-restaurants-BX6154366 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-09-13T19:03:06-04:00 Sarabeth’s, Long Beloved for Brunch, Closes Two Restaurants https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/sarabeth-s-381-park-ave-south_4-11051629_20260831111226.jpg The 45-year-old restaurant chain Sarabeth’s that started as a jam making operation in an apartment on the Upper West Side shut down its 381 Park Ave. South location (above) and its Greenwich Village location on Aug. 16 https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/sarabeth-s-french-toast_4-11054052_20260831111226.jpg The Sarabeth’s chain serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, but it was perhaps most famous for its French toast and pancakes. It is credited with making brunch popular long before it was a NYC “thing.” Now two of its four locations have closed. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/sarabeths-sign_4-11051592_20260830135037.jpg Sarabeth’s served its last meals at two of its outlets–one at 381 Park Ave. South and aGreenwich Village location at 100 W. Houston St.–on Aug. 16