https://www.otdowntown.com/news/crime-watch/anti-gay-hate-crime-suspect-arrested-2nd-avenue-slasher-sought-HH6018119 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-07-11T17:50:17-04:00 Anti-Gay Hate Crime Suspect Arrested; 2nd Avenue Slasher Sought https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/second-avenue-subway-slashing-anti-ga_4-10912673_20260711174939.png Second Avenue subway slashing suspect (left); Arrested for for anti-gay hate crime. https://www.otdowntown.com/voices/is-criticism-of-trump-overriding-plans-for-penn-station-AB6021442 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-07-11T19:23:17-04:00 Is Criticism of Trump Overriding Plans for Penn Station? https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/seal-of-president-at-penn_4-10912681_20260711191623.jpg The presidential seal with Donald Trump’s name is featured prominently on a wall just inside the Grand Entrance proposed for the Eighth Ave. side of Pennsylvania Station. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/new-penn-station-rendering_4-10912598_20260711064641.jpg The artist rendering of the winning proposal by the Penn Transformation Partners still has Pennsylvania Station emblazoned across the entrance, but is said to have a Donald Trump presidential seal on a plaque inside. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/fear-and-chaos-in-midtown-east-after-pfizer-building-beam-collapse-HH6009485 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-07-11T19:50:46-04:00 Fear and Chaos in Midtown East After Pfizer Building Beam Collapse https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/shot-of-buckled-beam_4-10911586_20260710114756.jpg Workers installed temporary support beams inside the construction project where steel beams buckled and floors sagged on July 7. By July 10, temporary beams on floors nine through the roof of the 37-story building. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/structural-beams-buckle-at-under-reno_4-10898709_20260707220117.webp FDNY members wait outside the building at 235 E. 42nd St. on July 7 after construction workers spotted buckling steel beams and sagging floors that triggered a mass evacuation of nine midtown buildings. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/img-2006_4-10898712_20260707220119.jpg A resident of the frozen zone in a dispute with an NYPD officer after being told he cannot return home. Nine buildings in the area were forced to evacuate over fears of a potential building collapse. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/workers-inside-235_4-10912361_20260710143322.jpg Workers can be seen inside the tower at 235 E. 42nd St. as they work to shore up the building after steel beams buckled on July 7. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/inflateable-rate-at-235_4-10912364_20260710143322.jpg Union members bring out an inflatable rat on July 8 to protest non-union contractors working at 235 E. 42nd St. which where a building under renovation was damaged when steel beams buckled and floors sagged. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/woman-pulls-suitcase-on-e-43-st-ap_4-10912367_20260710143323.jpg A woman who was forced to evacuate pulls a suit case near the site of a damaged building at 235 E. 42nd St. on July 7 https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/cross-town-bus-turned-away_4-10901586_20260708182700.jpg Cross town buses were still being turned as the street in front of the damaged building at 235 E. 42nd St. remained closed to traffic on July 8, a day after steel beams buckled causing several floors to collapse. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/carpenters-union-truck_4-10901589_20260708182702.jpg The Carpenters Union stationed a truck with the sign “Shame on Metro Loft” at Second Ave. and E. 43rd St. on July 8 to call attention to the developer who is converting an office tower to residential housing with a largely nonunion workforce. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/mayor-mamdani_4-10899758_20260708112743.jpg Mayor Zohran Mamdani addresses the press at the scene of the former Pfizer HQ where there was a partial collapse of several floors in the 37-story building that is being converted to residential housing. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/img-1989_4-10898715_20260707220123.jpg Press gathers on Third Avenue while building workers take questions. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/traffic-allowed_4-10909012_20260709172810.jpg By Thursday, July 9, traffic was being allowed to pass in front of the stricken building (right) on East 42nd Street but traffic was still blocked on East 43rd Street, on the side of building closest to the buckled steel beams. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/laborers-intenational-union_4-10909011_20260709172811.jpg Anthony Williamson (left), business agent and executive board member of the Laborers’ International Union, blasted developer Metro Loft for using non-unionized contractors on the site of the damaged 235 E. 42nd St. building. https://www.otdowntown.com/city-arts/summer-of-69-returns-as-musical-a-walk-on-the-moon-EB6021611 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-07-13T09:18:45-04:00 Summer Of ’69 Returns as Musical “A Walk on the Moon” https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/jonas-public-relations_4-10912613_20260711081228.png Pamela Gray’s beloved 1999 film <i>A Walk On The Moon</i>, about a Brooklyn housewife in 1969 whose life changes when Woodstock influences her Catskills bungalow colony, has been reimagined for the stage as a musical. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-11-at-7-44-22-am_4-10912618_20260711081236.png Pamela Gray is a successful screenwriter known for the bio pic <i>Megan Leavey</i>, <i>Conviction</i>, <i>Music of the Heart,</i> and <i>A Walk on the Moon</i>, which is based on her experiences vacationing in the Catskills. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/tricia-baron_4-10912621_20260711081237.jpg The Off-Broadway company of <i>A Walk On The Moon: A Musical</i> at the Laura Pels Theatre now through August 22. https://www.otdowntown.com/voices/labor-unions-blame-ignored-safety-warnings-before-near-collapse-LA6013184 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-07-13T10:49:52-04:00 Labor Unions Blame Ignored Safety Warnings Before Near-Collapse https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/20260708-dsc02745_4-10906928_20260713104900.jpg Anthony Williamson, Local 79 spokesperson, leading a chant on July 9, blasting the non-union developers behind the troubled building. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/img-2019_4-10906931_20260709134150.jpg Shorings and multiple support beams were installed next to one of the two buckled columns by July 8. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/20260708-dsc02691_4-10906934_20260709134151.jpg Two labor union organizers taking questions during rally on July 9, include Billy Irwin (left) and Mike Batter (right). https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/3e0a4901_4-10906937_20260709134153.jpg A construction crew arrives at the old Pfizer HQ with new support beams. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/3e0a4977_4-10906952_20260709134516.jpg The Carpenters Union parked a box truck with LED signs outside the rally with messages reading “Crime Scene” and other provocative statements. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/20260708-dsc02738_4-10906940_20260709134156.jpg A dozen supporters and spokesmen for NY laborer unions showed up Wednesday, July 9th, expressing frustration with the contractors and building owner. https://www.otdowntown.com/home/ny-archbishop-recovering-from-eye-surgery-IE6024138 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-07-13T11:07:06-04:00 NY Archbishop Recovering From Eye Surgery https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-13-at-11-02-58-am_4-10914740_20260713110431.png Ronald Hicks, Archbishop of New York, is currently recovering from a surgery to take care of a detached retina in his left eye, which he was diagnosed with after returning from a recent pilgrimage to Rome (photo above). https://www.otdowntown.com/city-arts/kira-marie-britt-is-a-selfless-swiss-army-artist-IB6012813 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-07-13T12:46:56-04:00 Kira Marie Britt Is A Selfless Swiss Army Artist https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/kira-marie-britt-swiss-army-artist_4-10901259_20260708162231.jpg Swiss Army Artist Kira Marie Britt is pictured here. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/swiss-army-artist_4-10901323_20260708162659.jpg Swiss Army Artist’s key chains feature fan art such as this picture of Calcifer from “Howl’s Moving Castle.” https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/kira-marie-britt-selfless-swiss-army_4-10908700_20260709154655.jpg Kira Marie Britt is pictured here at one of her artist markets. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/manhattanhenge-draws-big-crowds-even-in-haze-AF6025266 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-07-13T13:21:51-04:00 Manhattanhenge Draws Big Crowds Even in Haze https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/3e0a5719_4-10915864_20260713140106.jpg The spectacle brings together people from all over the city and all over the world, all aiming to strike the perfect picture of the striking sunset. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/3e0a5716_4-10915867_20260713140108.jpg Vantage point of the Manhattanhenge from 23rd Street and Broadway. The biannual event occurred earlier this year on May 28 and May 29, and again on July 11 and July 12. But the sun won’t align with Manhattan cross streets again until May 2027. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/3e0a5697_4-10915865_20260713140110.jpg Reaching for the sky to snap the perfect photo of Manhattanhenge on July 12. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/3e0a5727_4-10915866_20260713140112.jpg Spectators blocked East 23rd Street and Fifth Ave. right around the peak viewing time at 8:21 p.m., in a bid to get a center of the road glimpse of the setting sun. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/archbishop-of-ny-receives-texas-goodie-basket-following-nba-wager-FH6009227 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-07-13T15:55:58-04:00 Archbishop of NY Receives Texas Goodie Basket Following NBA Wager https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-07-at-2-11-29-pm_4-10898058_20260707141509.png After losing a friendly wager placed on the NBA finals, the Archbishop of San Antonio sent Archbishop, Ronald Hicks, head of the Catholic New York Archdiocese, a goodie basket of Texas treats following the NY Knicks’ triumph over the San Antonio Spurs. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-07-at-2-15-31-pm_4-10898112_20260707141857.png Gustavo García-Siller, archbishop of San Antonio, and Hicks had made the wager ahead of the start of the NBA Championship finals and rooted fervently for their teams throughout the series. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/growing-outbreak-on-ues-59-now-infected-by-legionnaires-disease-IC6026596 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-07-13T16:08:30-04:00 Growing Outbreak on UES: 59 Now Infected by Legionnaires’ Disease https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/solomon-r-guggenheim-museum-4805913_4-10916389_20260713151528.jpg A total of 31 buildings on the Upper East Side have tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease, including the Guggenheim Museum on Fifth Avenue (above). Nearly 60 people have been infected. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/55379704127-3c79e045e3-k_4-10916417_20260713151339.jpg City Council Speaker Julie Menin (above) attended a July 7 town hall on the subject, where she pressed health officials about the progress of disease testing. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/mamdani-s-first-parents-night-out-program-fills-up-in-hours-BF6025223 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-07-13T17:06:16-04:00 Mamdani’s First Parents’ Night Out Program Fills Up in Hours https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/parents-night-out-jpg-10915396-10915396_4-10915396_20260713165029.jpg The first-of-its-kind Parents’ Night Out program which aims to provide children from six to 13 years-old with a range of supervised activities at its debut on Aug. 16, quickly filled up all available slots on the first day of registration.