https://www.otdowntown.com/news/machete-man-nypd-respond-to-hudson-river-park-harassment-report-LI6138508 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-25T17:09:20-04:00 Machete Man, NYPD Respond to Hudson River Park Harassment Report https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/close-up-of-soccer-players_4-11036762_20260825164134.jpg A youth soccer league game in progress is underway on the Gansevoort Peninsula Athletic Field in Hudson River Park on Aug. 25. Earlier that morning, a machete-wielding man appeared, telling a coach he was there to protect the park. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/img-7566_4-11036771_20260825132757.jpg One NYPD officer patrols the the Gransevort Penninsula Athletic Field in Hudson River Park on foot around 10 a.m. on Aug. 25. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/fullsizerender-3_4-11036763_20260825132755.jpg Benches where homeless people have been spotted sleeping are pictured outside of the athletic field on Aug. 25. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/img-7541_4-11036766_20260825132753.jpg Hudson Plate Cafe sits next to the athletic field where a report in the New York Post said vagrants, some with vulgar masks, were harassing local girls playing soccer field. https://www.otdowntown.com/home/hug-shake-hands-or-wave-hello-greeting-is-harder-than-ever-XF6135231 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-25T17:25:29-04:00 Hug, Shake Hands or Wave? “Hello” Greeting Is Harder Than Ever https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/working-from-home_4-11030585_20260824150126.jpg The COVID-19 pandemic upended the work habits of people around the world, with millions working from home. Workers have returned in waves back to the office on some days, but navigating that transition is a significant hurdle for employers and workers alike. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/chelsea-downtown-manhattan-events-aug-27-sept-2-YY6144809 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-26T12:10:54-04:00 Chelsea &amp; Downtown Manhattan Events: Aug. 27 - Sept. 2 https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/high-line-via-highline-org_4-11038649_20260826121056.jpg high line via highline.org https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/wagner-park-via-bpca-ny-gov_4-11038655_20260826121057.png Wagner Park via bpca.ny.gov https://www.otdowntown.com/city-arts/anime-nyc-s-turnout-signals-a-new-era-of-geek-fandom-HE6143238 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-26T13:26:22-04:00 Anime NYC’s Turnout Signals a New Era of Geek Fandom https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/better-photo-of-three-friends_4-11037413_20260826132348.jpg Three friends show off their cosplay: two Jujutsu Kaisen cosplaysSuguru Geto and Fumihiko Takaba surround Nico Robin from “One Piece.” https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/two-other-friends-anime-nyc_4-11038789_20260826123527.jpg Two cosplayers pose together: one as Sora from “Kingdom Hearts” holding a keyblade (left) and the other in a blue and yellow outfit, dressed as Tai from Digimon carrying a yellow Digimon plush toy--his partner Agumon. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/two-dressed-as-twin-maids-ram-and-rem_4-11038770_20260826123524.jpg Two cosplayers dressed as the twin maids Ram and Rem from “Re:Zero” stand arm-in-arm in frilly pink and blue outfits at Anime NYC at the Javits Convention Center. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/woman-with-spear-anime_4-11037420_20260825183645.png Zero Mauras is dressed as Crona from “Soul Eaters.” https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/anime-dressed-as-keneau-reeves_4-11038775_20260826123525.jpg One cosplayer is dressed as Keneau Reeves’ character Johnny Silverhand from “Cyberpunk 2077.” https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/ringmaster-and-guy-and-gal-anime_4-11037422_20260825183648.jpg Cosplayers as Gear 5 Luffy, Jewlery Bonney and Monkey D. Garp strike a pose. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/super-mario-and-a-rabbit_4-11037423_20260825183649.jpg A fan dressed as Wario, the evil doppelganger of Mario chats up a gothic bunny. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/pink-anime_4-11037424_20260825183650.jpg Professional cosplayer Dime Glass is dressed up as Spice Girl from “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.” https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/four-people-animee_4-11037425_20260825183651.jpg Cosplayers psoing, with the far left attendee portraying Maki Zenin from “Jujutsu Kaisen.” https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/scooters-animee_4-11037426_20260825183652.jpg Convention goers line up and plat a Taito arcade racing game featuring colorful cartoon characters with some riders on yellow scooter controllers. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/hello-kitty-anime_4-11037427_20260825183653.jpg An Anime NYC attendee cosplaying Miss Aisa poses beside a giant display of Turbo Granny in luck cat form from “Dandadan.” https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/bongo-drums-anime_4-11037428_20260826132624.jpg Players compete in Taiko no Tatsujim, a Japanese drum game. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/zebra-anime_4-11037429_20260825183655.jpg On the lower floor, Anime NYC had a gaming exhibit featuring both independent and international games. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/long-haired-guy-purple-girl-anime_4-11037430_20260825183656.jpg A pair of cosplayers portray Kisuke Urahara in signature green-and-black attire with striped bucket hat and wooden sandals alongside Yoruichi Shihoin in a black bodysuit near the exit. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/two-friends-dressed-up-as-ace_4-11038786_20260826123526.jpg Two friends dressed up as Ace from “One Piece.” https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/lots-of-flowers-anime_4-11039058_20260826132348.jpg At Anime NYC, a decorative piece of pottery was available at the artist’s shop booth. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/dancers_4-11039061_20260826132348.jpg Players step onto the Dance Dance Revolutin Extreme machine. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/kips-bay-amc-to-close-by-end-of-year-IX6145486 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-26T19:13:24-04:00 Rumors Swirl as Kips Bay AMC To Close By End of Year https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/kips-bay-amc_4-11039911_20260826191247.jpg AMC Kips Bay 15 became a neighborhood staple after it opened in 1999. Now, the theater will be shutting its doors by the end of the year. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/kips-bay-amc-fairway_4-11039910_20260826192517.jpg If speculation that the owner of the block may be looking to sell is true, then the Kips Bay Fairway Market on the other end of the development would also likely be forced to close. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/nyc-s-lithium-battery-fires-on-pace-to-pass-last-year-s-record-JF6142964 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-26T19:55:53-04:00 NYC’s Lithium Battery Fires on Pace to Pass Last Year’s Record https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/bs4i0129-4-10895689-20260706154901_4-11037389_20260825172236.webp Lithium battery fires, such as one that occurred when a van full of e-vehicles exploded last month on W. 23rd Street (above), are on pace to achieve record highs in New York City this year. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/charred-lithium-ion-bikes-4-6524297-2_4-11037431_20260825190448.webp In an e-bike fire in June, 2023, four people were killed and two others hospitalized after fire erupted in an e-bike shop in Chinatown. The year was the deadliest on record for fatalities caused by lithium-ion batteries, with charred remains the day after the fire pictured above. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/5ee8f457-fe84-4bcf-8ccf-bffa40760c30_4-11037434_20260825190449.webp Fazil Kahn, a 27 year-old journalist from Delhi, India, was killed in his fourth floor apartment in Harlem when a deadly lithium-ion battery erupted on the third floor. Fire fighters had to use three rope-roof rescues to save other trapped residents in the building. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/dot-4-9119011-20250612144551-jpg_4-11037398_20260825172715.webp The NYC DOT also runs an e-bike safe battery swap program, which serves as part of the “Charge Safe, Ride Safe<i>”</i> action plan. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/nyc-families-struggle-with-late-summer-childcare-due-to-later-school-year-start-MA6147925 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-27T12:03:32-04:00 NYC Families Struggle With Late-Summer Childcare Due to Later School Year Start https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-27-115611_4-11041812_20260827120151.png Not in NYC: Of the top 20 school districts in the U.S., 19 have resumed classes for the current school year. New York City does not resume classes until Sept. 10. That places a burden on parents who need to find childcare for the three weeks between the end of most summer programs and the start of the academic year. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/starting-school_4-11040668_20260827120155.jpg The Sept. 10 school start date start leaves many working NYC parents struggling to cover weeks of costly childcare gaps. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/new-york-city-remembers-life-and-legacy-of-dolly-parton-KX6145279 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-27T12:44:22-04:00 New York City remembers life and legacy of Dolly Parton https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-26-at-4-17-44-pm_4-11039846_20260826162343.png Flaming Saddles, a country-western gay bar in Hell’s Kitchen, put a Dolly Parton memorial up Aug. 25. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/dolly-parton-tribue-in-east-village_4-11042881_20260827124424.jpg A tribute to Dolly Parton a appeared on the marque at the IFC Center in the West Village on Sixth Ave. and West 3rd Street. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/dolly-parton-ap-at-radio-city-may-11_4-11042884_20260827124424.jpg Although she was born in Pittman Center, Tennessee, Dolly Parton always had a special connection to NYC. She was the center of attention on the street in front of Radio City Music Hall on May 11, 1993, as she unveiled a ceremonial sign in advance of a country music festival at the entertainment palace. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-26-at-12-59-24-pm_4-11038868_20260826130652.png the 103-floor Empire State building showed pink on Aug. 25 in honor of Dolly Parton who passed away that day. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-26-at-1-03-21-pm_4-11038943_20260826130654.png One Times Square’s New Year's Eve Ball shone pink for Dolly Parton into the early hours of Aug. 26.