https://www.ourtownny.com/news/city-issues-large-gathering-ban-for-world-cup-250th-ball-drop-MX5743259 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-04-08T17:24:18-04:00 City Issues Large Gathering Ban for World Cup &amp; 250th Ball Drop https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-04-08-at-5-18-22-pm_4-10594715_20260408172408.png There will be no public crowd allowed at a 250th national anniversary ball drop in Times Square this summer, due to a permitting freeze meant to prevent “significant realignment...of NYPD personnel.” https://www.ourtownny.com/news/roadway-dining-is-back-for-season-dot-now-wants-year-round-NA5736438 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-04-09T10:28:27-04:00 Roadway Dining is Back For Season, DOT Now Wants Year-Round https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/img-9056_4-10595456_20260409102829.jpg Roadside outdoor dining is back for the season, albeit at a severely diminished scale. Under Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the DOT has signaled that they support a shift back to looser all year-round rules, as does Council Speaker Julie Menin. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/img-9058_4-10595459_20260409102832.jpg An outdoor setup at The Grey Dog, known for brunch and other bites. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-04-06-at-4-34-34-pm_4-10588657_20260406163652.png An outdoor setup at the 11th St. Bar. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/screen-shot-2025-04-24-at-5-33-17-pm_4-10588806_20260406164312.webp In order to mark a shift in seasonal enforcement, the DOT says that the City Council must pass a Speaker Menin-promised bill to change the rules. https://www.ourtownny.com/news/state-sen-krueger-suffers-stroke-JE5745685 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-04-09T15:14:23-04:00 State Sen. Krueger Suffers Stroke https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/kruegerimage_4-10598669_20260409144307.jpg State Sen. Liz Krueger speaks at a press conference in March 2024. https://www.ourtownny.com/news/enough-is-enough-32bj-seiu-ready-to-enter-strike-zone-LE5745940 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-04-09T16:38:30-04:00 “Enough Is Enough”: 32BJ SEIU Ready to Enter Strike Zone https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/32bjseiustrike_4-10600329_20260409165202.jpg <b>32BJ Strike Captains meeting at E. 66th Street and Lexington Avenue on April 8, 2026</b> https://www.ourtownny.com/news/firebrand-still-burns-after-50-years-of-local-activism-HY5742779 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-04-10T11:02:19-04:00 Firebrand Still Burns after 50+ Years of Local Activism https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/arlene-geiger-top-photo_4-10593577_20260408145617.jpg Arlene Geiger, who has been protesting since the anti-war movement in the 1970s, is gearing up for another national protest on May Day. https://www.ourtownny.com/news/beneath-a-canopy-of-petals-spring-s-most-elegant-moment-arrives-YF5733313 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-04-10T12:05:48-04:00 Beneath a Canopy of Petals Spring’s Most Elegant Moment Arrives https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/unnamed-2_4-10585160_20260406113917.jpg The Bridle Path entrance at East 90th Street and 5th Avenue (Engineers’ Gate) has a canopy of cherry blossoms. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/unnamed-14_4-10585283_20260406115707.jpg The Pilgrim on East 72nd Street Central Park is surrounded by pink blossoms this time of year. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/unnamed-13_4-10585276_20260406115554.jpg Striking a pose with cherry blossoms while a friend snaps away. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/unnamed-12_4-10585273_20260406115456.jpg A dog named Doo Yoo sports his own blossom. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/unnamed-10_4-10585250_20260406115038.jpg Linzy Lin, from Long Island City, is dressed as a “blossom goddess” https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/unnamed-9_4-10585246_20260407123549.jpg Crowds head to Central Park in awe of the Cherry Blossoms in peak bloom. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/unnamed-8_4-10585193_20260407123551.jpg Ladies get some close up on the blossoms https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/unnamed-7_4-10585182_20260407123552.jpg A lady admires the blossoms. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/unnamed-6_4-10585179_20260407123554.jpg A young woman poses for a photo with cherry blossoms as the backdrop. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/unnamed-5_4-10585176_20260407123555.jpg Our Heather Stein, the writer, in Central Park taking in the beauty &amp; serenity of the blossoms https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/unnamed-4_4-10585167_20260406114206.jpg Snap Toks, who has tens of thousands of social media followers, experiencing the blossoms for the first time. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/unnamed-3_4-10585163_20260406114058.jpg This cherry blossom tree is on UES along the Central Park reservoir. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/img-9019_4-10585172_20260407123921.jpg Alex Boodram and Chelsea Soo Hon from Queens came out to enjoy the Cherry Blossoms in Central Park https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/unnamed-11_4-10585253_20260406115147.jpg A young child admires the cherry blossoms.