https://www.ourtownny.com/news/spectacular-show-by-sea-and-sky-for-america-250-celebration-FD6005997 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-07-07T10:59:08-04:00 Spectacular Show by Sea and Sky for America 250 Celebration https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/3e0a4839_4-10894862_20260706142433.jpg BAE Hawk jets flying over the Hudson River and leaving red, white, and blue vapor trails in the shape of the U.S. flag as part of the Sail4th 250 celebrations. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/img-8264_4-10895408_20260708112704.jpg July 4th fireworks blasting, photographed from the East River. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/3e0a4840_4-10894539_20260706133947.jpg A view of BAE Hawk jets leaving vapor trails of the U.S. flag above the Manhattan skyline above the Italian tall ship, Amerigo Vespucci. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/3e0a4790_4-10894544_20260706134000.jpg Amerigo Vespucci, the 331-foot long tall ship of the Italian Navy, with aircraft pictured flying above. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/3e0a4800_4-10894868_20260706142436.jpg BAP Unión, the Peruvian 378-foot long tall ship passing the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and continuing north towards the George Washington Bridge. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/3e0a4768_4-10894548_20260706134005.jpg Gorch Fock, the 266-foot long, three-masted barque tall ship of the German Navy. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/3e0a4731_4-10894545_20260706134003.jpg Straus News observed the Sail4th 250 Parade of Sail aboard the 100-foot schooner, Adirondack, which was an escort for the Italian tall ship, Amerigo Vespucci. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/3e0a4813-1_4-10894871_20260706142440.jpg The French Air Force’s aerobatics team, the Patrouille de France, performing a flyover above the Hudson River, trailing red, white, and blue smoke. July 4 marked the culmination of their “Liberté 250” tour celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, featuring eight Dassault Alpha Jets and one Airbus A400. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/3e0a4861_4-10893839_20260706133921.jpg Rachel, a patriotic passenger onboard the Adirondack who spoke with Straus News about her enthusiasm for national events like July 4th. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/3e0a4863_4-10894528_20260706133927.jpg Crowds gathered at every pier along Chelsea in the heat, cheering at the sight of passing ships and aircraft. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/3e0a4750_4-10894529_20260706133930.jpg Spectators gathered on Liberty Island and atop the Statue of Liberty to watch the parade of aircraft and ships traveling along the Hudson River. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/3e0a4757_4-10894530_20260706133932.jpg A view of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge from the Hudson River. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/3e0a4747_4-10894533_20260706133935.jpg A view of Manhattan’s skyline from the Hudson River before the Sail4th 250 Parade of Sail. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/3e0a4766_4-10894534_20260706133938.jpg Father and son, Michael Zuppone and Michael Junior, posing on the Adirondack. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/3e0a4770_4-10894535_20260706133941.jpg Passengers onboard the Adirondack watching the sights of international aircraft and ships. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/3e0a4778_4-10894536_20260706133944.jpg The Blue Angels flying over the Hudson River in tight formation. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/3e0a4828_4-10894542_20260706133954.jpg The Italian tall ship, Amerigo Vespucci, pictured in front of the Manhattan skyline. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/img-8263_4-10899705_20260708112705.jpg Fireworks as seen from the East River. https://www.ourtownny.com/news/archbishop-of-ny-receives-texas-goodie-basket-following-nba-wager-FH6009227 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-07-07T14:28:19-04:00 Archbishop of NY Receives Texas Goodie Basket Following NBA Wager https://www.ourtownny.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’ 4 games to 1 win over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA finals. https://www.ourtownny.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.ourtownny.com/home/birthright-citizenship-upheld-as-supreme-court-rejects-trump-s-proposed-limits-IB5993659 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-07-07T15:53:40-04:00 Birthright Citizenship Upheld As Supreme Court Rejects Trump’s Proposed Limits https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/birthrightcitizenshipimage-dsc07760-scaled_4-10881420_20260701190308.jpg The 14th Amendment has ensured birthright citizenship since 1868 and the Supreme Court upheld that provision, dealing a blow to President Donald Trump who had railed against the law for more than a decade. The amendment guarantees people born on U.S. soil are citizens, regardless of their parents’ citizenship status. https://www.ourtownny.com/news/truck-transporting-lithium-ion-batteries-and-e-bikes-explodes-LF6007049 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-07-07T16:07:14-04:00 Truck Transporting Lithium Ion Batteries and E-Bikes Explodes https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/bs4i0129_4-10895689_20260706154901.jpg FDNY responded to a call about a truck fire in Chelsea at 3:11 p.m. on July 5 and discovered e-bikes with lithium ion batteries had erupted. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/joco-bike-pulled-pulled-from-burning_4-10899949_20260708122103.jpg One of the JOCO e-bikes pulled from the back of the cargo truck. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/charred-joco-bikes_4-10899952_20260708122104.jpg About a half dozen charred JOCO e-bikes were pulled from the back of the cargo truck where the fire erupted on July 5. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/bs4i0154_4-10895733_20260706161049.jpg The truck that was transporting the e-bikes in its cargo hold appeared to be a total loss after firefighters extinguished the blaze. https://www.ourtownny.com/news/murders-down-but-hate-crimes-shootings-rise-in-manhattan-HH6009823 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-07-07T17:31:35-04:00 Murders Down, But Hate Crimes, Shootings Rise in Manhattan https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-07-at-4-19-33-pm_4-10898237_20260707162058.png NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced historic murder and shooting lows in NYC alongside Mayor Zohran Mamdani at a July 2 press conference. But in Manhattan it was a mixed bag: murders are down but shooting incidents are surging. https://www.ourtownny.com/news/legionnaire-s-disease-outbreak-hits-ues-with-23-new-cases-FF6007315 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-07-08T10:36:40-04:00 Legionnaire’s Disease Outbreak Hits UES, With 23 New Cases https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-06-at-4-36-29-pm_4-10895811_20260706165741.png A new Legionanire’s disease outbreak has struck the Upper East Side, resulting in 18 cases so far. Health Department Commissioner Alistair Martin spread the news locally on July 4 (above). https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/legionnaires-disease-sign_4-10895954_20260706170118.jpg Warning on the NYC Health Dept. which instructs residents on the UES to take steps while the department investigations or origins of the latest outbreak of Lenionnaires’ Disease. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/closed-circuit-cooling-towers-4-96942_4-10895885_20260706164225.webp Health officials are testing cooling towers in the area for the presence of the disease. Pictured above: a generic example of a cooling tower. https://www.ourtownny.com/news/upper-east-side-neighborhood-event-calendar-jul-9-15-AB6012013 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-07-08T12:03:56-04:00 Upper East Side Neighborhood Event Calendar: Jul. 9-15 https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/folk-art-museum-via-www-folkartmuseum_4-10899866_20260708120358.jpg folk art museum via www.folkartmuseum.org https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/lincoln-center-via-lincolncenter-org_4-10899870_20260708120359.jpg Lincoln Center via lincolncenter.org https://www.ourtownny.com/home/city-council-repeals-security-gate-law-after-small-business-backlash-XH6009088 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-07-08T12:08:29-04:00 City Council Repeals Security Gate Law After Small Business Backlash https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/security-gate-70_4-10898030_20260708122650.png The NY City Council reversed a local law which would have required storeowners to replace existing security gates with grilles that have 70% visibility, such as the one above, from the sidewalk. https://www.ourtownny.com/news/crime-watch/brawling-female-knicks-fans-at-ticker-tape-parade-go-viral-AN5960750 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-07-08T13:27:22-04:00 Brawling Female Knicks Fans at Ticker-tape Parade Go Viral https://www.ourtownny.com/news/the-knicks-win-jubilation-disorder-follows-nba-finals-LJ5946973 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-07-08T13:47:08-04:00 The Knicks Win!! Jubilation & Disorder Follows NBA Finals https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/times-square-after-the-knicks-win-nba_4-10829444_20260615172951.webp Fans climbed atop five school buses that were set aside to transport people from Manhattan to the World Cup games. One of the buses was later set on fire near Times Square. There were 65 arrests on the night,. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/img-8006_4-10828906_20260615172952.jpg One fan in Times Square climbs atop a street lights while celebrating. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/school-bus-on-fire_4-10829638_20260615173532.png A school bus was set on fire by fans celebrating the Knicks victory of the San Antonio Spurs on June 13. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/img-3902_4-10829465_20260615172952.jpg Drivers and passengers got in on the celebrations, honking and dancing out of an SUV sunroof near Madison Square Garden on June 13. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/some-pictures-that-i-took-at-msg-afte_4-10829447_20260615172956.webp Over 60 arrests made on the night of June 13th. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/img-3901_4-10829468_20260615165223.jpg Fans sprayed graffiti on a metal storefront gate near Times Square during the Knicks victory celebration. https://www.ourtownny.com/news/freelancers-union-labor-group-offers-solidarity-to-the-solitary-XM5934505 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-07-08T13:50:00-04:00 Freelancers Union: Labor Group Offers Solidarity to the Solitary https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/freelancers-union-labor-group-day_4-10819000_20260612003050.jpg Freelancers Union “Freelance Isn’t Free Day” event, May 20. Kneeling with sign is Chief of Staff Andrea Gordillo; standing, bearded with sign, is FU’s former director Rafael Espinal. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/freelancers-union-labor-group-solidar_4-10818988_20260612003043.jpg Freelancers Union “Freelance Isn’t Free” event panel. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/freelancers-union-labor-group-day-sce_4-10818997_20260612003048.jpg Freelancers Union “Freelance Isn’t Free Day” included panels, lunch and networking. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/freelancers-union-labor-group-hub-ent_4-10818991_20260612003045.jpg Freelancers Union headquarters and “Hub” entrance in Brooklyn. https://www.ourtownny.com/news/goldman-family-feud-manhattans-real-estate-empires-HH6009854 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-07-08T14:04:21-04:00 Family Feud Rocks One of NYC’s Largest Real Estate Empires https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/real-estate-mark-hotel-jpeg-10898254-10898254_4-10898254_20260707151738.jpg The Mark Hotel on Manhattan’s Upper East Side sits on land subject to a ground lease held by entities tied to the Goldman family’s real estate empire, which is at the center of ongoing litigation among heirs. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/real-estate-goldman-family_4-10898298_20260707153807.jpg Jane Goldman (left), Steven Gurney-Goldman (center) and Amy Goldman Fowler. Steven and Amy have filed lawsuits and Surrogate’s Court petitions challenging the administration of Lillian Goldman’s estate and the governance of family-owned real estate companies. Jane has denied wrongdoing through court filings and her attorneys. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/real-estate-sol-lillian_4-10898273_20260708135503.webp Real estate investor Sol Goldman and his wife, Lillian Goldman. Their estate and the companies that control the family’s vast Manhattan real estate holdings are now at the center of ongoing litigation among their heirs. https://www.ourtownny.com/news/clearwater-sloop-booted-from-boat-parade-over-advocacy-banners-NC6004942 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-07-08T14:22:05-04:00 Clearwater Sloop Booted from Boat Parade Over Advocacy Banners https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/3e0a4763_4-10893050_20260706112610.jpg The Clearwater sloop (above) sailing south towards the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge on the morning of the July 4th Sail4th 250 Parade of Sail. On the port side, its sail reads, “Save the Clean Water Act,” as part of the organization’s efforts towards environmental advocacy. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/img-9441_4-10900859_20260708141703.jpg The U.S. Coast Guard approaching the Clearwater sloop. Officials said, “Turn your vessel back towards the bridge.” https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/img-8545_4-10900862_20260708141707.jpg The sail’s starboard side reads, “Indigenous Rights, Racial Justice, Climate Solutions.” https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/3e0a4764_4-10893525_20260706112613.jpg The Clearwater and other sailboats on the Hudson River getting ready for a day of celebrations marking the nation’s 250th anniversary. https://www.ourtownny.com/news/packed-plazas-quiet-stores-inside-rockefeller-center-s-world-cup-fan-village-FB6012979 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-07-08T17:44:24-04:00 Packed Plazas, Quiet Stores: Inside Rockefeller Center’s World Cup Fan Village https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-08-at-4-08-26-pm_4-10901296_20260708162402.png Rockefeller Center has been reimagined and redecorated as LED screens go up and the city prepared for the home stretch of the FIFA World Cup. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-08-at-4-08-02-pm_4-10901299_20260708162411.png Rockefeller Center’s Channel Gardens transformed into Champions’ Gardens, celebrating the eight nations that have ever won the World Cup. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-08-at-4-07-56-pm_4-10901302_20260708162419.png Artist and designed Mr. Flower Fantastic built the floral soccer balls seen here. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-08-at-4-07-40-pm_4-10901305_20260708162424.png The Coca-Cola Fan Zone in Fan Village provided some colorful backgrounds and photo opportunities, alongside temporary tattoos and, of course, Coca-Cola. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-08-at-4-07-36-pm_4-10901308_20260708162432.png The 27-foot trophy isn’t even close to the only stop LEGO has pulled out this World Cup. The LEGO store and Fan Village pop up display a wide variety of FIFA-themed products, including this intricate piece. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-08-at-4-07-30-pm_4-10901311_20260708162437.png The 1,363,403-brick LEGO FIFA World Cup trophy, standing at 26.5 feet. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-08-at-4-07-24-pm_4-10901314_20260708162442.png Easy access to Fan Village depends on the time of day; at around 2:30 before the Colombia-Swizterland game on July 7, lines were Nonexistent, but closer to the 4 p.m. game time, the area began to fill up. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-08-at-4-08-35-pm_4-10901317_20260708162448.png A crowd of mostly Colombia fans gathered to watch the pre-game programming on July 7. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-08-at-4-08-44-pm_4-10901320_20260708162456.png Maps and guides for Fan Village line the streets surrounding Rockefeller Center. https://www.ourtownny.com/news/workers-shore-up-building-after-steel-beams-buckled-HH6009485 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-07-08T18:06:04-04:00 Workers Shore up Building after Steel Beams Buckled https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/structural-beams-buckle-at-under-reno_4-10898709_20260707220117.webp FDNY members wait outside the building at 235 E. 42nd St. where construction workers spotted buckling steel beams and sagging floors that triggered a mass evacuation of that and construction project and surrounding buildings. https://www.ourtownny.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 in the former Pfizer HQ in the midst of a massive conversion project. https://www.ourtownny.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 non-union workforce. https://www.ourtownny.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 between First and Third Ave. on East 42nd St. were forced to evacuate. https://www.ourtownny.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 38 story building that is being converted to residential housing. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/img-1989_4-10898715_20260707220123.jpg Press gathers on Third Avenue while building workers take questions.