Israel Ortiz offers a croissant to a raccoon in Central Park, part of a daily ritual he has maintained for nearly two decades. ( Photo: Zelda Nguyen ) The Raccoon Man of Central Park: Israel Ortiz and His Wild Friends Israel Ortiz tossed a peanut into the air. A woodpecker perched on a nearby branch immediately swooped down and caught it... News Alert 04 Jun 2026 | 11:47
Heather Stein (author) takes a selfie with Shakespeare: Lucky again to enjoy the wonder of Shakespeare in the Park 2026. ( Photo: Heather Stein) Romeo, Juliet & the Great Central Park Ticket Quest There is something wonderfully New York about setting an alarm for the middle of the night, packing snacks like you are going... City Arts 02 Jun 2026 | 10:07
A spooked carriage horse flipped over another carriage near Central Park on Monday, May 18, hospitalizing the driver. ( Photo: Citizen App ) Central Park Horse Collision Leads to Renewed Ban Calls Two carriage horses collided in Central Park on the afternoon of May 18, flipping one of the carriages and sending a coach... News 22 May 2026 | 04:32
Visitors to Central Park have been puzzled by a mysterious cinnamon smell recently. ( Photo: Zelda Nguyen ) What’s That Mysterious Cinnamon Smell Wafting through Central Park? Several days ago, Tony was jogging on the west side of Central Park when he caught a strong cinnamon scent in the air. He... News 13 May 2026 | 05:13
The Bridle Path entrance at East 90th Street and 5th Avenue (Engineers’ Gate) has a canopy of cherry blossoms. ( Photo: Snap Toks) Beneath a Canopy of Petals Spring’s Most Elegant Moment Arrives This past weekend, as Passover and Easter unfolded in tandem with the arrival of true spring, Central Park entered its most... News 10 Apr 2026 | 12:05
Central Park attempted rape suspect as seen and sketched in summer 2024. ( Photos: NYPD) Central Park Attempted Rape Verdict: Guilty on All Counts The afternoon idyll turned nightmare of a sun-loving woman in Central Park reached its verdict with the recently announced... Crime Watch 06 Apr 2026 | 01:02
Olivia Bannerman, aka “the Poop Fairy” with the “light of her life,” her golden retriever Violet. ( Photo: Genevieve Hartnett) Here with the Scoop–Central Park Dog Poop Clean Up Builds Community After months of cleaning up after people’s dogs, Olivia Bannerman hopes more people give a sh*t about taking care of the... News 02 Mar 2026 | 02:01
Quirky Karen finds pure joy skating at Wollman Rink in Central Park. ( Photo: Philip Maier) Quirky Karen Takes a Whirl at Wollman Rink I decided to celebrate the new year with a dry January—not the easiest thing to do in cocktail town. So I was thinking about... News 21 Jan 2026 | 06:18
The poet Aaron Poochigian at Bethesdea Fountain in Central Park. ( Photo: Chloe Bragg) Poet Finds Peace and Inspiration, Writes Guide Book to Central Park–in Verse Where Sixth Avenue ends and skyscrapers halt, José Julián Martí protects the 59th Street entrance of Central Park. His comrades... Home 09 Dec 2025 | 01:34
Left: Wanted for forcible touching. Right: NYPD Chaplain Rabbi Alvin Kass ( Photos: NYPD) Woman Groped in Central Park; NYPD Chaplain Rabbi Alvin Kass Dies Given NYPD’s extensive network of surveillance camera, one doesn’t often see the work of police sketch artists anymore. While... News 03 Nov 2025 | 12:17
Mayor Eric Adams has joined the chorus of voices demanding a carriage horse ban. ( Photo: Wikimedia Commons, raduranga) Mayor Adams: I, Too, Want To Ban Horse Carriage Trade The movement to ban the use of carriage horses has gained an interesting high-profile ally: Mayor Eric Adams. On September... Home 22 Sep 2025 | 05:06
Traffic signals that would halt traffic and allow pedestrians to cross safely are wrapped in burlap and inoperable as part of a controversial pilot program that is redesigning the loop road in Central Park. ( Photo: Gail Gregg) Tempers Flare at Hearing over E-Bikes in Central Park It was standing room only as heated exchanges marked the Central Park Police Precinct community council meeting on the subject... News 11 Sep 2025 | 01:01
The Central Park Conservancy is now backing a ban on carriage horses, a significant part of the park’s history. ( Photo: centralpark.com ) Central Park Conservancy Calls for Carriage-Horse Ban In a rather stunning development, the Central Park Conservancy has written a letter to top city officials voicing its support... News 18 Aug 2025 | 10:24
Here’s what people who got on line early in the morning on Aug 8 for the second day of Shakespeare in the Park were waiting to see at the newly renovated Delacorte Theater: the play “Twelfth Night.” ( Photo: Heather Stein) Worth the Wait: The Dawn-to-Dusk Devotion for Shakespeare in the Park In New York, there are few summer traditions as cherished—and as fiercely committed—as the line for Shakespeare in the Park.... News 11 Aug 2025 | 06:21
Elected officials join project leadership and the show’s stars at the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the newly renovated Delacorte Theater on July 15. ( Photo: Rebecca J. Michelson) The Bard Is Back: After $85M Renovation, Shakespeare in Park Returns to the Delacorte The completely remodeled Delacorte Theater is finally ready for its close-up after an $85-million makeover as Shakespeare... City Arts 21 Jul 2025 | 12:09
