Hi neighbors,
There’s so much to do this weekend on UWS that I decided to make a quick post about it.
Saturday, May 9: Japan Parade and Street Fair
I got a LOT of questions about Japan Festival on UWS and realized there was some confusion with what is happening when. I explain it on this post:
But essentially, today there is Japan Parade, rain or shine. The parade steps off at 1 p.m. along Central Park West, from West 81st Street down to West 67th Street.
There will also be a Japan Street Fair from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on West 72nd Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West.
Expect performances, community groups, cultural celebration and, very importantly, Japanese food vendors. It’s free, festive and right in the neighborhood, which is my favorite kind of plan: high reward, low subway involvement.
My suggested plan: grab coffee, walk over early, watch the parade along Central Park West, then make your way toward the street fair for snacks and a little weekend wandering.
and if you have your mom around, bring your mom!
Sunday, May 10: Mother’s Day on the UWS
This year, the Mother’s Day plan cannot be simpler: go enjoy the first day of Columbus Open Streets with your mom, walk around, get brunch at Ella Social, where they’ll have live music until 4 p.m., and treat her to a few Mother’s Day sale gifts from the shops along Columbus. For example, Madewell has a sale right now.
There’s also the Mother’s Day Bazaar at Grand Bazaar NYC on Columbus Avenue, which is perfect for browsing, gifting and pretending you are “just looking” while absolutely finding something.
And on Broadway, between 64th and 65th streets, Makers Manifest will have a craft market full of things to get Mom, or to get now and gift to Mom later, because sometimes the holiday logistics require a little creative timing.
It really cannot be easier to celebrate a day with your mom, spend the day finding a gift for a mom or mother figure, or, maybe, if you’re a mom yourself, treat yourself to the sweetest Upper West Side day. Brunch, live music, open streets, local shopping and spring weather? The neighborhood understood the assignment.
A few ways to make a weekend of it
Saturday: Japan Parade, street fair snacks, a park walk and an early dinner.
Sunday: Columbus Open Streets, Mother’s Day brunch at Ella Social, Grand Bazaar NYC, Makers Manifest, local shopping and a little gift-hunting along Columbus and Broadway.
No Mother’s Day plans? No problem. Make it a solo date. Buy yourself flowers. Browse for a gift to give later. Call someone you love. Sit in the park and let the Upper West Side do what it does best: make an ordinary weekend feel a little cinematic.
And if you’re a mom, consider this your official permission slip to treat yourself.
Happy weekend, neighbors. Save this, share it with someone making plans and let me know what else should be on the May guide.
Best,
Katya
I love a street fair!!