Upper West Side - More than meets the eye 🧱

Hi hi,

That nasty bike bump entering the Williamsburg Bridge? Gone. But many ask Mamdani, where else can I get sick air? 🚴

And now...

In this week’s newsletter:

🎫 Events We Love This Week: January 7-14 - Under the Radar Festival and a food mart without any food

🇹🇭 You’ll Have to Check It Out - Cuz you thought Crying Tiger was a nickname for Tigger

🧱 Upper West Side Guide - Restaurants you won’t wanna miss and a smattering of bars that give a neighborhood feel

Let’s get to it. 👇

Note: As always, this email was written by an actual human who lives in NYC, not artificial intelligence. 🥸

Events We Love This Week: January 7-14, 2026

In the city this week? Here are some fun events we’re keeping an eye on.

MoMA Mart - Now through March 29

The MoMA Design Store is one of our favorite spots to explore, with its unique home decor and funky (albeit often not super practical) items.

They’re taking it to the next level with a '“grocery store” pop-up where nothing is edible.

You want a snack? Skip it.

You want a lamp that looks like a tomato or a pizza-shaped clock? Check it out.

It’s on display at both the SoHo and Midtown locations.

Under the Radar Theater Festival - Now Until January 27

True art often requires trying the new, obscure, and previously unthought-of angles.

Under the Radar brings bold, risk-taking work to New York City. This year’s festival showcases multidisciplinary artists across the city, featuring over 25 new productions.

Not sure what I mean by 'bold' and 'risk-taking’? Here’s a synopsis of Mami:

“A scream, that’s all. Not a word is exchanged in this gripping, sensational show by young director Mario Banushi, a revelation of the festival.”

Or Love Force by Sunny Jain, described as:

“…Weaving together powerful music, ancestral stories, and intimate monologues to explore Jain’s family history across Pakistan and India, and his journey toward music as a tool for healing and change.

See the full program and get tickets ASAP.

You’ll Have to Check It Out - SAPPEISAN

Last week we took advantage of our Chase Sapphire’s dining credit (amazing card btw, worth checking out) at what turned out to be our new favorite Thai spot, SAPPEISAN.

Getting a reservation wasn’t easy, which is often a great sign.

And then we saw the Google Maps reviews.. 👇

4.9 stars with over 4,400 reviews is unheard of. This means they’re delivering a high-quality meal with efficiency and friendliness on a consistent basis.

On this one, the reviews don’t lie.

Every single dish was mouthwatering and full of flavors I hadn’t thought possible.

The dipping sauce that came with the Crying Tiger dish hasn’t left my mind..

Oh, and both cocktails were balanced, unique, and worth the price tag. 🍸

Do yourself the favor and check out SAPPEISAN here.

Upper West Side Neighborhood Guide

The Upper West Side is a quintessential NYC neighborhood. 🌆

Tree-lined streets, a lively bar and night scene, and, of course, the Museum of Natural History make it a can't-miss for anyone in NYC.

We’ve got you covered with a comprehensive UWS guide, including two guest UWS residents on the podcast episode who dive deep into their favorite food spot in the neighborhood! 👀

This guide showcases dozens of bars, restaurants, and things to do.

Plus, you can view it all on a handy Google Maps list (which you can save/follow for future use).

Chat next week,

Ashley & Devin from Better Together Here

PS- Next week’s podcast covers all things Chelsea, don’t miss it!