June 9, 2026 – Riverside Park and a Banksy!

I am not exaggerating when I say I won the neighborhood lottery.

A block from Central Park in one direction, Riverside Park in the other — and right around the corner on West 79th Street, a genuine Banksy. Hammer Boy depicts a child gleefully swinging a sledgehammer at a fire hydrant pipe, cleverly transforming it into a carnival high-striker game, with the surrounding building signage serving as the point levels. It’s reportedly the only surviving Banksy installation left in Manhattan — and it’s basically my neighbor. Not bad.

This afternoon was one of those golden UWS moments: Riverside Park alive with walkers, cyclists, and an endless parade of dogs for Toffee to charm. I do most of my park time in Central Park, but Riverside has its own quieter magic, and days like this remind me why. This neighborhood — this life — really doesn’t get old.