We're having quite a Renaissance on the Upper West Side!

The "Shake Shack" http://www.shakeshacknyc.com/ opened last Monday October 20th and there have been lines around the corner every day and night since they opened!
 I've even seen people waiting in the rain! Famous and popular healthy (?) fast food "shake shack" originally started by gourmet restauranteur Danny Meyer in Madison Park finally opened their new location on Columbus Avenue and 77th street just a block away from my office..Serving burgers fries, shakes and dogs they are known for their soft serve custard and "concretes" thick frozen custards with odd flavors of the day like past Sunday's Rosemary&Lime and also their human grade ice cream dish for dogs "the poochini"!
I can't eat regular bread or buns due to having Celiac Disease and being Gluten intolerant and I don't usually eat any meat either but the other night, I had gone to a benefit for the Creative Music Studio http://www.creativemusicstudio.org/ and on my way home, as it was almost 11pm and I hadn't had any dinner (and finally there wasn't a line!) I stopped by and tried one of their "Shrooms" which I though was a grilled Portobello Mushroom...turns out it's a breaded and deep fried ball of cheese and portobello..I didn't realize until I got home or I would have asked what the breading was, though most likely it was wheat based, so that nixed it for me..The fries were nothing special, in fact they were pasty yellow and not crisp and I could have sworn they were your standard ridged fries..maybe it's because it was late.. (I shouldn't have eaten them either because the breading in the burger could have transferred gluten to them in the fry oil) Anyway if they are this busy now, imagine how busy they will be come the summertime! 
 Going the other direction on Columbus at 75th street around 3 weeks ago, Duane Reade opened their new luxe and multi level "Duane Reade Pharmicist" store which is open most days from 7 am to Midnight, they have quite a variety of items and have also been really busy. (Though as they have had an uncorrected ongoing problem with pervasive/strange/very stinky shopping bags, their business may have dropped off..)
We've had a great drugstore, luxury, cosmetic, accessories and gift store for a few years now at "Therapie" http://www.therapieny.com on Columbus avenue between 75th&74th Street (It was originally called "Boyd's" but last year they changed their name..They also have a good selection of toys,natural supplements and homeopathic medicines.Very popular with the local "doggie crowd' as they offer a fine selection of gourmet dog treats and welcome well behaved canine visitors who like to bring their owners in to pick up a thing or two..(Duane Reade has now stopped allowing, our best friends to bring us in!)
The other day, it was announced that next month (November) that the Natural History Museum  http://www.amnh.org (located between CPW and Columbus and 81st St and 77th Street) will be opening a "State of the Art" ice skating rink on their terrace, during the winter season, though it has the potential of being open year round! 
Between the frozen custard at Shake Shack and now ice-skating at the NHMH.. that's quite a brain freeze! LOL!
Also opening in time for the holidays on Columbus betwen 75th and 74th St. is a groovy and hip home furnishing and decorating store (according to the poster on their door) called Jonathan Adler..
Well all this new goings on have me quite excited and a bit exhausted but it's a welcome relief and completely opposite to all the "gloom and doom" that the media has been presenting recently!   Now if someone would just open a cool live original music cafe or club in the neighborhood...
Have a spooky, safe and happy Halloween! Ciao,Jolie