Voting Woes, Trader Joe's: Upper East Side Year In Review

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — It's hard to believe now, but 2020 began like any other year on the Upper East Side.

In those innocent early months, we brought you news about a new gelato shop, a Central Park coyote, and the possible arrival of Trader Joe's.

Then came the once-in-a-century pandemic, the historic protests over racism and policing, an economic recession and a contentious presidential election. 2020 became a year that no New Yorker would soon forget.

As 2021 begins, Upper East Side Patch is taking a look back at the neighborhood's top stories.

This UES Early Voting Site Is The Most Overloaded In NYC

As eager New Yorkers sped to early voting sites to participate in November's general election, many were stunned at the long lines they found — especially at Robert F. Wagner Middle School on the Upper East Side, where waits sometimes exceeded six hours.

The reason, it turned out, was that Wagner had more voters assigned to it than any other site in the city: more than 118,000 people. After most of the damage had already been done, a local politician convinced the city to open a second early voting site at Marymount Manhattan College, alleviating the crowds.

'No Protesting Allowed': Sign Baffles Upper East Side BLM Group; Upper East Side Protesters Say They've Faced Harassment, Threats

A nightly Black Lives Matter vigil that began after the killing of George Floyd in May has continued at Carl Schurz Park well into the winter.

But the group has faced its share of challenges, from the alleged harassment and assault of a female protester to the appearance of a mysterious "No Protesting Allowed" sign in October.

UES Trader Joe's Set For 2021 Opening After Yearslong Move-In

Following up on our spring scoop, we reported in October that Trader Joe's would indeed move into their new East Side digs by late 2021. A person familiar with the process told Patch that the secretive grocery chain was making progress with its move into Bridgemarket, the landmarked space under the Queensboro Bridge.

The supermarket, which enjoys a cult following for its quirky products and cheap prices, has nine Manhattan locations, but none on the Upper East Side. City Councilmember Ben Kallos said Trader Joe's emerged as a clear favorite when he asked constituents what should move into the vacant space.

"What I will say is, people love Trader Joe's," he said.

Teachers Denounce Hunter Schools' Reopening Plan At Protest; Upper East Side Coronavirus Rates Still Among NYC's Lowest

Our ongoing coverage of the impact of COVID-19 on the Upper East Side included reporting on the chaotic reopening process at the Hunter College Campus Schools, where teachers protested what they called a lack of protocols to keep students and staff safe.

After nearly going on strike over their working conditions, teachers ultimately chose to report to school in September after winning a number of concessions from teachers.

Meanwhile, the Upper East Side has consistently reported some of the lowest coronavirus rates of any New York neighborhood. The virus has devastated less affluent neighborhoods further uptown, like East Harlem and Washington Heights. Still, more than 200 Upper East Side residents have died after contracting the disease.

Tap Water Tasting Funny On The Upper East Side? Here's Why

Our mini-investigation revealed the cause of the metallic-tasting tap water that many Upper East Siders began tasting in early December: the annual decay of aquatic plants in the upstate reservoirs that hold the city's water.

This year's taste may also be magnified by the temporary shutdown of the Catskill Aqueduct, a spokesperson for the Department of Environmental Protection told Patch. It was anticipated to go away by early January.

An Unlikely Arrival On The Upper East Side: A New Guitar Shop

A happier story came just before Thanksgiving: the surprise arrival of a new guitar shop, helmed by a couple of Upper East Side hardware store owners — who also happen to be brothers.

"It's about spreading music, spreading love and building the Upper East Side community," Brothers Guitar Shop co-owner Frank Gorelik told Patch.

Patch reporters Anna Quinn and Maya Kaufman contributed.

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