Update: Oreo, Dog Thrown Off Building, Was Euthanized
Access-A-Ride Renders Bike Lane Inaccessible
The UWS Gets Its Very Own Apple Store
Emily and Sarah Kunstler, Filmmakers
Video: Close Encounters Above Central Park?
After last night's crazy Critical Mass where two cops were hurt, the Idiotarod meeting place was moved from Willamsburg to Fort Greene Park (at the monument) at 2:30PM Everyone was alerted by text message. Looks like fears about the police trying to spoil the fun of pushing shopping carts while elaborately costumed were founded.
Update 1: The racers will run across the east side of the Manhattan Bridge, and the first Manhattan check point will be at Delancey.
Update 2: On the Brooklyn side, at around Plymouth and Water Streets, there are tons of police. It's unclear whether or not the racers will make it over the bridge. Referees are talking to the police, so stay tuned.
Update 3: There are at least six police cars and a paddywagon in Dumbo, in front of the bridge.
Update 4: Three teams made it over the bridge, but it looks like cops may be following them throughout the race!!
Update 5: Despite heavy police presence, teams seem to be making it through and are heading towards the finish line at East River Park!
Update 6: [Jake] We've got some pictures up at Flickr [also see Janelle's set.] What an insane race-- changing locations, cops swarming everywhere, and some really insane costumes. Good times. [Related: check out the full Idiotarod stream for lots more pictures over the next couple of days.]
Update 7: We put up a cameraphone clip of the action at the second checkpoint (corner of Clinton and Delancey), and Janelle also put up some video from the same spot.
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
NEWS FLASH: Apparently the cops showed at the first checkpoint. (credit: Janelle)
Let's hope they don't try to spoil the fun yet again.
For what it's worth, we all might use this opportunity to write to Mayor Bloomberg or other city officials with some support for activities like Critical Mass, ImprovEverywhere, the Idiotarod, etc. These are harmless, non-violent, fun, cultural events, not a threat to life and limb! They are not even trying to inspire fear in anyone. The police overreaction to these events is baffling - surely they have better things to do with their time. Nothing is being damaged or broken, and at worst a little traffic is tied up here and there. It's very sad to see fun and free speech being stomped on like this.
oh, this is kinda exciting. sort of like like listening to a race on the radio...
Where's the finish line?
I need to join! :)a>
Every time someone types out Idiotarod, I think of Idiot A-Rod.
I was on the Manhattan side of the Manhattan bridge and the police were actually controlling and stopping traffic in anticipation of the riders coming over.
It takes 6 months for cops to ticket motorcycles parked on the sidewalk, but they can spare time in an attempt to control this?
Some fucking priorities.
mike, what's wrong with motorcycles parked on the sidewalks?
kenneth,
it happens to be illegal, and for good reason.
Wow, I would not mess with that guy in the top photo! Those muscles are HUGE!
This is so stupid, why is this even newsworthy? This is an "event"? You guys need to get a life.
Was there and walked the whole thing.
Who were the winners in the various categories?
Would like to know who won for best sabotage?
Those 'Barrel of Pink Monkeys' girls rocked as well as team Cobra and all the other crazy crazy folks!
I was suprised on how helpful the cops were.
steinbrenners tugs, the 1998 new york yankees, beat all you jerks. go back to fenway!
i don't understand this event. still.
Race results:
1st Place: Double Down Red Squad
2nd Place: Running With Scissors
3rd Place: Hawaii 5-0
*these were the declared positions after Troop 666 was disqualified for not hitting the checkpoints and Hawaii 5-0 was penalized for annoying the judges
Best Sabotage: Boyscout Troop 666
Best In Show: team COBRA (Carts Of Brooklyn Racing Association)
Then the race organizers announced that they are stepping down and giving the whole operation to COBRA to organize next year after COBRAs strong showing:
Best In Show for our fire shooting 6 foot hot rod snake head cart, 4 other carts, and uniforms.
Closely considered for best sabotage for our fake checkpoint at which other teams willingly gave us their registration papers, our attachement of heavy tires to other teams carts, and our fake starting line flyers. And one of our carts was 8th accross the finish line.
After hearing all the buzz from the cop confrontation the night before, I was suprise by how little to police messed with people the day off. There was even a lane marked off by cones on Delancy for the race.
photos: https://www.photoshelter.com/gallery-show/G0000mpar9rHx7.k