Arts & Entertainment

After over a decade of cultural dumpster diving on the Brooklyn bohemian fringe, Radiohole, New York's most deliriously debauched theater company, has babies to look out for. Two of the troupe's founding members, Erin Douglass and Maggie Hoffman, are recent moms, and the trademark bucket of beer, set out for the audience at each performance, is now accompanied by a plea for donations to their "Beers for Babies" fund. (They say the money goes for child-care, not kegs for kids.) So it makes a certain amount of sense for Radiohole, whose bracing productions are often accompanied by a chaser of self-referential surrealism, to take inspiration from the Eisenhower-era domestic melodramas of Douglas Sirk, namely his 1955 film All That Heaven Allows. more ›

One upside of the snowicane: The awesome packing snow! Here are some photographs of snowfolks and snowthings that our readers captured. more ›

Here it is, your Snowicane timelapse, taken in Brooklyn. Spoiler alert: the camera gets snowed in! more ›

Acrassicauda, who Vice magazine once called the "hardest band in Baghdad," played their first public show in the U.S. Tuesday night at Europa in Greenpoint. It was a long-time coming for the four members of the band, who a few years ago were carrying guns to band practice, and later became the subjects of Vice's documentary Heavy Metal in Baghdad. Tuesday night's show was an affirmation of the end to their harrowing journey, surrounded by a pumped-up, air-guitaring crowd. more ›

The latest city building to get landmark designation from the LPC is a 180-year-old Federal-style row house at 143 Allen Street on the Lower East Side. According to the Villager it was built, along with five others, in 1830 by ship captain George Sutton. more ›

At first glance these new accessories line for men looked pretty cool... until we realized they were made from pigeons and rats! Avant-garde artist Reid Peppard uses "taxidermy crafted from road kill and pest controlled vermin," according to Boing Boing. Prices aren't listed on her site, but we're guessing that Rat Bowtie will cost you a pretty penny—its eyes were replaced with Swarovski crystals. more ›

Click on the film stills for more info and reviews on this week's new releases and repertory screenings, which include Cop Out, The Crazies, A Prophet, Formosa Betrayed, Prodigal Sons, Toe to Toe, The Yellow Handkerchief, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Five Easy Pieces, and Point Break. more ›

If you've got theater tickets for tonight, you'll want to dig your snowshoes out of the closet and brace yourself for adventure. At this moment, there is not a single performance canceled. (Check these sites for updates.) And because many ticket-holders won't have what it takes to make it to the theater, Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League, says, "It's a great time to get good seats to the hot musicals and plays currently playing in our theatres." (All three TKTS discount booths are open as usual.) If you're willing to trudge to the theater district, A Behanding in Spokane, starring Christopher Walken and Sam Rockwell, sounds promising. If you're near the East Village, you can't go wrong Radiohole, and if you're snowed in in Williamsburg, we highly recommend You're Welcome.! more ›

Elizabeth Marvel first knocked our socks off six years ago when we saw Ivo van Hove's inspired, visceral interpretation of Hedda Gabler at New York Theater Workshop. Ever since, she's been reason enough to see pretty much anything, from Top Girls to The Good Wife. Don't ask us to articulate what makes her so eminently watchable, just go see Marvel for yourself starting next week at the Public Theater, where she's playing the title role in The Book of Grace, the new one from Suzan-Lori Parks—you know, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of such hits as Topdog/Underdog. more ›

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The Queens Museum of Art isn't the only place you can see a miniature New York. Using tilt-shift photography, artist Sam O'Hare created the time-lapse film "The Sandpit" from more than 35,000 pictures taken during a single week last August. With computer editing software, O'Hare manipulated his photos so only narrow planes of focus remained sharp, creating an effect that makes the city look like a model. He then assembled his shots—which range from scenes of crowds entering the Met to construction work at Brooklyn Bridge Park—over an original score. If you like the tilt-shift look but can't afford a dedicated lens, you can do it on Photoshop or try this low-budget approach. [via thenewoldbiddy's Twitter] more ›

The 75th Whitney Biennial is upon us, opening tomorrow and running through May 30th. This year's 55 artists were selected by curator Francesco Bonami and associate curator Gary Carrion-Murayari, who released a statement saying: “The artists selected for this year’s exhibition reflect diverse responses to the anxiety and optimism of the past two years. 2010 does not privilege any one medium or aesthetic style, but rather assembles a wide range of individual gestures, personal histories, and improvised encounters that speak to a sense of openness and community.” In the past the exhibition has been called out for being "too cliquey." Take a peek at what's in store before becoming enraged at their latest survey of American art. more ›

The summer music festivals are already being lined up (even September's ATP Festival has been announced), but in all the buzz there's a name missing: All Points West. The NY Times looks at the 3-day festival, which for the past two years has taken place at New Jersey's Liberty State Park—saying it may not return. more ›

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Sam Shepard's elusive play A Lie of the Mind is receiving its first major revival since it premiered in 1985 with Harvey Keitel and Geraldine Page. Directed by Ethan Hawke, the production boasts an brilliant ensemble: Keith Carradine, Josh Hamilton, Marin Ireland, Laurie Metcalf, Alessandro Nivola, Maggie Siff, Frank Whaley, and Karen Young (who also performed in the original production). Their passionate performances are vibrantly enhanced by the spellbinding sound design (much of it performed live on stage with "found object" instruments) and Derek McLane's great gallimaufry of a set, packed to the rafters with all sorts of assorted bric-a-brac, like a massive flea market squeezed into a single living room. Over the weekend, we spoke with Hawke about the play, which concerns two midwestern families inexorably bound together by a savage act of domestic violence. Shepard himself describes it "a love ballad, a little legend about love." more ›

The folks at NewYorkology spotted this Staten Island Ferry toy (what every child wants!) at City Store today. Can you spot the problem? There haven't been cars allowed on the ferry since 9/11/2001, but this toy comes with three cars (and a photo showing them on the ferry). Oversized cars at that—proportionally these are all wrong. There's an elf out there that needs to be fired. more ›

After a brush with death in 2008, The Ohio Theatre, an indispensable nerve center of NYC's theater scene for 29 years, will be dispensed with on August 31st. The new landlord has issued an official notice and no further negotiations are scheduled. If you're one of those people who cares about theater as art, you know what a loss this is. As artistic Director Robert Lyons puts it, the Ohio "is where Tony Kushner produced his first play out of college, where Philip Seymour Hoffman made his professional acting debut, where Eve Ensler performed Dicks in the Desert, a decade before writing The Vagina Monologues. The Ohio Theatre has been an incubator and platform for New York’s most exciting and innovative theatre artists for almost 30 years. Its closing emphatically punctuates the end of an era in Soho." more ›

Egads, behold these infernal hip-sters clogging Bedford Avenue with their fixed-gear "safety bicycles." And good heavens, there is a slatternly dressed female cyclist pedaling among them, a sight that's certain to scandalize the local Hasidim (someday)! This photograph—probably taken during one of their incessant political demonstrations demanding fanciful traffic regulations—clearly shows these ped-HELL-ers' wanton disregard for pedestrians and locomotives alike. Reached for comment, one Wiley Ignatius Norvel, who represents a criminal anarchist group in favor of bicycle proliferation, stridently asked, "How many bicyclists must be injured after slipping in manure before the Brooklyn carriage industry equips their horses with absorbent diapers?" more ›

The latest Scouting NY post, where he comes upon a privately owned mansion in Vinegar Hill that used to be part of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, is simply drool-worthy and envy-inducing. The home has received press here and there throughout the years, but as the Scout points out, "the fact that I was unaware of it means there’s gotta be one or two readers out there who will be as taken aback by it as I was." more ›

Brooklyn's Little Odessa might host a Jersey Shore-style TV program documenting the drunken exploits of young Russian-Americans. Show creator Elina Miller told Sheepshead Bites that her program won't accentuate Russian stereotypes: "While some of the stereotypes may have merit, I'm trying to show that [the community is] a lot more complex." A casting website put out this call: "Are you the Russian Snooki or The Situation? Are you a super outgoing and fun-loving Russian-American that sometimes sneaks kalbaska, pel'meni and vodka from the fridge? Can people hear the Euro/Techno/Russian music blasting from your car before they see you pull up? ... The cameras will roll as you do what you do best—eat, drink and PARTY." more ›

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The first time we heard of the Central Park coyote was February 2nd—since then, there have been plenty of sightings of the little guy (and there may even be more than one roaming around out there). Back on the 9th, the Parks Department had told us they plan to catch the coyote and... hopefully he won't meet the same end as Hal, who was caught in the area in 2006 and died in captivity. more ›

An art gallery in Greenwich Village has been forced to discontinue a live performance installation featuring a naked woman in the front window. The installation, part of an exhibit of work by artist Brian Reed, was covered on NY1 last night, but by today the free show was over. According to Chair and Maiden gallery's Twitter page, the installation, which featured a woman standing in a net made out of shark eggs, beads and clay pipes, was "taken down by NYPD for public lewdness." Gee, and here we thought cops loved seeing breasts! more ›

Steel wool, chicken wire, fire... urban exploration is being taken to the next level of extreme. Seems nowadays kids aren't content with merely trespassing and snapping some photos... now they're running through abandoned subway tracks twirling these homemade concoctions around while they burn. The result is pretty cool though. Here are a few photos by Pro-Zak, who calls the process "burning," taken in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and even New Jersey. more ›

We'll present today's Flashback without much comment. Here's a look back at New York City from the late 1970s to mid-1980s, when everything was so gloriously gritty. The photos will bring you from the Garment District to Alphabet City—and there's even an appearance by the Astor Place cube. (Warning: the last photo may not be SFW.) more ›

Earlier this month the New York Public Library launched their interactive map site, which allows users to bring the old city landscape together with the current one. Now the folks at SepiaTown are zooming in a little bit closer. The site, which just launched, "lets people experience the past through a large and growing collection of user-submitted, mapped historical images." more ›

Stephen Izzo Jr. isn't the only person who got injured during the filming of Jersey Shore this past summer, but he might be the only one taking legal action. Word is that he's trying to stop MTV from releasing a Jersey Shore DVD set, which would include the incident where cast member Ronnie Ortiz-Magro punched him. Could it be because Izzo, prior to getting knocked out, was being an antagonizing douchebag on that episode? It's so hard to pick a side because there are clearly no winners in this situation. more ›

Last year as the Friends of the High Line prepared to open the old elevated tracks as a park, it became clear that the graffiti that had long adorned the area wasn't going to be a part of the new luxury landscape. As such, the mayor's office began painting over what they deemed eyesores last April, a project that has continued as street art fanboys wearily kept an eye on the Revs/Cost mural on 23rd Street. Last year, Gothamist publisher Jake Dobkin declared: "if they touch the Revs/Cost Mural... it's war." Which may explain why he's not in the office yet... over the weekend, that mural was erased. more ›

Ever try to have a conversation with a friend at a bar but find it difficult to talk or even hear yourself think because that Ke$ha song is on and the establishment has turned it up to 11? Well, there may be a reason the bartenders are aurally assaulting you, even when their bar is pretty much empty and there is no reason for this to be sonically drilled into your skull when you are just trying to have a happy hour beer. Ahem:

It had been found that environmental music was associated with an increase in alcohol consumption. The presence versus absence of music, high versus slow tempo and the different styles of environmental music is associated with different level of alcohol consumption.

If it were possible to assemble a substantial evening of theater out of clever one-liners, gifted actors and crackling chemistry, Douglas Carter Beane's new comedy Mrs. & Mrs. Fitch would be a smashing success. Starring the equally adept John Lithgow and Jennifer Ehle, the story (which is the weak link here) concerns two married Manhattan gossip columnists who, feeling the heat from those infernal "blooooooggggs," resort to unorthodox methods to maintain their fading relevance. Desperate for a hot item after a night of fruitless party-hopping, they decide to simply conjure one up out of thin air, fictionalizing a chance encounter with a hunky young actor bound for stardom. A few tweets and reblogs later, and suddenly, presto, everyone wants a piece of this kid, even though he doesn't exist. more ›

Did you know The Cosby Show (1984-1992) was filmed in New York because Bill Cosby disliked working in Hollywood? more ›

Thinking of going to the New York Public Library's main branch today? They just updated their Facebook page with photos of the cast and crew of The Adjustment Bureau taking over the Rose Reading Room, so you may have trouble finding a seat. On Friday they had updated saying, "today the NYPL prepared for The Adjustment Bureau filming happening this weekend; finalized Gossip Girl details for next week; and had a 2 hour Smurf walkthrough. Needless to say, that Hollywood left NO time for updates today." (Smurfs!) more ›

Today is the big Lunar New Year Parade celebrating the Year of the Tiger in Chinatown. Festivities are happening between 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.—more details here. more ›

Remember when you fell on that patch of ice on North 12th and Bedford? Your embarrassment was caught on tape and will now live forever on the internet. One Williamsburg voyeur says he "noticed 4 out of every 5 people that walked by ate it on the ice there." Instead of warning the unfortunate pedestrians or throwing some salt down, he hit record and later uploaded the montage to YouTube: more ›

With Fashion Week tents preparing to come down in Bryant Park, another form of art is getting ready to take over the outdoor space. A public photography exhibition will be unveiled on April 2nd, prior to the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, and will include 120 massive aerial photographs by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. more ›

Click through for more on Magnetic Fields, this year's ATP Festival in New York, and the Pope! Also This Week:

• Yoko Ono and her Plastic Ono Band (including Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, and others) rocked BAM
• An Interview with Stew
• New bands are running out of ideas for band-names
• Guns 'n Roses played an impromptu, 3 a.m. gig during Fashion Week (also, Sebastian Bach saved Axl's life)

Click on the stills for more details and reviews on this week's new releases and repertory screenings, which include Shutter Island, The Ghost Writer, The Good Guy, Happy Tears, Celine: Through the Eyes of the World, Phyllis and Harold, Oscar Nominated Short Film Series, Cannibal Holocaust, Starship Troopers, and The Red Shoes more ›

Last night the City Reliquary pretty much brought the FDNY Calendar to life with a Fire Sale! Firefighters took to the Knitting Factory stage to sell... themselves, all to benefit the Reliquary (which is trying to stay afloat). Bids started at $50 and went over 300 bucks; winners were promised "a real life opportunity to take one of New York’s Bravest out on the town for a night of romance and adventure." more ›

It seems that Conan O'Brien maneuvered a departure deal with NBC that would allow him to make public appearances, as long as they weren't televised. As such, the comedian and former Tonight Show host may be concocting a stage show until he can get back on the air in September. An insider told the NY Post that "There's nothing to stop him doing his show in front of an audience at venues like Radio City. It will build more buzz for him as he negotiates his next television contract. It will also keep Conan happy because he doesn't want to be out of the public consciousness for too long." more ›

The Central Park Zoo has some new residents: Will, Robert, Lyle and Slappy! The four Texas-born King penguins have just arrived, and are acquainting themselves with the Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins who already call Central Park home. more ›

NYC before Urban Outfitters, Duane Readegreens and Starbucks popped up on every block? Here's a look back to the '80s for nostalgia-heads, courtesy of photographer David Vega. Instead of focusing on CBGB, however, what about the Lone Star Cafe (1976-1989)? It was on East 13th Street and Fifth Avenue, and brought in mostly country acts, from Willie Nelson to Roy Orbison—though James Brown and the Blues Brothers also took the stage there. more ›

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This morning the Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions invaded our subways, and presented straphangers with a special performance by the brass section of the Amsterdam-based Royal Concertebouw Orchestra. The above scene took place on the Holland-themed, and wrapped, Grand Central-Times Square shuttle; and while we're told by the Dutch that this "delighted" passerby, we're guessing there was at least one person annoyed they didn't get a seat. more ›

We're not only running out of money in NY, we're running out of band names! The Journal investigates the lack of punchy, original new band names in the age of Google and MySpace. They find that even a super group consisting of Dave Grohl, John Paul Jones and Josh Homme couldn't get their first choice for a name, Caligula, because it was already taken by at least seven other acts, including a defunct techno outfit from Australia. Instead, they used Them Crooked Vultures, which the Journal points out, "held no special meaning." Rovi Corp., a licensing company, says they added an average of 6,521 new band names a month to their databases last year; the most commonly used names are Bliss (18 bands), followed by Mirage and One (15 each), and then Gemini, Legacy, Paradox and Rain. At least we can feel assured that there's no lack of terrible names. more ›

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Last night BAM housed quite an insane lineup, all part of Yoko Ono's We Are The Plastic Ono Band one-night-only concert. We were lucky enough to be at the show, where the widow of John Lennon celebrated her 77th birthday (it's tomorrow) just like the rest of us would—with friends like Bette Midler, Eric Clapton, Kim Gordon, Thurston Moore, Paul Simon... you know, just a small gathering of some the biggest names in music. more ›

Bearing a window display of brightly colored hard hats and Rosie the Riveter posters, a new-ish Prospect Heights store sells gear for female construction workers and the ladies of the MTA, FDNY and NYPD. "I couldn't walk into a regular store and get anything that was comfortable or fit. Dealing with oversized gear is dangerous, so I had a vision," said Deidre Douglas, who opened the store a year ago. Now, in the small but growing world of female laborers Woman Up! is making a name for itself as the place to get the goods to do the job. more ›

Bay Ridge's best (only?) classic rock tribute band—with a focus on Skynyrd and the Allmans—thinks they're free as a bird to keep their chosen name: the Southern Comfort Band. But Southern Comfort the major alcohol brand is harshing their buzz by sending demands that they change their name. more ›

Forget the British and American versions of The Office, the Wildlife Conservation Society wants to show what an animal-run office is like. As a follow-up to their viral hit last year, featuring a porcupine getting laid off after budget cuts, they present: "A Beaver Took My Job." more ›

Tonight, the Best in Show will be announced at the 134th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Nearly one hundred breeds competed yesterday on the first day of competition for the herding, hound, toy and non-sporting groups—you can see videos of all those judging competitions here—and today the remaining breeds are strutting their stuff in the sporting, working and terrier groups. more ›

The Metropolitan Museum of Art chose Fashion Week to announce their upcoming exhibit, titled American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity (brought to you by The Gap! No, not kidding.) The major exhibition, opening in early May, will focus on the American woman's wardrobe from 1890 to 1940. more ›

Last year when Ashley Dupre was seated in the front of of Yigal Azrouel's Fashion Week show, people got fired. This year, Lindsay Lohan is the new Dupre, and designer Jill Stuart has deemed her a "brand damager" (though she denies banning the fallen actress from her show). Maybe this had something to do with it? Apparently that isn't the only reason La Lohan isn't in town for the events, either; one source told the Daily News, "Fashion Week kind of belongs to the Ronsons... and Charlotte had Lindsay banned from both her show and after-party—just like she did this past fall." Lohan has had a dramatic on-again/off-again relationship with Charlotte's sister Samantha. Aw, seems like just yesterday they were laughing it up in the front row. more ›

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The folks at the Intrepid just sent us over some real-time photos of the Sea, Air & Space Museum's flight deck being blanketed in snow. That won't stop them from staying open, however—they're in the midst of Kids Week, so any parents willing to brave the snow, check out their list of activities (today's theme is Broadway). And for everyone else, if you get any cool shots of the snow where you are, send 'em our way (or tag them "Gothamist" on Flickr). more ›

About that Rangers fan you felt bad for because his would-be-fiance ran out of MSG when he proposed via the scoreboard... yeah, that was fake. And not only was it a fake, but it was Rangers-sanctioned, and "Nick" and "Melissa" were hired actors! Reportedly they were "hired through an agency and designed to be part of the in-game entertainment." So it wasn't even a real-life couple trying to get their 15 minutes of viral fame through the YouTubes... in which case, we have to ask again, why was this pre-meditated prank so lame? Here's a better one. more ›

When you name your band The Negro Problem, the last place you probably expect to wind up is on Broadway. Yet that's exactly where the multi-talented musician and songwriter Stew found himself back in 2008, starring in his exhilarating rock musical Passing Strange. This unexpected turn of events was made all the weirder for Stew because his longtime collaborator and girlfriend, Heidi Rodewald, was there onstage night after night—despite their relationship having ended two years prior. Passing Strange kept them essentially handcuffed together, and when it finally ended (without the avalanche of Tony awards it so richly deserved), one assumed their professional partnership would end, too. more ›

The house at 135 Joralemon Street (between Henry and Clinton streets in Brooklyn Heights) has been through a lot! The Federal-style home boasts a pitched roof, cast-iron porch and other old architectural details—it dates back to the 1830s. According to the Museum of the City of New York, it was built in 1833 (others say 1831), and was originally part of the Remsen farm. In 1920 Mrs. Morton Cross Fitch purchased the home and lived there for quite some time; by 1966 it was given landmark designation; and more recently it was damaged in a fire (on New Year's Eve 2004). By 2007 was fixed up again, and on the market for nearly $6MM. more ›

The crack team at the New York Public Library is where to go when the Google machine leads you down a dead end. Today the NY Post talks to the six senior librarians who field hundreds of questions a day from their station in the Rose Reading Room. While the most common calls are simply inquiries about obtaining library cards, there are also several dozen "cherry questions" a day. more ›

Chinatown celebrated the beginning of 4708, the Year of the Tiger, with a firecracker ceremony in Sara D. Roosevelt Park. (The firecrackers scare away various bad spirits lurking around.) And while the big Lunar New Year Parade will be next Sunday, there were lion dancers and celebrations yesterday as well. more ›

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Finally, the biggest snowstorm of the decade has been memorialized in time lapse! John Huntington captured the whole thing from his window in Brooklyn, even though he was out of town at the National Storm Chaser Convention (obvs). The first shot you see is from 8:30 a.m. last Tuesday, with a shot one frame every five minutes through last night (which means you even get to see the snow melt!). more ›

Today a hopeful, young New York Rangers fan thought he'd pop the question to his girlfriend at a Valentine's Day game at MSG. Instead of the camera panning in for a clichéd shot of the couple embracing, however, it ended up being what some call "arguably the most botched marriage proposal of all time." When his question: “Melissa, will you be my Blueshirt Bride?” came up on the big scoreboard screen, she simply stood up and walked out, as fellow Rangers fans booed her. It was all caught on tape, as most embarrassing moments are: more ›

The Westminster Dog Show is kicking off tomorrow at Madison Square Gardens and above are just a few of the canine competitors. A four-year-old Scottish terrier named Sadie is favored to win, but she has a reputation for being skittish—two years ago she was spooked by a handler’s squeaky shoes, the sound of thumping on wooden boards covering the ice hockey rink and a TV monitor. Last year, she was still acting erratically: she went to the bathroom on the green carpet, right in front of judges, reports the AP. So don't call it yet, it’s still any dog's game. more ›

Up for auction this week is a dog collar owned by "Tale of Two Cities" author Charles Dickens. The Victorian-era canine ID, fashioned from leather and brass, and engraved in loopy script with the writer’s name and address, is expected to fetch between $4,000 and $6,000 at Bonham New York’s 28th annual dog art sale on Tuesday. (Bullseye was the name of the villain's dog in "Oliver Twist" but it's unclear what the writer named his non-fictional dog.) Last year an ivory and gold toothpick that belonged to the author went for $9,150, according to the AP, but that had Dickens’s spit on it, not just dog slobber. Other Dickens ephemera lives at the NYPL. more ›

Though J.D. Salinger kept his life well-guarded, with his passing some bits of it are now popping up in print. Today the NY Times talks to one Upper East Side woman, now 83 years old, who once went on a blind date with the author. more ›

This year's Fashion Week has an unexpected star: Ozzy-spawn Kelly Osbourne! The 25-year-old has been everywhere, even on the runway for Naomi Campbell's show (center photo), looking very blonde and very thin. She credits her weight loss to pilates and her recent stint on "Dancing With The Stars." Hopefully she won't become too bobble-headed! more ›

If you head to Chinatown tomorrow, be prepared for crowds celebrating the Lunar New Year (4708), the Year of the Tiger. There will be a firecracker ceremony in Sara D. Roosevelt Park (Grand & Chrystie) between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The big parade, with lion, tiger, and unicorn dancers is next Sunday, 2/21, starting at 11:30 a.m. more ›

As the Wall Street Journal delves into the mystery of artist Mr. Brainwash upon the opening of his lavish show here in NYC—others who are less confused (and less amused) by the artist are using this time to sit back and say "meh." But for those who are intrigued, here's what we (think we) know. more ›

Fashion Week is upon us, which obviously means Axl Rose is in town. What? It's true, last night we were invited to one of these fancy parties which was taking place at the John Varvatos store on Bowery, but the invite didn't really mention free drinks or anything that was going to make us trudge through the slushy streets... so we didn't go. And then this morning we received an email stating there was "an exclusive surprise performance by rock legend Axl Rose, and Guns N’ Roses" at the party! Yeah, that burned a little. Sure, it was a new backing band, but Axl was there... and so was Kevin Bacon—because that is what happens during Fashion Week! more ›

The Metropolitan Museum of Art will adorn its rooftop garden this summer with big bunches of bamboo. The exhibit, appropriately titled “Big Bambú,” is site-specific and designed by Doug and Mike Starn—who have previously installed a similar exhibit in Beacon, NY. more ›

Click on the stills for more details and reviews on this week's new releases and repertory screenings, which include The Wolfman, Valentine's Day, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, October Country, Videocracy, Ajami, To Die For Tano, Celestial Navigations: The Short Films of Al Jarnow, The Dark Crystal, and Basic Instinct more ›

The Westminster Dog Show is just days away, and before those cute pups get to strut their stuff... PETA has planned a protest. They tell us they'll greet the dogs and their owners outside of MSG on Monday with tombstones and a message that purebred enthusiasts are basically the grim reaper for shelter dogs. Their banner will read: "Every Dog Bred Means Another Dog Dead," and they'll be standing amongst a graveyard with 40 tombstones (um, send us your photos?). Each tombstone will represent every 100,000 animals killed in animal shelters each year because of a lack of good homes. Last year the organization likened the American Kennel Club to the KKK. more ›

The first of fourteen weddings to happen at the Empire State Building this Valentine's weekend went down this morning. They tell us this was the "first ever wedding at the Empire State Building’s 86th floor Observatory," though this is the 16th year the Knot has been holding their weekend-long event. Previous weddings, and the rest of this weekend's, are held on the 61st floor. more ›

It's almost unheard of to attend an evening of theater without some jackass's cellphone going off and ruining the performance. (Here's that agonizing video of Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman begging an audience member to shut off a cell phone during A Steady Rain.) We believe anyone guilty of this offense should be slowly impaled while simultaneously forced to watching a continuous performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express. But the chief theater critic at the NY Times disagrees, and has revealed a sudden sympathy for cell phone miscreants: more ›

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Two weeks ago we needed a bear break after hearing about the passing of both Howard Zinn and J.D. Salinger—now Bill Clinton has been hospitalized! Immediately we thought of Sad Panda. more ›

About 5 years ago we pondered the mysterious Titanic house in Long Island City—which turned out to be the work of Joe Colletti, a collector of memorabilia from the ship and overseer of an unofficial memorial to its tragic end. Well, he's now moved out and handed over his collection to the Greater Astoria Historical Society. more ›

In what is likely just the first of such discoveries, eleven previously unpublicized letters from J.D. Salinger have been unsealed by The Morgan Library and Museum, and are being prepared for exhibition. The correspondence between the author and Michael Mitchell, the designer of the first cover of The Catcher in the Rye, "reveals an enduring fascination with pop culture and politics that is at odds with the popular mythology of the past half-century of Mr. Salinger as an odd recluse," the Times reports. These revelations reportedly include: more ›

Barneys creative director, Simon Doonan, is welcoming the Jersey Shore troupe with open arms to Fashion Week. The NY Post reports that he simply j'adores the cast members because of "their complete and utter lack of pretension. That is a much needed ingredient of Fashion Week." Say what? Maybe their GTL routines throw off the scent, but these guidos and guidettes definitely have egos bigger than Pauly D's blowout at this point. We just hope someone seats The Situation next to Vogue editrix Anna Wintour and he's feeling like cougar for lunch that day. As for Doonan, he'd like to see "J-Woww wearing Alexander Wang, or doing a Rodarte thing." But you know she's going to sport her own line of tops (pictured) to Bryant Park. more ›

Where would you go to find the World's Strictest Parents? The British Broadcasting Corporation has taken their search to the Bronx, where they hope to find some hard-ass handlers to star in their reality television show. more ›

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Earlier this week we ran a photo from the LIFE magazine archives showing the above snowy scene on 5th Avenue and 48th Street in 1947. In the background of the photo was something unusual: a house. Not a very old house for the time, either—more like a brand new one you'd see in the suburbs around then. more ›

This seemed like a joke at first scan, but... this book is real. Poster Boy is officially published, as Subway Art Blog points out. The book, a collection of the mash-up artist's finest subway ad scrambles, is called Poster Boy: The War of Art—and it hits bookstores on March 10th. The description reads: "His cut and slash mash-ups of subway platform billboards only exist in New York City, but Poster Boy’s artful and funny appropriations of advertising have gotten him attention the world over." Maybe he'll make enough to post bail next time he's arrested! more ›

Okay, for those theater aesthetes who wouldn't be caught dead attending one of those big-money, lowbrow Broadway spectacles, be advised that as of 2 p.m., there were no known cancellations of Off Broadway shows tonight, either. So go see Circumcise Me or something! (Still waiting on word about Off Off Broadway, but we'd be mighty disillusioned if stalwart companies like The Debate Society let a little blizzard stop them tomorrow night.) more ›

Do you think any Broadway diva worth her sequins is going to let a little Nor'easter upstage her? No way—especially not when the producers would have to give refunds. It's been announced that there are thus far no cancellations for today's performances on Broadway. (If patrons can't get to the show, they should contact their point of purchase for exchange info.) In fact, this may be the perfect opportunity to catch Scarlett Johansson up close and personal; the producers of A View From the Bridge issued this statement: "With people perhaps wary about traveling into the city tomorrow for last minute ticket purchases, A View From the Bridge has some availability at the matinee—a perfect time to see the show in orchestra seats." Go for the Scar Jo, stay for the Schreiber! more ›

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Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition cover gal Brooklyn Decker has actually been living in Brooklyn for three weeks, and the Daily News quizzed her last night on her new stomping grounds. The 22-year-old (who was actually named after a horse named Brook) had no idea who Borough President Marty Markowitz was, but when asked what the famous Junior's sells she said, "Cheesecake. Of course the model knows the cheesecake answer!" Other check marks included knowing that Prospect Park was the largest park in the borough and being able to name four neighborhoods. All in all, a 3 for 5 score, which she says isn't too bad. Check out her appearance on Letterman last night after the jump. more ›

What, no sexy Snuffleupagus? A costume shop has announced their new line of Sesame Street costumes featuring Big Bird, Cookie Monster and Elmo—all available in teen and women sizes. They call them "super cute," but... we're conflicted! While sexualizing Sesame Street characters just seems wrong, that flapper Big Bird costume is sort of amazing. And it's not like the hemlines are that short. Anyway, if there's a Sesame Street-specific Furry fetish group out there... they are so psyched right now. more ›

Are you ready for the biggest snowstorm of the decade?! Here's all you need to know about handling the white stuff tomorrow. And if you venture out and take some photos, send them to us—let us know how you would like to be credited—or tag them with "Gothamist" on Flickr! more ›

Did you know that today marks the 75th anniversary of the birth of one of New York's greatest urban legends? Yep, the discovery of alligators in the NYC sewer system! Back in November we took a look back at the city's history with alligators, dating back to at least 1935 when the New York Times reported on an 8-footer in East Harlem! more ›

Looks like Miamist will have to come out of hiatus... the Jersey Shore cast is moving to Florida for season two! South Beach, to be exact. How will America's Favorite Guidos & Guidettes do in a city that's probably a bit more class than trash (at least in comparison to dirty Jersey)? Stay tuned! Filming starts in May, and in the meantime, TMZ has been intercepting letters from the show's producers to find out some of the locations they're scouting. more ›

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22-year-old Brooklyn Decker (born in Ohio and raised in North Carolina, obvs) is gracing this year's cover of the Sport Illustrated Swimsuit issue. David Letterman says this issue (and the much coveted cover spot) is still a "huge thing" for America (is it?). He unveiled the billboard on 53rd and Broadway last night, and the model will sit down with him on tonight's show. more ›

To be honest, the photo of the bald eagle we posted last week near Fairway was just kind of depressing. There he was, pondering existence over icy waters, looking lonely, and actually balding. But the blogger who spotted that one, spotted two more this week on an ice flow in Harlem; "a huge female adult eagle finishing up a fish as another adult and juvenile begged for scraps!" If you want to see one of these in real life, they're being spotted up and down Riverside Park... just watch out for the packs of coyotes. more ›

You can't get much more New York than Suzanne Vega. A lifelong resident of the Upper West Side, she's an alum not only of Barnard, but the High School for the Performing Arts and P.S. 163. She's been New York's ambassador to the world of folk music since her self-titled debut album twenty-five years ago. She immortalized Morningside Heights with the unbearably catchy "Tom's Diner" (which will still take you back to 1990 if you let it). She has relatives in Queens. She learned to drive at age 43. Starting at the Songwriters' Exchange in the Village in the early 80s, she had her Lincoln Center debut two weeks ago, as part of the American Songbook series, whose podcast series she hosts. She's still covering the New York map with songs: her last studio album, "Beauty and Crime," included songs set on the Upper West Side, Central Park South, Ludlow Street, and Ground Zero. more ›

Well this seems unfair: MTV is allegedly trying to stop the Jersey Shore cast from cashing in on personal appearances. Well, not all of them, but the NY Post reports that the network's head honchos have warned the cast to "rein in their appearances" or face fines and legal consequences! Allegedly they are trying to "protect the brand," but none of the guidos or guidettes are abiding, even after signing their $180K contracts for a 2nd season. more ›

For the third year in a row, The New Yorker's celebrated its anniversary by asking readers to submit illustrated riffs on the magazine's iconic cover, created in 1925 by Rea Irvin, the magazine’s first art editor, who also designed the distinctive New Yorker headline type. The original features a fictional dandy, Eustace Tilley, inspecting a butterfly. As Louis Menand explained, the character "seems to be saying something about the magazine itself, and the question is: What? Is the man with the monocle being offered as an image of the New Yorker reader, a cultivated observer of life’s small beauties, or is he being ridiculed as a foppish anachronism? Is it a picture of bemused sophistication or of starchy superciliousness?" (If you're a subscriber, you can peruse the first issue, online here.) The first three images in this gallery are taken from the official "winners" this year; our favorites follow in the last four images. more ›

The Central Park Conservancy asked New Yorkers to pick the most romantic spot in all the park, and today they unveiled the winning location: Bow Bridge. Can't you just hear Johannes Brahms playing right now? more ›

The Guggenheim has invited creatives worldwide to come up with a way to fill the void at the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed museum, and starting on the 12th (through April 28th) you'll be able to see what the 200+ artists, architects, and designers imagined at the Contemplating the Void: Interventions exhibit. A few options are above; our favorite is JDS Architects, who proposed a spiraling trampoline net that looks really dangerous! more ›

The Royal Shakespeare Company will spend several hundred thousand dollars donated by Ohio State University to construct a full-size replica of their new theater in Stratford-upon-Avon, ship it in pieces to NYC, and assemble it in the Park Avenue Armory's massive Drill Hall, which has 55,000 square feet of uncolumned space. In an unprecedented plan announced today, the company will use the replica to stage five plays in repertory in July and August 2011 as part of the Lincoln Center Festival. (The five plays are Antony and Cleopatra, As You Like It, Julius Caesar, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet and The Winter’s Tale.) more ›

Have you seen these shots of a shanty town set up on Mercer and Houston Streets during the Great Depression? That's right, these (first two) photographs of men in suits reading magazines, smoking cigarettes and lingering about their alternative abodes aren't from the web pages of Unhappy Hipsters—they were taken by Berenice Abbott in 1935. more ›

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So, how 'bout those commercials? USA Today has a ranking of all the Super Bowl ads, which places the Snickers commercial featuring Betty White in the #1 slot. A bit further down, that car commercial that's narrated by Michael C. Hall, has Noah Kalina staring into a camera again and lets women across America know their husbands f*cking HATE THEM and just want to drive their Dodges, baby... placed #23; the Simpsons shilling for Coca-Cola comes in at #30; and the Christian group's (actually not all that controversial) anti-abortion commercial placed #54. You can watch all 63 commercials there, or at CBS. more ›

Of all the performing arts, theater has a tendency to be the most unbearable. You can easily walk out of most concerts, and with dance there's usually at least a certain technical proficiency to be admired. But particularly in small Off Broadway theaters—where, ironically, the potential for magnificence is greatest—it's almost impossible to escape without causing a major disruption. When theater stinks, which is often, you've usually got no choice but to suffer through it without anesthetic, as time slows to a crawl and your captors torment you with boredom. more ›

While the snow didn't really hit NYC (though it did bury parts of southern NJ and totally pummeled DC) as badly as feared, the snow festivities at Winter Jam went on as planned in Central Park. See, the Department of Parks & Recreation was prepared, with 10 inches of fake snow ready for skiing, sledding, snowboarding and more. Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe told the Daily News, "It's a good thing that we did not listen to the meteorologist." more ›

Aww. Roots drummer ?uestlove, who questioned the menu choices of NBC's cafeteria in celebration of Black History Month (fried chicken, collard greens, black-eyed peas)... has made peace with chef Leslie Calhoun. She defended her menu after the Twitpic he took of it made it all the way to the Jay Leno show, and now ?uestlove says: "just so yall dont think that im all talk. i presented leslie in our kitchen with flowers and an extremely sizable gift certificate spa treatment with the works." more ›

The Seven Year Itch, starring Marilyn Monroe and Tom Ewell, was filmed between September 1st and November 4th, 1954—and although its action centered around a New York City apartment, it was mostly shot in Hollywood. There were a few scenes filmed here, however—including that shot of Monroe standing over a subway grate. That ended up being more of a photo opp, however, since the crowd was too distracting and loud to capture anything usable. That first take was shot at 590 Lexington Avenue, at 52nd Street (the one used in the film was from a sound stage). more ›

While bald eagles fly over Fairway in Harlem, and rabid raccoons run rampant in Central Park... we can't help but wonder what's become of the coyote in the area. We've received several more reports of sightings; one three days ago at 5:30 p.m., another two days ago in the afternoon... and now a NY Times reader has sent in some great photographs of the little guy! The UWS resident spotted him walking past the pond in Central Park on Tuesday when "the animal came out of the Hallett Nature Sanctuary and walked across the frozen pond several times. It seemed timid and skittish and kept retreating back to the sanctuary—avoiding humans? It kept a watchful eye on me." The Parks Department still hasn't responded to our requests for comment about the coyote, so since he's still out there—why don't we give him a name? The 2006 Central Park coyote (RIP) was named Hal. more ›

Click on the stills for more details and reviews on this week's new releases and repertory screenings, which include District 13, Frozen, Terribly Happy, Red Riding Trilogy, The Shinjuku Incident, From Paris with Love, Dear John, Reservoir Dogs, Ran, and Total Recall. more ›

These photographs were all taken by Berenice Abbott in the same area of Brooklyn in 1936 (two of them on the now non-existent Talman Street). The clapboard houses were part of what was called Irishtown, which was under the anchorage of the Manhattan Bridge (this area is now called DUMBO, of course). According to this book, back then it was "a slum of pre-Civil War houses renting for $15 per month. Lacking cellars, central heat, hot water, toilets, and bathtubs, many of the houses had been declared uninhabitable by the city. Talman Street was the remnant of an old cow path with an ice cream factory at one end and empty lots at the other." more ›

Last year the city’s Economic Development Corporation announced their NYC BigApps competition, which invited anyone to develop an application using 170 sets of municipal data made available by 30 different agencies. Throughout the process, we've seen apps like Taxihack and NYC Broken Meters (aka free parking!) pop up, and last night the winners were officially announced. more ›

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A Bald Eagle spotting isn't unheard of in New York City—but it's still neat to see one milling about in Harlem instead of, say, behind bars at the Bronx Zoo. One blogger recently spotted one heading to Fairway, saying: "Since the opening of the Harlem Piers I have always appreciated its close views of Hudson River bird traffic, all the while knowing that Bald Eagles sometimes ply these fish rich waters. So today, as I was about to head into Fairway, I scanned the rough ice and to my surprise, found a bald eagle in almost complete adult plumage." (Maybe he knows where that wiley coyote is.) Find out more about the city's history with the Bald Eagle, here. more ›

This morning we looked at the Croton Reservoir, where the New York Public Library's main branch now sits. In the time that it's been there—since the early 1900s—the surface of New York City has continued to change. Luckily, the library is home to a massive collection of maps, which chart the changes of this city as well as other areas—and this week they've officially launched maps.nypl.org. The site also hosts "a powerful set of tools designed to significantly enhance the way we access and use maps and the cartographic information they contain." Click! Zoom! Pan! more ›

Snoop Dogg marched through Times Square with Darth Vader and a bunch of Stormtroopers earlier today. Because what else are you going to come up with when you have a big bag of chronic and are pondering a marketing plan for a Star Wars-based footwear/clothing collection? Later in the day Racked reported that Snoops Troops made it to the Adidas store in SoHo... and R2D2 even made a cameo! Have you spotted anyone else from the Empire out there? more ›

Since organizers of the Idiotarod this year, Corporation X, were being vague with any details prior to go time, but simultaneously wanted press coverage—our publisher sent them this little note (yes, in all caps): "WE CAN'T COVER YOUR STUPID HIPSTER RACE ON THE SITE IF WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS." more ›

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In an 1844 edition of the Columbia Spy, Edgar Allen Poe wrote, “When you visit Gotham, you should ride out Fifth Avenue, as far as the distributing reservoir, near Forty-third Street, I believe. The prospect from the walk around the reservoir is particularly beautiful. You can see, from this elevation, the north reservoir at Yorkville; the whole city to the Battery; and a large portion of the harbor, and long reaches of the Hudson and East Rivers." He's talking about the Croton Reservoir, of course, where the New York Public Library now stands. (In fact, you can still see some remains of it there.) more ›

The experimental noise-poppers Cold Cave are hitting the road once again, where the trio has spent much of their time since the re-release of their Love Comes Close album (on Matador) last November. Tonight they play Mercury Lounge—it's now sold out but we suggest you get a taste of their live show here and catch them next time around. The group consists of Caralee McElroy (formerly Xiu Xiu), Dominick Fernow and Wesley Eisold (formerly American Nightmare/Give Up The Ghost and Some Girls). This week Mr. Eisold was kind enough to answer some of our questions... more ›

Jersey Shore's Snooki was given another makeunder recently, but let's face facts: pantsuits will not get you ca$h money. But taking off your clothes might! Radar reports that she may be following in cast mate J-WOWW's footsteps as rumors swirl that she's shopping around nude photos and video of herself. Snookers allegedly took the shots herself in her bedroom—and the site reports that at least one photo is "too raunchy to describe." Snickers! The reality starlet denied it all on Twitter, calling Radar "weirdos"—but time, and the inevitable leaked photos prior to Season 2 airing, will tell. more ›

There's been much discussion about reviving old theaters in town lately, with the Ridgewood Theater getting landmark status and the Loew's in Chinatown getting refurbished into a community center. Now Brooklyn's Loew's Kings Theater is getting some attention after rotting away since 1977—the NY Times notes that its current state includes a "rusting, dirt-caked marquee," a cobweb-filled deteriorated interior, and plenty of vandal and pigeon feces. You know, just your typical movie theater here in New York! more ›

The folks who run Bowery Presents certainly have some of the best music venues in New York City, but where would you rank their superclub Terminal 5 on a list of best venues in the world? more ›

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This morning the NYC Road Runners took their 33rd run up the Empire State Building. Meanwhile, the rest of us were probably busy avoiding staircases and unnecessary exercise. The 300 runners hauled ass up the 86 flights, with the winner—25-year-old German Thomas Dold—leading the pack and finishing up at 10 minutes and 16 seconds. But maybe everyone's a winner, because that's gotta be the nicest finish line view in the history of races. more ›

Last night Courtney Love (who may be West Village-bound soon) played at the SGI Culture Center in Union Square, an organization that celebrates the teachings and philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism. The event wasn't publicized, but a Yelp page says that it was free and included both a talk and a performance. One Twitterer reported back saying she "gave a very inspiring & spiritual talk; undoubtedly she has had an amazing journey." And later that night, that journey continued with an eBay shopping spree, which Love live-Twittered for the masses. She broadcasted her wants/needs/must-haves! Like an "agent provacatuer suitcase... petticoats and metalliclace." Maybe something was lost in translation from East to West, or maybe this little grasshopper is still learning. more ›

There's a newish sex toy shop in Williamsburg called Shag, and the Brooklyn Paper has the scoop. The proprietors, artists from the neighborhood, say it's not your typical sex shop storefront. There are vibrating necklaces, hand-made lingerie, and yadda yadda yadda "workers will happily make a silicone dildo that’s an exact replica of a customer’s penis." They say "it may sound like a gag gift" (hey that's not what they're used for!) "but when a husband has to leave town on business there’s no reason why a wife can’t still have a little pleasure." What is this the '50s... what about when women leave on a business trip? According to this gallery of photos from the store, all they can leave behind is a doorknob cast from a stranger's vagina. more ›

A year in the life of phenomenally photogenic President Barack Obama will be on display starting Friday at the NYPL's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem. The exhibit exclusively features 77 photos by Chief Official White House Photographer Pete Souza, beginning with the festive inaugural ball evening on January 20, 2009 and moves through the next 364 days. Many of these photos are on view to the public on the White House Flickr page, but if you want to rekindle your Ohhhhbama love with full size prints, now's the time! more ›

[UPDATE BELOW] All the single ladies (and whoever), Grammy-award winning Beyoncé Knowles has a new perfume out! Exciting, right? Anyway, in order to get you to buy it, DNA Info reports that she's playing a free show for the people tonight, right in Union Square. But is she? Every other listing has simply stated that "the visionary artist is illuminating the central destination with fiery red light and smoky fog... an unprecedented, spectacular display will vividly capture the spirit of Beyoncé Heat." That is significantly less exciting. We'll get to the bottom of this, in the meantime, she is having a private launch party tonight at 15 Union Square, where sister Solange will be deejaying; and tomorrow she's making an appearance at Macy's Herald Square at 5 p.m. In any case, if Union Square looks like it's on fire between 6 p.m. and 12 a.m., don't worry, it's just the glow of marketing. more ›

Back in 2008, we shared some exhilarating video of cyclists peddling through NYC at breakneck speeds. The hardcore footage is part of a documentary called Empire, which director Luke Stiles tells us is almost finished. The hour-long feature will resemble a "BMX or skate video; music-driven action sports stuff," says Stiles. "All fixed gear, all NYC, with traffic and tricks. No one has been injured to date except for the occasional shin burger or twisted angle by one of the trick guys. Everyone's pretty good at what they do." They better be—as you can see from this gnarly new video, serious injury is just one handlebar twist away: more ›

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Senator Schumer has saved the Brooklyn Pool Parties! We just received a press release announcing the news that will surely put a smile on disaffected hipster's faces borough-wide. more ›

This year the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences decided to bump up the number of films eligible for Best Picture nomination from five to ten. The nominations were announced before dawn on the west coast this morning by Anne Hathaway and Academy President Tom Sherak. Some, like Jeffrey Wells at Hollywood Elsewhere, had threatened "a tsumani of shame" if the Coen brothers' superb film A Serious Man was left out of the newly-expanded Best Picture category. But Old Testament wrath was mercifully averted, and the film was nominated for Best Picture and Best Screenplay. Now it better win, lest Hollywood feel our hurricane of hate. more ›

Ever take a glimpse at the city's past through old timey classified ads in newspapers? Well there's no turning back now. The Virtual Dime Museum takes a look at some odd listings printed in the Lost and Found column of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle back in the 19th century, and they're kind of peculiar! The listings include a $25 reward for a "gray squirrel" (with its cage!), a white goat lost on Van Brunt Street, and some valuable mysterious papers that the owner does not want out there circulating! How much do you suppose $25 was in 1867... because that seems like an awful lot to pay for the return of a common gray squirrel. more ›

This rather mesmerizing little video was made "using a digital stills camera to create a stop motion animation." Most of the images depict NYC from the land, air, or water, but there are some other urban areas mixed in there, too. (Anybody know where they are?) There's not much more to add here, except to caution that what you are about to see has the serious potential to trigger a potent acid flashback, so have a beanbag chair and a copy of Meddle cued up. [Via Kottke] more ›

The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA) is unveiling a new exhibit this week called "The Gentrification of Brooklyn: The Pink Elephant Speaks." Curated by Dexter Wimberly, the show will open on the 4th and runs through May 16th. more ›

On Saturday afternoon, Union Square was taken over by the spirit of Gandhi. One knitster handmade some hats and scarves for her Gandhiwarmer event, which consisted of adorning the peacemaker's statue with some handknits, and collecting even more to give away to those in need. There were also rose petals, diwa candles, and a sitar player to help set the mood. The organizer reports back saying, "as of now gandhi’s scarf and hat are still up and it would be lovely if it may stay for a while!" How long do you think it'll last? more ›

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In MTV's drop everything email press release this weekend, which turned up in inboxes around 1:30 a.m., they announced that there would be a second season of Jersey Shore with all original cast members returning... unless you count the actual Jersey Shore as an unofficial cast member. This summer the guidos and guidettes will be taking over another town, and while the press release hinted that it would be outside of the Northeast, the NY Post says they're scouting locations in the Hamptons (which J-WOWW has been lobbying for) and... Delaware. Yep, Delaware. more ›

Yesterday the first ever Powerball tickets sold in New York were being scooped up by locals hoping for a lucky break. This Wednesday night there's a $107 million jackpot up for grabs, and one regular player told the NY Post, "Now I don't need to go to Pennsylvania to play." The official kickoff is being celebrated right now in Grand Central Terminal where Yolanda Vega is hosting the "World's Largest JackPIT." They tell us this is made up of "Human Mega Millions balls and Powerballs jumping into a giant ball pit with over 120,000 balls." Why not. And if you want to jump in, it's open to the public all day, and those who participate can win an iPod. Surely worth jumping into a pit of germ-infested balls for. more ›