Gothamist

Williamsburg Post Office Is Pissing People Off

Jen Carlson — 2009-11-16T17:26:00-05:00

While some might claim the worst Post Office in Brooklyn is in Park Slope... the Williamsburg USPS worker bees are working the hardest they've ever worked to steal that title away. The South 4th Street outlet is known for slow service and a blatant disregard for customer service... and sometimes technical difficulties! A reader tells us that those on line this past Saturday got the added treat of being told "there was a problem getting the computers started and there would be a delay for the windows."

One woman, in line right now, sends us the above photo and tells us there are no less than 33 people in front of her, and "only two people in the windows. People have been waiting for 45 minutes and longer! People are getting angry. Calling the USPS number to complain." As we go to press our disgruntled tipster updates us, saying, "Ugh. They just split the line. Now there is 1 person handling all the mail/ postage and 1 person doing package pick up. The line is shorter now but only because people got frustrated and left!" Hang in there.

Greenpoint's Manhattan Inn Is Incredibly Inviting

John Del Signore — 2009-11-16T17:13:00-05:00

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Last week we noted the opening of a charming new restaurant/cocktail lounge/jazz bar called The Manhattan Inn in Greenpoint (located on Manhattan between Bedford and Nassau); but as you can see this place is so good looking it merits its own feature. This weekend we were actually lured there twice; the first visit was occasioned by our desire to wait out the Saturday afternoon rain and read over cocktails. The back room was uniquely suited for our purposes, and the Manhattan's Manhattan ($9) was as big and inviting as a heated private lap pool. (The classic specialty cocktail menu is from James Endicott, formerly of Per Se and Allen & Delancey, and there is also wine and craft beer on tap.)

We returned for brunch on Sunday and sat again in the sun-drenched back room, where a piano player tickled the ivories on a white grand. The Belgian waffle with pumpkin compote and real maple syrup ($11) struck the perfect balance between fluffy and crisp, and the oatmeal with candied walnuts ($6) was thick and hearty. The meat-centric dinner menu from former Bouley chef Justin Farmer emphasizes seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients, with other options including Cottage Pie (grass-fed beef, vegetables, and garlic mashers), a braised pork belly & kimchi pressed sandwich, as well as a seasonal vegan stew.

The decor is the work of hOmE, a collaborative effort of Evan and Oliver Haslegrave, who redesigned the most current incarnation of Glasslands Gallery. The space has been built almost entirely of recycled lumber and materials from Build It Green, and includes numerous creative nuances, such as repurposed doorknobs as tap handles, and school desks as dining tables. In January, Manhattan Inn will expand into an adjacent space and open for breakfast and lunch, with house-made pastries and a full menu of espresso beverages.

Right now the hours are 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. on weekdays, with dinner service from 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday, extending to 2:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturdays, plus Saturday/Sunday brunch starting at 11 a.m. 632 Manhattan Avenue; (718) 383-0885. Peruse the dinner menu below.

Small Plates

Baguette with Apple Butter $4
Fried Chicken Wings with Chili Apple Glaze $5
Potato Leek Gratin $6
Chilled Tofu with Black Sesame Seeds and Dried Swordfish $7
Red Borscht with Braised Brisket, Dill, and Creme Fraiche $8
Chicken Liver Pate with Cornichons, Dandelion Gree Coulius, and Baguette $9

Mains

Braised Pork Belly & Kimchi Pressed Sandwich $13
Grilled Eggplant, Tallegio, and Frisee Pressed Sandwich $13
Seasonal Vegetable Stew with Barley and Wild Mushrooms $12
Cottage Pie with Grass-fed Beef, Vegetables, and Garlic Mashers $15

Dessert

Crepe with Rocotta, Hoeny, and Supremed Clementines $7
Chocolate Chile Bread Pudding with Pear Coulis $7

Former MTV Host Ken Ober Dies at 52

Jen Carlson — 2009-11-16T17:02:01-05:00

All afternoon rumors have been flying around the internet with news that Ken Ober has died. We weren't about to fall for another Zach Braff-esque death scare, but sadly it's been confirmed that the former host or MTV's Remote Control died suddenly over the weekend.

The paper of record, who has a crack team confirming these types of stories, has now reported that he died yesterday of causes not yet known.

Remote Control was one of the first series that strayed from music videos on the network, but it still represents the glory days of MTV (remember Adam Sandler's "Stud Boy"?). If it aired before your time, or if you want to pay homage to Ober by revisiting it again, there are plenty of clips online. In his later years Ober worked as a producer on both “Mind of Mencia” and “The New Adventures of Old Christine.”

Palin Slams Levi as "Ricky Hollywood" Fame Whore Porn Star

John Del Signore — 2009-11-16T16:50:00-05:00

Remember how last week a reporter told Levi Johnston, the father of Sarah Palin's grandson, that Palin had declined to "trash" him during her interview taping with Oprah Winfrey? And Johnston remarked, "She's being smart. She knows what I got on her."? Well, that interview finally aired today, and it turns out Palin totally did trash him! So can we please get what he has on her now?

When asked by Oprah what she thought of Johnston's photo shoot for Playgirl, Palin said, "I call that porn, yes. So it’s a bit heartbreaking to see the road that he's on right now. By the way, I don't know if we call him Levi—I hear he goes by the name ‘Ricky Hollywood’ now—so, if that’s the case, we don’t want to mess up this gig he's got going. Kind of this aspiring, aspiring porn—the things that he's doing. It's kind of heartbreaking." OH! You gonna take that Levi? Or are you going to expose Palin's surprise fifth "pregnancy" as a conspiracy to cover up her 17-year-old daughter's pregnancy? (Seriously, ~~Ricky~~ Levi; email us at tips(at)Gothamist(dot)com!)

Palin's appearance on Oprah was timed with the release of her autobiography, Going Rogue, which the Times describes as "part cagey spin, part earnest autobiography, part payback hit job... All in all Ms. Palin emerges from Going Rogue as an eager player in the blame game, ungrateful to the McCain campaign for putting her on the national stage. As for the McCain campaign, it often feels like a desperate and cynical operation, willing to make a risky Hail Mary pass to try to score a tactical win, instead of making a considered judgment as to who might be genuinely qualified to sit a heartbeat away from the Oval Office."

If you're stuck at work now and didn't TiVo Palin's Oprah appearance, it will be rebroadcast at 1:05 a.m. on Channel 7!

Obama Pushing for Federal Oversight of Transit System

John Del Signore — 2009-11-16T16:36:30-05:00

Investigators at the scene of the June Metro crash in Washington D.C. (Charles Dharapak/AP)

The Obama administration will attempt to give the federal government control over safety regulations for the nation's subway and light-rail systems. You know who else controlled an entire nation's transit system? Mussolini. But he made the trains run on time! (Or did he?) At any rate, Obama's plan would expand the U.S DOT's control over airlines and Amtrak to every subway and light-rail system in the country, including the MTA. The proposal will be presented to Congress by the end of the year.

Senator Charles Schumer supports the proposal, telling WBCS, "We have federal standards for highway safety, for airline safety, and having it for subway safety is a good thing." For balance, the news show also gets an insightful perspective from straphanger Mildred Chandler, who says, "I think too much is put on the federal government, that's my opinion." And the MTA issued a statement saying, "We look forward to working with (federal officials) and congress on practical and cost-effective ways to enhance safety."

The proposal was motivated in part by the fatal June 22nd crash on the DC Metro's Red Line. In an interview with the Washington Post, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said, "After the [Metro] train crash, we were all sitting around here scratching our heads, saying, 'Hey, we've got to do something about this.' And we discovered that there's not much we could do, because the law wouldn't allow us to do it." And in recent months, the FBI has been riding the nation's rail and bus system with handheld radiological devices that detect nuclear and biological-weapons. One official tells the NY Post, "The nuclear, biological, chemical issue is now the most concerning and feared because of its mass-casualty possibilities."

Private School To Messageboard: "Don't Talk About Us"

Ben Muessig — 2009-11-16T16:20:38-05:00

The esteemed Bay Ridge private school Adelphi Academy has apparently filed a cease and desist order against a neighborhood message board that has hosted threads that were critical of the school. The post in question — which has since been removed from the forum BayRidgeTalk.com — addressed, among other things, Daily News articles covering the school's $2.1 million deficit in 2006, the foreclosure proceedings against the academy's 86th Street property, reports of teachers' paychecks bouncing, and the firing of a dean after he allegedly discovered a hidden bank account run by the school's Corporate Director.

Bay Ridge Talk's administrator posted news of the cease and desist order on the forum, noting: "Adelphi had its lawyers send me 2 cease and desist letters regarding the thread and its 'false and defamatory' content. Its the first time a thread has ever been removed in the history of Bay Ridge Talk. My apologies." Commenters on the message board claimed that sending out a cease and desist order was the worst thing the academy could do: "so thats a total backfire! They lose a LOT more points in my book for being dicks about a stupid message board thread than anything else Ive heard about them."

Calls to Adelphi Academy regarding the cease and desist order were not immediately returned.

Bloomberg Wants $1.2 Billion In Cuts

Jen Chung — 2009-11-16T16:16:55-05:00

The Observer reports that Mayor Bloomberg wants to cut $1.2 billion from next year's budget and $550 million from this year's, according to a letter from budget director Mark Page: "For the current year, Bloomberg is seeking to cut 1.5 percent from the Department of Education, 2 percent from 'uniformed forces' and 4 percent from all other agencies. For next year, Bloomberg wants 4 percent cuts from the Department of Education and uniformed forces, and 8 percent cuts from all other agencies. The cuts should lower the city's budget by $1.2 billion." The letter also says, "The target can be met by reductions in personal service costs or other than personal service costs and/or assured, recurring revenue actions."

5 Minute Parking Grace Period to Be Vetoed by Bloomberg

John Del Signore — 2009-11-16T16:01:31-05:00

Ryan Muir's Flickr

Today the City Council is expected to pass two laws that would give motorists more wiggle room when fighting parking tickets. The first bill would create a five-minute grace period for drivers for certain no parking zones, such as alternate side parking regulations and expired Muni-Meters. (The bill does not include regular coin-operated, single-space meters, seen failing here.) A second piece of legislation would require the DOT to post notices of new and changed parking restrictions in affected neighborhoods and online up to one week in advance. (Last October, Orthodox Jews in Williamsburg were outraged when the DOT wrote tickets for over 90 vehicles that were violating new parking regulations—on a Saturday.)

But Mayor Bloomberg has vowed to veto the grace period bill, telling reporters today, "I will veto that. I think it’s a very misguided piece of legislation. A five-minute grace period is only going to lead to chaos and enormous increases in the number of contested tickets, and in argument. Whose watch are you going to use?" And Transportation Alternatives director Paul Steely White says, "I fail to see how the hands of a wristwatch—no two of which seem to read the same time in this town—are a fairer judge than a clearly expired parking meter. This is irresponsible pandering that will lead to more arguments at the curbside, and a profusion of illegal parking."

According to an extensive analysis conducted by the Times last year, almost 300,000 alternate side violations were issued within five minutes of the rule taking effect in 2007. Of those, nearly 28,000 tickets were issued exactly on the hour that the rule went into effect. In a statement, Council Member Simcha Felder, one of the bills' sponsors, said, "Anyone with common sense and decency understands the need for a five-minute grace period to eliminate ‘gotcha’ tickets."

Will NYC See the Leonid Meteor Shower?

Jen Carlson — 2009-11-16T15:45:13-05:00

2001 Leonid Meteor Shower, via the AP

Are you guys totally stoked for the crazy two-day Leonid meteor shower that's about to go down? Our man on the street, with his eye on the sky, Joe Schumacher tells us: "It looks like there will be two peaks, a lesser one starting around 4 a.m. EST on Tuesday and the larger one about 12-13 hours later. The first one should have 2-3 dozen meteors per hour." While the light pollution will likely block the experience for many, the skies will be clear and cooperating.

If you can see it, NASA says the Leonids will appear to come out from Mars, and the Sky & Telescope blogger provides this handy illustration along with some other informative tips.

There's at least one group of folks heading over to Rockaway for a darker setting, and the Parks Department suggests Fort Totten... at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow. They say "This is the best time to view the Leonids Meteor Shower, peaking at 40 meteors per hour." Please note: that is not the best time to view the shower, and we've contacted the Parks folk to see where they got this information from. Space.com says that the peak of the shower will come during pre-dawn hours Tuesday, so you'll probably need some extra coffee at work tomorrow. If you get any photos, you know where to send them.

Is Giuliani Flip-Flopping With Opposition To 9/11 Trials In NYC?

Jen Chung — 2009-11-16T15:26:49-05:00

Yesterday, former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani came out swinging against the Obama administration's decision to try five of the alleged 9/11 plotters, including mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, at a NYC federal court, accusing the White House of thinking the "War on Terror is over." But senior White House adviser David Axelrod pointed out that Giuliani previously supported the decision to try 20th hijacker Zacarias Moussaoui in federal criminal court.

On This Week, George Stephanopoulos asked Giuliani about his comments made in 2006—Giuliani said at the time, "I was in awe of our system. It does demonstrate that we can give people a fair trial, that we are exactly what we say we are. We are a nation of law." Stephanopoulos said, "You called it a symbol of justice then. If criminal court was good enough for Moussaoui, why isn't it good enough for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed?" To which Giuliani responded:

Well, it was, and it would be good enough for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, but the reality is, there's another alternative, and the administration for some strange reason is creating the other alternative, military tribunals. They're going to try five other people at least in those military tribunals. I don't understand why they can't try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in the military tribunal. That also would demonstrate we're a nation of laws. That is the way in which we have tried enemy combatants in the past, whether it was the second world war or the Civil War. So, we're basically, in this particular case, we're reaching out to give terrorists a benefit that's unnecessary. In fact, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, when he was first arrested, asked to be brought to New York. I didn't think we were in the business of granting the requests of terrorists.

He also complained that the federal process could drag on for a while, plus, "The reality is, George, it also creates an extra risk that isn't necessary. It creates an extra risk for New York. Now, New York can handle it, there is no question about it, but why add an additional risk when you don't have to do that?"

However, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, also on This Week, said she stood behind the decision for the trials to be held in NYC (okay, more like she wasn't second-guessing U.S. AG Eric Holder) —and said she would not run for Governor of New York next year (heh, Hillary in Albany). Giuliani said he's taking a 2010 run "into consideration."

"Only In New York" Exhibit

Jen Carlson — 2009-11-16T15:07:21-05:00

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Print isn't dead just yet, it's living on as art. The Museum of the City of New York has put together a nostalgic exhibit comprised of photographs from the now defunct LOOK Magazine. The publication reached peak circulation (of nearly 8 million) in the late 1960s, with nationwide readers who were attracted to the Only in New York-esque photographs (some of them taken by the likes of Stanley Kubrick). So naturally, the exhibit is called "Only in New York: Photographs from LOOK Magazine" (as is the book).

It opens tomorrow with a reception (open to the public) beginning at 6:30 p.m. More details can be found here.

City Is Powerless Against Illegal Queens Building

Ben Muessig — 2009-11-16T14:50:17-05:00

Since 2008, the city has received 23 complaints about illegal apartments and an unsanctioned daycare center in a Flushing, Queens building, but inspectors haven't been able to bring the building up to code, the Daily News reports.

Continuing its investigation of illegal apartments following a fatal Woodside fire in an improperly subdivided basement, the tabloid details the Queens Jade complex on Ash Avenue, where residents have long complained about improper uses turning their home into a firetrap.

The city tried to shut down the illegal daycare operating out of an apartment in the building in 2002 by fining the owner $2,500 for blocking exits. Jerry Shen, who was inside that unit when the Daily News visited, promised the paper that the space was now a "home office." But a reporter noticed a notebook titled "student roster" open on the table and crayon drawings hanging from the walls. Residents say they know that the daycare is still open because parents keep knocking on their doors and asking where they can leave their kids.

But the city has been unable to take action against the owners of that building — and many others — because of a policy that allows landlords to escape fines and violations by simply not answering the door when inspectors visit. Investigators visited the Flushing Jade apartments in April and May, but they dropped the case when they couldn't get in. Throughout Queens, 12,911 complaints about illegal apartments have been filed so far this year — 3,419 in the Flushing area alone.

Poor, Poor Paterson Pummeled In Poll

Jen Chung — 2009-11-16T14:45:17-05:00

From the Post: "Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has opened up a staggering 59-point lead over Gov. Paterson after the embattled governor spent $500,000 on personal TV ads aimed at trying to fix his image... Cuomo extended his already massive lead over Paterson in a potential primary next year for the state's top job. The poll found Cuomo would beat his fellow Democrat 75-16 in a hypothetical 2010 match-up, according to the statewide Siena Research Institute."

Norah Jones Fights For the Light

Jen Carlson — 2009-11-16T14:30:36-05:00

First Norah Jones got criticized for a nouveau-Tuscany vibe in the kitchen of her new Cobble Hill home—now the songstress is moving right along with her renovation and allegedly sweet-talked the LPC into letting her have a little bit more light. Beautiful, warm, embracing light. Sounds innocent enough, but the NY Post reports that "neighbors don’t want a window into her soul — or home."

Basically, Jones purchased the Brooklyn brownstone for $4.99 million earlier this year, and now wants to add "10 double-hung windows to the side brick wall." Neighbors charge that the change would make her home inconsistent with the Greek revival architecture, noting that "breaking this precedent is wrong." Good luck with that fight, neighbors — mainstream, chart-topping, Top 40 adult contemporary artists have never tried to fit in.

But wait, Jones allegedly told her opponents in an email: "With respect to the Cobble Hill Association, my windows went through the approvals process with Landmarks and are not out of character with the neighborhood." She added that her goal was to keep Cobble Hill "beautiful and peaceful." And on that note, the locals are picking up their torches and threatening they'll block the construction by filing a lawsuit saying it’s a safety hazard.

Michelin Guide Restaurant Inspectors Dine Deep Undercover

John Del Signore — 2009-11-16T14:04:52-05:00

The New Yorker's annual food issue hits shelves today (we'll feel lucky if we get ours in the mail before Thursday). Articles include Calvin Trillin on Candians' beloved poutine, a peek inside flavor labs, Adam Gopnik on cookbooks, and John Colapinto’s "exclusive" look at the rating process of the New York Michelin guide. Apparently this is "the first time in its history" Michelin has permitted a journalist to speak with one of its anonymous inspectors. Colapinto joins an anonymous inspector for a meal at three-star Jean-Georges. It's a lonely and fattening life:

Assigned specific areas of the city to cover, Maxime, who lives in Manhattan, spends weeks riding the subway out to the farthest reaches of Queens to make her way through a selection of Thai restaurants, eating two meals a day, every day, and she typically eats alone, since talking with a spouse or friend is frowned upon... Maxime eats out more than two hundred days of the year, lunch and dinner. She eats the maximum number of courses offered—at Jean Georges, we were having three courses, plus dessert; that way, she said, “you really get to see the most food”—and she is required to eat everything on her plate. It is a regimen that calls to mind the force-feeding of the ducks that supply Vongerichten with his velvety foie gras.

Nice work if you can get it—each Michelin inspector must have a degree in hospitality, hotel management, or cooking, and make it through a rigorous application process, followed by an apprenticeship under one of the European inspectors. But it's this systematically intense approach to dining that makes critics like Frank Bruni "wonder if a certain sort of chromosomal stodginess can ever really be completely leached out of the Michelin guide and the system... They claim a lot of science to them, but is there a lot of soul to them?"

Cuomo Reportedly Considering Thompson As Running Mate

Jen Chung — 2009-11-16T13:40:48-05:00

While Attorney General Andrew Cuomo won't publicly discuss a potential run for governor next year, the NY Times reports that he's been thinking about the gubernatorial ticket for next year: He "and his advisers have been discussing potential candidates to run alongside him, to present the most appealing Democratic ticket to the electorate, people with knowledge of those discussions said." And one of those potential candidates is...City Comptroller Bill Thompson.

Apparently Thompson, who narrowly lost the mayoral election to Mayor Bloomberg, would meet Cuomo's needs, because he's looking for candidates "who would diversify the ticket, which, given the interest shown, has the potential to be dominated by Italian-American men... Adding a prominent African-American could help Mr. Cuomo soothe any resentment he sets off if Gov. David A. Paterson, the state’s first African-American governor, stays in the race and the two men battle for the party’s support at the state convention in the summer." And Cuomo wants to repair his image with African-American voters who may remember his nasty 2002 primary fight with then State Comptroller Carl McCall.

Cuomo's spokesman denies there have been any 2010 discussions.

Subway Sandwich Shop To Be Built Atop WTC Crane

Ben Muessig — 2009-11-16T13:17:32-05:00

If anything ever turns out getting built at the World Trade Center site, please let it be this. Next month, workers are planning to construct a Subway sandwich shop atop a crane at Ground Zero — newly dubbed Ground Hero by the Post — so that hardhats can enjoy their $5-footlongs without having to descend from the Freedom Tower.

The sandwich shop will be built into a shipping container-like structure with a bathroom and offices for project managers, and it will rise floor by floor with the workers until it reaches the 105th story — "roughly the height of the old Twin Towers, or about as high as the former Windows on the World restaurant was," the tabloid reports.

"This will allow construction workers to stay in the tower throughout their shift rather than having to go up and down," said Port Authority spokesman Steve Coleman. That might be a good thing, because Ground Zero hardhats were spotted boozing during their lunch-breaks this summer.

Atlantic Yards Foe Offered Less $ Than He Spent On Home

Ben Muessig — 2009-11-16T13:11:59-05:00

Daniel Goldstein — the city's most prominent Atlantic Yards opponent — was low-balled by the state with an eminent domain offer of just $510,000 for a three-bedroom Prospect Heights condo he purchased for $590,000 in 2003. It's also less than half what mega-developer Bruce Ratner offered Goldstein for the home, which, alongside Goldstein's lawsuits, stand in the way of $4.9 billion plan. Goldstein believes the state made such a low offer "to deter people from fighting like we have," but others say it's the real estate downturn, which has put the entire Atlantic Yards project on thin ice. In the coming days, the state's highest court is expected to rule on Goldstein's lawsuit alleging that the state is improperly using eminent domain to seize private property to benefit Ratner's company — not the public. [Via Brownstoner]

Flashback: Rockefeller Center Christmas Trees

Jen Carlson — 2009-11-16T12:55:00-05:00

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Last week the new Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree arrived at 30 Rock after being torn from its roots in Easton, Connecticut. It will now have until December 2nd to be adorned with lights (last year folks were not impressed by the energy-efficient LED lights), before being plugged in for holiday revelers to enjoy. Here's some history on the tree tradition, which started about 77 years ago — and a look back at trees of the past (in 1938 there were two!).

More Pleasant Weather On the Way

Joe Schumacher — 2009-11-16T12:39:05-05:00

Ghosts of Summer by thelexiphane on Flickr

Yesterday was about as pleasant a mid-November day as one could hope for in New York. The high temperature in Central Park was 66 degrees. The big weather difference between yesterday and today is the passage of a weak late-night cold front. With the lower humidity behind the front we'll have crystal clear skies and a breezy high around 60.

We're in a sneaky little warm spell. The temperature hasn't dipped below normal in more than a week and three days since last Sunday have been more than ten degrees above average. The city is now several days past the median date of first freeze. Although it will cool to around 40 tonight -bundle up if you're going to see the Leonid Meteor Shower- no frost is in sight for at least the next week.

Fair weather is expected to continue through Thursday. A cut-off low is pummelling Kansas and Missouri this week and looks to be our weather maker when it finally breaks free and gets to the East Coast on Friday. The storm will have greatly weakened by then so we'll see showers and a high near 60 and not snow or flooding.

Pencil This In

2009-11-16T12:33:00-05:00

We're bringing Pencil This In to you earlier with our new newsletter, GothamList. Sign up below for the daily scoop on concerts, readings, performances, and other events, which will arrive in your inbox first thing every morning Monday through Friday. You can get today's newsletter when you sign up.

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Sully Has Problems With Flight 1549 Book

Jen Chung — 2009-11-16T12:25:45-05:00

Captain Chelsey Sullenberger, the Flight 1549 captain who safely landed a US Airways plane into the Hudson back in January, tells CityRoom that a book about the plane's landing "'greatly overstates how much it mattered' that the plane he landed in the river, an Airbus A320, featured an automated cockpit." William Langwische's Fly by Wire credits the engineers behind A320's automation, but Sullenberger points out both engines were knocked out, "There are some situations where the automation will protect a pilot, but at the same time a highly automated airplane makes possible other types of errors, so it’s a mixed blessing. And greater knowledge is required to fly a highly automated aircraft."

Kite Fight Leads To Lawsuit Against City

Jen Carlson — 2009-11-16T12:05:04-05:00

Still from The Kite Runner

One 12-year-old was recently the victim of some kite fighting leftovers. The "sport," made famous in The Kite Runner, is popular in Flushing Meadows Corona Park — and now the city is on the receiving end of a lawsuit over it.

The Queens boy was skateboarding outside of his apartment last month when he was clotheslined by a razor-sharp wire that had allegedly fallen from a kite fight. The NY Post reports that "the glass-encrusted wire ripped into the then-12-year-old's throat and left him scarred from ear to ear from a wound his lawyer said took 400 to 500 stitches to close. The boy also lost two lymph nodes in the accident." The boy says he "heard a noise like bees... I thought I went into a beehive."

The lawsuit against the city states that they shouldn't allow the kite fights to take place in the park, and also notes that they "failed to remove the wire that was left hanging between two buildings after getting severed in a duel and drifting over to the complex." The family's lawyer declares, "The city should have known these kite festivals are happening in Queens parks — and should have known the danger that the glass-encrusted string poses."

Early Addition

Jen Chung — 2009-11-16T11:48:32-05:00

Photograph by alan(ator) on Flickr

From the Gothamist Newsmap: A commercial robbery at Zebra Place & Veterans Road on Staten Island, a jumper down at W 155th St & Macombs Dam in Manhattan and an EDP search at Macneil Park at 117th St & Poppenhusen Ave in Queens.
As the NY Post turns 208 years old, its writing is "as sharp as ever," reports the NY Post.
The state tax department may create a "Hall of Shame" website for wanted tax delinquents.
The nanny who saved the son of the Chabad Lubavitcher couple murdered in Mumbai is still taking care of him. And the toddler tells his grandparents, "My home is in Mumbai. My father and mother are there."
A member of the FBI team that went after mobsters is eyeing a run again Rep. Michael McMahon.
Is foreclosure imminent for the Trump Soho?
Fewer Hasidim voted for Mayor Bloomberg. Or not.
If you were upset that Ashlee Simpson-Wentz was kicked out of Melrose Place, fear not—she's headed to Broadway, to star as Roxie Hart in Chicago.

Cab Driver Says Super Mario Bros Threatened to Kill Him

John Del Signore — 2009-11-16T11:32:33-05:00

Ndiaye Serigne

The cab driver seen on surveillance video getting pummeled on Halloween by two men costumed as Super Mario Brothers spoke out about his ordeal at a rally for taxi driver safety yesterday. Senegalese immigrant Ndiaye Serigne, 48, told reporters, "I was really scared....At the time, I really think I'm going to die." Serigne says he was driving four costumed men back to Staten Island around 4 a.m. on November 1st when one turned off the meter, reached into his pocket, and grabbed $210. "Now it's a free ride," the suspect said.

Serigne says he refused to pull over on a deserted street, and instead drove to a Staten Island gas station and tried to call for help. The video shows two men dressed as Mario and Luigi beating Serigne as other costumed men look on, and he claims the men threatened to kill him. Serigne still has pain in his jaw, but he hasn't shared the news with his wife and three children back in Senegal, telling the Daily News, "I don't want my family to see this because... they're going to be more worried. I'm a little scared, but it's part of my job."

Police have made no arrests in the incident. Cab drivers at yesterday's rally demanded tougher laws against assaults on taxi drivers; hack Zawar Jaffri, who lost an eye after he was maced by a passenger trying to skip out on a fare, told Channel 11, "The public has no fear to do anything against us. They think we are alone. At least if we had a sticker saying a crime against the driver is a felony up to seven years in jail, right next to the passenger bill of rights, they would know that the driver is also equal human being." Assemblyman Rory Lancman (D-Queens) has promised to introduce a bill making it a felony to assault a cab driver.

Will "Secret Yes Votes" Emerge For Gay Marriage Vote?

Jen Chung — 2009-11-16T11:20:44-05:00

Whether gay marriage manages to make it to a vote in the State Senate is another question entirely, but State Senator Thomas Duane thinks the Senate will vote yes on the matter. According to WNYC, the bill's supporters say that there are "secret yes votes...Duane, the bill’s chief sponsor, says he’s had the votes locked up all along. But Duane won’t release the names of those yes votes because, he says, when it comes to gay marriage, senators have to come out of the closet on their own." Of course, Duane isn't naming names, "I’m not releasing my vote count until we’re ready to vote. What people have told me, they’ve told me in confidence. It just wouldn’t be appropriate for me to share that."

Cops Fired Fatal Shot In Brooklyn Bar Brawl

Ben Muessig — 2009-11-16T11:02:24-05:00

More details have emerged about the police shooting in Cypress Hills that left one dead early on Sunday morning. At around 3 am, two undercover cops responded to reports of a wild bar brawl — which apparently stemmed from a dispute about a spilled drink. When the plainclothes officers arrived at the Norwood Palace Sports Bar on Fulton Street, 19-year-old Donovan Wilson ran out of the venue and pointed a .25-caliber handgun at cops, the Daily News reports. The officers — who apparently were wearing their badges around their necks — fired at the teen, hitting him in the chest, elbow, and leg. Wilson survived, though according to the Post, he was shot a fourth time, perhaps before police arrived.

The officers then entered the bar, where patrons were hurling bar stools at each other. In the midst of the melee, 43-year-old Kevin White (pictured) — who was working as a bouncer for a birthday party at the bar and in the past had worked security for Mariah Carey and Sean Combs — allegedly pointed a .357 magnum at cops. Officers fired at White, fatally striking him in the neck. A semiautomatic handgun was found near his body, but it's unclear if it belonged to White. The Post and the Times report that investigators are still studying the surveillance video to determine if White fired at cops, but the Daily News notes that the footage shows that at some point during the brawl he "unleashed several shots."

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said that surveillance tapes prove that the officers showed their badges before opening fire on White — who had 28 prior arrests, three for gun charges, and had served time in jail five years ago. "They saw [White] pointing a weapon at them and fired one shot into his neck," Kelly said. "This is all confirmed by videotapes." But White's brother claims that cops didn't identify themselves as police, and that his sibling was only carrying a .357 magnum because he had wrestled it away from another shooter. "He was trying to break up the fight," said Louis, who wasn’t there but spoke to witnesses. "He took the gun from one of them. Then the cops came in and saw it in his hand, and they shot him in the neck...They could’ve hit someone else. My brother would never carry a gun."

Is the Pedicab Industry Doomed?

Jen Carlson — 2009-11-16T10:46:00-05:00

Will pedicabs become extinct before carriage horses? At the end of last month there were reportedly only 25 of 1,000 pedicabs who became licensed under the city's new regulations. The NYCPOA declared this was untrue, and we've contacted them today to confirm the latest Post report, which says that number is up to only 321. Peter Meitzler from the organization told us that "the current number of plates issued so far to inspected pedicabs is 349 as of 9 this morning."

The Post notes that there are only four days left for the remaining operators to get licensed, and that "after Friday, the Department of Consumer Affairs will close its doors to anyone hoping to register a pedicab — and strict NYPD enforcement will begin." (They've already been seizing rickshaws in Central Park.) However, Meitzler tells us that "final inspections can take place until December 20th, but the application/paperwork deadline is this Friday."

Some pedicab operators who have become legit told the paper the new regulations will make the industry safer. One noting, "Many of these bicycles are very dangerous. This process will make some less dangerous. Some of these guys don't know anything. They just want to make money and aren't safe."

Access-A-Ride Nailed by Local News

John Del Signore — 2009-11-16T10:20:50-05:00

Fox 5 is really sticking it to the taxpayer-funded Access-A-Ride system, exposing one NYPD Auxiliary Police sergeant's apparent abuse of the system, and busting a driver for flagrant on-the-job napping. The Access-A-Ride program, which is managed by NYC Transit, provides transportation for people with disabilities who can't take the subway or bus. Each trip ends up costing about $66 (most of which is covered by taxpayers) and this year the whole program is expected to cost $451 million—which makes this footage of a cop getting picked up by Access-A-Ride to go march in a parade even more galling!

Highlights (or lowlights) include the moment when Fox 5's John Deutzman confronts Sergeant Jeffery Lawin, after getting footage of him going up and down stairs, marching in the parade, and even taking the subway! Also not-to-be-missed is the part where Deutzman wakes up the driver they've been videotaping sleeping in an Access-A-Ride van for over an hour, and then the driver tries to deny it. (Eat your heart out Arnold Diaz!) The driver eventually leaves without a passenger after idling for almost 90 minutes, but hey, at least he wasn't parked in a bike lane that whole time.

Jury Duty Becomes A Popular Gig For The Unemployed

Ben Muessig — 2009-11-16T10:05:58-05:00

With the job market remaining stagnant, more unemployed New Yorkers are volunteering for jury duty. "People are calling up, saying, 'Look, I lost my job; now would be a good time for me to serve,'" Vincent Homenick, chief clerk of the jury division for Manhattan, told the Post. "Not that $40 will pay the bills, but it's something." The unemployed aren't the only New Yorkers eager to get into the courthouse — a group of seniors dubbed "junkies for justice" travel across the city to attend the most interesting trials. Legal enthusiasts like Benjamin Rosen, 95, would rather spend their days watching real life episodes of Matlock "than watching TV soaps or playing bridge," the paper notes. "There's tension in the air," said Rosen. "It's like seeing an action movie. I like to decipher what's lies and what's true. And the courtroom is very nice and air-conditioned in the summer."

Smoking Ban May Now Include Your Apartment

John Del Signore — 2009-11-16T09:40:43-05:00

Some city landlords have begun prohibiting tenants from smoking inside their apartments, because of the dangers of second-hand smoke. A study recently found that secondhand smoke causes at least 35,000 deaths from heart disease and 3,000 deaths from lung cancer in nonsmokers nationwide each year—and New Yorkers are even more at risk because their dense urban environment. As one tobacco expert put it: "Smoke doesn’t know to stop at a doorway. It fills the full capacity of every indoor location in which the cigarette is smoked." So at least one major real estate company is now stepping in to stop the smoke before it starts.

This month the Related Companies will ban smoking at some of its downtown apartment buildings, though the ban will only affect new tenants, who must sign an agreement promising not to smoke inside their homes. And developer Kenbar Management will ban smoking from all 298 units in its East Harlem building when it opens next month. Its smoking ban will even extend to private and shared terraces, and tenants must also agree not to smoke on any of the sidewalks that wrap around the building!

Should renters be allowed to smoke in their apartments?(polling)

With the city contemplating a smoking ban in public parks and beaches, some smokers are outraged about a perceived ghettoization of smoking. One tenant at a Related Companies building tells the Times, "I think it’s absolutely absurd. How about a little tolerance? Smokers have become the whipping boys for everything that’s unhealthy about living in New York City." And Audrey Silk, founder of Citizens Lobbying Against Smoker Harassment, wonders, "If we’re talking about annoying odors, where do you draw the line? What about cooking odors, from fish or curry?" It's unclear how many deaths have been caused by second-hand fish odor inhalation.

Paterson May Kill New License Plate Fee Plan

Jen Chung — 2009-11-16T09:20:47-05:00

With growing outrage over the state's plan to charge all drivers $25 for new license plates—up from the current $15 and up from $5.50 in 2001—Governor David Paterson said yesterday, "If the Legislature works with me, prior to the release of the 2010-11 Executive Budget, to identify real, recurring savings that will replace the revenue that would be lost, I will eliminate the new license plate requirement."

While the Department of Motor Vehicles claimed, "Periodically re-issuing plates is important for overall safety, law enforcement and the general integrity of the plate," the state hoped to raise $129 million from the plan, which would have also charged driver another $20 if they wanted to keep their license plate's letter/number combination. Upstate residents had complained that they were being forced to bear the brunt of the new fee, since there aren't as many city residents with cars.

A petition coordinated by county clerks at No New Plates picked up a lot of steam last week and the Times Union points out, "The governor's remarks came less than 24 hours before county clerks, mostly Republicans, were scheduled to march on Albany armed with 100,000 petition signatures against the new plates."

The State Legislature is also charged with figuring out how to deal with the $3.2 billion budget deficit—put another way, that license plate fee makes up 4% of the deficit.

Queens Mom Set On Fire By Ex-Boyfriend

John Del Signore — 2009-11-16T09:01:51-05:00

A mother of two was set on fire in the doorway of her Long Island City apartment yesterday morning by her estranged boyfriend and father of one of the children. Neighbors in the woman's Queensbridge Houses building say the woman had previously thrown the suspect, 25-year-old Kehman Clark, out of the home. He returned to visit yesterday morning, but stormed off after a domestic dispute, only to return with a can of gasoline.

Before lighting the woman on fire, Clark is believed to have set fire to the fifth floor hallway and a staircase. An FDNY source tells the Post, "The hallway was completely blacked out, and when we got there, there were kids screaming in the bedrooms. We think he was trying to trap her on the fifth floor." A neighbor says Clark "knocked on her door, threw gasoline on her lit a match and she went up in flames. I heard the screams from my apartment. She didn’t want anything to do with him, but he kept coming back like a stalker, and this is what happens."

The unidentified woman ran from the apartment and up a staircase to the sixth floor, where a neighbor put out the flames. She was hospitalized with non-life threatening burns to her legs, back, and torso. Clark reportedly suffered the worst injuries, sustaining second-degree burns on his arms and legs after he tried to chase the woman and slipped in the gasoline and set himself on fire. He's in police custody at Harlem Hospital Center, and the two children, ages 1 and 3, were treated at Elmhurst Hospital for smoke inhalation.

Firefighter Arrested At Metallica Show

Jen Carlson — 2009-11-16T08:52:24-05:00

Metallica just finished up a two night run at Madison Square Garden, and at least one fan is likely still reeling from Sunday night's show. The NY Post reports that 33-year-old New York firefighter, Gerard Weihe, got ejected from the show by security guards (for standing on chairs and "making a racket"). After being tossed, he came back for an encore and kicked in a plate-glass window! So hardcore... and so arrested.

Jonathan Ames, Writer

Ben Yakas — 2009-11-16T08:30:00-05:00

The last two decades have found comic writer Jonathan Ames, known for his slanted wit and brutal honesty, become a veritable chameleon of pop-culture mediums. By turns novelist, essayist, journalist, theatrical performer, and amateur boxer, the Ames style has remained unmistakable—as the Times put it, Ames "has rarely strayed far from himself."

His latest incarnation is that of TV writer/creator/showrunner of "Bored to Death," the noir-otic comedy which just completed its first season on HBO last week. We caught up with the busy Ames via email, reflecting on the first season, doppelgangers, and favorite Brooklyn haunts. Tomorrow night he co-hosts the Moth Ball with Garrison Keillor.

How similar is fictional J Ames to real life J Ames? Not too similar. We do share some biographical traits, though—we wrote the same first novel, I Pass Like Night, we both went to Princeton, and as children we had back spasms and were forced to wear a corset by an orthopedist who should have been practicing in England during the Victorian era.

Did Jason Schwartzman follow you around for notes? We spent a few weeks before the pilot, going over the script, hanging out in Brooklyn, and just acclimating him to New York.

Do people confuse you with your fictional character's personality/exploits? Not that I know of, but people do have all sorts of strange ideas about me, though these ideas all come from my books. But it's all very odd to me because I have artistic amnesia—once I write something it's almost like it never happened. I perform my own Stalinaztion on my own life—by recording my life I sort of erase it.

Do you think it's somewhat egotistical to name a fictional character after yourself, or just sign of a healthy sense of ego? Definitely egotistical. Not to mention self-centered and self-absorbed.

Do you see your fictional character as closer to idealization or projection? Projection — he gets to be a hero, which I would love to be.

Zach Galifinakis has had a breakout couple of years — he's generally played pretty out there, explosive, LOUD characters. But as Ray, Ames best friend in the show, he's surprising contained, but still great, and seems to have different kinds of depths than we're used to from his comical-bestbud part. Had you pictured him for the role? Yes, I wanted Zach from the beginning. I think he's marvelous in the show. In addition to being wildly funny, he's a fine actor.

How involved were you with the day to day creation/feel and look of the show? Very involved. As the showrunner/creator, I was on the set for nearly every shot and worked very closely with the various directors, explaining to them and the actors what I wanted. I would only leave the set for meetings on the next episode we would be doing or to do my final edit on the previous episode. Basically, you have experts do their thing—costumes, set-design, lighting—but then as the creator of the show, I'm in the privileged position of signing off on everything and making slight tweaks if I want.

The show uses NYC, particularly Brooklyn, as its backdrop. How many of the locations were chosen by you/based on personal experiences? Many of the locations were places that I loved and thought it would be great visually, such as Fort Greene Park, Brighton Beach and Cafe Tatiana, which I had been to a few times, the Gowanus Canal, which is right by my house, Ditmas Park, and Grand Army Plaza. The hill where Jason sits on a skateboard and rolls down to escape some vengeful skateboarding boys is a street I used to jog on and is where I got the idea for him sitting on the skateboard and then we shot on that exact street.

How different was the creative process between writing your fiction and writing the show? Were you given many "notes" from HBO? Writing a novel is a very solitary act, with some dialogue with an editor. Writing scripts, while the act is solitary, is a much more collaborative process—you first have to get the story approved, then the outline, and then the script. But HBO is lovely to work with and I find that their notes are almost always very helpful and make the work better.

What sort of reactions did you get from first season? Did your fiction fans embrace it? Were there any areas you felt needed improving/ characters you wish you got to focus on more? (You had unbelievable group of guest and recurring stars). Who else would you really want to work with next season? The reaction has been wonderful, I think. Then again, people only tell me their nice thoughts. My parents have been thrilled by the whole experience, which has made me feel good—I like to please them. There are always things that could be improved—nothing is ever perfect—but, overall, I'm pleased with what we achieved the first season. As for next season, I'm just now figuring out the stories, so I'm not sure who our guest-stars will be.

How do you like your new television? Have any strangers come over to watch it? I've watched my new TV twice now and quite enjoyed it. I'm still not in the habit of putting it on, but I really should indulge in it more often. I haven't had any strangers over to watch it, but hosted a party for fans of the show Friday night at a local bar in Brooklyn, Sample on Smith Street.

What other projects are you working on? My novel The Extra Man has been turned into a movie and it stars Kevin Kline and Paul Dano. I co-wrote the script with Shari Berman and Robert Pulcini, who also directed the film, and we're hoping that it will make it into theaters in 2010. I also have a screenplay for my novel Wake Up, Sir! that I'm looking to do one more revision on and there is some interest in turning my graphic novel The Alcoholic into a movie. And this summer, I had a new collection of fiction and non-fiction, The Double Life is Twice as Good, come out.

What's the latest with Mangina? He's still making beautiful paintings and tonight, Thursday, November 12th, he's participating in the Mr. Lower East Side contest at Bowery Poetry Club. This event is hosted by Rev Jen, whose memoir, Live Nude Elf, came out this spring and for which I acted as the literary agent, selling it to Soft Skull Press.

Please share your strangest "only in New York" story. I have too many, but a few of them can be found in my memoir What's Not to Love?

Which New Yorker do you most admire? Patrick Bucklew, aka the "Mangina".

Given the opportunity, how would you change New York? I would somehow lower the rents so that young artists could come and live here and make work.

Under what circumstance have you thought about leaving New York? I haven't.

What's your current soundtrack? The Kinks and Donovan.

Best cheap eat in the city. The herring at the Russian baths; it's very inexpensive.

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Former NJ Gov. McGreevey Studies God, Post Mocks Him

Ben Muessig — 2009-11-16T08:10:24-05:00

Former New Jew Governor Jim McGreevy — who resigned from office in 2004 after a homosexual affair — is training to become an Episcopal priest. Take it away, New York Post:

"'Gay American' Jim McGreevey is spending his Sunday mornings with a new man — Jesus."

The tabloid details the former governor's current position assisting Rev. Geoffrey Curtiss at three weekend masses at the All Saints Church in Hoboken as he works towards his Masters of Divinity from the General Theological Seminary. The paper describes the former politician as "noticeably graying," and notes that during services, he "carried the cross during the processional, helped Curtiss bless the Eucharist and helped baptize a group of babies and young children."

Last Night's Action: Ouch

Peter Trinkle — 2009-11-16T00:06:45-05:00

Photograph of Rashean Mathis tackling Braylon Edwards by Kathy Willens/AP

Jacksonville 24 Jets 22: The Jets rallied from an 11-point fourth quarter deficit only to see the Jaguars comeback and win the game. Trailing 21-10, New York kicked a field goal at the start of the fourth quarter and then the defense forced the Jaguars to go three and out. New York then launched a 16-play drive that culminated in a touchdown run by Thomas Jones to put them up 22-21. They went for two, but Braylon Edwards dropped the conversion attempt, a mistake that proved to be very costly.

Twice in the second half the Jets had to call timeouts to avoid too many men on the field penalties and that was a huge factor in the final drive because Jacksonville marched the ball down the field. With under two minutes left, and no timeouts the Jets tried to let the Jaguars score, but Maurice Jones-Drew intentionally fell down at the Jets 1. That allowed the Jaguars to run the clock down to three seconds and they kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired.

Greenwich Village Water Main Break

Jen Chung — 2009-11-15T22:09:28-05:00

Photograph by jphillipobrien2006 on Flickr

This afternoon, there was a water main break at Bleecker and Carmine Streets. As this photograph shows, it created a burbling, muddy-looking lake on the street.

Extra, Extra

Jen Chung — 2009-11-15T18:45:48-05:00

Photograph by Kevin H. on Flickr

From the Gothamist Newsmap: A water main break at 6th And Carmine St in Manhattan, shots fired at 54th St & Beach Channel in Queens, and a police car MVA at Belt Parkway At Bay 8 St in Brooklyn.
Fit for a king: Mayor Bloomberg's media company wants to rule the world.
NJ Governor Jon Corzine has declared a state of emergency in the six counties battered by the Nor'easter.
Stuyvesant Town residents rallied in favor of keeping their rent-stabilized rents going into the future.
The Justice Department is launching a probe into why NY milk farmers are getting record low payments but consumers aren't seeing related savings.
Old age? Bruce Springsteen greeted a Michigan crowd with "Hello, Ohio!"
The NY Times profiles the law firm chairman who "earned millions last year arranging shotgun weddings for the busted firms of Wall Street." He drives a Subaru, likes Hitchcock movies, is generally unassuming and modest, and looks like Mr. Peepers.
Ridiculed apocalypse movie 2012 made $65 million at the weekend box office.

For The NYTimes, "Douche" Is Okay, But "Fat Chick" Isn't?

Ben Muessig — 2009-11-15T18:07:53-05:00

In an article that seems to blur the NY Times' own decency standards, the paper of record examines how the word "douche" has evolved from a personal hygiene product into a popular TV pejorative. We're not particularly concerned with the journalistic merits of the piece — we'll leave that to the seasoned Times critics over at nytpick who claim the paper shouldn't have gotten its numbers on TV vulgarity from a Conservative anti-cussing group. But we were shocked to see the paper print the word "douche" five times in a page-one piece, when just last week it censored the words "fat chick" in an article about an online alibi by indirectly quoting a Facebook status update. Not to say that the Times' much-ballyhooed decency standards are a good thing, but consistency certainly is.