Results tagged “gothamist”

Every year, Gothamist looks forward to the Independent Budget Office's ideas on how the city can save and make money. The IBO is a nonpartisan, publicly agency, and the report shows both the pros and cons of certain suggested measures. Here are some of the suggestions:

State Reimbursement for Inmates in City Jails Awaiting Trial Over One Year more ›

During this Sunday's 60 Minutes, Philip Seymour Hoffman will reveal that he really loved doing drugs when he was younger. Here's what the 60 Minutes website says:

For the first time publicly, the actor, hailed for his performance as author Truman Capote, talks about his decision to get help for substance abuse... more ›

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Yesterday, a 65 year old Staten Island woman slashed her neighbor's throat, claiming the neighbor had stabbed her cat in the eye. The irate Stephanie Lindboe refused to drop her 12-inch knife, even lunging at a police officer, so the cop shot and killed her. Her victim, 59 year old Linda Padula, is at Staten Island University Hospital in critical condition with various stab wounds. During the attack, another neighbor tried to intervene and help Padula, but then Lindboe tried to stab him as well; the NY Times has a more detailed description of the attack and shooting, which the NYPD says seems to be within department guidelines, and AM New York references the 1984 shooting of a 66 year old woman brandishing a butcher's knife when police tried to evict her. Neighbors say Lindboe's behavior was erratic, and it's unclear how Lindboe's cat, Dickey, ended up stabbed in the eye (did she stab him herself?). Dickey had infuriated Padula, with the super saying, "The cat had a bad habit of coming in and pissing on the rug [in the hallway]." more ›

This morning, Irene Sinyavin is our hero. She just gave birth to her 11 pound, 10 ounce baby boy - naturally. And without pain medication. Sinyavin is 5'9" and her husband is 6'4", but you might not expect an a baby over 11 pounds. Weill Cornell Medical Center thinks it's the biggest baby ever delivered there, and from the picture in the Daily News, baby Alexei seems to have totally skipped that scrunched-up, old man face that most newborns have because they are much tinier. more ›

- And, because we cannot resist this photograph and this is our actual birthday, happy third birthday to Gothamist...thank for all your support and patience!
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Break out a bottle of Haterade, because it's Santino versus the world! Since Andrae, aka the glue that held everyone everyone, left two episodes ago and then Nick, aka Daniel's BFF, left last episode, it just meant that there were less people to deflect Santino's lovably hateful ego. The other three Project Runway designers, Daniel, Chloe and Kara, immediately put themselves in the "we're not Santino" camp. Their challenge: To design an evening gown...and not just any gown - a gown that will represent their vision for their runway show! Yes, say it with Gothamist: "Oh...My...GOD!" And then the designers got to meet with Fern Mallis, who heads 7th on 6th and basically chooses who gets to show during Fashion Week. Yes - OMG! After one designer asked if she had any advice and Fern answered that they should be nice, Daniel, with stage theatricality, craned his head back to look at Santino. And as if us viewers didn't get the idea, Daniel does a one-on-one to basically say he wanted Santino to know he had to be nice. Then there's a Santino one-on-one where he's all "I don't have to be nice." more ›

With the vice president shooting people in the face and everyone still getting over their chocolate hang over from Valentine's Day, this week it's hard not to feel a general malaise and slight discomfort about the new releases line up. However as always, New York's repertory film scene comes through in the clinch keeping Gothamist inspired when it comes to movie viewing. more ›

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Check out WatchingtheChanges-- it's a beautiful set of WTC skyline shots taken from the East Village. Scroll right to see pictures of the Trade Center-- before, during, and after the attacks. A poster of the same shots is also available. [Related: NYC Bloggers still maintains their authoritative 9-11 post page, with quite a few 9-11 photoblog entries. Gothamist wasn't around in 2001, but we did snap a few polaroids for Bluejake, the forerunner of this site.] more ›

Gothamist attended a press dinner at Xing last night where we got to soak in the sleek atmosphere and Chef Lulzim Rexhepi's high-end contemporary Chinese menu. We were seated next to the giant fishtank that links together the minimalist front bar and dining area to the lush red velvet back room, so we were transfixed by the brightly colored beauties as we enjoyed a sampling of their dishes, including Szechuan pepper crusted scallps with a miso butter broth, roasted wild mushrooms and pea shoots ($9); oysters with a sweet Swatow vinegar mignionette, and crispy garlic ($12); and sweet Chinese BBQ spareribs, jazzed up with a sprinkle of sesame seed and a nose-clearing dose of spicy-hot Chinese mustard ($9). more ›

Break open the champagne the Knicks are back in the win column! Ok, so beating the Raptors at home is hardly something to be excited about, but that is a good indication of the depths to which this team has sunk. Wednesday’s 98-96 victory wasn’t pretty and wouldn’t have happened without a jumper by Jamal Crawford with three seconds left in the game, but it’s still a win. more ›

A state judge ruled that the city cannot bar Critical Mass ride, which comes after last month's ruling that the rides do not need permits. The NY Times details the ruling:

Calling the city's legal strategy against the ride "highly irregular" and "as unnecessary as it is inappropriate," Justice Michael D. Stallman of State Supreme Court in Manhattan refused to bar an environmental group and four people from taking part in it, from gathering at Union Square Park beforehand, or from announcing the rides on the group's Web site, as the city had requested. more ›

) and even got a quote from a show spokeswoman saying that animated Dolph would not be cut from the show (the show and Post are both owned by News Corp., though). Anyway, some teachers at PS 123 believe that the girls are making up these claims, but they don't have proof. While there are probably weirdos out there who might take advantage of their students, Gothamist wonders if there's a Salem witch trial-like hysteria about these cases (think about day care abuse allegations during the 1980s - like Capturing the Friedmans) among parents.
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- As if you couldn't hate Madison Square Garden enough for hurting old Penn Station, it might just hurt new Penn Station more ›

Rufus, an adorable (and very aardvark-like) bull terrier, won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club's 130th Dog Show last night. Rufus (real name: Ch. Rocky Top's Sundance Kid) beat out an English sheepdog (so fluffy), a Scottish deerhound (honestly, a little weird looking, if graceful), a pug (the crowd gasped when he freaked out during judging), a gorgeous Rottweiler (our personal favorite), a Dalmatian (not named Spot), and a golden retriever (very pretty). Gothamist watched the competition on TV and we were quite impressed with Rufus's pose and Best in Show judge Jamie Reynolds said he had "The classic profile of a colored bull terrier." Classic means "egg-shaped head," as all the papers have explained it. Rufus lives in Holmdel, NJ, and is just wacky: The Post reports that Rufus snacks on "chicken when he earns a treat for doing his patented 'hucklebacks'—whacking his rump against doors for fun." We guess that's what happens when his dad is "Einstein The Joker." more ›

Sunny skies and temperatures above fifty will do a quick number on the snow. The sidewalks will a gloppy, sloppy mess for a few days. If there's any snow mounds left by the weekend they are going to freeze hard. A relatively dry cold front looks like it will move through on Friday. The front will bring high winds and cold air. Saturday and Sunday will be chilly. The cold spell will only last a few days. Normally this would be the time of year when Gothamist starts getting spring fever. With our almost total lack of winter weather this year we are confused. We still want more snow, but at the same time we are pleased to see bylines from places like Port St. Lucie and Tampa as pitchers and catchers begin reporting to spring training. more ›

A reader wrote us to ask if we noticed "an upswing in tap water stink of late," saying that he noticed a chlorine smell in his "Brooklyn apartment, Queens workplace, and various spots betwixt the two," with a " markedly stronger chemical/chlorine 'bouquet'." And Gothamist actually has - while we wait for our humidifier tank to fill, the water has been smelling rather chemically/bleachy. Does anyone know what's happening with the tap water? Did something accidentally happen to our drinking water reservoirs? If someone has a friend at the DEP and can tell us why, we'd love to be less paranoid. more ›

Gothamist has been sucked in to the History Channel's documentaries about the gangs of New York recently. Being history buffs, we want to learn more, but how do we do that without having to watch the Scorsese film again (which omitted a lot of facts)? With the Big Onion Walking Tours! more ›

When we first saw that White Castle was having a special Valentine's Day at their locations, Gothamist hoped that someone would go. Thankfully, we have some friends that decided to (our better half hates White Castle). As promised, there were tablecloths, candles, and a host. As a bonus, diners wWe're told that the manager/greeter at the Metropolitan Ave White Castle even spoke French. White Castle? Nay, Le Chateau Blanc. There was even a crystal-like swan to hole some "after-dinner" candy. All that on top of some tasty and cheap burgers. You better believe that we're kicking ourselves for not going ourselves yesterday. more ›

The Daily News says that the MTA will be spending $6.7 million to put workers on platforms to help with crowds- aka "platform conductors" - and give assitance during emergencies. Gothamist thinks this is a great idea, because sometimes there is absolutely no place for people to move in or out. However, one subway rider tells the Daily News she rather have more off-hours presence, which is a good point, but the MTA will do what the MTA will do. And this is still a good thing. Platform conductors are also going to be on the lookout for suspcious packages - so you can say something to them if you see something. We wonder if they'll radio to the command center if someone has dropped an object onto the tracks. more ›

Veritas is well known as an oenophiles delight. The wine list has the heft of a Tolstoy novel, with more than 1,300 offerings, and up to four sommeliers work the intimate space at one time. You might think the food would be an afterthought, but the surprise is that it is every bit as impressive as the wine. The menu at Veritas is full of quiet pleasures. Chef Scott Bryan presents dishes that each remain true to their main ingredient, highlighted with thoughtful companions that don't overshadow, but complement. more ›

Mos Def, the rapper-turned-actor, is having child support problems. His estranged wife, Maria Yepes-Smith (Mos Def's real name is Dante Smith), says that he's failed the pay the full $10,000-a-month for their two daughters that he's owed for the first two months of the year, only paying $8,000 each time. Mos Def's lawyer claims that his business obligations, plus supporting three other children, are making it difficult. Def even spoke up during the hearing, much the judge's annoyance, saying, "I'm the only person who's providing for my children." Def also claims his wife said she would homeschool the girls, but isn't, so he should pay less in support. Hey, private school costs money, too! more ›

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When you're 20 years old and on the hook for killing a woman while trying to rob her, it seems the only thing to do is to play crazy. Or that what a psychiatrist says Rudy Fleming, who at 19 shot Nicole duFresne on a Lower East Side corner last year during a botched robbery, is doing. Fleming had been claiming that he saw a "Marshmallow Man", a black-and-white cat, and a red-colored man, as well as hearing voices. Bellevue's Dr. Steven Ciric said, given the facts that Fleming has changed what the marshmallow man looks like, that he's gained eight pounds while in custody, and since he gives "grossly exaggerated" answers to questions, Fleming is faking it. Fleming's lawyer is claiming that his client suffers from borderline mental retardation. All Gothamist knows is that when this goes to trial, it's going to be brutal. more ›

Now, starting the day off with a joint is okay by Gothamist, but come on! Have a little sense and at least roll at home or in some secluded area and not on the subway. more ›

Gothamist wants to be your Valentine, New York! Please accept these streetart selections as tokens of our regard: more ›

It's not just the government who is mad at the transit union - it's the firefighter who was hit by a bus during the transit strike who is annoyed as well. Matthew Long is suing the Transport Workers Union, plus Bear Stearns and the charter bus companies it hired to shuttle workers. Long was hit by a shuttle bus that "suddenly and without warning violentaly made a right turn over multiple lanes" at Third Avenue and 52nd Street, and Long's lawyer claims that since the union "put this entire thing into motion," they are responsible for the fact that Long's life will never be the same - Long was a triathlete but has had nine operations since being hit. Bear Stearns did not comment, except to offer their thoughts to Long and say, "This is a tragic situation." more ›

Yesterday was the city's first weekday dealing with the "Blizzard of 2006," and it actually wasn't that bad, with snow starting to melt and people not complaining as much as they could about snow removal. The usual rule of thumb in determining how much a snow storm's cleanup cost is $1 million per inch of snow, but Mayor Bloomberg said he doubt the clean-up would cost $26.9 million. Forget clean-up, how about fixing potholes and those huge holes at street corners? Gothamist's favorite game during these days is "Do You Know How Deep That Slush-Topped Puddle Is?" when you gingerly tap a puddle to see if it's a manageable 1-2 inches deep or a monstrous 5+ inches deep, which requires waterproof boots and making you've plotted a route out (the alternate title is "How To Cross The Street By Stepping Into As Few Puddles As Possible"). Besides worrying about slushy sidewalks, officials are worried about flooding...and possibly drunken snow plowers. But we learned something very interesting from the NY Times article about how this storm's aftermath was surprisingly normal:

One more thing. Not to cast doubt on a record — or on the hard-working people who keep it — but do you know who measures the snow at Central Park? The security guards at the zoo. They read the numbers off a stick set in a flat, tree-ringed clearing near the sea lion pool. more ›

Lauren Pavlakovich, Project Manager, Looking for Love more ›