There's something to be said for pausing in the fast-paced environment of New York to truly capture the essence of our city. On the other hand, speeding things up can really give one some perspective on the dynamics of New York. Below is a time-lapse video taken between September 1, 2006 and August 31, 2007. It's of Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan looking east to west, and the video features 4,385 individual photographs taken from a stationary elevated position once every two hours for 365 days. more ›

Mike Bloomberg may end his tenure as the Mayor of Pothole Repair. Under Bloomberg's watch, the city has filled 1.25 potholes since 2002. While anybody that hits potholes with their bike or their car surely thinks the city missed a few, Mayor Bloomberg assures us that they are doing what it can to fix them. In his first public appearance since returning from Asia, Bloomberg said, "Now, potholes are as much a part of city life as hot dog carts and yellow cabs, although that hasn't stopped us from doing everything we can to fix them once they appear." more ›

The City Council's Committee on Government Operations met this week to talk about possible changes to how much money council members make. Questions were raised about how raises were determined, leadership bonuses, and whether outside work should remain permitted. After a 25% increase in base pay in 2006, council members earn $112,500 annually. They can earn an additional $10,000 a year on average if a member holds a leadership position. In addition, members can hold... more ›

FAIR: Attention vinyl junkies! WFMU is hosting their Record Fair starting this eve and running throughout the weekend. "Hundreds of dealers specializing in the out sounds that WFMU is adored for delivering year round will gather for three days of merciless hawking o' the wax, and thousands of area music geeks are already trembling with nervous anticipation!" There will also be live performances this year, check out more details here. more ›

We've had a few setbacks, but the show keeps on going on. It's all you can really do. more ›

And the march towards a "revitalized" Coney Island continues! more ›

- "Mardi Gras lasts 12 days. Down here, it lasts 365 days a year. It's become party central for the entire metropolitan area. These clubs and bars are ruining people's lives, and they've got to be stopped." - Sean Sweeney of SoHo Alliance, which has tried to block liquor licenses, and a SoHo resident Remember when the problem in NYC was more rampant crime? more ›

company) and only one elephant in the exhibit is "inhumane." The article goes onto to detail other American zoos that have ended its elephants exhibits (see Chicago and San Francisco, DC) and how elephants can be exclusive:

The Bronx Zoo, [Steven Sanderson, president and chief executive of the Wildlife Conservation Society] said, has a two-acre corral in which the elephants can move about, and its zookeepers monitor the stumpy feet of its elephants daily, but he would prefer to give them more company. Elephants may show their discomfort with a new arrival by the equivalent of a hunger strike. more ›

With the twilight of the year upon us, the natural response is to reflect on all the happenings of the past 365 days, mull them over and glean life lessons from them. Either that or get drunk. The UCB [307 W. 26th St.] offers a combination of solemn reflection and celebratory inebriation tonight at the 2005 It Sucked! Awards. Join hosts Katie Dippold, Anthony King and Chris Kula and a cast of thousands of UCB regulars who will boil down the year to the steaming pile of suck that it really was. Trapped in A Closet, anyone? 8pm, $5 more ›

The Top of the Rock, Rockefeller Center's observations decks, opens today after being closed for 19 years, and it will soon become something anyone visiting New York for the first time or someone who has lived here for ages will want to do. We've been excited about this since reading the NY Times article in March, and Gothamist was able to head up there before today's opening and we weren't disappointed. It truly is breathtaking. There will undoubtedly be a rivalry between The Top of the Rock and the Empire State Building, as there was back in the heyday, but there are notable differences. For one thing, the The Top of the Rock offers something different - an unobscured view of Central Park, not to mention one of the Empire State Building. more ›

Gothamist loved The March of the Penguins (the drama! the weather! the adorable baby penguins!) so much that we decided we had to see some penguins, since this town may never give us the pandas we deserve. And the NY Post had the same idea, dispatching a reporter to visit the penguins of Coney Island. Reporter Michael Kane had a Costeau-y narration ("In an isolated and untamed Atlantic outpost separated from civilization by a chain-link fence and reachable by a perilous trek on foot, automobile, skateboard, pogo stick or any of four MTA subway lines...") as well as the thoughts from a group of visitors to the New York Aquarium:

"Do something!" shouts an onlooker, as the birds stand motionless on their rock ledge. One of the full-grown 2-footers eventually waddles over to the edge and stares down at the water - for 15 minutes. more ›

Gothamist was directed to a great weblog by an eGullet article. The blog, The Julie/Julia Project, is the diary of a woman trying to cook everything in Julia Child's classic Mastering the Art of French Cooking. "365 days. 536 recipes. One girl and a crappy outer borough kitchen." Unfortunately, if she's sticking to the one-year format, she's near the end of her run. But the quality of her writing and the vivid descriptions of the food itself are enough to set this foodie a-shiver. more ›

located, on Fifth Avenue and 23rd Street, a "24 hour, 7 days a week, 365 days a year" building "dedicated to Children's Entertainment and Seasonal Products." The Daily News covered the fair and AdAge made guesses for hot picks for the upcoming season. more ›