Photos courtesy of the Empire State Building. The Empire State Building started celebrating Halloween a little early today, as Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz and Kerry Ellis (aka Elphaba, pictured) came to light the ESB green. This is all in celebration of the show's 5th anniversary on Broadway. Variety recently noted that "after five years on the Gotham boards, the perennial top dog of Rialto sales has racked up the kind of numbers that make......

We've been monitoring how I am Legend, the big budget post-apocalyptic zombie movie set in New York, will be portraying the Big Apple ever since filming took place on the Brooklyn Bridge (it eventually gets blown up). Now, with reviews starting to pop up, we're hearing mixed things about the movie but raves about how a futuristic people-less New York City looks. The Observer's Sara Vilkomerson was freaked out, noting how the city is......

When the stagehands’ strike ended late Wednesday night, the general consensus was that not all Broadway productions would be able to pull it together in time for Thursday night re-openings. But as it turned out, all 27 strike-darkened shows were up and running last night, despite the challenges that larger productions faced after 19 dormant days. Chicago, for instance, had two stars joining the cast – Vincent Pastore and Aida Turturro of “The Sopranos” –......

The Wizard of Oz has really been updated for current times. Now, in addition to Toto, Dorothy carries a bag from the 5th Avenue Apple Store with her. At least that's what Dorothy, played by Ian Kennedy, did as part of the Yankees' rookie hazing tradition where green players dress up in crazy outfits. We expect this version of The Wizard of Oz to come to an off, off, off Broadway location in the......

The NY Times has a nice profile of Amanda Burden, the influential Department of City Planning commissioner whose policies will shape the city for years to come. Burden boasts a quiet, behind-the-scenes role in development across the five boroughs, including large-scale projects like Ground Zero, the Atlantic Yards (she supported downsizing it) and the High Line. She’s also overseeing the largest planning push since 1961 - so far, City Planning has rezoned approximately 4,500 blocks,......

The Holidays have fallen upon us like a pack of ferocious ice weasels, so we'd feel appropriately guilty if we didn’t suggest some relevant theater options. Of course, if you’re seeking a diversion for out-of-town visitors, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is (literally) a no-brainer, provided they’ve got deep pockets: Tickets to the glorified burlesque show can cost up to $250 - per rube. You could also take the kids to the new Broadway production......

A look at some noteworthy programs this week: iVillagelive (WNBC & Bravo, Monday, 12:00 noon) NBC launches this lifestyle show focused on women on Monday. What makes it different from other such shows is that it is going to have an interactive component, since it is a spin-off from the NBC-Universal owned website iVillage.com. The 2006 Billboard Music Awards (WNYW 5, Monday, 8:00 p.m.) Yet another music awards show. The only reason it is noteworthy......

- Thing you've got bocce balls? Then you should test your stuff this weekend at the 12th Annual Citywide Bocce Tournament. Over 200 bocce enthusiasts from around the New York City area will compete Saturday and Sunday to see who's got the best. The tournament is free and open to adults of all ages. The prelims are in four of the five boroughs (sorry Manhattanites) with the finals to be played Sunday in Pelham......

A few times a week, Gothamist publishes music reviews by our contributor Jeff Baum. The opinions below belong entirely to the author. Giant Drag is a twisted little band. From the album, you may not know any better. They share a familiar sound with other recent LA bands such as Autolux or Silversun Pickups. It's a sort of a quasi-shoegaze space pop, but not too far out there, if you know what I mean. Perhaps......

Drew Prochaska, Founder, SPOILER...

NY Times food critic Frank Bruni's review of Japanese eatery Ninja made the downtown sub-basement restaurant sound so awful that Gothamist is tempted to go there ourselves. Instead of shelling out $110 for a ticket to see Wicked on Broadway, you can travel through a warren of Shoji screens and have ninjas wait on you hand and foot! Bruni writes, "Each party of diners receives its own nook, which quickly takes on the aspect of......

Dan Gregor, Comedian, Wicked Wicked Hammerkatz...

PARTY: Good Peoples and Beautiful/Decay magazine bring you "the sickest party of the summer"! Or so they say. Here are some of the ingredients: -2 hour open Bacardi & Mountain Dew Bar -Gift bags -the legendary PRINCE PAUL on the tables -Screening of Bomb the System and music videos from Culturama, Mockumentaries from Prince Paul RSVP for the guest list at rsvp@good-peoples.com Friday // 9pm to 4am // TriBeCa Cinemas [54 Varick St] // $5,......

Three times a year, comedians and comedy writers gather before a live, drunk audience to showcase 5-minute film shorts. SPOILER, a film project run by a creative bunch of rowdy, young filmmakers and emerging comics, feels more like a party than it does a festival. This SPOILER's theme is "Action" and features standup by Slovin & Allen (SNL writers) and Andrea Rosen (Comedy Central's Stella), films by Aziz Ansari (Comedian, Filmmaker), Late Night Ritalin,......

Foodies have been flocking to DUMBO for quite a while now. It's no surprise. Who can resist the siren's call of the spicy, New Mexican-inspired breakfast burrito at Superfine? Or a piping hot pizza pie with house-roasted peppers at Grimaldi's. Or the Curried Mussels at Five Front? And, then there is the biggest temptation of them all - Jacques Torres Chocolates, chocked full of decadent, Wonka-like confections for children and adults alike. But is Jacques......

Tomorrow brings a few exciting but very different activities to partake in: First, there is Broadway on Broadway, a live free outdoor concert in Times Square, hosted by Wayne Brady (soon to be seen in Chicago) and Christy Carlson Romano (Beauty and the Beast), to celebrate the musicals and plays the Great White Way has to offer. Some of the participating shows: Avenue Q, Brooklyn, The Musical (who knew?), Chicago, Golda�s Balcony (which means the......

Are you tired out from the onslaught of summer theatre festivals? Still got enough to juice for a closing song and dance number? The New York Musical Theatre Festival throws open its doors on Monday, September 13th with an Opening Gala -- a dinner reception, performance and opening night party (at the China Club) apparently featuring their Honorary Gala Chair, Brian Stokes Mitchell of Ragtime and Kiss Me Kate fame. So what is it? According......

Gothamist is intrigued to�hear that Brooklyn's in da house, not once, but twice in the upcoming Broadway season.� � First, Brooklyn�begins previews in September at the Plymouth Theatre in a show that has been described as "a musical about the journey of a Parisian songstress"�which jumps between our mighty borough and the city of light.� Eden Espinoza�(Wicked)�and hottie Kevin Anderson (Sunset Boulevard, Death of a Salesman) star,��and Jeff Calhoun (Big River) directs.�The show�was first produced......

Say the word "chocolate" and Gothamist swoons with thoughts of deep, dark rich pleasure. Mention the name Jacques Torres and we're lost in memories of his decadent, gourmet chocolates, hand-crafted in his DUMBO factory and retail shop, Jacques Torres Chocolates. From Torres' dark chocolate-encased Earl Grey Tea ganache to his Wicked Hot Chocolate, spiked with chili heat and subtle spices, his sweet conconctions have won fans - including intrepid foodies that bike or hike......

There were gasps when Avenue Q, the underdog musical because that's what you call a musical that started off-Broadway and features puppets, won best musical last night at the Tony Awards, but considering that the show won best book and best score earlier on in the night, it seemed clear that it would be a night on Avenue Q, and Gothamist couldn't be happier. Avenue Q could be called a kinder, feltier variation on the......

With the Tony nominations announced yesterday, everyone is buzzing about Wicked (this year's uneven and "quirky" Tony story; will Kristen and Idina cancel each other out?), Bombay Dreams (a little Andrew Lloyd Webber Schadenfreude), how Puffy wasn't nominated but the three other actresses all were (when you get "meh" reviews, what does he expect - this isn't the MTV Video Music Awards) and how hunky Hugh Jackman is...and they talk about how the Times's public......