On Sunday, the worldwide running community lost an institution: Vic Navarra, a FDNY lieutenant who organized the NYC Marathon's start for 26 years, died at his home in Staten Island. He was 55 and had been battling sinus cancer. Navarra, a lifelong runner, fell into the job of organizing the NYC Marathon's start when he couldn't run (a rib injury from responding to a fire) in 1980, when he wanted to help out and he......

On a recent weekend, we saw Jacques Torres loading boxes of delectable treats from a van into his new store Jacques Torres Chocolate store at 285 Amsterdam Avenue, near 73rd Street, leaving us impressed at his commitment as a small business owner. Today, the chocolatier and the store are mentioned in a NY Times article that examines the emergence of Amsterdam Avenue as an option for retailers, who have traditionally been attracted to Broadway and......

The fatal shooting outside Radio Perfecto restaurant on Amsterdam Avenue between 118th and 119th Streets was prompted by a bar fight. Twenty-three year-old Delquan Kearns was shot in the head while his brother Stephan Jones, 27, was shot in the arm after they argued with another group of men over a drink around 3AM on Sunday. Their mother told the Post, "My sons said they were at the bar and that some guy grabbed one......

A reader wrote on Gothamist Contribute:Tonight, (Sunday, Dec 2) at 3am, there was a fight at 119th & amsterdam, in front of a bar. I was walking on the other side of the avenue, and it was clear that things were escalating. All of a sudden, I heard two gunshots -- like a 'pop', except louder, like a tire bursting -- and I saw everyone scatter; everyone walking down my side of the avenue......

The Mermaid Inn, that inviting East Village bistro beloved for its rich seafood entrees, has moved on up to the west side with a mostly new menu. Their second Manhattan outpost is appointed with old nautical maps, dark wainscoting and roll-up doors that will surely suck in the crowds during warmer months. (Alec Baldwin must be pleased about the eatery boosting Amsterdam Avenue’s cachet.) The Inn’s famous lobster sandwich survived the move, but there’s now......

Community Food & Juice: If you like the Clinton Street Baking Company, you'll like Community Food & Juice. DeDe Lahman and Neil Kleinberg bring the magic uptown with not only the same delicious comfort food, but this time with spot that meets Green Restaurant Association guidelines. 2893 Broadway, between 112th and 113th Streets, 212-665-2800. dell’anima: former Batali alums Chef Gabriel Thompson (Del Posto) and sommelier Joe Campanale (Babbo) team up to create a cozy neighborhood......

While 30 Rock writers are on the picket line, Alec Baldwin is worried about his neighborhood.. And listening to the Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC. This morning, during a segment where Brian was discussing the future of NYC's streetscape with Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and the Open Planning Project's Mark Gorton, the acclaimed actor and gossip target made his debut as a caller. After joking that he needed a job, here's a transcription......

End September with (the Kelly Ripa-approved!) Ecofest this Sunday, the East Coast's largest environmental event. In it's 19th year it continues to showcase all aspects of the green movement from technology to lifestyle, and even fashion. The fest will feature:• Launch of the newest fleet of Chevrolet's and Volkswagen's fuel cell SUVs and hybrids in a first-ever preview • Education sessions with green thought leaders • For kids, eco-education through arts, crafts and music •......

March 29: Best Cellars University at Pair of 8's Pair of 8's owner Ron Didner and new Chef Matthew Hamilton (formerly of Prune, Uovo, and Zuni Cafe, pictured at right) pair up with Best Cellars to host the first of this monthly series starting with Wine 101. Wine will be paired with five courses. $70 for a single class and $65 for two or more classes, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Call 212-362-8730 to register. 568......

Last fall, preservationists failed to prevent the planned demolition of the Dakota Stables on West 77th And Amsterdam Avenue. Though preservationists were trying to have the Dakota Stables landmarked, the Landmarks Preservation Committee denied it landmark status because some of its facade was stripped by the developer - while it was being considered for landmark status! Talk about gaming the system. Now the City Council is reviewing a bill to close a the "landmarks loophole".......

Workers at Vietnamese restaurant Saigon Grill have gone on strike - and have also been locked out by the owners - for over two weeks. Now, the workers have filed a lawsuit against Saigon Grill for a wide range of labor violations. According to the Justice Will Be Served, the group that is working with the workers: "The owners demanded workers sign an illegal contract, stating that they have received minimum wage, even though......

MOVIE: The 10th Annual New York International Children's Film Festival commences tonight, starting with the US premiere of the French animated film U (which includes unicorns!). A kid-friendly catered reception will take place after the film. More weekend movies here. Friday (festival through March 11th) // 6pm // Director's Guild of America Theater [110 W 57th St] // $20 EVENT: It's the first Friday of the month, that means it's time to head up to......

December 14th: Barcade's Winter Beer Night If you want holiday brews, Barcade's got it. They've got well over a dozen seasonal beers on tap, including HeBrew Monumental Jewbelation 2006, Anchor Christmas 2003, and Pyramid Snow Cap. 6pm, 388 Union Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-388-4347. December 14: What to Drink with What You Eat at Pour Join Karen Page and Andrew Dornenberg, authors of What to Drink with What You Eat, as they discuss pairing cocktails, wine, and......

The divergent fates of two historic stable buildings on the Upper West Side crystallized yesterday, following votes by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. The former New York Cab Company Stable on Amsterdam and West 75th Street (pictured, right) will survive as a designated historic landmark, while the former Dakota Stable, just up the street at West 77th and Amsterdam (pictured left), will be demolished to make way for a new condominium building to be designed......

A Ford Explorer filled with eight people crashed and flipped over early Sunday morning. One of the passengers, 15 year old Rosemary Tavares, was partially ejected and crushed by the SUV. Police believe 22 year old Martin Ramirez was driving at a speed of at least 68 MPH - well over the 30 MPH speed limit for the area. Ramirez lost control when trying to make a left turn off Amsterdam Avenue onto West 148th......

A second hit-and-run occured yesterday, caused the second hit-and-run fatality this weekend. James "Smoker" Rucker, a 47 year old, was hit by two cars - one traveling north and the other traveling south - when he was crossing Amsterdam Avenue at West 123rd Street. Rucker, who the Post describes as "running" across the street at 4:47AM, was pronounced dead the hospital. The car traveling north, which only hit him, stayed on the scene, while the......

Dr. Carl Nacht, who was hit by an NYPD tow truck last week while riding on the West Side bike path, died on Sunday. Today, there is a service for Nacht at 2:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (Amsterdam Avenue and 110th Street). Nacht had not been wearing a helmet during his Thursday evening bike ride, and when the truck hit him, he was thrown towards another tow truck, his head......

Finally, the mystery of the Found TRex posters has been solved. Joe points us to this Columbia Spec interview with Jason Ruff, the artist behind the project: “I want people to step out of their normal routine and be creative, to think a little differently,” said Jason Ruff, the 28-year-old art teacher who has posted over 1500 flyers around Columbia and elsewhere in New York the last year. “Some days I’ll get up early,......

Cold? So are we. But never fear -- here are some booze-filled events coming up to warm your cockles, or whatever else needs warming: - January 21: Five at Five Fridays at Michael's presents "The Unique Expressions of Pinot Noir from Around The World". Every Friday at 5:00 Michael's sommeliers choose five wines from their wine list and offer an unlimited five glass flight for one hour at and around the bar. Chef Robert Ribant......

With the clock ticking down to Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, those who can't make it out to Brooklyn like Mayor Mike or land a table at one of the city's posh kosher restaurants can take care of all their last minute shopping needs on the Upper West Side. There are kosher markets dotting the map between West 72nd and West 96th Streets where you can stock up on all your High Holiday necessaries.......

Gothamist, like many other New Yorkers, will be strategically avoiding the various lifestyle headaches that promise to accompany the Grand Old Party to our beloved city. For those natives fleeing the island as the Republicans descend, we'll take a page from the administration's book and offer our suggestions for a Gothamist Food "Go Bag" stocked with some of our favorite hometown provisions: - 1 dozen bagels from Absolute Bagels on Broadway at 107th Street -......

St. John the Divine, up at Amsterdam Avenue and 112th Street, has its Summer Solstice celebration tonight and tomorrow. The audience will "sit in concentric circles surrounding a revolving stage, beneath the domed center of the Cathedral." So cool. The Paul Winter Consort will be performing, with special guests Brazilian singer-songwriter Renato Braz, hand percussionist Glen Velez and Brazilian percussionist Cafe. There are performances tonight, Sunset 7:30-9:30PM, tomorrow, Sunrise 4:30-6:30AM, and tomorrow night, Sunset 7:30-9:30PM.......

The Simpsons made their way across the pond to Blighty in an upcoming episode and as you would imagine, they cause an international incident: Homer goes on trial for driving a Mini through Buckhingham Palace's gates, yada, Homer calls Tony Blair "Mr. Bean," yada, Lisa meets JK Rowling, yada. But we do like any mention of The Sun, the best British tabloid in the whole world - even President Bush thinks so. Gothamist didn't realize......

A water main broke in Washington Heights yesterday, affecting the Cross Bronx Expressway and residents and shopowners alike. The pipe was 108 years old, and a stretch of Amsterdam Avenue looked, well, like Amsterdam. Except for the cars in the water. While potentially devestating to business owners in the neighborhood, the Daily News reports that Mayor Bloomberg said the break was "nothing compared to the [Staten Island Ferry] tragedy last night....I'm happy to report......