Police have linked a bloody handgun found inside a trashcan with last week's Upper West Side triple homicide — but they haven't been able to conclude how it got there. Investigators revealed yesterday that they found a .380-caliber Beretta between garbage bags about 20-feet from the place where Hector Quinones fell to his death after shooting Carlos Rodriguez Sr., Carlos Rodriguez Jr. and stabbing 87-year-old Fernando Gonzales in a dispute over drugs. more ›

The gun used to kill two of three murder victims on the Upper West Side on Thursday is apparently missing. According to the NY Post, "Cops originally believed a semi-automatic pistol recovered at the Amsterdam Avenue slay scene was used by the gunman, Hector Quinones, but ballistics tests showed otherwise, NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said last night." more ›

Yesterday, a usually quiet Upper West Side street was rocked by violence when a man allegedly shot and killed three members of a family—a father, his son and a grandfather— and injured another before falling to his death from an Amsterdam Avenue apartment between 82nd and 83rd Streets. And it's believed that shooting suspect Herbert Quinones knew the father from their times in state prison. more ›

Updated: The police say that four people were found dead at an Upper West Side apartment this afternoon, around 1:45 p.m. According to 1010 WINS, the four victims were male: "Police said two bodies were found in a bedroom, one in the bathroom and one in a backyard. A wounded woman was also taken to the hospital. Two children have also been removed from the apartment. Police say they were unharmed." more ›

Yesterday morning, a woman was struck by a SUV as she was crossing Amsterdam Avenue near West 145th Street. The victim, identified as Debbie Evans, was initially reported as dead—the Daily News reported, "The impact - which knocked Evans out of her shoes - instantly killed the mother of two, police said." However, WABC 7 says the 48-year-old woman is in a coma (the NYPD just told us, per their latest update from yesterday, that Evans was in critical condition; they are still waiting for today's update). At any rate, police are searching for the driver of a gray or silver SUV. One witness told the News, "I saw an SUV hit her, a little old lady walking across the street... The car was going faster than it should be; she never saw him. It's a travesty." Related: We're hearing some reports that a pedestrian was struck at Amsterdam near West 143rd around 7:30 a.m. this morning. more ›

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. more ›

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 Columbus Avenues for Upper West Side locations. more ›

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... more ›

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... more ›

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... more ›

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. more ›

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... more ›

• Green lifestyle education including fitness and health topicsIt looks like green is the new black, with eco-fashions becoming more in style. The fest will also show some innovative designs which will be for sale (here are some shots from last year's fashion show). Kids, parents, fashionistas, gearheads, health nuts, artists...will all be coming together in the name of green, join them! more ›

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 Amsterdam Avenue between 87th and 88th Streets. more ›

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. more ›

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. more ›

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 ›

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. more ›

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 by the architect Robert A.M. Stern. more ›

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 Street in Manhattan (and the weight of the passengers didn't help) and hit three parked cars before overturning. more ›

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 second car, which ran him over, fled, and the police are looking for it. more ›

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 hitting the hood. The tow truck's driver was not charged, but his wife told the NY Times that the tow truck did not yield to them, as it should have. She also said that her husband, who biked everywhere, "knew what he was doing. We thought because we were on a bike path, we were safe." The unfortunate thing, as many recent biking accidents have shown us, there is no such thing as safe. Let's hope the city will embark on campaigns to improve driver education about bikers' rights in the city - as well as reminding bikers of tactics they need to take. more ›

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: more ›

Cold? So are we. But never fear -- here are some booze-filled events coming up to warm your cockles, or whatever else needs warming: more ›

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. At Supersol on Amsterdam Avenue, once you get past the overpowering smell of rye bread and russian dressing from the deli counter by the front door, you can find all manner of kosher meats, prepared foods, and snacks to serve your kosher needs. Don't forget to pick up a round challah; there are a few shelves of them to the left of the entrance. more ›

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: more ›

The Summer Solstice, according to infoplease, is the longest day and shortest night of the year; it occurs on Sunday, June 20. There are some free Summer Solstice Events in Times Square on Sunday - Gothamist will post more about them this weekend, so keep your calendars open. More pictures of St. John the Divine at Bluejake. more ›

Gothamist didn't realize this was last Sunday's episode, because we were buying various Thanksgiving treats for the upcoming holiday feast. Note: Crumbs on Amsterdam Avenue is awesome.
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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 that while there's been some inconvenience, there's not been any lasting damage." The clean-up should take 24 hours. So even though you may not live in the suburbs, where your basement can flood, New Yorkers can get screwed by flooding waters. Water main breaks rank up there with blackouts and transit strikes on the list of things that can really suck when living in the city. more ›