What have you done for your intimate New York living space lately? 32-year-old Kevin Patterson just took home Apartment Therapy's first place prize for the smallest, coolest apartment ("teeny tiny" division). His 210-square-foot space on the upper West Side costs him $1,550/month in rent, according to the Daily News. He told the paper, "I moved here from a place that was four or five times this big." more ›

The Bronx houseboat, measuring in at only 250-square-feet, really should have cleaned up ship and entered this contest. more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: someone fell three floors from a fire escape on Leland Ave. in the Bronx, a pedestrian struck on Delancey and Eldridge Sts. in Manhattan, and a homicide on Edison and Randall Aves. in the Bronx.
• Nassau County cops searched a Syosset, Long Island home yesterday to find a menagerie of animals living admidst filth. Dozens of dogs and cats populated the home, alongside 87 hamsters.
• Squeezing a customer's buttocks may have cost one Staten Island waiter more than a good tip, as he could face 90 days in jail.

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: fatal person under a train incident at 34th St. and 6th Ave. in Manhattan, a collapse at 64th St. between 8th and 9th Aves. in Brooklyn, and a confined space rescue on 43rd St. and 5th Ave. in Manhattan.
• The one-legged spokesman in an anti-smoking campaign admits that smoking has cost him a limb due to health complications, including multiple heart attacks, surgeries, and strokes. That doesn't mean he's actually quit though.
• In a world where love can hurt, but denying true love can be a killer, Patrick Bateman's got a problem. Enjoy the trailer for this new romantic comedy: American Psycho.

Preempt some of the holiday lunacy by scooping up some of these food-oriented gift items. We found five gifts that are perfect for someone who loves to cook or who maybe just appreciates food a bit more than your average eater. All these items are under $50, and all available online. Olive Wood Mortar and Pestle from Sur La Table. Great for making guacamole, pesto or grinding up spices. Also looks lovely on your kitchen... more ›

Also, if you're having trouble getting the texture you like when you make ice cream, head over to read David Lebovitz's Tips For Making Homemade Ice Cream Softer. We wish he'd written that list years ago, back when we were first figuring out these tricks through trial and error ourselves.
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Every year there are two treats we make to give as gifts during the holiday season. First, this "Easy-does-it" granola, which combines roasted nuts, dried fruit, oats, butter and honey, to create a tasty and unique granola. The recipe also makes 15 cups -- plenty to give as gifts and keep a little for yourself. We also make English Toffee, and have had great success with this recipe from Nick Malgieri, not to mention rave reviews. Are you cooking up any gifts this year? more ›

Midtown Subway Monkey by |Shrued. more ›

We had the pleasure of attending a food-blogger get together of sorts this past weekend, hosted by Chris of Apartment Therapy: The Kitchen, Ann of A Chicken in Every Granny Cart and Jon of Wheelhouse Pickles. Sure, there was great conversation and booze and whatnot, but the highlight of the evening were the pickled delights from Wheelhouse. more ›

We feel your pain, but congratulations on your first place! Living alone can be great - you can express your personal style without compromise. However, it will also mean you'll be footing the bill for your creativity on your own. Some people will say that you should get rid of as much 'stuff' as possible. We are not of that school of thought though. Although it makes things simpler, your apartment should be a representation of you and the things you love. more ›

Check this out! Apartment Therapy has been running a Pet Decor contest, and today's entry are cat stairs for two kitties living in Dumbo. We actually know these felines, Oliver and Dodger, from their TV-watching habits, and now understand why we never get to hang out with them - being at home is too much fun. The stairs are actually floating bookshelves covered with carpet tiles! Gothamist is very impressed, as the only decor our pet likes is the Ikea Poang chair or wherever we need to be. Do you have pet-specific decor? more ›

- And Mayor Bloomberg is giving the convocation speech at the University of Chicago on June 10; we point this out because while Mayor Bloomberg claims he doesn't want to run for president, it's unusual for UChicago to have a non-faculty speaker (there was Bill Clinton, but he was President, and Kay Graham, but she was the publisher of the Washington Post and a big donor)... maybe Mayor Bling is donating some money or looking to take advantage of midwest media affiliates more ›

Like so many things, good design is like pornography: you know it when you see it. And seeing it in person is always more exciting then looking at pictures. more ›

- New York Magazine gives us a rundown of "New Brooklyn Cuisine," -- "small, seasonal, understatedly stylish—and unrecognizable to anyone who grew up there." more ›

- Someone has KIDNAPPED the Tom's Diner cat! NOOOOOO! more ›

- The NY Times takes a long look at NYPD Comissioner Ray Kelly. He has a hard record to live up to - his own. more ›

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There's a good question over at Apartment Therapy's "good questions" regular feature this week that stood out to us: "How do [NYers] incorporate nature or relaxation into their daily lives?" more ›

Gothamist received the latest Design Within Reach catalog, and we, as we always do, lusted over various Le Corbusier and Mies items we would love after we graduate from our current cobbled together decor. [And after we actually earmark the "better furniture savings fund," which somehow gets shortshrifted by the "useless tcotchkes slush fund."] So Gothamist was seriously amused by Design Without Reach, a resource for you to copy Design Within Reach designs. Got that? For example, the DWOR version of the $250 Nelson Ball Clock utilizes lollipops, a salt container, and clockworks. Brilliant. [Via kottke] more ›

And for your own apartment design issues, check out Apartment Therapy. more ›