The American Institute of Architects is looking to supplant the idea of replacing the Gowanus Expressway with a tunnel, and instead proposes a suspended highway and formation of a Gowanus Greenway. In 2006, the Dept. of Transportation gave a green light to a $12.8 billion proposal to build a 3.5 mile, seven lane tunnel underneath the Brooklyn Waterfront and then destroying the elevated highway. The plan for a Gowanus Tunnel appears to be in perpetual......

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a pedestrian was fatally struck on East 4th and Bowery in Manhattan, a child was shot on Blake Ave. in Brooklyn, and a shooting/homicide on Fish Ave and East Gunhill Rd. in the Bronx. The oldest living inmate in New York State is a Long Island surgeon convicted in 1978 of killing his wife. He'll turn 89 this week and concedes that divorce might have been a better choice.......

OMG OPRAH! After weeks of anticipation - and insane craigslist listings - a few thousand lucky fans got to watch the season premiere of Oprah from the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden. The show featured David Letterman and a performance from Lisa Marie Presley. And, yes, Oprah Winfrey did start off the show with "Hellloooo, New York." The Daily News reports that people were screaming "I love you Oprah!" during the commercial breaks. Winfrey......

As mentioned last week, Oprah is gearing up for her New York invasion in September..the first in ten years! Some new info has come out about what she has planned for her big shows -- though there are no shocking details. First of all, Letterman will be a guest. The two have fueded in the past, but Oprah will welcome the late night host with open arms when she's on his home turf. People reports......

Clifford Smith, aka Method Man, was arrested Thursday evening after a police officer at the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel noted his Lincoln Navigator's expired inspection sticker, pulled him over, and was met with a cloud of marijuana smoke when the Wu Tang Clan rapper rolled down his window. Note to Method Man: investigate EZ-Pass. Cops found him with a pair of blunts, a quantity of pot, and under the influence. When rapper Method Man rolled down......

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: suspicious package at City Hall Park, a crane collapse at the Battery Tunnel, and a 10-75 in Brooklyn Heights. The Tar Heel mascot for UNC's basketball team died today after being hit by an SUV on Route 4 in NJ on Friday. Jason Ray had left the hotel to go to a convenience store; he was scheduled to graduate this May. You know what we've always said the Broadway-Lafayette......

As much as I pretend to act like it, I am no working class hero. True, I've done a number of blue collar jobs. But that hardly makes me a member of the proletariat. My mom was a teacher and is now a counselor. My dad was a professor, then a high level government official, and is now a lobbyist. And they paid for my undergraduate degree at NYU. No matter how long I drive......

The Post reports that officials are considering building an "aerial gondola tramway" to connect Manhattan to Governor's Island. There's a huge effort underway to make Governor's Island a big tourist destination, and while nothing is set in stone for flying cable cars, the interim president of the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corp., Paul Kelly, says, "IIt could be an attraction onto itself because of the tremendous views" and that it would be cheaper than......

Tribute in Light, the temporary World Trade Center Memorial, will be moving to a new location this September. Because of development at West and Vesey Streets (Tribute was set up in a parking lot there), the light installation will now be at be stationed at a parking garage near the Battery Tunnel. The News reports that the Municipal Arts Society will pay the MTA $12,000 a year for four years for the space. The MAS......