Hasidic Jewish reggae performer Matisyahu shaved his beard, and announced this morning: "No more Chassidic reggae superstar." The New York-raised artist, who grew up a Reconstructionist Jew, is best known for mixing traditional Jewish themes with reggae, and sometimes rock and hip hop. But with his new look (which he posted photos of this morning along with his announcement), comes a new sound (though he's still going to Shul). His announcement read: more ›

A 24-year-old woman has decided to pull a Forrest Gump, and make her way across the country from San Francisco to NYC. Catherine Li tells MSNBC that she has a very specific reason why she is doing it: just cause. “I just boil it down to the short version: I just felt like walking. I just decided to click over to living in the actual moment instead of inventing all these fantastic fantasies for the future,” she said. more ›

Cops have arrested the two diamond sellers who allegedly staged a $4 million heist, in which thieves dressed as Hasidic Jews pretended to clean out their safe at gunpoint. In reality, the owners of the Midtown wholesaler had stolen their own jewels and are now charged with grand larceny and falsifying business records! One of the hired thieves is in custody too, while one remains at large. "The whole thing was set up," one source said. It was also stolen from a popular crime flick. more ›

It's been almost four long years, but a Borough Park man has finally gotten satisfaction from the city after getting violently arrested in a riot back in April 2006. In a settlement deal, the city will pay $75,000 to Chaim Appel, 41, who claims an NYPD cop tore off parts of his beard during his arrest. Appel says he was beaten, thrown against the hood of a car, then cuffed and taken away while his 9-year-old son looked on. "It makes it easy for me to sleep at night, knowing that other people finally know the truth of what happened over there," Appel, who had originally sought $11 million, tells the Post. So what did happen? more ›

Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez was feted in a glossy GQ spread before the season began, but these days, he's looking a little less slick, thanks to superstitions. Showing off his beard, the 23-year-old told reporters during a press conference, “Why change now? We’ve gotten into a little routine thus far these last couple weeks and we’ve been on our game as a team. Nobody wants to change. I sure don’t." more ›

[UPDATE BELOW] Governor David A. Paterson's facial hair is no more. Days after meeting with President Obama (amid rumors that Obama requested him to leave the governor's race), Paterson has bared all on his face, losing his celebrated mustache before New Yorkers really got a chance to get to know it. The dramatic change was revealed when the governor arrived this morning for a meeting with state leaders. more ›

Yesterday, Governor Paterson joked that his new beard-less look was due to more state budget cutbacks. But it turns out his 15-year-old son asked him to get rid of the beard. The Daily News went to AskMen.com's editor in chief James Bassil for his analysis: "Bassil said mustaches made something of a comeback among urban 'hipsters' this spring, but the trend never went mainstream and is already starting to die out. 'If you see an older guy wearing a mustache, it's usually either out of force of habit - they've had it forever - or it's a midlife crisis,' Bassil said." more ›

Governor Paterson, coming off a week where he decided the media is and isn't racist amid still faltering poll numbers, has made a big change. No, not with his staff or policy—he got rid of his salt-and-pepper beard! Apparently when he was asked why he made the shave, Paterson joked, "More cutbacks." more ›

Last night the 2009 NYC Beard & Moustache Championships went down at Public Assembly in Williamsburg. The hairy set, and those who love them, were out in full force sporting everything from magnificent muttonchops to classic '70s porn 'staches. While competitions like this have been going on for years, certain facial hair looks are even more in fashion now with the popularity of recession chic on the rise. The winner of one prize even began growing his beard after being laid off five months ago as a financial broker, according to the Daily News. Wonder how many of the 80 contestants shaved this morning? more ›

Roughly six years have passed since the controversial Red Hook IKEA was first proposed, further dividing an already fragmented community. Next month the 346,000-square-foot store, the first IKEA in New York City, will finally open on Beard Street, and, you guessed it, the community is still divided. John McGettrick, co-chair of the Red Hook Civic Alliance, insists IKEA is a waste of 22 acres of prime waterfront property and will create a traffic nightmare on Red Hook’s quaint back streets. more ›