If you're the type of person who passes on a plate of holiday cookies because you're "watching your weight" or "don't eat things shaped like people," it's time to succumb to the primal urges of the flesh: humans are wired to eat more during the winter. "We are driven by things implanted in our brain a long, long time ago," Dr. Ira Ockene, a cardiologist, tells NPR. As the weather gets colder, and the days get shorter, our caloric intake increases. The fact that another pint of Caramel Cone keeps the crushing ennui at bay another 30 minutes also helps. more ›

Wildlife advocates say that Albany's failure to enact laws against bear poaching and the sale of bear gallbladders and bile has drawn the hunters to the state. Bear gallbladders are generally sold to Asia or to Asian communities in the US for use in traditional medicines, but the New York State Assembly recently introduced a bill to ban the "possession, sale, barter, offer, purchase, transportation, delivery, or receipt of bear gallbladder, bile, or any product, item, or substance containing, or labeled or advertised as containing, bear gallbladders or bile." Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal said, "Frankly it is embarrassing when New York State lags behind other states." more ›

With the weather starting to get warmer outside, it seems that black bears are coming out of hibernation early in New Jersey, freaking out residents and defenseless trash cans all over the state. And the bears have serious munchies for pizza, dude. more ›

The second day of New Jersey's controversial six-day bear hunt has begun, leaving behind it a record 264 bears killed in the first day. To curb the growing bear population of the state David Chanda of the state Division of Fish and Wildlife said, "Hunting is one necessary component of our management plan. It’s likely going to be an annual hunt." But are hunters getting ahead of themselves? The state hoped to reduce the approximately 3,400 bear population by 300 to 400 by the end of the week, which they're on track to doing by later this afternoon. Chanda estimated that as many as 700 could be killed by the end of the week. more ›

Two weeks ago we needed a bear break after hearing about the passing of both Howard Zinn and J.D. Salinger—now Bill Clinton has been hospitalized! Immediately we thought of Sad Panda. more ›

Feeling down about the deaths of J.D. Salinger and Howard Zinn? Cheer up with the Bronx Zoo bear cubs! Here they are today "tumbling, splashing, and wrestling their way through their new home at the zoos Big Bears exhibit." more ›

After weeks of trying to make it work, Robert Valin has given up on what would have been his annual West Village Leather & Bear Street Fair. The bears were thwarted when the Standard's Andre Balazs said the fair would clash with the image of his precious hotel (even though it's known for baring it all). The Food & Wine Festival is also taking place in the area that weekend, and the executive director said "next year we can all work together and coordinate." That'll be an interesting crowd! [Scoopy's Notebook via Curbed] more ›

Andre Balazs of the Standard Hotel claims he's not the one behind keeping the West Village Leather & Bear Street Fair off his turf. After reports came in that the hotelier was anti-Bear (despite fully supporting his guests baring it all for visitors of the High Line), he now says it's the mayor's fault! His hotel is actually "headquarters for the big NYC Wine and Food Festival happening that same weekend, so the mayor's office wants the bears to reschedule." Robert Valin, executive director of the Leather Weekend, told the Villager that the "hotel’s managing director, Ian Nicholson, reached out to him, and that a sit-down was set for this week. The hotel people now claim they had no idea the leather fest was being booted off the block—though Valin the previous week had told us the Mayor’s Office clearly said the hotel didn’t want the S&M confab there." Looks like no one wants to be on the bear's bad side! As for staying at the hotel, Valin told the paper: “I think I would request that the bears get higher floors—we are sexual men." [via Curbed] more ›

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Many hearty souls joined the Welcome to Coney Island Polar Bear Club for the annual New Year's Day dip into the Atlantic. Lucky for us, some Gothamist readers were on the scene and have taken some great photographs. Here are a few. more ›

Their day in the sun ocean is just around the corner, but the Polar Bear Club of Coney Island may be in too deep with one donation they recently accepted. The Brooklyn Paper reports that in spite of the club "growling in the anti-Thor procession during the Mermaid Parade," the Polar Bears have "made peace" with Thor. more ›

It is hard to imagine a worse night for the Giants than what they actually went through on Sunday. In a 22-10 loss, Eli Manning had 34 incompletions, Jeremy Shockey broke his leg and they forgot how to catch a football. Ugly doesn’t even begin to describe this performance. And yes, the weather was bad with the wind whipping around the stadium, but that affects both teams and Washington didn’t seem to have a problem with the conditions. more ›

The Giants head into Week 14 with a remote chance to clinch a playoff spot, but a win over their hated-rivals would be reward enough at this point. Coming off of a great win against Chicago, Eli Manning will hopefully show some confidence and the defense, while unsure if they can duplicate their previous effort, dominated the Eagles the last time they met. Beating Philadelphia means containing Brian Westbrook. Westbrook didn’t play the first time... more ›

Admit it, sometime early in the fourth quarter yesterday you finally had enough. Enough of watching Eli throw behind his receivers, enough of him committing awful turnovers. You were ready to throw in the towel, give up on Eli and go find another quarterback. And then an amazing thing happened. Eli suddenly became the QB you thought he could be. Down 16-7 with just under 12 minutes in the game the Giants rallied for two... more ›

On the surface, this one has loss written all over it. Start with last week’s debacle, throw in a Bears team coming off a huge comeback win, subtract Plaxico from the mix, add a potentially cold and wet day in Chicago and the odds look bleak for the Giants. But, there are a few reasons for optimism. First and foremost is the opposing quarterback, Rex Grossman, who can make a big turnover on any play.... more ›

Protest over national vs. regional chains, the never-ending debate over the place of cars and bicycles in our metropolises, professional sports scandals, remembering a solemn day, and being issued a search warrant - it all happened across our sites this week! more ›

Happy first weekend of September - and happy Labor Day weekend, too, for our American cities! Let's take a look at what's been happening around the Ist-a-verse. more ›

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MUSIC: You know summer is just around the corner when the Seaport Music Festival has their first show of the season. Tonight Animal Collective, Danielson and XXXChange (Spank Rock) will all be on Pier 17 for a FREE show! Come, drink, listen. more ›

Holy Cow! We actually didn't even know that VitaminWater was made in Queens until Coca-Cola decided to buy the company for $4 billion. The Queens-based owners weren't the only people getting a fat pay-out from the purchase. David Wright, the Mets third baseman who endorses the product, accepted a small slice of equity in the company in lieu of payment last year. Now Wright's small stake in the company is worth $20 million.

Days after inking what would turn out to be his most lucrative endorsement deal, Wright told The Post he opted for an equity stake over a cash payment because "I believe in the company." more ›

It's opening day on Coney Island's boardwalk and there's still time to hop on a D,F,N, or Q train to Stillwell Avenue before things get started. 11 a.m. marks the Blessing of the Rides at Deno's Wonder Wheel with a ribbon cutting and live music. Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz will break the ceremonial egg cream at 11:30 a.m. to open the rides and the first 100 people on the Cyclone get to ride free. The Coney Island Polar Bears will serve as a chorus at 2:30 p.m. in a live performance of an original piece of music titled "Save Coney Island." Theater lovers may want to drop by the Coney Island Museum at 5 p.m. for an adaptation of Herman Melville's "The Confidence Man" (tickets $10). And 12th St. and Surf Ave. is the place to be at 6 p.m. for the 2nd Annual Band Organ Rally. Full details are available at ConeyIsland.com. more ›

Start with the defensive effort by the entire team, which was nonexistent until Malk Rose showed up in the third quarter. Seattle shot 52% for the game, which is inexcusable. more ›

Puppy Bowl III (Sunday, 3:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m. Animal Planet) Puppies from shelters drink water, pee, and play for three hours is someone's idea of something to go up against the Super Bowl. more ›

Indianapolis' defenese has played much better in the playoffs, Peyton Manning hasn't put to bed his playoff demons, but he has played better. Of course, that storyline has been blown out of proportion for years. Watch how quickly the media will turn based on the game. Monday's stories can be written now, and the editors can simply choose late Sunday night. Manning will have cemented his place in history with a win or moved one step closer to joining Dan Marino among the quarterbacks who couldn't win a Super Bowl with a loss. more ›

Hopefully you’ve got your party stocked and ready to go for the game tonight. We’re getting ready to fake some real enthusiasm here, and we hope you can muster it, too. But if you really couldn’t care less about the game, hopefully you can put all that spirit into the food. more ›

After a man suffered fatal injuries during this New Year's swim, the Coney Island Polar Bear Club has announced it will not be accepting new members. Further, the membership of Bears-in-training (the "Cubs") will be frozen. Polar Bear club president Louie Scarella explained to the Daily News, "I closed the membership just to cut down the number of people in the water. It has broken my heart and the heart of the board to do this" more ›