City Comptroller William Thompson Jr. sharply criticized the Parks Department after his office examined the 79th Street Boat Basin's financial statements, finding many discrepancies and possible criminal activity. Thompson said, "During the course of the audit, a number of red flags were raised. The number and magnitude of these red flags raised the question of whether fraud occurred at the Boat Basin.” The Boat Basin has 60 moorings and 110 slips for boat owners, and......

We are sad to hear that Pier I Cafe at Riverside Park South (around 70th Street, underneath the West Side Highway) was closed by the Department of Health. A reader visited the cafe on Sunday, only to find "a note saying they're probably closed for the season because the city said the bathrooms they had weren't good enough." The cafe had an open kitchen and bar, and the bathrooms were built in a temporary......

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a "boat in distress" at the 79th Street Boat Basin, several shootings in Brooklyn, including one at Brookdale Hospital, and a police officer stabbed at a diner in Queens. The funniest SNL short since Lazy Sunday: "D!ck in a Box". Warning, lyrics are as raunchy as the title. Sometime in the next 30 years, old people will outnumber school children in NYC. "According to police estimates, there are over......

We can't believe it. There apparently was a manatee swimming up the Hudson since Saturday, and we had no idea. Observers spotted him at 23rd Street, then at 125th Street. We suppose he continued north, though it would have been cool if he turned around to venture over the Boat Basin and give us a shout. Gothamist will have to head to the New York Aquarium for our manatee fix, instead. Last year, a......

- Last night, police were investigating the death of a Midtown apartment building doorman who was found murdered near his subway station in Queens, apparently on the way home. Today, it was announced that two suspects were arrested in the murder of Arshad Mahmood. One theory is that one of the suspects thought Mahmood was having an affair with his wife. Mahmood usually drove to work until his license was suspended, so he took the......

Oh, the joys of having a billionaire mayor! Mayor Bloomberg realizes that one way to people's heart is through tax-free shopping and discounts, so he's hoping that a city- and NYC Visit-sponsored promotion of discounts will encourage people to protest peacefully. Yes, that's right - the city hopes that by offering various discounts to plays, museums, and products, protestors will be more apt to be docile. Clearly, the City has done the due diligence to......

Gothamist can only call it fate. We decided to go for a run in Riverside Park this morning when we noticed some film equipment near the Boat Basin, which is somewhat odd since it's Saturday. A police officer said that Law & Order was filming. Hello! Then we noticed our friend, Bill Klayer, who let us know that Jerry Orbach was filming his last scenes on the show - in fact, this was the......

Newsday looks at the life of 79th Street marina houseboats owners. Many of the boat owners live there because it's cheaper than living in a Manhattan apartment, even after city docking fees and electricity and whatever the cost of the boat is. Originally, the boat basin was planned by Robert Moses to be a place for recreational boat owners to dock their boats during the season. Interestingly, it was never meant to be a......

The Post looks at a few NY spots to enjoy a sunset drink. Deck at Chelsea Pier 59 and Rise at the Battery Park Ritz-Carlton both get "4 sunsets," and others noted are Alma in Brooklyn, the Boat Basin at West 79th Street and the Hudson, Water's Edge in Queens. The Post also notes what the signature drink is at each. Gothamist agrees that many drink beers in a plastic cups at the Boat......