Canal Street might be cleaning up according to the Times (and getting a new neighborhood name?) but it still has some grit left in it. Like in the China Associates buddhist temple. That's where a Mr. Xiao Dan Wu was squatting in the end of October, according to a new lawsuit against him, and where he not only took to urinating in a wash basin used by the other monks but also where he also tried to intimidate a female monk by "throwing cat feces on her prayer cushion." When was the last time you heard about that particular offense? more ›

The Dalai Lama was in town yesterday, accompanied by BFF (...literally?) Richard Gere at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. Approximately 2,250 people, including stars Liev Schrieber, Naomi Watts, and Judy Collins, turned up Sunday to hear the Dalai Lama talk about religious tolerance and spirituality. more ›

There have been several Free Tibet protests happening around town this month; one of them even featured city council member Tony Avella. While Tibetan protesters are routinely beaten, imprisoned and even killed by police in China, police brutality is something you might be surprised to see in New York City, unless of course you've attended demonstrations over the years and experienced it first hand. During a Free Tibet protest near the UN on March 14th, some NYPD officers were documented threatening, arresting and clubbing activists seemingly without provocation. In the below video it appears the protesters do nothing more than carry flags, walk on the sidewalk and chant. Yet officers identified as Leroy, Delgado and Serano, and others are depicted clubbing them even when they're down. more ›