While there are a few grumpy groups protesting today, the majority of New Yorkers seem united in celebrating and appreciating the first day of legal same-sex marriage in the state. And here's a little Easter egg for you: Google Maps has joined in the celebrating too. more ›

After spending a record-shattering $100 million to win his third term in office, Mayor Bloomberg has decided against throwing a lavish inauguration party like he did after his first two City Hall victories. The wealthiest man in New York spent $2.5 million of his own fortune for a gala in the former Tweed Courthouse after his first election, and $1.7 million after his reelection for an event in a Downtown Bank with a performance by Liza Minnelli. But after he's sworn into office this time, he'll spend the day volunteering. more ›

Quintessential New York reporter Jimmy Breslin was feted Monday night at NYU by former colleagues at the Daily News and Newsday, at an event that featured a surprise appearance by Tony Bennett and lots of anecdotes from Breslin's long career. When it was all over, Breslin, who had been on stage looking "amused or incredulous" during the extolment, took the mic and said, "I don’t want to go back over my life. I don’t want to start doing that, because it is boring, I think, No. 1, and No. 2, I’ll start lying to you." Breslin, an Irish-American known to enjoy a good drink, also revealed that he's given up alcohol on the advice of doctors: "I’m not drinking. If I were drinking at the bar with you, I would tell a lot of lies and I would almost be charming." City Room has a good, thorough report. more ›

As you've probably noticed from Google's art this week, it's Sesame Street's birthday! Oh the times we've shared. The television show is in its 40th year (here's the pitch), and there's lots of celebrating going on. This coming Monday "the City of New York will unveil a proclamation and announce a temporary street naming in honor of the program’s permanence and everlasting impact on New York City’s history and four generations of children across the country." Yep, Sesame Street is getting a street! The dedication will take place at noon at 64th and Columbus Avenue. more ›

Mary Travers, of folk singing group Peter, Paul & Mary fame, died at the age of 72 back in mid-September. The NY Times now reports that a memorial celebration of her life and music will be held at 7 p.m. this coming Monday at Riverside Church in Morningside Heights. "The service will be open to the public. Tickets will be available on the day of the event on a first-come-first-served basis. Half the seats will be reserved for invited guests," and everyone from Pete Seeger to Whoopi Goldberg is expected to show. more ›

The 6855-foot-long Manhattan Bridge is turning 100! With a newly reopened archway on the Brooklyn side, it's hardly looking like a centenarian, but the ol' girl's been through a lot, and has a fairly flawed history behind her. The construction for the bridge began in October of 1901, but wasn't open to traffic until December 31, 1909. Once it was put to use, Time Out notes it was realized that designer Leon Moisseiff "didn’t incorporate sufficient support, and placed the subway and streetcar lines on the outer edges of the roadway, putting too much strain on the deck." more ›

The King of Pop's posthumous birthday celebration will go on as planned tomorrow in Prospect Park (after being moved from Fort Greene). We talked to the Parks Department and they're currently putting up some fencing for the event, which will run from noon to 5 p.m. They say on top of deejays, a jumbotron and Marty Markowitz declaring it Michael Jackson Day in the borough, organizer Spike Lee will be overseeing the day. According to Bloomberg News, around 10,000 people are expected, and Lee put down $11,000 for a permit. And as for the weather, "it's rain or shine—though if there was severe weather, like heavy winds and constant lightning—then the Parks Dept. and/or NYPD could cancel or postpone the event." If you make it over there, be sure to send us your pics or tag them "gothamist" on Flickr! Elsewhere in town there will be a Michael Jackson Tribute show by Rent musical performers at Sullivan Hall, which will take place at 7:30 p.m.; and as pointed out in our newsletter, there will be another birthday bash at (Le) Poisson Rouge at 10 p.m. more ›

The Michael Jackson birthday celebration in Brooklyn that was accused on the New York Times blogs as being "Spike and Marty’s big ego trip" just got bigger—eighteen times bigger. The event in honor of what would have been the singer's 51st birthday is being thrown next weekend by filmmaker Spike Lee and was originally set to be a block party taking place at Fort Greene Park. But now it has been moved to the much roomier Prospect Park after the city became involved when concerns arose over the celebration's growing publicity. The event that the Post uncomfortably refers to as "JACKOFEST" will now take place next Saturday at noon in Nethermead at the center of Prospect Park, with organizers saying they expect a crowd that could reach over 10,000. A Parks official succinctly told the Brooklyn Paper, “There were concerns about the size of the event.” This month also marks the fifteenth anniversary of the HIStory teaser video being shot in Budapest—maybe it's time for an update to Prospect's James S.T. Stranahan Statue. more ›

Did anyone actually think a Michael Jackson birthday celebration hosted by Spike Lee wasn't going to be publicized? The free event was set to be held on August 29th in Brooklyn, but The Local reports they're looking to move it after “The mayor’s office has conceded that now that this has been publicized, Fort Greene Park is just not big enough to accommodate the kind of crowds that are foreseeable." The date may also be changed, and incidentally, Jackson's funeral date was also pushed back (originally the 29th and now the 31st). more ›

It's all happening, the Queensboro Bridge is being celebrated for making it to 100! Last night some folks were treated to a fireworks show around 9 p.m. (pictured), which closed out yesterday's festivities (though there are many more to come). more ›

The rarely hailed Queensboro Bridge is about to have its shining moment. The structure is turning 100 years old this year with a series of celebratory events. The Daily News reports that before the bridge was built in 1909, "Queens was mostly a rural gateway to the farms and manors of Long Island," with the exception being the more industrial area of Long Island City. Judith Berdy, president of the Roosevelt Island Historical Society, told the paper, "This bridge made the borough of Queens." more ›

When the Hindu celebration of Phagwah (also known as Holi) rolls around, it's a rite of spring—and Richmond Hill, Queens. According to NY1, the parade is a "Hindu cultural celebration where participants walk around with their face colored with special dye to represent the colors of spring. The celebration also commemorates the triumph of good over evil, and recognizes unity among different races." The Parade's Grand Marshall Chunelall Larine further explained, "The inner meaning is the integration of people with various backgrounds different races, we can all live together in harmony and we can be as beautiful as we look with all this colors splashed on us." more ›

Today is the first day of Kwanzaa, a weeklong celebration running through January 1 that observes seven principles and African traditions. Newsday has information on some events, including the American Museum of Natural History's Kwanzaa Fest! that we mentioned earlier. CityRoom's Sewell Chan writes about Kwanzaa's history in the city and adds, "As a child growing up in Queens, I remember attending Kwanzaa celebrations at the American Museum of Natural History with relatives and friends who, like me, were Chinese-American. The holiday seemed fun and inclusive (and, I admit, a bit exotic), and I eagerly committed to memory the Nguzo Saba, or seven principles, of Kwanzaa: umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity) and imani (faith)." more ›

After an epic upside-down FAIL during his last stunt, it's nice to see David Blaine will be putting away the bells and whistles and doing some of his regular street magic this afternoon. CITYarts, a non-profit public art organization in New York, informs us that they'll be holding a ribbon cutting ceremony at 3:30 p.m. today to celebrate the restoration of the 36-year-old mosaic benches around Grant's Tomb in Morningside Heights (located at Riverside Drive and West 122nd Street). Blaine, allegedly a fan of the benches, will be on hand "doing magic for the kids," and all are invited to attend! more ›

As spontaneous parties broke out on every corner last night (just check out St. Mark's Place), things got a little bit crazy in Williamsburg once Barack Obama was declared leader of the free world--and there's nothing like a peaceful celebration to bring out the cops in riot gear! One tipster writes in about a reveler's run-in with the long arm of the law on North 7th and Bedford.

We were trying to get onto the sidewalk, as requested but hard to do when it is packed. The police pushed my boyfriend because he wasn't moving fast enough and when he spoke back to them the incident escalated. more ›

On this historic night where Barack Obama was elected the next president of the United States, New Yorkers celebrated in some organized and some spontaneous gatherings. There was a planned gathering at Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard and 125th in Harlem--and thousands were there, cheering and celebrating (one reporter said sanitation workers were joining in the revelry). We're hearing about large crowds up by Columbia University (Broadway & 115th), Times Square (47th & Broadway), and the East Village (Avenue A & St. Mark's) and some bottle throwing major revelry (see below) in Williamsburg (N 7th & Bedford). more ›

The Guggenheim is opening its doors for free on October 30th to celebrate the completion of the museum's restoration, which has been going on for years. The centerpiece of the celebration will be illuminated text on the Frank Lloyd Wright facade, a specially commissioned work of art by Jenny Holzer (which has actually been on display since September). Oh, and, the Museum Café will offer a free cookie with the purchase of any entrée on the day of the celebration. more ›

Tens of thousands of colorfully costumed revelers partied down on Eastern Parkway from Crown Heights to Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn yesterday for the annual West Indian American Day Parade with millions of people lining the street. more ›

Tomorrow is the annual West Indian American Day Carnival and Parade, which goes from Eastern Parkway and Utica Ave. to Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn. The parade, which attracts millions of people, features floats, dancers and bands that celebrate the cultures of the Caribbean. The festivities are all day--here's a little history about the parade--and expect to see politicians there (last year, Mayor Bloomberg joked he could be considered West Indian because he spends so much time in Bermuda). more ›

Coney Island's 150-foot-tall spinning mistress, the Wonder Wheel, turns 88 today. One and all are invited to join in on the celebration at Deno's--some events are planned for the anniversary that should be lasting throughout the day and night. As for the history of the Wheel, it's been up and running since 1920 and each year the 400,000-lb. ride is overhauled and painted. Fun fact: "The only stoppage in the history of the Wonder Wheel was on July 13, 1977 during the Great NYC Blackout. Riders were brought down safely because the owners hand cranked the wheel." And as you may recall, it came into the Vourderis family when in 1948 "Coney Island hot dog vendor Denos Vourderis promised his girlfriend that if she married him, he would buy her the Wonder Wheel; 35 years later he’d saved up enough money to make it happen." more ›

Central Park may be pretty from the ground, but the view from above will give New Yorkers a whole new perspective while taking in "the brilliance of the Greensward Plan, Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux's 1858 design." The NY Post reports that starting tomorrow, helium balloon rides will be offered for just $25 a pop.

The rides will be offered from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Aug. 22, and children 12 and under ride for $17.50. Starting today, the company is accepting reservations for rides between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. The rest of the day will work on a first-come, first-served basis.

We hope all of you have a happy and safe July 4th. Whether you're enjoying tonight's fireworks display or just a quiet day, take a moment to remember why we celebrate the day. more ›

Yesterday, the heat and crowds couldn't keep an estimated 2 million people from celebrating their heritage with the 51st Annual Puerto Rican Day Parade. As one 23-year-old woman told the Sun, "We're all from the island anyways. It's this hot in Puerto Rico, so I come no matter what. Everyone is proud of where we come from." more ›

The festivities commemorating the 125th birthday of the Brooklyn Bridge got underway full swing today with the unveiling of the mysterious Telectroscope at the Fulton Ferry Landing, just south of the bridge at 1 Water Street. The installation's creator, Paul St George, claims to have just completed a forgotten tunnel connecting New York to London and, using giant parabolic mirrors, has reconstructed a Victorian-era optical device enabling people on either end of the tube to wave at each other. more ›

The most intriguing part of the Brooklyn Bridge 125th birthday party announced last week is the mysterious Telectroscope, located at Brooklyn’s Fulton Ferry Landing near the bridge. In this case the mystery is quite deliberate; the installation’s creator Paul St George has crafted a whimsical back story for the device, which purports to connect New Yorkers with Londoners using giant parabolic mirrors installed in a forgotten Trans-Atlantic tunnel. UPDATE: More photos here. more ›

The 125th birthday of the Brooklyn Bridge will be observed this month with a five day celebration from May 22nd through May 26th, Mayor Bloomberg and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz announced earlier this week. Completed in 1883, the bridge opened with a “People’s Day” celebration; for a penny toll the general public was permitted to traverse its span. (A few days later, on Memorial Day, 12 pedestrians were trampled to death when the crowd believed the bridge was collapsing and panicked.) more ›

Between 2008 and the end of 2010, six New York City bridges will turn 100 years old, and the newly formed New York City Bridge Centennial Commission will be making sure they're adequately feted. The six centennial spans are the Madison Avenue, Manhattan, Borden Avenue, Pelham Bay, University Heights and Queensboro bridges. more ›

As we mentioned last week, Gothamist is turning 5 years old next month! Come celebrate with us at a special show at Union Hall. Here are the details: more ›

Reader Douglas sent us this photograph of a 14th Street vendor unable to vend various 2008 and New Year's Eve tchotchkes. We've seen these vendors are on many corners, so one probably doesn't need to go too far to find one. And we have to admit that the wacky metallic top hat with LED "Happy New Year" (with a blinking and constant modes) are pretty hilarious. So hilarious that we bought one, along with 2008 sunglasses and a Happy New Year tiara. more ›