"Sleight of hand," "litany of needless fights," "ugly racial polarization" - just some of the phrases in this week's New York magazine's cover story about Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor turned presidential candidate. Chris Smith's article serves as both refresher to New Yorkers about Giuliani's reign as mayor with some fun tidbits (did you realize that then-Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik commissioned 30 miniature busts of himself?) as well as a cautionary tale to non-New Yorkers.... more ›

Above is a video explaining why this event is taking place, and inviting everyone to come out to Central Park today. more ›

The International Olympics Committee eliminated New York as a possible site for the 2012 Olympics in the second (of four) round of voting. Gothamist thought that watching the city selection process (starting at 6AM) was incredibly bizarre: The IOC Chairman comes out, tells how many votes were given, how many people voted, what the majority is, and then matter-of-factly says something like, "New York will not proceed to the next round of voting." When Moscow was voted out in the first round of voting, the split screen coverage showed the IOC on the right and people at Rockefeller Center cheering (so much for ending the Cold War!) on the left. Then a few minutes later, when New York was voted out, people were just quiet, and cameramen raced to find some crying NYC 2012 supporters. Then Madrid was eliminated in the third round, putting the age-old rivalry of England and France in the spotlight once again, with London and Paris in the final two. The 2012 Olympics city will be announced at 7:43AM (EST) - the IOC was running late! more ›

New York magazine has a really good article on the foot dragging with getting the new Penn Station, really Moynihan Station, relocated in the Farley Post Office across the street from current dingy Penn Station. Writer Chris Smith calls the project "the middle child of New York City development projects":

Ground zero, which will always claim the greatest emotional attachment, is the firstborn. The West Side stadium, which can do no wrong in the eyes of its indulgent parents, is the favored baby of the family. Moynihan Station—earnestly playing by the rules, reluctant to complain—has been rewarded for its obedience by being ignored.

Gothamist loves food, so we were naturally riveted by New York magazine's great expose of sorts on the growing grocery store rivalries in the city last week. The players include web upstart Freshdirect, the do-gooder organic empire Whole Foods trying to make inroads all over the city and Upper West Side institution Fairway. The article is filled with some hilarious swipes between the owners and managers of the different of stores, but we most appreciated how reporter Chris Smith detailed the rise of the big supermarket in a city of small spaces. Plus the tip about the Red Hook Fairway, slated for summer 2005, with a ferry service to Manhattan - that's gold. more ›