Why did the chicken cross the road? To get a better look at those Christmas lights, apparently. Last night two chickens taking a stroll down West 53rd Street (why not?) got caught up in some shiny Christmas lights. According to the NY Post, the feathered locals were plucked off the streets by the NYPD after being spotted. A doorman at 139 West 53rd Street says they were "hiding in the bushes, sort of tangled up in the Christmas lights." They've since been taken to Animal Care & Control, or as one cop says "we've got them in handcuffs now and they won't be causing any more trouble." more ›

How the other side lives: Hedge fund billionaire Paul Jones Tudor III has an incredible Christmas display in front of his Greenwich, Connecticut home. According to the Metropolis, "Off-duty police officers direct traffic around the sprawling light display, allowing drivers to line up eight at a time in front of Jones’ 13,000-square-foot home on a waterfront cul-de-sac. A soundtrack synchronized to the thousands of flashing lights plays over the radio on FM90.5. The full cycle lasts nearly five minutes. There is no official count of the spectators, but on the night The Journal attended scores of cars lined up along the streets of the quiet neighborhood for a chance to take in a light show put on by one of the richest people in the world." And there's video: more ›

This Christmas, North Babylon's elaborate Christmas display at the Spadafora family's house on Kime Avenue isn't happening because it's gotten too expensive. Andrew Spadafora, who raised about $181,000 from onlookers of his million-light display (donated to a children's hospital), told Newsday, "Last year it cost me $41,000 to put Christmas together. We're still paying off last year's bills. After 20 years this thing has gotten bigger than Jones Beach." He's not kidding: Newsday counts "a 40-foot train, a manger with 100 sheep and a tree composed of 10,000 light bulbs," a total of 900 pieces, 30+ security cameras and a set-up time of 15 weeks (a crew of six, plus Spadafora). Spadafora also says he spent $175,000 on coloring books, candy canes, and toys to give to young onlookers, "Every year I get bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger, so what am I going to do, go backward?" You can see photographs of the "Christmas House" here—it's really amazing. more ›

Looks like someone took that pirate trend a little too far. The NY Times is reporting on Brian Markey and Owen Cahillane, who are sailing the high seas in their floating abode. Okay, no sailing is involved, but the two roommates, recently transplanted from New Orleans and channeling the spirit of Davy Crockett, live day in and day out on a houseboat in the Bronx. more ›

With Christmas less than two weeks away, the annual holiday light display is raging through the nights in Dyker Heights, home of TV’s Scott Baio. Every year tens of thousands of people from around the world flock to the outer-borough Brooklyn neighborhood to gawk at the private homes decked out with millions of dazzling lights. more ›

'Tis the season to be aware of fire safety during the holidays. Christmas lights caused a fire that left 26 people injured last night. The fire started around 6:20PM in an 8th floor apartment of a Bronxdale building. A woman who lived in the apartment told the Daily News, "My daughter said there's a fire in her room from the Christmas decorations. I called 911, grabbed the kids and ran out." Twenty-five irefighters and civilians... more ›

On Tuesday afternoon, 72-year-old Reinaldo Herrera was hanging Christmas lights outside his Westbury home and went inside to get more lights. Suddenly, a 21-year-old gang member stormed in, threatening him with a gun and demanded cash and jewelry. Somehow, Herrera managed to overpower the would-be robber; the senior said, "When he say, 'Give me the ring, give me the watch, give me the money,' I put my hands on him, strong, to the floor." He... more ›

A look at some noteworthy (and mainly regifted) programs this week: more ›

NYC Sunset by Sidewalk Story. more ›

Earlier this week, Queens assemblyman Brian M. McLaughlin was charged with 43 different crimes, including racketeering, embezzlement, stealing from a Little League, fraud and more, taking $2.2 million. McLaughlin's office was raided by the FBI in March, and the indictment that was unsealed this week was 186 pages. The NY Times summarized some of his misdeeds:

Law enforcement officials said that Mr. McLaughlin used subordinates as “personal servants,” to take his dog to the veterinarian, hang Christmas lights, trap rodents in his basement and clean out his barn. more ›

As summer conjures up visions of backyard gardens and long afternoons lounging outdoors, Boerum Hill's Pacifico, a Tex-Mex style self-labled "glorified taco stand" offers a double whammy: a front yard deck & a big backyard. Strung with colored Christmas lights year-round, umbrellas shelter diners on a large front-porch like dining ground while inside, dim lighting and candles accentuate tiled countertops and large, colorful murals. Gothamist recommends starting off with the Queso Fundido, a hot skillet of melted Monterey Jack, cortija, and carmelized onions that comes with a basket of tortilla chips, stiffer than fondue, but equally as addictive. For the cheese-phobic, try the chunky onion and tomato laden guacamole, which comes in ample servings with a heaping side of chips. more ›

Pictures of sunset on the East River from Bluejake. more ›

- Or, take his family to see Santa at Macy's in Herald Square, sit on Santa's lap and tell him "what a bad boy he has been."Or else, "the head will be 'handed to our renegade elves at the North Pole and used to make wooden toy dolls for the boys and girls of New York City next Christmas.'" And the group brilliantly included photographs of the doll being menaced by a candy cane! more ›

Only thirteen shopping days until Christmas, but you don't have to get us a gift. The only thing Gothamist wants is more pictures of the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights, up on 84th Street in Brooklyn (between 12th and 13th Avenue)-- see the map at right. Blogger 423 Smith is up on the board first, with some wonderful shots from last week. Flickr is letting us down-- only a few paltry offerings on the "Dyker Heights" tag-- Brooklyn+Lights does slightly better. If you've been out to see the lights and took some pictures, let us know and we'll add them to this post. more ›

December is here, and the joyous holidays of Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza are coming up soon. Most of those celebrations involve the combination of candles and combustible decorations-- like that extra dry Christmas tree you found the other night on Avenue B. Okay-- it was more of a discarded houseplant, but it's sitting in your living room now, surrounded by four lit menorahs and a slightly frayed set of Christmas lights. Maybe now is the time to refresh your memory on the FDNY's holiday safety tips: more ›

Gothamist believes in adopting a local. Even if it's not in our neighborhood. That's why, after then upteenth Dodgeball message we joined a friend at his local, Boat. Owned by the same people behind Great Lakes, the bar thankfully doesn't have much of a maritime theme past the stenciled oars few and far between behind the bar. With thrift store furniture and ancient videogames, it could feel like a dingy rec room but, refreshingly, nothing's sticky. The adorable bartender read the extensive beer list because, unlike our friend, we hadn't memorized it and it was so dark that we wanted to ask if the Christmas lights could be moved closer. Driking our $4 pint we had to appreciate the eclectic jukebox, while not the encyclopedia at Hifi, it is unique and made almost entirely of homemade mix cds - not too much that's too trendy or too exhausted, good music to be reminded of during pauses in conversation. Boat is good for hanging out when you and your broke friends can't afford any of the restaurants on Smith Street, though would prefer drinking your dinner anyway. Or when you can't stomach the thought of getting back on the G train sober. more ›

Viewers can also see the White House Christmas decorations, which are inspired by children's story books, like The Cat in the Hat and Harry Potter; last year it was of animals who had lived in the White House, like Caroline Kennedy's pony and the Clintons cat, Socks.
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