The latest group to complain about mobile food vendors are none other than cabbies, who claim that trucks and carts are crowding taxi stands around Columbus Circle, costing them precious fares from the hordes of shoppers burdened with bags from Stuart Weitzman. And DNAinfo reports that City Councilwoman Gale Brewer is taking up their cause. more ›

Rick Perry isn't the only Texan with a pair of famous balls: remember Lance Armstrong? You know, the guy who used to have sex with Sheryl Crow and may or may not have used performance-enhancing drugs to win the Tour de France seven times? No? Ok—the guy who made all those little yellow bracelets that people wear as a badge to let you know they're a good person? That's the one! Well he wants you to run "4-5 miles thru the city" with him, tonight at 6 p.m. more ›

The MTA has revealed that a turnstile at Columbus Circle subway station is the most frequently used one in the whole city this year, and just reading about it makes us want to lather the Purell all over ourselves. Exactly 1,402,766 people have swiped their MetroCards and pushed their lumpy bodies through the turnstile as of Aug. 19. Of course, that doesn't count all the people who either duck under or jump over turnstiles, but there's just something extra compelling about this particular one, according to commuter Latavia Gale: "I don't know what it is. It's weird. It's unexplainable. Even if someone's in front of you and their MetroCard's not working, you just queue up and wait." more ›

Yesterday, reader AV sent us an email with the subject, "Columbus Circle subway corridor of horror." She was referring to "freakishly nauseating Crest supergraphics," noting how the campaign "features pores, hairs, tongue textures and skin crevices in eye-gouging detail" and deemed it "a ghastly misappropriation of vinyl output!" AV also sent us some photographs! more ›

We haven't heard much from mysterious Malaysian party boy Taek Jho Low in a while, but just because the paparazzi hasn't snapped him pouring Cristal down Lindsay Lohan's throat lately doesn't mean he's been off his game—he was just saving up for his new $31 million penthouse in the Time Warner Center, bros! more ›

In case you weren't aware: slingin' dogs is dangerous. After a turf dispute outside the Timer Warner offices on Columbus Circle, a hot dog vendor slashed his competitor in the face with a razor, the Post reports. Azmy Mansour, who had only shown up in the locale a week earlier, angrily approached the cart of brothers Mohammed and Houssen Ellaboudiy. After Houssen told him he was acting crazy, Mansour allegedly said "You want crazy? You'll see crazy!" and lunged at Houssen, a father of one. more ›

Uh-oh: At the same time that it was reported there were bed bugs at the Brooklyn DA's office, a memo from TBS's human resources department was sent out to staffers working out of the Time Warner Center in Manhattan about a situation there. TVNewser reprinted the memo, "The Time Warner Center Facilities Department advises that bed bugs have been detected in Time Warner Center. This determination was made after testing was conducted on several floors of the building." more ›

Two high school students were arrested for slashing a 20-year-old woman's hand and stabbing an 18-year-old man in the face and back in the Columbus Circle subway station yesterday afternoon. According to the Daily News, cops cuffed Independence High School students Nathaniel Flores and Rafael Anderson, both 17, for the incident, which occurred in an underground walkway in the station at around 3 p.m. The tabloid notes that the victims—identified as Devon Baldwin and Kalimah Tresdale—knew the suspects, and The Post reports the victims are also high school students. more ›

Following last year's unauthorized holiday art show at the Columbus Circle Subway Station, Mat Benote and Jordan Seiler have curated another one — which went up at about 1:30 this morning. more ›

First reports of a pregnant woman being removed from an L train and taken to the hospital yesterday morning—now news that a man had a heart attack on an A train at Columbus Circle last night! And he was saved—thanks to the efforts of cops, other passengers, and a heart defibrillator. more ›

The 59th Street-Columbus Circle station just got more colorful thanks to a Sol LeWitt installation, in honor of what would have been the artist's 82nd birthday. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced its completion today, and said, "The artist created the proposal in 2004, and he selected the site, which is an expansive wall facing a double wide stairway and landing at 60th Street that leads from the mezzanine to the A, B, C, D and 1 trains. Titled 'Whirls and twirls (MTA),' the artwork is 53 feet wide by 11 feet high and consists of 250 porcelain tiles, in six colors, each cut to meet the artist’s specifications." more ›

Though math nerds may not be the first demographic you'd expect to turn out in droves for an afternoon spent outdoors walking block after block, mathematician Glen Whitney has begun leading guided tours of Manhattan. Whitney, who quit his job at a hedge fund, has attracted a nice following: This week's New Yorker carries a dispatch from writer Nick Paumgarten on one of Whitney's tours, which that day took a group from 66th Street to Columbus Circle while stopping for all sorts of hidden math-yness along the way. When the group reached 64th Street, for instance, Paumgarten describes how "a Philip Johnson clock just off Columbus Avenue led to a disquisition on Pythagoras, octaves, calendars, eclipses, and time." Whitney is using the tours in hopes of building demand for a math museum in New York, and—for a city that already has museums devoted to sex, comic books, and creepy wax statues—why not? After all, for those who want nothing to do with any of that complicated number-learnin', there's always the Gossip Girl bus tour. more ›

The Rihanna and Chris Brown saga has wormed its way into the Big Apple. Eyebrows are being raised after the pair both checked into the Trump International Hotel & Tower this weekend—separately of course. As far as everyone knows, the two stayed separate, something that Brown needs to do to keep his nose clean after a judge ordered him to stay 50 yards away from the onetime "Song of the Summer" queen. Still the Post tries its best to drum up intrigue about the possibility of the two crossing paths around the Columbus Circle lodge, noting the extraordinary effort they both put forth to throw off paparazzi with decoy vehicles. That didn't stop the paper from putting together a loose timeline for their time spent here, as well as postulating, "Could they be making sweet music again?" Brown, who just last week finally apologized for the violent attack of his ex back in February, is due in court next week to receive sentencing for the plea deal he struck with prosecutors. After spending the weekend going to the movies and visiting a childhood friend in Harlem, a member of his entourage told the Post he checked out of the hotel once he realized "that she checked in." more ›

Looks like they're going to need a cell with Kryptonite bars. After arresting a Bronx man dressed as Superman in Times Square last week, the very same Man of Steel was back on the streets last night, and cops quickly collared him in Columbus Circle. And once again, it's not exactly clear what Maksim Katsnelson did to initiate the arrest (police say he was playing in traffic) but after watching him squirm and shriek like a stuck pig in the videos below, you can see why he was charged with resisting arrest. A freelance photographer who snapped a great shot of Superman leaving court today with his mother and father tells City Room that during his court appearance, Katsnelson "was generally presenting himself as a civil rights-minded humanist, and he does these things to protest authoritarianism." more ›

A former New Jersey Net dancer thought she was moving on up with a $2 million wedding all planned out with former Nets' star Richard Jefferson, set for last weekend at Mandarin Oriental in Columbus Circle. But RJ's engagement ring turned out to be a give-and-go when Jefferson told Kesha Ni'Cole Nichols in the days leading up the wedding that he would not be attending. That didn't stop Nichols from going ahead with spending her canceled wedding night in the Mandarin, where they upgraded her to a suite with a king-sized bed and a view of the park. But not only was the bride-not-to-be at the hotel, so were "(Jefferson's) boys" who claim they found out about the change of plans hours before, but apparently were already set with using his Black Amex card for the night. The Post says that according to friends, Nichols was "not entirely caught off-guard" and "just wants to keep this as quiet as possible and move on." Jefferson recently moved on up himself to San Antonio, where he joined the Spurs in a trade for Bruce Bowen. more ›

Every year Transportation Alternatives holds a commuter race to Manhattan between a cyclist, a subway rider, and a motorist to promote the efficacy of cycling. And every year the cyclist wins. When will the gaming commission investigate T.A.? The only difference today between the outcome of last year's race was that this year the car commuter came in dead last, taking 47 minutes, 11 seconds to get from Sunnyside to Columbus Circle in a taxi. Coming in second was NYC transit rider Dan Hendrick, who crossed the finish line in 35 minutes, 16 seconds. more ›

The Museum of Arts and Design is celebrating the opening of its fancy new building on Columbus Circle this weekend with free admission to the public. The new building increases MAD’s total space threefold and doubles the gallery space previously available to the museum at its former location on 53rd Street. The new MAD takes advantage of its prime spot at the center of the south side of the Circle with ribbons of glass along its exterior that allow natural light to illuminate the galleries while those inside have a clear view of Central Park. more ›

If you woke up this morning wondering, "How can I celebrate the kick-off to the 89th NFL season?" then you're in luck, because the NFL has created a fan's guide on just how to do so, and they're providing the entertainment. more ›

Mayor Bloomberg and NFL Commissioner Roger Gooddell announced today that NYC will host the "NFL Opening Kickoff 2008," to celebrate the Giants' Super Bowl win and commence the 89th season of the NFL. There will be a free concert at Columbus Circle on September 4--with Usher and Keith Urban. Previously, NYC hosted a kickoff event in 2002 in Times Square, with Bon Jovi, Enrique Iglesis, Alicia Keys, Eve and the cast of Rent. More details will be released later (like the exact time), but at this point, the city says, "Fans will be able to enter the concert on 58th Street and 7th Avenue and will line up along Central Park South." And early reports are in that Bruce Springsteen will rock the next Super Bowl. more ›

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This week in the Times, Bruni two-stars Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill (the new one, at Columbus Circle). After a few rocky meals immediately after the opening, “the food has been consistently first-rate,” says Bruni. “Much of it also reflects the [owners’, Eric and Bruce] Bromberg’s winning playfulness.” He also says that while the sushi isn't the best in town, the fried chicken may be. more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: an explosion at Linden Blvd. and 220th St. in Queens, a homicide on Sedgewick Ave. in the Bronx, and a water main break on Prospect Place in Brooklyn
• Santa may have to bypass coalition troops stationed around the world today, but holiday presents will be appreciated even if they do arrive a few weeks into 2008. Newsday has a nice piece on gift-giving to troops and how to do it.
• U.S. Congressman Anthony Weiner is in permanent campaign mode to become Mayor of NYC, as the office now seems to be a viable stepping stone for higher national office. Interesting fact: Weiner was a post-college roommate of comedian/news man Jon Stewart.

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a bank robbery on Austin Rd. in Queens, another bank robbery on Church Ave. in Brooklyn, and a police car vs. scaffolding in Manhattan; the scaffolding has been compromised.
• A Queens high school was locked down this afternoon for two hours after a student's 'To Do' list was found listing seven students "To kill today."
• The projected cost of restoring the separate homes that constitute Admiral's Row at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
• Alcides Moreno, who fell more than 40 stories in an accident that killed his brother, has been yawning and moving his arms and legs.
• The owner of Central Park Carriage and Horse Stables and the managers of Wicker Park Cafe and Bistro and Penang on Columbus Circle were arrested for attempting to bribe a Consumer Affairs inspector, hoping he'd overlook multiple violations.
• A $10,000 security system is being installed at the Wollman Rink in Prospect Park after thieves broke into the skating facility's concession stand last week.
• The ad sales execs at NBC are getting tricky by placing AmEx bumper spots featuring cast members of Tina Fey's "30 Rock" that segue directly from the show.

October 11: Restaurant Reviewing in New York City more ›

Starting at noon, pedicab owners began a protest down Broadway to voice their opposition to a new city law that started today. Pedicab owners sued the city yesterday in state Supreme Court, claiming the Department of Consumer Affairs distrusted licenses for pedicabs unlawfully. A law passed earlier this year, which pedicab drivers protested, limits the number of pedicab licenses to 325 and preference was supposed to be given to existing pedicab owners before any other operators. more ›