Former British prime minister Tony Blair secretly met with deposed dictator Moammer Gadhafi—even flying to the country on one of Gadhafi's private jets—in 2008 and in 2009, one day before Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi's prisoner release form was signed. In correspondence and email found by the Telegraph, Blair refers to Gadhafi as "The Leader," and also met with the chairman of Libya's state-owned National Oil Company. "These new meetings between Mr. Blair and Gadhafi are disturbing, and details of what was discussed should now be made public," Oliver Miles, former British ambassador to Libya said. "I am astonished Tony Blair continued to have meetings like this out of office." more ›

Mere hours after they invoked the wrath of one Miley Cyrus for "stealing" an Etsy designer's secret NY necklace sauce, Urban Outfitters has taken to their blog to respond to the "false allegations" by the designer, Stephanie Koerner. After claiming that they've been "supporting the Etsy community for years," the company states that "a quick search of Etsy for 'state necklace' reveals several other sellers with similar products (as seen here on Regretsy) who offered their wares as much as a year earlier than Ms. Koerner." more ›

The ramblings of an NYU professor who just wasn't going to take it anymore have morphed into merch for the student masses. Back in February, Professor Scott Galloway of NYU's Stern School of Business admonished a student for showing up late to his class (and having the gall to try to begin a discussion about it) by sending his response email ripping him to shreds (and clarifying NYU's policy on urinating-on-desks in the process) campus-wide. The email concluded with: "Take to heart what I am about to tell you. Get your shit together." more ›

Just because you're behind bars doesn't mean you have to forgo your favorite snack foods and electronics. Today the Post takes a look at some of the stuff for sale to prisoners on Rikers Island, finding that the number one seller is Ramen, which can be had for 35 cents. (Most prisoners discard the noodles and use the flavor packet to spice up bland jail food.) Here's what else you can pick up at the prison market: more ›

If nothing's cooking with your family on Thanksgiving, or if you'd just rather not slave away in the kitchen all day, there are plenty of restaurants from Astoria to the East River which will be happy to serve you. Click on the images for details on special Thanksgiving menus around town, including Trattoria Cinque in Tribeca, Commerce in the West Village, The Classic Harbor Line yacht (on the river), Counter in the Wast Village, Da Franco in Astoria, Brother Jimmy's BBQ, Ed's Chowder House on the UWS , Fishtail on the UES, The Sea Grill at Rock Center, and Casimir in Alphabet City. more ›

Brunch is for assholes, as the poet on the T-shirt sings, because you usually end up paying through the nose for lackluster food, harried service, and interminable waits. (We're looking at you Dizzy's.) But it doesn't have to be that way; here are a few new (and a few old) solutions to getting through brunch without stabbing anyone. Of course this list is far from exhaustive—add your favorite spot in the comments, so we can get there five seconds ahead of you and snag the last open table. more ›

The Brooklyn Flea was back in business for another Sunday, and The Daily News reports from the front lines, noting that the clash between "hipsters and old-timers" continued. While the Flea isn't really a hipster thing, the clash between the two sides did continue, even though the two attempted to reconcile at a meeting this past Thursday.

Angry encounters over parking between shoppers and local churchgoers nearly ended in blows yesterday. more ›

Nestled away on a romantic little bend of Commerce Street in the West Village is Commerce, the newish bar and restaurant from chef Harold Moore and restaurateur Tony Zazula. Operating out of a carriage house dating back to 1911, the place was formerly a Prohibition-era speakeasy, then Blue Mill Tavern for 50 years, then the neighborhood favorite Grange Hall. You might assume that its new iteration is a fussy stab at resuscitating the past, but Zazula and Moore have breathed fresh air into the space while subtly nodding to their ancestors. Antique wall sconces salvaged from municipal buildings line the walls and a 1941 art deco Brunswick bar was reconfigured to fit with the existing front bar, but the airy room hums with a forward-thinking enthusiasm. more ›

This week the Times’s Frank Bruni hands down his verdict on Commerce (pictured), the trendy new inhabitant of 1911 West Village carriage house formerly occupied by Blue Mill Tavern, among others. Overall, he deems the new tenant fussy and cacophonous; chef Harold Moore’s “polyglot menu and intricately wrought dishes let him strut his stuff in a way that a more archetypal bill of fare might not. In doing so he creates a rankling dissonance, his dishes beseeching a closeness of attention that the frenzied atmosphere doesn’t easily permit.” more ›

Today Frank Bruni files a second review of Mas (pictured), the organic, locally-sourced West Village eatery he bestowed with one star four years ago. Today he bumps the cozy French-inflected restaurant up a star, noting that Mas isn’t “for diners with big, blunt appetites. It’s for those who revel in little surprises and unexpected nuances, like the smoked celery root purée that came with grilled turbot.” Meanwhile, Alex Witchel enlists cookbook author Arthur Schwartz in his failed and funny attempt to recreate his late Nana’s fried meat kreplach. more ›

Mercato 55: The other buzzed-about opening this week is this Meatpacking District African brasserie. The menu at Mercato 55 – the name means “market” in Italian – is intended to evoke the vibe of Africa's largest outdoor market, Addis Merkato in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Two floors accommodate 150 diners; earth tones, exposed wood and murals painted with scenes from African markets add to the intended ambience. The food isn’t confined to Ethiopian fare, but there are Ethiopian classics like a dish of chicken stewed with onions, ginger, garlic, and spices served in a cast-iron pot, accompanied by traditional injera bread. A small plates menu has a wide range of dishes, such as merguez sausage, corn pap and chili mustard sauce. Large plates cost $16-$32; the cheapest being a burger with green tomato and awase mayo. And dessert brings out Homer Simpson’s inner soul brother: African doughnuts. 55 Gansevoort St. (212) 255-8555.
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