On Thursday, April 19, the TriBeCa Film Festival kicks off with a free outdoor screening of the culture-shifting, Steven Spielberg-directed 1975 shark flick, Jaws. They follow that up the next night with the Spielberg-produced, generation-defining 1985 kids adventure The Goonies. The Gothamist offices were very excited when we heard the lineup, but not necessarily for the same reason. Turns out we're pretty split as to which of the two movies is worth fighting for a spot at an outdoor screening. Below, and argument for each, and a spot to place your own vote. more ›

Last night, Americans were treated to yet another Republican primary debate—and besides the usual blather there were some highlights, including Rep. Ron Paul calling Rick Santorum "a fake," and Santorum claiming Mitt Romney had adopted Occupy Wall Street rhetoric. But the highlight of the night for us was during Romney's opening remarks, when he misquoted our favorite curmudgeonly New Yorker, George Costanza: "What's the George Costanza line? When they're applauding, you sit down..." more ›

In 2007, the Reverend Al Sharpton and celebrated polemicist Christopher Hitchens, who died yesterday of cancer at the age of 62, met for an intellectual debate on the existence and nature of God at the New York Public Library. As the Times happily reported, despite the incendiary and polarizing nature of both men, the debate turned out to be "the public intellectual event of the evening, a bit like Bertrand Russell vs. C. S. Lewis." more ›

It seems Donald Trump found the excuse he was looking for: after over a week of shaming and name-calling, Trump announced today that he would bow out as moderator of Donald Trump's Very Classy GOP Presidential Primary Debate. "So that there is no conflict of interest within the Republican Party, I have decided not to be the moderator of the Newsmax debate...I believe this would not only have been the most watched debate, but also the most substantive and interesting debate," Trump hilariously wrote in a statement. At least he was able to get a plug in for The Apprentice! more ›

So much for the shaming tactic: Ron Paul, Jon Huntsman, Mitt Romney, Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann have now ALL dropped out of Donald Trump's Very Classy GOP Presidential Primary Debate. Facing the prospect of a mano-a-mano slugfest between Newt "Tiffany Historian" Gingrich and Rick "Please Don't Google My Name" Santorum, even Donald Trump himself is now looking for ways to get out of this debate! more ›

When Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman proved they still had a shred of human dignity by refusing to participate in Donald Trump's Very Classy GOP Presidential Primary Debate: The Debatening, they inspired the ever-confused Mitt Romney into staging his own mini insurrection by also refusing to attend. But the powers-that-be have called in the big guns to try to shame their lost flock back to the enormous balled shepherd: "I think candidates should not be afraid in front of the nation no matter who the host of the debate is. What is a bit appealing about this idea of Trump hosting a debate is, consider the diverse audience that perhaps he can attract," Sarah Palin told the Fox Business Network on Wednesday. more ›

Texas Governor Rick Perry has admitted he's a terrible debater, but tonight he reached a new low (or high, depending on your political persuasion) during the 10th (!) Republican debate. Here, just watch it—we don't want to ruin it for you: more ›

Two weeks ago, it was proposed at a community board meeting that the waterfront concerts held by the OSA in Williamsburg be moved... two blocks from the current location. The proposal was to appease neighbors, who are complaining about the summertime concerts and overflow of attendees into the streets in their neighborhood. After all, it's all fun and games until nitrous-huffing zombies are outside of your window. more ›

Seven podiums, a cro-magnon moderator, and one common purpose: to be the President of Losing to Obama in 2012. Last night's GOP debate in New Hampshire allowed the candidates to show the electorate what they're made of, and it seems the short answer is: Mitt Romney t-shirts. For two hours, all five other candidates (and Newt Gingrich) bashed Obama but failed to land a blow against the Great White Hope, or even really try. more ›

Some people don't think there's much to debate about, but one thing is certain about the forthcoming cleaned-up edition of Mark Twain's classic "Huckleberry Finn": everybody has an opinion on it. There are so many varying opinions and angles on the sanitized novel—besides offering an editorial criticizing the new version, the Times let ten different writers and professors weigh in on the controversy on the Opinion Pages. And that still left plenty of room for others to stir the pot. more ›

If this is a sudden trend, then we definitely want Rudy Giuliani to run in 2012 so his rival can trot out Donna Hanover at a debate: The Staten Island Advance reports that Rep. Michael McMahon (D) invited the ex-wife of his Republican challenger to Tuesday night's debate. And not only was Michael Grimm's ex Susan Kim there, so were her father and brothers! The Advance summed it up, "Call it a bit of campaign shenanigans unrivaled even in the rough and tumble that is a hallmark of Staten Island politics." more ›

At least one person heartily agrees with future Hustler editor Carl Paladino that Monday night's gubernatorial debate was about as substantial as Anna Chapman's iPhone app. "It was a joke...That’s not a debate. I mean, the people who put that debate together had their heads screwed on wrong,” said wrinkly former Mayor Ed Koch at the State Capitol yesterday. more ›

Last night, Jimmy McMillan of the Rent Is Too Damn High Party debated his way into the hearts of many Americans (if not the voting preferences of New Yorkers). He's on fire (according to Google) and his mustache and gloves are making statements. Oh, and why was he wearing gloves? He told the Daily News, "I’m a war vet. Don’t forget I was in Vietnam for two and half years and I have three Bronze Stars, but the chemicals of Agent Orange -- dioxin and a lot of other chemicals mixed up -- I would get sick. When I get home tonight, I know I’m not going to be able to breathe if I take them off. It could be psychological, I don’t know, but I just put em on and wear them anyway." more ›

Earlier today, we mentioned probably the most bizarre happening in last night's gubernatorial debate: GOP candidate Carl Paladino's grand exit in the middle of the closing statements to find himself a bathroom. And like the professional crazy person he is, he showed no remorse over the gaffe. He said in a radio interview, “Eh, stuff happens in life. What are you going to do?" When asked how bad he had to go, Paladino replied "Oh, my God," so good to know he'd only disrespect his fellow candidates over a real emergency. more ›

The main takeaway from last night's New York gubernatorial debate: THE RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH. Of course, we've known that since 2005, because Jimmy McMillan has been making his Rent Is Too Damn High Party platform known to New York City for a while, but during the debate, heavily favored Democratic candidate Andrew Cuomo was compelled to chime in, "I'm with Jimmy, the rent is too damn high." more ›

Tonight is the lone debate in this year's governor's race, and it should be interesting, with Democrat Andrew Cuomo and Republican Carl Paladino joined by five third-party candidates—madam Kristin Davis who claims to have supplied former governor Eliot Spitzer with call girls; Libertarian candidate Warren Redlich; Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins; Freedom Party candidate and NYC Councilman Charles Barron; and Rent Is Too Damn High candidate Jimmy McMillan. The debate, held at Hofstra University, starts at 7 p.m.; according to Newsday, "The debate will be broadcast live on cable television stations News12 Long Island, NY1 News, NY1 Noticias and YNN. It also will be carried by National Public Radio stations and streamed live over news12.com, newsday.com, ny1.com and ny1noticias.com." more ›

All seven gubernatorial candidates are doing some last minute cramming today in anticipation of tomorrow's highly anticipated debate. Experts are calling seasoned politician Andrew Cuomo the favorite, but one source told the Daily News that Carl Paladino has a chance to take back control of his campaign narrative: "Carl has to come off as the candidate that he wants to be, not the candidate he's been transformed into by the Cuomo forces." We didn't realize that Cuomo's forces were to blame for Paladino's controversial remarks on homosexuality, his endless stream of embarrassing emails, and his altercations with reporters. more ›

After months of fanfare, conjecture, and fervent emailing, the first (and only?) NY state gubernatorial debate is finally taking place this Monday at Hofstra University! It's really happening guys—all seven candidates will be there, in their glammest outfits, their cakiest makeup, and with their glitziest stump speeches. Will they stay on message? Will Carl Paladino insult someone's mother? Will Andrew Cuomo say anything? Will anyone pay attention to those other five candidates? more ›

Almost at the same time that Carl Paladino's television address was going out yesterday, Hofstra University and Newsday announced they would be holding the first (and only?) official debate of the 2010 NY gubernatorial race, and everybody was invited. Paladino was the only one of the seven candidates who hadn't agreed to the debate as of yesterday, though he has now, no thanks to Cuomo's shiftiness! ... So let's meet the candidates who aren't Paladino and Cuomo! more ›

Yesterday ABC's "This Week" broadcast a Town Hall-style debate titled "Should Americans Fear Islam?" Rev. Franklin Graham was there, as were a couple of parents of 9/11 victims, plus Robert Spencer from Jihad Watch, and Daisy Khan, the wife of the imam who plans an Islamic community center and mosque in Lower Manhattan. Upstaging them all via satellite from London: Anjem Choudary, who represents the Islamic group Islam4UK. He predicts there will soon be an Islamic flag flying over the White House. (Why can't our ineffectual Muslim president get this done?!) And referring to Daisy Khan, Choudary said, "This lady in your studio, she should be covering with the hijab." Here are some more highlights: more ›

Following up on Eliot Spitzer's comments last week about his aloofness in the gubernatorial race thus far, the NY Times criticizes Andrew Cuomo in an editorial this weekend for his above-it-all attitude: "Indeed, Mr. Cuomo is barely campaigning. He rarely grants on-the-record interviews...goes for days without a campaign event and leaves it to surrogates and commercials to criticize his opponent. The voters have noticed." more ›

While gubernatorial candidates Carl Paladino and Andrew Cuomo comethisclosetotaking out a ruler, one other candidate for NY Governor is speaking up about being included in any scheduled debates. Kristin Davis, the former madam who claims that Eliot Spitzer was one of her candidates, says, "Why should the only woman running for State office be excluded? The debate shouldn't be a boys only club." more ›

Well it looks like the Gubernatorial race is kicking off to a civilized start, with Republican candidate Carl Paladino saying Andrew Cuomo has "No Cojones" and won't "be a man" and debate (even though Cuomo's rep said he's very much open to a debate whenever Paladino wants to bring it). Now, the Democratic candidate is really firing back at Paladino's antics, reportedly saying in a talk to his team, "If a guy says you have no cojones, how do you punch him back, call him an a--hole?" It's on! more ›

Having received no response about a debate after sending out flyers of Andrew Cuomo naked in the shower, Gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino decided to write Cuomo a letter asking him to "be a man" and debate. Paladino writes, “It’s difficult to understand why you, a polished veteran campaigner, scion of a political dynasty and king-designate, would fear a simple businessman from Buffalo, who candidly has never been in a debate in his life—except maybe in a bar." Was that a threat? more ›

Protesters drew red lipstick marks across their faces every time girlfriend-beater Hiram Monserrate said the word "cut" during a debate last night at a school in Jackson Heights. The booing and heckling got so intense that Monserrate, who was expelled from the State Senate after a misdemeanor conviction for cutting his girlfriend's face with a broken glass, demanded security eject one protester. "We're not doing this," said Monserrate, according to WNYC. "Eject him. Disorderly conduct." more ›

Now that Gov. Paterson is out of the race, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo will have to drop his “coy” act and start answering questions, experts say. Yesterday Cuomo announced he’d wait for the “appropriate time” (March, reports the Daily News) to confirm his run for the governorship, but according to an anonymous adviser, “You sort of see some running room now. There’ll be a not-so-subtle change in the discussion, from this whole ‘Stay cool’ approach to ‘O.K., guys and gals, let’s get ready for a campaign and hopefully we’ll have a candidate in the next month or so.’” But once he stops playing hard to get, will voters still want him? more ›