Rapper Ja Rule is serving a two-year sentence for attempted criminal possession of a firearm (a loaded .40 was found in his car in 2007)—plus another four months for tax evasion—and he seems pretty upbeat. At least, that what this exclusive interview and video from the Daily News suggest: "The Queens-raised rap star says disgraced pol Alan Hevesi and corporate greed poster-boy Dennis Kozlowski took him under their wings. From Kozlowski, he got stock tips. From Hevesi, he heard about the perennial impasse in Albany. They watched Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert together." Ja Rule said, "Outside, you don’t meet guys like this every day. This place is amazing." more ›

Gothamist loves this story: The big impressionist and modern art auction at Sotheby's last night did not disappiont, as a mysterious man bid $95 million for the famous Picasso, Dora Maar with a black cat. The NY Times says that witnesses say he sounded Russian and give further reasons why the bidder was an enigma:

He was obviously new to both Sotheby's executives, who would never have seated him in such a remote spot had they realized what a big spender he would be, and to the auction process, as evidenced by the relentless and unsophisticated manner in which he waved his paddle. (More seasoned buyers would have been more discreet and wily.) more ›

- Dogs dressed a pirates? It is so! more ›

Embattled Brooklyn apartment dwellers have taken their fight against the proposed site of the new arena for the "Brooklyn Nets" all the way to Athens. A group called Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn unveiled a banner on one of the endangered apartments which reads "Dr. Rogge and the International Olympic Committee, Please Don't Destroy Our Homes." If New York City is awarded the Olympic Games in 2012, the proposed basketball arena would be used to house the gymnastics competition. Local residents hope that by appealing to the International Olympic Committee, a new space for the arena can be found where the current populace won’t be forced to give up their apartments via eminent domain. more ›

Yesterday, jurors for the case against free spending ex–Tyco CEO Dennis Kozlowski were treated to home video footage of his $18 million Fifth Avenue apartment, which the prosecution says was paid for by Tyco monies. Another $14 million was sunk into the apartment for renovations, art, and furnishings. The highlights: Paintings by Monet and Renoir, a $17,100 "leather and bronze toilette box" Kozlowski hated and stashed in a closet, and the infamous $6,000 shower curtain. The silver-threaded shower curtain reminds Gothamist that we're in the wrong business: Clearly, overcharging rich people to overdecorate their apartment is where the money is. more ›

The amateur video that shows the $2.1 million birthday party ex-Tyco CEO L. Dennis Kozlowski threw for his wife's 40th birthday, using Tyco money, not personal money, tells everyone something very clear: Some rich people are very tacky. Though this birthday was held in Rome Sardinia, apaprently the thing to do is recreate a Caesars Palace like atmosphere with men in gladiator wear and women in togas. Gothamist was going to say it seemed pretty gay, since it sort of looks like, from the Daily News's coverage, that some of the men were naked, but apparently they are wearing Speedos, which is gay in a Chippendales-way, not to mention the "cake shaped like a woman with exploding breasts," so we'll stick with tacky. One can only hope that jurors find Kozlowski not only guilty of "bilking Tyco's loan program of $170 million and swindling $430 million by selling artificially inflated Tyco stock" but of bad taste as well. more ›