The government apparently has it out for drivers this holiday season. First the NYPD "ruined" Passover and now Staten Islanders are saying the Port Authority "soured" Easter when its poor planning led to a traffic jam that lasted for hours. For some reason the PA decided it would be a good idea to only have one cash lane open on the Outerbridge Crossing on Easter and that has Councilman James Oddo hopping mad. “Let’s fire them, reassign them somewhere far, far away from Staten Island,” he said. "This wasn’t an hour; it wasn’t a two hour pain. It wasn’t a rush hour. It was an all day event. This is filed under 'galactically stupid'.” more ›

Today, Pope Benedict gave his Easter message to the Catholic masses from the Vatican, and urged that the fighting in Libya end, "In the current conflict in Libya, may diplomacy and dialogue replace arms, and may those who suffer as a result of the conflict be given access to humanitarian aid," and held hope for peaceful resolutions in North Africa and the Middle East, "May all citizens, especially young people, work to promote the common good." more ›

We know that today is the day many celebrate Jesus rising from the dead after having spent some time in America telling the Christians about chocolate bunnies...some of which have about 1,000 calories in them! This holiday can make you burst out of your Sunday's finest if you let it, according to a quiz in Women's Health. However, we're starting to question their definition of "junk food." more ›

Tomorrow is Easter, which means the NYPD is getting ready for a different kind of tradition: The so-called gang initiation rites. Last year, there were multiple brawls, shootings and arrests in and near Penn Station and Times Square, which was enough violence for Mayor Bloomberg to call it "wilding". Now, the Post reports, "The NYPD and Midtown merchants are bracing for another Easter Sunday (or 'Gang Initiation Day') wilding session -- with extra patrols and boosted security ready to take on marauding gangs looking to terrorize Times Square and nearby businesses" more ›

The best part of Easter Sunday—after the colorful Fifth Avenue Parade and before the Peeps sugar coma—is always what we like to call, the "Easter-Feaster". Maybe you've got family in town, or you've convinced your mother you can't make it out for her "famous" lamb shank this time, or you just want somewhere to show off your Easter bonnet. Whatever your reason, there's no judgment here; check out these six promising options. more ›

Remember when that liquor store in Greenpoint put chicks and bunnies in the window display in celebration of (a drunken, drunken) Easter? That was a bad idea. And now Farm Sanctuary wants you to resist the urge to do something similar, like say, buy some bunnies and ducklings and chicks as gifts this season just because you can. Or just because "the animated movie Hop, featuring an adorable bunny as the main character, is packing movie theaters nationwide" (though we're pretty sure Russell Brand isn't going to help move bunnies). more ›

It's been a rough month for residents of Roosevelt Island: the Queens-bound F train wasn't running this weekend, last week they lost the lone NYPD officer assigned to the island, and now they canceled their annual Easter egg hunt! We suppose it's just too dangerous to let rowdy kids search for eggs without police presence, but the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp insists the cancellation is simply due to a lack of resources, and unrelated to the loss of the island's lone cop. At a community meeting last week, irate locals yelled at each other over the cop's transfer, which the officer, Evilio Fernandez, blamed on local residents who accused him of racial profiling. more ›

Dozens of people have been arrested after melees in Times Square and near Penn Station that left at least four people shot by guns or a BB gun. According to WABC 7, "The violence broke out after a yearly Easter Night ritual of a roving band of rowdy youths walking to Times Square after attending the auto show at the Javits Center." And a security guard in Times Square told the Post, "This kind of nonsense [on Easter night] has been going on for the five years I've been here." more ›

Reader Alexandra spotted a bunny—on a leash—in Central Park this morning. Which makes sense, because wild rabbits have been scarce in the park. Except after Easter, which is when, according to the Central Park Conservancy's Regina Alvarez, people apparently dump "little white domestic rabbits" likely received as gifts. Alvarez says, "We have them removed and dropped off at an animal shelter. It isn't good for the rabbits—or the park." more ›

Preceding today's Easter's Mass at the Vatican, Pope Benedict didn't reference the various scandals around the world involving abusive priests (unlike his Palm Sunday address), but another cleric did. According to the NY Times, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, a former secretary of state and the dean of the college of cardinals, said, "Holy Father, the people of God are with you, and do not let themselves be impressed by the gossip of the moment, by the challenges that sometimes strike at the community of believers." more ›

So, we've got us a pre-Easter meteorological bonnet thing going on today and tomorrow. See, the high pressure system responsible for the clear skies is centered over the Canadian Maritimes. That will direct a shallow layer of cool, stable air over the city from off the ocean. The air is so stable it won't allow any mixing with warmer air above, thereby capping any heating. Highs today and tomorrow should only reach the mid 60s, well maybe upper 60s if everyone behaves. That's still ten degrees above normal, but not the mid 70s as previously hoped. If you want the warmer weather, head inland as the onshore flow is pretty weak. more ›

Yesterday Miss Heather came across this sad sight, the latest window display at T & N Wine and Liquor store on Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint. The establishment’s proprietor, Chris, told her he ordered 25 chicks from a hatchery, which were delivered via the USPS. They're currently being held hostage in the liquor store display window until just after Easter, when they will be promptly moved to a farm upstate, and killed six weeks later. Allegedly they were bred for body mass, and after that amount of time their legs will no longer be able to support their weight. more ›

The Daily News stopped Catholics outside of St. Patrick's Cathedral yesterday to ask them what they are giving up for Lent. (Archdiocese of NY explains, "Lent is a penitential season of preparation for the commemoration of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. It leads to Easter Sunday, which will be celebrated this year on Sunday, April 4, 2010.") Some of the answers/wishes: "Yelling at my children, foul language and drinking," Facebook because it's "addictive," and "road rage...The only time I tailgate is when I have to prove a point." Which makes us wonder: Will there be more road rage incidents once Lent is over, because points are meant to be proven, right? more ›

Trinity Church is making the most of Twitter: The Wall Street parish is Tweeting the Passion Play today—Twitter.com/twspassionplay's bio reads, "Twittering the story of Christ's final hours from 12 pm to 3 pm on Good Friday 2009." And there are already 582 followers! According to the AP, Trinity is "offering a Web version of the Stations of the Cross," but there's also an actual Stations of the Cross procession starting at 3 p.m. In other religion and tech news, we may need to wait next year for a Twitter Haggadah, but the Facebook Haggadah is pretty good. more ›

Edward Cardinal Egan, who was hospitalized for a few days after suffering stomach pains, is apparently feeling much better: He is planning on celebrating Holy Thursday mass today, as well as Good Friday masses and Easter Sunday masses, at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Egan is retiring next week, and Archbishop Timothy Dolan is being installed as his replacement on April 15. The NY Archdiocese also commented about Egan's need for a pacemaker: "Also still to be determined is the date for the implant of a pacemaker. Because this is not an emergency situation, the doctors have allowed for some flexibility in the scheduling of the procedure." more ›

Manhattan's Easter Parade is an annual tradition for people to show off their creativity as much as their finery. Young and old strut along 5th Avenue in front of an appreciative audience, even as they balance sometimes precarious constructions atop their heads. The parade used to be strictly for the peacockery of the well-heeled, but now anyone with a flair for creative design seems to have a chance to shine. Following is just a sample of floral, marshmallow, and NYC-inspired bonnets and hats that participants wore. Seeing it in person is even better. more ›

Easter, as you may know, is the holiday that often seems to celebrate the wonders of brunch, although rumor has it there's some religious thing involved as well. Whatever the holiday means to you, here are some Easter brunch (and dinner) options that sound particularly delectable. more ›