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Roses or chocolate or, credit card be damned, both? Since time immemorial, men have spent February 14th scrambling to buy the right things without paying through the nose. But now there's a way to get both classic gifts in one package, and have some of the proceeds go to a good cause, thanks to Rhonda Kave of Roni-Sue’s Chocolates. more ›

Bro, the Lower East Side has finally arrived! Know how we know? There’s totally a bangin’ new rodeo themed bar/restaurant with a mechanical bull!!! We’re going to be getting so much sweet action once the hotties see us taming that bad boy. Plus there’s like 16 killer beers on tap, chicken fried stake and pork chops! So untuck that striped shirt and ramble on down here, cowbro! Oh, and since the place still hasn’t settled on a name, try to come up with one on the way – we’re thinking maybe The Slouching Beast or Brodeo. 133 Essex St, near Rivington. more ›

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a pedestrian struck on 87th St. and Central Park West in Manhattan, a DOA in a tree off Woodhaven Blvd. in Queens, and a burn victim on 42nd St. and Vanderbilt Ave. in Manhattan. Sidewalk chalk outline artist Ellis G[allagher] was arrested by police and held overnight as he was being filmed by a PBS crew last week in Boerum Hill. Charges were dropped the next day and Gallagher... more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: shots fired on Jamaica Ave. in Queens, another shooting on East 126th St. in Manhattan, and yet another shooting at Snyder and Rogers Aves. in Brooklyn.
• Some Lower East Side residents want the currently vacant portion of the Essex St. Market used as a site for cheaper housing, not additional restaurants for wealthier newcomers.
• A beautiful panorama shot from the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center.
• The Daily News talks to Bobby Vigil, the first time visitor to NYC from Colorado who helped a flight crew restrain an airline passenger who wanted to get off a plane immediately, when it was still in the air over New York.
• In a settlement with New York's Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, the Fraternal Order of Police will disburse $9 million to the families of 72 cops killed in the 9/11/01 attacks.
• The Post reports that even as the number of cyclists in the city grows, the number of summonses issued for violations like riding without a helmet, riding on the sidewalk, or not having required reflectors declined 19%, to 21, 719 for the year ended June 30th.
• New Yorkers look out for each other at a West Village jazz club.
• When a woman leaned out her window yesterday and yelled "Help! Fire! The people next door are trapped!", 20-year-old William Kindred and an unidentified friend ran into a burning building on West 148th St. and kicked down the door to the super's apartment, rescuing the super, his daughter, and a third person.

MOVIE: Fraternity Massacre at Hell Island is...a real movie! With a plot and everything! Wanna hear it?: "Jack Jones, a pledge in Zeta Alpha Rho Fraternity must battle homophobia and a killer clown during his fraternity's Hell Night." Sounds pretty deep. more ›

A few weeks ago, Gothamist resolved to indulge in brunch more often, the weekly meal we enjoy the most, maybe because it's ok to eat sweet or savory (or maybe because of the mimosas). Gothamist beat the brunch rush to Essex (120 Essex St. @ Rivington) last Sunday morning, a little ashamed to admit it was our first trip to the LES establishment. more ›

. Okay, maybe we have a few suggestions up our sleeve... more ›

Gothamist doesn't really like New Years Eve, it's overhyped and too expensive. So short of suggesting you just stay at home here's a little list of things you could do to ring in '05. more ›

Nichelle Newsletter more ›

Tonight at Smithfield, Jon and Mario are resuming One Small Step, their monthly DJ gig. As Jon puts it, it's like "Pulp meets Modest Mouse meets Nightmares on Wax." Or from their e-mail: "It's on...10pm-2am...indie, britpop, beats, sexuality and mangina all night long." And that's right up Gothamist's alley. Excellent. more ›

Tonight at Smithfield, Jon and Mario are resuming One Small Step, their monthly DJ gig. No Small Step tonight - the owner just called Jon and Mario to tell them about a private party. We'll have to wait until next month. As Jon puts it, it's like "Pulp meets Modest Mouse meets Nightmares on Wax" and that's right up Gothamist's alley. Excellent. more ›