Yesterday, the European Union and IMF agreed to a $1 trillion emergency rescue package to, as Reuters put it, "stabilize world financial markets and prevent the Greek debt crisis from destroying the euro currency." One investment strategist said, "The authorities have put in place the mother of all aid plans, in an effort to prevent further losses in confidence"; Bloomberg News says those losses in confidence resulted in $3.27 trillion being wiped from the value of the global stock market last week. The Dow Jones just opened up 339 points (3.27%); CNBC reminds us, "This comes after last week's nauseating selloff that sent the Dow below 10,400." more ›

Stock markets around the world are "slumping" and "jittery" over worries about European debt, led by Greece's problems. Riots in Greece have left three dead after a fire bomb was set in an Athens bank. Protesters, who have thrown rocks and Molotov cocktails at parliamentary buildings, are upset with the government's measures to "contain Greece's spiraling debt." The austerity measures include freezing wages and higher taxes. more ›

At the Ethnic Market highlights international specialty foods and ingredients that you're very unlikely to find at your local Gristedes. Euro Shop, a small store whose window is decorated with the flag of the European Union has always intrigued us. Among other things it offers a half dozen types of paprika paste; a meat counter filled with bacon, sausages and pork crackling; and a plethora of Hungarian junk food. Now that we’ve had their homemade... more ›

Marko Perkovic (known as Thompson on stage, portrayed by Kitler at right) is coming to town, and the protesters are awaiting -- with good reason. The Croatian rock star is known for nostalgically warbling for the Ustaša regime and glorifying the Nazis in his songs, and we can't imagine his anti-Semitism sing-a-longs are going to be very popular here in New York. The musician isn't all about the controversial topics (though it does get him lots of publicity), he also croons tunes about God and family. Can these lighter topics balance out his glorification of war and his nation's Nazi past? No...but he'll be bringing his full set for two shows to the Croatian Center in Midtown next month anyway.

In past concerts, he has performed an anthem of the country's Nazi-backed military regime — the Ustaša — that references extermination camps where tens of thousands of Jews, Serbs, and Gypsies were killed during World War II. He greets adoring crowds with a famous Ustaša slogan — and many respond with the Nazi salute. more ›

After getting its liquor license some time back and entering 2.0-dom, the next upgrade for this release here with Ned Elliot and his flameout closing the logs on version 2.1. Tomorrow another chapter of the European Union story, potentially the most promising yet, begins when Akhtar Nawab takes over the stoves for his first day. After Allen & Delancey failed to open in the fall, Nawab’s next move was not known but this will be a great thing for the neighborhood. At Craftbar, his dishes were well-conceived and smoothly executed, providing many a gustatory delight for diners. His sous chef will be Josh Miller, who appears to have been working at the restaurant prior to Chef Nawab's arrival. more ›

- As early subscribers to their email dispatches, we really enjoy the work done by our -ist based cousins at Thrillist. After today’s article in the NY Daily News about their “48 legit destinations, each serving 'til at least 3am on weekends”, we are inclined to love’em more. more ›