An orthodontist was killed while taking his 5-year-old daughter to the Annadale playground at Flushing Meadows Park. Around 11AM, Daniel Malakov was shot in the chest twice by someone who witnesses say was wearing a black fleece. more ›

There's a fun NY Times City section article about the Queens Museum of Art's Panorama Challenge. The Queens Museum of Art's panorama is a to-scale model of New York City: One inch equals 100 feet (the Empire State Building is 15 inches tall) and the model was originally designed for the 1964 World's Fair, as a "helicopter" ride over New York City. (And, yes, Parks Commissioner Robert Moses commissioned the panorama in 1964, just as he commissioned the Queens Museum of Art's building, the former New York City Pavilion for the 1939's World Fair.) more ›

This is a report we'd love to get our hands on: The Post reveals details from a 44-page City Council report about crimes in the city's biggest parks. And it turns out that Riverside Park leads all parks, with 36 major crimes reported during the spring and summer; Flushing Meadows Park had 35 crimes, and Prospect Park was number three, with 25 major crimes. Central Park was not included "because it is its own precinct and crime figures have long been available for the park." more ›

Police believe that the man severely beaten on Christmas Day near the Unisphere in Flushing Meadows Park was part of a string of robberies by the same men. The victim (pictured and still unidentified) in Monday's Christmas attack had been riding his bicycle and is now in critical condition. more ›

Yesterday, there were two mugging incidents in city parks. Last night, a man was beaten with a club near the Unisphere in Queens' Flushing Meadows Park. He had been walking through the park around 6:40PM when two men attacked him. Police believe they were trying to rob the man, who is now in critical condition at Elmhurst General. more ›

If you're looking for some non-traditional activities this weekend, the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival is taking place all weekend long. Saturday and Sunday from 9-5, there will be dragon boat racing, food, and other cultural activities in Flushing Meadows Park. Dragon boat racing has a long history that, according to legend, symbolizes the race to save someone that committed suicide. more ›

News that Queens Borough President Helen Marshall is putting her discretionary account towards repairing the Unisphere (regularly working fountains!) reminds Gothamist of another classic, and often forgotten, New York trip: The Queens Museum of Art and the Panorama of the City of New York located within it. more ›

There's a really cute picture in the New York Times of little kids dressed up as the Bible action hero, Bibleman. Bibleman has been in Flushing Meadows Park, on hand for the Billy Graham revival (which saw Bill and Hillary Clinton last night), is fascinating to Gothamist because who knew Christians would think men wearing tights would be okay. That, and the "Jew-y villains" that WFMU's blog pointed out. For instance, here's WFMU's description of one villain: "The Fibbler - A Jewish Gene Wilder / Burgess Meredith kind of villain who clouds the minds of young people and gets them started down the path of evil secular humanism by encouraging white lies and equivocation." Check out the Times to see more quotes like this prayer that the man playing Bibleman yesterday gave the children, "Dear Jesus, I think you're really cool, and I want you to be my best friend. So I admit that I have sinned, and I ask you to forgive my sins." See, that's why kids love Christianity - being forgiven of everything bad they do! more ›

Starting today, the Reverend Billy Graham will be preaching in Flushing, Queens in what it seems like everyone is excitedly calling "his last crusade" because he's old and seems to be ready to die. The "crusade" is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of people, and it'll be a big media event, too - Brian Williams anchoring the NBC Nightly News tonight from Flushing Meadows Park tonight; the Hollywood Reporter points out that Graham's 1957 sermon at Madison Square Garden was televised by ABC. The 86 year-old preacher even visited Flushing Meadows Park last night, to check out the site and thank workers. Gothamist hopes there's an extensive air-conditioning system onstage, as it's supposed to be humid, hot, hazy, and yes, hellish, this weekend, though TV producers might think a fainting Graham would make good TV. This weekend's event is an expensive $6.8 million, with all sorts of Grahamites available (the NY Times has one of their trademark fun graphics of what's where). more ›

City Rag tipped us off to another annual NYC barbecue event. Gothamist has attended the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party this year and last year, but we haven't yet made it to BBQ NYC, which was held on July 24th in Flushing Meadows Park. City Rag was able to interview the founder of the event, Travis Mills, and take some mouthwatering pictures which makes us even more sad that we weren't there. We'll be sure to go next year, thanks to CityRag's following tips:

- go to the official website for information on how to attend and to get on the mailing list BBQ-NYC.com (and there will be pix and updates about the event there in the coming days) more ›

If it's the U.S. Open, then it's that time of year to complain about how expensive food at Flushing Meadows Park is. USTA officials were trying to enforce a "no food policy" to spectators - to the point of forcing fans to fork over $5 to check in their food - but when faced with a nasty fan revolted, they revoked it. Claiming heightened post-September 11, fans hadn't been able to bring food in containers last year, but this year, the rule extended to plastic wrapped food. This sent tennis lovers into a tizzy, with the prospect of $18.50 triple-decker sandwich or $4.50 for bottle of Evian ahead of them - leading many to believe the USTA was trying to drive sales to their overpriced concession stands. But by day's end, fans could have their plastic wrapped cake and eat it, too. more ›