After sharing two surveillance videos as well as a rather amazing police sketch with the public, the police have arrested the man suspected of groping an 11-year-old girl at a Gramercy Park Dunkin Donuts. more ›

Remember how the police released a surveillance video of a man who allegedly groped an 11-year-old girl at a Manhattan Dunkin Donuts? And there was also a police sketch showing a corpulent creep that looked like something out of MAD Magazine? Well, now the cops have released a very brief second video showing the paunchy pervert. more ›

The NYPD released a police sketch and surveillance video of a man suspected of forcibly touching a young girl in Gramercy Park. [Updated to reflect correct address information.] more ›

Oh, United Nations diplomats with their fancy cars! We know they are awesome at racking up millions in unpaid parking tickets, but did you know that sometimes their drivers leave $100,000 Mercedes Benz S550 sedans double-parked and idling on streets as they duck into bodegas for snacks? more ›

After a number of weird stories—hoarding? check; dead finches? check—related to the National Arts Club, the Gramercy Park organization has announced its president Aldon James is stepping aside. Well, basically the board of governors, as DNAinfo puts it, "decided James, their president of 25 years, would take some time off." The NY Times reports that acting president Diane Bernhard said "that he had told the board 'he would be willing to take a leave of absence and take a vacation.'" more ›

Rockland County bird breeder Pierre Brooks says he sold National Arts Club president Aldon James about 50 Australian zebra finches last week. On Sunday, dozens of dead baby Australian zebra finches with orange tags around their legs were found dead in Gramercy Park, right across the street from the club. And you'll never guess who local residents suspect is responsible for what they're calling "finchocide.” more ›

Police are searching for three suspects who robbed an 84-year-old woman near Gramercy Park in Manhattan. The frail 84-year-old, who asked that her name not be released, says she was hit in the back and knocked down as the muggers took her purse: "I was easy prey. I was walking all alone, and looking very vulnerable. I guess someone saw it as easy money," she told the News. more ›

Yikes: A taxi crashed into scaffolding outside a bank on Park Avenue South and East 21st Street. WABC 7, which describes the cabs as an "out-of-control" SUV, reports that the incident occurred "just before 2 a.m." and sent four people to the hospital. Based on the photo, that cab seems like it must have been super out-of-control, since it's totally on the sidewalk. more ›

The police have released a sketch of a man suspected of molesting five different boys since last fall in the Gramercy Park area. The victims range in age from 11 to 15 and the most recent incidents were yesterday and Wednesday. MyFoxNY reports, "In each case, he grabbed the boy's buttocks from behind and then ran away. In one case, the man also kissed a boy on the cheek." The incidents took place in the morning or afternoon at 2nd Ave (btwn East 21st & East 22nd), corner of East 21st and 3rd Ave, corner of East 24th and 3rd Ave, on 2nd Ave (btwn East 20th & East 21st) and corner of 2nd Ave and East 22nd. The Daily News notes how there's a public school nearby on East 19th. The suspect is "described as male/Hispanic/20s to 30s, approximately 155 lbs., 5'5" tall.. medium build, with black hair and a light scar on the upper right side of his forehead." If you have information, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or text "TIPS" to CRIMES (274637) and then enter TIP577. more ›

What better time to go condo than during a credit crisis? The Real Deal reports that the owners of 36 Gramercy Park South, the landmarked and last rental building right on the private park, sent its tenants a "red herring" condo offering plan (red herring because it needs to be approved by the Attorney General's office first). And some details: "The 53 units at 36 Gramercy Park East are being offered for sale at an average price of $2,448 per square foot, though large units facing the park are going for much more. The most expensive apartment, a 2,078-square-foot, three-bedroom on the ninth floor facing the park that is currently rent-controlled, has been priced at $6,545,700, or roughly $3,150 per square foot. The least expensive, a 323-square-foot studio at the back of the building, has been priced at $484,500, or roughly $1,500 a square foot." At those prices, you'd think you'd be able to picnic in the park, but no. more ›

Have you checked out the sort of confusing Showtime endeavor the Showtime House in Gramercy Park? It opened earlier this season after undergoing a $20 million transformation. (What economic crisis?) Housed inside of a 19th century townhouse, it contains six rooms inspired by shows on the network: Weeds, Dexter, Californication, The L-Word, United States of Tara and The Tudors (Inside the NFL was robbed!). Videogum declares, "Oh that poor house, surviving more than a century of New York City development and disrepair only to be turned into this bogus nightmare." Meanwhile, Cool Hunting points out that you can buy the blood-soaked decor of the Dexter room from Brooklyn store Spring, though be warned, a dessert plate will cost you about 60 bucks. more ›

Meet Arlene Harrison: The self-described “Mayor of Gramercy Park.” She’s the one to talk to if undesirables are spotted infiltrating the private oasis, which requires a key for entry and exit, as two women recently discovered when a maintenance worker ejected them from the park during their Saturday picnic. How did he know they weren't quite the right material? They were probably breaking the rules by enjoying the park. more ›

A Gramercy Park co-op board is suing the residents of one of the building's units for dressing up their interior door with holiday decorations. Richard Belza and his roommate Andrew Meehan have been decorating their apartment door for holidays like the 4th of July, Halloween, Christmas Valentine's Day, and Easter. Belza is a floral designer and has a knack for decorating, so he doesn't understand why he is being sued. He told the New York Post, that he's been dressing up his door for years and no one's ever complained. "I just put up my Easter decorations." more ›

We can't believe it's been two years since we became acquainted with the Christmas home decoration stylings of Gramercy Park resident Joel Krupnik. Back in 2005, a Christmas display with a bloody knife-wielding Santa, severed doll head and more outside his East 18th townhouse caused much commotion after the Post dubbed Krupnik "Bad Santa" and put a photograph on its cover. more ›

For the past few months, the Post has been detailing the problems of apartment mold at a new condo conversion - and how they have forced longtime New York City local news personality Kaity Tong out of her home. In September, Tong had been living in Gramercy Park Hotel for many weeks, as the floors and wall in her Chelsea home started to buckle, seemingly caused by the conversion of the O'Neill Building, on... more ›

It appears the rumors of autumn's demise have been greatly exaggerated and you're going to have to start wearing a jacket outside after all. But the change of seasons is not without its perks; there are those hot winter drinks to look forward to, and a number of bars around town offer the perfect accompaniment for your hot toddy: a crackling fireplace. Below are some of New York's best places to chill out on a... more ›

If you're impressed when you see homes and apartment windows with store-bought cobwebs and a carved pumpkin, then prepare to let your mind explode. more ›

An engineering firm hired by the victims of Midtown steam pipe explosion say that there was a "crack-like flaw" in the pipe. Exponent Engineering's Robert Caligiuri wrote, "The observed crack-like flaw appears to be old and is large enough that, in my opinion, Con Ed should have detected it prior to the rupture. Once detected, good and accepted practices would have required that this pipe section be immediately replaced." more ›

more ›

This week in the Times, Bruni goes to Wakiya in the Gramercy Park Hotel, gives it no stars. “There’s a crushing sense of letdown” in the restaurant, he says, and “the slickness of the red and black setting and the poise of the best servers are undercut by dishes that too often look three times as good as they taste.” He likes the desserts, though. more ›

No one has been surprised that Gristedes supermarkets have been closing steadily over the past ten years, given the influx of other grocery options and rising rents. But the NY Times has a fascinating article on why Gristedes still manages to exist, despite shrinking in size. more ›

">Bruni one-stars Wild Salmon. We’re surprised Chodorow let him in the door, after their feud over his review of Kobe Club. “The food runs the gamut,” Bruni says, “by turns excellent, ordinary and puzzling.” He recommends that you stick with the salmon, and try the different varieties offered (except the coho). Finds the service “oppressive” in its exuberance. more ›

Omido: Designed by Avroko (who did Public, among others), this high-end sushi restaurant brings a bit of luxury to midtown West with touches like foie gras and gold leaf among the raw fish. 1695 Broadway at 53rd Street, 212-247-8110. more ›

As we know, Con Edison and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection have confirmed that asbestos was found in debris after the steam pipe explosion at 41st Street and Lexington, but that there is no airborne asbestos. If you were in the area of the explosion and have contaminated clothing, Con Ed is actually accepting clothes and will dispose of them:

Anyone who was in that area around 6 p.m. who has dust or debris on clothing or belongings should put them in a plastic bag and bring it to the Con Edison customer service van parked at the corner of Madison Avenue and 42nd Street. The van will be at that location for the next several days from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Con Edison will arrange for the safe disposal of these items. Customer care personnel will be available to help people fill out a reimbursement request.

During the Wednesday-night rush hour, a steam pipe at 41st Street and Lexington Avenue exploded, sending steam, mud, and pieces of the street hundreds of feet into the air. One person died and at least 20 people were injured. more ›

MOVIE: Last week Bryant Park was packed as Annie Hall played on the big screen. This week grab someone who's hand you'll be able to squeeze tight as the classic horror flick, The Thing, plays in the park. The timeless flick watches the sci-fi terror unfold as "scientists at an Arctic research station discover a spacecraft buried in the ice. Upon closer examination, they discover the frozen pilot. All hell breaks loose when they take him back to their station and he is accidentally thawed out!" more ›

Last week, the Sun reported that the "Bonnie & Clyde" burglars who robbed twenty-five apartments would face criminal charges next month. A couple from Savannah, Georgia, Robert Nestingen and Melissa Pavozehr, managed to steal about $350,000 in jewelry and cash since January 31 by targeting penthouse apartments. more ›

SCIENCE: Since we spent the weekend thinking about the Earth, spend tonight learning about Mars with NASA Solar System Ambassador Dr. Ken Kremer. He'll take you on a tour of the planet through 3-D orbital views. more ›

Central Park Dark #6, by 100Five. more ›