In the event that you missed WORD's late-night Murakami read-a-thon on the release night of his new novel, IQ84, fret not! You have another opportunity to hear parts of Murakami's eagerly anticipated magnum opus read aloud, this time by some rather famous fans. more ›

If you've been anxiously counting the days until the American release of author Haruki Murakami's epic new novel, 1Q84, this is the event for you: WORD Bookstore in Greenpoint is hosting an after-hours Murakami Read-a-Thon/ release countdown party on October 24! Come together with your fellow Murakami-philes and pass the time from 10:30 p.m. to midnight (when IQ84 is officially released) with round-robin readings of the best Murakami passages from his previous books, and snack on Peter Pan donuts and cheap wine until the magic hour hits. more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a double shooting at Willoughby and Throop Aves. in Brooklyn, a bank robbery on Queens Blvd. in Queens, and a water rescue off the North Channel Bridge in Queens.
• A Bronx man taking his 5-year-old nephew to the bathroom in an East Harlem park was gunned down in front of the child when accosted by thieves.
• A new safety group formed after 9/11 is proposing that skyscrapers include a third set of stairwells. Architects complain it is an excessive demand.
• Walking tours are an incredibly fun way to learn more about your city.
• On a crowded street, a man was either stabbed in the neck or had his throat slashed on East 4th between 1st and 2nd Aves. in Manhattan Friday evening.
• TimeOut NY features the final results of its Ultimate NY Book Bracket. John O'Hara's novel "Butterfield 8" and Joseph Mitchell's essay collection "Up In The Old Hotel" are completely excluded from the tournament, but Haruki Murakami's "Kafka On The Shore" made it to the Sweet 16 from the group designated "Books in Translation." We're not sure what the exercise has to do with New York City.
• Manhattan parishioners are fighting to keep their Catholic churches open.
• A born New Yorker: four MTA Bridge & Tunnel workers assisted a 24-year-old woman give birth to a baby girl at the entrance of the Queens-Manhattan tunnel this morning. Once she was born, cops waived the $4 toll as the family was sent through to Manhattan's Bellevue Hospital.

On Sundays Gothamist runs opinion pieces relevant to life in New York and reviews of recent books and performances. The judgments expressed below are entirely those of the author. more ›

Today, the store Giant Robot, known in L.A. and San Francisco for its selection of cool toys, books and clothes (hello, Mr. Dob), opens a New York location - Giant Robot New York - in the East Village. And tonight, there's an opening reception from 6-10PM, with sponsors like Dumpling Man, Glaceau, Uglydoll and Matador/Beggars (we suspect there will be eats, good tunes, and, hopefully, a lifesize Jeero!)! Plus, the artwork of Eishi Takaoka (whose sculpture is on the cover of Haruki Murakami's Kafka on the Shore) will be displayed for through July. more ›

Lowell Massachusetts native Jack Kerouac is getting bobbleheaded - Boston Red Sox single-A affiliate Lowell Spinners will be giving out 1000 Jack Kerouac bobbleheads on August 21, as part of Jack Kerouac night. more ›