Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: Hostages(!) on Geranium and Kissena Blvds. in Queens, a pedestrian struck at Stillwell and Mermaid Aves. in Brooklyn, and a bank robbery on Columbus Ave. and 72nd St. in Manhattan. Knicks coach Isiah Thomas says that the stress of lawsuits are no distraction. He can keep doing what he's doing regardless of legal problems. A boat full of gadget-minded men. There was a stop-off at Liberty Island; and slide... more ›

Remember how last November, a Goya painting en route to the Guggenheim's Spanish Painting from El Greco to Picasso show was stolen? The painting, which belongs to the Toledo Museum of Art, was pilfered near Scranton, Pennsylvania outside the Howard Johnson the drivers were staying. There were concerns that the painting was nicked in an inside job, but luckily it was found in New Jersey, with the FBI calling it a "typical New Jersey cargo theft" (think of any mob movie or show you've seen where the crews are lifting shipments). more ›

an inside job. more ›

1. The feds won't institute guidelines for September 11-related autopsies
2. The children saved by their mom from a Brooklyn house fire are doing well; the mom, though, has undergone surgery for second and third degree burns
3. The upstate mom who went clubbing with her daughter and daughter's friend and then drove drunk, killing the friend and seriously injuring another driver, was indicted for murder
4. Mayor Bloomberg kinds hates Manhattan Beep Scott Stringer
5. $20 City Councilman Vallone is distributing this to his constituents
6. The Goya en route from Ohio to the Guggenheim was stolen outside a Howard Johnson Inn! Was the "professional art transporter" distracted by the fried clams? And the thief (or thieves) had insider knowledge!

Time to take a 15 year trip back in time. Jesse Chan-Norris was cleaning his apartment when he found a ticket stub for a game between the Mets and the Cardinals from September 22, 1991. The Mets lost the game 2-1 in front of a crowd of 21,113. The loss brought their record to 72-77. The craziest thing about the ticket is the price - $14! A similar ticket now would cost more four times the amount. more ›

As we mourn the passing of the Times Square Howard Johnson, at least we can gain some comfort knowing that it's spirit lives on at the LoSide Diner (pictured at left during construction), scheduled to open this weekend. Brian Crawford, former executive chef at Dean & DeLuca, calls the new Lower East Side comfort food joint "an ode to HoJo's," despite the fact that it's not painted orange and turquoise. more ›

It has happened: The Howard Johnson at Broadway and 46th Street has been sold. The Rubinstein family who owned the HoJo at 1551 Broadway for ages sold the property, plus another building on West 34th, for $100 million. The Post speculates that the new retailer will be something a little more high-end, as rumors say the buyer, Wharton Acquisitions, will level the building to create a "retail box" like the Times Square Toys R Us to make a "world-class branding opportunity" for some major brand. Hmm, maybe a Campbell's Soup Test Kitchen? A Procter & Gamble Health and Beauty Aids Emporium? What do you think will go there? more ›

William Grimes came up with a better title for his Howard Johnson's restaurant review: HoJo's to Go? Say It Ain't So Apparently the old HoJo's in Times Square is thinking about packing it in, probably to make room for another Olive Garden restaurant or something like that. I love HoJo's- it was the hotel of choice for my poor pinko parents back in the 1970s. And I disagree with Grimes about the clam strips- I think they are just rubbery enough. more ›