In part two of our interview with Buzz Bissinger, we talk to the author about his book Friday Night Lights, his recently released follow-up documenting his twenty-five year relationship with Boobie Miles, After Friday Night Lights; Bissinger's latest book, Father's Day, a memoir about raising one of his twin sons who was born with brain damage; what he thinks about Twitter; and his current opinion on blogs. You can find out more about Father's Day here, follow Buzz's 140-character screeds @buzzbissinger, and read part one of our interview about banning college football. more ›

So you're in New York [tomorrow] for a debate about banning college football. Do you feel that all of college football should be banned or is it just the BCS? I think all of college football should be banned. I have a feeling these programs don't make any money and no one is really, on any level, presenting a good argument to me as to why they should exist in an academic setting. more ›

This week we'll be taking a closer look at New York City's winged animals, starting today with some information on what kind of birds we have in this city. We talked to Rob Jett, who runs weekly birdwatching tours in Green-Wood Cemetery (Wednesdays) and Prospect Park (Tuesdays), logging what he spots with his binoculars on his blog, The City Birder. Below, Jett tells us what kind of birds one can expect to see around these parts if they look close enough, and more. more ›

Last week we were thrilled to happen up a new Tumblr called Bon Iver Erotica, and quickly bookmarked it as we simultaneously threw away our copy of Fifty Shades Of Grey. Because this is our Fifty Shades Of Grey now. It's "Hey Girl" meets the seclusion of northwestern Wisconsin and it is perfect. So naturally, we wanted to find out more about the project—and while we were sad that Justin Vernon himself wasn't sitting behind the curtain, the twenty-somethings who are running the show are doing a damn good job on their own. We caught up with them this week to find out more... more ›

Late last month, Eric Emm and Jesse Cohen of Tanlines sat down with Gothamist to talk about their latest album Mixed Emotions, uncertain futures, and what's coming next in their lives. The band is currently on tour, and tonight play a sold-out show at Bowery Ballroom. more ›

On April 15th, Lena Dunham's show Girls (which is executive produced by Judd Apatow) will premiere on HBO, finally giving young women an accurate television mirror upon which to gaze, and it's about damn time. Where Candace Bushnell created an army of Manolo-wearing Carrie Bradshaw wannabes with Sex And The City, Dunham has written for an audience that already exists. She is "the voice of a generation... or a voice, of a generation," as her character Hannah declares in the first episode of the show. more ›

Last weekend, we posted about the NORML rally that took place at City Hall, right before the St. Patrick's Day parade. One of those demonstrators was Dr. Sunil Aggarwal—a resident physician at the NYU Rusk Institute Of Rehabilitation Medicine—who posted the text of his speech in our comments section. The speech is worth a read as it contains some interesting pot-related NYC history: more ›

Rob Michael Hugel's new web series I Hate Being Single is becoming a fast favorite amongst those who have discovered it, and we're here to pass it along to you. Hugel has created the opposite of the MTV brand of hipster caricature portrayed in I Just Want My Pants Back, and manages to cover the H-word nation in a much more refreshing way (yes, it's possible). So sit back, grab a Decaf Noir from Blue Bottle, and embrace his five minute masterpieces. more ›

Will Ferrell hardly needs an introduction. Last year he won the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor for his "impact on American society in ways similar to the distinguished 19th century novelist," which is to say he can pull off a heartwarming performance as an innocent elf as well as a boorish fraternity has-been, all while influencing the American electorate and cracking up his colleagues on SNL. more ›

As you may know, Apes & Androids were our favorite band in the entire universe. Even though they've disbanded, it's exciting that many of them continue to make music, and this weekend Morgan Z (the band's former keyboardist) will debut his new project: Chrome Canyon (listen here). He has already released an EP, entitled Body Music, with French label On The Fruit Records, and later this year he'll be releasing a full length, called Elemental Themes. more ›

Today was a big day for all of us: we found out there are now TWO Ryan Goslings. You know, basically. But it was even a bigger day for America's newest Ryan Gosling, who goes by the name Joey Thompson. Throughout the day the Gosling lookalike's video explaining "how to look like Ryan Gosling" has made its way around the internet, and now he's handling the viral after effects like a real pro. We asked him some questions... more ›

Sitting is killing us all, that much we know. "Sitting 6+ hours per day makes you up to 40% likelier to die within 15 years than someone who sits less than 3. Even if you exercise." Need more convincing? Here are some of those scaremongering illustrations for you: more ›

Marshall Curry has profiled NASCAR hopefuls and Newark Mayor Corey Booker (which earned him an Oscar nomination), and his latest, If A Tree Falls, follows the plight of Daniel McGowan, a former member of the Earth Liberation Front, a group that the F.B.I. once dubbed "America's #1 domestic terrorist threat." Curry traces McGowan's journey from his identity as the mild-mannered son of an NYPD officer to a radical environmental activist in the Pacific Northwest, carrying out arson in the name of the ELF, and back again. McGowan faces a life sentence plus 335 years for committing acts of terrorism, and his guilt is never in doubt. But the movie forces us to think about who a "terrorist" is, and how our society treats citizens who feel that they have no voice. more ›

Ed Schoenfeld may not be a household name, but to anyone who's paid attention to the city's dining scene over the past 40 years, he certainly is. "Eddie Glasses," as he's nicknamed, is one the city's (really, the country's) preeminent food experts, particularly in Chinese cuisine, and he's made a career for himself since the '70s as a restaurateur/host/consultant/food-world insider of formidable authority. Schoenfeld's first taste of fame was for running the front of the house at the four-starred Uncle Tais Hunan Yuan on the Upper East Side in 1973, and over the years he's been involved with everyplace from Shun Lee to Chinatown Brasserie. Years ago, Gourmet magazine dubbed him "the curator of Chinese food in America," and it still holds true today. more ›

Who says women don't like whisky? Certainly not Heather Greene, a petite whisky expert who travels the world extolling the virtues of single malt Scotch for Glenfiddich. Greene, who stumbled into her career in liquor while traveling through Scotland as a musician, recently launched a "Women & Whisky" campaign, a series of events and tastings designed to get discerning ladies to spread the good word about the brown stuff. Her next event, the so-called “Single Malt Speakeasy,” is tomorrow, November 16, at 8 p.m. 1534 bar in Soho. (RSVP here if you'd like to attend.) We sat down with Greene to talk about why women should love whisky and her favorite places to drink it in the city. more ›

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and if you're cooking instead of eating out on the big day, it's time to talk turkey. Who better to break the bird down than a professional butcher? We spoke to Brent Young at Williamsburg's The Meat Hook, which transforms into a one-stop Thanksgiving shop next week, to get the ultimate turkey tips. And if you're more of a visual learner, stop by the shop all day on November 19 and 20 for free Thanksgiving how-to demos on everything from turkey carving to pie making. Take it away, Brent! more ›