Over the weekend, investigators issued a warning to women in Long Island City, Queens, where six women have been assaulted by a bike-riding groper since September. Now, another disturbing attempted sexual assault in the borough has one City Council member vowing payback. more ›

Despite increasing warnings from Parks officials and a drowning death toll that continues to rise, swimmers are still finding their way into the Rockaways after lifeguards are off-duty, often into the night. The Times goes out to the Queens beaches to discover that "police officers patrol the area until 9 p.m. or so...but daring swimmers know to wait until the police leave to dive in, stepping past signs in English and Spanish warning against nighttime swimming." And one local resident tells the News, "Kids think it's just a big bathtub." City Councilman James Sanders held a community "brainstorming" session this week to discuss how to put an end to a deadly summer that has already claimed six victims, three times as many as all of last year. A Parks deputy described just how dangerous the waters can be by saying, "In certain weather conditions, particularly with a lot of south wind, the waves can create an opening in the bar. When that happens, it's like turning over a 5-gallon water cooler bottle and ripping the lid open - all the water comes rushing out." Here's a tutorial on what to do if you're caught in a rip current. more ›

You may be familiar with James Sanders' book Celluloid Skyline: New York and the Movies, which celebrated New York City's role in movies and is a must for any fan of New York, architecture, or film. But even if you haven't, you get a chance to experience it in beyond the pages: Starting tomorrow, Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall will be the setting for a Celluloid Skyline exhibit. There will be huge "scenic backing" paintings from old films, film footage, artifacts, displays and more that will show NYC's role in production and as a "mythic city" of the movies. Here's a description:

[The exhibit] will also carry visitors into the dream city of the movies, through “immersive” elements that allow visitors to feel as if they are actually inhabiting the various environments of the filmic city – streets, skyscrapers, rooftops, theaters, waterfronts, interiors – allowing viewers to come away with a greater understanding not only of the moviemaking process, but of the urban character, texture and significance of the real city. more ›

Subway station is better than no subway station. That's the lesson we're taking from the NY Sun's story about surging subway ridership at some unlikely stations. The fast growing station? The J/M/Z station at Bowery and Delancey, which now has 1,771 people entering the station daily, versus 308 in 1995. The station's growth seems to be a reflection of the intense Lower East Side development. more ›

Yesterday morning, Mayor Bloomberg met with the family of Sean Bell, who was fatally shot when the police fired 50 times at a car carrying him and two of his friends hours before his wedding over the weekend. The Mayor also met with black religious figures, community leaders and politicians before a press conference where he said:

It sounds to me like excessive force was used. I can tell you that it is to me unacceptable or inexplicable how you can have 50-odd shots fired... more ›

It took only a few days after "energy drink" Cocaine debuted at Fashion Week parties for local lawmakers to freak out. City Councilman James Sanders of Queens held a press conference and said:There are only two reasons that you would seek to use this infamous and insidious name to market your so-called energy drink. Either you are woefully ignorant of the horrors of cocaine addiction, or your god is the dollar bill, and not even human life is more sacred.”Cocaine the drink prides itself on being more caffeinated than Red Bull - but it's no match for a Starbucks coffee, as Newsday found out. And founder of the company that makes the drink, James Kirby, said, "People know the difference; I don't think people will look at our drink and say, 'Oh, I'm going to buy some real cocaine.' Cocaine is associated with energy, and we're allowed to do this." Obviously Kirby has a drink called "Heroin" in the pipeline that makes you really sedated and not much fun to be around. more ›

In a move that didn't surprise anyone, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz has officially endorsed Mayor Bloomberg. In the news clips, Bloomberg acknowledged (kind of smirkily) that Markowitz made a tough decision in switching sides, but whatever, Marty knew which side his Brooklyn bread was buttered on: The side with the candidate that will mostly likely win. Anyway, suspect it's the Mayor's support of bringing more big business to Brooklyn, but Markowitz, along with other Democratic politicians (State Senator Malcolm Smith, Assemblywoman Barbara Clark and Councilman James Sanders), claim that his crime, education and affordable housing records are what makes him endorsement-worthy. Interestingly enough, NY magazine's political piece questions whether the Mayor's Republican-ness carries too much of a stink for "thinking" Democrats to vote for him. Well, that's not stopping anyone from telling the polls they'll vote for him. more ›

Some movies on the theme: On The Waterfront, Unfaithful (never has the Metro-North been so decadent), and Plaza Suite. And find other great events in Gothamist Arts & Events. more ›

- Google News search of "Sex and the City" articles more ›