On a recent weekend, we saw Jacques Torres loading boxes of delectable treats from a van into his new store Jacques Torres Chocolate store at 285 Amsterdam Avenue, near 73rd Street, leaving us impressed at his commitment as a small business owner. Today, the chocolatier and the store are mentioned in a NY Times article that examines the emergence of Amsterdam Avenue as an option for retailers, who have traditionally been attracted to Broadway and Columbus Avenues for Upper West Side locations. more ›

Get your creepy crawly on with two potentially frightening movies out this weekend. Yet another '80s horror staple is getting the remake treatment with Dave Meyers' , that it's ill advised to piss off Sean Bean. That Brit is one menacing looking dude on screen. more ›

Gothamist can't imagine that being a high school basketball coach is all that easy, but does it mean you should be spanking your 16 year old players? By laying them across the lap? Oof. Drew Sanders pleaded guilty yesterday to "forcible touching" and will be placed on the sex offender list. Sanders lives in New Sprinville, Staten Island, and was accused to making the players strip off their shorts and underwear to be spanked either with his hand or with a ping-pong paddle at Susan Wagner High School and the Jewish Community Center in Staten Island. Sanders will get six years probation. more ›

Mayor Bloomberg was getting his Rosh Hashanah shop on the other day along Avenue J in Brooklyn. Rosh Hashanah, aka the Jewish New Year and one of the holiest days of the Jewish calendar, starts on September 15. There are a lot of workshops and events at the Jewish Community Center for the holiday. And we know it's the wrong holiday, but check out this NYC menorah. We'll await the Bloomberg family Rosh Hashanah recipes at the NYC.gov site and keep you posted. more ›

The NYPD is going to increase security over Passover, one of Gothamist's favorite holidays. more ›