Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: an injured firefighter at Ave Y and Knapp St. in Brooklyn, serious trauma at the Bryant Park ice rink in Manhattan, and a stabbing at 169th St. and Linden Blvd. in Queens. The New Yorker collects quotes from striking writers and their supporters regarding the strike beard phenomena. Conan O'Brien, on perhaps the only physical feature that will ever help him resemble a lumberjack: "I’m the only guy chopping......

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: an explosion at Linden Blvd. and 220th St. in Queens, a homicide on Sedgewick Ave. in the Bronx, and a water main break on Prospect Place in Brooklyn Santa may have to bypass coalition troops stationed around the world today, but holiday presents will be appreciated even if they do arrive a few weeks into 2008. Newsday has a nice piece on gift-giving to troops and how to do......

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a stabbing on 20th Ave. and the Whitestone Expressway in Queens, a slashing on Van Siclen Ave. and Linden Blvd. in Brooklyn, and three people were shot (one homicide) on Hoe Ave. in the Bronx. Just when you thought crime in Newark could not possibly get worse, a witness in a major drug trial was murdered before he could testify. Cops believe that his killing was facilitated by a......

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a suspicious package at Broadway and Wall St. in Manhattan, a shooting at 158th St. and Linden Blvd. in Queens, and a homicide on Popham Ave. in the Bronx. Local One, New York's stagehands union, doesn't want Mayor Bloomberg to mediate in their negotiations with Broadway producers and theater owners. A 40-year-old Staten Island bus driver is accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old frequent passenger on his route. The......

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a gas main break on Dale Ave. and Amboy Rd. on Staten Island, an overturned garbage truck on Fountain Ave. and Linden Blvd. in Brooklyn, and a triple shooting on 82nd St. in Queens. When a boomtown real estate market goes bust, even the far-out reaches of NYC can assume a ghost town-like quality. Tavern on the Green is being sued for years of alleged racial and sexual harassment.......

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a pedestrian struck at Arden Ave. and Hylan Blvd. on Staten Island, a fall victim down an elevator shaft on West 38th St. in Manhattan, and injured officers at 124th St. and Linden Blvd. in Queens. The city's Office of Emergency Management will be shutting down streets around Penn Station tonight between midnight and 4am in order to run drills testing New York's preparedness for a terrorist attack. City......

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a pedestrian was struck at East 51st St. and Linden Blvd. in Brooklyn, a fatality as a person was struck by a train at West Houston St., and a baby water rescue on Bodine St. on Staten Island. In response to an overabundance of animals at city shelters, Broadway stars gathered to promote pet adoption this weekend at Broadway Barks. Little Leaguers played tee-ball on the South Lawn of......

If you are thinkin about getting a cat, please take a look at cats from the city's animal shelters. The shelters are overcrowded with cats, and with the weather prevented many walk-ins interested in pets, the shelters may have to euthanize cats and kittens if homes are not found for them. A shelter spokesperson says, "The cats are beautiful. These are not nasty, sick alley cats. We're seeing Persians, Siamese, and domestic short hairs and......