- The great Chowhound uprising of 2007 seems like it will turn a corner; management promptly replies with fixes, explanations and small concessions. Give CNET some respect; they really do have to manage a loyal crowd who loves the site. more ›

Even though construction has been quietly progressing for the last month, today was the official groundbreaking for the High Line Park. Just about every local politician was there to make a little speech about the revitalization of the area, including Senators Clinton and Schumer, Mayor Bloomberg, and City Council Speaker Quinn. A requisite smatter of celebrities also showed up-- Barry Diller and his wife Diane Von Furstenberg, Kevin Bacon, and Ed Norton all stood on the dais during the speeches. Everyone was wearing green commemorative hard hats with the Michael Defeo flower on the front. The big moment was a ceremonial "rail lifting"-- although to tell the truth, the machine seemed to be doing most of the work while the politicos stood around for the cameras. more ›

The construction on the High Line seems to be progressing very fast. The construction workers have completely cleared the line south of 23rd Street, creating an eerily flat landscape. All of the wood trestles have been removed, giving the place the feeling of a very flat dirt road, winding through a canyon of buildings. A secure fence has been erected at 23rd Street, and the holes in the 28th Street gate have been plugged with gravel and rocks. Above 23rd Street, much of the old character of the High Line remains-- forests of strange plants growing up between the tracks, gardens that have been planted by people in the nearby buildings, and thousands of tons of liquor bottles that have been left there throughout the years. more ›

February 11: Raw Desserts at Organic Academics more ›

In a time before Pastis transformed the Gansevoort Market forever, Gothamist lived in shared commercial space on Little West 12th Street with some artistically inclined folks. The food routine was straightforward; La Taza de Oro and Hector’s (44 Little West 12th Street, 212-206-7592) for day to day prepared food, Chelsea Market and Western Beef to buy raw foodstuffs, and Rio Mar served endless tapas with your Sangria. more ›

Selling itself as both "earthy" and "sexy," ONE Little West 12 offers a dim, lounge-like setting with a menu that invites diners to get intimate on plush couches while indulging in cocktails and the fusion cuisine of chef Gavin Citron. With a menu that offers serving sizes , options range from "Wild Salmon Paillard with Pickled Beets, Marinated Chick Peas and Yoghurt" all the way to "Erica's Bad Ass Cheeseburgers with Saga Blue and Cheddar." Cheese platters, crispy calamari, and pizzettas are top picks for bigger groups; compliments to the ample wine and cocktail lists. If feeling particularly extravagant or stressing to impress, 30g of Iranian Oscetra caviar is offered for $96, or one can try the famed sirloin of Wagyu Kobe Beef accompanied by Potato Latkes, Garlic Kale and Cauliflower for $60. more ›

Everyone we know is doing something, however small, in response to the devastating disaster, but some are doing what they do best: cook and eat. We've heard of a few food events to benefit the tsunami relief effort, but please let us know if you've heard of any others. more ›

You can find the Dynamap at many NY stores, like Flight 001 or the MoMA Design Store, or purchase it here. It retails for $17.95, which is a little more expensive, but if your friends or family visit you in NY, it could be a good reference map to have around to give them as you send them to explore.
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Delta's discount air carrier Song is now the official sponsor of the Meatpacking District. According to the Daily News, via an AdAge scoop, the sponsorship will be tasteful - Song's logo will only be on maps that are distributed from stores and hotels in the area. Song is also sponsoring an AIDS benefit and Meatpacking bartenders will compete in a cocktail contest to make a Song cocktail. David Rabin, an owner of Lotus, is thrilled and NYU planning and urban policy professor Mitchell Moss says, "Song Airlines has figured out a way to get the benefits of being linked to the hottest neighborhood in the hottest city in the world." As we keep our guffaws down, our only hope is that Song will bottle the winning cocktail to serve to the travelers who have to listen to children scream for the entire flight, the way we did on our last Song flight. more ›

The Times looked at the changing face of Gansevoort Market, an area in the Meatpacking Distract that just won historic district status. The area is "bordered by 14th and 15th Streets on the north, Horatio Street on the south, West Street on the west and Hudson Street on the east." Both the restaurant owners and meatpacking unions are aligned in trying to manage development of the area so it does not lose its charm, or, rather, its grittiness. Reporter Michael Brick also dryly notes a "" Gothamist did chuckle over that. more ›