Animal lovers everywhere can consider themselves victorious. One small step was made for the anti-fur set, as the Humane Society of the US's president announced that, "JCPenney, with more than 1,000 stores in 49 states, has become fur-free, making it the first multiple location, traditional department store to be fur-free in stores and on its website. The company is currently fur-free and has no plans for fur items in the future." Racked is skeptical however, and thinks that the store's motives "can't be completely golden; we're sure the current economy's effects on both shopper's budgets and store bottom lines played major parts in the decision." Earlier this year the HSUS called out some other NYC department stores for mislabeling their fur products. JCPenney will be opening their Manhattan Mall store this summer, and maybe the PETA strippers will be doing their shopping there. more ›

That report of an EDP near Herald Square this morning? It turns out a man stabbed a woman - in the lobby of the Manhattan Mall! The Post says the woman was "stabbed in the back, arm and wrists" during the morning rush hour. The lobby was covered in blood, forcing the building to close the West 33rd Street entrance. The victim and attacker were both taken to Bellevue. The victim is described as the... more ›

If you tuned into Good Morning America this morning, you may have noticed Diane Sawyer extracting something from a safe. And, yes, that red and furry object was the new Tickle Me Elmo T.M.X. - T.M.X. for Tickle Me eXtreme. Not only the the doll talk in the third person and giggle, Elmo basically has a crazy laughing fit - slapping his knee, falling on his back and convulsing, getting back up, falling on his side, rolling to his front, slapping the floor, getting back up. Forget getting this for kids - this is totally what we're getting everyone for their birthdays. Or we're just going to buy a lot and sell them on eBay, most likely at a loss. more ›

A few weeks ago we metioned our latest feature, Tourist. Fittingly, the first New York band to write about their tour for us...never even left New York. more ›

- And hold your breath - commercial trash workers are going on strike; businesses effected include the Ritz-Carlton, Ziegfeld, the Manhattan Mall and Shea Stadium more ›

the women's room. Please, it's the Manhattan Mall - Gothamist is so sure that a transgender woman is not the oddest thing to be in that bathroom. And other shoppers were actually very supportive of Bogan using the ladies' room. We're actually pretty impressed that the City Commission now has such a wide interpretation of the law. But to tell the truth, even though they don't identify themselves as men, tons of women bum rush men's rooms since the women's room at various concert halls, ballparks, and theaters are too crowded. In fact, Gothamist is more concerned about equalizing bathroom rights for men and women; we wonder what happened to the City Council's old proposal. more ›

The Post liked pointing out that Getter had a copy of the Post in his protective vest, which broke off the knife's handle; in the Post's words, Getter used "a copy of the New York Post to help save his own life." Malayaev had managed to crawl away from the Park, across the street to a Duane Reade, where others helped him. Malayaev and de Jesus are both in serious condition. more ›