Arthur Emil, the man behind the late Windows on the World and The Rainbow Room, has won the coveted contract to operate the famous Oak Room and Oak Bar (pictured) in the Plaza Hotel, which is near the end of a three-year, $400 million makeover. The 18 story landmark building opened in 1907 and operated as a hotel until 2005, after being sold for $675 million. After delays blamed on “red tape”, the Plaza......

For some people, celebrating New Year's didn't mean drinking champagne and wearing whimsical hats: It meant trying to deliver a baby! New York City's first 2008 newborns are from Queens: Kamiyah Alina Barrow was born at midnight at New York Hospital Medical Center in Queens while Isabella Sophia Sears was born about a minute later at Elmhurst Hospital Center. Baby Kamiyah, 8 pounds and 4 ounces, was born less than an hour after her parents......

Oh no! Could it be? Is the rematch between Takeru 'Tsunami' Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut in doubt? Last year at the Nathan's annual 4th of July Hot Eating Contest, Kobayashi narrowly defeated Chestnut to win the Mustard Belt for the sixth year in a row. Defending his title next week may not be possible for Kobayashi. First, his mother passed away in March, causing the Tsunami to take a sabbatical from training. Now, news......

Yankees 10, Orioles 7: Yeah, you read the headline right. Alex Rodriguez came through in yesterday afternoon's game in the biggest way - with a two-out game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the 9th inning. It was his 2nd home run of the game. The bottom of the ninth inning went something like this: out, out, Robinson Cano single, Derek Jeter walk, Bobby Abreu hit-by-pitch, grand slam by Rodriguez into the black seats. Kei......

READING: Alice Walker's daughter, Rebecca Walker, reads from her book "Baby Love: Choosing Motherhood after a Lifetime of Ambivalence". Babies, family, pregnancy...will all be discussed. 7pm // Barnes & Noble [675 Sixth Ave] // Free EVENT: Ever wonder how Shakespeare would respond to current events? Well someone did, and now there's an event series, Conversations with Shakespeare, based around what he would do if he were alive today. In other words, WWSD? This week "your......

Of all the possible "celebrities" you'd expect to get in a fight, Axl Rose would probably be on the list. But designer of preppy clothing that rapper somehow took a liking to, Tommy Hilfiger? At Rosario Dawson's birthday party at Plumm (VIP Room, natch) last night, apparently Axl Rose moved Hilfiger's girlfriend's drink down the table. And maybe she was jostled by Rose. A witness tells the Daily News, "Tommy put his hand out, Axl......

Vince Carter and the Nets may have seen their ten-game winning streak snapped last night in a 96-91 loss at San Antonio, but Lawrence Frank's team has nothing to be ashamed of. Their streak may not have come against the best competition, but it was a desperately needed run that has vaulted them to a 19-13 record after their sluggish start. Vince Carter has shown his better half of late, and Jason Kidd continues to......

Last week former Nets coach Byron Scott landed on his feet as the new head coach of the New Orleans Hornets. While doing some research on an upcoming story, Gothamist ran across this cloumn from the always knowledgeable John Hollinger on why Scott shouldn't expect his stay in the Big Easy to be very long. Hollinger cites the Hornets move from the Eastern Conference to the superior West as a major reason that Scott is......

Rebecca Lobo, WNBA Commentator...

With flusher economic times in most sectors, the power lunch booms once again. The Times' David Carr does his media thing, but now with a side of food, as he examines the restaurants where the powerful tend to eat. The hot restaurants are The Four Seasons, Michael's, DB Bistro Moderne (deemed downtown, even though it's only on 44th!), and newcomer Lever House, where the booths are tables du jour. Other restaurants include Eleven Madison......

Grand Central Terminal will turn an unused taxi stand into an area for al fresco dining. According to Newsday, "three restaurants in the station will offer al-fresco service in this block-long crescent stretching along Vanderbilt Avenue between 43rd and 44th streets under a Park Avenue overpass." Cipriani Dolci, Michael Jordan's Steakhouse, and Campbell Apartment will be involved, and they are getting "chairs, special tables with linen tablecloths, candles" for the outdoor area. While there's excitement......

I don't think I am a business road warrior, someone who can jump from plane to plane and make each hotel room his/her own home. Airports make me a little crazy, since I tend to have too many bags to keep track of and going anywhere, bathroom, newsstand, becomes a funny challenge. ("Ha, that girl has a laptop, messenger bag, pull carry-on luggage, winter coat, and bottle of water - and she thinks she's going......

In honor of our mayor, Michael Bloomberg, coming in at a hot #63 on the Forbes World's Richest People List, Gothamist is taking suggestions for nicknames. Mayor Bloomberg has no nickname - Mike doesn't count, because it's pretty bland...if I said Mike, you'd think of Michael Jordan first. Or Mike Piazza. Unlike the use of "Rudy." Molly once spotted the "Gooliani" written on the subway, which has a certain ring to it. Much like a......