Sad use of our flag. [cropped], by S.D. at flickr Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a shooting at 104th Ave. and Remington St. in Queens, a bank robbery on Lexington Ave. and 45th St. in Manhattan, and a gas main break on Van Siclen Ave. in Brooklyn.Midtown Lunch considers why it was left off the positive press clippings wall of the new Goodburger.New York Shitty wonders about these Bed-Stuy guard dogs - they only......

When it comes to sushi our tastes skew authentic. Mackerel. Amberjack. Occasionally a tuna and natto hand roll, not Christmas or Dragon rolls. Nevertheless, Gothamist remains a sucker for a gimmick. So when Sakae Sushi, a Singapore-based kaiten – or conveyor belt sushi restaurant – recently opened its first New York City location we couldn’t wait to tear open our disposable chopsticks and begin grabbing tasty morsels as they paraded down the runway. Midtown......

Go! Go! Curry: This Japanese fast food hot spot had lines down the block when they opened in the Garment District last spring; now they’re building on the buzz and branching out in the East Village. We’ve become addicted to their belt-busting Grand Slam (pictured), “a monster platter that comes with fried chicken, pork sausages and a hard-boiled egg, among other things. The thick, sweet sauce has a tiny kick of heat and is served......

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a staircase collapse on Pennsylvania Ave. in Brooklyn, an unusual escort on Van Wyck and Atlantic Aves. in Queens, and a person fatally struck by a train at 170th St. and Jerome Ave. in the Bronx. 2007 marks the 25th anniversary of the Commodore 64 PC. The computer, which attached the primary system with the monitor and the keyboard, had a whopping 64K of memory. 17 million were sold.......

Attention Pacific Northwest: New Yorkers don't care about your cuisine. None of Jeffrey Chodorow's blogging, full page ads in the Times or other theatrics could save Wild Salmon from its imminent closure. After Eater circulated news of its potential doom, Chodorow issued a statement, published on Grub Street, "Regrettably, we will be closing Wild Salmon after the new year. We were excited about bringing the food and wine of the Pacific Northwest to New York,......

Bacaro: Frank DeCarlo of Peasant and his wife Dulcinea Benson transport you to Venice in their 80-seat wine bar/restaurant on the Lower East Side. Northern Italian menu offerings include cicchetti, (think Venetian bar snacks) like crostini, sardines, artichokes, and more, cheeses selected by Lou DiPalo, and pastas, quail, and duck for those seeking heartier fare. 136 Division Street, between Orchard and Ludlow Streets, 212-941-5060. Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar and Grill: The Blue Ribbon team is......

Esca's Dave Pasternack is a Midtown Lunch'r too. His faves include Pakistani Restaurant on 38th and 9th, Grand Sichuan, and Han Bat on 35th between 5th and 6th. Restaurant Girl makes her Daily News debut, dines with Gael Greene, looks glamourous. Zagat goes mobile with Zagat.mobi. iPhone not included. Epicurious 2.0 has arrived with a redesign and more bloggers (because what isn't better with more bloggers?). RUB commissioned Orange County Chopper to create a mobile......

Manhattan User's Guide offers up suggestions for budget-priced bubbly. Restaurant Girl is probably celebrating with a glass of bubbly about her new gig as the Daily News restaurant critic, but will her lack of anonymity make for special treatment? Only time will tell. Midtown Lunch serves up an installment of Downtown Lunch, courtesy of the Feisty Foodie. Grub Street is making us panic about the future of the Red Hook Vendors. Aaaack! Vegansexual? Seriously? Got......

Some folks were mighty disappointed when a Daisy May's BBQ cart on Park Avenue and 52nd Street turned out to be a tease. According to Midtown Lunch, the cart was set up outside the Seagram Building for the filming of the next Adam Sandler movie, You Don't Mess With Zohan. The Hollywood Reporter says You Don't Mess With Zohan was written by Sandler, Judd Apatow, and Robert Smigel and it "follows the exploits of......

A commenter asked us about Yushi recently -- although we haven't been, Zach at Midtown Lunch has checked it out and finds it to be more style than substance. Reader Adam turned us on to a blog focusing on a subject near and dear to our hearts as well as our bellies: ILuvPork.com. Manhattan Users Guide slams LES pan-Latin newcomer, Rayeula: "This kitchen is unable to put their mise en place in its place, incapable......

Need to lose a few pounds? Try some pickles -- Drew Nieporent swears by them: "You should slice them the long way, so they last longer. I have lost 50 pounds in 100 days." [NY Daily News] Is your favorite chip on the list of those tested by the Times this week? Kettle Chips are the overall chip champ, but Ed Levine laments the omission of Cape Cod Dark Russets. [NYT; Serious Eats] In case......

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a bank robbery on East 79th St. in Manhattan, another bank robbery on East 89th St. in Manhattan, and a police scooter accident at Adams and Tillary Sts. in Brooklyn. A parking ticket fixer was sentenced to three-to-six years in jail for arranging false-documented excuses to get people out of parking tickets. Robert Deniro and Al Pacino are teaming up as detectives tracking a serial killer in a new......

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a bank robbery on West 52nd St. and Broadway in Manhattan, a double shooting on Fenton Ave. and Boston Rd. in the Bronx, and escaped prisoners on East 163rd St. and Westchester Ave. in the Bronx. Curbed looks at the new Red Hook IKEA under construction, which is starting to become recognizable. Paul McCartney is playing the Highline Ballroom tomorrow night in a now not-so-secret show. Brooklyn's Smith St.......

- Finally! Banh mi sandwiches in Midtown. But are they any good, and are they worth the $7.50 a pop? Midtown Lunch readers chime in with their thoughts. - The newly re-opened Blind Tiger is opening for brunch this weekend at 11:30 a.m. After Monday their new regular hours will be 11:30 a.m. until 4:00 a.m, and the kitchen will stay open until 2:00 a.m. In addition, they're having a grand re-opening bash on Monday,......

- The Daily News explores the world of the NYC gastropub, including the Spotted Pig, E.U., Spike Hill, recently opened Alchemy and the Inn LW12 (Augieland gives us a preview), and soon-to-come Borough Food & Drink, a Chodorow creation. - A hearty bowl of ramen will keep you warm, and Manhattan Users Guide has highlighted some of the best. - After being on Eater's Deathwatch for a while now, The Lonesome Dove is officially dead.......

- It's strange that in this arctic weather that the best food news we've heard today is that NYC Icy is returning. NYC Nosh snapped a photo of this sign in Hell's Kitchen. Bring on the summer! - Midtown Lunch shares the news that you can now find chicken and waffles in Midtown. - And speaking of fried chicken, we're now seriously craving some of the Korean fried chicken featured in today's Times. - Michael......

Jen made her first high-definition television appearance last night on WNBC's Live at Five. She spoke to Sue Simmons and Lynda Baquero about New York blogs-- besides Gothamist, she also mentioned Brownstoner and Midtown Lunch. Bonus fact 1: Before the cameras were on, Jen told Sue how much we all love her groundhog impression! Bonus fact 2: After the segment, she saw Chuck Scarborough in the news room! And here's a very comprehensive history......

- Baby, it's cold outside, and what better way to warm up than with a steaming bowl of soup. MUG rounds up readers' favorite chicken soups, or if you prefer cooking your own, the Daily News lets us in on soup recipes from Dirty Bird, Tabla, and Fairway - Have you seen this bulgogi sandwich cart? If so, let Midtown Lunch know. - Okay all you lovebirds out there, Valentine's Day is right around the......

Interesting fact: it's legal to use campaign money to pay off personal legal debts. Case in point: Hevesi has spent $750,000+ out of his campaign treasury on defense lawyers. The New York Inquirer takes a bafflingly close look a New York hot dogs-- but still can't figure out exactly where the name comes from. Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: an "all hands" call at 400 West 43rd Street, a School Hazmat situation on Bedford......

- Restaurant Girl and Augieland visit the new Cafe Cluny (not together; we don't want to start any rumors here). - Looking for a job? Try the Vendy-award-willing Hallo Berlin cart. [via Midtown Lunch] - The Chowhounds provide some tasty ideas for a Greenwich Village tasting/walking tour. - Eating for Brooklyn isn't so keen on the new Biscuit BBQ: "Brooklyn denizens seem to have a love it or hate it relationship with Biscuit BBQ. Where......

- Head to the Shake Shack now through October 15th for Shacktoberfest, featuring special wursts, beers, and concretes. [via Megnut] - Michael Ruhlman, food writer and author of “The Reach Of A Chef,” pictured, was so inspired after guest-blogging on Megnut that he went and started his own food blog. [via Off the Broiler] - Midtown Lunch shares the secret of the "hidden crepe lady," who serves up sweet and savory crepes in a cybercafe,......

- It's Chang-mania! Read and hear all about Momofuku's David Chang at Off the Broiler and The Villager. Then go get one of his Ssäm. - Ed Levine has found the ice cream sandwich of his dreams at Jaques Torres. - Midtown Lunch explains the mystery of Oms/B (picture, right), beginning with an explanation of what the hell the name means. - Food Notebook reviews fifteen of the hottest food podcasts (great for the commute).......

- MUG gives us a list of outdoor dining spots in Manhattan. What are your favorites in the outer boroughs? - Midtown Lunch claims that Café Cello might do roast pork even better than Margon. We're still a bit skeptical. - The Greenwich Village branch of Saigon Grill opened on University Place this week; the reviews are as wildly mixed as for the other branches. - And really, who doesn't want to cuddle up with......

Thanks to Midtown Lunch for tipping us off -- today Chipotle is giving away free burritos at its new location on 48th between 6th & 7th Aves next Tuesday: That’s right…. the day has finally arrived. Wednesday, the Chipotle on 48th St. between 6th and 7th avenue is opening to the public- and to celebrate (as all new Chipotles do), Tuesday is free burrito day. That’s right. On Tuesday, from 11am to 8pm, everyone willing......