That's correct, the first modern crossword puzzle was published on this very day, back in 1913, in the New York World newspaper (and it was the very one you see pictured above!). According to Inside the Apple, the paper was owned by Joseph Pulitzer at the time, who "raised its circulation through sensational news coverage, stunt reporting, and a focus on distractions and pastimes." Enter: the crossword! Or as it was called back then, the "word-cross." It was created by Arthur Wynne, and ran in the Sunday Fun section of the paper—where it became an instant hit... among most. Oddly enough, the New York Public Library and the New York Times both criticized the game. more ›

The Atlantic is asking if today's McMansions are tomorrow's tenements in an article titled The Next Slum. It seems suburban developments nationwide are seeing the same problems the city streets are: druggies, homeless, grafitti, gang activity, broken windows, stray bullets, and even in Pleasantville copper wire is a commodity. more ›

The city has been crowing about this year's low murder rate since last week, when officials announced it was likely to be under 500 murders. Currently, the murder rate is 492 as of Sunday night (we're not sure if that number includes the three men killed in Brooklyn); this year's murder rate would be the lowest since 1963, the first year with reliable data and a year that saw 548 killings. more ›

"The U.S. hasn't had a fair in two decades. Since they [the committee] opened the door, we felt we had an obligation to look into this seriously." The FMCPWFA is working on the proposal, with the Willets Point junkyards as the base. But there are some roadblocks, namely how the U.S. ended its membership with the BIE in 2001 and that Mayor Bloomberg, and then President Bush, would have to support the effort. more ›

Our absolute favorite Brooklyn blogger Callalillie took a trip outside her home borough to the Queens Museum-- home of the amazing, stupendous model of New York City. Some info about the model: more ›

Fifteen year old industry, Hilary Duff, is featured in the second item of the Observer's New York World column. Why? Because her breasts are stopping men in their tracks. There is some debate about whether or not they are Duff's breasts, but the killer quote is from Elisa DeCarl: "My guess is that they are going for that all-important Humbert Humbert demographic," she said. "The audience will be 90 percent preteens and their parents, 10 percent shifty-looking older men in raincoats." Gothamist thinks shifty-looking older men's ages will start at, oh, 24. more ›