By now you've probably heard the Phoenix song "Lisztomania," and you've probably seen the Brat Pack tribute video that hit the Internet soon after its release, but it's always worth another few hundred listens. Leave it to a bunch of Brooklynites to create a tribute to the tribute. How delightfully derivative! That's right, here, contained within the same 4 minutes and 16 seconds, you get hipsters, '80s nostalgia, graffiti, rooftops, the Manhattan skyline, the Water Taxi, and dancing dancing dancing.
Brooklyn Does Brat Pack
No Brooklyn Brewery for Red Hook
Late last year it was announced that the city dumped plans to redevelop the Red Hook waterfront. Now the Brooklyn Eagle is reporting that the "Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is returning to Red Hook’s Atlantic Basin with a symbolic hat in hand, but also with a new development plan that is ready to be executed." The new plan is allegedly less glamorous, but one key business that could rise from the ashes of the old is (appropriately) Phoenix Beverages—a major beer distributor of Heineken, Guinness and Smirnoff Ice! It looks like it would be housed at Pier 11, and NYMag points out that under the new plan they'll be joined in the neighborhood American Stevedoring, "a docking facility for harbor-operated boats, a cultural institution, and a green space." Sadly, this means that "there is no space for Brooklyn Brewery, which hoped to move to Pier 7."
Phoenix Cops Cleared in Carol Gotbaum's Death
Phoenix prosecutors will not prosecute police officers who arrested NYC resident Carol Gotbaum at Phoenix's Sky Harbor airport last year. Gotbaum was on her way to an alcohol rehab center and became so agitated and disruptive during her stopover in Phoenix that the airport police took her into custody. Hours later, she was found dead in her holding cell, with her chain wrapped around her neck. Her family, including stepmother-in-law and NYC Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, had questioned the police's handling, while the police and city of Phoenix said they didn't know was emotionally fragile. The Gotbaums filed an $8 million notice of claim against Phoenix, for its "excessive and unreasonable force on Carol, as if she was a dangerous criminal, rather than as the sick, intoxicated and vulnerable person she was."
Gotbaum Family Sues Over Airport Death
Six months after Carol Gotbaum died in police custody at Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport, her family has filed an $8 million notice of claim against the city of Phoenix, saying "members of the Phoenix Police Department used excessive and unreasonable force on Carol, as if she was a dangerous criminal, rather than as the sick, intoxicated and vulnerable person she was."
Kidd Is Outta Here!
Jason Kidd has finally gotten his wish and is heading out of town. ESPN is reporting that the Nets and Mavericks have agreed to a deal that will send Kidd to Dallas. While the transaction has not be finalized, it is believed that Kidd and Malik Allen will head to Dallas in exchange for Jerry Stackhouse, Devin Harris, a couple of expiring contracts, some future draft picks and some cash.
Pencil This In
ART: The Bronx Museum of Art is getting on board the First Friday bandwagon. They'll be opening their doors every first Friday of the month for free, and add a little something extra each time. Tonight their theme is “Say it Loud! I’m Black & I’m Proud” in celebration of Black History Month. There will be a tribute to the late James Brown, and a showcase of independent artists paying tribute to black music.
Shadows Likely Tomorrow, not Today
Our snowless, warm January is being followed by a very wet start to February. Expect rain and sleet throughout the day today. It's the dreaded wintry mix! We may even have a bit of thunder this afternoon. Actually, the weather freezing rain north of the city is making conditions dangerous from Connecticut through the lower Hudson Valley into northern New Jersey. Further upstate there's an ice storm warning in effect through 5 p.m. Within the city the ground isn't frozen so freezing rain won't happen here. Showers should continue until midnight or so.
Big Blue Feeling Blue With Flu
to clean up the mess. The New York training staff has been giving the players every type of preventative medicine they can come up with to ward off the flu and hopefully having all the players together on a plane will not have an adverse affect.
Warmer Week Ahead, Even Warmer in Phoenix
Nothing like a sunny Monday to start off the week. Especially when it is likely to be cloudy and wetter tomorrow and Wednesday. Clouds will roll in during the day tomorrow. Rain may begin as early as the afternoon but is most likely Tuesday night. Highs tomorrow and Wednesday should be in the mid-40s. The winds will pick up along with the rain as this is a fairly big storm approaching from the Midwest. The cold front trailing the storm is expected to clear all the moisture out of here by Wednesday afternoon. The storm is odd in that there's not much cold air behind it. Thursday's weather will be much like today's. Another storm passage, albeit a weak one, is expected Thursday night or Friday.
Last Night's Action: By The Way....
You may not have realized it, but some of the other local teams had games Sunday and some of them were pretty important.
Knicks Trade "Joke" Scares Phoenix Player
Some L.A. Lakers fan (we assume) came up with a brilliant plan to psych out Phoenix Suns guard Leandro Barbosa last week. Barbosa fell victim to a hoax where his hotel gave him a message saying that Suns GM Steve Kerr wanted to meet him to discuss a trade to the New York Knicks. Jeez, that's maybe the meanest prank call we've ever heard!
Happy Four Year Isiah Thomas-versary!
That’s right Knicks fans, it was four years ago today that Isiah Thomas came to town and boldly stated, "My only goal is to win the N.B.A. championship. In my mind, everything else is failure."
Weekend Movies: Sweeney, Charlie and Dewey
Prestige filmmakers take note: If you want the Times critics to really love you, what you need to do is put the fear in them. At least it worked for Tim Burton; his adaptation of Steven Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd gave reviewer A.O. Scott nightmares. And for that, Scott deems the film “close to a masterpiece, a work of extreme – I am tempted to say evil – genius.” (Current Rotten Tomato rating: 88% fresh.) One big question was whether the non-singing actors cast in the film would be able to pull it off; according to Burton the film is almost 90 sung. Well, it worked for Scott:
Johnny Depp’s voice is harsh and thin, but amazingly forceful. He brings the unpolished urgency of rock ’n’ roll to an idiom accustomed to more refinement., and in doing so awakens the violence of Mr. Sondheim’s lyrics and melodies.
Last Night's Action: Overly Gracious Hosts
- Coyotes 5, Rangers 1: Wayne Gretzky returned to Madison Square Garden, the site of his final game as a player, to coach his Phoenix club to an easy win over the Rangers. His voice was hoarse because of a flu and laryngitis. Similar symptoms sidelined New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist, and Steve Valiquette wasn't up to the challenge of facing the worst offense in the Western Conference. Thanks to the wonders of the unbalanced schedule and the lockout, this was Phoenix's first trip to New York since 2002. At the rate the Rangers played against them, they might not want them back for another five years.
- Devils 4, Flyers 2: What more can be said about Martin Brodeur? He excelled in net again, and the Devils used his stopping of a penalty shot as a morale-booster during their home win over the Flyers. John Madden had two goals and an assist.
more ›
Last Night's Action: The Knicks Are Ok (Tonight)
Jamal Crawford led the way with 32 points and Zach Randolph added 20. Even Eddy Curry looked interested with 23 points and 9 rebounds, only his third game of the season with more than 8 rebounds. Add it all up and the Knicks got out of the cellar in the Eastern Conference.
Last Night's Action: A Pair Of Wins
Things got testy at the end of the game as Shane Doan took a swipe at the puck after Rick DiPietro had saved it and a scrum erupted behind the net. Doan took the worst of it penalty wise as he received a game misconduct.
Dolan and Isiah See Nothing Wrong With Their Team
How many times this season are we going to say that the Knicks have hit an all time low? It seems that every couple weeks the team drops another disgraceful notch, and this weekend was the latest. No one knew how the team would react to the death of Stephon Marbury's father last week, but the sense was that they had come together as a unit out of the tragedy, and many might have thought...
Family Asked Knicks to Let Steph Play
A day after the tragic death of Stephon Marbury's father Donald, some more details have come to light regarding his final moments. Knicks officials insist that Stephon's family asked the team not to notify him of his father's condition until after the game. Apparently this was not the first time Donald Marbury had suffered from chest pains like these. Donald was taken from The Garden right before the third quarter began, but the team only...
Stephon Marbury's Father Dies During Knicks Game
Don Marbury Sr, Stephon Marbury's dad, has passed away at age 69. He was in attendance at the Knicks game last night when he suffered chest pains and was rushed to St Vincent's. Stephon learned the news after the game and quickly left the Garden without comment. The team, which kept its locker room doors closed for 30 minutes after the game to allow Marbury to leave, refused to talk about why Steph stormed out...
Last Night's Action: Knicks Hang Tough
Suns 115, Knicks 104: The Knicks need wins, yes, but they also need solid efforts against the league's elite teams. They got the latter but not the former Sunday in a loss to Phoenix at home. Eddy Curry's 21 points and an awakening from a recent slump couldn't power the Knicks, who stuck around for three quarters before disappearing in the fourth. Even Stephon Marbury enjoyed an efficient night from the floor -- he shot...
Television Watching: CBS Strike?, MSG Free, & Smith
If CBS News Writers Strike, Democrats Will Nix Debate Several presidential candidates - Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Bill Richardson -have announced their intentions not to cross picket lines for a debate sponsored by CBS News on December 10th. The Writers Guild of America announced earlier this week that its members who work for the network’s television and radio operations at both the national and local level have authorized a strike vote. The members have...
Marbury's Willing To Dish, But Only About Isiah
"O Stephon, Stephon, wherefore art thou Stephon?" Those are the words that Isiah Thomas might be saying. At least if what one media outlet is reporting is true. Not because the Knicks seem like they their star point guard after last night, or because Stephon Marbury is AWOL, but because the Knicks star point guard may have the dish on his head coach. While on the flight to Phoenix, Marbury learned that he wasn't going...
Last Night's Action: Guess Who Lost?
The Mardy Collins era lasted approximately six minutes. Pushed into the starting lineup in place of Stephon Marbury, Collins sprained his foot halfway through the first quarter. And, Collins’ injury was just the beginning as Phoenix trounced the Knicks 113-102 while shooting 56% from the field. To make matters worse, Renaldo Balkman went down with an injury later in the game and had to be helped off the court. With Quentin Richardson out with an...
Marbury Skips Out, Future TBD
More trouble for the Knicks: Captain Stephon Marbury was missing from the morning shootaround in Phoenix, where the Knicks are set to play the Suns tonight. Marbury's apparent absence comes after coach Isiah Thomas may have told him he wouldn't be starting tonight and a Daily News article suggesting that the Knicks were thinking about a Starbury-less team in the future. Coming off a bad loss in Miami where Marbury threw the ball away in...
Carol Gotbaum Autopsy Reveals Alcohol, Drug Use
The Maricopa County medical examiner found that the death of a New Yorker in police custody at the Phoenix airport was an accident. Carol Gotbaum, who was flying from NYC to Tucson with a stopover in Phoenix, died of "asphyxia by hanging" on September 28. Gotbaum, stepdaughter-in-law of Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, had been traveling alone to check into alcohol rehabilitation. When she missed her connection to Tucson, she became upset and disruptive, and...
Phoenix PD Release More Details in Carol Gotbaum's Death
Witnesses told police that Carol Gotbaum was "teary" during her flight from New York to Phoenix, according to new documents released by the Phoenix Police Department. Another witness says the mother of three, who was traveling to Tucson for alcohol rehabilitation, may have also ordered an alcoholic drink during the flight.
If Someone Helped, "She Might Still Be With Us Today"
The family of Carol Gotbaum, the New Yorker who died at Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport on September 28, held a funeral for the mother of three at Congregation Rodeph Sholom yesterday. Her husband Noah, son of labor leader Victor Gotbaum and stepson of Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, mourned his wife, saying, "Carol, you were an angel, and everyone knew it. My girl was born with the most beautiful smile on her face. It put people at ease, it made others smile, it radiated the warmth of Cape Town.” But he was angry as well, "If the airline or the police authorities had treated Carol with some modicum of dignity and grace or if one single person at that airport had put an arm around her shoulders, sat her down and given her some attention, she might still be with us today."
Gotbaum's Family Grieves As Debate Over Her Death Continues
The Daily News and NY Times both look at the life of Carol Anne Gotbaum, the New Yorker who died while in police custody at Phoenix's Sky Harbor airport over a week ago. She is portrayed as a vibrant woman and loving mother to three children who had become depressed in recent years.

