We just received a message from the NASA Solar System Ambassador for New York City, in preparation of NASA's big announcement tomorrow regarding an "astrobiology finding." And as anyone with Google knows, that pretty much means THE ALIENS ARE HERE. (Perhaps that is why the sky looked so creepy and foreboding this afternoon.) Really though, they are here... in fact, you are probably friends with aliens on Facebook! more ›

Mayor Bloomberg really didn't want to talk about the drama surrounding traffic agent Daniel Chu at a press conference yesterday, but WCBS didn't really care. Ignoring Bloomberg's "one reporter, one question" rule, they bombarded the Mayor with inquiries as to why the "coolata cop" is still on duty after allegedly being caught by councilman Dan Halloran running a red light to get to a Dunkin' Donuts. more ›

During his press conference to discuss the BP oil spill today, President Obama made it unequivocally clear that the buck stops with him, telling reporters, "In case you are wondering who’s responsible, I take responsibility." He also said that the oil spill is the main thing on his mind day and night, and he's not the only one who's obsessed: "When I woke up this morning and I’m shaving, Malia knocks on my bathroom door and she says, 'Did you plug the hole yet Daddy?' " Obama added, "I grew up in Hawaii, where the ocean is sacred." more ›

President Obama is holding a news conference now on the subject of the Gulf oil spill. (He'll head to the region tomorrow.) Watch: more ›

The Bronx's Jimmy Groves came forward yesterday to hold his Mega Millions press conference, his first public appearance since winning $168 million in the big drawing a few weeks back. After reports of Groves boozing up and bumming out fearing the downsides of his big paycheck, yesterday he was all smiles, telling of his big first meal as New York's biggest jackpot winner ever (a hamburger) and about his mom rushing up from Tennessee once she heard. The self-described "homebody" has retired from his job stacking chairs at MSG and said he wants to buy a home with a yard, possibly in the Bronx or Harlem or "places in Brooklyn that are having a resurgence." He said, "I went to Germany. I came back, and New York is the only place for me right now." Like 96% of ticket buyers, Groves said he always chooses the lump sum option, but switched to the annuity on the winning ticket "because it might bring a change of luck." The 49-year-old grandfather tried to downplay his newfound status saying, "I still got to pay my rent, I still got to pay my lights and gas. I'm still just a regular Joe like everybody else. It's just that I got lucky." more ›

The US Open once again proved itself as one of the most theatrical stages in sports last night during the women's semifinals where Serena Williams saw her chances for repeating as champion ended after losing her cool and going off on a line judge. After Serena became upset at the judge's unexpected call for a foot fault, she pointed at the official and yelled, "I swear to God, I'm f*ckin' takin' this ball and shovin' it in(?) your f*ckin' throat… I swear to God." As if the outburst wasn't sensational enough, Williams then got docked for a penalty point (she had already received a warning after smashing her racket at the end of the first set) which couldn't have come at a worse time—match point. That meant that the confrontation would be the final point of the tournament for Williams, sent packing by Belgian Kim Clijsters. Here's the extended play of the whole string of events, that we imagine left Eli Manning doing a nervous gulp of his Oreo Double Stuff. more ›

Some follow-up to Mayor Bloomberg's exchange with Observer (and PolitickerNY) reporter Azi Paybarah. The NY Times described that the mayor "seemed to reach new heights of peevishness, calling a reporter who posed a question he did not like 'a disgrace.'" (The question was whether the mayor, who spoke of an economic turnaround, oversold his pitch for overturning term limits.) CBS 2 reported, "Many would say the reporter's question was relevant, especially since the city's failing economy is one of the reasons Bloomberg sought an exemption from term limits." Paybarah's editor Josh Benson told the Daily News, "It was a reasonable question. We're comfortable leaving it to everyone else to judge the quality of the response." A spokewoman for City Comptroller and mayoral hopeful Bill Thompson said, "What’s disgraceful is the Mayor’s refusal to answer the tough questions. Calling people names, having staff block cameras and bullying the press aren’t going to stop people from asking the mayor to explain his term limits bait and switch." The Mayor apologized, though indirectly; according to Paybarah, Bloomberg's press secretary Stu Loeser "called to relay an apology from the mayor." more ›

A day after Alex Rodriguez's uneven admissions of the "specifics" of his steroid usage during a half hour of answering questions, today he is being held to task by media outlets everywhere. None seem too satisfied with the version of events they got yesterday. Reporters don't seem particularly interested in figuring out the identity of A-Rod's unnamed cousin who allegedly provided and injected him with steroids, possibly because as one major leaguer put it, "I wonder if his cousin even existed. That was my first thought. Is his cousin made up? I don't know." more ›

Reporters and most news channels are eagerly awaiting Alex Rodriguez's first post-steroids usage admission press conference in Tampa. The talk was scheduled for 1:30 p.m., so A-Rod and the Yankees crew are currently running late. more ›

If the debate over extending term limits didn't make the point clear enough, Mayor Bloomberg wants us as New Yorkers to look at ourselves in the mirror during this time of crisis and ask ourselves, "Can we as a city survive without him?" more ›

Members of the press pool reportedly swooned for Police Commissioner Ray Kelly yesterday when he saved them from vermin with a swift flick of his foot. According to the Daily Politics, Kelly’s press conference to announce an 11 percent drop in major felony crime at city schools was interrupted by “gasps and squeals” as “various female reporters” noticed a giant cockroach crawling “dangerously close to a bag belonging to WNBC-TV's Melissa Russo.” more ›

City councilman and mayoral hopeful Tony Avella held a press conference today at City Hall to spotlight a pending council resolution urging the New York State Senate to outlaw force-feeding ducks and geese to produce foie gras. A bill to ban the practice is languishing in Albany, and Avella hopes his largely symbolic gesture will push it forward. more ›

Following their Nassau County Family Court appearance yesterday regarding visitation rights, Michael and Dina Lohan held a joint press conference to let the press know they will no longer be talking to them. In fact, The Daily News reports that Dina's lawyer said the two want to keep their lives private. Presumably they mean starting now, but everyone with basic cable is given a weekly (albeit edited) glimpse into Living Lohan on Dina's reality show, and Michael blogs about it for OK! Magazine. Still, the two would like to control the press and dim the spotlight on the family's little secrets (even if everyone can see their most famous daughter's private MySpace profile).

"They really want the press to stay out of their lives," said Eugene Russo, Dina's lawyer. "They're doing what's in the best interest of the children. They would appreciate if they are allowed to participate in the childrens' lives without the press." more ›

At a press conference set to take place today, it's expected that Jimmy Fallon will be announced as Conan O'Brien's successor on the "Late Night" show. WNBC reports that the early chatter came in from an anonymous source. The announcement doesn't come as a surprise, since reports of the late night changes began to leak last year; last month Fallon's new position was all but confirmed. more ›

Mayor Bloomberg met with non-NYPD affiliated police today, when joining a press conference with Sting & Co. The band announced that their final performance EVER will be right here in New York, later this year. From the press release:

We kicked off our very first American tour at CBGB's in 1978 and this summer, thirty years later, our journey will come full circle as we play our final show here in New York City," said The Police. "We are honored to partner with public television and have a deep respect for their commitment to arts and culture."

Governor Paterson joined Mayor Bloomberg at Manhattan Community College this morning to kick off the 7th annual Tribeca Film Festival, which is expected to attract at least 500,000 visitors and $125 million. Paterson used the appearance to announced an expanded state film tax credit, intended to stop the loss of movie money “to our neighbors, like Canada, Connecticut and Massachusetts.” The governor’s office say these “neighbors” have cut into the state’s film revenue to the tune of $750 million. more ›

Two days after news that he patronized an international prostitution ring, Governor Eliot Spitzer announced his resignation. With wife Silda Wall Spitzer at his side, he spoke for about three minutes at the Governor's office in Manhattan, at approximately 11:40 a.m. Here's a transcription:

In the past few days, I've begun to atone for my private failings with my wife Silda, my children, and my entire family. The remorse I feel will always be with me. Words cannot describe how grateful I am for the love and compassion they have shown me. more ›

Last year we visited 1520 Sedgwick Avenue's past and uncertain future. The "Birthplace of Hip Hop" was, and still is, in danger of losing its lifeblood when the landlord (BSR Management) announced they wanted to abandon the Mitchell-Lama program. Essentially buying out of the program and leaving the doors open for a rent increase. Then things got worse when BSR made it clear they would be selling the building to a real estate mogul Mark Karasick, which was set to happen next month. more ›