Thanks to swank buildings like the ones that line Bond Street, the NoLIta/NoHo area is flush with fancy (and very expensive) apartments. Brace yourself for a few more. The Post today reports that Observer-owner and Ivanka Trump husband Jared Kushner is planning on turning the top two floors of the Puck building into posh penthouses. Because who doesn't want to pay a $15 million or more for "expansive" views of never ending construction and that Calvin Klein sexedvertisment? more ›

Will New Yorkers soon be scaling walls in the landmarked Puck Building on Lafayette Street? According to the Real Deal, REI has inked a deal to move in to a 39,000-square-foot, three-floor space in the building, which will include a bike shop and "Outdoor School" courses, in addition to their gear and other goods. The store is their first in New York City, and will be the first retail outlet in the building in over 100 years—they plan to open in the fall of 2011, and as Bowery Boogie points out, "the EMS store on Broadway just around the corner is probably pissed." more ›

You’ve heard it described, now two filmmakers are ready to give us a rare glimpse into the bizarre saga of NYC’s infamous rubber room. The long-term holding area for misbehaving teachers—fodder for many a sordid Post expose—is the subject of a documentary premiering soon, and the tabloid got a sneak peak. "It's like a jail for teachers," one rubber-room hostage says in the film. "We have constant fights," says another. "Yesterday, three fights broke out." See a trailer below. more ›

The Post breaks some details about Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's wedding, held in NJ yesterday—plus has a photo of the newlyweds. Guests included: "Andrew Cuomo, Barbara Walters, Anna Wintour, Rudy Giuliani, Joel Klein and Sheldon Silver, as well as Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and ex-New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey...Food Network chef Sandra Lee, actress Emmy Rossum and her Counting Crows, beau Adam Duritz, and country singer Jamey Johnson." There were 500 guests there, but "Wednesday, the couple will hold a second reception for twice as many guests at the Puck Building." more ›

It's pretty safe to say many New Yorkers are aligned with the Democratic party, but it's unclear who NYC's registered Democrats will vote for on primary day - Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. Though in the highly unscientific survey of sights around the city over the past week (and year), it seems the senator representing Illinois has an edge. more ›

Once again Taste of New York lived up to its name, with a roster of restaurants serving everything from ‘cue to cevape and some well-crafted cocktails to boot. Gothamist was honored to attend this culinary blowout thrown by New York to benefit City Harvest. One of the evening’s tastiest offerings was Insieme’s tortelli di zucca, or pumpkin filled pasta. We’d love to think that this judgment was based solely on the dish’s fall theme,... more ›

MUSIC: If you see a lot of guitar-toting ladies and gents around the Puck Building right now, that's because CMJ has officially begun. This means there is a ton of music happening (including at our own Gothamist House starting tomorrow). Tonight we suggest hitting up Brooklyn Vegan's show at Bowery Ballroom: Voxtrot, The Rosebuds, Dean & Britta...and so many more. more ›

Despite years of sake drinking experience at many of New York City’s finest izakaya ranging from the rarefied Sakagura to the funky yakitori spots on St. Marks nothing could have prepared us for the Joy of Sake. Hordes of revelers gathered in the Puck Building last week to sample more than 300 hundred sakes, many unavailable in the U.S. Just because of the sheer variety of rice libations on offer, the three-hour event was overwhelming, although it did eventually take on a somewhat rosy glow. more ›

Talk about joy -- over 300 sakes will be poured at the largest sake tasting in the United States, coming our way tonight. Over 100 of them are generally not available outside Japan and about 150 are silver and gold award winners in the National Sake Appraisal that takes place each year. Never fear, there will be appetizers to soak it all up, from the likes of Bao Noodles, Bond St, EN Japanese Brasserie, 15 East, Megu, Sakagura, Tocqueville, Woo Lae Oak, wd-50, and more. There's also a sake info desk where an expert will be able to answer all of your burning sake questions. 6 - 9 p.m., the Puck Building, 295 Lafayette between East Houston and Prince Streets. Tickets are $75 in advance and $90 at the door. For more info or to make reservations, call 212-799-7243, or visit joyofsake.com. more ›

We may have to wait until next April for Comic Con in New York, but there's plenty of comic goodness over at the Puck Building this weekend at the MoCCA Art Festival. Their well-punctuated description promises a generous dose of the genre: "Meet comics and cartoon artists! Four full ballrooms of cartoonists and publishers! Get sketches and autographs from Bill Sienkiewicz, Joe Staton, Arthur Suydam and others at the MoCCA Fundraising Sketch Table! Buy comics, comix, cartoons, graphic novels as well as prints and original artwork! Sit in on our always entertaining and educational panel sessions!" more ›

Six years can bring more than a 300% return (or clear 200% of your initial investment in pure profit)! The NY Times reports that Tishman-Speyer sold 666 Fifth Avenue to the Kushner family for $1.8 billion. And reporter Charles Bagli points out Tishman-Speyer bought the property for $518 million. Many people that this will be the most expensive single building in the city, breaking Tishman-Speyer's then-record $1.72 billion purchase of the MetLife Building. Factoids: The per-square foot cost of the MetLife building is $604 while the per-square foot cost of 666 Fifth is $1,200. Hey, a Fifth Avenue address can command that. more ›

Time for a major sugar rush. Head over to the ninth annual Chocolate Show for chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate, with some culinary demonstrations and art thrown in for good measure. $25 tickets, for one day's admission, are available online (via Ticketmaster.com or calling 212-307-7171), and will also be on sale at the door (cash and checks only at the door). Metropolitan Pavillion & Altman Building, 125 West 18th Street. Friday, November 10: 11am to 9pm, Saturday, November 11: 10am to 8pm, Sunday, November 12: 10am to 7pm. Children under 5: Free; Children, 5 to 12: Free, but you're limited to 2 children per adult. Each additional child (5-12): $8. more ›

You know we love it. It’s the largest collection of delicious wines under one roof. For the wine novice who is looking to expand his palate to the experienced taster looking to find the next big thing, it’s the best way to support a great cause (City Harvest) and get all liquored up in the process. more ›

April 27: Taste of the Lower East Side more ›

For a long time we didn't listen to Wolfmother just because they had "wolf" in their name. We were sick it. Wolfmother, Wolf Eyes, We Are Wolves..."how could any of them be better than Wolf Parade?" we thought. more ›

The Zoom In Awards take over the Puck Building tonight. Inside the room will be buzzing with a who's who crowd of the indie (and not so indie) scene - including Christine Vachon, President of Killer Films and Executive Producer of Kids and I Shot Andy Warhol - two of our favorite films that use NYC as a backdrop. Geoff Gilmore, Director of the Sundance Film Festival will be receiving a Lifetime Achievement award from David Linde, Producer of Brokeback Mountain. We're calling that a "I can't quit you" line will be somehow dropped into the handing over of the award. more ›

Oh man, when was the last time we had a good artistic freedom vs. religion controversy? Hmm... maybe the Black Virgin Mary covered in poo back in 2000-- which itself was nothing compared to Serrano's Piss Christ back in 1989. Well, here's a new one! CBS reports on the National Black Fine Arts Show at the Puck Building: more ›

We're not just talking about the outsiders who come in to the city via public transportation every weekend (we do love that painting of the MetroNorth trains though!) The Outsider Art Fair is this weekend - and of course taking place in our crazy little city, it's dedicated to catering to the painfully "so hip they're unhip" art world. more ›

We hate to admit it, but when we were younger we were very judgmental about comics as an art form. We mocked and ridiculed our friends who were into them. We used judging words like "star trek" and "virgin." We utterly refused even to pick up a comic to see what all the fuss was about. In short, we were very very stupid. more ›

If you're anything like Gothamist, there are dozens of restaurants in the city that you're dying to try, but you can never seem to get around to actually trying all of them. That's one of the reasons we love tasting events, and we particularly like them when they're for a good cause. On November 8th, New York Magazine is hosting A Taste of New York at the Puck Building to benefit City Harvest. And although we won't be able to knock off all the spots on the list that we've been keeping, we'll be able to sample the cuisine of over 40 restaurants, including 5 Ninth, Extra Virgin, Dinosaur BBQ, and rm, along with champagne, wine and cocktails galore. Tickets, which are $110, can be purchased online. more ›

In case you missed the fiesta, see if you can make it to another one of the feasts and festivities on the Gothamist radar: more ›

One thing on our radar for this week is Gen Art's combustible blow out soiree this Thursday. Firing up over at the Puck Building (493 Lafayette), Ignite! expects to draw a crowd of 1,000 for viewing of short films, a multimedia art exhibit curated by Trong Nguyen, and live performances by Flambeaux, the P-Cult and Showgirl of the Universe Ami Goodheart & the Coquettes. The Scratch Academy crew will also be on hand to teach some dj spinning techniques. more ›

Gothamist briefly stopped by the Puck Building where the NY Press was having its Summer Guide party. We were expecting a bevy of young, female, East Europeans immigrants to be surrounding a stumbling, incoherent Jeff Koyen, but we just saw extra-large t-shirts with Guinness emblazoned on them being handed out to bridge and tunnel types. more ›