Results tagged “punxsutawneyphil”

Every year, we look forward to Groundhog Day for the appearances of Punxsutawney Phil, Staten Island Chuck, and the inevitable multiple screenings of the movie Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray. But we also love Groundhog Day because it means that WNBC newswoman Sue Simmons is prodded into doing her impression of a groundhog. We love a beautiful woman not afraid to make herself look ridiculous--like when she fell off her chair and recovered somewhat gracefully. The video was recorded yesterday, as Sue has today--Groundhog Day--off from work.

The groundhog survey says we'll have an early spring. Staten Island Chuck, along with Punxsutawney Phil (pictured above), predicted an early spring. However, Holtsville Hal on Long Island saw his shadow for six more weeks of winter, but we'll assume he just woke up on the wrong side of the burrow this morning. As for today's weather, we'll have another post up about that in a bit.

When you get up early tomorrow to see if Punxsutawney Phil or Staten Island Chuck see their shadows, try to remember to put on something red! February is American Heart Month and the American Heart Association (AHA) is launching the HEART for Women campaign to raise awareness. And the AHA is encouraging everyone to wear red this Friday to spread the word.

In the world of reality television, keeping secrets from faithful viewers is everything: any notable off set development helps to propel rumors, and draws higher ratings. Last week, when puckish Top Chef finalist Ilan Hall left the dimly lit plancha-teria Casa Mono, it prompted a avalanche of speculation of a size usually reserved for Punxsutawney Phil. Rather than reporting on whether Hall saw his shadow, the virtual crowd gathered on the Internet posited that this in fact meant that the Long Island native had won the Top Chef title. Two days ago, Food and Wine magazine accidentally “leaked” a major spoiler onto their web site in the form of a feature story naming the winner, only to pull it from their server in a matter of minutes. Suspicious. Food and Wine has since explained that victory writeups are commissioned for both finalists- in this case, Hall and “crazy-hair” Marcel Vigneron, and that the gaffe has nothing to do with the show’s real outcome, which airs tonight. No matter who wins, there’s probably going to be six more weeks of winter.

Gothamist has a special request for Punxsutawney Phil. We’ll take our chances on the length of winter; just bring an early end to the basketball season at the Garden. Last night, it wasn’t so much Kobe, or his parade to the foul line, but another case of the Knicks quitting on their fans in a 130-97 loss.

At 7:20 this morning Staten Island Chuck (Rodentus forecastivus) crawled out of his hole in the ground and did not see his shadow. How could Chuck not see his shadow on such a clear day? Was it cloudy on Staten Island this morning? Not a cloud could be seen from Gothamist's Harlem abode. According to Newsday, Holtsville Hal also did not see his shadow, but Melville Mel did!

Tomorrow's the big day! Will Staten Island Chuck see his shadow and doom us all to six more weeks of winter? The Queens Zoo has two prairie dogs, Flushing Meadows Phil and Corona Kate, to predict the weather. Gothamist would just like to say that we know groundhogs, and prairie dogs ain't groundhogs. Imposters! There is, or perhaps was, a family of wild groundhogs living in Riverside Park just north of the North River Sewage Treatment Plant/Riverbank State Park. Sadly, we have not seen the family in months and fear that they may have tried to cross the highway and gone to that great groundhog burrow in the sky. Of course, the most famous groundhog of them all is Punxsutawney Phil, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Mayor Bloomberg was on hand and said, "Winter is going to end, and as mayor I promise you I will bring you summer � and then I'll try and take credit for it." We know you will, dude. National Weather Service meteorologist Scott Reynolds tells the Daily News, "We have equal chances of being warmer or colder" than average in February. Yes, start the eye-rolling now!

Since there's nothing as credible as trusting a rodent, Punxsutawney Phil told the world that there will be six more weeks of winter. The crowd in Punxsutawney, PA, echoed Gothamist's feelings as they booed the groundhog. But all the blame cannot be placed on poor Punx. Phil: It all depends on whether it's a sunny (shadows = fear = more winter) or cloudy (no clouds = no more winter), so Gothamist will blame Mother Nature.