An AMNew York article delves into the neighborhood and tactical thoughts behind NYPD sky watch towers. The towers have four digital cameras, a spotlight, and a place for a cop to observe what's happening from two stories above the sidewalk. Reaction to the sky watches has been mixed. more ›

Via Razor Apple, there's a great video of graffiti artist REVS getting ready to install a 400-pound sculpture. Though REVS's face is blurred out, we can tell he's tall, bald and badass - exactly what we imagined! And the NY Times' description of him from a 2005 article seems spot-on: "blackened fingernails of an ironworker, along with the vaguely feral intensity of someone on the lam." more ›

An excellent Hasidic outdoor advertising update: Back in January, we noticed that an East Williamsburg poster of an Orthodox Jewish boy had been been updated for the boy to look more Hasidic - and it was splashed with some Hebrew graffiti. It turned out the graffiti was part of the ad, which is trying to encourage the Hasids in the neighborhood to donate cars to Oorah, a children's charity. more ›

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H&M fans will be cutting themselves over this one: The Misshapes Clothing Line. We were just doing some light reading, when we came across the following: more ›

There is one pet that does not need a costume - the black cat. But as it happens, some cities (like L.A.) block black cat adoptions during the spooky season for fear that owners are just using them for seasonal prop purposes. The Daily News says that the city allows black cat adoptions, but screens potential owners more carefully. Animal Care and Control's director, Richard Gentles, says, "We don't want to lose an opportunity for a black cat to go into a good home." And ASPCA special agent Joseph Pentangelo suggested "Halloween curfews" for black cats, to make sure they're not harmed by tricksters. more ›

Self-portraiturists rejoice: Anish Kapoor's "Sky Mirror" sculpture was unveiled this morning at Rockefeller Center. Any photoblogger worth their memory card is planning a visit today, so to get into the spirit, we're going to award a Gothamist t-shirt to the shooter who captures the best sky-mirror shot. Add your link in the comments below, and we'll announce a winner at 6pm. more ›

Four thousand subway passengers had to be evacuated from subway cars when a track fire on the B/D lines disrupted service during the evening rush hour. And many of the passengers were stuck on the Manhattan Bridge, clueless as the MTA waited 20 minutes before explaining what had happened and sweltering as train cars lost air-conditioning. When we watched news coverage, passengers were glad to be out and noted that fellow straphangers were helping each other, but they roundly criticized the MTA for not saying anything while keeping them stalled. People were treated for smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion, but luckily there were no serious injuries. We liked the Daily News' mention of one woman who called her husband to say she was stuck on the D, only to have her husband say. "I'm on the train, too!" more ›