The scorching hot orbs at Brooklyn Bridge Park have taken the heat off the Bed-Stuy prison playground for a while, but now the latter is back in the headlines. The offensive jail design has been removed and replaced with a space-themed panel (so hot right now). more ›

Now that Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has announced his retirement, many are expecting a contentious confirmation for whomever President Obama chooses to replace him. Senator Charles Schumer expressed his concerns to NY1, "Justice Sotomayor who was clearly a progressive, but you know, she had a compelling life story and was amazing, did get a whole bunch of Republican votes. Hopefully the same thing will happen here, but yeah, I'm worried." Here's a look at possible candidates to replace Stevens and Slate offers what the Court needs now. Also, did you know that Scores named a champagne room after Stevens? more ›

As Lincoln Center approaches the final stages of it's revamp, the NY Times gets real with some fountain talk. They report that there will be a new one with choreographed water effects put in place by the firm responsible the Bellagio Hotel outdoor aquatic explosion. Because nothing says Lincoln Center like Las Vegas. One designer at the firm told the paper, "New York is probably extremely nervous about the fountain. They may be expecting something gimmicky." The final "look" will be unveiled on September 30th, and at least one critic has already spoken out, Andrew S. Dolkart, the director of Columbia University' historic preservation program, "said he did not understand why Lincoln Center decided to replace the fountain, designed by Philip Johnson and completed in 1964. 'It' the thing that upsets me most of all about what's happened at Lincoln Center.'" Indeed, replacing an iconic fountain that's been the backdrop in many a film, not to mention weddings and other events that have shaped people's memories, is a little bit mind-boggling. Dolkart adds: "You wouldn't want to tear down Grand Central Terminal because Frank Gehry is going to design a masterpiece in its place." Oh wouldn't we? more ›

While there have been no further signs from President-elect Obama that he will select Hillary Clinton to be his Secretary of State, speculation is still rampant about who Governor Paterson would choose to replace her in the senate if she does in fact take the position. Any of the original suggestions that Paterson would escape the state's overwhelming budget crisis and appoint himself seem to have been squashed with Paterson telling friends he plans to remain governor. more ›

All of the talk about the possibility of Hillary Clinton becoming Secretary of State in the forthcoming Obama administration naturally is triggering speculation about who Governor Paterson might replace her with if she were to step down as senator. Sources close to the governor tell the Times that he and his advisers were made aware that Clinton was being considered for the post days before the story broke. While big names like the Kennedys (RFK Jr. and Caroline), Andrew Cuomo and even Paterson himself were thrown out, the Times emphasizes that it might be most sensible politically for Paterson to appoint an upstate politician--possibly Buffalo-area congressman Brian Higgins (pictured)--to provide balance in what has become a NYC-centric political landscape lately. Whoever took the seat if it was vacated would have to face a special election in 2009 in order to remain senator until Clinton's term is up in 2012. more ›