Menu Change: As previously reported by Nina Lalli over at Eat For Victory, Franny’s on Flatbush Avenue had added pastas to its menu. Right now the menu features three pastas, including a stellar penne with mint and zucchini ($15). In keeping with its mission statement of locality and sustainability, Franny’s sources mint from Long Island’s Satur Farms; zucchini comes from Hepworth Farm, located upstate in Milton. Pastas are selected by chef Andrew Feinberg from a......

Blender has a list of 100 Days That Changed Music, and not surprisingly a good amount of them took place in New York. Here are a few, see any missing? 99. December 11, 1965: The Velvet Underground play their first show, which was actually at a high school dance in Summit, New Jersey. The following year however, the Velvets became the house band at Warhol's Factory. 96. December 14, 1977: "Saturday Night Fever debuts in......

You may be familiar with James Sanders' book Celluloid Skyline: New York and the Movies, which celebrated New York City's role in movies and is a must for any fan of New York, architecture, or film. But even if you haven't, you get a chance to experience it in beyond the pages: Starting tomorrow, Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall will be the setting for a Celluloid Skyline exhibit. There will be huge "scenic backing"......

This morning, NBC News President Steve Capus appeared on the Today show to discuss the immediate ending of radio shock jock Don Imus's MSNBC simulcast. Per TVNewser, Capus said:There's no question that his program has had provocative conversation and interesting conversation, deep conversation with thought leaders and political leaders through the years. But it's also had the other element. At some point you have to say 'enough is enough.' This went so far over......

SummerScreen (you know, like sunscreen) is The L Magazine's addition to the already successful summer of McCarren Park Pool events. The outdoor film series will take place every Tuesday (starting next week) through the end of August. The films start at sundown, and before that...there are bands! Oh, and it's free. Here's the schedule: July 25: Do the Right Thing (Spike Lee, 1989) with the Cold Hands Collective August 1: Bottle Rocket (Wes Anderson, 1996)......

Fun stuff in the Observer's interview with Spike Lee. He discusses his new documentary about Hurricane Katrina, his work, and living in the city. He moved from Brooklyn to live in an Upper East Side townhouse (here's a spread about it in Town & Country - his place looks amazing), but we thought his insight as a Brooklyn native was especially amusing:Over the years, Mr. Lee has ridden the waves of gentrification in New York,......

Excellent! Apparently it's normal to be in a foul mood over this descpicably humid weather! The NY Times calls it the "Grumpy Factor" - New Yorkers have been acting like wittle babies because it's so hot and sticky. A doctor tells the Daily News it's a "thermo inversion": "With little breeze, the polluted air sits stagnant, irritating eyes and making air passages more sensitive to pollen." Hmm, is that enough of a reason to call......

Gothamist was so sad to hear about Ossie Davis's death today. Davis was a wonderful actor, as well as an activist for civil rights. The Georgia-born Davis arrived in NYC in 1939 and became active in the arts scene in Harlem. The first thing we thought of when we heard was "Oh, no! Ruby Dee!" Davis and Dee had been married for over 50 years and performed together on numerous occasions. Davis starred in many......

Ross Martin, mtvU...

Loretta Buckley, Law Student...

You can't fool us Gothamist Weather - bad news is just bad news when it comes to heat and humidity! But thank you for trying to make us less hysterical about it. And it really is not that bad. One look at a long, hot summer day in New York: Do the Right Thing - Roger Ebert's Great Movies review and also check out the Criterion DVD of it. And more Gothamist hotness: - Sets......

Sue Sena, S.W.i.S.H. Founder...

David Hinckley in the NY Daily News complains that the American Film Institute list of the 100 Top Movie Songs is no fun because it's actually not a bad list. Gothamist would almost agree, except for the lack of songs from South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut. We feel that Come What May from Moulin Rouge (who sings that? who cares?) is just an addition to please the public (that way you can get Nicole Kidman......

Maggie Dubris, Writer/Hypnotist/Ex-paramedic...

If there isn't snow on the ground, then it's time to see the various bugs of the city. The Times has an article about the return of the cicada, which takes a 17 year old nap in larva and then crawls out from the ground to find a mate to have sex with, and the excitement it causes in people. Cicadas are harmless, although it seems that you might see mist of "cicada urine" or......

As we suspected, Spike Lee and Viacom have settled the "Who does the name Spike belong to" issue. Viacom can rebrand TNN "Spike TV," Spike Lee gets some cash money. One of his lawyers says, "We have settled the case with Viacom. It's obviously good when parties settle." Yeah, it's good Spike didn't have to pony up the $2 million bond for pursuing his suit against Viacom. Let that be a lesson to anyone who......

If there's anything to make a 7AM flight a little easier, it's knowing that Spike Lee is also sitting in coach and even has a crappier seat (he had a middle seat). When I told my coworker about him, she said, "That must have been Spike Lee who I spoke to at the Starbucks!" Spike Lee had dropped a dollar, she pointed it out. Spike Lee is obviously cost-conscious, sitting in coach, and he appreciated......