This week, NYC's millions of public school students returned to class on Wednesday...only to stay at home yesterday and today, due to the Jewish holidays. The one-day school week was ridiculed and even boycotted by some parents. But then there are the parents didn't know their kids didn't have school. more ›

Even though half of the kids probably won't even be showing up today, it is technically the first day of school! But this year is getting off to a rocky start, with accusations that the Mayor isn't doing his job, and one borough threatening to secede over cuts to school bus services. Besides, we totally don't know what to wear. more ›

This week the city's public school students will come back for just one day of school, and parents say the awkward schedule is throwing a wrench in their vacation plans. Students are expected to show up for school on Wednesday, September 8th after celebrating Labor Day, but have Thursday and Friday off for Rosh Hashanah. To protest, they've turned to Facebook. more ›

Coming back from a relaxing summer, kids will have one day of school, followed by an extended long weekend, according to the Daily News. That's because Rosh Hashanah—the Jewish New Year and first day of the High Holidays—falls on Thursday and Friday this year, with classes scheduled to begin on Wednesday. Why not move the first day back? Teachers need Tuesday to prepare, and Monday is Labor Day. "It just makes no sense," said Nick Comaianni, president of the parents council in southeastern Queens. "For the one day? Just let it go, leave it alone and start it the next week." more ›

Jewish pigskin lovers in the area might undergo a conversion this season—from Gang Green to Big Blue. With Jewish high holy days falling on consecutive weekends this September, the NFL consented with the Giants' request that they play on the road while Rosh Hahanah and Yom Kippur were being observed. But somehow a similar request by the Jets got lost in the mail. A team VP said, "The Jets are hearing from their fans. There was miscommunication between the Jets and the NFL office, for which I take full responsibility. All we can continue to do is look and see if there is a solution to this." The 9/27 game during Yom Kippur could be atoned by simply switching its 4:15 start time with the Giants 1:00 game in Tampa Bay—the holiday begins that evening at sundown). But there may be no repentance for the previous week's 1 p.m. home opener against the Patriots—Rosh Hashanah concludes that Sunday at sundown, so only a switch to Sunday night could make amends. Neither team can play Monday or Thursday night games at home this season due to construction of their new stadium. more ›

After years of legal wrangling, the Appellate Court has backed the College of Staten Island and says that the CUNY school can deny official status to fraternity Chi Iota. But the battle may not be over, as the brothers want to fight this at the Supreme Court. more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: Airmail in Brooklyn, truck vs train overpass in 31st St & 20th Ave in Queens, an amputation at Grant St & St Pauls Ave in Staten Island and a bomb scare at Broadway and Mercer (NYU) in Manhattan.
• A former deputy mayor under Rudy Giuliani is now an "ambassador" for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. But it's not that shocking, since Fran Reiter had lead the Liberal Party before joining the Giuliani administration...or is it?
• Who decides how subway posters are hung, because this is another example of great subway-poster-juxtaposition?
• A piece of the Willamette Meteorite, which is at the American Museum of Natural History, is being auctioned off. And, no, the museum is not selling it - the private meteorite collection who they traded the 28-pound piece (getting a piece of Mars in return) is behind the sale.
• One man has been arrested in the Labor Day weekend bias attack of Top Chef Season 2 contestant Josie Smith-Malave. The attack was outside a Sea Cliff, Long Island bar; Smith-Malave said that about 12 people punched and kicked her and two of her friends and that the bar's employees, who went outside to watch the attack, didn't do anything.
• The NYPD's new headquarters for the towing division are in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
• Staten Island DA Daniel Donovan is warning residents about the fake IRS "Customer Satisfaction Survey" scam because taxpayers aren't really customers anyway.
• Speaking of taxes, John Gotti Jr. may head to prison because he hasn't paid $220,00 in back taxes.
• The Eldridge Street Synagogue's rose window returns in time for Rosh Hashanah.

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a water rescue off the beach at 105th St. and Shore Front Parkway in Queens, a person struck by a train at 77th St. and 4th Ave. in Brooklyn, and a shooting at Martin Luther King Pl. and Tompkins Ave. in Brooklyn.
• A middle-aged man was arrested Sunday evening after attempting to rob a McDonald's on Staten Island, but settling for ripping the clear acrylic box of donations for charity from the counter and making off with it.
• Cemusa, the Spanish company that brought us the city's new bus stop shelters, will be installing a new Grimshaw Architects-designed uniform replacement for New York's eclectic newsstand designs.
• The city will begin notifying pedicab applicants by mail today who has been granted, via a lottery where existing pedicab owners received preference, a license to operate their vehicles. Nonetheless, there will be a number of existing pedicab drivers who will be prohibited from continuing working as pedal-powered transit.
• There is currently no credible threat against Jewish targets, but as Rosh Hashanah begins tonight and marks the start of the Jewish high holy days, the NYPD will be stepping up security around possible targets of terrorism.
• Former NY Jet Curtis Martin may be the purchaser of Brooklyn's priciest condo: the $7.25 million penthouse triplex on Brooklyn Bridge State Park with 360 degree views of the city.
• The Travel section of the Times acknowledges that cool Brooklyn does not end at Bedford Ave., and ventures as far as Havermeyer and Berry St. along Grand St. Get there before it's totally played out.
• The ink is still drying on Rupert Murdoch's purchase of Dow Jones, but New York Post editor and alleged strip club afficionado Col Allan dropped by the offices of The Wall Street Journal, probably trying to pacify the upset reporters who are already seeing their pay cut through decreased health insurance contributions.

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. And, please, does his campaign really expect people to believe that Bloomberg doesn't have some gentiles who can drill information the mayor on Thursday? And Bloomberg has been a Jew for his entire life, though not necessarily the most religious of them - it's pretty convenient for him to pull the "I'm a Jew" card now - and his minions were still calling for support on Rosh Hashanah! more ›

- Authorities are searching landfills in Pennsylvania in hopes of finding Monica Lozado-Rivaineiria's body more ›

A very happy and healthy to New Year to all our Jewish friends! Rosh Hashanah begins tonight at sundown, which means many of us will be leaving the office early and heading home for dinner. Luckily, Gothamist is non-denominational project, and we've got plenty of goys in the house to keep the site moving over the next couple of days. Shanah tovah! [Related: Bloomberg on New Year security, If you are looking for some recipes for tzimmes, start here. Photo by Joe.] more ›

, the New York Daily News notes that The Prime Grill, will serve a prix fixe kosher Rosh Hashanah dinner on Wednesday at 7:45 p.m. and Thursday at 8:45 p.m. For $95 per person ($175 for both nights), you and your family can enjoy some of the highest-Zagat-rated kosher cuisine in the city (none of that crappy, boxed honey cake nonsense that seems to pop up at Jewish holiday meals around this time of year, we hope). The service will be led by Rabbi Metzger of Chabad of Midtown Manhattan. Call (212) 692-9292 for reservations and information. more ›

Tomorrow brings a few exciting but very different activities to partake in: First, there is Broadway on Broadway, a live free outdoor concert in Times Square, hosted by Wayne Brady (soon to be seen in Chicago) and Christy Carlson Romano (Beauty and the Beast), to celebrate the musicals and plays the Great White Way has to offer. Some of the participating shows: Avenue Q, Brooklyn, The Musical (who knew?), Chicago, Golda’s Balcony (which means the awesome Tovah Feldshuh, aka attorney Danielle Melnick from Law & Order, will be there), Hairspray, La Cage Aux Folles, Little Women, Mamma Mia!, The Producers, Rent, Wicked and Wonderful Town. more ›

Mayor Bloomberg was getting his Rosh Hashanah shop on the other day along Avenue J in Brooklyn. Rosh Hashanah, aka the Jewish New Year and one of the holiest days of the Jewish calendar, starts on September 15. There are a lot of workshops and events at the Jewish Community Center for the holiday. And we know it's the wrong holiday, but check out this NYC menorah. We'll await the Bloomberg family Rosh Hashanah recipes at the NYC.gov site and keep you posted. more ›

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