The superintendent of an apartment complex in Rye has a week to vacate after a tenant caught him on film sodomizing their pet dog. Kujtim Nicaj, who is a married father of two and is known as "Tim" to tenants, was arrested on February 9 for burglary and sexual misconduct. "I find it shocking and hard to believe," a resident tells NBC. "I don't think he'd do something like that. That's just my opinion." Hmm, how many people have ever said, "Yeah, that guy just seems like he sodomizes dogs"? more ›

Last week, Rye's Playland amusement park turned into Altamont bemusement park when police wielded batons and arrested 15 following an altercation between a park employee and a Muslim woman who was turned away from a ride because of her headscarf. Now, Westchester's Public Safety Commissioner George Longworth says that the situation escalated because of "a phenomenon that law enforcement has experienced across the country called flash mobs, where groups tend to gather rapidly because of texting." Uh, we don't recall seeing any skulls crushed at Darren Criss's flash mobs. more ›

Fifteen people were arrested at Rye Playland amusement park in Westchester County yesterday afternoon, and two charged with felony assault after a melee broke out when a park employee asked a Muslim woman to remove her headscarf before boarding a ride. The woman who attempted to ride the Dragon Rollercoaster, Haifa Ali, tells Patch that after she was told she couldn't ride unless she removed her hijab, she and a group of other Muslim women went to ask for a refund. Then "someone grabbed her hijab…a park ranger wrestled another one of the women to the ground," when "law enforcement began to converge on the group, hitting them with batons." Another eyewitness not with the group says she heard one female police officer yell, "I don't give a f*ck about your culture." more ›

Westchester fancy lady Amy Paul resides in a 11,000-square-foot home so lavish it was featured in a fawning profile in Westchester Magazine two years ago. It's clear from reading the article that Ms. Paul likes things just so, so you can understand why she'd be a bit miffed when she arrived at The Palm restaurant in East Hampton Saturday night to find that the insolent staff did not have her table ready. Never mind that she arrived twenty-five minutes late for her 9:30 reservation, and with four extra people—is it right that a lady of her refinement should have to stand around like an idiot waiting for her table? Certainly not, and so Ms. Paul decided to teach the help an invaluable lesson in customer relations. more ›

After coyotes attacked children playing in yards, the Westchester suburb of Rye embarked on an aggressive program to patrol the area for more creatures. One male coyote was caught near the the location of the second attack last weekend, but the city did not disclose the capture. The Journal News reports that it "learned of the catch from the Facebook page of the trapper's company, Quality Pro Pest and Wildlife Services." One day, local government will realize that social media will force them to be transparent! more ›

The coyotes have struck again in Rye, NY! Days after a pair of coyotes bite a 6-year-old girl playing in her Rye, NY front lawn, a coyote attacked a 3-year-old in her yard. According to WPIX, "The home abuts the Rye Nature Center, a 47-acre parcel of woodlands where coyotes are suspected of living. The coyote may have jumped from nature center property through a break in the home's fence to carry out the attack Tuesday night at around 7:30." more ›

After two coyotes attacked a 6-year-old girl playing in her front lawn in Rye, NY, residents of the Westchester suburb are very worried. The girl, who had been playing with her older sisters (the coyotes may have targeted her because she was the smallest), suffered bites on her shoulder and thigh, and maybe her ear. A neighbor told the Journal News, "It's really uncommon, and clearly the animals are crossing the line. This is a deliberate attack and I hope something is done about it. Summer is here, and kids are outside playing much later. We have three kids, and we can't let them out any more at night until they catch these coyotes." The NY State DEC has tips on avoiding coyote conflicts. more ›

Westchester police are on the lookout for two coyotes that mauled a 6-year-old girl in Rye. The girl was playing in her front yard with her sisters when the coyotes "pounced" from a bush, biting her on the shoulder, thigh and possibly ear and scratching her back. more ›

Coyotes, this isn't going to look good for you. One of the wild animals killed a pet poodle in Rye this week, just about 20 miles outside of the city. According to MyFox5, the poodle was tied up outside a retirement home Wednesday night. A witness called the police to report the attack, but when the authorities arrived, they found only the lifeless dog's carcass. The coyote was seen running off... perhaps towards the city? We're expected to see a coyote boom here sometime around this fall, and a few brave ones have already gone urban this year. It's worth noting that our recent visitors have also attacked humans; late last year a Canadian singer/songwriter was killed by coyotes in Nova Scotia. more ›

Rye: If there's a softer mode than "soft opening," a more friendly and familial "friends and family," it's embodied by this new Williamsburg restaurant from chef Cal Elliott (Dressler, Dumont). Though word of the new establishment, located in a former bodega, began trickling out several weeks ago, it is still very much a work in progress, albeit a gorgeous one. During a visit to Rye yesterday, an admittedly exhausted Elliott declined to reveal anything about his menu, which he would only describe as "contemporary American." He told us that a recent photo spread on Grub Street and menu reveal on Eater were done without his approval, and he may soon close the kitchen for a week to reevaluate. more ›

Earlier today at Gallagher’s Steakhouse on West 52nd Street, some of the top Major League Eaters gathered around an obscene amount of corned beef sandwiches to see who could eat the most. Pat "Deep Dish" Bertoletti (sporting the mohawk) took the $10,000 prize home after a ingesting an impressive 8 lbs of meat (16 3/4 sandwiches), beating out Joey "Jaws" Chestnut, the reigning Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Champ, who "only" ate 15 1/2 sandwiches. The numbers alone are enough to induce meat sweats! Anyone up for Katz's? more ›

Gala Apple is a sprawling Slavic supermarket housed in a former Rite Aid, located along the southern border of Kensington, Brooklyn. It’s loaded with odd food gems like these cute, 8 oz. “Subway Series” rye mini-loaves ($1.29), above, that come from a Queens bakery. Part of the baker’s profits benefit education about the Armenian Genocide. more ›

Former Westchester County District Attorney - and one-time Attorney General candidate and potential Senate candidate - Jeanine Pirro and her husband Al Pirro have announced they are separating. Their statement to the press: "We have agreed to amicably separate. As always, our priority remains our two wonderful children. We ask that people respect our privacy. There will be no further comment." The couple has been married 32 years and have weathered through many years of... more ›