Here's a big slice of awesome. New York Shitty has posted a "salute" to these two ingenious gentleman who transformed a bunch of NYPD barricades into public seating in Spanish Harlem. "The gent on the right claimed credit for this creation—and stated that the NYPD gives him plenty of guff about it," Miss Heather writes. "He told yours truly they come by regularly and roust him from his 'bench.' Because it is their property." more ›

The Daily News reports that two separate incidents of women being raped by strangers yesterday morning. One incident occurred around 7AM, when a NJ woman headed to a Spanish Harlem building where she works as a baby-sitter. The woman was "grabbed," "dragged" and raped in the elevator. Police are not sure if she was followed (she had taken the 6 train to 103rd Street). more ›

For decades East Harlem has been the center of New York's Puerto Rican community. Over the years many Mexican and Dominican immigrants have also made East Harlem their home. Now, as the squeeze of affordable housing gets tighter and tighter in Manhattan, more middle-class professionals are moving to the neighborhood. In a tale almost as old as New York itself, the changes have long-time residents worried about the loss of community. more ›

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Oftentimes we get a little bored with the personal histories that the Times likes to run in the City section. Its the same problem we have with the Lives stories on the back page of the Magazine: We just can't get the necessary amount of upset every single week, so we just stop reading 'em. But then a piece like todays excellent The Fires Last Time by Ernesto Quiñonez show up and remind us why we still at check. more ›

Leon Williams, Subterranean Electric Guitarist more ›

And not any old gym: The minions in the fourth season of Donald Trump-Mark Burnett's rat race contest had to create a fitness program for Bally's Total Fitness! Yes, the Bally's that has admitted to using "high pressure sales techniques" and other unlawful practices to attract and retain customers! Ugh. They may be a cheap option month to month, but you'll need to go through about five circles of hell to break your membership. Anyway, this season of the Apprentice had the teams split up into the men and the women again, and thankfully, stupidity and insta-hate emerged immediately. This task also enabled the cameras to take a lot of gratuitous ass shots of people working out. more ›

Following up on Curbed's post about graffiti artist Chico's tribute to Pope John Paul II, it seems that many people with cans of spray paint want to pay some respect to the late pontiff. De la Vega, who had been the bane of his community, has created a Pope and Jesus-on-the-crucifix mural on a Spanish Harlem security gate that he hopes will be permanent. And reader Marisa pointed us to how someone in Long Island City is remembering PJPII. We can only imagine that Pope John Paul II appreciates even street art, as he did have breakdancers perform for him. more ›

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The Times has a good article on James De La Vega, a graffiti artist who was arrested last July for painting a mural on Willis Avenue in the Bronx. De La Vega is one of the city's best known graffiti artist, thanks largely to his sidewalk chalk works. Gothamist first noticed them about six years ago. Lots of memorable quotes like "Your Thumbs Are More Important Than You Think" and "The Rich Control The Destiny Of The Poor, But An Intelligent Man Controls His Own." De La Vega also does murals, mostly in upper Manhattan near his studio on East 103rd Street. In 1999, he was arrested while doing a permission piece on the side of a supermarket in Spanish Harlem, and ended up pleading guilty before the owner could get there an back up his story. That led to a probation sentance, which created the possibility of real jail time after the Bronx arrest last year. more ›

The New York Times takes apart the city's doggie census and analyzes it using animal ownership information to gain insights into New Yorkers. Reporter Susan Saulny notes the variations of dogs in different areas with much humor: "For instance, who would be most likely to own Lucy, a cute little Shih Tzu? (Hint: Lucy often wears her long hair in a high ponytail above her eyes, fastened with a little pink bow.) Thinking, thinking. Someone from ZIP code 10021, you say, on the Upper East Side? That would be correct." more ›