Yesterday, a Manhattan judge convicted twenty activists of disorderly conduct seven months after their arrest at a protest outside a Harlem police precinct last year. The defendants, including Princeton University professor and civil rights activist Cornel West, were among 32 demonstrators purposefully arrested while protesting the NYPD's stop-and-frisk policy at an OWS-related rally on October 21. The trial drew national attention for being one of the biggest and most politically charged group trials the city has seen in recent years. more ›

This just in: Gothamist fave Suzanne Vega will be hosting a last-minute event at the Russian Tea Room tonight, and if you have $88, you're invited! They tell us: more ›

You can't get much more New York than Suzanne Vega. A lifelong resident of the Upper West Side, she's an alum not only of Barnard, but the High School for the Performing Arts and P.S. 163. She's been New York's ambassador to the world of folk music since her self-titled debut album twenty-five years ago. She immortalized Morningside Heights with the unbearably catchy "Tom's Diner" (which will still take you back to 1990 if you let it). She has relatives in Queens. She learned to drive at age 43. Starting at the Songwriters' Exchange in the Village in the early 80s, she had her Lincoln Center debut two weeks ago, as part of the American Songbook series, whose podcast series she hosts. She's still covering the New York map with songs: her last studio album, "Beauty and Crime," included songs set on the Upper West Side, Central Park South, Ludlow Street, and Ground Zero. more ›

This weekend Kanye West's mother (and manager), Dr. Donda West, died after surgery - which the BBC is reporting was cosmetic (UPDATE: she was warned prior to getting the surgery). West was very close with his 58-year-old mother, often speaking publicly about their bond and even writing a song for her. Just this summer the two were at Borders to promote her new book, Raising Kanye. Kanye was in London when told of the death,... more ›

This Sunday there will be a screening of the 1983 classic Wild Style at Summerstage, followed by performances by some of the rappers in the movie. Busy Bee, The Cold Crush Brothers, GrandMaster Caz, Fab 5 Freddy and more, including some special guests. More info on the event, which is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the movie, is here, but let's take a look back to when it was filmed. more ›

. Along the way she’s had a divorce and a daughter (Ruby, now 13), married the man who proposed to her back in her pre-Luka days, and been dubbed "The Mother of the Mp3" when her song Tom’s Diner was used as the model for the algorithm that compresses the Mp3! more ›

Above is a video explaining why this event is taking place, and inviting everyone to come out to Central Park today. more ›

At noon today, Suzanne Vega and Lou Reed will play a free concert at the opening of 7 World Trade Center. As we all know, 7 WTC is the only tower to be rebuilt since 9/11; the plaza already opened this week. more ›

- Gothamist's next food field trip more ›

Suzanne Vega writes in today's Times' City section, about how at age 43, she finally is going after her driver's license. Like many city folk, there's no need for a license, unless you really want a driver's license for ID purposes. Vega's essay is a great look at her Morningside Heights neighborhood (or SoHa - south of Harlem - haha) and the peculiarities of taking driving lessons in New York. Gothamist likes how one instructors says Vega needs to "observate."
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