It's not just property values that are collapsing in New York; a construction crane collapsed in Tribeca and injured two workers who were working to repair the crane on the 300-unit residence building. The crane was 200 feet tall and buckled Friday under the strain of an overweighted payload of lumber. Initial reports said that there were no injuries and that several buildings surrounding the 450 Washington St. address had to be evacuated. A later......

It's official. Today the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to designate DUMBO a historic district, pending City Council approval. The area, composed of 91 industrial buildings dated mostly from 1880 to 1920, is bound by John Street to the north, York Street to the south, Main Street to the west and Bridge Street to the east. It is the city's 90th historic district. The district contains the Manhattan Bridge, and its support piers and anchorage......

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a water rescue at Chambers and Water Sts. off Manhattan, an armed robbery on Rockaway Blvd. and 75th St. in Queens, and a shooting on Grafton St. in Brooklyn. LibrerDia Lectorum, one of the city's oldest Spanish language bookstores will be closing September 30th. The Manhattan store on 14th St. opened in 1960 and became a mainstay of Spanish literature in the city. A fire broke out yesterday afternoon......

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a two alarm fire at 80 Washington St in Lower Manhattan; an aircraft emergency at JFK this morning; two pedestrians struck on E. 53rd St.; and a "possible A.I. job" (whatever that is) in Woodhaven. The NYCLU objected yesterday to the number of cases the Civilian Complaint Review Board substantiated. The board, which investigates police misconduct, only substantiated 5% of the cases, but that's actually higher than that of......

The owner of the downtown topless bar Pussycat Lounge is attempting to get the building that houses his business landmarked in order to prevent the club's destruction by an expansion-minded hotelier. The latter is Sam Chang, who currently has 20 different hotel development projects under way in Brooklyn and Manhattan. An article in The Observer reports that Chang has three hotels in the works in the neighborhood surrounding the Pussycat Lounge––a 300-room hotel on Greenwich......

MOVIES: It's a perfect night to head to the movies. Get a double-feature in at the MoMA with Fabricating Tom Zé followed by David Cronenberg's Crash. Let's focus on the former film. Tom Zé (pictured) is a Brazilian songwriter and composer and this documentary (filmed during a 2005 European tour) charts his "personal universe". Zé is an "uncompromising and inspired artist...seen by many (including David Byrne and Arto Lindsay) as revitalizing the ever-evolving Tropicalia movement.......

Wine stores just keep on getting better, and Vestry Wines, which opened this past Monday, has set the bar even higher. Well, actually they set the bar on the back side of the checkout counter (where they conduct free in-store tastings), but you get the point. What sets Vestry Wines apart is their breath and depth of selection in Italian, Californian and French wines. General Manager, Jim Kuhner and Wine Consult, Shelley Lindgren (Wine Director......

THEATER: Katharsis Theater Company has been developing The Polish Play for the past two years; it’s a fusion of Macbeth and Ubu Roi, the play by Alfred Jarry that was partially inspired by Macbeth. This work of Grand Guignol fusion, which mixes puppetry with live acting, swerves between broad satire, tragedy and plenty of ultra-violence. (Although puppets are decapitated and disemboweled on-stage, rest assured that no puppets are permanently harmed for this production.) Jordan Gelber,......

November 3: Chocolate and Dessert Wine Seminar Two award winners paired with two sinful delights -- what could be better? James Beard Pastry Chef of the Year, Jacques Torres and James Beard Sommelier of the Year, Jean Luc Le Du join forces for these seminars focusing on chocolate and dessert wine. Three seminars at 6:30, 7:00 and 7:30, at Le Du's Wines, 600 Washington St between Morton and Leroy. $25. Seating is limited and reservations......

EVENT: Tonight PowerHouse books is having a signing event for the release of photographer Ron Galella's "Disco Years". This visual diary of the New York club scene in the 70's and 80's is sure to make you nostalgic for Studio 54 - even if that was before your time. 5:30 to 7pm // Rizzoli Bookstore [31 W 57th btw 5th & 6th] // Free THEATER: The workaday lives of office temps are brightened by rumors......

Urban Daddy gets a picture of the newly opened Sascha, the newest creation of Sascha Lyon (formerly of Pastis) and his wife/partner Latoya. Sascha features a restaurant, a bakery, and a private dining room -- three floors of deliciousness. Sascha, 55 Gansevoort St (between 9th Ave and Washington St), 212-989-1920. Photo courtesy of Urban Daddy......

This falls into the good-news-bad-news category: work on the High Line park is slated to begin in Mid-February, but this means that fences will soon be put up blocking access south of 20th Street. This is the most interesting part of the High Line, and if you haven't seen it yet, your chance is just about to run out. The Villager reports: “There’s no specific date yet for construction, but by the end of......

ART: papermag.com celebrates it's 10th year with Manhattan! We recently had a chance to stop by this group exhibition which features over 75 Big Apple-based artists from past to present, and have never enjoyed a gallery show more (of course, it was the opening and they were passing out champagne with Red Bull in it.) The loose theme of the show is "People of New York." To the right is the Yeah Yeah Yeah's Nick......

FESTIVAL:: The 9th Annual D.U.M.B.O Art Under the Bridge Festival begins today and runs through the weekend. The schedule includes our faves: the Architecture Walk (today at 4pm), open galleries and lots of music lined up by Todd P. All weekend // d.u.m.b.o Arts Center [30 Washington St, Brooklyn] ART: For more than thirty years, Creative Time has helped artists animate unusual public places, from unlikely landmarks to neglected, abandoned areas. The Plain of Heaven......

Everyone we know is doing something, however small, in response to the devastating disaster, but some are doing what they do best: cook and eat. We've heard of a few food events to benefit the tsunami relief effort, but please let us know if you've heard of any others. - On January 11th, five chefs specializing in Asian Cuisine will be holding a five course dinner at Sapa, 43 West 24th Street. Sapa's chef Patricia......