Get ready to start dialing, the annual rush to score one of those highly coveted White Castle Valentine's reservations is on! The slider emporium has finally released the numbers to call to make sure that you and yours can spend the February 14 holiday properly, uh, greased up. more ›

Perhaps when you no longer fit into the seats that your favorite fast food restaurant provides, it's time to cut back on the stuff. Or maybe it's time to launch a campaign for bigger seats! 64-year-old, 290-pound White Castle fanatic Martin Kessman says back in 2009 he walked into his local White Castle to find stationary booths that he barely fit into—he left that day limping out of the restaurant after banging his knee on the table. Instead of finding the seats to be aspirational, he sent a letter to the corporate offices hoping for change on their end. According to the NY Post, the company replied with three “very condescending letters," along with coupons for free burgers, and a promise to expand the seats, even sending specs. more ›

There may or may not have been times when we attempted to walk through the 24-hour drive through in Williamsburg's White Caste to sate our late-night slider craving, only to be denied for not arriving in a vehicle. But those days are (sort of) over now, with the announcement that the chain is now accepting online orders in its NYC locations. Feel a craving for chicken rings coming on? Get clicking now! more ›

If wooing your lady with a romantic night of wine and chocolates by White Castle-scented candlelight just isn't romantic enough, it may be time to splurge for the real deal. White Castle's annual Valentine's day dinner is accepting your reservations now, and the New York dinners seem popular already. The line was busy when we called to inquire about locations! (Bring a roll of 20s to, ahem, grease the maître d). more ›

So the food snobs over at Zagat rated Five Guys the best fast food burger in the country, but what do New Yorkers have to say about their greasy patties? Inspired by a recent Consumer Reports ranking of 18 burger chains, the Post put McDonald's, Burger King, Five Guys, Wendy's and White Castle to the test. And if there's one thing this disparate group of city folk can agree on, it's that White Castle sucks. more ›

The driver arrested for DWI after a fatal Staten Island drag race was arraigned and then released on $2000 bail. Korey Swatz, 33, had a blood alcohol of 0.10, above the 0.08 legal limit, after the crash that took 20-year-old Philip Boney-Scrivano's life. Witnesses say that Boney-Scrivano and Swatz were driving at over 100 mph in Tompkinsville when Boney-Scrivano jumped the curb at Bay Street and crashed into the Citgo gas station; his body was thrown from the car and reportedly "ripped apart" when it hit a utility pole. more ›

Led by one of the victims of an alleged gay bashing at a White Castle, Staten Island residents held a one mile march for an end to the string of bias attacks that have taken place in the borough this year. It was one of three held yesterday. Beating victim Richard Viera said, "You never really imagine it happening to yourself...It’s not a gay issue, a Latino issue—it’s a human issue." more ›

Luis Vieira, 47, and his partner, Richard Vieira, 39, were on their way into a White Castle in Stapleton, Staten Island around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday when they noticed a group of about 40 black youths, male and female, walking in the middle of the street. The couple proceeded inside, and were sitting enjoying their burgers when one of three of the youths entered. Luis Vieira tells SI Live that as he watched them come in, one of the youths asked him, "What the fuck are you looking at, fag?" more ›

For those times when a series of comical misadventures keep you from visiting White Castle in person, here's the next "best" thing: A scented candle that "infuses the home with the steam-grilled aroma of America’s first fast-food hamburger." This limited-edition item went on sale Monday at $10 a pop, with the net proceeds going to benefit Autism Speaks. It is already sold out, but White Castle's website notes that it's only sold out "for now." Is that a threat or a promise? Early reviews are not specifically too good: more ›

A man accused of beating an off-duty police officer during a 2006 fight at a Bronx White Castle was acquitted of assault charges. Daryl Massey, who had pleaded not guilty, insisted he never touched officer Eric Hernandez. Hernandez, who was taunted and beaten by a gang at the fast food restaurant, had drawn a gun and did not drop it when a responding officer asked him to. The responding officer fired at Hernandez, who later died of his injuries. A jury deliberated for three days before coming to their verdict. Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch said, "We are outraged and disappointed that this cowardly thug who was part of a wolf pack that attacked officer Hernandez and set into motion a chain of events that led to the officer's tragic death will not be held responsible for his crime. Everyone who participated in any part of this unwarranted and brutal attack shares the responsibility for the death of a good police officer and deserves prison time as a result." more ›

A month ago, when news that a 79 year-old classic burger restaurant in Toledo – the last in town of a defunct chain called White Tower – was being sold for $1 (on condition the buyer moves it off the property where it sits), a reader of A Hamburger Today seized the opportunity to play matchmaker with a NY restaurateur. “Danny Meyer? Paging Danny Meyer?!” wrote the commenter. more ›

There was a smorgasbord of inter-borough hamburger love last night at the chandelier-bedazzled Astoria World Manor in Queens for the inaugural Burger Battle of the Boroughs. Representing good taste in general at event sponsor Pat LaFrieda Meats's table, Seymour Burton chef de cuisine (and non-competitor) Josh Shuffman cooked the restaurant’s signature burger for spectators while the event was judged. more ›

Imagine that final beach scene in Planet of the Apes, but substitute every small patch of sand for a chain restaurant and that’ll give you an idea of where the NY restaurant scene might be heading – all blown up, with Charlton Heston eventually smashing his fists into a huge pile of thermal cardboard coffee cup sleeves instead of foamy surf. more ›

Santa came early and dumped some carnivorous coal down the throats of vegetarians in Brooklyn’s Flatbush neighborhood this weekend. The NY Press has reported that the beloved Veggie Castle – so named because it was converted from an old White Castle fast food restaurant – has abruptly closed. The Veggie Castle was as famous for repurposing the White Castle as it was for its vegetarian twist on Caribbean classics, offering such delicacies as jerk tofu, curried tofu and a steaming vegan soul food buffet. more ›

EVENT: White Castle is sponsoring an "over the top" (heh) event today at Port Authority...it's the 30th Annual White Castle Empire State Golden Arm Tournament of Champions. Over 100 ladies and gents will face off to become the arm wrestling champ! The event starts at 12:30 and the finals begin at 3:30pm. More info here. 12:30 and 3:30pm // Port Authority Bus Terminal [North Wing/Main Concourse at 625 8th Ave] // Free MUSIC: The Scotland... more ›

It was reported last week that the 71 year-old Hartsdale, Westchester Carvel -- the very first outpost of the ice cream shop -- will likely be demolished at the end of next summer to make room for businesses that presumably make more money. Yes, the 68% milkfat solid, sidereal softy known as Cookie Puss is crying tiny crunchy tears as we speak; Flying Saucers are slowing down for their final approach. While the building’s current location is the site of the original Carvel store, the fact that it has been renovated over the years to look more retro apparently complicates bids for historic preservation. Tom Carvel, the chain’s gravelly voiced founder who also used to narrate its television commercials (vintage WPIX, anyone?) once lived with his wife Agnes in quarters behind the shop. more ›

In the masses of offerings at this year's Tribeca Film Festival, there's quite a few strong New York-centric selections both in and out of competition to seek out. Granted at $25-$14 per, tickets for the festival don't come cheap, so if you're going to see something at the fest make it a local joint. more ›

Some other repertory selections of note playing around town this weekend include a B Musicals series at Film Forum, midnight screenings of David Lynch's delightfully perplexing at the Sunshine, both on Friday and Saturday nights. A Crave Case will not be included in the price of admission. more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: A carbon monoxide incident in Queens, a fatal jumper down in Manhattan, and number of stabbings in the Bronx
• Congratulations to the same-sex couples who are planning civil unions right after midnight tonight in NJ.
• Gowanus Lounge calls Ikea's public attitude about the destruction of historical records from the Todd Shipyard in Red Hook "nothing short of disdain and matter-of-fact dismissal"

Red Alligator, by Soupflowers. more ›

Hopefully you’ve got your party stocked and ready to go for the game tonight. We’re getting ready to fake some real enthusiasm here, and we hope you can muster it, too. But if you really couldn’t care less about the game, hopefully you can put all that spirit into the food. more ›

In the wake of a judge dismissing charges daredevil Jeb Corliss for his attempted jump off the Empire State Building, Mayor Bloomberg is very upset.

"If I understand the ruling, just from reading the headlines, the judge said the guy did nothing wrong and should be able to jump off buildings with a single bound or whatever - I don't know where the judge is coming from. Whether it's legal, that's up to the court system to decide. But we do not need people jumping off of tall buildings in New York City - certainly [not] without a permit."

- Stephanie Adams' cabby says she's a vampire! more ›

The defense attorney of one of the men accused of beating up an off-duty police officer says his client will be cleared. Police Officer Eric Hernandez so badly injured when a group of men beat him at a White Castle that he was seemingly unable to hear an on-duty police officer's request for him to lower his gun, only the other officer to shoot him. The Bronx DA released footage of an interview with the three men who were allegedly harrassing a White Castle employee, only for Hernandez to intervene and a fight to start. Edwin Rivera said that Hernandez never identified himself as a police officer, and then showed he had a gun:

“He’s looking around, and he’s eating his french fries, looking around like he’s about to do something. So that’s when I came and I hit him, and then I threw him to the side — and I didn’t think that all my friends was going to jump in and start kicking.”

Jay Smooth caught this quintessentially cheesy moment at Joe's on Bleecker Street on Sunday. Improbably, Adam Kuban from SliceNY did not get an invitation to the event. more ›

- Boss Tweed sees Mona Lisas in Union Square - for The Da Vinci Code, perhaps? more ›

The boys at A Hamburger Today have let us know that May is National Hamburger Month. This month-long celebration is being sponsored by White Castle (we hear they know a thing or two about burgers, having been in the burger biz for 85 years). If you feel like commemorating the occasion, you can always send someone an e-card, but we recommend celebrating the right way -- by diving right in to a big, juicy burger at the establishment of your choosing (the one pictured is from P.J. Clark's, in case you were wondering). more ›

Sure, you might think of Christopher Meloni as the always angry Detective Eliot Stabler on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, but he's also had some indelible roles in The Runaway Bride, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, Wet Hot American Summer and, of course, Oz. We were perusing the official Christopher Meloni website when we found this great speech that Oz (and Homicide) creator Tom Fontana gave for him at a Human Rights Equality Awards dinner:

When we were shooting OZ, there was a scene where the character he played, Keller, was in the Hole and had to take a piss. Chris got the script and came to my office: "I want to do this," he said, "I want to actually take a piss on camera." Normally, a scene like that would involve prop men and tubes and other special effects, but because Keller was naked, Chris' instincts were a hundred percent correct -- the scene would have more impact if he actually peed. Now, I don't know how an actor prepares for that, whether he uses Stanislavsky or Pellegrino - but the moment came, we're on the soundstage, the director calls action, the camera pans down and Chris starts peeing -- on cue. The shot is perfect. Except for one slight technical glitch. Okay. Take two - same deal, action, camera pans, Chris starts to pee on cue. The shot is even better. I'm happy. The director's delirious. Chris says, "Do we want to do it again? 'Cause I got another one in me."

The mother of police officer Eric Hernandez who died from shots fired by another officer is filing a lawsuit for $50 million in damages. Hernandez, who was off-duty when he visited a Bronx White Castle, had been beaten by a group of men and was crawling outside, with his gun in hand, when police officer Alfredo Toro responded to the scene. Toro, not realizing Hernandez was a fellow officer, shot him in the legs and abdomen when Hernandez didn't lower his gun. There is thought that Hernandez also thought Toro might have been another attacker, and doctors believe the beating affected his ability to hear. His mother, Cynthia Salich, said, "Eric is obedient. When the officers told Eric to drop the gun, he was ailing. The police officer didn't give Eric reasonable time and opportunity to lower his gun against the person he thought had attacked him inside the restaurant." What Gothamist is curious about are the reports that Hernandez was drunk when he went to the White Castle - and the fact that officers should not draw their guns when drinking. Should Hernandez's impaired judgement be on trial? more ›