Gothamist

Phantom of the Opera Sequel Review Is Here, Inside the Times

John Del Signore — 2010-03-10T17:25:00-05:00

NY Times theater critic Ben Brantley flew to London with his claws out to see the premiere of the sequel to Phantom of the Opera, and his bitchy pan doesn't disappoint. Set in Coney Island and titled Love Never Dies, the production is such a pretentious, boring mess that Andrew Lloyd Webber "might as well have a 'kick me' sign pasted to his backside... This poor sap of a show feels as eager to be walloped as a clown in a carnival dunking booth." But be AWARE; this isn't just London's problem: The spectacle is slated to open on Broadway in November, at which point we can look forward to more satisfying critical derision—with any luck the reviews will be as entertaining as the scathing Young Frankenstein pans of 2007!

The LPC Called Out For Playing Favorites

Jen Carlson — 2010-03-10T17:15:00-05:00

Victorian Flatbush, via mercurialn's flickr

Does the Landmarks Preservation Commission have a brownstone bias? Earlier this year the group revealed that they would be focusing their efforts on Park Slope while delaying landmark status designations in Ditmas Park and Beverly Square West. One Ditmas resident says, "The [LPC] has limited resources, but it shouldn't be to the exclusion of the Victorian neighborhoods. If it's worthy, they should fund it and do it."

Borough head honcho Marty Markowitz agrees! He told the LPC in a letter, "It is not appropriate public policy to place [Victorian Flatbush] on hold while purely Brownstone Brooklyn is pursued. There must be an equitable balance." But the group says they don't play favorites, and the decision was made because many of the Victorian neighborhood buildings have already been too altered. Plus, the Park Slope set says they need "another layer of protection against new development."

The LPC has been called out for playing favorites before... like, maybe if Jack Kerouac's former home wasn't in Queens it would be landmarked already?

Leona Helmsley's Dog: "Alive and Well and Thriving"

Sabrina Jaszi — 2010-03-10T17:05:00-05:00

In case you were wondering what became of Leona Helmsley’s “rich bitch” Trouble, rest assured she’s not eating trodden banana peels or slurping water from pot holes. “Trouble is no trouble. She is alive and well and thriving,” Howard Rubenstein, spokesman for the Helmsley estate told the Post. When her real-estate mogul owner passed away in 2007 the Maltese poodle inherited $2 million—reduced from $12 million by a Manhattan judge—and now resides at the Helmsley Sandcastle Hotel. The manager there noted there should be plenty of cash leftover, since the dog isn’t expected to live more than five years. Watch out Trouble, we think he's angling to be your heir!

New Architects For Atlantic Yards?

Ben Muessig — 2010-03-10T16:55:00-05:00

from threecee's flickr

After firing famed architect Frank Gehry in an effort to cut costs, the developer of the controversial Atlantic Yards project is in talks with the man who designed the Freedom Tower. Architect David Childs told the Brooklyn Paper that Atlantic Yards builder Bruce Ratner asked him to give plans for the proposed basketball arena a "once over," and also discussed hiring him to construct one of the 16 skyscrapers that Ratner wants to build on the site.

"Bruce wants to bring in different architects, good architects, to do each of the residential buildings ... That's something I'd be very excited about. Talking to Bruce, it's clear that he wants to do this right. He really does."

Despite years of delays and legal battles, the project seems to be moving forward since a judge ruled that state officials can use eminent domain to evict Brooklynites who live in the footprint of the development. Since that decision, officials have closed the streets to prepare for construction—making life miserable for project opponent Dan Goldstein. The Prospect Heights resident, who was offered an eminent domain buyout of $80,000 less than he paid for his condo in 2003, told the Post he must now announce all of his visitors with state security guards.

“I've been told I can’t have visitors unless I give advanced notice," said Goldstein, who the state wants out by April 13. "I live in New York City and pay taxes, so there's no way that I should be treated differently. I actually don’t feel like I live in New York City or a free country anymore." Ratner has announced that the official Atlantic Yards groundbreaking will take place tomorrow. Goldstein, and other project opponents, are planning a protest with featuring bobbleheads.

Spring Training Hints at Approaching Season

Ben Yakas — 2010-03-10T16:44:00-05:00

Spring is really almost here—you can tell by the reports of tickle fights, short sleeves, and the return of MLB spring training. And it wouldn't really be spring training in Yankeesland without A-Rod controversies and contract disputes!

A-Rod, who has had a relatively quiet off-season, has been connected with Dr. Anthony Galea, a Canadian doctor who is the focus of a cross-border drug-smuggling case involving human growth hormone. A-Rod will meet with prosecutors, as well as Yankees staff, over his relationship with the doctor (and whether he violated his $275 million, 10-year contract in the process), ESPN reports.

Meanwhile, despite the fact that their three (arguably) most beloved current members, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Manager Joe Girardi, all have expiring contracts at the end of this season, Hal Steinbrenner told reporters that the Yankees won't talk contract extensions until after the season. Steinbrenner did stress how important all three were to the team: "I've expressed to all of them that, `You're part of the Yankee family and you're wanted. It wouldn't be the same without you.' But as far as no extensions, it's a business policy of mine."

Over in Metsville, besides auditioning to sing the national anthem and join Mr Met's entourage, shortstop Jose Reyes has been diagnosed with an overactive thyroid condition, although Reyes himself is skeptical. Regardless, doctors treating him in NY say he should be ready to bat third on opening day. Also, former Yankee Goose Gossage called K-Rod a "clown." But he might have his pitchers confused.

Burglar Takes Hamster, Sock Monkey From Autistic School

Ben Muessig — 2010-03-10T16:33:00-05:00

A thief ransacked a school for autistic children in Staten Island and stole laptops, video games, electronics—as well as a pet hamster, a sock monkey, and a set of rubber ducks. Students at the Eden II School for Children with Autism are shaken, according to executive director Joanne Gerenser, who said kids had made missing posters for the sock monkey and the ducks. "It just felt personal," she said. "That hamster was of no monetary value to anybody but the kids ... I felt that it was really malicious."

The Advance reports that the perp broke into the Elm Park school at some point over the weekend without setting off the security alarm. Once inside, the crook tore through classrooms and offices and grabbed the hamster—named Star—and its cage, as well as toys, laptops, phone chargers, a Nintendo Wii, iPods, Flip cameras, and other items. Police are investigating the incident.

"The kids who have the hamster, they were very upset," said Gerenser, who noted that many of the students had "never experienced anything like this." She added: "One of the students told us that she didn't sleep the night before because she was afraid."

Paterson Used State Airplane For Campaigning?

Ben Yakas — 2010-03-10T16:22:00-05:00

Is it a weekday? Then there must be a new Paterson scandal to report! This time, Gov. Paterson allegedly used a State airplane for non-State activities last month, including campaigning in Hempstead and Rochester, the Voice reports. Paterson took the trip north on Feb. 20 to attend an outdoors hockey game in Syracuse. Paterson left the game quickly (after being booed during his introductory speech), and spent the rest of the time upstate campaigning, days before testifying about obtaining World Series tickets. Blair Horner, the legislative director for the New York Public Interest Research Group, told the Voice: "Generally speaking, taxpayer resources should be used for public events, not as a convening cover to pay for going to political events." As the Voice sums up:

There is no indication of any investigation underway regarding Paterson's use of the aircraft. But it's the timeline that's telling -- during an investigation about abuse of his privileges and just days before making statements that would later turn out to be fabrications, the Governor skirted ethics guidelines to travel upstate and stand before crowds of New Yorkers and ask for their trust and vote.

A new Quinnipiac poll today found that while most voters want Paterson to finish his term and not resign (which he's already vowed not to do), that doesn't mean they have to like him! A whopping 61 percent of voters dislike the job Paterson is doing; only 21 percent approve—the lowest ever measured for any elected official in any state surveyed by the university in 18 years, according to Quinnipiac.

And to add insult to injury, Rush Limbaugh threw his two-cents into the Massa-resignation ring, and with his usual charm, extracted a racist joke from the situation: "So, David Paterson will become the massa...who gets to appoint whoever gets to take Massa's place. So, for the first time in his life, Paterson's gonna be a massa. Interesting, interesting."

Will The Latest Public Art Installation Cause Panic?

Jen Carlson — 2010-03-10T16:10:00-05:00

A sculpture on Pentagram Design's office, via 1010Wins

That Antony Gormley public art installation, that will most definitely up the 911 call count, is now being installed on rooftops around the city. All in all 31 statues of bodies will be placed on top of buildings near Madison Square Park, including the Flatiron and the Empire State Building. There will also be a few placed on the ground, but the ones that look like jumpers have authorities a little concerned.

A spokesperson for the NYPD told WCBS, "we were notified because of concerns the public might misperceive what they see and call police. We will respond no matter what because you can have an actual jumper at the same building." However, the Madison Square Park Conservancy, sponsoring the installation (called Event Horizon), says they do not believe the statues will confuse New Yorkers.

Gormley, the man behind the madness, says while he's installing the sculptures he'll be trying to get them "as close to the edge of the buildings as possible." So the next big wind storm should be interesting. The bodies will all be installed by the 26th of this month, and on view through August 15th.

Video: Sex Toy Salesman's Crazy Fire Massage Condo Parties

John Del Signore — 2010-03-10T16:00:00-05:00

Seems you can't have a perfectly innocent "fire massage" party in your Tribeca condo loft without the neighbors getting all bent out of shape about it. What's fire massage, you say? Well, judging by this surreal video taken at one of sex toy salesman Dimitri Dimoulakis's ragers, it's when a woman waves a wand of fire over the bare back and legs of a man, who is lying down on what looks like a kitchen counter. According to a lawsuit filed by the condo board, "The man's pants are also pulled down to his ankles." Well, yeah—does it seem like a good idea to leave your clothes on when you're getting massaged by a torch? Then again, torch massage doesn't sound like such a good idea either, but that's what these people are into, among other things.

Neighbors were outraged to find that there was also a stripper pole in the 1,800-square foot basement apartment, and Dimoulakis, who was subletting the place from one James McGown, would charge $10-$15 a head for admission to the bacchanals. The condo board claims the events often featured "pornographic elements, and [caused] horrendous noise disturbance, dangerous conditions and severe risk for the condominium." They complained about the noise, but Dimoulakis and McGown "continued their brutal course of conduct," and after a December 5th bash, "garbage and debris were left strewn about the building entrance, with a trail of blood from the sidewalk leading up to the basement side entrance." (Inside, one imagines a smoldering crater in the bed and a pistol in the toilet.)

Perhaps this whole thing could have been smoothed over if these two hosts had just been more gracious and invited their neighbors to their fun sex toy fire massage stripper pole Burning Man-type parties. After watching the crazy video below, we can only assume the condo scolds were just jealous:

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Biggest NJ Pot Raid EVER; $10M Worth of Marijuana Seized

Sabrina Jaszi — 2010-03-10T15:47:20-05:00

Just months after signing a revolutionary medical marijuana bill into law, NJ authorities have seized more than $10 million worth of illegal marijuana and plants, the most in the state’s history. After sniffing a skunky odor coming from a suburban chimney, cops collected more than 115 pounds of harvested marijuana in addition to 3,370 live plants. So far, three have been arrested in connection with the massive operation. “We have not seen anything to match the volume of production of this criminal enterprise,” said Attorney General Paula T. Dow.

The Cliffview Pilot reports that about a month ago one officer smelled weed in the suburbs of Monroe and was then “faced with overpowering evidence that [a grower] was burning unusable parts of pot plants in the home’s fireplace." A search revealed surveillance cameras set up around the house and four "cultivation areas" in the basement and master bedroom. CBS says that in the next few days police searched more homes, picking up hundreds of plants and pounds of product (as well as growth notebooks, fertilization notes, financial records and cash).

To stay off the radar and avoid the risk of property seizure, the growers rented six nice houses in upper class neighborhoods, where they reworked the electrical system to set up hundreds of grow lamps. They also cut foot-wide ventilation holes through the floor, but the landlords never caught on: to “avoid noisy intrusions” the pot farmers were advised to pick property owners who lived out of state, Dow says.

Stray Bullet Victim: "I Don't Want To Go Outside"

Jen Chung — 2010-03-10T15:37:24-05:00

Dalila Gray, the 10-year-old struck in the arm by a stray bullet, tells the Daily News that she had no idea she was hit during the Monday night shooting that left a man dead on Pulaski Street in Bed-Stuy. She said, "I didn't feel anything," and only cried after her mom, who noticed the hole and blood in her sweater, started crying. The girl had just stepped out of a nearby store around 8 p.m. when the gunfire began; now she's afraid, "I don't want to go outside." Her mother added, "People don't think, they don't care. They don't care who's around when they start shooting." And police say the intended target was the deceased, a 22-year-old with previous arrests.

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2010-03-10T15:37:24-05:00

Breast Milk Cheese: The Forbidden Fromage

Jen Carlson — 2010-03-10T15:25:00-05:00

The Mother's Milk cheese story has aged another day! Lori Mason, chef Daniel Angerer's wife and the woman whose milk has created the controversial cheese, takes center stage with a NY Post cover today. She tells the paper her product is 100% organic and free range, as opposed to what one may pick up at their local grocer; she declares she's "healthier than your average cow and I'm not pumped full of steroids!" However, the Department of Health is still strongly advising against the couple serving up her cheese to strangers.

While more than half of you said you would never try the stuff, there have been some curious customers showing up at Klee Brasserie. Angerer maintains he's not selling there, however brave insiders have taken a taste. Amongst them is Murray's Cheese VP Liz Thorpe, who tells the paper, "It was slippery, slightly crunchy and tasted like pickles."

Gael Greene also tried the forbidden fromage, saying "it is quite bland, slightly sweet, [but] it's the unexpected texture that’s so off-putting. Strangely soft, bouncy, like panna cotta."

If the bad reviews still leave you craving the Mother's Milk cheese, Angerer says he may be hosting private tasting parties and picnics (by the way, he suggests a nice bottle of Riesling to compliment it)—however, the DoH says, "He can't do that either."

Coming This Spring to NY: Jobs!?

Sabrina Jaszi — 2010-03-10T15:15:00-05:00

This spring the city's hiring freeze may finally thaw. According to a new study lots of New York businesses say they’ll take on new employees in the coming months. Sixteen percent of the 18,000 companies surveyed said hiring was in the cards; that’s 4 percent more than last quarter. NY1 says just nine percent will make job cuts, down from twice that much in the previous count. We'll believe it when we see it, but stats say construction workers will find sites-a-plenty. As for finance, that industry's still on lockdown.

Monserrate Defends Obama Rip-Off Logo, Cynthia Nixon Attacks

John Del Signore — 2010-03-10T15:03:00-05:00

At right, the Obama campaign logo and Hiram Monserrate's "Yes We Can" party logo, which is obviously different. No, really!

Yesterday ousted State Senator Hiram Monserrate held a press conference to formally announce his bid to get his old job back in a special election Tuesday. After some laughable rhetoric about how voters should send him to Albany to keep crime down in their community, the girlfriend beater addressed allegations that he jacked his campaign logo from the Obama campaign. "This logo is similar to the slogan that they used, but slightly different, because the logo actually is a 'Q,' which stands for the great borough of Queens," Monserrate told reporters. "If folks had really analyzed it, they would have seen it." It's almost as convincing as Vanilla Ice's argument that he didn't rip off "Under Pressure"—but will voters buy it?

Many same-sex marriage advocates and sane people hope not, and they're joining the Queens Democratic establishment in backing Assemblyman Jose Peralta, who yesterday called Monserrate "the Bernie Madoff of politics. The ex-senator has really promised a lot and has done more harm than good." Because the Democrats have turned their backs on him, Monserrate was reduced to starting a new party—the Yes We Can party—in order to get on the ballot for the special election. (Any resemblance to Obama's campaign slogan is purely coincidental.)

Anti-gay fliers were recently distributed in Monserrate's former Queens district claiming that Peralta is a pawn of "mega-rich gay fanatics" and is a "leading spokesperson for the gay community's [sic] in N.Y.C." At yesterday's press conference, Monserrate, who voted against same-sex marriage when it was before the senate in December, shrugged off the fliers and denied any involvement in their production: "People are out there doing their thing. You know, I can't speak to that."

"With each hate-mongering, fear-rattling, equality-stunting volley, Hiram Monserrate digs another foot down into his political grave," said Valerie Berlin, a spokeswoman for the gay advocacy group Fight Back New York. And speaking of people doing their thing, actor Cynthia Nixon just appeared in a video ad for the Fight Back, urging voters to reject Monserrate when they go to the polls Tuesday. Oh, and then there's Peralta's ad, which the Observer says is already running on NY1 and uses that infamous surveillance footage of Monserrate dragging his girlfriend out of an apartment building. Watch both below!:

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MTA Considers Saving Some Bus Routes

Ben Muessig — 2010-03-10T14:51:00-05:00

After a series of contentious public hearings in which four people were arrested, the cash-strapped MTA announced that is considering saving several bus routes that had been slated for elimination. According to the Daily News, a "small number" of bus routes might be spared, though a final decision hasn't yet been made. By making administrative cuts, MTA chief Jay Walder told the Post he can save about $5 million and keep some previously endangered bus lines running. "We have listened closely to our customers and will respond by making changes where we can," he said. Student MetroCards and the W train remain on the chopping block.

Ravitch's State Fiscal Plan: Borrowing, GAAP, Review Board

Jen Chung — 2010-03-10T14:38:00-05:00

Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch has just unveiled his five year fiscal plan for NY State. Details had been leaked over the past few days, so it was no shock that the plan includes limited borrowing, adopting GAAP accounting, and creating a Financial Review Board to monitor and review the plan.

The biggest concern is over borrowing. While the plan would limit borrowing to $2 billion with other rules in place, Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos said, "Borrowing for operating expenses is just absolutely the wrong way to go, and will just dig the hole even deeper in New York state."

Mayor Bloomberg also hates the idea of borrowing: "They just can't keep spending money the don't have. The federal government can print money, the state government can't. In the end, they have to be fiscally responsible." But the Times-Union also points out that borrowing is the "least objectionable option" for politicians because "no lawmaker wants to be blamed for imposing a tax hike to balance the budget."

As for GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Practices), the NY Times says "budget watchdogs say [the move] is long overdue," because "The change would make it much more difficult for the state to defer budget problems into future years by holding off on paying bills." Currently, there's a $9 billion budget deficit for this year and $15 billion gap next year. Bloomberg News reports: "The deficits are the result of a decline in tax revenue brought on by the worst recession since the 1930s and the spending plans approved in past years by lawmakers and governors. Spending by New York, the third most populous U.S. state, grew 5.6 percent annually, or twice the inflation rate, in the 10 years ended in 2009."

Boozing Buggy Driver Busted!

Jen Carlson — 2010-03-10T14:27:00-05:00

via gerryvisco

A Central Park carriage horse driver was busted with a boozy lunch, according to the NY Post. 49-year-old Saverio Colarusso was spotted drinking a Michelob Light on the job by Special Agent Joseph Pentangelo of the ASPCA back in January, and the organization said yesterday that he's been suspended for 30 days and was fined $175. He claimed he had two beers with his meal that day, and handed the agent the empty bottles. Yep, while back in the day drunken sleigh rides through Central Park may have been all rage, these days it's definitely going to be frowned upon.

Mom Who Hired Hit Man Primped for Mug Shot

Sabrina Jaszi — 2010-03-10T14:15:00-05:00

Susan Williams in surveillance footage and a mug shot (right)

The Long Island mom who tried to engage an undercover cop to kill her husband couldn’t afford a full-priced hit, but she could throw down for a day at the spa. Susan Williams spent the hours before her arrest primping for her mug shot. The beautician who cut and colored her hair and did her eyebrows says she “got a lot of compliments” when the photo went public. During the prolonged appointment Jessica Zinman says the murderous mom talked about her kids and “dating, how hard it is to date." The hairdresser added that "we didn't ever talk about her husband”

Williams was caught on camera handing $500 to the supposed killer for hire, reports the AP. The man was actually an undercover cop, who’d promised to do the job for the bargain price of $20,000. While she was giving payment she shared her thoughts with the officer, pondering whether she should attend the funeral, and “what expression she should have on her face when the police came to her door," according to Assistant Nassau DA Jane Zwirn-Turkin. "Lengthy discussions show that Susan Williams had thought this out," she said.

New York is Super Serious About Coffee Now, Times Decides

Jaya Saxena — 2010-03-10T14:05:00-05:00

Today the Times has a list of the top 30 places to get coffee in the city, praising New York for finally shedding its shackles as a "second-string city when it came to coffee." With places like Abraço and Café Grumpy, we can stop relying on fancy pants San Francisco companies to roast our beans and do it ourselves. Of course, this kind of dedication comes with a price, with some shops refusing to serve espresso in anything but a warm ceramic cup, or saying goodbye to cappuccino because "milk would overpower the subtle flavors of the coffee." Of course, all this hype means a backlash must be brewing, and we predict the Times will soon be running a trend piece about clean-cut scenesters swearing by their Folgers crystals.

The Mad Men Get Barbie Treatment

Jen Carlson — 2010-03-10T13:54:00-05:00

When Mad Men comes back on the air in July, you'll be able to buy your own Barbie versions of Joan Holloway, Don Draper, Betty Draper and Roger Sterling (somehow Peggy got left out of the plastic party—though you can see her in this alt version).

Mattel is marketing the dolls for adults through their Barbie Fashion Model Collection. While they certainly have an adult pricetag of $74.95 each, according to the NY Times they won't come with grown-up accessories like martinis and cigarettes. But the paper points out that while you may be able to take the cocktail shaker out of Don Draper's hands, you can't stop him from bringing his cheating ways into Barbie's playhouse. As for his wife, one television and pop culture professor noted that Betty is “the wife who lives in her dream house whose soul is eaten away.” Cheery! Consider her The Bell Jar Barbie that never got made.

There will be around 10,000 dolls made for each of the four characters, to be sold at some specialty shops as well as AMCtv.com and BarbieCollector.com. And might we see Don Draper pitching ad copy for the now iconic doll in the 4th season? Barbie was first introduced to the world on March 9th, 1959—so it's entirely possible.

Google Maps Now Offer Bike Directions

John Del Signore — 2010-03-10T13:43:00-05:00

Google has added bicycle directions to their American Maps. This handy video shows you how it works, but it's not brain surgery; you just click on "Get Directions" link in Google Maps and choose the "Bicycling" option from the drop down menu. Enter the origin and destination, and you'll get turn-by-turn directions. The map indicates dedicated bike paths (no cars) in dark green, while roads with bike lanes are shown in light green.

Many New Yorkers may still prefer Ride the City, which uses Google Maps anyway, but also meticulously tracks elevation data and shares bikers' favorite routes. But cyclists in other parts of the country unserved by Ride the City are going to appreciate this.

We requested a Google Maps route from 253 Conover Street in Red Hook (Sunny's) to 366 Columbus Avenue (Shake Shack) and the result was exactly how we would have gone anyway—over to the Hudson River Greenway as directly as possible. Now we just need a Google Breathalyzer test to let us know if we're okay to ride.

State Gives City Control Of Brooklyn Bridge Park

Ben Muessig — 2010-03-10T13:32:00-05:00

Photo by Jake Dobkin/Gothamist

The state has reportedly withdrawn its control of Brooklyn Bridge Park and given the cash-strapped project to the city. After a year of internal squabbles that delayed the planned opening of a portion of the parkland, Gov. Paterson is expected to hand off the unfinished $350 million, 85-acre waterfront project—meaning it will become the city's responsibility to finish and fund.

According to the Times, the city and state are expected to reach an agreement today that would allow the city to take over Brooklyn Bridge Park on the condition that the Bloomberg administration dedicate $55 million to the project in the next fiscal year, kick-starting construction on a section of parkland that will feature space for active recreation and sports. A year ago, the city started pushing the state to cede control of Brooklyn Bridge Park and under-funded Governors Island. But state officials allegedly balked because they reportedly wanted to be able to take credit for both projects when they were finished.

City and state officials now agree it's better to have one group in charge of the park. "You'd just rather have one government body at the point of making decisions," said state parks chief development official Peter Davidson. Despite the changes in oversight, officials still plan to move forward with the controversial policy of paying for park maintenance and operations by constructing condos within the greenspace. The paper notes that the city has said it would consider other funding ideas, and that the new agreement allows state Sen. Dan Squadron and Assemblywoman Joan Millman to veto the planned housing on John Street and Pier 6.

Harlem Schools Get Their PR On

Sabrina Jaszi — 2010-03-10T13:22:00-05:00

In order to keep off the shut-down list, Harlem public schools are using marketing and PR to attract new charges. The principal of PS 125 keeps brochures in her purse, painted her minivan to transform it into a mobile advertisement, and leads tours where she extols the virtues of her institution, especially its functioning pool. Her zealous efforts are quickly becoming a necessity, since competing charter schools—some of which spend $90 per recruit—employ top-dollar marketing firms to promote their good image. The Harlem Success Academy spent $325,000 on a campaign to attract students to four charter schools last year, reports the Times. That’s a lot more than the $500 worth of fliers run off by most city public schools, but you can't put a price on Success.

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2010-03-10T13:22:00-05:00

Man on Mission to Hit 365 Bars in 365 Days

Jaya Saxena — 2010-03-10T13:10:00-05:00

Marty Wombacher from A Guy Walks In To 365 Bars

One Manhattan man has decided to go to 365 bars in a year, and of course he is going to blog about it, and get a book deal, then a movie which your dad will want to see with you one Christmas! We love this country, and so does Marty Wombacher, author of 99 Beers Off the Wall, who's heading to his 60th bar today. As usual he will be reviewing every drink on his blog A Guy Walks In To 365 Bars. Fascinating! So what can we learn from a man trying to frequent about 18% of Manhattan's bars (NewYorkOnTap estimates about 2,000 in the borough)?

According to him, the best bar in New York is Winnie's on Bayard Street in Chinatown, because they let him eat a fried pork chop off the employee's menu. We agree that they have a great karaoke selection, but it seems pretty biased. The "Worst Bar in the World" title goes to The House of Brews, and his nasty review caught the attention of owner Tony Quinn. Wombacher was upset that the bar didn't have a $100 bottle of beer listed on the online menu, and summed up his experience there by saying "I go there ready to spend lots of dough and give them free publicity and they treat me like seven pounds of dog shit and more or less throw me out because I’m going to give them free publicity."

Quinn later told the Daily News "Why did he have a psychotic meltdown because we didn't have a beer?...He goes into bars and tears them apart. He doesn't understand the business." Not only that, but are we really going to take our bar advice from a guy willingly drinking a tall-boy of Budweiser?

Mom Accused Of Killing Son Wanted To Be At His Funeral

Ben Muessig — 2010-03-10T12:58:00-05:00

The socialite who allegedly killed her autistic son in a botched murder suicide begged a judge to allow her to attend his funeral. An attorney representing Gigi Jordan argued that his client—who investigators say drugged 8-year-old Jude Michael Mirra in a posh Midtown hotel last month—would feel "immeasurable pain" if she wasn't allowed to attend the service.

Jordan's lawyer—who reportedly might launch a "psychiatric defense"—suggested that the 49-year-old be temporarily released from the psychiatric unit at Elmhurst Hospital so she could attend the Stamford, Connecticut service under the supervision of police or corrections officers. He claimed that if Jordan couldn't attend, it would be bad for her "well-being" and would "worsen an already sad and difficult situation," according to the Daily News. Prosecutor Kerry O'Connell argued vehemently against the request, the Post reports. "It's like a child who kills both his parents and then cries because he's an orphan," the lawyer said.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Charles Solomon ruled that the request was "inappropriate," and refused to allow Jordan to go to the funeral. The boy's father, Emil Tzekov, had initially planned to bury the child in California, but Jordan objected and he allowed the Connecticut service to proceed. "It doesn't matter because it's over. Jude is gone," he said. "I stepped back because it was better for Jude not to have a fight. It was better for him to rest, and now he's resting."

NAACP Protests More "Brutality Against Black Officers"

Sabrina Jaszi — 2010-03-10T12:47:00-05:00

Sgt Kissiedu (courtesy The Journal News)

The NAACP says two white policemen in Yonkers assaulted a black NYPD officer as they tried to pin him with a purse snatching. Sgt. Kenneth Kissiedu, who lives in Yonkers, was heading to work in the Bronx when local cops got a call about a theft nearby. In a canvas of the area, they spotted Kissiedu walking to his car. "Yo, Yo," they allegedly shouted trying to get his attention. Then they saw that he had a gun.

The sergeant says he took offense at being called “Yo,” but the officers claim he aggravated the situation by not cooperating and by waiting to identify himself as a police officer until he was already in cuffs. "He, as an officer, should know better than anybody how to handle these things," Yonkers PBA president Keith Olson told WABC adding that, "He refused to cooperate. He was belligerent. He cursed at the officers." According to the Journal News, he was “wrestled to the ground.” Afterwards Kissiedu was handed a misdemeanor obstruction charge and was suspended for 30 days.

Black law enforcement organizations demand that the two white cops also be suspended while the force conducts its investigation. Together with the NAACP they are calling the incident “another case of police brutality against black officers and black men.” "It's thuggery in Yonkers, and it really needs vigilance and strong oversight," said Karen Edmundson, of the Yonkers NAACP.

Get Ready for Rain

Joe Schumacher — 2010-03-10T12:37:00-05:00

Dear local media, please stop saying that New York just had a record cold winter! Where in the world did you get that idea, Gray Lady and Soterios? 2009-2010 was about as middling as possible—79th coolest out of 141 winters. The record cold winter of 1917-18 was more than eight degrees colder than this past season. One can hardly imagine the level of whining should a winter that cold happen again. The last time a record cold month occurred was February 1934 and the most recent record cold day was January 16th, 2004. Sorry, we just had to vent!

No record lows are expected today or anytime in the near future either. Today will be the last day of exceptionally pleasant March weather. Clouds are moving in but the high should still get close to 60. Slightly cooler weather, with a few more clouds and perhaps a bit of drizzle is expected for Thursday.

Rain gets here for real on Friday and this could be a messy storm. Flooding is likely upstate where the ground is still snow-covered. The Big Apple is looking at a washout weekend as the rain will start late Thursday night and last, off and on, through Monday thanks to a slow moving storm system. Highs each day will run in the low- to mid-50s.

Salt Assault! Lawmaker Wants Salt Banned From Restaurants

John Del Signore — 2010-03-10T12:25:00-05:00

Back in January, health crusader Mayor Bloomberg launched a "voluntary" initiative encouraging fast food joints like Subway and supermarket chains like Food Emporium to cut the salt in hundreds of store brand products. The Salt Institute was outraged, Curtis Sliwa drank salt in protest, and panicked New Yorkers began hoarding salt in earnest (not really). But the initiative was voluntary, and lacked a certain, shall we say, despotism. Well, according to Reason's blog, NY Assemblyman Felix Ortiz (D-Brooklyn) is kicking it up a notch by proposing a law fully banning "the use of salt by restaurants in the preparation of food." Now that's some hardcore legislating, or should we say legisalting? (Sorry.)

Bill A10129, introduced on Friday in the New York state assembly, would impose a civil penalty of up to $1,000 on any restaurateur caught sneaking the deadly white powder into their food. And it's clear where this is going: The fastidious Prohibition-era speakeasy trend has just about run its course, so next up are the salteasies, where refined gentlemen and ladies can repair to savor the exotic pleasures of that proscribed condiment once favored by Pharaohs and Fry Guys alike! (Those who can't afford these exclusive underground salt "cuppings" will have to make do with a simple salt flask.) [Hat tip The Awl/JoeMyGod]

Pencil This In

2010-03-10T12:23:00-05:00

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Early Addition

Jen Carlson — 2010-03-10T12:13:00-05:00

Self portrait on the subway, via specialkrb's flickr

From the Gothamist newsmap: Fire In Transit at Penn Station; an Evidence Search at 86-10 Rockaway Beach in Queens; and an All Hands Fire at 476 Union Ave in Brooklyn.
It's that time of year again, NY1 has tips on avoiding bogus tax preparers.
NY Times reporter Corey Kilgannon paid a visit to Ornette Coleman at his loft yesterday. The jazz legend turned 80!
Two men were arrested for fighting at the Herald Square Macy's; the brawl ended with a security guard being beaten by pieces of a mannequin!
The tiny Belmont Island in the East River doesn't allow humans, but the Parks Department keeps the half acre maintained as a bird sanctuary.
Betty White will be on SNL, after fans of the Golden Girl rallied all over the internet.

Mean Girls Babies Made Lohan Cry

Jen Carlson — 2010-03-10T12:00:00-05:00

Aw, E-Trade gave Lindsay Lohan a sad :( The actress is suing the company for $100 million dollars because she claims they modeled a baby "milkaholic" in their commercial after her. The ad shows a girl baby grilling her baby boyfriend about hanging out with "that milkaholic Lindsay." Her lawyer claims the actress has "single-name recognition as Oprah or Madonna," and that the company used the name to trash the fallen starlet.

Now her mommy Dina tells the NY Post that her daughter called her up crying when she first saw the commercial; "She said, 'Mommy, help me. This is wrong. How can they do this?'" Dina says the family won't stand for this type of bullying, and added, "They're little babies doing this, mocking another child who's just trying to survive Hollywood."

The "little babies" and E-Trade have yet to comment, but the company that produced the ad maintains that they just chose a popular girl's name, and that someone working on it was also named Lindsay.

Massa: Nothing Sexual, Just Tickle Fights

Ben Muessig — 2010-03-10T11:47:00-05:00

Recently-resigned Rep. Eric Massa insists he "did nothing sexual" with his staff, but he admits he tickled them, sent them "inappropriate" text messages, and told one aide he should be "fracking" him. Just hours after news broke that Massa was under investigation for groping male aides, the former New York Congressman told Glenn Beck: "Now they are saying I groped a male staffer. Yeah, I did. Not only did I grope him. I tickled him until he couldn't breathe, and then four guys jumped on top of me. It was my 50th birthday. It was kill the old guy. You can take anything out of context."

Massa initially said he was resigning due to his health, then blamed it on his "salty" language, and finally claimed he was booted from office by leading Democrats who launched a conspiracy to keep him from voting against health care. A White House spokesman has called Massa's allegations of a Democratic conspiracy "ridiculous," though the claims briefly made him a star among conservative pundits like Beck, who said the former Congressman was someone "all Americans need to hear." But according to the Daily News, the interview didn't go smoothly after Massa said he wasn't forced out of office, and the show ended when "an openly disgusted Beck declared he had wasted America's time."

Massa insisted that the sexual harassment allegations against him are really instances of "inappropriate horseplay," and admitted he sent "inappropriate" text messages to staffers. The Times plays up the fact that Massa—who is married—lived in a house in Washington with all of his aides, purportedly because they couldn't afford to pay the rent on their own. "I should not have allowed myself to become so familiar with my staff ... I never translated from my days in the Navy to being a congressman."

The House ethics committee was investigating allegations that Massa "groped at least three men who worked for him and had inappropriate physical contact with at least one intern," according to Politico. Gov. Paterson could call a special election for Massa's old seat, or he could let it remain vacant until November.

Is Licking Your Employee's Hand Sexual Harassment?

John Del Signore — 2010-03-10T11:35:00-05:00

A fashion designer who worked for high-end coat company S. Rothschild & Co., which supplies DKNY and Tommy Hilfiger, has filed a federal sexual harassment lawsuit against her former boss, claiming that she had to leave the company in 2008 because of his "egregious sexual harassment." The Daily News obtained the court papers, which paint a pervy portrait of Michael Kaufman, the boss of plaintiff Maria Adamkiewicz. According to the lawsuit, Kaufman's quite the character, and loves spicing up boring meetings with antics like licking Adamkiewicz's hand. Which he then followed up with the age-old question, "Is that sexual harassment?"

That's now for a Manhattan court to decide. But Kaufman's bizarrely ribald shenanigans didn't stop there—the lawsuit claims he "once took off his belt in front of another employee, snapped it and said he was going to whip her with it—and dropped his pants on another occasion." Oh, and on a business trip to LA, "Kaufman pulled up next to a Hustler lingerie shop and told Adamkiewicz and a colleague they buy sex toys to use with their boyfriends." At least, that's what she said (in the lawsuit).

State Police Chief Insists Resignation Not Admission of Guilt

Sabrina Jaszi — 2010-03-10T11:25:00-05:00

Pedro Perez

Pedro Perez, the acting superintendent of the NY State Police, resigned yesterday amid an investigation into his intervening role in the domestic violence case of former Paterson aide David Johnson. He took over as chief just a week ago after Police Superintendent Harry Corbitt, also implicated in the scandal, stepped down. Perez claims he’s leaving not because he acted wrongly, but because he lacks support from the administration and his fellow officers. But Joseph Barrett, the president of the New York State Police Investigators Association, which represents detectives, says, "The position that the State Police find themselves in now is the result of the actions of a few high-ranking officers in management positions, and Acting Superintendent Perez was one of them."

In a letter to the governor, Perez called his actions concerning phone calls made to Sherr-una Booker—the woman who was in the process of filing an order of restraint against Paterson’s former aide—“honest and rightly motivated.” The Times now reports that State Troopers contacted Booker three times and were also in touch with the NYPD, trying to obtain records and information about Johnson’s case. Major Day, the state trooper who spoke with Booker, told Attorney General Cuomo that Perez authorized the intervention, but it’s unclear to what extent the higher up was aware of contact made after the initial phone call.

Even before Perez stepped down, two trooper unions had approved no-confidence votes and were preparing to make them public. "[Perez] was given the call," one source told the News.

Brooklyn Library Staff Happy Head is Gone

Jaya Saxena — 2010-03-10T11:15:00-05:00

Flickr user xbettyx

After being publicly embarrassed when a Washington Post reporter was allowed to watch their firings, the Daily News reports that former BPL staff members feel "vindicated" that chief Dionne Mack-Harvin has resigned in the wake of the scandal. On top of having their reactions publicly aired, laid-off workers were asked to sign an agreement not to discuss the firings. One former worker said "We felt disgusted. We felt we weren't valued at all." Though Mack-Harvin insists she was "misled" by the reporter, Library staff says the Post had approved access. "They thought it was a great media opportunity... After the story came out, they realized it was public relations mistake."

Presented By:

2010-03-10T11:15:00-05:00

Snowball Gets 4 Teens Arrested

Jen Carlson — 2010-03-10T11:03:00-05:00

Four Bronx teens are facing a year behind bars after nailing a cop in the leg with a snowball. Their crime? Weapons possession, attempted assault, menacing and harassment.

Late last month the friends were out in a snowstorm and hit officer Adonis Ramirez, who was not in uniform at the time. According to the teens, Ramirez then pulled a gun, and 19-year-old Christian Perez tells the Daily News, "I thought he was some drug dealer who was going to shoot me in the head and walk away. We only hit him once, and it was by mistake." They nearly got laughed out of Central Booking when they said they were in there for a snowball.

Meanwhile, Ramirez claims he was struck with several snowballs as he was walking to his car; he also says the group was taunting him. They allegedly called him a "bitch" and said "Let's jump him." Somewhere between pulling his gun out and having them arrested, he called 911 for backup.

While the Bronx district attorney doesn't plan to drop charges, the friends are preparing to slap the city with a $10 million suit. Their lawyer says, "You would think that the NYPD would focus on real crimes and not on young men playing in the snow during a nor'easter."

"Vigilante Posse" Lands FDNY Firefighter, LI Chief in Hot Water

John Del Signore — 2010-03-10T10:49:00-05:00

Fire chief Mike Charles (left), FDNY firefighter Brian Schuck

When shots rang out near his firehouse in Hempstead, Long Island, Michael Charles did what any red-blooded fire chief would have done: grab a gun, form a posse, and saddle up (in an SUV). But for his efforts, Charles and FDNY firefighter Brian Schuck, who joined in the armed manhunt, have been charged with second-degree menacing and fourth-degree possession of a dangerous weapon charges. (A third member of the posse is expected to be arrested soon, Newsday reports.) In their search for the gunman, the three men allegedly stopped and frisked an innocent man, 29-year-old Kenneth Powell, who happens to be the son of Hempstead Village Trustee Perry Pettus.

Powell told investigators he was walking along Tompkins Place Sunday when the three men pulled up in an SUV with the fire department seal on it. He says one man pointed a gun at him as he was questioned and patted down; Schuck allegedly stayed inside the SUV with a shotgun protruding from the window. "I was petrified," Powell tells Newsday. According to police, he was not involved with the shooting incident, in which two men exchanged gunfire, injuring another man and a woman in the crossfire.

When Powell told Chief Charles he was the son of a local official, he was released. "[Charles] formed his own posse, went out looking for a suspect and acted in a vigilante manner," a Nassau police spokesman says. "We simply can't condone people taking the law into their own hands."

But Chief Charles has helped local police in the past; he once detained a drunk driver until he could be arrested. And his attorney wants everyone to know that Powell did two years in prison after pleading guilty to criminal possession of a weapon. The Daily News reports that it "was not clear why they targeted" Powell, but here's a photo of his father, so you do the math. Charles tells the Post, "My instincts kicked in. I guess it doesn't pay to get involved anymore."

Halderman Admits "Thinly Veiled Threat To Ruin" Letterman

Jen Chung — 2010-03-10T10:34:00-05:00

Robert Halderman last November (AP)

Robert "Joe" Halderman pleaded guilty yesterday for his attempt to extort $2 million from David Letterman by way of revealing Letterman's many affairs. The former CBS News producer admitted his scheme to sell a movie treatment to the talk show host "was just a thinly-veiled threat to ruin Mr. Letterman if he did not pay me a lot of money."

Halderman also confirmed that he deposited a fake $2 million check from Letterman's lawyers. With his guilty plea for second-degree grand larceny, he faces six months at Rikers (though he'll probably just serve four), four and a half years of probation, and 1,000 hours of community service. The Post calls it a "sweetheart deal," noting that Halderman promised to keep quiet about Letterman's affairs, including one with Halderman's former girlfriend Stephanie Birkitt. Halderman also apologized to "Mr. Letterman and his family; to Stephanie Birkitt and her family and everyone else that I have hurt or disappointed."

Halderman's lawyer Gerald Shargel told the NY Times, "We raised some novel legal issues, novel defenses"—like the Tiger Woods defense—"I couldn’t be at all certain that they would prevail. Weighing the risks against the rewards, I thought this was an opportunity to make the best of a bad mess."

Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr. credited Letterman with coming to the authorities after the threat, "Mr. Letterman risked the disclosure of certain aspects of his private life. Like all New Yorkers, he has a right to a certain degree of privacy in his personal life." Letterman said on his show last night that the matter was "was handled professionally, skillfully and appropriately," and thanked Vance as well as former DA Robert Morgenthau.

Man With Fake Gun Was Drunk, "Acting Like Rambo"

Ben Muessig — 2010-03-10T10:21:00-05:00

The 22-year-old who was shot and killed after he pointed a toy gun at a police officer had drunkenly attempted to steal cough medicine from a pharmacy hours before the fatal confrontation. "He reeked of alcohol," said 33-year-old pharmacist Maya Basin, who claims she forced George D'Amato Jr. out of the Nostrand Houses Pharmacy after he tried to steal Coricidin. "I could tell something was off right away ... He was out of it."

After getting kicked out of the store, D'Amato—who had taken a day off of work from Duane Reade to enjoy the good weather—wandered around Sheepshead Bay and menaced people with the toy gun, the Daily News reports. According to the Post, onlookers repeatedly warned D'Amato that the pellet gun looked like an actual firearm. A Housing Authority employee allegedly told the man: "Stop playing, police will think it's real." D'Amato responded: "It is real."

The worker tipped off a supervisor who in turn alerted authorities that a man was "acting like Rambo" outside the Nostrand Houses—the first of three 911 calls police received warning them of an armed suspect. Later in the day, D'Amato reportedly threatened a man who was walking near P.S. 194 with his 3-year-old daughter and his 8-year-old son. "You want some of this?" D'Amato allegedly said while aiming the replica Walther PPK .380 at the man. When police arrived, D'Amato reportedly pointed the toy gun at an officer and refused to drop it.

Airport Shoe Removal to Continue

Sabrina Jaszi — 2010-03-10T10:10:00-05:00

Despite invasive full body scanners popping up at our nation’s airports, Janet Napolitano says you’ll still have to take your shoes off to get through security. According to the Homeland Security Secretary, shoes are so impenetrable that they can’t be fully screened while they’re on your feet, reports the AP. Too bad these never caught on. During a live video chat session, she also spoke to the shortage of air marshals on domestic and international flights, and about incidents, like the Newark airport kisser, where non-passengers cause security meltdowns by entering unauthorized areas. She said that for now only ticketed travelers would be allowed in secure areas but that "It may be possible to change that as we move forward."