Secretive British street artist Banksy has unveiled his latest project, a mock pet supply store at 89 Seventh Avenue South (near Bleecker Street) in Greenwich Village. “The Village Pet Store and Charcoal Grill”, is Banksy’s first official exhibition in New York and his first to make the use of animatronics.

The New York Times reports on the installation: “Open for Pet Supplies/Rare Breeds/Mechanically retrieved meat” says a sign in front of the shop. Bales of hay dot the sidewalk, along with a kiddie dolphin ride, wrapped in a fishing net like the day’s catch. But it is the leopard in one of the storefront windows that stops passers-by first. ‘Is that — real?’ a woman asked on Wednesday, peering at a large furry object perched on a tree branch, its tail swinging. It’s not: it is an ingeniously arranged fake fur coat. The robot monkey is more lifelike: it sits, breathing, in a cage inside the store, wearing headphones, holding a remote and watching a television clip of some fellow monkeys in an amorous moment.”

Said Banksy in a statement: “I wanted to make art that questioned our relationship with animals and the ethics and sustainability of factory farming.”

the exhibit it will be open to the public daily through Oct. 31.

Source: The New York Times

Tuesday, September 23rd:
Danny Glover at Magnolia Bakery (on Bleeker Street), stocking up on sweets. The staff stood and watched him in awe…while we made off with an extra cupcake, gratis.

Matthew Broderick (minutes later) just outside Magnolia walking the family pooch. SJP’s real-life Mr. Big was not waiting for Mr. Glover, they just happened to be within seconds of each other on the same block. Only in New York.

Thursday, September 25th:
Dylan McDermott walking down University Place around 5:30pm, blending in with the mad rush of people and NYU students heading home. Looks just as hot (and tall) in person as on screen.

Woody Allen‚Äö?Ñ?¥s $25.9 million Trowbridge & Livingston Upper East Side townhouse, located on East 70th Street. Just in case you were wondering.

Source: Curbed

Sex And The City: The Movie

Above is the first picture of the “Sex and the City” movie, which began shooting this week on the streets on NYC. Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon will all be reprising their popular characters for the big-screen version of the hit HBO series.

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The New York Daily News reports that Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta is banning future editions of the hugely popular FDNY Calendar of Heroes, due to firefighter and FDNY calendar cover boy, Michael Biserta appearing nude in an old “Guys Gone Wild” video.

The clip, which was shot in 2004, shows Biserta showing off for an enthusiastic group of women who urge him to strip naked for the camera. “You girls are bad influences,” he tells the women. The camera then follows the naked firefighter from the bedroom to the shower where he…showers! How shocking!

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Mr. March - Santo Ciccarello at Ladder 140

The FDNY Foundation and the New York City Fire Department unveiled the Official New York City Fire Department 2008 Calendar of Heroes today and the hunky men of the FDNY marked the occasion by making an appearance at Rockefeller Center for a press conference and autograph signing, which included a featured segment on NBC’s Today Show as well.

Mr. January - Jarrett Kotarski at Ladder 135

Proceeds from the sale of the Calendar of Heroes benefit the FDNY Foundation, a nonprofit organization established to promote fire safety in New York City and the professional development, training and education of the members of the FDNY.

Mr. June - Nick Stolz at Ladder 140

This year’s calendar also comes with one “huge” bonus in the form of cover boy Michael Biserta of Ladder Co. 131 of Red Hook, Brooklyn. Seems this isn’t the first time the hunky Staten Island native has stripped for the camera, fans of the “Guys Gone Wild” video series will undoubtedly remember Michael going full frontal for a group of eager female fans and showing them how to make a human “wrist watch” using his…uhm well, let’s just say the guys of the FDNY are very lucky to have Michael on their side. He definitely has all the right “equipment” to handle any emergency situation. Hey, at least I didn’t take the low road and make the obligatory “big hose” joke.

2008 FDNY calendar’s cover features Michael Biserta

Some censored screen caps of Michael from his “Guys Gone Wild” days are below and while you’re busy trying to scratch off the black boxes, why not take time out to purchase a copy of the 2008 Calendar of Heroes and help out the FDNY Foundation and all the brave fire fighters who risk their lives to save ours every day. The Official New York City Fire Department 2008 Calendars can be purchased online at fdnyfirezone.org

Sarah Jessica Parker is the latest celebrity to join the ranks of fashion designer, her new clothing line “Bitten” launched today at Steve & Barry’s in Herald Square, here in Manhattan.

The line is said to be high quality but affordable, with no garment costing more than $20. “Bitten” will be available exclusively from Steve & Barry’s.

Launching a clothing isn’t the only thing on Sarah Jessica’s busy agenda these days, speaking on Tuesday’s edition of Entertainment Tonight, Parker confessed production on the big screen adaptation of “Sex and the City” is slowly but surely coming together.

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TMZ is reporting officials from the Miss U.S.A. pageant will make an announcement today and may strip the current Miss U.S.A. 20 year old Miss Kentucky Tara Conner, of her title due to “inappropriate” behavior.

Sources say executives from the pageant met Tuesday to discuss Conner’s alleged antics which includes her questionable conduct at various New York City bars. If Connor is dethroned, first runner-up Miss California Tamiko Nash will most likely assume the title.

In my opinion, this is the best thing that could happen to Conner’s career, no one knew or remembered who she was before today, but now no one will forget. If she plays her cards right she could use this to her advatage and come out on top, scandal has been known to pave the way for many a lucrative career.

Source: TMZ

Update 12/17/06:
Reports are that officials are upset with Tara?¬¢‚Äö?ᬮ‚Äö?묢s behavior including hard partying, coke use and making out with Miss Teen USA at NYC night clubs. She?¬¢‚Äö?ᬮ‚Äö?묢s also being accused of being a “pass-around-patty” bringing home men to their apartment.

Update 12/19/06:
The Donald did not fire Tara. In an early morning news conference, Trump said Conner is “a good person and deserves a second chance.” Conner, who will be admitted to rehab, faced the media and tearfully apologized for her behavior.

The undercover cop who fired 31 shots at Sean Bell in Queens was a regular at Bungalow 8. Source: Radar Online

Former porn star Timothy Boham ( a.k.a Marcus Allen ) is set to appear in a Denver court on charges of murdering his boss, openly gay businessman John Kelso. Source: CourtTVnews.com

Britney Spears flashes her vag at the paparazzi for the second time in two days, signaling the begining of the apocalypse. Source: icydk.com

Some straight hater swears on his stack of Enquirers and Judy Garland CDs that John Kennedy JR. was bisexual and had a string of man to man flings which apparently went on for several years without a single paparazzi ever snapping one shred of evidence. Of course this claim is being made years after JFK JR’s death which makes it all the more credible. If the article were in print you could probably use it to line your bird cage, so I’m providing this link so readers can print it out and make Tweety happy.

In somewhat related news, Liza Minelli’s ex-husband David Gest claims he’s not gay…but his boyfriend is. Step this way and enter the Twilight Zone before Gest’s two minutes of fame expire.

Hugh Jackman and Ewan McGregor on the Bryant Park set of The Tourist on Oct 12th.

The plot: an accountant ( McGregor ) is introduced to a mysterious sex club known as “The List” by his lawyer friend ( Jackman ). But this new world brings along with it trouble and he soon becomes the prime suspect in a woman’s disappearance and a multi-million dollar heist.

More behind the scenes pics in the Flickr gallery.

Page Six reports Lee Radziwill “bolted” out of Tuesday’s night’s opening preview of “Grey Gardens” after the first act, when she “witnessed a little girl onstage playing a pre-pubescent version of herself, singing a song called “Being Bouvier” and expressing a wish to someday marry a prince.”

Among the audience members who attended the critically acclaimed musical adaptation of the Maysles Brothers 1975 documenatry of the same name, were fabled journalist Ben Bradlee and his wife Sally Quinn, who bought the historic East Hampton estate 25 years ago.

Also there was Albert Maysles himself, who along with his brother David Maysles, made the now cult classic documentary about the eccentric aunt and cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

Roger Partied On Strike Night
December 22, 2005
Source: Page Six

WHILE countless ordinary New Yorkers were trudging home from work in the bitter cold Tuesday night due to the transit strike, Transport Workers Union boss Roger Toussaint and his chaos-causing labor cronies were living the high life at an upscale uptown eatery.

Toussaint and his comrades were in a jubilant mood at chichi Harlem Grill, an elegant supper club on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard with gleaming candelabras, antique mirrors and live jazz.

A spywitness tells PAGE SIX’s Fernando Gil: “[Toussaint and his party] were there for at least 2 1/2 hours. People kept coming and going all night, but there must have been at least six people at their table at all times.

“They were drinking, eating and joking,” the witness relates. “At one point, the owner or manager of the restaurant came over to make sure they’d been taken care of. I heard a man in their group say, ‘Do you think they’re all going to stay home tomorrow?’…and people at the table laughed.”

Our source reports that Toussaint, dressed smartly in a suit, chowed down on clay pot snapper. Others at his table devoured grilled salmon, rib-eye steaks and glasses of chardonnay. In an apparent sign of solidarity with the working man, they left a $30 tip on the surprisingly modest $152 check.

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