Yes Virginia, There Really is a Mafia

We'd love to believe that organized crime is a vestige of the Bad Old Days, something we read about in the history books or watch in documentaries.

We'd love to believe that organized crime is more entertainment than reality, which is why we enjoy shows like "The Sopranos" or movies like "Goodfellas" and "The Godfather" flicks.

And we'd love to believe that organized crime doesn't in anyway threaten or affect us, that it's just something ... over there ... something that only "those people" who we'll never meet are involved in. It will never, ever touch our lives.

Oh, how wrong we are. Organized crime still exists in NYC. It's what brought down Bernie Kerick and, today, led to a massive sweep by state and federal officials. It touches us in ways we can't imagine or rarely think about. But it's there. A constant, evil presence.

In Big Mob Sweep, Gambino Leaders Are Indicted

So let's never forget, however much we idealize this city here at Mr NYC, that organized crime and the other cancers that threaten our common good, are still out there. And we must always be vigilant.

Giants Superbowl parade 2008

Yesterday the citizens of our town celebrated the Giants triumphant return from the Superbowl with a ticker tape parade and we also went to the polls to vote in the Super Tuesday Presidential Primaries.

Twas a Super Day in NYC. But isn't it always?

Is Nothing Sacred?

I know real estate is New York's #1 concern and developers are looking to build anywhere and everywhere. But the Domino's Sugar Refinery? Why? Before we know it, there'll be highrises in Central Park!!

Plans for Domino Sugar Refinery Elicit Criticism

Fashion Week

This blog is not exactly glamor central but I would be remiss not to point out that this is Fashion Week in NYC - that bustling, twice yearly event that closes down Bryant Park. If you have any interest in Fashion Week, read all about it here.

New York Giants SUPERBOWL CHAMPS!!!

Yes! YES! We ARE the CHAMPIONS!

Eli Manning, in a brilliant maneuver, won Superbowl 42 for the New York Giants and defeated the Dark Force that is New England.

You could hear the shouts of joy ringing across town last night. A great game.

The Mesopotamians - They Might Be Giants

Review: "They Might Be Giants" at the Beacon Theater

Last night They Might Be Giants rocked out the Beacon Theater on the Upper West Side and my ears are still ringing from the musical goodness. They performed many songs off their latest album, The Else, as well as their standard favorites "Instanbul (Not Constantinople)", "Particle Man", and their usual closer "New York City." They didn't perform some of their older hits like "Minimum Wage" and "Your Racist Friend" but you can't have everything. All in all, twas a good show.

They Might Be Giants was founded by John Flansburgh and John Linnell ("the two Johns") in 1982. Although both guys are from Massachusetts, they didn't form the band until they had both moved to Brooklyn -- thus making it a wholly bred product of NYC. And as one of the guys pointed out last night, they used their MetroCards to get to the show. Very economical.

New York Public Library

There's so much that's wonderful about the New York Public Library that a short description of it here would be insufficient. Thus I've included a few links where you can read (a lot) more about it.

New York Public Library Wikipedia

NYPL

Actually NYC has THREE public library systems: the New York Public Library (Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island), the Queens Public Library, and the Brooklyn Public Library.

One thing, however, is worth mentioning here. If you've never gone, you must check out the main reading room on the third floor of the 42nd street branch. As you can see in the picture here, it's huge and it's gorgeous. There are rows and rows of long tables where you can plug in your laptop, read, do paper work, or just think. Best of all, it's never horribly crowded and there's free Internet stations as well.

All in all, a great public service to the people of this city. Take advantage of it!

The Empire State Building Lights

When you see the Empire State Building at night, blazing in its glory, you may wonder why the lights change colors every night.

Simple: the lighting schemes celebrate different holidays and events. Here at Mr NYC, we will perform a public service. Thanks to reference book New York City: City Secrets, here are the various lights that shine from the Empire State Building and what they symbolize:

Red, Black, Green: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Green: St. Patrick's Day, March of Dimes, Rainforest Awareness, Earth Day

Red, White, Blue: Presidents' Day, Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day

Red: Valentine's Day, Fire Department Memorial Day, Big Apple Circus

Red, Blue: Equal Parents Day/Children's Rights

Yellow, White: Spring/Easter Week

Blue, White, Blue: Israel Independence Day, First Night of Hanukkah

Blue: Police Memorial Day, Child Abuse Prevention

Purple, White: Alzheimer's Awareness

Red, Yellow, Green: Portugal Day

Lavender and White: Stonewall Anniversary/Gay Pride

Purple, Teal, White: National Osteoporosis Society

Red, White: Pulaski Day, Red Cross

Red, White, Green: Columbus Day

Blue, White: Greek Independence Day, United Nations Day

Red, Yellow: Autumn

Black, Yellow, Red: German Reunification Day

Pink, White: "Race for the Cure"/Breast Cancer Awareness

Green, White, Orange: India Independence Day

Green, White: Pakistan Independence Day

Red, Green: Holiday Season

Dark/No Lights: "Day Without Art/Night Without Lights", AIDS Awareness

Magenta: Mr NYC Day (ok, I made that one up)

Empire State Building