Last night, New York’s own Das Racist made their television debut on Conan O’Brien to perform their song “Michael Jackson,” and, naturally, brought a very realistic Michael Jackson impersonator with them. It’s part creepy, part amazing, and totally perfect (or according to some people, ” the worst “). Also it sort of makes us feel like maybe Michael Jackson isn’t dead, and is now going to enter the “Elvis is still alive” phase of his post-mortem existence. [ more › ]

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Video: Das Racist Bring Michael Jackson Back To Life, Search For City’s Best Dosas

A 64-year-old Bulgarian immigrant and Hoboken, NJ resident is fighting the local bureaucracy over what he calls an “unconstitutional and irrelevant ticket” for disorderly conduct on a PATH train. And it stems from looking at a heavily tattooed woman. [ more › ]

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Staring At Tattooed Woman On PATH Leads NJ Man On Constitutional Fight

Hinsch’s Confectionary, the 62-year-old Bay Ridge sweets shop with killer homemade ice cream and a fantastically retro decor has triumphantly re-opened after closing earlier this year due to financial woes. “We are so happy. Very very happy,” said one 82-year-old customer who was celebrating her 52nd wedding anniversary at the shop yesterday with a tuna fish sandwich and an egg cream. Marty Markowtiz was on hand, too, slurping down an egg cream with the rest of the hungry hordes, many of whom have been eating at the greasy spoon since childhood. [ more › ]

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Beloved Bay Ridge Soda Fountain Hinsch’s Reopens!

State Senator Jeffrey Klein has proposed legislation that would stop the sale of sugary “alcopops” in bodegas, relegating them to liquor stores, and make it downright illegal to sell caffeinated beverages like Four Loko anywhere in New York. But NYC Health Commissioner Thomas Farley says Klein doesn’t go far enough, and he testified at a City Council hearing yesterday that he wants to banish from bodegas all “premixed, carbonated, flavored malt drinks with alcohol content as high as 12 percent.” This would include such fun, magical elixirs as Mike’s Hard Lemonade ! At a hearing in Albany, his assistant commissioner, Daliah Heller, lined up malt beverages in the cross hairs: [ more › ]

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NYC Health Department Wants To Restrict Mike’s Hard Lemonade

Click here to view the full photogallery. For those who have more time on this Earth the folks departing tomorrow, now there’s a way to make all final wishes known to the masses. Installation artist Candy Chang has turned an abandoned building into a massive, public bucket list in a project entitled Before I Die. “[It] transforms neglected spaces into constructive ones where we can learn the hopes and aspirations of the people around us,” Chang writes in her statement. “It’s about improving both our physical spaces and our individual well-being.” How’d she do it? Primer, chalkboard paint, stencils, spray paint, and, of course, chalk, not to mention express permission from the property owner, neighbors, the Historic District Landmarks Commission, the Arts Council, and the City Planning Commission. Before I Die “opened” in February and the list was filled in a day, but Chang recorded all the scrawls, washed the facade clean, and opened it up again. She’s turning some responses into a book; they’ve included things like “see my daughter graduate,” “sing for millions,” “own a monkey,” and “make love to Bill Gates.” · Otherworldly Real Estate Opportunities Created by the Rapture [Curbed National] · “Before I Die…” An Abandoned Building Transformed Into a Public Bucket List [Good] · Before I Die [Candy Chung]

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Artistry: Woman Turns Abandoned Building Into Life-Size Bucket List

With the FDNY’s much-maligned crash tax plan nixed , the department has millions of dollars to cut out of its budget which and unfortunately for the cash-strapped department that means once again closing firehouses. Though the mayor and the FDNY had been working on a list of which houses are on the block, they had been refusing to share it until the City Council forced their hand by threatening to subpoena the list. If you live in Brooklyn, you may want to double check your smoke alarms and fire extinguishers—eight of the 20 companies on the list are located in Kings County, four are in Queens, three are in the Bronx, another three are in Manhattan and two are on Staten Island. [ more › ]

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FDNY Releases List Of 20 At Risk Firehouses

This morning DNAinfo reported that Council member Margaret Chin was “backing down” on her bill to punish people who buy knockoff goods with up to a year in jail or a $1,000 fine. “We’re definitely getting some pushback,” her chief of staff Jake Itzkowitz reportedly said. “I think [the bill] may not stay in its current form. The year of jail time may change.” But Chin asks us, “Why would I back down from a bill I just introduced yesterday.” Her communications director just fired off this statement, “Council member Chin is in no way backing down from this bill…” [ more › ]

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Chin Not Backing Down On Bill To Punish Those Who Buy Counterfeit Goods

Mother’s Day isn’t until next Sunday, but since brunches in this town can fill up faster than she can say “you never call,” we’ve rounded up a smattering of dining options for you and your beloved mother ahead of time, because we’re all getting a little old to be making her macaroni necklaces. Call the restaurants for reservations; none of them are fully booked yet. [ more › ]

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Where To Take Mom For A Nice Mother’s Day Meal

        It’s official: Yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg signed a bill adding “Ed Koch” in front of “Queensboro Bridge.” And as expected, there was much rambling and patting-on-the-back in honor of this momentous pretty much meaningless event. “Ed Koch was the bridge that brought New York City back from the brink of bankruptcy to financial solvency,” said Council Speaker Christine Quinn . “And many New Yorkers feel very close to him for that reason. The City Council is proud to pay tribute to Mayor Koch and his decades of public service with this timeless honor.” Koch even had some fightin’ words for the George Washington bridge! [ more › ]

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Koch Thinks He’s Better Than George Washington (When It Comes To Bridges)

A few weeks ago developer Jerry Wolkoff floated the idea to demolish graffiti mecca 5 Pointz and replace it with high-rise residential towers. That was an idea the artists of 5 Pointz didn’t appreciate very much. But according to City Council member Jimmy Van Bramer, there’s not much to worry about…yet. He tells the Queens Courier, “There are so many steps that need to be taken still to even approach this. I’ve gotten many emails from people wanting to save 5 Pointz, but from what I understand it is still very early in the process.” [ more › ]

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Relax, Nothing Happening To 5 Pointz Yet