There was a time when the world thought talking genies and cowboys with Jheri curls should only be reserved for the occasional acid flashback. Then a high-pitched fellow in a bow tie came along and broke that antiquated notion, bringing these oddities into the homes of millions of impressionable children. Just when it seemed that this visionary was lost forever, the legendary Pee-Wee Herman ...

There's no such thing as a free lunch. But, if you're looking for a complimentary copy of Dean Koontz's "Winter Moon" or a gratis sweater that hasn't been washed since the Reagan administration, head over to the Brooklyn Free Store -- where nothing has a price. The new concept retailer, which is a mix of anti-capitalism and anti-consumerism, lies nestled on an unsuspecting side street of ...

Parking violations are a common occurrence in New York City. As is death. So it was only a matter of time before the two inevitable occurrences met. Nicholas Rappold, a 21-year-old Queen's native, was issued a ticket earlier this week for being illegally parked during street cleaning hours. Though this typically results in the driver demeaning the meter maid, referencing some argument about ...

In these tough economic times, we've all had to get a little creative with our revenue streams. And since selling ourselves on Craigslist is getting increasingly tougher, it was only a matter of time before some turned to kittens. Brooklyn resident Louise Holmes gave away her newly born felines to a loving adoptee she knew only as "Unique." When Unique -- which we feel is poor choice of aliases ...

Doormen are an essential part of our lives. When you're running late for that mani/pedi, you shouldn't be expected to push, pull or revolve anything. But what you may not realize is that these employees of the entrance and exit Industry aren't always born with the innate skill to kindly greet or depart their guests -- some go to school for it. The Doorman School at The Waldorf-Astoria New ...

Leaping from a tall building is never a good idea -- unless you're Mel Gibson in that "Lethal Weapon 2" scene, or Mel Gibson after that voice-mail incident. But suicide by skyscraper, according to The Wall Street Journal, is super-popular among despondent New Yorkers. It's their number two method of offing themselves, right behind "hanging, strangulation or suffocation." In fact, jumper ...

This city can make even the largest of men feel small. But when you're barely big enough to pass the Hudson River's catch-and-release law, feeling small takes on new meaning. Khagendra Thapa Magar, the 22-inch, 10-pounder from Nepal, spent Tuesday afternoon touring the Big Apple for a "Ripley's Believe it or Not" press event. The 17-year-old phenomenon drew a crowd outside the Empire State ...

The grade school years are filled with rites of passage: scuffles at recess, spin the bottle, the occasional wet dream (and the washing of the sheets). But perhaps we can now add sleep apnea, cholesterol and increased teasing of the class chunker. A recent study shows that 40 percent of New York City students between kindergarten and eighth grade are overweight. The number is reason for ...

As hard as you try, it's always tough to memorize the members of the New York City Council. You're sound all the way up to Gale Brewer of District 6, and by the time you're at Melissa Mark-Viverito of District 8, you're tapped. Luckily Lauri Apple, an artist and political writer, understands this need to be knowledgeable on local politics. Her portrait series "NYC High,"in which she creates ...

Some think unicycles are pretentious, that a one-wheeled mode of transportation that should be reserved for circus freaks and jugglers looking to jump-start their acts. We're not of that mindset. Especially considering that the first-ever Unicycle Festival is coming to New York City this weekend. While the squares are riding their two-wheelers through Central Park, not bothering to worry about ...