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Nov 3rd 2009 By Asylum Staff

Watch Fedor Emelianenko vs. Brett Rogers with Asylum in NYC

Sure, if you had your druthers, you'd probably watch Chicago's Cinderella story Brett "The Grimm" Rogers take on heavyweight MMA champion Fedor Emelianenko in person at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill,, But let's say you aren't planning to be in suburban Illinois on November 7. Maybe you expect to be in New York City.

Picture this: a Saturday night with the staff of Asylum watching Strikeforce's Fedor vs. Rogers fight. That's right: relentless pummeling combined with witty bon mots in one tough-to-beat offer.

On November 7 at 8 p.m. you can stop by New York's Union Bar (204 Park Avenue South) and meet up with the Asylum crew to watch the pride of the projects, Brett Rogers, face off against the possibly unstoppable Fedor Emelianenko.

Rogers told Fanhouse: "I know he's fought some guys who are bigger, like [7-foot-2 Korean kickboxer Hong Man Choi], but he's never fought someone who brings the kind of challenges that I'm going to bring into the cage."

What? You're still not sure if you should meet up with us? Did we mention Union Bar will have $5 beers and $5 shots and a buy-one, get-one-free food offer.

All right, decision made.

All you have to do is RSVP on Going.com for the Brett Rogers vs. Fedor Emelianenko viewing party.

If you need a warmup for the matchup, click through to watch Asylum staffers square off against Brett Rogers in a staring contest.

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Oct 14th 2009 By Asylum Staff

Celebrity Sighting or How I Got Caught Stalking Val Kilmer

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What follows is a personal account by Asylum reader Daniel Levine -- a tale of a brush with semi-greatness that ended in paranoia and conjecture. Here's what really happened with movie star Val Kilmer.

It was a Friday afternoon. I was in New York City, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, by myself.

So I'm at the Met, on the roof. There is a strange sculpture exhibit -- this metal tree-like thing with branching dendrites all over the space -- and I'm walking around, when I see this guy. He looks familiar, and a second later I place him: Val Kilmer.

He doesn't look good. He's overweight, his hair is down to his shoulders. He's dressed in an untucked button-down shirt and baggy pants, sporting square sunglasses and this huge hat, like red-faced tourists wear in Australia.

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Oct 13th 2009 By Bonnie Biess

New York Burlesque Festival Lives Up to Its Potential

BurlesqueFest 09

Gigi La Femme, also known as Miss Coney Island 2009.

Courtesy of Jim Kiernan

Gigi La Femme

Courtesy of Jim Kiernan

Gigi La Femme

Courtesy of Jim Kiernan

Dr. Lukki spinning an' twirling

Courtesy of Jim Kiernan

Mstickle

Courtesy of Jim Kiernan

Kitten's got claws!!!

Courtesy of Jim Kiernan

Ms. Angie Pontani of the Brooklyn Pontani's, astride her bedazzled, velvetized Target chair. Class.

Courtesy of Jim Kiernan

Gravity Plays Favorites, from St. Louis Missouri.

Courtesy of Jim Kiernan

Peekaboo Pointe of The World Famous Pontani Sisters

Courtesy of Jim Kiernan

Anna Fur Laxis, getting down to it.

Courtesy of Jim Kiernan

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Oct 7th 2009 By Ian Fortey

Improv Everywhere With Invisible Dogs

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Improv Everywhere, a group of nutty folks who like to stage random and bizarre public events in New York, have struck again to celebrate the anniversary of the invisible-dog leash.

And what better way to commemorate a device that has saved the lives of no one by having literally hundreds of people take to the streets of New York with invisible dogs? Check out the video and enjoy the shenanigans.

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Sep 28th 2009 By Bonnie Biess

Gigi LaFemme Crowned Miss Coney Island 2009

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The seventh annual Miss Coney Island Burlesque Pageant took place last weekend in NYC. Tattooed and bikini-clad contestants gathered at Sideshow by the Seashore to strip down and jiggle their way into Coney Island Queendom -- and Kingdom.

The winner was Gigi Lafemme (pictured here), a delightfully naked "striptease artist" who is a mainstay on the New York burlesque scene. No doubt she will fulfill her official duties with grace and aplomb.

Of course, we couldn't let this tantalizing event go unphotographed.

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Jul 10th 2009 By Tommy Christopher

Can You Be Fired for Being a Racist on Your Own Time?

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Last week, pug owner and former Huffington Post contributor Chrissie Brodigan was threatened with firing for allegedly spewing racist vitriol at police officer Joel Witriol. (There are the makings of a limerick in there somewhere.) Brodigan denies this, saying that Witriol roughed her up (telling her "If you're going to act like a woman I'm going to treat you like a woman" -- wow), and that the New York Post fabricated the witness who claims she made the remarks.

Brodigan's protestations of innocence didn't stop her employer, Plum TV, from threatening to fire her, which got us thinking. Even if she did use slurs against this cop on her own time, is that any of her employer's business?

After the jump, we take a closer look at how others have been treated for their questionable behavior off the clock.

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Apr 7th 2009 By Bonnie Biess

Woman Arrested During Wall Street Pillow Fight

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Asylum joined nearly 1,000 other pillow fighters on Wall Street for this year's Fourth Annual Pillow Fight Day. People of all ages came dressed and ready for battle in appropriate business attire, others in pajamas or superhero costumes.

After a solid hour of choking on feathers and Spongebob stuffing, things took a sour turn as we saw a fellow pillow fighter cuffed and crying on the ground. She was taken into custody for allegedly hitting a police officer with a pillow. After cuffing the assailant, New York's Finest shoved her in the car and hauled her away to the crowd's chants of "Let her go! Let her go!"

The NYC event coincided with similar brouhahas in 109 other cities. Police in Detroit confiscated pillows, while two women in Chicago reportedly were arrested and chastised by the police for "wasting taxpayers' money."

Check out our exclusive view of the arrest and flying feathers from Pillow Fight Day NYC.

Pillow Fight NYC 2009

A woman is arrested on Wall Street for allegedly hitting a police officer with a pillow during Pillow Fight NYC 2009.

Bonnie Biess, Asylum

A woman is arrested on Wall Street for allegedly hitting a police officer with a pillow during Pillow Fight NYC 2009.

Ben Trivett, Asylum

A woman is arrested on Wall Street for allegedly hitting a police officer with a pillow during Pillow Fight NYC 2009.

Bonnie Biess, Asylum

Pillow Fight Day NYC 2009.

Bonnie Biess, Asylum

Pillow Fight Day NYC 2009.

Ben Trivett, Asylum

Pillow Fight Day NYC 2009.

Ben Trivett, Asylum

Pillow Fight Day NYC 2009.

Ben Trivett, Asylum

Pillow Fight Day NYC 2009.

Ben Trivett, Asylum

Pillow Fight Day NYC 2009.

Ben Trivett, Asylum

Pillow Fight Day NYC 2009.

Bonnie Biess, Asylum

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Feb 19th 2009 By Asylum Staff

Conan O'Brien Says Goodbye to New York, 'Late Night'

Gotham Gets Inked: NYC Tattoo Convention '08

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Besides the roguish atmosphere, we love the New York City Tattoo Convention because event organizers feel the need to post signs reading: "Nudity or disrobing is permitted ONLY in Designated Photo Areas."

We weren't the only ones drawn to the 11th annual event. Skin artists from as far away as Belgium, Brazil and China, as well as Big Apple locals, recently made the Roseland Ballroom a rousing celebration of needle-poked flesh.

Here are a few sights from the NYC Tattoo Convention and its best tat contests:

Worst Celebrity Tattoos

Worst Celebrity Tattoos
Megan Fox. We hate to pick on someone as hot as Megan Fox. Unless she has a tattoo as lame as this obscure line from Shakespeare's "King Lear." We will all laugh at goofy ink. (Photos by checkoutmyink.com, maxim.com).
Worst Celebrity Tattoos
19. Johnny Depp. Turns out Winona (Ryder) wasn't forever after all, but instead of burning off the entire tat, Johnny Depp cleverly had it shortened. And if he ever goes to rehab, he can just shorten it again to "No Forever." (Photos by tattoos-by-design.co.uk, flickr.com).
Worst Celebrity Tattoos
18. Pink. Yes, that is a barcode on the back of singer Pink's neck, supposedly from one of her albums. Run her over a scanner and $1.98 pops up. (Photo by AP.)
Worst Celebrity Tattoos
17. Travis Barker Travis Barker, sponsored in part by Cadillac. GM should pay him royalties to play shirtless on all Plus 44 tours. (Photo by Getty Images).
Worst Celebrity Tattoos
16. Amy Winehouse. Poor Amy Winehouse. In addition to her well-publicized substance abuse problems, she has a body smothered in crappy tats. Check out the shirt pocket tat with "Blake's" above it (in honor of her husband). A nice idea, except she looks like someone who pumps gas at Blake's Corner Chevron. Fill 'er up, Amy! (Photo by Getty Images.)
Worst Celebrity Tattoos
15. Angelina Jolie. Words of wisdom from Angelina Jolie's back. What, she never heard of bumper stickers? Hey, Angie: You have the right not to put dumb tats on that hot bod of yours. (Photos by chinadaily.com.cn, celebden.com).
Worst Celebrity Tattoos
14. Bam Margera. We're not sure what's creepier: the bizarro tat of his Uncle Vito that Bam had done on his calf, or the fact that Vito was just convicted of sexual assault on a child. If we're Bam, we're having that thing burned off. Like, yesterday. (Photos by alloy.com, blogs.kansascity.com).
Worst Celebrity Tattoos
13. Mark Wahlberg.Why put your initials and last name in permanent ink on your shoulder? So you don't have to pull out the cig dangling from your mouth if someone asks who you are. Just pull down your shirt and show 'em... without a word. Cool as ice. (Photos by vanishingtattoo.com, westlord.com).
Worst Celebrity Tattoos
12. Cher. "If I could turn back time," Cher must be thinking, "I'd stop myself from getting this stupid tattoo put all over my ass." A little lower, and it would look like a big fart cloud. (Photo by AP).
Worst Celebrity Tattoos
11. Tommy Lee. Oooooh, look out everyone. Tommy promises MAYHEM. Oh no. Not.. mayhem! Danger, bedlam, tomfoolery -- fine. But please, anything but mayhem. (Photo by Getty Images.)