During a recent church service, hundreds of worshipers looked on from the pews at the Calvary A.M.E. Zion church in Jamaica, Queens, as Rev. Floyd Flake made an announcement.

"We have guests in the house," he said. 

Artists complained on Sunday they have been unfairly slapped with fines in city parks since the implementation of a regulation more than a year ago that prohibits them from collecting money within 50 feet of a monument or fountain.

St. Mark's Bookshop may be reaching its last chapter. The sluggish economy has taken it's toll on the retail business, but an online petition is hoping to help convince the book store's landlord to give the shop a new lease on life,  both figuratively and literally.

You know that incredible, electrical connection that takes place when you look directly into Beyonce’s eyes, and she into yours? I do.

It happened just the other night, actually, when we were at the Palm, in midtown. We were there, technically speaking, because this guy she knows, Jay-Z, is a producer for Fela!, the Broadway musical, and they’re hyping the show for the Tonys (this Sunday). Will Smith was there too, with his girl Jada. They’re all producers on the show, all except for Beyonce. She didn’t have anything to do with Fela.

It’s not easy being a moviegoer these days. Having emerged from my post-Oscar coma a few weeks ago, I’ve been struggling to stay on top of the city’s cinematic bounty, whether it’s the longer, uncut "Metropolis" (Film Forum), the "Cremaster" series (IFC Center) or "Iron Man 2" (everywhere).

None of ...