Dan Contarino, former promoter of Shampoo Nightclub's "Shaft" Fridays, was jumped last night at Avenue D & 4th Street. Allegedly, witnesses are reporting the assailant was yelling "f*ggot" as he was kicking and beating Dan. Neighbors rushed to Dan's aid and chased after the attacker but unfortunately he got away. The police are investigating the assault now and have not determine it a hate crime.

Mr. Contarino posted images of his bloodied face on Facebook and Twitter, where he he wrote:

THANKS FOR CALLS.... GAY BASHED LAST NITE.... back from small surgery.... CHEST XRAYS THIS AM.... suspect still at large... police n media waiting to interview me... U JUST WANNA CRY N MOVE ON....

Meanwhile, a gay couple was attacked in SoHo last night, when two men approached them yelling anti-gay slur, starting a physical altercation. One of the men attacked suffered an eye injury, according to police reports. Two suspects, Fabian Ortiz, 32, and Pedro Jiminez, 23, were arrested in conjunction to this incident and are being charged with third degree assault as a hate crime.

And last night in the East Village, another alleged suspect, 39-year-old Roman Gronel attacked a 45-year-old companion with whom he had just met up with, screaming gay obscenities at him during the beating. Commissioner Ray Kelly told attendees at today's press conference that the suspect lived at the Bowery Mission for the last month and has an extensive criminal background.

Lindsay Lohan (Getty Images)

Generally, we try to stay away from Hollywood gossip because a) We are a respectable operation that cannot compete with TMZ.com and Perez Hilton and b) We are not in Los Angeles, so what do you care what Khloe Kardashian is eating  right now?

However, sometimes an event is so critical that it transcends the regional and becomes a national news story. Especially when the train wreck may be headed directly towards NYC. That's right, we are now obliged, as a New York publication, to inform you: Lindsay Lohan is on the run from her rehab engagement--guess that Coachella sobriety stint didn't take--and she might be making a break for it in the Big Apple.

And while this disturbing news does not have the city on lockdown quite yet, the silver lining is that this Lohandidty (meh, that'll do) led to perhaps the best newspaper sentence all week, courtesy of The New York Daily News and Lohan's attorney, Mark Heller.

See, Mr. Heller has been fighting with Santa Monica D.A. Terry White, who expected Ms. Lohan to turn herself into a Long Island facility today. Instead, Ms. Lohan showed up on the property of Morningside Recovery Center in Orange County, then somehow ended up at an electronics store nearby, where she got "spooked" by the paparazzi and headed to LAX...to fly to New York. Maybe to go to treatment? Possibly? More importantly, how does Lindsay Lohan have the ability to buy herself an airplane ticket these days? Not like she's on a Do Not Fly list (though she should be), but the logistics of the purchase just seem overly complicated, no? Unless she had an accomplice...

...which we know was not her attorney. D.A. White hadn't signed off on the Morningside treatment center, and Mr. Heller was just a little too cocky in announcing that Ms. Lohan had shown up at the wrong facility on purpose. Leading to him inserting shiny loafer directly into mouth:

"My client is ensconced in the bosom of that facility right now," he said, before realizing that his statement was not true.

Perfect. Perfect sentence. Now all that's left to do is raise our Lohan alert level to firecrotch red and lock our doors. Do not go to any Gatsby premiere parties tonight, and whatever you do, stay away from the Meatpacking district or any place a Ronson may be DJing.

A man is loaded into an ambulance in Boston. (Getty Images)

As more details of the deadly explosions in Boston are released, the running community is slowly reacting to the shocking events.

Mary Wittenberg, the President and Chief Executive Officer of New York Road Runners, issued a statement lamenting the devastation and its impact on the running community in particular.

“All of our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families of the bombings at the Boston Marathon today, as well as with the runners, spectators, volunteers and staff of the Boston Athletic Association," she said.

"Marathons bring out the best of the human spirit and unite our cities and towns. This is a tragic day for all of us in the running community. We are here in full support of our close friends at the BAA."

An unnamed law enforcement source told the New York Post that the original target may have been the New York  City Marathon, with Boston being the hypothetical back-up plan.

“This changes everything [in New York],’’ the source speculated. “Everyone’s on high alert. Our marathon was canceled in November. Who knows if that changed someone’s plans?’

For her part, Ms. Wittenberg reiterated her own event's commitment to security.

"The safety and security of all New York Road Runners’ races is and will always be our top priority," she said. "We will continue to work hand in hand with the City of New York and the NYPD as we plan for upcoming events.”

(Photo: Anna Silman)

Earlier today, multiple bombs went off at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing at least two and injuring dozens more.

New York City has already stepped up its own security efforts in case there is a plot to attack additional cities, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced.

“[T]he NYPD has stepped up security at strategic locations and critical infrastructure, including our subways," the mayor said in a statement.

"Some of the security steps we are taking may be noticeable, including deployment of Critical Response Vehicles and additional police personnel, and others will not be. We have 1,000 members of the NYPD assigned to counter-terrorism duties, and they – along with the entire NYPD and the investments we have made in counter-terrorism infrastructure – are being fully mobilized to protect our city.”

Governor Andrew Cuomo issued his own statement announcing that all state agencies are on "a heightened state of alert as we learn more about this incident," the facts of which are still emerging.

"I have directed state agencies, including the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, State Police, the MTA and the Port Authority, to be on a heightened state of alert as we learn more about this incident," Mr. Cuomo said.

(Photo: Anna Silman)

"New York National Guard on Sunday sent three vehicles and 6 soldiers to support the Marathon, and they are on hand to assist with emergency response and work together with local authorities following this incident."

Several other cities, including Washington D.C., have begun taking similar steps to secure landmarks and high-trafficked areas.

In Times Square, bystanders were frightened by the news and the heightened police presence.

Kirsten Andrews and Lauren Adamo, visitors from Maine, had been following the news for the past hour in their hotel room and came out to observe the scene in the square.

“I wanted to come down and talk to a cop and see if they have a plan in motion if anything happened right now, because it would be chaotic," said Ms. Andrews. "I’m wondering why subways and buses are still running."

Ms. Adamo was concerned about the possibility of more explosions. “My stepdad’s in the military and he says all big cities are under threat right now,” said Ms. Adamo. “It’s a little unsettling.”

The reasons for the high percentage of renters are manifold. The hurdles to buying are high, and New York is a magnet for the young, the ambitious and the transient. And then, as Kathy Braddock, co-founder of Rutenberg Realty, points out, those New Yorkers who have been lucky enough to have great deals on rentals (or purchases, for that matter) never ever leave, because they know they can never replicate that deal.

All of which contributes to a tight rental market that can be incredibly difficult to navigate. For one thing, says Ms. Braddock, there is no one central master listing service for aspiring renters to consult. “Mom-and-pop rentals, smaller, quirkier apartments, perhaps walkups in townhouses are never listed,” she says. Then there are the financial hurdles, such as 15 percent to a broker to be amortized over the life of the rental, and many buildings requiring applicants to make at least 40 times their rent.

The rental market ebbs and flows, much like the stock market. And just as the Dow has reached new highs of late, the rental market is heating up as sales increase, says Ms. Braddock.

Rents had been relatively flat for a while, according to The Marketing Directors, a development advisory and master property marketing and sales force that works on behalf of owners and builders of new homes. “The unprecedented growth rates from 2010 to 2011 and into 2012 have stabilized,” say co-founders Adrienne Albert and Jacqueline Urgo. “In the past year, rental values for apartments in attended lobbies have increased 2 to 4 percent, depending on the product type.”

Some other useful facts for rental seekers offered by The Marketing Directors include:

• The average asking price is $2,740 per month for a studio, $3,915 for a one-bedroom and $6,050 for a two-bedroom (attended lobby).

• One-bedrooms continue to outperform both studios and two-bedrooms.

• Desirable areas like the East Village and the West Village still rate among the top places to live.

• In the coming 12 to 18 months, a number of new rental buildings will be brought to the market specifically on the Upper West Side and in Midtown West (Hudson Yards).

As for the Upper East Side, again courtesy of The Marketing Directors:

• There have been no new rental developments in the heart of the UES. The most recent development is 1214 Fifth Avenue, which is asking in the high $60s to low $70s per square foot.

• In February 2013, there were 804 available apartments to lease asking an average of $3,450 per month; 45 percent of the active listings are one-bedrooms.

Aware of the need for rental housing, developers are busily erecting buildings in neighborhoods that have previously been considered less than desirable. Glenwood Management Inc., one of the largest owner/developers of luxury rental buildings in the city, is in the process of renting out apartments in its newest building, Crystal Green, at 330 West 39th Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. And business is brisk for the high-end luxury building boasting 200 studios, one- and two-bedrooms, a stunning lobby and beautiful amenities including a children’s playroom and fitness center.

One of the building’s advantages, as Gary Jacob, Glenwood’s executive vice president, points out, is its proximity and access to transportation, which more westerly developments—specifically those in the area that has come to be known as the Hudson Yards (far west Midtown)—do not yet enjoy. “The renting is brisk,” says Mr. Jacob. “We’re very happy with the lease up velocity. The area is very well-received by young renters.”

Crystal Green follows on the heels of another Glenwood building erected nearby, Emerald Green, with 569 units. According to Mr. Jacob, rental buildings typically have a 25 percent turnover rate. In a good market, which he foresees, “we can raise rents by 5 percent with turnover.” A couple of years ago, he adds, they could go even higher, but 2008 marked the beginning of a lull. When Emerald Green opened in 2009, the market was not as strong.

“Things have picked up,” says Mr. Jacob. With Manhattan’s scarcity of land and financing, there are no downward pressures on rents, he adds. “The only downward force would be an economic hit like the one in 2008. Barring that, we are optimistic.”

The Gotham Organization, one of the city’s largest residential and mixed-use developers, is also betting on the Hudson Yards area, opening a new 550-unit building this summer called Gotham West at 46th Street and 11th Avenue. Melissa Pianko, the firm’s executive vice president for development, says website traffic at its rebranded website, Livinggotham.com, has been heavy all winter, and with warmer weather, she expects plenty of real traffic among apartment seekers. “There has been a lot of press about a slowdown,” Ms. Pianko says, “but I think it is more seasonal. Things always pick up in the spring.”

Down in the Financial District—or FiDi, as realtors are calling it—LCOR, the owners of the landmarked and storied building 25 Broad, are similarly optimistic. LCOR took over the building in 2011, after a conversion to condominiums hit the snag of the economic downturn. Now, renters at 25 Broad can enjoy condo-level upgrades, which, says Kirsten Risko, marketing director at LCOR, “is unusual for a rental building,” especially one built in 1901. The building at 25 Broad has all one- and two-bedroom units, dark hardwood flooring and a washer/dryer in every unit. “We’ve been opening in phases,” says Ms. Risko. “The building is 85 percent occupied currently.”

The building at 25 Broad also has the good fortune of having escaped Hurricane Sandy’s wrath, unlike some of its FiDi neighbors. “FiDi,” Ms. Risko insists, “is having a strong spring.”

Greenpoint dolphin (YouTube)

You know, we're starting to think it's not a coincidence that all these dolphins have started showing up in New York's bodies of (filthy) water. After all, in the past decade there's been an uptick in marine life just kind of moseying into our rivers and canals, mostly with tragic results.

But this weekend's sighting of not one but two bottlenose dolphins in the East River--both apparently in fine health, from what experts can see--shows that maybe the creatures can survive in these unsanitary conditions ... at least for a little while. Which is pretty perfect metaphor for college students' NYC migration habits, when you think about it.

Gothamist has a full report on the dual dolphins, who have been confused for the same dolphin, since they seem to be keeping their distance from each other. But look! Here's one near Greenpoint:

And here's another one heading up to Harlem just off of Asphalt Green:

Technically we can't see the difference, and since the videos were taken three days apart, we'll just have to rely on the words of the experts for now. Keep healthy, dolphins!

Spider-Man! Spider-Man! Hanging out in Bay Ridge! (Reddit)

Here's a new twist to make the sequel to the lackluster reboot of Spider-Man more interesting: If you manage to get yourself down to Bensonhurst before 2 a.m. tomorrow morning, you might catch a glimpse of Andrew Garfield or Emma Stone as they shoot The Amazing Spider-Man 2: London Calling.

Well, according to the intrepid Redditors who went to the scene earlier this morning, the trucks have already departed, though they still have a permit to come back and shoot until well into the wee hours.

This fits with the stealth model of shooting that the sequel has kept up for the best month or so, showing up with permit signs in Queens and the UES before being quickly whisked away, with no one able to gather photographic evidence of any of the stars milling about.

The casting notices for extras list exterior shots running all the way through May 20 in New York, so it's inexplicable what kind of London is doing the calling here. It's pretty difficult to confuse Piccadilly Circus with Dyker Beach Park, but what do we know?

Sandy surely was an exceptionally powerful storm. But who would claim that it simply was a freak of nature? Who would contend that New York and New Jersey need only to clean up and move on?

Sandy must become a call to action. New York harbor, it is clear, will no longer serve as protection against 21st-century weather patterns. New York’s infrastructure has been exposed for what it is—one of the great wonders of the 20th century. 

The immediate tasks of burying the dead, caring for survivors, housing up to 40,000 homeless people and making necessary repairs surely take top priority. But after we have done our best to make the region whole again, after the trains are running on schedule and schools are places of learning again rather than places of shelter, after every immediate crisis has been addressed and resolved—after all of that, New York must come to terms with the new reality of 21st-century weather patterns.

It will not be easy. It will be costly. And it will require leadership, vision and determination.

The man who takes the oath of office in January will have something to say about the task of reconstruction. Federal funding will help address immediate priorities. But a bold vision for recreating and reimagining New York harbor will have to start closer to home—in City Hall, to be sure, but even more so in Albany, where an ambitious, hands-on governor finds himself in the unique position of rebuilding not for tomorrow, but for the next century.

Andrew Cuomo exhibited sterling qualities of leadership during the crisis. And he sounded the exact right note when he reminded New Yorkers that Sandy is only the latest “storm of the century” to cause havoc and devastation in the area. In fact, Mr. Cuomo noted that in his two years in office, he very likely has confronted more natural disasters than his father, Mario Cuomo, did during his 12 years in office from 1983 to 1994.

The governor self-consciously declined to attribute the rash of storms to global warming because, he said, the phrase has become far too politicized. But he rightly asserted a simple, undeniable truth: our weather patterns are changing. We now face forces of nature that New Yorkers in the past associated with the wider world beyond the Hudson River.

In the 21st century, New Yorkers must figure out how to defend themselves against nature’s ferocity and cruel whims. These are not phenomena that happen to other people—to those unfortunate enough to live in the path of tornadoes or on geological fault lines. Because we paved over hills and filled in marshes and bridged our rivers, we have presumed victory over nature. We forgot one very significant fact—millions of us live on islands, slender islands, close to a great ocean.

Now we will have to defend those islands as never before. It is not enough to rebuild. It is not enough to restore. It is not enough to get back to normal, because there is a new normal. And we’re simply not prepared for it.

Mr. Cuomo’s father was fond of stating that challenges were better viewed as opportunities. The present Gov. Cuomo now faces a truly exceptional opportunity: the opportunity to reshape the city’s waterfront and rebuild the city’s infrastructure for the new weather patterns of the 21st century.

Nearly a century ago, Andrew Cuomo’s favorite governor (other than that other governor named Cuomo), Al Smith, saw an opportunity to modernize state government—and he took it. His reconstruction of the governor’s office in the 1920s brought Albany into the 20th century and paved the way for a succession of powerful chief executives in New York.

The circumstances today are vastly different, but the opportunity facing Mr. Cuomo is not unlike the one Mr. Smith faced. Mr. Cuomo has the opportunity to transform New York’s physical infrastructure so that when the next superstorm hits—and it will, sooner rather than later—there will be no repeat of the last 10 days.

In a sense, New York has no choice. The city and state simply cannot afford the economic toll that Sandy, Irene and other storms are taking with depressing regularity. Last October, Professor Klaus Jacob of Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and School of International and Public Affairs told a group of architects that changing weather patterns will wreak havoc on the city’s economy. That prediction already has come to pass. Sandy will cost the region billions upon billions in lost revenue and reconstruction.

What, then, should come next? New York should first see how other coastal cities, including storm-prone Norfolk, Va., have sought to keep the sea out of the streets. Low-lying areas of Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Lower Manhattan clearly require 21st-century engineering projects to protect them from 21st-century superstorms.

Achieving that goal is up to engineers and other professionals. But it is within the purview of elected officials and business leaders to devise a 21st-century plan to pay for all of this. That’s where Mr. Cuomo and other officials need to be creative.

Quite simply, Albany and City Hall do not have the resources to take on the enormous task of updating our coastal defenses and reimagining our waterfronts. The job will require partnerships with the private sector—and, yes, that means creating opportunities for entrepreneurs.

The public-works projects that will be required to keep the sea out of subway tunnels and away from homes in the Rockaways simply won’t get done if they are carried out as they traditionally have been. The problem is that public-private partnerships are anathema to many special interests, including the public-sector unions that wield far too much power with both major parties in New York. Unions and others will argue that somehow New York can pick up the tab for the work that so desperately needs to be done.

But that, frankly, is the equivalent of denying the reality of changing weather patterns. Neither view recognizes simple facts.

Elected officials like to say that New Yorkers come together in a crisis, and that no crisis is too big for this city. Those are fine sentiments, but they will ring hollow if the work of truly rebuilding New York becomes stalled in special-interest politics.

The crisis has not passed, and it will not pass until New York is prepared for the reality of 21st-century weather. Mr. Cuomo will be a pivotal figure in creating those needed preparations, for he very likely will be in a position of influence (either in Albany or in that other capital city down near Virginia) for the next decade or more.

Mr. Cuomo knows that New York can’t simply rebuild. It must be reimagined, and that will take the intellect and the capital of all New Yorkers.

Seriously, right??! (YourFuckingPollingPlace.com)

With all the frustration over the absolute clusterfuck of trying to find out where you're supposed to cast your ballot tomorrow, it's good to know that at least one website has your back. Just type your address into YourFuckingPollingPlace.com and it will tell you where the fuck you are supposed to go.

Well, at least that's how it's supposed to work.

Yeah, well. It's not a miracle-worker.

Click to enlarge or click here for the full .PDF

At a press conference at the 69th Regiment Armory in Manhattan this morning, Governor Andrew Cuomo and MTA Chairman Joe Lhota announced most subway service in New York City will be returned by the end of the day. Notably for some commuters from Queens and Brooklyn, trains will now be traveling into Manhattan for the first time since before Hurricane Sandy struck last week.

"In literally under one week, 80% of the subway service has been restored from what was horrendous damage, and the worst damage the subway system had ever seen," Mr. Cuomo said. "So that is just a great, great job. The service between Brooklyn and Queens and Manhattan is being restored immediately. The 4, 5, 6 and 7 trains will immediately begin to run. The F, J, D [and] M will run later this afternoon. The Staten Island Railway will have limited service beginning later today."

According to the MTA website:

 service will operate between Woodlawn and New Lots Ave operating as an express in Manhattan only.

 service will operate between Eastchester/Dyre Ave and Flatbush as an express in Manhattan only.

 service will operate between Pelham Bay and Brooklyn Bridge as a local

 Flushing Line service will operate full local service between Main St – Flushing and 42^nd St – Times Square.

Staten Island Railway (SIR) will operate limited hourly service between St. George and Tottenville.