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The article recounts the life and work of New York police inspector Thomas F. Byrnes, who is known for popularizing Rogue's Gallery, a collection of criminals from 19th-century New York. It describes the approach of Byrnes in managing the Detective Bureau and offers a background of his backward techniques in solving and preventing crime. It highlights the contribution of Byrnes to elevating the practice of law enforcement including identification of burglars, pickpockets and thieves.

The article offers information on the investigative report of the New York Office of the Inspector General on the State Athletic Commission wherein the agency which regulates boxing has been criticized for its procedures and practices. It mentions that Thomas Hoover, who resigned from the state department as its chairman, has been criticized for allowing his relatives and friends to obtain credentials in high-profile boxing and athletic commission position.

The article highlights the fact that The National Football League's (N.F.L.) Super Bowl XLVIII will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, noting that fans and the media have emphasized the game's connection to New York City. Topics addressed include the Super Bowl's media day held at the New Jersey Hall of Fame, as well as notable individuals from New Jersey who are represented at the Hall of Fame such as inventor Thomas Edison, singer Frank Sinatra, and singer Dionne Warwick.

This article focuses on the mysteries surrounding art collector William M. V. Kingsland only discovered upon his death in the spring of 2006. His friends learned that his real name was Melvyn Kohn. Among stolen art in his collection were pieces taken from a Midtown gallery in 1967 and from Harvard University in 1971. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, two auction houses and the Office of the Public Administrator for Manhattan are investigating his art collection.

This article presents information about Suzanne Froix's role as the Statue of Liberty at the Courtyard Marriott near La Guardia Airport. The hotel offers New York nights in its restaurant/lounge each night with Miss Liberty as the hostess. After an unsatisfactory law career, Froix decided to follow her heart and returned to New York to pursue an acting career. She approaches her role as the Statue of Liberty with the seriousness that it deserves.

The article discusses the conflict between New York Mets and New York Yankees fans in New York City. Yankees fans take pleasure in bragging about the number of World Series titles their team has, 26, compared to the Mets' relatively laughable 2. So it's no surprise that Mets fans are pleased the Yankees are losing in the 2006 playoffs.

The article presents information about the difficult decision of New York City barber Giovanni Cafiso to retire after 45 years of cutting hair for Wall Street executives and others. Cafiso had been bothered by how much family time he had missed over the years while working long hours and weekends at his business. Cafiso realized he would miss even more family time and gave his last haircut on October 3, 2006 to retire and join his family in Sicily.

This article describes the demolition of St. Brigid's Catholic Church in East Village, New York City and the feelings of those who opposed its destruction by the archdiocese. A demolition crew started the demolition but was ordered to stop citing hazardous conditions. The church was built in 1848 by Irish immigrants. Patti Kelly may have taken the destruction the hardest. Kelly is a stained glass artist with ties to the church.

This article presents information about a tenant restaurant's struggle to avoid eviction from a building in which it has done business for the past 8 years. Alexander Achilleos, who owns The Place restaurant in Greenwich Village, received an eviction notice after he spent nearly $70,000 for repairs that he thought would allow him to renew his lease. After making the repairs to correct code violations, the landlady changed her mind and delivered the eviction notice.

The article focuses on the duties of the Administrative and Tribunal of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in New York City. The department is responsible for managing all forms of health and hygiene violations, most of which tend to concern food preparation and rodent control in restaurants.

This article presents information about the life of Yiddish scholar, Itche Goldberg, who is 102 years old and lives in New York City. For many years, Goldberg produced a premier Yiddish literary journal called "Yiddish Kultur." Although his health prevents him from going to his office, Goldberg continues to believe that support for his journal will come from somewhere. He has tried to keep Yiddish culture alive after the Nazis tried to wipe it out in World War II.

The article discusses Malual Manyok Deng Duot, a Dinka tribe member born in the southern Sudanese village of Wangulei, and his graduation from Wagner College on Staten Island on May 19, 2006. He was a so-called Lost Boy of Sudan, an orphan roaming the East African plains looking for refuge, after a civil war began in Sudan in 1983. Information regarding his childhood in Wangulei, his search for refuge, his arrival in the United States, and his college career is provided.

The article discusses the closing of a Bronx McDonald's. The store did not generate enough sales to allow it to remain open. Neighbors were furious when the McDonald's opened in the late 1990s. Trattoria Salerno will replace the McDonald's. It will be run by Salerno, Italy native Roberto Paciullo. Paciullo operates the successful Roberto's Restaurant nearby; he says he is opening the new restaurant to keep to the character of the neighborhood.

This article describes the most recent David Blaine stunt staged on the plaza at Lincoln Center in New York City. Blaine had been immersed in a clear sphere filled with water for a week and was planning to break the world record for going without oxygen while submerged. The author discusses how Blaine's feat is merely a distraction from the real world and shouldn't be considered anything more.

The article discusses the proposed closing of 31 parishes and 14 schools by the Roman Catholic church in New York. The article focuses on Sister Cecilia McCarthy and Sister Nora McArt, two nuns who work at St. Martin of Tours School in the East Tremont neighborhood of the Bronx. The nuns didn't learn the news from the Catholic church but from an alumnus of the school.

This article introduces urban explorer Steve Duncan who ventures through the historic layers beneath the surface of Manhattan. Duncan attended Columbia University where he received his Bachelor's Degree in urban studies. Duncan maneuvers himself through the series of abandoned and forgotten tunnels that were once active parts of New York City. He is pictured in this article crawling through the "Old" Croton Aqueduct which used to carry fresh water to the people of New York in 1842.

The article discusses the case of Rosemary Cosgrove, a 54-year-old woman diagnosed with Pick's disease, a rare form of dementia. Cosgrove has been missing for three years after coming to New York City to attend the 2003 St. Patrick's Day parade, and every March 17th her family hopes that she will be found.

This article discusses New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn as well as the annual Saint Patrick's Day parade. Quinn is the first woman and first lesbian to hold the city councilor post. The parade has refused to allow gays and lesbians of Irish descent to march as an identifiable group. Quinn has been arrested for disorderly conduct six times over several years for protesting the policy of the parade. Catholic church officials argue that the parade is Catholic in nature and that homosexual acts are contrary to church doctrine.

The article profiles newspaper reporter Edith Evans Asbury, who at 95 years of age is still active and outspoken about New York City. The article discusses Asbury's youth, her beginnings as a reporter, and her career working for the "New York Post," the Associated Press, and "The World-Telegram and Sun."

This article reports on the life and career of Tony Robles, a man the author calls the nicest and best pool player in New York City. Robles has been playing pool since childhood, and pool playing is his career. Although considered one of the best players in the country, Robles has thought about quitting the game. The founding of the International Pool Tour made him change his mind as it affords him the opportunity to make more money.

The article focuses on deceased actor Al Lewis, and his claim that he was thirteen years older than he really was. Al Lewis played Grandpa in the 1960's TV show, "The Munsters." Landing the role may be why he began claiming that he'd been born in 1910, not 1923. Lewis was known later in life for his political activism, and Green party candidacy for New York Governor in 1998.

This article reports on the seating of New York City councilors in the council chamber. The chamber is adorned with statues of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and words from Abraham Lincoln along with other reminders of democracy. When Christine C. Quinn recently became the first female speaker of the council, the deals that got her the position were reflected in the assigned seating positions of the other council members.

This article describes how Ana Arias grew up in the Bronx without a father, having to be the protector and mediator between her siblings and stepfather, and never learning to read. She bluffed her way through as much school as she could, but never graduated. She worked menial jobs and had two children and no marriages. She was determined to learn to read and get her equivalency diploma so she enrolled in a literacy program.

The article focuses on the clean-up of Christmas trees in New York City following the culmination of the holiday season. The author reviews how tens of thousands of discarded Christmas trees have been placed on the city's curbs. The work of sanitation workers Gary Baer and Marcos Ortiz is analyzed. The author discusses the idea that Christmas trees are the focus of anger and frustration after being the center of attention during the holidays.

This article looks at Albert Arroyo who is called the Mayor of Central Park because of his continuous presence there since the 1930s and his friendly disposition. Arroyo was a young boxer from Puerto Rico when he first ran the trail around the Central Park Reservoir. Since then he has been coming to the park and has witnessed people commit suicide, has seen murderers leave their victims, and has met Jacqueline Onassis Kennedy .

The article focuses on the small brick building located at 7 State Street in New York City. The author reviews the history of the building, which was built by James Watson in the 1790s. Recently, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority began a $450 million construction project fewer than 50 feet from the location of the building. The author discusses how the new project and the building represent a melding of the past and present.

This article reports on Marge Champion and Donald Saddler, 86 and 85 years old, respectively. Champion and Saddler meet twice a week in a studio room in New York's theater district to dance. Champion was the woman who animators for Walt Disney used as the central live-action model in drawing Snow White in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," and the Blue Fairy in "Pinnochio."

Discusses the abundance of cheap umbrellas in the midst of continuous rain in New York City. Profiles of some umbrella peddlars; Discussion of where they get their stock of cheap umbrellas; Price of some umbrellas as low as $3 with a 50 cent profit for the peddlar; Description of New Yorkers using their umbrellas.

Focuses on the concept of patriotism in American. Focus on a man who dresses as a Fourth of July pinwheel and stands on a Cross-Bronx Expressway footbridge while waving flags and whistling at traffic. Comments made by the man named Luis regarding his elaborate patriotic ritual; Discussion of how various elements of Luis costume reflects various political, social or personal sentiment. New York City.

Focuses on the last hours of the Fulton Fish Market on New York City's South Street, which will soon move to the Bronx. History of the market; Why the fish market's closing should not come as a surprise; Description of the open air market; Comments of people who work at the stalls; Reference to various stories about the market; Perception of the fish market as an anachronism.

Focuses on Vicky Portnoy, a senior at Stuyvesant High School, and how September 11, 2001 affected her and other students. The memories of the class of 2005 that are a mixture of traditional high school activity and the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center; Description of the events and how students were directed by a voice on the public-address system.

Looks at the experience of twenty-two year old actress Kat Arbuckle, who recently moved from Pittsburgh to New York City. Review of Abruckle's career history; Discussion of the struggles facing young people who come to New York looking for a break in the entertainment industry; Character costume job taken by Arbuckle, who performed as Curious George at an event called BookExpo America.

Discusses the closure of the Munson Diner in New York City after six decades. Decision of Mel Brandt, a specialist in diner relocation, to move it to Liberty, New York; Challenges of moving the diner on a flatbed truck through the city.

Reports on the imminent closing of the last Howard Johnson's in New York City after nearly 50 years of service in Times Square. Indication the owners, the Rubenstein family, will sell the building to Jeff Sutton; The reasons Howard Johnson restaurants appealed to people.

Describes the New York City. Sounds of the city; Predominance of the Democratic Party; Rate of crimes.

Reports on the accommodations at Marriott Financial Center in Manhattan, New York City following the September 11 terrorist attacks. View of the ground zero from some of the rooms; Effort of staff members to create a business-as-usual atmosphere; Incorporation of the fact of the ground zero into the employees' daily routine.

The article offers the author's insights on the effects of Hurricane Sandy on memorabilia of families, such as photographs. The author says that some of the damaged photos have become another kind of a reminder. He says that the photos prove that nature's dominance makes things precious, especially the living moments that the photographs have been captured.

THERE is no sugar-pushing nanny traveling by umbrella this time, no conflicted lion seeking therapy from a meerkat and a warthog. Even so, the premise for ''Newsies the Musical,'' the latest Disney property to reach Broadway, seems just as rooted in Disneyesque whimsy: A dese-and-dose scrum of newsboys unites to lead a strike against the most powerful media titans of Old New York. Right. And next: ''Eight Is Enough,'' a murder-mystery musical about a maiden living with seven Smurf-like men who won't stop whistling. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

On the Bowery, on the second floor of an ancient flophouse, nine men pay less than $10 a night to sleep in cramped cubicles topped with chicken wire. Half the stalls in their shared bathroom are missing doors, and their halls are lined with spooky rows of empty cubicles whose last occupants either took off or died off. Directly above them, on the third and fourth floors, stylish young men and women pay $62 to $129 a night for a refined version of the gritty experience below. Their cubicles have custom-made mattresses and high-end sheets. Their shared bathrooms have marble sinks and heated floors. Their towels are Ralph Lauren. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

For nearly a decade, a large white tent has stood on Manhattan's East Side, out of urban context and hard against the sooty Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive. A gauzy drapery divides the tent space: on one side, a quiet makeshift chapel; on the other, three walk-in storage units containing nearly 14,000 human remains from the World Trade Center catastrophe, air-dried and vacuum-sealed. Several rounds of DNA-based tests have failed to identify about 9,000 of the remains. The rest have been identified but not claimed, for all sorts of reasons; for example, some families have already buried parts of their loved ones, and cannot bear to do it again, and again. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MANHATTAN can be too much with us. It can seem like a 23-square-mile rugby pitch, where on any given day nearly three million people are shoving elbows, blowing cigarette smoke, jabbering on cellphones or to themselves, all ready to rumble over the slightest slight. Not long ago a well-educated woman slapped another well-educated woman in a confrontation over a package of vegan pad Thai in the frozen-food section of Trader Joe's. To which inhabitants of Manhattan might say: ''Yeah? So what?'' But the never-ending scrum, the divine experiment designed to explore the limits of humankind's patience, could not function as miraculously as it does without its pressure-release valves. This island of asphalt and steel has oases of solitude, catch-your-breath places that have neither the seedy sensibility of a Midtown peep-show booth nor the sobering sadness of the waiting room at the medical examiner's office. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On Sunday morning, before the ancient doors of McSorley's Old Ale House opened once again to spill that beer-and-sawdust aroma upon an East Village sidewalk, the owner took on a sorrowful job that in good conscience he could not leave to any of his employees. Too close to tempting the fates. But it had to be done. The New York City health department was dropping hints as loud as the clatter of mugs on a Saturday night. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IN the dozen years I spent working in the newsroom of the historic New York Times building, just off Times Square, I must have contemplated my future a hundred times, a thousand times. Would I become a national correspondent? A foreign correspondent? An editor? Should I chuck journalism and embark instead on a career in interpretive dance? But I am fairly certain that I never thought: Maybe someday I will stand in this room with a bowling ball in my hand, admiring the Chinatown decor and hoping to pick up a spare in Lane 12. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

SOMEONE must sing a proper song of farewell for Shea Stadium, the nice try of a coliseum in Queens, as its dismantling draws near and a new ballpark rises just yards away. But that someone must be able to convey emotions specific to the place, emotions beyond the sadness of many lost Mets summers and the euphoria of two World Series championships. There is so much more. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article offers the author's thoughts about New York City as he watches the rush hour during a rain storm. He notices the way people cope with the weather and how most of them have the appearance of being in a hurry. The sounds of the city, together with the sounds of the rain striking different objects, sound like a symphony. The author expresses his sadness at writing this last column about New York City.

The article looks at Jeb Corliss, who tried to parachute off of the Empire State Building in New York City. Security officers prevented Corliss from parachuting off of the building. Corliss claims he had kept safety in mind when planning his jump. Corliss was charged with reckless endangerment. Corliss's lawyer claims that he has a constitutional right to freedom of expression. Other daredevils are mentioned, including aerialist Philippe Petit and mountain climber George Willig.

The article discusses Gerald Geller, a wanted bank robber who surrendered to authorities after over thirty years on the run. He lived in the Andrews House of New York City, unknown to residents that he was wanted by police. He turned himself in to get medical attention and make things right. He died of heart failure before he was sentenced for his crimes.

The article presents information about the night life in Manhattan, New York City.

This article describes the activities of the squeegee men in New York City, the men who wait at stoplights to wash windshields on captive vehicles. More than 10 years ago Mayors David Dinkins and Rudolph W. Giuliani persisted in ridding the city of these aggressive and unwanted solicitors. Recently, though, two men who said they had been in business since 1980 were seen practicing their trade, dodging traffic, washing windows with dirty water, and hoping for guilt payments from drivers.