Urbanite

5/16/13
news
By KELLY WEILL

Keith Urban wants to stay on 'American Idol' as fellow judges leave
Amid reports of a complete shake-up at the judges table on “American Idol,” first-year judge Keith Urban announced that he wanted to stay on the Fox show.
At Wednesday’s final faceoff between Kree Harrison and Candice Glover, Urban told reporters that he would like to return as a judge next season.
“I mean, I literally enjoy coming to work every day, and that’s a rarity,” he told People... » more
5/16/13
news
By DAN RIVOLI

A train heads back to Rockaways next month
Straphangers will be able to hitch a ride to the Rockaways on A train again this summer, transit officials said Thursday.
After six months since superstorm Sandy struck New York, full service to the A line will be restored May 30 “as to what it was the day before the storm,” said MTA interim director Tom Prendergast. The restored service will benefit about 35,000 riders, according to the MTA.
Gov.... » more
5/16/13
opinion
By amNY

Editorial: Gifted, talented. . . and seatless
Wanted: Some gifted and talented test administrators who can competently select students for the city's most elite academic programs.
At the moment the kings of slapstick seem to be running the show -- and, unfortunately, the joke is on some of the city's brightest children.
Last month the city announced that a processing error mistakenly eliminated 2,700 kids -- some as young as 4 years... » more
5/16/13
news
By DAN RIVOLI

And the most popular baby names in New York are...
Parents in New York have taken a shine to Michael and Sophia. Those names were the most popular in the state in 2012 for the second year in a row, according to the Social Security Administration.
There were 1,384 Michaels and 1,406 Sophias born in New York State last year.
For boys, Jacob and Jayden round out the top three names for boys. Isabella again took the No. 2 spot for girl names... » more
5/16/13
entertainment
By AMNY

Spotted: Lynette Carolla at Sons of Essex, more
Lynette Carolla hosting a girls night at Sons of Essex to promote her and husband Adam Carolla’s new sangria
Hayden Panettiere getting cozy with her boyfriend at ABC’s Upfront party at The General
Jesse Tyler Ferguson eating with Modern Family co-star Eric Stonestreet at 20th Century Fox’s Upfront party at Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel... » more
5/16/13
opinion
By KATE WALTER

Walter: Feeling steamrollered by Citi Bike roll out
The name-calling continues in the West Village. Bike racks appeared recently for the city's new bicycle sharing program and hundreds showed up for a community board meeting with complaints about safety and sanitation.
Biking advocates labeled my neighbors "rich white people" with NIMBY attitudes (I may be white but I'm certainly not rich), while locals called the activists "plants" and asked... » more
5/16/13
news
By REUTERS

Facebook, Twitter apps coming to Google Glass
Social networking services Facebook Inc and Twitter are coming to Google Glass, the wearable computer made by the Internet search company.
Google Inc announced on Thursday a half-dozen apps specially designed to work on its Glass devices. News network CNN, fashion magazine Elle, as well as online apps Tumblr and Evernote were among the half-dozen new apps for Glass unveiled during Google's... » more
5/16/13
entertainment
By MATT WINDMAN

Theater Review: 'Natasha Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812' -- 3 stars
Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 3 stars
Whereas many shows tend to lose some of their luster when transferred to a larger venue, “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812,” Dave Malloy’s festive and sexy electro-pop opera based on a small slice of Tolstoy’s “War and Peace,” plays better at Kazino than it did a few months ago at the more intimate Ars Nova.
Kazino is... » more
5/16/13
entertainment
By MATT WINDMAN

Behind the Curtain: Date set for 'Sound of Music' with Carrie Underwood, more
‘Sound of Music’ Even with the demise of “Smash,” it would appear that NBC still has a fond spot for Broadway. It was confirmed Monday that the previously announced live broadcast of a new production of “The Sound of Music” starring Carrie Underwood will be broadcast on Dec. 5. No word yet on the other cast members or how exactly this is going to work. Will it be filmed at a Broadway theater in... » more
5/16/13
entertainment
By ROBERT LEVIN

Movie Review: 'Frances Ha' -- 4 stars
Frances Ha 4 stars Directed by Noah Baumbach Starring Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner, Adam Driver Rated R Playing at Lincoln Plaza and IFC Center
Typically, coming-of-age literature regards the end of youth as that period in your teens where the burdens and complications of the world first come into full view. Think of young Huck Finn’s journey along the Mississippi, say, or the stereotype-shattering... » more