Elsewhere in the Ist-a-verse

By Tankboy in News on Sep 30, 2007 1:35PM

This week, Phillyist saw the waters of a landmark fountain run red for a Showtime marketing stunt, the Phils pull ahead, and some serious nostalgia. They also got a chance to review an awesome tribute album, reminded folks to see the King and appreciated their beautiful skyline.

Chicagoist knows what it's like to like the Cubs. But naming your kid Wrigley Fields? At least they can breathe a little easier now that Grossman's out and Griese's in. Maybe all that sports excitement is what caused them to forget basic facts about US history?

With the abrupt departure of LA's top transportation manager and more controversy over bicycle commuters, LAist is ready for the city's traffic to get moving again. What's not stuck in gridlock is Hollywood, who is already into their first week of the Fall TV season. Greg Grunberg of NBC's "Hereos" gave an interview, Phil Spector got away, the world saw Natalie Portman go nude on the internetz and more of your favorite novels are being made into terrible movies. If that wasn't enough, the harassing paparazzi are no friends to the regular citizens of Los Angeles. At least the people have about a million festivals to relax at this weekend. And if all else fails, the coolest lizard in the world will make you smile.

Torontoist checked out the Polaris Music Prize Gala that saw international superstar surpass local unknowns like The Arcade Fire to win the $20,000 prize. They ranked some local pizza joints (delicious!). They checked out yet another newspaper redesign, and yet another museum redesign. Oh, and they totally had a sweet virtual reality panorama of its Distillery District.

Image: Williamsburg condo on fire (Picture from i'm not sayin - it's the hot Brooklyn condo market!)

Gothamist got its United Nations General Assembly on with the arrival of various foreign heads of state, including Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who was applauded, boo, and hissed - and called a petty dictator - at Columbia University. Other local controversies: Bill O'Reilly's comments about Harlem soul food restaurant Sylvia's (the Reverend Al Sharpton's holding off on comment for now), a Brooklyn resident who catnapped a neighbor's cats, a Knicks intern admitted she sent a Hallmark card to her boss saying that sleeping with Stephon Marbury was a mistake, figuring out if shouting the First Amendment at the police should lead to arrest, and the MTA Yankees rookies dressed up as characters from the Wizard of Oz.

Bostonist spent the week living dangerously. Not only did they dodge fireballs in the North End, but they gaped at a fountain of fake blood at Faneuil Hall. Then they debated one of the city's most controversial questions: "What makes a true Bostonian?" After all that excitement, they needed a little treat and decided to make themselves some pumpkin-seed brittle, laugh at MIT pranks, and read gossip rags with pictures of the Brady Baby.

SFist celebrated Critical Mass turning a pimply 15 years old. It also commemorated pride in leather goods and fisting with the Folsom Street Fair, which even managed to get the Catholic League all hot and damp due to the pro-sodomite festival's parody of The Last Supper. Philip Glass and Wendy Sutter came to town to put on a show. And (former) SF Supervisor Ed Jew got the hook from Mayor Newsom who suspended and replaced him this week. Ouch.

What else is going on in the Ist-A-Verse, you ask? Check out this week's favorites on Austinist, Chicagoist, Houstonist, Londonist, LAist, Gothamist, Sampaist, Shanghaiist, and DCist to find out more.

Top image: Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey, Phillyist. Folsom Street Fair's take on The Last Supper: Fred Alert, via SFist.