The Republican district attorney of Staten Island, Dan Donovan, who many considered to be the leading congressional candidate to run for the seat being vacated by Republican Vito Fossella, says he is not in the running.  read more »

Now it's really official: the M.T.A. board this afternoon voted to approve a deal with the Related Companies and Goldman Sachs to develop over the 26-acre West Side rail yards.

A few nuggets of rail yards info from the meeting: According to M.T.A. CFO Gary Dellaverson, who summarized negotiations to the board, the key to the Related Companies' victory was its willingness to literally pick up the $1.054 billion Tishman Speyer deal and sign it, only inserting one notable change.  read more »

Despite her album hurting many a critic's ear, Scarlett Johansson did a Q&A with The Wall Street Journal to promote it. In the interview, Ms. Johansson explains why the album consisted of only Tom Waits songs, talks about working with David Bowie ("It was a huge dream come true for me"), and how recording an album is just so similar to filmmaking. Perhaps the best part of the interview is when the actress acts like, 'oh, did I get bad reviews? I didn't even notice!'  read more »

In the latest clip in what we like to call the "Candid Katie" series on YouTube, Ms. Couric gets down with Bette Midler at a ‘60s-themed benefit on the Lower East Side.  read more »

Michael Bloomberg is hosting a fund-raiser at his townhouse on June 9 for Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, according to two invitees I spoke to.  read more »

Another judicial race quietly got underway in Manhattan last night when a judicial screening panel released the names of candidates they consider the most qualified Democrats for the county wide Civic Court judge position that will be on the ballot later this year.

The three people reported out of the committee were: Gerald Lebovits, Nancy Bannon and Frank Nervo.  read more »

Yesterday, Denise Richards, ex-wife of Charlie Sheen who supposedly has been asking for his sperm, went on The View to talk about her new reality show called It's Complicated and defend her right to publicity.  read more »

Streetsblog quoted State Senator Marty Connor talking about congestion pricing during a debate this weekend with his challenger, former Chuck Schumer aide Dan Squadron.  read more »

The Wall Street Journal reports today that Merrill Lynch is in talks once again to move its headquarters to one of Larry Silverstein’s towers at the World Trade Center site, with the Port Authority, which owns the site, expected to discuss the matter at today’s board meeting.  read more »

Break out the bubbly! The Brooklyn Bridge is way way way over the hill at 125 this year and New York is celebrating with several birthday bashes this weekend including concerts, movie nights, fireworks, dancing and ... uh mini-golf.

The only requisite birthday event missing is karaoke but maybe the Brooklyn Philharmonic and Broadway master Marvin Hamlisch can get the crowd crooning with a hearty rendition of "One" from A Chorus Line.

Starting at 7:45 p.m. tonight, at the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park, the Philharmonic and Mr. Hamlisch will kick off the celebration tonight with a concert followed by fireworks.

The Bridge will light up the night tonight and every night from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. through Memorial Day after a ceremony.

You can also take a peek into artist Paul St. George's Telectroscope that allows you to see all the way to London! More information and events from NYCVisit.com after the jump.  read more »