WILL GERSON RUN? Although devastated by the loss of his mom, Sophie, former City Councilmember Alan Gerson is deciding whether to dive back into politics. Over the past few years — after being unseated in his bid for a third term by Margaret Chin — Gerson spent time caring for his elderly parents. His dad, [...]

‘THE GREAT HETERO HOPE?’ The District 3 City Council race is shaping up to be more than just “Corey vs. Yetta.” As The Villager first reported last week, Alexander Meadows, a relatively new member of Community Board 2, has tossed his hat into the ring and filed the necessary papers with the Board of Elections. [...]

SILVER HAS HUD CHIEF’S EAR: It’s clear that New Yorkers affected by Hurricane Sandy are starting to become a little impatient — rightfully so — with the fact that President Obama’s $60 billion federal relief package is still stalled in Congress. But one thing seems to be equally clear: When that money does come, it [...]

NO CONFIDENCE IN SEXTON? New York University Arts and Science faculty members will meet on Thurs., Dec. 13, to decide whether or not to conduct a vote of no confidence in N.Y.U. President John Sexton, according to a department-wide e-mail that was forwarded to this newspaper by an anonymous source. The meeting, which will take [...]

POST-SANDY INFO FAIR: Area residents are encouraged to attend a resource fair on Sun., Dec. 9, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., that will serve as a one-stop shop for New Yorkers in need of assistance or who want to get involved with recovery efforts and long-term planning. At “New York After Sandy,” which will [...]

EXOTIC/HOMEY THANKSGIVING:The BAMRA/Le Souk Thanksgiving dinner last Thursday night at Le Souk, 510 LaGuardia Place, was the place to be. The Egyptian-restaurant-based event, which has become an annual affair, provides a place for folks who might not have family nearby to join with neighbors for the holiday and enjoy a delicious meal. The food is [...]

HOLLYWOOD ROMANCE: An East Village source tells us there have been frequent sitings of “Slumdog Millionaire” director Danny Boyle hanging out on the stoop of the former squat at 544 E. 13th St., where his new girlfriend, actress Rosario Dawson, and her family members live. He was even there the day before Superstorm Sandy. The [...]

QUELLE DOMMAGE! Bakehouse, the new eatery at the west end of Horatio St. that The Villager profiled earlier this year, was hit extremely hard in the superstorm, and its basement’s contents were completely wiped out. “The cars were floating in front of Bakehouse,” Maud Bonsignour, who owns the place with her husband, Philippe, told us [...]

KOCH’S CABIN FEVER: Former Mayor Ed Koch stuck it out during the first two days of the blackout at his Fifth Ave. digs by Washington Square Park, but then he just couldn’t take it anymore. “I was getting cabin crazy, as Charlie Chaplin called it, in a movie I never stop recall- ing, in which [...]

PIER 40 DODGES DISASTER: Despite widespread alarm when Con Edison shut off power to protect Lower Manhattan from Hurricane Sandy, the Hudson River Park Trust could only breathe a sigh of relief. Pier 40, the deteriorating pier near West Houston St., narrowly avoided catastrophe during the storm. Madelyn Wils, president of the Trust, said that while power [...]