Helmer Toro, owner of H&H Bagels, was indicted for tax fraud yesterday. He pled not guilty to charges of withholding over $360,000 in payroll taxes. Surely the owner of the self-described “largest bagel manufacturer in the world” wouldn’t risk an enterprise that promising just to get out of paying some taxes?

This post has additional content, click on the permalink to read more.

Read more

Hulu has been making some, well, interesting business decisions of late. First, it drops hints that the portal will soon be charging viewers to watch TV shows and movies that are currently "free." Now, they're adding content that is widely available elsewhere.

This post has additional content, click on the permalink to read more.

Read more

The news on Monday that Window Media had finally closed its doors (literally) and that its chain of papers was officially kaput didn't seem to register much. Maybe that's because its two NYC titles, Genre and New York Blade, had already perished earlier this year. But the fact that the Washington Blade, a paper with a sizable reputation, as well as 21-year-old Southern Voice, one of the last papers focused on gay and lesbian issues in the South, disappeared is reason to worry.

This post has additional content, click on the permalink to read more.

Read more

If you had to sum up Playgirl’s plan for Levi Johnston’s pending photo shoot in one word, it would be cheap. Two words? Cheap and classy—or at least that’s what the magazine editors would have you believe. But the cost of class was just too high for the legendary skin mag—plans to shoot Bristol Palin’s baby daddy at the Hotel on Rivington penthouse this Friday were dashed when, as The Post reported, the magazine couldn’t cough up the cash for the space. Fortunately for Johnston, a bevy of New York’s sexiest minds were glad to offer advice on extending his 15 minutes of fame.

This post has additional content, click on the permalink to read more.

Read more

City Hall newsaper is reporting that, despite midterm elections this week that saw a wave of Republican victories around the state and a series of setbacks for gay marriage around the country, supporters of same-sex marriage say they are closer than ever to achieving passage. According to City Hall’s most recent count, 21 Democratic Senators have expressed that they are in favor of passage, however several of those have said they would prefer it if a bill did not come to the floor right now. Read the full story here.

This post has additional content, click on the permalink to read more.

Read more

When Jackie Roman was asked to contribute artwork to the Art That Rocks exhibition being held by 303 Grand this Friday, the rock photographer knew she had the perfect image: a photo she snapped last spring of Ex Humans guitarist Josh Martin, cigarette in hand, licking his guitar case while running down Grand Street late to a gig at Trash.

This post has additional content, click on the permalink to read more.

Read more

Not to get all Shakespearean on you, but: “Would Brooklyn Brewery beer brewed anywhere but Williamsburg smell as hoppy? Probably. But thankfully we won’t have to find out anytime soon. The brewery announced it’s staying put after successfully negotiating a new 15-year lease for its current digs.

This post has additional content, click on the permalink to read more.

Read more

Bloomberg squeaked by with a narrow victory, and according to some papers, people weren't all that excited to vote in the first place. Well, the reporters over at City Hall newspaper have decided to move and start predicting what we might be seeing in 1,462 days, when voters return to the polls once again. Read the full story here.

This post has additional content, click on the permalink to read more.

Read more

This Halloween weekend, getting dressed up as "Sexy Nurse No. 22" shouldn't be your only option for getting some good treats. The New York Chocolate Show continues through Sunday and, after buying your Golden Ticket, you can fill your treat bag with some of the best chocolates from around the world and in the city.

Of the local chocolate makers, Roni Sue's Pig Candy (chocolate-covered bacon, which we featured in last year's gift guide) and new chile-themed chocolate truffles are amazingly good combinations, while Fika's Milk Chocolate with Baileys melts in your mouth in a perfect balance of creamy smoothness and whiskey undertones. Spicy chocolates are quite popular right now, and Pure Dark's rounds are exceptionally smooth with a not-so-subtle kick and finish, while Jacques Torres' Wicked cocoa is a perfect gift for staying warm in the winter. After about the 15th sample, portion control becomes a bit more important, and the Sweet Riot girls have chocolate covered cocoa nibs that are crunchy and rich, and come in great little tins. Finally, the chocolate bars of Madecasse are the best dark bars around, with a great fruity depth, especially the 67% bar. Even better, their company is the first to produce the chocolate IN Madagascar(!), keeping the profits with the local community. Nothing like virtue and chocolate in one delicious package.

Then there are the purveyors that don't have local shops. By going to the chocolate show, you get to try chocolates that otherwise have to be cold shipped here. As you buy product, you totally try to justify the costs, since it's much cheaper than flying to Italy, California and Florida just to get your chocolate fix. Top picks for justifying the ticket price of the show: Jer's Peanut Butter Cara Mello bars are perfect for candy bar lovers who need to step up to the real stuff with organic peanut butter, and Christopher Michael's truffle flavors are combinations like spicy pomegranate with lime, which will delight all sections of your taste buds—except the umami.

Those are just a few of the over 50 vendors and my personal favorites. The average American eats 10 pounds of chocolate a year. It's time to make sure that it's good chocolate.

Read more

Porn icon Robin Byrd has cast her vote for Senator Chuck Schumer. The star of the classic adult-film Debbie Does Dallas and host of the famous The Robin Byrd Show recently donated $500 at an event for the sitting New York Senator.

This post has additional content, click on the permalink to read more.

Read more