After nearly a year without roller-skating, the pastime returned to Coney Island with the opening of the Lola Staar Dreamland Roller Rink yesterday. The star-studded event - Marissa Tomei, Ashanti, and of course Lola Staar (aka Dianna Carlin) were there - looked like a grand ole time. The portable roller-rink is located in the Childs Restaurant Building at 21st St. and the Boardwalk, where Carlin believes she can reach an agreement to use the building......

SHOP: Still looking for that perfect gift? The Brooklyn Historical Society is holding the 4th Annual NY Creates Craft Fair, and they may have just what you're looking for. Check it out today and tomorrow, and it will be back the 22nd and 23rd for the real last-minute shoppers. Friday and Saturday // Noon to 6pm // BHS [128 Pierrepont St, Brooklyn] ART: Too much is going on the First Friday of every month, so......

The Gotham Awards gala run by the Independent Feature Project (IFP) will be held in Brooklyn for the first time tonight, after 17 years spent bouncing around between Roseland, Hammerstein Ballroom and Chelsea Piers. This year the independent film awards will take place on the soundstage of Steiner Studios in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Among the thousand-plus guests expected to attend are Javier Bardem, Sean Penn, Laura Linney, Uma Thurman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Brooklyn’s......

EVENT: “Solstice in Times Square” is a celebration of the Summer Solstice which began at 7am, but you still have time to partake. The dawn til dusk event includes a “Mind Over Madness” yoga-thon and live music. Doing yoga in Times Square seems like it might be the worst idea ever, but if you're up for a challenge, go for it. 7am to 8pm // Times Square, Military Island (intersection of Broadway and 7th Avenue......

When we woke up this morning, Gothamist hoped last night's Oscars were only a dream. Because the idea that Crash won still hurts our head so much that we haven't been able to really read all the nitty-gritty (because we know our eyes will start bleeding) - we can't believe we frigging liveblogged that shondah! Forget conspiracy theories about Jack Palance being wacked out and mistakenly reading Marisa Tomei's name as Best Supporting Actress in......

The lawsuit about how police will handle protesters at protests, with an eye to what happens at this summer's Republican National Convention, shows how police and protest groups are squabbling over what exactly the details will end up being. The Times reported that the NYPD wants to the option of four-sided barricades during this summer, aka "pens", in case of an emergency evacuation. Of course, the bigger issue is where a protest will take place......

I've liked Vincent D since Full Metal Jacket- he has that sort of slightly unhinged intensity down cold. Plus, he seems smart. And it's not just the giant head. CNN.com - The man with the meaningful stubble - Feb. 3, 2003 [Jen, 3PM]: Funny you should mention Vincent D. - I just saw Happy Accidents, this romantic comedy with a sci-fi bent that he stars in with Marisa Tomei. We need more Vincent D.......