March 11, 2002

PHILLIPS HEADS TO MEAT MARKET

The newly independent and feisty Phillips, de Pury & Luxembourg is making a beefy investment in the Meat Market - even though the auction house is trying to climb out...

THE HIGH-RISK PREMIUM - MOODY'S TO RATE BUILDINGS' EXPOSURE TO TERRORISM RISK

When it comes to a terrorist target, location matters, says Moody's Investors Service - and if you own a building in the wrong place or don't secure it, it'll cost...

WALL ST. HOPING IPO SURGE MARKS A BIG TURNAROUND

A surge in initial public offerings has Wall Street hoping they'll pump vigor back into the nearly comatose new-issues market. Stabilizing stock prices and a raft of healthy economic news...

$800M DUDE RANCH - READER'S DIGEST EYES COUNTRY PUBLISHER

Thomas Ryder, CEO of Reader's Digest Association, is in talks to buy the quirky but phenomenally successful Reiman Publications in a deal worth up to $800 million, according to an...

LEHMAN PULLING OUT OF WFC

It looks like Lehman Brothers is abandoning Downtown for good. The financial services firm, which bought Morgan Stanley's property at 745 Seventh Ave., is formally subleasing all 223,000 square feet...

WELL, ALBEE DARNED - WHAT'S DAD DOING IN THE FIELD? - IT ISN'T KID STUFF

THE GOAT []At the John Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45th St. (212) 239-6200. ----- YES, there really is a goat in Edward Albee's new play, "The Goat, Or Who Is...

BIG ON 'GIANTS' - OLD-TIME COUNTRY COVERS IN THE CITY

IF you're searching for more traditional music a la "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" you don't have to look much farther than "13 Hillbilly Giants," Robbie Fulks' album of sweet...

STARR REPORT

'CSI' continues its Thursday roll "CSI" continues to post big numbers, with Thursday's episode (murder at a Buddhist shrine) averaging 26.7 million viewers - Thursday's top-rated drama and the night's...

ONLY THE BEGINNING - '9/11' SHOWS BY THE SCORE SET TO FOLLOW DENIRO DOC

LAST night's controversial and heart-wrenching CBS documentary, "9/11," is just the beginning. In the next weeks and months, a steady stream of movies and TV shows documenting, commemorating and even...

BOOTY & THE BEAST

WHILE a man-goat love affair seems tough to believe, it's happened before. Academics have traced human-animal intimacy as far back as 520 B.C., where a Greek vase of the time...

ALLY MCBEAL GOES ABROAD AND SHE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE SHE NEEDS TO BE HOOKED UP TO AN I-V AND FORCE FED

"The American Embassy Tonight at 9 in WNYW/Ch. 5 JUST when all the series starring Gen Xers were starting to wear as thin as their starving stars, along comes "The...

FRENCH FLAIR: YOUNG NEW YORK DESIGNERS MAKE A RUN FOR PARIS RUNWAYS

PARIS - You've heard of Hollywood on the Hudson. But how about NoLIta on the Seine? That's what the City of Light was last week, when several bright, young fashion...

A SHINE FOR THE APPLE

What if they staged a protest and nobody came? New York now knows the answer to this question, and that's one of the surprising legacies of Sept. 11. The NYPD...

20 THINGS THAT HAVE CHANGED IN NEW YORK SINCE 9/11

9/11: Its mention now even in casual conversation triggers tears, memories, anger, and patriotism. It's a painful allusion to all who were lost; a chilling reminder of the most devastating...

A BEACON OF HOPE DOWNTOWN - HERO'S DAUGHTER WILL IGNITE 'TRIBUTE IN LIGHT'

Twin beams of light - switched on by the 12-year-old daughter of a hero Port Authority cop - will reach skyward from lower Manhattan tonight, capping a day of tributes...

RUINS YIELD STUNNING WTC PICS

Fifty scorched and water-damaged slides have been retrieved from the rubble of Ground Zero - an eerie time capsule of life before Sept. 11. Snapped in 1996, the promotional shots...

BERRY PULLS OFF HALLE-VA VICTORY

Russell Crowe triumphed over another scandal - and Halle Berry pulled off a major upset - as the Screen Actors Guild handed out the last round of pre-Oscar awards last...

SOMETHING'S ROTTEN AT QUEENS CO-OP

A Queens apartment complex, riddled with leaking walls, broken pipes and tilting foundations, has become a war zone pitting its 2,000 residents against the firm that turned the building into...

LIVID CBS BOSS ON LETTERMAN: 'LET HIM GO!'

Contract talks between CBS and David Letterman were so contentious at one point that the network was close to saying bye, bye to its cantankerous late-night star. In fact, according...

FEDS THINK OSAMA'S ALIVE

U.S. officials believe Osama bin Laden is alive in Afghanistan, our top military officer said yesterday. "My guess is that Osama . . . is moving fairly frequently," Joint Chiefs...

VICTORY'S IN OUR GRASP - GIS REGROUP AFTER GIVING FOE A POUNDING

Triumphant U.S. troops returned to their base camp yesterday to a hero's welcome after nearly eliminating al Qaeda's mountain stronghold in eight days of fierce battle - but they're not...

SECRET TEAM HUNTS 'DIRTY' NUKE BOMBS

A covert government agency has been secretly scouring the country for a nuclear "dirty bomb" ever since the United States was warned Osama bin Laden might have one, according to...

RIDGE: KEEP GUARD UP

Americans should still "be worried" and assume there are terrorists on the loose in the United States today, the nation's homeland-security czar said yesterday. "We still remain concerned about terrorists...

SADLY BACK TO 'NORMAL' - KINDER, GENTLER APPLE NICE WHILE IT LASTED

A JAPANESE magazine called the other day to ask me how the city was coping six months after the attacks on the World Trade Center. I told the reporter we...

RUDY: 'WE WON THE WAR' WHEN FIRE HEROES RAISED FLAG

Ex-Mayor Rudy Giuliani yesterday said the "turning point" at which he knew the United States would come back from 9/11 was when he saw the photo of three firemen risking...

HEROES ENDURE SHOW THAT OPENS OLD WOUNDS

FOR fire Capt. Joe Downey, it started out pretty funny. "The stuff about the probie brought back some funny memories - and that's where the program should have stopped, right...

RELIVING THE HORROR - '9/11' DOCUMENTARY A PAINFUL REMINDER OF LOST LOVED ONES

The horror and the heartache came flooding back as Michelle Thomas watched the documentary "9/11" last night - on the eve of the six-month observance of the World Trade Center...

OKLA. CITY TO HONOR 9 HEROES

By way of a special exhibit, the Oklahoma City National Memorial will honor nine New York City rescue workers who helped with the Oklahoma City bombing aftermath in 1995 -...

BLOOMY HOPING 'WRAP' ARTIST PLAYS CENTRAL PK.

Mayor Bloomberg has reignited a debate about the sanctity of Central Park by asking his cultural advisors to meet with the artist Christo, who's been trying for two decades to...

ARTS HS FRETS OVER DANCE RIVAL'S CUT-IN

Two of the city's most famous performing arts schools - La Guardia HS and the School of American Ballet - might be stepping on each other's toes. A plan is...

CARL: ANDY BLIND TO YASSER'S EVIL

STATE Comptroller Carl McCall - just back from a brief trip to terror-stricken Israel - is accusing gubernatorial rival Andrew Cuomo of being soft on PLO boss Yasser Arafat. "When...

SNEAK PEEK AT NEW 'STAR WARS'

America got its first extended look at the hotly anticipated new "Star Wars" movie last night - and the latest installment of George Lucas' sci-fi epic boasts huge, sweeping sets...

PAIN IN THE PASS: BIGS LOSING PARKING PERKS

Mayor Bloomberg's 30 percent cut in city parking passes - one of government's biggest perks - will leave some big shots scrambling to find a garage, while others will have...

THIS LITTLE 'PIGGY' & GANG ARE BACK ON PRIME-TIME TV

Miss Piggy and her Muppet pals are headed back to TV. A host of new Muppets are being created to star alongside Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog and other favorites...

HOMETOWN PARADE IS ICING ON CAKE FOR SKATING CHAMP SARAH

Skating sweetheart Sarah Hughes, the Olympic gold-medalist who won the nation's heart, paraded through her Long Island hometown yesterday, seizing the warm afterglow of her win as her proudest fans...

PREACHER 'PREYED' ON YATES

Andrea Yates' "spiritual leader" once sent her a newsletter that called modern mothers "Jezebels" and expressed concern for their "disobedient" children. Evangelist Michael Woroniecki's influence over the mother accused of...

COURAGE UNFURLED - RUDY: WTC BANNER WAS TURNING POINT

Ex-Mayor Rudy Giuliani yesterday said the "turning point" at which he knew the United States would come back from 9/11 was when he saw the photo of three firemen risking...

TIMES SQ. BACK 'INN' WELFARE BIZ

Tourists around Times Square can see a slice of old New York that had disappeared from Midtown - the welfare hotel. The city's Department of Homeless Services has rented all...

A 'BEAUTIFUL' WIN PUTS RON HOWARD IN RIGHT DIRECTION

"A Beautiful Mind" moved to the front of the Oscar pack yesterday, as Ron Howard was awarded the top prize by the Directors Guild of America. The DGA award is...

SALVAGED ART ANCHORS 9/11 MONUMENT

The state-city agency in charge of rebuilding lower Manhattan will use federal funds to cover the cost of creating a temporary memorial unveiled today in Battery Park. The centerpiece of...

LEVY: SCHOOLS REBOUNDING

Schools Chancellor Harold Levy declared the Board of Education back on track six months after the World Trade Center attacks - save for the subsequent budget crisis resulting from terrorism....

HEISMAN ATROPHY: CLUB LO$ING BADLY

The Heisman Trophy, college football's most prestigious honor, may get punted out of New York because of the financial fallout of Sept. 11. The Downtown Athletic Club, which has sponsored...

ARIEL MAY 'FREE' ARAFAT - BUT PLO CHIEF'S MOVEMENTS WOULD BE RESTRICTED

JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said last night he's ready to lift the siege of Palestinian chief Yasser Arafat, but he won't call off the military's anti-terrorist offensive...

VEEP KICKS OFF ANTI-TERROR TOUR

Vice President Dick Cheney marks the six-month observance of 9/11 today in London, where he'll meet British Prime Minister Tony Blair before starting an 11-nation Mideast trip to rally support...

LIVES AND TIMES FOREVER CHANGED

I NEVER actually heard the words, but somehow they ring in my ears every day. "Let's roll," said Todd Beamer, a human being far superior to those he took on....

CAVEMEN KIDNAPPED TV-DISH INSTALLER

Osama bin Laden's cave-bound troops wanted their al-Jazeera-TV - so they kidnapped a technician to hook up a satellite dish, it was reported yesterday. Abdul Rahman Beheshti said he was...

SECRET NUKE TEAM KEEPS US BOMB-FREE

A covert government agency has been secretly scouring the country for a nuclear "dirty bomb" ever since the United States was warned Osama bin Laden might have one, according to...

TOP GENERAL: OSAMA ON MOVE IN AFGHANISTAN

U.S. officials believe Osama bin Laden is alive in eastern Afghanistan, but can't say if he's near Operation Anaconda, America's top military officer said yesterday. "My guess is that Osama...

SECURITY CZAR WARNS OF TERRORISTS AMONG US

Americans should still "be worried" and assume there are terrorists on the loose in the U.S. today, President Bush's homeland security czar said yesterday. "We still remain concerned about terrorists...

VICTORY IS IN OUR GRASP - GIS REGROUP AFTER GIVING TERROR ARMY A POUNDING

Triumphant U.S troops returned to their base camp yesterday to a hero's welcome after nearly eliminating al Qaeda's mountain stronghold in eight days of fierce battle - but they're not...

OSCAR'S $1M SHOE-IN

A stunning pair of diamond-encrusted platinum sandals have emerged as the most-wanted shoes in Hollywood. Every leading lady dreams of wearing the eye-popping stilettos by Stuart Weitzman. That's because whoever...

EX-COP IN DRUG-$$ TRIAL

Most days, Homero Zapata was an ordinary member of the thin blue line, a New York City police officer charged with upholding law and order in The Bronx's 43rd Precinct....

BLAKE'S LAWYER: WIFE SLAIN BY OWN HIT MAN

Robert Blake's lawyer claims the "Baretta" star's murdered wife wanted to kill the actor and hired a hit man - who instead executed her because she was too "unstable." Harland...

COMING SOON TO GALAXY NEAR YOU

America got its first extended look at the hotly anticipated new "Star Wars" movie last night - and the latest installment of George Lucas' sci-fi epic boasts huge, sweeping sets...

ARIEL SET TO FREE ARAFAT FROM WEST BANK TOWN

JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said last night he's ready to lift the siege of Palestinian chief Yasser Arafat, but he won't call off the military's anti-terrorist offensive...

TIME FOR RANGERS TO START GRINDING

You know what; it doesn't really matter whether Eric Lindros does or doesn't play in tonight's fairly important Garden showdown against Montreal if the Rangers come out with the same...

INJURY-PRONE D'AMICO GOES DOWN ALREADY

MET NOTES LAKE BUENA VISTA - Jeff D'Amico hopes his membership to the "Injury of the Year" club has expired. But the oft-injured right-hander woke up with wrist pain yesterday....

SHEFF THOUGHT HE WOULD BE MET

Mets 12 - Braves 3 LAKE BUENA VISTA - Greg Maddux watched in amusement as six New York sportswriters followed Gary Sheffield to his locker yesterday morning. "What'd you do?"...

AND ON SUNDAY THEY WOKE UP - REVIVED ISLES THRASH ATLANTA

Islanders 6 - Thrashers 1 The sun finally came out again for the Islanders yesterday. Six goals against the Thrashers in front of a sold-out Coliseum helped the Isles to...

STILL NO. 1, BUT NOT FOR LONG

Repent barely held his spot atop the "Derby Dozen" this week with a desperate nose victory over Easyfromthegitgo in yesterday's Grade 2, $750,000 Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds. Repent,...

NETS LOST GAMES, BUT NOT THEIR CONFIDENCE

The Nets returned back from their four-game West Coast trip with heads high, they said, and confidence, unshaken, they said. A little tinkering here, an adjustment there and all would...

HELL COULDN'T KEEP DOWN THIS UNLIKELY DEVIL- RON ROBINSON'S NIGHTMARE NOW AN NCAA DREAM

THEY play in a 3,200-seat gym and the student body goes 12,000 strong, and if the glass slipper fits at Central Connecticut, they will gladly wear it. It is March,...

THIS MADNESS JUST DOESN'T END - NCAA A PERPETUAL SHOWCASE FOR NONSENSE

GOSH, that was a great Big East championship game between UConn and Pitt, Saturday night. Too bad it lacked relevance. Both teams were going to the NCAA Tournament before it...

RUBEN CALLED ON CARPET

YANKEE NOTES TAMPA - While nobody is saying why, Ruben Rivera was hauled into Joe Torre's office to meet with the manager, GM Brian Cashman, Bernie Williams and Reggie Jackson...

RICE TASTES SWEET REVENGE

CHSAA SEMIS: Rice 92 - Xaverian 54 It seemed like a good win at the time, but when Xaverian beat Rice on Feb. 5, the Clippers severely diminished their chances...

HALLOWS HAMMERS ST. PETER'S

CHSAA SEMIS: All Hallows 75 - St. Peter's 54 Maybe All Hallows coach John Carey should have told Ricky Soliver the playoffs started earlier in the season. "He's a very...

BERNIE'S TURN TO VISIT DOCTOR

Red Sox 2 - Yankees 1 TAMPA - Say this for the Yankees. They don't trot out their 'B' names when it comes to getting hurt. And they may want...

RED STORM GET D.C. DATE WITH BADGERS

Though the wait wasn't long, the reaction had such a boisterous tone to it you'd have thought St. John's had been forced to wait out the entire CBS NCAA selection...

LET THE DANCE BEGIN - THIS YEAR'S FIELD A REAL WALTZ ON THE WILD SIDE

Even by March Madness standards, this is insane. Nuts. Crazy. Whacked. Maryland and Kansas, the No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament in the East and Midwest, couldn't even win...

LAKERS STOP KNICKS WITH SHAQ ATTACK

Lakers 117 - Knicks 103 LOS ANGELES - It's one thing for the Knicks to shock the Jazz in Utah, it's quite another to beat the Lakers when Shaquille O'Neal...

CHANEY: MAILMAN HAS DIRTY DELIVERY

KNICK NOTES LOS ANGELES - In coming to support of Clarence Weatherspoon, Knicks coach Don Chaney called Utah's Karl Malone "always a dirty player," accusing the Jazz forward of intentionally...

BUTLER, VIRGINA, VILLANOVA HAVE THAT LEFT-OUT FEELING

Bummer. From coast to coast, there are NCAA teams feeling as if their prom date never showed. Butler put together a terrific season at 25-5 but didn't get an at-large...

BRODEUR MOVES INTO TIE FOR TOP

Devils 3 - Stars 0 DALLAS - Eddie Giacomin, move over. The Devils' latest crisis paused last night because of the man who can now legitimately stake his claim as...

ELIAS: DEVILS HAVE 'A' HEART PROBLEM

DALLAS - The indictment of the "A" Line comes from its own top member. "This year we don't see the heart we had last year. This year we look more...

CHANEY SAYS MAILMAN HAS FOUL DELIVERY

LOS ANGELES - In coming to support of Clarence Weatherspoon, Knicks coach Don Chaney branded Karl Malone as a "dirty player," accusing him of intentionally shoving the ball in Weatherspoon's...

BRACKET BREAKDOWN: LENN ROBBINS MAKES SENSE OF ALL THE MARCH MADNESS

Just when you started to believe in Kansas, along comes Selection Sunday and the Jayhawks round into NCAA Tournament form by being upset by Oklahoma in the Big XII tournament...