Mario Izquierdo via Compfight cc

Imagine centuries from now, when archaeologists combing through the sediment of Randalls Island in search of cultural artifacts from bygone days find a trove of broken Ray Ban sunglasses embedded in hardened mud. "Curiouser and curiouser," a future archeologist might say, zooming in on the objects with his Google Glass Plus 5000. "Was this a massive gathering in worship of the sun? A viewing of the solar eclipse?" (Let's assume that all Internet archives documenting this past weekend's Governors Ball have somehow been accidentally destroyed in an uncontrollably popular TrolltheNSA.com uprising.)

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Last night, DealBook posted the story of what happens when a bunch of high powered financial types get together to party. Thursday marked the "annual black tie dinner and induction ceremony" for Kappa Beta Phi (yes, like Phi Beta Kappa, only not), an invite-only, group for master of the universe-types like the former chairman of Bear Stearns and the chairman of the American International Group, which costs $475 a year in dues. The dinner took place at the St. Regis Hotel, and before reading on just note that members were warned: "what happens at the St. Regis stays at the St. Regis."

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The St. Marks Bookshop, which was in danger of closing because of landlord Cooper Union's high rents, was recently saved. Cooper and the bookstore finally came to an agreement to cut the monthly rent by $2500 and forgive $7,000 of the store's rent a few weeks ago. So for now, the independent local bookstore (that's been around since the late '70s) is safe.

And they're having a party to celebrate!

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This afternoon at 5 p.m., a party for the Occupy Wall Street movement will start in Times Square. Like any good party, this one has a website, Twitter account, and Shepard Fairey-designed invitation. The instructions are laid out at the aforementioned website: "Meet at the TKTS kiosk in the north section. From our street carnival in Times Sq. we will take the protest party to the trains and head downtown." The organizers are throwing this bash to show support for the Occupy protests around the world, so if you have been sitting on the fence about the evils of global capitalism, waiting for a party to convince you on what side to choose, now is your chance. We bet there will be drums!

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Gunfire erupted at a goodbye party for a Queens girl early Saturday morning, injuring 11. The Daily News reports that the party was taking place in a South Jamaica backyard when a gunman fired through a chain link fence. A 15-year-old girl was shot in the back and is paralyzed after the bullet severed her spine. 10 other young people were injured, "six males ages 15 to 23, and five women, ages 15 to 21." Police are investigating after finding 9-mm. bullet casings at the scene.

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Five New Jersey teenagers were left locked in a van for about 14 hours after cops pulled them from a house party at 1:30 a.m. on Saturday. It was about 26 degrees outside, but the kids only had body heat to rely on -- no food, no water, no bathroom. Half of the busted group was brought into the station, while the other half was left outside, according to Adam Kim, 17, who claims, "The police forgot about us." The house party was called "raucous" by the cops, with "drugs and alcohol in plain sight." You know what that means: the kids were messed up enough to pee in the locked van. The mayor is pissed!

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Manu_H

Dear New York,

On this date in 1653, you (then named New Amsterdam -- you never really looked like a New Amsterdam) were incorporated. You've had your ups, your downs and even that weird phase in the '80s when you got heavy into drugs and synth music.

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