First off, two sad pieces of news:

- Betty Friedan, the founder and first president of the National Organization for Women whose manifesto "The Feminine Mystique" helped lay the groundwork for the modern feminist movement, passed away today, her birthday. She was 85. It is impossible to think about the role of women in the U.S. now without taking Friedan's words and ideas into account. She began a discourse that continues to shape American society and for that we will be forever grateful.

- Sadly, "Grampa" Al Lewis, actor, restauranteur, gubernatorial candidate, basketball talent scout, and old school New Yorker has also passed on. He was 95. Most famous for his role as Grampa on the Munsters television show Lewis, born Alexander Meister, was the rare tireless actor who seemed just as kind and charming in person as he did on screen.

And now to your regularly scheduled extra, extra:

- Final designs for the north end of Union Square have been approved.

- Fashion week is on.

- A 43 person gang in Far Rockaway who "held residents of a city housing project and nearby private apartment building in a vise-like grip of fear" were arrested yesterday.

-Chancellor Joel I. Klein doesn't understand why people don't want failing students to receive extra tutoring.

- Like CSI: Miami? Have you tried the David Caruso Drinking Game yet?

Photograph of an F- train station by Joseph O. Holmes from joe's nyc.