Features

Empire of the Burning Tongue

No restaurant better encapsulates our post-locavore moment than Mission Chinese Food, a genuinely weird and consistently delicious Lower East Side hole-in-the-wall run by the world’s most unlikely celebrity chef—who now has his sights set on Paris, Oklahoma City, and burritos. By John Swansburg

Death by Car

Over the past decade, traffic-related fatalities have declined in New York. But a recent spike raises the question of whether even a well-run city is doing enough for pedestrian safety. By Robert Kolker
Plus: Fixing the worst intersection; global traffic solutions; a year in deaths.

Intelligencer

Naked Partisanship

Last Tuesday, San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors voted to ban nudity in the famously free-living city.

The Blueprint

Post-Sandy, New York’s homeless problem is even more daunting. One building in Brooklyn shows how it might be solved.

Peak Irony

Times essayist wasn’t kidding.

The Neighborhood News

Our roundup of news from around the city.

Who’s the A-hole?

Field-testing a thesis.

9,502 Minutes With Rihanna

A whirlwind world tour with the pop superstar. Or is it a hostage situation?

Columns

State of War

The Republicans have thrown down the gauntlet over the possibility that Susan Rice will replace Hillary Clinton. But the winner is already clear.

Strategist

Best Bets

Steel hangers, Auntie Oti’s wool blankets, and more new stuff in stores.

The Look Book

“I’ll be covered in green for the entire holiday season. Wiping that makeup off is a real chore, so I’ll probably just leave it on between shows.”

Fashionables

Cross-body school-style bags for everyone.

The Pig-Butchering, Tomahawk-Making, Drag-Queen-Partying Experiential Gift Guide

What do you give the person who has everything—besides an envious stare? One of these 26 unforgettable experiences.

The Restaurant Review

At L’Apicio, small-space masters Gabe Thompson and Joe Campanale go big.

In Season

Finally, science has come up with a decent red walnut.

Restaurant Opening

Iron Chef Morimoto opens Tribeca Canvas.

Restaurant Opening

New Nordic pop-up Aska opens at Kinfolk Studios.

Trendlet

The city’s new slew of interpretive tacos have a distinctly New York flavor.

The Urban Forager

A flapjack that’s local, organic, artisanal, and quite tasty.

Culture

Rebuilding Ewan McGregor

A pantsless Jedi no more.

The Movie Review

Killing Them Softly is thrilling enough to excuse some of its proselytizing.

The Movie Review

Rust and Bone, brutal and romantic.

Second Impressions

Toby Jones and four other actors in upcoming biopics.

Make Me a Fake

Saltz’s challenge: Produce a perfect faux Richter, and I’ll buy it. One guy in Jersey knew how.

Beautiful Agony

Behind the curtain at NYCB.

The Theater Review

A Christmas Story — The Musical is a true gift.

The Theater Review

Charisma nearly overcomes camp in Scandalous.

The Theater Review

Drood adds up to a perfectly diverting evening, featuring an uncommonly fine assemblage of stage talents.

The Theater Review

You’ll leave this Annie warmly swaddled.

The Fabulist Baker Boy

Director Jay Bulger on his new documentary, Beware of Mr. Baker.

Agenda

Meatless Mondays: The Prequel

Belgian bistros Resto and Cannibal to host a Sunday Dinner Daily series.

Departments

Comments: Week of December 3, 2012

Readers sound off on Tina Brown, the Internet, and more.

The Approval Matrix: Week of December 3, 2012

Our deliberately oversimplified guide to who falls where on our taste hierarchies.