Only In New York: 2019 Patch Stories You Have To Read To Believe

NEW YORK CITY — New Yorkers danced with lions this year. They found mysterious pee-on-me Trump statues scattered across Brooklyn. They delighted in a whale named Jerry Garcia. They ran a dominatrix out of her Bed-Stuy dungeon.

If this year's headlines show us anything, it's that good or bad, our city is like no other. Here are the stories reported in 2019 that could only happen in New York.

Dominatrix Says Angry Neighbor Forcing Her From Bed-Stuy Dungeon

BEDFORD-STUYVESANT, BROOKLYN — A Brooklyn dominatrix is being forced out of her Bed-Stuy dungeon by neighbors who object to her business, which she says is law-abiding and provides a safe space for... Read more

Meet The 'Freaks' Keeping Coney Island's Sideshow Tradition Alive

CONEY ISLAND, NY — Tucked on a corner of Surf Avenue between the Cyclone and Nathan's stands a squat building that beckons passersby with bold block letters beneath the windows: CURIOSITIES. WONDERS.... Read more

Whales Seen In Hundreds Off NYC Shores, Drawn By Cleaner Waters

NEW YORK, NY – Staggering numbers of whales are being sighted off New York City shores as vastly cleaner waters have caused a 540% increase in the numbers of the massive mammals in just eight... Read more

Brooklyn Rapper 'Paperboy Prince' Launches Congressional Campaign

BROOKLYN, NY — A Brooklyn rapper with a knack for making viral videos has thrown his hat — or rather his silver tinsel wig — into the ring for New York's 7th Congressional District. Paperboy... Read more

Amazon Protesters Say They Were Paid To Be At Rally

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY – Protesters who supposedly gathered to express outrage after Amazon dropped plans for a Queens headquarters included mercenary activists paid to turn up, according to video... Read more

Watch The Lion Den Dancer's Journey Through The Bronx Zoo

THE BRONX, NY — This animal lover may be headed from the lion's den to the city pen. Police say they are on the hunt for a wannabe... Read more

Women Ejected, Booed For Challenging Harvey Weinstein At LES Bar

ALPHABET CITY, NY — Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein showed up at a bar on the Lower East Side — and when women protested his presence, they were booed and thrown out, according to... Read more

UES Store Sells Egg Salad Sandwich For $30

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The egg salad sandwich is a New York City staple. Walk into any diner or deli and you can likely order a solid version for less than $10. But one of the Upper East Side's newest... Read more

This NYC Artist Ate The $120K Banana At Art Basel Miami Beach

NEW YORK — New York City-based artist David Datuna, the man who ate a duct-taped banana that sold for $120,000 at Art Basel Miami Beach, says he has no regrets about his so-called "art performance."... Read more

Donald Trump 'Pee On Me' Statues Appear In Brooklyn

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK -- Angry at the president? Feel free to relieve yourself. Five small statues of Donald Trump that invite passersby to make water on it have been planted across Park Slope,... Read more