Judge dismisses lawsuit filed by Aqueduct racino bidder, why banks defraud their investors … and more

1. Starlite lounge, Brooklyn’s oldest black-owned gay bar, to close [Gothamist] 

2. Clothing designer Betsey Johnson discusses the opening of the Eloise suite at The Plaza [NYT] 

3. Charges detailed in looming ethics trial for Congressman Rangel, accused of accepting rent-stabilized apartments [NYT] 

4. Former Mas owner opens surfing-themed Reunion restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen tonight [Eater] 

5. Judge dismisses lawsuit filed by Aqueduct racino bidder [Crain’s] 

6. Apthorp gets second wind, as units begin closing and others are in contract [Post]
7. MTA chief Jay Walder buys $1.6 million UWS condo, near five subway lines [NYO] 

8. Goldman Sachs, Citigroup try to sell fourth offering of commercial mortgage-backed securities [Bloomberg]

9. A theory on why banks defraud their investors [Zero Hedge via Patrick.net] 

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10. Retail leasing improves, but investment activity struggles to recover [CoStar] 

11. L’Oubli bar to open next Wednesday at 188 Suffolk Street on LES [Insatiable Critic]

12. Developer moves forward with plan to build warehouse at Queens St. Saviour’s Church, despite opposition [Forest Hills Ledger]
13. Park Slope’s 500 Fourth Avenue is 40 percent sold [Brownstoner] 

14. Intercontinental Hotel opens today in Times Square [NYT]
15. National Association of Realtors seeks federal ban on private transfer fees [Inman]