Belzer was waiting in line at the store when an employee approached him and asked if he needed help. What happened next is in dispute.

The employee, a petite dancer, says Belzer shook her and choked her and said “I need help!” The Daily News reported. (The News had three reporters on this story!)

Belzer told celebrity gossip site TMZ that “Perhaps I shouldn’t have invaded her space, but it was clearly non-threatening.”

Although cops determined no crime was committed, the woman filed a harassment report against Belzer, which she could take up in civil court. Witnesses told the News that Belzer paced up and down the block and walked into and out of the store three times after the incident. (flickr photo of Belzer by Jay Tamboli)

Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Artists of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center give an encore performance of Niels Gade’s scintillating String Sextet. Although little known today, this composer, conductor, violinist, and organist was the most important Danish musician of his time, and took over the position of chief conductor at the Gewandhaus Orchestra upon Mendelssohn’s death. This music carries the memory of Mendelssohn in sweet, light-footed virtuosity and deeply-felt melodies. At the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center, on Broadway between 62nd and 63rd Streets. 8:30 p.m. FREE.

Ira Resnick, Starstruck: Vintage Movie Posters from Classic Hollywood
Ira Resnick began as a professional photographer who later founded the Motion Picture Arts Gallery. He joins us tonight to discuss this lively, firsthand account of the evolution of a world-class collection of vintage film posters and stills. At Lincoln Square Barnes and Noble. 7:30 p.m. FREE.

Birds of Prey
Encounter hawks, owls, falcons or other species up close as we explore the adaptations of these winged wonders! Touch raptor artifacts. A lucky volunteer may get to help with some of the demonstrations. Presented by the New Canaan Nature Center. For all ages. At St. Agnes Library. 4 p.m. FREE.

St. Patrick’s Day Crafts
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Chess & Checkers House staff. Color pictures, make decorations, and more. All ages. Limited space; no groups or strollers inside the building, please. No advance registration. At Chess & Checkers House (Located inside the Park at 64th Street. 2-4 p.m. FREE.

David Shenk: Genius in All of Us
In Genius in All of Us, science writer David Shenk provides startling new research to show that greatness is a reachable goal for everyone. At 82nd Street Barnes and Noble. 7 p.m. FREE.

Community Board 7 Parks Committee
At Community Board offices, 250 West 87th Street. 6:30 p.m. FREE

All prices quoted are for non-member adults.

The old Martin Luther King, Jr. school was closed in 2005, but six new schools now occupy the space. Right now, the plaza (left) is filled with a forlorn collection of benches and seats. Staff and students at the high school want to make it more inviting, adding a green hydroponic wall similar to the one at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center and new benches. Other ideas include retractable bleachers, glass bricks symbolizing each school in the complex, a message board, and lockers near the door for cell phones.

No changes are planned for the iconic metal cube honoring Dr. King at the corner of the plaza, other than possibly adding more lighting to it. Councilwoman Gale Brewer has been spearheading the effort to upgrade the plaza.

Students from the Hunter High School of Science, located on the Martin Luther King campus, proposed new designs for the space, and a few were selected to present to the School Construction Authority. The design pictured at top was one of the winning proposals. Check out some more of the winning designs below, and a picture of the winners with Gale Brewer. (photos courtesy of Nicholas Kozak)

But Judge Miriam Goldman Cederbaum said the name has been associated with a restaurant in Central Park since 1934, and therefore belongs to the city. The city was already floating a new name (”Tavern on the Park”) for the space, which is now in the hands of Boathouse owner Dean Poll. It’s still unclear when the iconic eatery will reopen.

Curbed has the first pictures up, and they’re quite sumptuous. Among the amenities at “The Corner”: a rooftop deck with an open-air fireplace and a “misting wall.” The building also has a gym and “Corner Club” where you can watch the big game with other rich people. And the foyer has a chandelier with 1,750 LED crystals. The building is attempting to get LEED-Silver certification. No word yet on what the apartments will rent for.

As for the retail spaces, it looks like Trader Joe’s (a 20,000 square foot store)  will mostly be underground. And Bank of America is going in next to Trader Joe’s on the corner of the block. But there is still space available on the ground level and the second and third floors. Check out all our 200 West coverage here. (photo by Avi)

Starting in April, fruit carts will park on 110th Street between Central Park West and Lenox Avenue, and on Fifth Avenue on 86th and 81st Streets. The fruit will be provided by the Hunts Point Market (That’s right, da Bronx. You got a problem with that?). The prices aren’t too bad either — 3 bananas for $1, a mango for $1.50. There will also be boxed fruit salads, for $3 a pound, the Post reported. (photo by peterkreder via flickr)

Bright Wings: An Illustrated Anthology of Poems About Birds
Poet Laureate Billy Collins, renowned artist David Allen Sibley, and poets George Green, Joshua Mehigan, Linda Pastan, and David Yezzi celebrate the “bright wings” that surround us in words and pictures in this special program. Part poetry collection, part field guide, Bright Wings: An Illustrated Anthology of Poems About Birds combines more than 100 poems by Elizabeth Bishop, Charles Simic, Sylvia Plath, Wallace Stevens, and others with carefully matched illustrations by Sibley. Joel Cracraft, curator of ornithology at the Museum, will introduce the program. Book signing will follow. At American Museum of Natural History, Kauffman Theater. 6:30 p.m. $15.

Any Wednesday: Susan Winter
The enchanting Susan Winter shares highlights from her new CD, Love Rolls On… Live!, the core of which is a touching tribute to her parents’ love story, told through song and the letters they exchanged during World War II. At Lincoln Square Barnes and Noble. 6 p.m. FREE.

Belvedere Castle Tour
Take a walk around the lands dominated by Belvedere Castle, situated high on Vista Rock. Visit the tiny 55-acre realm on an eclectic tour of history and nature. Belvedere Castle, mid-Park at 79th Street. 1 p.m. FREE.

Community Board 7 Business and Consumer Issues Committee Meeting
At Community Board offices, 250 West 87th Street. 7 p.m. FREE

All prices quoted are for non-member adults.

Bomboloni will open on Friday or Saturday and will be offering free donuts the day before it opens, according to tipster Robin, who talked to the proprietor and snapped the above picture on Tuesday afternoon. We’re considering getting in line now.

The community board voted against Magnolia’s renewal license to operate a sidewalk cafe at 69th Street and Columbus Avenue last month, putting the cupcake emporium in jeopardy. As we reported last week, City Councilwoman Gale Brewer decided to overrule the board and let the license go through unopposed. Abrams says the business employs 50 people, making a combined $1.2 million, and serves 900 customers a day, according to NBC.com.

“I do think they’re outdated if they’re not paying attention to servicing the community,” he told NBC.com. “I think it’s shameful. It’s tone deaf.”

What’s more, he proposes getting some new people on the community board to shake things up — a kind of local coup d’etat: “Unfortunately, people are inherently lazy. I think there’s old blood. You need new blood.”