In the middle of the night, as most of New York slept, something big and bright lit up the Manhattan skyline for just seconds — a tightly kept secret to all but a handful of people.

It was a tiny test for the huge public surprise four days later: the flipping of a switch at the Empire State Building to turn on its dancing new LED lights. They burst from the skyscraper while synchronized with R&B star Alicia Keys singing "Empire State of Mind" on nationwide radio.

Lindsay Lohan has left a New York City police precinct after being charged for allegedly striking a woman at a nightclub.

The actress left the station house shortly before 8 a.m. Thursday. She wore a black jacket over her head that went down to her knees. She was wearing leggings, a mini skirt and high-heels, and drove off in a black SUV with a driver and another man.

The Canadian actress accused of stalking Alec Baldwin was released 24 hours after being re-arrested, apparently for violating a court order to stay away from the television actor.

Genevieve Sabourin was released on $5,000 bail Wednesday, but may face additional harassment charges after sending tweets to Baldwin and his wife this month in violation, according to prosecutors, of a restraining order.

French actor Gerard Depardieu has agreed to star as a monk in a historic serial penned by the eldest daughter of Uzbekistan's strongman President Islam Karimov, a screenwriter said.

Gulnara Karimova wrote a screenplay for "The Theft of the White Cocoon," a story about the origin of the famed Central Asian silk and set in the 5th-6th centuries in Central Asia.

Stanley Marsh 3, the eccentric millionaire artist best known for his "Cadillac Ranch" art display along an interstate in the Texas Panhandle, was charged Wednesday with 11 felony counts of molesting children.

The 74-year-old turned himself in at a county jail after an arrest warrant was issued, accusing him of molesting two teenagers in 2010. His arrest follows the filing of several lawsuits against him for allegedly paying 10 teens for sex acts.

Kim Kardashian's divorce attorney told a judge Wednesday that the reality star wants to move on with her life but is "handcuffed" to her estranged husband because the case is not yet ready for trial.

Superior Court Judge Stephen Moloney told attorneys for Kardashian and NBA player Kris Humphries to return to court in mid-February to set a trial date to either dissolve or annul the couple's 72-day marriage. He didn't set a deadline for depositions and other pre-trial investigation to be completed, but indicated a trial could be held early next year if it is ready by Feb. 15.

Katy Perry is adding some new scents to her perfume line.

The singer and songwriter will develop a line of signature scents with beauty company Coty Inc., according to an announcement Wednesday. Coty will distribute them on a larger scale than the Purr and Meow! perfumes that Perry previously crafted.

A new exhibition celebrating the life and work of legendary fashion designer Valentino is opening in London.

The exhibition at Somerset House showcases over 130 handmade Valentino designs worn by the world's most glamorous women over the past 50 years, from Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly and Jackie Onassis to Gwyneth Paltrow and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Rare letters written by Vincent van Gogh, John Lennon and other iconic figures are being offered at an upcoming auction of more than 300 historical documents in New York City.

The property of an anonymous U.S. collector is being offered by Profiles in History in an online and phone auction Dec. 18.

She was dissed on "The Bachelor" and came in third place during her first stint on "Dancing With the Stars," but Melissa Rycroft is now a winner.

The reality TV star and her professional dance partner, Tony Dovolani, were named the champions Tuesday on ABC TV's "Dancing With the Stars: All Stars."