Crime in the city

Fri
Many of us remember that this wasn’t always the safest big city in America. The Apple was once rotten with notorious murders—more than enough to keep a morbidly curious type on the go for a weekend. Commence by taking the E or F to quiet, Tudor-village-like Kew Gardens in Queens. Stop by 82-62 Austin Street (at Mowbray Place), the scene of the infamous 1964 stabbing of Kitty Genovese. Dozens of neighbors ignored the 28-year-old bar manager’s screams, and she bled to death; the crime became a symbol of urban apathy. -Hungry yet? Try Austin’s Ale House (82-70 Austin St at Lefferts Blvd, 718-849-3939) for good burgers and OTB action. Creep alert: On nearby Exeter Street, David -Berkowitz, a.k.a. Son of Sam, slew 19-year-old Virginia Voskerichian in 1977.

Sat
Check into Hotel Chelsea (222 W 23rd St -between Seventh and Eighth Aves, 212-243-3700); see if they’ll give you room 100, where Sid Vicious offed Nancy Spungen in 1978.

Bada-boom! A jaunt south to Little Italy leads to Umberto’s Clam House (178 Mulberry St at Broome St, 212-431-7545), where mafioso “Crazy Joe” Gallo was rubbed out in 1972. Then as now, the draw was the linguine with white clam sauce. Later, go for a nightcap and another greatest hit: the 1985 rubout of capo Paul -Castellano at Sparks Steak House (210 E 46th St between Second and Third Aves, 212-687-4855) that left John Gotti in charge of the Gambino family.

Sun
Check out of the Chelsea and head up to All-State Café (250 W 72nd St between Broadway and West End Ave, 212-874-1883), where teacher Roseann Quinn hooked up with her killer early on New Year’s Day, 1973. Her story became Looking for Mr. Goodbar. Hike east to the Dakota (1 W 72nd St at Central Park West), where John Lennon was murdered in 1980. In Central Park, pay respects at his memorial, then keep going northeast to the wooded area behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where the “Preppie -Murderer,” Robert -Chambers, strangled Jennifer Levin in 1986. If you’re not too freaked out for one last stop, finish off with a couple shots at Dorrian’s Red Hand (1616 S-econd Ave at 84th St, 212-772-6660), where the two first met.—Karen Tina Harrison