In 1987, we saw the movie La Bamba on the big screen and spent the next week in tears. We even missed days of school. It was just so sad, even the Bob subplot—poor misunderstood drunk Bob! Anyway, it was traumatizing, and as you all know the movie ended when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, as well as pilot Roger Peterson, die in a plane crash in 1959. That day famously became known as the Day The Music Died, and it happened 53 years ago today, on February 3rd. Why not visit P.J. Clarke's to pay homage tonight? more ›

Earlier this week we took a look back at some of David Letterman's more interesting (and shirtless) moments prior to his 30th year anniversary in late night television. Letterman is now the longest-serving host in late-night TV history. That milestone was reached last night, and the host celebrated on-air with his pal Howard Stern, who says he's the only one still fighting the late night war. Watch below as the two talk about Jay Leno, complete with an impersonation from Letterman himself. more ›

Tomorrow night will mark David Letterman's 30th year anniversary in late night television, though not always with the same network. He started out as the host of NBC's Late Night With David Letterman on February 1st, 1982, and left a little over a decade when he made his shift over to CBS in 1993. According to the Late Show's executive producer Rob Burnett, the milestone may be mentioned on tomorrow night's show, "but I don’t see an extravaganza coming to fruition. Dave has never been super comfortable drawing a lot of attention to himself." Howard Stern is a guest on the show tomorrow night, who Burnett refers to as "a kindred spirit with Dave." more ›

Earlier this year what would have been Lucille Ball's 100th birthday was celebrated, and next month I Love Lucy will get a 60th year anniversary celebration. On October 15th, 1951 the show premiered and was an instant hit, and now WNET NY Public Media will present "a special encore of Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy. They'll air the American Masters special on October 13th at 8 p.m. (on THIRTEEN); October 15th at 8 p.m. (on WLIW21); and October 16th at 8:30 p.m. (on NJTV). They tell us the broadcasts will contain 14 minutes of I Love Lucy bonus footage and a surprise Radiohead show... oh wait, sorry, it's a little distracting over here today. more ›

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano spoke to the editorial board of the Dallas Morning-News and believed that if a 9/11-style plot would not happen today. However, she admitted, "There are no guarantees," though there is more intelligence sharing, "better targeting of airline passengers who need 'special attention,'and background checks at flight schools." Also, maybe White House officials should take White House Briefs titled "Bin Ladin Determined To Strike in US" seriously. more ›

Ten years ago today, 22-year-old Brooklyn-born singer Aaliyah died in a plane crash in the Bahamas. She was on a twin-engine plane that crashed just after taking off from the Bahamas—all nine people on board died. Initial reports said the plane suffered engine failure upon liftoff, though later on it was discovered that the pilot was doing cocaine and had alcohol in his system. more ›

Gentlemen, don your finest Adidas sweatsuits and ladies, start drawing on that black eyeliner, because Wes Anderson's charming film The Royal Tenenbaums is turning 10 this year, and you can celebrate (or mourn how old you suddenly feel) with the cast this fall at the New York Film Festival. more ›

Nirvana's Nevermind album was released 20 years ago this September (that baby on the cover is also around 20 years old now)—and SPIN is celebrating the anniversary a little early with a tribute album. You can download the entire thing right here, it features covers by Meat Puppets, Amanda Palmer, Titus Andronicus, Surfer Blood, and more. Hey: Nirvana's Nevermind album and downloading MP3s (and MP3s!)... all things we didn't have 20 years ago. more ›

Among the juiciest details released after the successful US operation to kill Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden last weekend was the mention that the military took hard drives from the compound—"10 hard drives, 5 computers and more than 100 storage devices which includes discs, DVDs and thumb drives." Investigators have been poring through those files, and have now revealed that Al Qaeda had been considering attacking the US rail system on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. more ›

On the 99th anniversary of its sinking, The Titanic will sink again... sort of. Art will imitate the real life event on April 14th, when artist Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster introduces a site-specific staged audience experience in the Guggenheim's rotunda, "inspired by this historic event and wherein the audience plays a role." To accompany the visuals, Gavin Bryars's The Sinking of the Titanic will be at the core of the installation, performed by The Wordless Music Orchestra. There will be two boarding times, 8:40 and 10:40 p.m. more ›

Had Kurt Cobain made it through his first Saturn return and not taken his own life at 27 years old, he would be 44 now. Alas, on this day in 1994—seventeen years ago—he died from a self-inflicted gun shot wound (though to be sure, if the Grunge Era had a Truther conference, it would be about the Cobain suicide). Some Cobain talking points from today: more ›

Today isn't just the day when we like to check in on our furry friends and see if they've got any thoughts on the weather. Even if our seal says different, today also happens to be the 358th anniversary of the incorporation of New Amsterdam (later New York, briefly New Orange and then New York again). So everybody, as you skate home from work tonight, do wish the old girl a good one. She certainly doesn't look her age. more ›

The Throgs Neck Bridge is definitely not one of New York's most celebrated bridges... but this photo its publicist sent over is pretty neat! The suspension bridge opened on January 11th, 1961, and it connects the Throgs Neck section of the Bronx with the Bay Terrace section of Queens. It's the newest bridge on the East River, and will be turning 50 years young next Tuesday. more ›

That's correct, the first modern crossword puzzle was published on this very day, back in 1913, in the New York World newspaper (and it was the very one you see pictured above!). According to Inside the Apple, the paper was owned by Joseph Pulitzer at the time, who "raised its circulation through sensational news coverage, stunt reporting, and a focus on distractions and pastimes." Enter: the crossword! Or as it was called back then, the "word-cross." It was created by Arthur Wynne, and ran in the Sunday Fun section of the paper—where it became an instant hit... among most. Oddly enough, the New York Public Library and the New York Times both criticized the game. more ›

Today marks the one year anniversary of Michael Jackson's death. The performer died at the age of 50 after going into cardiac arrest in his home last year. Chances are wherever you were one year ago, his music was playing in the background, and tonight you can expect the same. WCBS reports that Manhattan clubs are planning tribute nights, and the Apollo Theater, where many fans flocked a year ago, honored him earlier today. more ›

Today the Brooklyn Bridge turns 127 years old, making it around 27 years older than its less-respected neighbor, the Manhattan Bridge. We've already taken a less visual look back at the bridge, noting that it wasn't always beloved by locals (many believed it would take away from the New York Harbor's beauty). more ›

Happy Birthday Washington Square Park Arch! The structure, designed by architect Stanford White and built between 1890-1892, turns 115 today—while it was basically complete by 1892, it wasn't officially unveiled until 1895 when New York governor Levi P. Morton paraded down 5th Avenue to present it to a crowd of New Yorkers. more ›

Happy Pandaversary! Can you believe it's been a year since Sad Panda came into our lives? Since then, we've obsessively posted about him, and in November even found out the man behind the mask is 62-year-old Jialing Chen, who has quite a story. While only a restraining order could stop us from continuing to track his every move, perhaps we need a new obsession to join him for 2010. We are now taking suggestions—who is your favorite NYC mascot? more ›