It's the most wonderful time of the year! The Moth is holding their annual gala on May 8th, and have just released some details. We look forward to this amazing event every year, and highly recommend buying tickets. more ›

Last month, we reported the sad news that much-loved DJ Jonathan Toubin, known for his New York Night Train soul-music dance parties, was critically injured in a horrific freak accident in Portland, Oregon. Since then, dozens of shows in New York and a tour across the country have been launched to raise funds for Toubin, who remains hospitalized in Portland. Tomorrow night, the nationwide tour is coming to the Music Hall of Williamsburg, and it looks to be a doozy. more ›

The first homicide in Austin this year took place around 3 a.m. on New Year's Day, when a 29-year-old woman, Esme Barrera, was murdered upon her return home that night. The attack has been particularly terrifying to Austin residents due to its random nature, and the fact that two other non-fatal attacks happened nearby that same morning—the Austin Police Department is now being scrutinized, with many believing they could have prevented Barrera's murder since an attack 30 minutes earlier outside of her home had been reported. more ›

Brooklyn-based DJ Jonathan Toubin, the host of the popular 45rpm rock-and-soul dance party New York Night Train, was critically injured yesterday in a horrific freak accident in Portland, Oregon, where he was visiting to spin a party. more ›

Earlier this week word spread of DJ Kool Herc, the father of Hip-Hop, needing some financial help for his medical problems. Jeff Chang, author of Can't Stop Won't Stop got the ball rolling and set up a website to collect donations for the Bronx native, who it turns out is in need of treatment for kidney stones, but lacks insurance. Chang addressed those visiting the website, saying, “He has given so much to make our lives better. Let us do the same for him.” And Herc has a message, as well, writing: “Now we are fighting for health care not just for me, but for everyone. I see this as another quest for me to shine light on a sensitive issue for the community." You can donate to the cause here. [via City Room] more ›

DJ Kool Herc, born Clive Campbell and later known as the father of Hip-Hop, needs some help. According to MTV the 55-year-old is in need of surgery and is currently seeking financial help, as one of America's many uninsured. DJ Premier announced Herc’s hospitalization, along with his financial troubles, on his SIRIUS satellite radio show this weekend. more ›

The non-profit African Services Committee, based in Harlem, provides a variety of assistance to immigrants and refugees who arrive in NYC from countries throughout Africa. It was founded by Ethiopian refugees in 1981, and the organization also works in three clinics in Ethiopia providing HIV prevention, testing and care to some of the poorest people on Earth. The country has an estimated 2 million people living with HIV and the third highest number of infections in Africa. more ›

This Saturday a massive amount of star power will come together at Galapagos in DUMBO to rally around a Sex and the City crew member's daughter, Minty, who was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer (anaplastic ependymoma) in her first months of life. We're told that she has a "python-like ability to eat so well," and as such, the benefit is called Minty Python. more ›

Last night the City Reliquary pretty much brought the FDNY Calendar to life with a Fire Sale! Firefighters took to the Knitting Factory stage to sell... themselves, all to benefit the Reliquary (which is trying to stay afloat). Bids started at $50 and went over 300 bucks; winners were promised "a real life opportunity to take one of New York’s Bravest out on the town for a night of romance and adventure." more ›

We've already listed a few ways that you can help Haiti. Aside from online donations, which are much needed, there are also a number of local fundraisers in the works. Skippy from the Bell House in Brooklyn tells us he's organizing a big one, set for January 27th. There will be bands, comedians, a raffle, and lots of extras — with 100% of the box office and raffle proceeds going to the people of Haiti. If you can donate something towards the raffle, or can help in another way, please email him at: parksloper (at) gmail (dot) com. more ›

Are you ready to hear 16 hours of Beatles tunes live... on the ukulele? Well, you have over a month to get ready. This December 5th and 6th, a two-day benefit for Yoko Ono will take place, featuring 185 Songs (the entire Beatles catalog), 60 Singers, 40 Musicians and 16 Yokos. more ›

Six months into her job at an NYC law firm, a woman who would only identify herself as "Karin" was terminated. She relocated to St. Louis, Mo., and began studying for the bar exam while staying busy with a food blog, STL Meal Deals. Money was tight; she was living on $405 a week from unemployment benefits from New York, so she thought she'd try generating a little side money by signing up for Google AdSense, which pays bloggers to host ads on their sites and sends checks when their earnings hit $100. It was a pittance that would cost her dearly. more ›

It's been over three months since jewelry designer Nicole Gagne was seriously injured during an external stairway collapse at 5Pointz. The LIC building housed her studio, along with many other artist's workspaces. more ›

Yesterday afternoon the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company hosted an 826NYC benefit, in the form of an Honest Elimination Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament. Ira Glass, David Cross, and Michael Ian Black were all on hand, as well as ticket holders taking part and supporting the organization. We took the opportunity to head over to the storefront and explore their superhero goodies. The shop opened years ago, but incase you haven't been here's what you should know: more ›

A bill to raise New York's unemployment benefits, which allow a maximum payout of $430/week ($150 less than states like NJ and Connecticut), has died on the vine. Despite support from Governor Paterson, labor leaders and many lawmakers, the highly dysfunctional Senate seems incapable of passing the bill, which would have raised maximum weekly jobless benefits on July 1st to $625, and close the gap in the state’s unemployment trust fund. According to the Times, it's as good as dead, because apparently the Assembly is not currently scheduled to convene until January. Meanwhile, the state’s Labor Department reports that more New Yorkers were out of work than at any time in more than 30 years; last month the jobless rate hit 7.8% (in NYC, the rate is 8.1%). Advocate for the unemployed Andrew Stettner says, "It’s a big problem that we’ve fallen so short in terms of not doing this. What was nice about this legislation was it got the benefits out during the recession and it had a plan for paying back the fund over several years. It was a smart approach." Ah, but Albany doesn't really do smart approaches. more ›

Saturday night Radio City Music Hall housed a lot of big names for a benefit concert for the David Lynch Foundation (which "provides funds to teach students how to meditate so they can change their world from within"). Lynch hosted the show, and although the evening was billed as Paul McCartney & Friends, USA Today reports that the Beatle didn't show up until three hours into the affair. Once he did, however, he played a lengthy set (watch "Can't Buy Me Love" below). more ›

Last night the kilts came out for the Dressed to Kilt fashion show and charity event (benefiting the Friends of Scotland charity), hosted at M2. Hopefully this will be the only time that Sir Sean Connery, Obama Girl and Real Housewives Alex McCord are ever in the same room together, as the bold-faced names mingled with the D-listers all in the name of Scotland. While models debuted traditional kilts and fashion-forward couture, the big names also walked the runway in the appropriate plaid garb. Sadly, there were no upskirt shots of Gossip Girl's Ed Westwick, but a model gave the audience a (SFW) full frontal peak. Enjoy! more ›

The remaining Beatles will be regrouping for one night only this spring to headline a benefit concert in NYC. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr will take their two-man act to Radio City Music Hall on April 4th in the name of the David Lynch (yes, that one) Foundation, which "provides funds to teach students how to meditate so they can change their world from within." Rolling Stone points out this is right up their alley, or at least it would have been decades ago when the Fab Four traveled to India to visit with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Discussing the benefit, McCartney touched on his meditation practices, saying “In moments of madness, it has helped me find moments of serenity." Joining them in the transcendentalfest are Eddie Vedder, Sheryl Crow, My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, Moby and many more (including appearances by Russell Simmons and Laura Dern). Tickets on sale starting March 9th. more ›

Last night Robert Thurman's annual Tibet House benefit concert took to Carnegie Hall, featuring performances by Antibalas, The National (who performed two new, untitled songs), Vampire Weekend, Patti Smith, Steve Earle, Angelique Kidjo, Keb' Mo', Philip Glass, and his son Zack (whose performance served as an alternate answer to that age old question, how does one get to Carnegie Hall). more ›

The Tibet House has announced initial details for their annual benefit, taking place this coming February 3rd. "Held at legendary Carnegie Hall since 1993, Philip Glass, the benefit's esteemed Artistic Director and Vice President of Tibet House, creates an exceptional show every year, highlighted by unique collaborations between the artists." So far their 19th concert will include performances by The National, Vampire Weekend, Patti Smith & Jesse Smith. Consider this a heads up to buy tickets now, before even more acts are announced. Last year we talked to co-founder of the Tibet House, Robert Thurman, prior to the benefit. [via Brooklyn Vegan] more ›

Spencer Tunick and a crowd of volunteer naked people brazenly defied the dress code at the Four Seasons restaurant last Saturday for Tunick’s 75th installation documenting the human form in unexpected places. Other New York locations where Tunick's models have gone au naturale include Grand Central Station and Times Square. more ›

Next Wednesday a cornucopia of comedians (Dave Attell, Louis C.K., Artie Lange and more) will gather at Town Hall for the The Gerry Red Wilson Foundation Comedy Benefit. Greg Fitzsimmons is one of the comedians responsible for putting together the show, which will raise awareness about meningitis (a disease that struck three people in his life, one of which was Gerry Red Wilson). You can buy tickets here. more ›

Banksy, the cheeky street artist/prankster turned multimillionaire art star, was in town last week, presumably for the Damien Hirst-coordinated auction at Sotheby’s to benefit the (Project) RED campaign, which works with corporations like the Gap to raise money for the treatment of A.I.D.S. patients in Africa. The $48 million raised at the event – through the sale of works by Hirst, Banksy, Jeff Koons, Jasper Johns, Willem de Kooning and others – will be distributed by the Global Fund. more ›

Professor, author and activist Robert Thurman is widely regarded as the leading American expert on Tibetan Buddhism, having been a major force in the widespread introduction of Tibetan culture and religion to the west. In 1962, Thurman became the first American ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist monk, but after a few years he shifted from strict monasticism to the more conventional lifestyle of an academic. Though currently on sabbatical to write another book, Thurman remains a beloved professor in the Religion Department of Columbia University. At the behest of the Dalai Lama, Thurman co-founded Tibet House with composer Philip Glass and others; this year’s annual Carnegie Hall benefit for the organization takes place next Wednesday, February 13th. The lineup thus far includes performances by Glass, Ray Davies, Phamie Gow, Nawang Khechog, Ashley MacIsaac, Marisa Monte, Sufjan Stevens & Tom Verlaine. more ›

It's been five years since Jam Master Jay (Jason Mizell) was murdered in his Queens studio, and though some people have recently started piping up about who may have pulled the trigger - no suspect has been named. Moving forward -- his friends, family and fellow musicians have begun to get closure in other ways. Mizell's widow, Terri, started the Jam Master Jay Foundation for Music -- a non-profit that provides funding and resources to... more ›

READING: We originally thought this was going down yesterday, but you still have a chance to see it! Not in a million years would we have thought we'd be listing a reading by former Guns n' Roses guitarist, Slash. But it turns out old rockers love to dish on their sordid lives, and this mysterious musician is no different. Tonight he'll read from his book, called Slash, which apparently "redefines sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll." more ›

First Lady Laura Bush visited a school on the Lower East Side with Mayor Bloomberg and other city officials yesterday. The first lady, a former school librarian, announced a $1.3 million grant from the Laura Bush Foundation for school libraries across the country to update their book collections. Twenty-eight schools in the city will get grants up to $5,000, including the the Island School on East Houston. The Post reports that the Island School's head librarian Lewis Lhana, who conducts puppets shows, had one of the puppets "gentle dragon Qualia" tell Mayor Bloomberg he smelled "like a rocket ship." more ›

March 10: Cantina-Style: One Pot Meals Cooking Demonstration and Luncheon more ›