Results tagged “bettemidler”

The controversial free Family Day concert scheduled for tomorrow inside a Jamaica public schoolyard, organized by 50 Cent, has been postponed. 50 was originally supposed to put on a secret performance, but was downgraded to just making an appearance after fears arose of chaos or violence at the site close to where the rapper was shot multiple times in 2000. His manager told the Post, "We are postponing it and working it out with police." After Mayor Bloomberg got involved and made a point that 50 would not be performing, the rapper Q-Tip recently spoke out against the mayor and has been tweeting to his followers, telling them not to re-elect the mayor and saying that the idea that the concert would invite violence was "just an old way of thinking about folk, especially black folk. Tip told MTV, "[Bloomberg is] not right for the spirit of the city. 50 Cent is a success story we all should applaud. However you feel about him, you can't deny him." Maybe the show's sponsor, Bette Midler's New York Restoration Project, can just convince 50 to adopt-a-highway, putting the G-Unit back into the Gowanus Expressway.

       

Earlier today the north end of Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint was shut down for a 4th of July parade! Allegedly the scene was being shot for a new Jennifer Aniston movie called Bounty Hunter (Miss Heather has pics of the parade preparation). They'll be filming tomorrow (from Freeman to Ash Street) as well, and there are promises of explosions, chases and even Bette Midler! Sadly though, even Hollywood won't be able to bring the 4th Fireworks to the East River this year.

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a shooting on 1st Ave. and 92nd St. in Manhattan, a car vs. building on Liberty Ave. and Elton St. in Brooklyn, and a body found on East Tremont Ave. in the Bronx.
• Looking to avoid damaging snail- and e-mail trails or records of phone conversations, aides to Gov. Spitzer who are being investigated in the State Police scandal investigation are allegedly conversing only in person while driving around in black sedans.
• When an uncomfirmed threat arose regarding terrorists driving box trucks packed with nuclear materials to be exploded as dirty bombs in NYC, the NYPD went on high alert. MTA police who man the security at many of the city's bridges and tunnels were just handed radiation detectors and not told anything about what to look for, or even the existence of a threat.
• In order to improve crime stats and make schools appear safer, public school deans are often forbidden to call 911. In the case of a medical emergency like a stroke, one would think that common sense would override that prohibition, but unfortunately it didn't for one young student.
• Bette Midler's husband was briefly manhandled during Fashion Week by security guards who didn't recognize him because he is not a celebrity.
• Leona Helmsley cut two of her grandkids out of her will because they wouldn't visit the grave of their father and her son at least once a year. The other two grandkids received $10 million each.
• A 368-block section of Jamaica, Queens was set to be rezoned today in order to turn it into an airport transit hub, with 3 million square feet of development including hotels and residences.
• If you live in Brooklyn, do you know which police precinct you're in? Brooklyn.com has a list of all of them with a map and direct telephone numbers.

The search is already on to replace Rosie O'Donnell on The View. Rumors are that Rosanne Barr may be first choice to fill the seat. Though Barr was on "Larry King Live" recently and said that she was "not looking for the job," on KVVU-TV in Las Vegas Monday, she seemed to have a change of heart. She told the station, "I'd love it. Yeah, definitely. I think I would do a real good job," adding that she would "stir up some real good controversy." And undoubtedly, some crotch-grabbing.

March 10th marked the last day The Roxy would open its doors. The club shut down after years of being a mainstay, especially in the gay nightlife scene. The Roxy was a rite of passage for many gay New Yorkers, and according to New York Blade writer Matt Kalkhoff, "an essential stop on any gay tourist’s agenda.”

This year, the Today Show's tradition of testing its hosts' fortitude by giving them nutty Halloween costumes did not disappoint. Matt Lauer and Al Roker were Jack Sparrow and Captain Davy Jones from the Pirates of the Caribbean. Yes, that is Al as Captain Davy Jones - he is squidalicious! In years past, Matt and Al have dressed as famous pairs, like Siegfried and Roy, Batman and Robin, and J.Lo and Puffy. We're surprised that NBC was cool with Matt and Al dressing as a famous Disney movie, but the Good Morning America folks didn't dress up at all. All they had were their faces carved into pumpkins and a scary interview with Courtney Love.

As the Times points out in its article about Bette Midler's New York Restoration Project, the usual response to a celebrity dipping their influence and pocketbooks into other peoples issues and neighborhoods is often, shall we say, not a good one. Or as Midler puts it: "There's a distinct possibility that it's vanity, but even if it were, so what? The gardens stand as a testament to nature, and I love nature despite what she did to me." Har, har, har, har.

There are some important shows this week. It's your last chance ever to see Q and not U (@ Knitting Factory). Brian Jonestown Massacre (whose gear was stolen the other day) are at the very small Pianos. Steve Winwood is at the very small Bowery Ballroom. Yesterday Bon Jovi rocked the very small Nokia Theater. These shows all matter, but they're not the focus of this week's post . Instead, let's concentrate this week on Hurricane Katrina survivor benefits.