Legendary Upper East Side restaurateur Elaine Kaufman died yesterday at age 81, and the remembrances are pouring in today. In the Post's editorial, "There was always Elaine herself, larger than life in every sense, who in 1963 created a salon for the hip and famous where literary lions and actors rubbed elbows and downed drinks with journalists, politicians, society and law-enforcement types alike." more ›

Hangdog piano pop star Billy Joel has long done for Long Island what Bruce Springsteen did for New Jersey. His odes to smalltown bartenders and awkward high school reunions in Manhasset, Oyster Bay and Oceanside have made him a living legend on the island. And now the oft-depressed Joel is cementing his status there by combining his love for Strong Island with his abiding passion for motorcycles, opening up his own motorcycle showroom in Oyster Bay. more ›

If you've ever wanted to decide on a bottle of red or a bottle of white at the restaurant that played the role of muse in Billy Joel's "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant," you better make your reservations soon. more ›

Nearly a month after an apparent suicide attempt, singer Alexa Ray Joel has pledged to "help young girls with something I feel I know a GREAT deal about: Heartbreak-Related Depression." In her first public statement since being admitted to St. Vincent's Hospital after calling 911 to report her own overdose on homeopathic antihistamine pills, the 23-year-old daughter of rocker Billy Joel and model Christie Brinkley explained in a Facebook note that she will begin "new creative projects" and "volunteer work in hopes to give back to the community." more ›

On Tuesday, the NY Post claimed—through its unnamed sources— that Alexa Ray Joel had been on a terrible family vacation with mother Christie Brinkley days before the 23-year-old apparent suicide attempt. Well, Brinkley and ex-husband Billy Joel issued a joint statement slamming the tabloid's coverage. more ›

Billy Joel's daughter's hospitalization following an apparent suicide attempt occurred just days after the 23-year-old singer returned home from a "dysfunctional family getaway" with her supermodel mother Christie Brinkley, the Post reports. more ›

After being hospitalized for an apparent suicide attempt, Billy Joel's daughter Alexa Ray Joel is "feeling much better," her publicist told People. more ›

After his child was hospitalized following an apparent suicide attempt yesterday, Billy Joel says his 23-year-old daughter Alexa Ray Joel "is going to be fine." Alexa Ray was rushed to St. Vincent's Hospital yesterday after a roommate called 911 to report an “emotionally disturbed person” was “having trouble breathing” in their West Village apartment, the Times reports. more ›

Alexa Ray Joel — Billy Joel's 23-year-old daughter — is being treated at St. Vincent's Hospital in the West Village after an overdose on sleeping pills that police are considering a suicide attempt, according to the Post. more ›

Last night may have been the first time since it opened this spring that Citi Field was home to fans cheering loudly for over two consecutive hours. That's because fresh off his return to (the top of) The Ed Sullivan Theater, Paul McCartney once again played on the home field of the Mets where the Beatles had their legendary Shea Stadium shows. And by all accounts, Macca brought it. more ›

Surprise, surprise: 27-year-old Katie Lee wanted to go out on the town more than her 60-year-old husband Billy Joel. Following the couple's divorce announcement, the NY Post spoke to sources close to the couple, who told the paper, "It really was just an age thing. She loves the city, she loves to go out and have fun and he prefers to stay at home. The age difference didn't seem to be a big deal seven years ago [when they met], but it has become one as they got older. They just grew apart." Meanwhile, she's been locking arms with designer Yigal Azrouel all over town, as Joel prefers to stay close to home with his motorcycles and yachts. As for the money, there's allegedly an ironclad prenuptial agreement, though Katie Lee will likely get the couple's Greenwich Village townhouse, which Joel bought for $5.9 million just a few years ago. Joel's daughter Alexa Ray, just 4 years younger than his soon-to-be-ex-wife, told People she saw it coming, "I have a pretty good woman's intuition, so I could tell." more ›

Third time's not quite a charm after all. Rumors of Billy Joel's third marriage ending are true, a rep of the musician confirmed to the NY Post. Katie Lee Joel, his 27-year-old ex-wife-to-be, has been seen around town many times with designer Yigal Azrouel, though there's no official word if that relationship had anything to do with the split. A rep told ET, "After nearly five years of marriage, Billy and Katie have decided to separate. This decision is the result of much thought and consideration. Billy and Katie remain caring friends, with admiration and respect for each other." The two were married for five years, and the divorce will put Joel back on the market at age 60. Meanwhile, according to a recent poll, 57% of women regret marrying their husband. more ›

With the final bulldozers schlepping off the remains of Shea Stadium, it appears that they've officially paved paradise and put up a parking lot. more ›

It's probably never good to wake up and see your significantly younger wife's face in the Daily News in an article sprinkled with your very own song titles like "Movin' Out" and "It's a Matter of Trust." Allegedly the 27-year-old Katie Lee Joel has been cheating on the 59-year-old Billy Joel with fashion designer Yigal Azrouel. A source told the paper the two have been together for a while, and “Katie often stays at their apartment in NYC alone, while Billy likes to live in their Long Island home. They’re rarely together. And Katie likes it like that. She wants her freedom.” The crooner has heard of the designer, whom he at first assumed was gay, and the relationship rightfully has him furious. The source adds that Azrouel has “slept with several high-profile female fashion editors. It’s understandable that everyone would think he’s gay, as he’s a man of fashion in NYC, but he isn’t." Most recently, Katie (sans wedding ring) and Yigal were spotted together at a Museum of Natural History gala. more ›

Last night both Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel took the stage for Barack Obama at the Hammerstein Ballroom. The Daily News reports back that the two were "singing together for the first time ... to the delight of 2,500 people at the fund-raiser." The Boss told the audience to "Palin-ize" their expectations for the night, since the two had only rehearsed a little. Michelle Obama looked on from a balcony, as everyone was urged to "rise up and take back this country." The good seats cost $10K, and the likes of Anna Wintour and Harvey Weinstein were on hand, while Marc Jacobs-designed Obama tees were being peddled at the merch table. Joel invited his daughter Alexa Ray onstage and thanked "Sen. Obama for finally getting my kid into politics." Obama himself appeared on stage around 11:30 p.m., and warned the audience: "Don't underestimate the capacity of Democrats to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Don't underestimate our ability to screw it up. I want everybody running scared." more ›

Tickets to the upcoming Bruce Springsteen/Billy Joel "Change Rocks" fundraiser concert for Barack Obama are being scalped (shocking!). Tickets already cost $500 to $10,000--and even though the latter are still available, scalpers are hiking up the prices to as much as $25,000! The Campaign Silo reports that ticket scalping breaks campaign finance laws, and "fans who use scalpers could be complicit." David Donnelly of Campaign Money Watch explained, "If someone purchases tickets for the express purpose of reselling them rather than to make a contribution to Obama or the DNC, they appear to be breaking the law." There are other ins and outs to the legality of ticket purchases, but the only legal way to do so is through Obama's website. The show, at the Hammerstein Ballroom, is one day after the final presidential debate, and it's rumored that Obama himself may make an appearance. more ›

Howard Stern married his longtime girlfriend, model Beth Ostrosky, at Le Cirque last night. The couple had been engaged for a year and a half, but details on the wedding were kept mum (even from guests) until the last minute. The ceremony was presided over by Mr. Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos, one of many big names in attendance. It also included a song from Billy Joel and a roast from Chevy Chase. The Post (who called it "A Big Baba 'I Do-Ey'") reports that the couple wrote their own vows. Stern's lawyer pal and frequent guest Dominic Barbara told the paper, "The vows were gentle and beautiful. They talked to each other's hearts." more ›

It was announced this week that two local legends will be joining forces for a concert in the name of Barack Obama. Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen, neither a stranger to individually selling out multiple nights at stadiums around the country, will co-headline the relatively intimate Hammerstein Ballroom on October 16th. This will go down one night after the final presidential debate at Long Island's Hofstra University, kicking off the campaign’s home stretch leading up to Election Day. Tickets range from $500 for the nosebleeds to $10,000 premiere "lounge" seats, and are still available here, though it appears the, ahem, cheap seats have already sold out. more ›

Alongside Billy Joel and record exec Clive Davis, Mayor Bloomberg announced today that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will open its first annex in Soho. The 25,000 square-foot annex will open at 76 Mercer Street where for $26, music fans can see Bruce Springsteen's first car and the phone booth from CBGB's. Both were on display as Bloomberg made the announcement today. more ›

Last night Billy Joel helped bid farewell to Shea Stadium, with the last concert at the field (the first being The Beatles historic show 43 years ago); Joel also performed there on Wednesday night, and the entire experience has been filmed for a future documentary. more ›

Tonight Billy Joel performs at Shea Stadium, as part of his "Last Play at Shea" shows (the other is on Friday). Details recently talked to the Piano Man about the stadium, and he told them: "I think it’s kind of strange that in my lifetime I’ve seen a stadium come and go. I remember when Shea was built—it was state-of-the-art, like a big Roman edifice. Now they’re taking it down because it’s out of date. I find that a little odd." Meanwhile, Variety reports that the singer will film the experience for Last Play at Shea, a documentary surrounding the experience of playing the last shows before the stadium is torn down later this year. It's expected to have a Ken Burns feel, and "track the intersecting paths of a blue-collar Long Island musician and the Queens ballpark that hosted its first concert in 1965." more ›

Actor Roy Scheider died yesterday at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, after battling multiple myeloma for several years and suffering complications from a staph infection. He was 75 and had been living in Sag Harbor, New York (after moving out his house in Sagaponack that Billy Joel purchased). more ›

In 1965 The Beatles performed at Shea Stadium (video), beginning a tradition of rock on the ball field. Sadly, they won't be around to bookend the life of the stadium, which opened its doors on April 17th, 1964 and gets torn down after the 2008 season. more ›

A few days ago they gave us a list of romantic NYC movies, and now The Daily News delivers a list of romantic songs. One hundred of them, to be exact, so if you wanted a last minute gift for your valentine, you could make them a mix cd for just 99 bucks and change (if you used iTunes). more ›

There's really no reason to feel sorry for Christie Brinkley. She's richer and more beautiful than about 99.999% of the human population. But having the Post reveal that you're getting divorced from your fourth husband because he's infatuated with a 19 year old girl, well, that hits Gothamist's sympathy button. And heck, we've seen the video for "Uptown Girl" so many times, we'd expect her to pull up at a gas station in about ten minutes. The Post reports that architect Peter Cook offered Diana Bianchi a job at his firm, after meeting her at a Southampton Village toy store while "shopping for his children." Jeez! He "wrote her love notes and showered her with cash," and Bianchi's stepfather unsuccessfully tried to intervene. And then Brinkley found out about her husband was dating Bianchi by going through his emails. more ›

After reports surfaced of a two-family townhouse being sold in Red Hook for $1.06 million, the NY Post had to find out who would pay that much - and why. It turns out that East Village residents Frank and Tina Dituri bought the house because it "reminded [them] of how the East Village was 15 years ago: Young people coming in doing interesting things and putting their own stamp on it." And the space was a factor - the house is 2400 square feet, so the Dituris got a good deal if you're thinking just in terms of price per square foot (Manhattan prices start at $1000 per square foot) and in terms of the taxi fare they'll have to give their Manhattan friends to visit. The Post gets some color from the broker:

Marsha Yarde, a broker with Fillmore Real Estate who arranged the sale, called it a "record-breaking price for a two-family home" in Red Hook. more ›

Unfortunately, Gothamist isn't old enough to have watched Floyd Patterson fight. Our childhood memories of him consist of hearing Billy Joel sing "Liston beats Patterson" about their 1962 fight. Born in North Carolina, Patterson and his family moved to Bed-Stuy when he was a child. After a brief period in Upstate New York, where he first took up boxing, Patterson returned to the city and, before long, started to train with Cus D'Amato at the Gramercy Gym in the Lower East Side. more ›

Paul Simon and Billy Joel's former tour manager was fatally stabbed by his girlfriend in his Upper East Side apartment yesterday. And it was his 57th birthday! Police arrested Kathleen Connors, who was neighbors say was covered in blood from a vicious fight with Danny Harrison, who had been producing shows for the Food Network recently. Harrison lived at 530 East 89th Street, right near Gracie Mansion. A neighbor had called the police to report that there was a "violent dispute," and tells the Times that "it sounded as if Ms. Connors was being assaulted by Mr. Harrison." more ›

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/16/arts/music/16country.html">NY Times explains that the song is "Comin' to Your City" but changed the chorus to "Comin' to New York City")The NY Post doesn't hide its feelings about the CMA's: "The star of last night's Country Music Awards at Madison Square Garden didn't sing a note or win a prize. It was New York City, which lent the show the credibility and elegance it's always lacked." Well, a backhanded compliment is better than none, we guess. more ›