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. Helping them close up shop are Billy Joel and his piano. On July 16th Joel will make "The Last Play at Shea," and later in the year The Mets......

A 2-year-old boy who had crawled out of his Queens apartment through an open window and onto a fire escape fell six stories to his death yesterday morning. His mother had been taking a shower. Neighbors tried to comfort Ezquel Contreras, who was bleeding extensively and was later pronounced dead at Elmhurst Hospital. The neighbors also said that the child's mother, Sandra Perez, didn't seem to realize her son was gone, since she didn't come......

A look at some noteworthy television this week: Family Guy (Sunday, 9:00 p.m., WNYW 5) Peter helps Bill Clinton fix a flat tire and wackiness ensues. Live at Five/News 4 You (Monday, 4:57 p.m./5:30 p.m., WNBC 4) The post Sue Simmons era of Live at Five begins Monday when David Ushery and Lynda Baquero anchor the 5p.m. newscast and Perri Peltz anchors the new features and consumer news based News 4 You at 5:30 p.m.......

Camera phone looky-loos, this one's for you. We're talking about the biggest band to hit small to medium sized NYC venues since Sufjan Stevens, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and The Arcade Fire. We're talking about Montreal's latest buzz band Wolf Parade. You've got three chances to see them this week. That's three chances to see them before they come back to play Webster Hall. If you can't find a ticket to the sold......

Andrew Rasiej, Candidate for Public Advocate...

Gothamist went to check out Eric Clapton last night @ the Garden. Despite our copious complaints about the venue itself the show was worth the money we shelled out for our seats in the 400 section. Opening up for Clapton was Robert Randolph (better known in the jamband scene), who plays a custom-made 13-string pedal steel guitar. He came back out for the encores of Sunshine of Your Love and Got My Mojo Working. The......

Gothamist loves Clapton, we'll be going to check him out next Tuesday when he plays MSG. Last night, however, the guitar that Clapton bought in 1970 on a visit to Nashville was sold at auction for $959,500. On this same shopping trip in 1970 he purchased a total of six vintage Strats (with the going rate of about $300 a pop @ Nashville's Sho-Bud Shop). He gave one each to George Harrison, Pete Townshend and......

Kurt Wenzel, Novelist...