President Obama, the Linsider, is raising money for his re-election campaign in the Big Apple tonight. And, boy, is he pissing off some people: more ›

The young boy who escaped a sinking minivan that his mother drove into the Hudson River, drowning herself and his three siblings, received a help hand from the United Athletes Foundation, which held a fundraiser for 10-year-old Lashaun Armstrong. Over $20,000 was raised for him, and the little boy said, "I'm sad because I'm going through a tough time right now. I'm pulling through." more ›

President Obama has had a busy day so far—he's released his live birth certificate (the director's cut) and visited Chicago for the dual purpose of appearing on Oprah and paying tribute to Richard Daley—and now he's heading to Manhattan, to raise some money at three different events. The traffic jams will be on the Upper East Side, Midtown East (by the Waldorf-Astoria) and Midtown (at Town Hall), so if you ride Manhattan buses...we feel for you. more ›

In one of the more bizarre, if endearing, fundraisers we've heard of, a Red Hook bartender is planning a 15-hour marathon ping pong tournament next Saturday to raise money for his much-needed dental work (the result of a car accident several years ago). And not only is bartender Jamie, whose lack of teeth hasn't held him back from a rigorous ping pong training schedule, playing nonstop at B61 Bar from 1 p.m. to 4 a.m., but he is challenging well-documented tabletop doyenne Susan Sarandon to a match as well. more ›

Earlier this week, it was reported that heartless jerk thieves stole more than $8,000 from a fundraiser for a little boy who was trying to get facial surgery. Aidan Sullivan, 9, was born with Hemifacial microsoma, which left him with an undeveloped face, and he's already gone through 10 previous surgeries to help correct it. The latest fundraiser was to pay for a new right ear, and the family friend who organized the event was devastated about the theft: "Listening to a 47-year-old man cry, and not about his mother dying, was brutal...Pete was so upset. He kept saying, 'I let Aidan down, I let Aidan down,'" Colleen Sullivan told the Post. But Aidan was more defiant in his message to the thief's: "I'm going to kick your butt!" more ›

This coming Monday, fashion designer Donna Karan is hosting a fundraiser with First Lady Michelle Obama (followed by a concert at the St. James Theatre), and according to the NY Post, "Karan's personal chef is cooking for expected guests at her Greenwich Village home, including Tory Burch, Harvey Weinstein, Sarah Jessica Parker and Michael Kors." Who wasn't invited, however? PETA! But they have no problem crashing. more ›

Know what Jets owner Woody Johnson loves perhaps as much as Rex Ryan? Helping out the GOP! Johnson was a big McCain supporter in 2008 and this year, he's back to helping Republican candidates. Politico's Maggie Haberman reports that Johnson "helped the NRSC notch its best-ever night in New York City, raising a massive $800,000 at a joint event for seven U.S. Senate hopefuls, a source who attended the event told me. more ›

Today makes the 25th AIDS Walk in NYC. The walk, which raises money for the Gay Men's Health Crisis and other AIDS service organizations, is expected to include tens of thousands of people (45,000 participated last year) as it heads through Central Park onto West 110th Street, then south along Riverside Drive, and finally at West 85th Street back east to the park. The walk has raised $110 million since 1986; an 86-year-old Brooklyn woman who has walked each year (she and her husband wanted to support their gay son) has raised $629,000 since the first one. If you have photos of the walk, you can email them to tips@gothamist.com or tag them "gothamist" on Flickr. more ›

Yesterday, President Obama spent the late afternoon and evening in the Big Apple. The agenda: Thank the NYPD for thwarting the Times Square car bomb and then a fundraiser for House Democrats. At Police headquarters, Obama said, "I just wanted to stop by say,.Thank you. The country is proud of you... the president is proud of you. I don’t think I need to tell you that given the potential for attack everywhere in the country, we’ve got a lot to learn from what is taking place here." more ›

Parents are planning a city hall “bake-in” in protest of new regulations that ban homemade treats from their kids' school bake sales. The city's rationale is that brownies and cookies made from scratch carry an uncountable calorie load, whereas Doritos, packaged cookies and other food items on a list of permissible items, disclose their nutritional content. "We don't really want to be told what to buy, especially when it's junk food from Kellogg's," one mom told the Daily News. 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 ›

Andrew Cuomo, the frontrunner in all the gubernatorial matchups even though he won't say whether he's running, is having a fundraiser next Tuesday. PolitickerNY has the invite, which says, "Andrew Cuomo is having extraordinary success as Attorney General, and his insights into this year’s elections (and next year's) will be very interesting," and notes that since it takes place during voting hours, it's "Not exactly a shot in the arm for Democrat Bill Thompson's effort that day." more ›

President Obama is in town today to meet with the FBI agents credited with stopping a terrorist plot to bomb NYC subways. But that pat on the back at FBI headquarters near City Hall is just the morning's agenda; in the evening it's all about the Benjamins. (Or, rather, the Grover Clevelands.) Tonight the President will speak at a $30,400-per-couple dinner at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel at Columbus Circle; the event is expected to raise $2 million to $3 million for the DNC. Want to see Barry but dating a deadbeat who can't float the 30 grand for the Mandarin? All is not lost. more ›

Time to test your own waters to see if you're brave enough to take a boat ride in the Gowanus Canal (home to the gonohorrea bacteria and other little treats). more ›

We all know by now that Wall Street turns to Congress when it needs a bailout. But where in turn do the House and Senate turn when their failed presidential bids are still mired in debt for their bailout ? Why, Bon Jovi, of course. Fresh off the Lost Highway Tour, Bon Jovi will play at Town Hall on the 15th on behalf of another lost highway of sorts: Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Hillary and Bill will be in attendance for photo ops for $1000 ticket holders who they hope will help eradicate the $6 million plus the campaign was still in debt as of last month. The invitation to the concert told donors who had already hit the limit in donating to Clinton that they can attend the event if they recruit two or more people at a certain seating level. Before the concert, VP-elect Joe Biden will help out the cause with a fundraiser in Philadelphia. With all of the love JBJ has shown the Democrats in hosting fundraisers previously for President-elect Obama and the losing Kerry and Gore bids that preceded him, we're surprised that he won't get to burn a "Blaze of Glory" through the inaugural ball. more ›

December 8th is just around the corner, and soon Strawberry Fields will be flickering with candles in memory of John Lennon, who was killed 28 years ago. On that day, decades ago, Joe Raiola was driving a cab when he heard sportscaster Howard Cosell announce Lennon's death on the radio, he told The NY Times: “I was on Queens Boulevard. I almost smashed into a telephone pole.” Raiola's long-running annual remembrance, one of the many for the Beatle, is called the Lennon Tribute. The now senior editor of Mad Magazine, pitting a fundraiser against the current economic climate, has been faced with suggestions to cancel the "shoe-string variety show" this year. Ultimately, the show will go on, with Railoa reminding that “Everything about this event is secondary to getting together to celebrate and remember John Lennon." In attendance next Sunday at the Ailey Citigroup Theater will be Rosanne Cash and many others presenting "a bill of entertainment heavy with Lennon and Beatles songs." Proceeds will go to the non-profit World Hunger Year. more ›

Friends of former NYPD Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik are throwing him a fund-raiser to help with his legal bills. Kerik was indicted on federal charges including tax fraud and perjury last November and previously pleaded guilty to accepting over $200,000 in gifts while working for the city. According to the Post, this isn't the first time a Kerik fund-raiser has been planned: A source says, "He tried this on the last go-round. But it never got off the ground. No one wanted to come [to his dinners]. People didn't want to be involved with him anymore. His friends all turned their backs on him." Does that include BFF Rudy Giuliani?!? At any rate, the fund-raiser at a NJ hotel has a minimum "donation" of $75 to attend. 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 ›

Those cheeky Post reporters relish any opportunity to cut lose with the double entendres, and what better excuse than news about a dominatrix who's come forward to defend the owner of the S&M club where she worked. One "Mistress Ardenne" is encouraging customers to book time with her so she can raise money to help bondage dungeon master Collin Reeve "get off" (tee-hee), the tabloid reports. You'll recall that Reeve was arrested last week and charged with running a prostitution den where, for a little extra cash, clients could get more than just a slap on the back. So now Ardenne is donating some of her income to his legal defense; all she needs is someone to donate a spare dungeon to crack her whip in while Rapture remains closed. more ›

Earlier this year, vintners Paul Wegimont and Greg Sandor opened Bridge Urban Winery, an offshoot of their North Fork vineyard. Nestled by the Williamsburg Bridge in a blossoming artisanal corridor that includes Marlow & Sons and Diner, their sleek yet cozy wine bar specializes in strictly New York State wine, as well as food pairings prepared with all locally-sourced ingredients. more ›

Last night in Chelsea, Dave Chappelle no-showed at a fundraiser he was slated to headline for the congressional campaign of Kevin "Real World" Powell. After waiting around for over three hours, the crowd of a few hundred was told that Chappelle had missed not one, but two planes out of Ohio. To add insult to injury, Powell mentioned more than once that Chris Rock was in the building, but did not want to take the stage due to "not wanting to disrespect another comedian." How this was supposed to appease the crowd who had paid $75 (minimum) a ticket for the rare Chappelle appearance was unclear. Hot 97's Angie Martinez also had some questionable logic for crowd control. While emceeing as the audience began jeering the phantom comedian, she responded, "Don't boo me. Boo yourselves." more ›

Everything’s connected: Kevin Powell was a star in MTV’s very first season of The Real World – now he’s campaigning to be the congressional representative for a district that includes the location of the new Real World apartment in downtown Brooklyn. And not only that, Powell is enlisting the help of comedian Dave Chappelle, who once lampooned the reality series in a hilarious skit called The Mad Real World. Go ahead and take a minute to let all that sink in. more ›

This Monday, June 16th, America's world-renowned French chefs are descending upon Rockefeller Center for Crème de la Crème, Citymeals-on-Wheels Chefs’ Tribute fundraiser to honor the legendary masters of French cooking. more ›

Are Americans misogynistic? Elton John thinks so, and he thinks it may be hurting his friend Hillary's shot at the Oval Office. He addressed the problem to over 5,000 Clinton supporters at Radio City Musical Hall last night, saying, “I’ve always been a Hillary supporter. There is no-one more qualified to lead America. I’m amazed by the misogynistic attitudes of some of the people in this country. And I say to hell with them... I love you Hillary. I’ll be there for you.” 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 ›