After being contested by two of Brown's former business managers, Christie's hosted the James Brown Collection auction today, something his children were also unhappy about and planned on protesting. The sale went on, however, and around 350 lots from Brown's South Carolina home were on the block earlier today. Official figures aren't in yet, but the sale was expected to take in nearly $2 million. $32,500 of that came from musician Paul Shaffer who bid......

ART: The Bronx Museum of Art is getting on board the First Friday bandwagon. They'll be opening their doors every first Friday of the month for free, and add a little something extra each time. Tonight their theme is “Say it Loud! I’m Black & I’m Proud” in celebration of Black History Month. There will be a tribute to the late James Brown, and a showcase of independent artists paying tribute to black music. Friday......

It's been quite a 24 hours for Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama. Last nght, he was at the Apollo for his first Harlem event. And this morning, he had breakfast with Mayor Bloomberg at a Midtown diner. At last night's $50-per-ticket fund-raiser, both Cornel West and Chris Rock introduced Obama. West asked the audience to think about entertainers like James Brown and Billie Holliday, who "represent a way of life that goes all the......

There's a band looking for a frontman in Brooklyn...and they're bypassing Craigslist postings, MySpace bulletins and good 'ol fashion flyers to get the open position filled. They say "we like internet" and are therefore selling their frontman position on eBay in this Buy a Rock Band auction. The band currently has no name and consists of four members. The rhythm guitarist, Bill, is 25 and includes Fall Out Boy in his list of influences. The......

American Idol has been on the decline ever since Kelly Clarkson stepped off the stage. It's understandable, the first time is always more exciting -- and c'mon, one can only take so much of Paula's craziness, Simon's snarkiness and Randy Jackson's what's up dawg's. USA Today is reporting that 2007's Idols Live Tour (who knew) has plenty of empty seats. So where does a New Yorker go to hear a new (Sanjaya-less) talent pool? Amateur......

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a pursuit at 95th St. and 2nd Ave in Manhattan and two pedestrians were struck, a hanging at the D.E.P. plant on Wards Island, and a pipe explosion on 4th Ave. and 2nd St. in Brooklyn. Perhaps the early bird lunch for seniors at the Fort Greene Masonic Temple should be all-ages, because we hear that James Brown impersonator Black Velvet rocks the house. The several-thousand-pages-long environmental impact statement......

The firing of Don Imus has caused many to take a look at language in not only media, but music. As previously mentioned, Al Sharpton is one looking to clean up what we hear, and yesterday he led a march against racist and sexist lyrics, targeting the major labels. Around 400 others joined him in a march around midtown, outside companies like Universal Music Group. The topic reportedly carried over to a private gathering at......

ART: It's Dumbo First Thursday. The Gallery Walk will not only bring you to galleries, but also to artists' studios. "Gallery receptions, neighborhood dining and bars, and live music add to the evening’s festivities." Check out Space Invader's art while you're in the neighborhood. 5:30 to 8:30pm // Various Locations // Free EVENT: Hiroko & Steve Rodriguez (5boro Skateboards) invite you to the Grand Opening of Travessia (their gallery/boutique combo) tonight. There will be a......

The Reverend Al Sharpton, who has been representing the family of police shooting victim Sean Bell, weighed in about the taxi driver who Bell shooting cop Michael Oliver allegedly assaulted 12 years ago. Sharpton held a press conference, where he said that revelations about Oliver show that's he's "inappropriate at best, and biased and racist at worst." Oliver allegedly told immigrant Moussa Ndiyae "I don't know what you're doing here. I'm going to send you......

Billy Bob Thorton sets aside his raunchy Bad Santa persona with his new family movie The Astronaut Farmer about a man building a rocket in his backyard. This family drama looks cheesy like Velveeta from the previews, but hey, that's what you expect with these "ordinary Dad does extraordinary thing" movies. They're always heavy on the sentiment. Jim Carrey senses the universe may be trying to communicate mysteries to him through numerology and a book......

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, visited New York City yesterday. While the showiest part of their night may have been the presentation of a Global Environmental Citizen Award to the Prince from the Harvard Medical School's Center for Health and the Global Environment, we bet the most fun was had during the couple's visit the the Harlem Children's Zone. The Harlem Children's Zone, which includes the Promise Academy and other services and programs......

Over two weeks after his death, James Brown's body has still not been buried. His attorneys and children are settling issues surrounding his estate, including where he will be laid to rest. From NME: "Brown's lawyer Buddy Dallas said that the late singer's will has yet to be filed. He added that trustees for his will, along with Brown's children, will determine the burial site." Currently Brown's body is lying in a sealed casket at......

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: "arsonists arrested" (!) in Bay Ridge, Pedestrian struck by car on Houston and Ave C, and a car vs. scaffolding in the West Village. One of the young investment bankers implicated in last year's massive insider trading scandal has pled guilty-- and he's going up the river for 37 months. "A large part of 145th Street in Harlem soon may be renamed in honor of the late James Brown."......

A look at some noteworthy programs this week: New York City Ballet: Bringing Balanchine Back (Sunday, 7:00 p.m. WNET 13) Kevin Kline narrates this documentary following the journey of the New York City Balet to St. Petersburg, the birthplace of its founder George Balanchine, where they perform at the storied Mariinsky Theatre. Great Performances Garrison Keillor's New Year's Eve Special (Sunday, 10:00 p.m. WNET 13 and NJN) we all know about the other hackneyed New......

Yesterday was James Brown's last time on stage at the Apollo. His 24-karat gold-plated coffin was carried inside after traveling in a horse drawn carriage. Brown's coffin traveled through Wednesday night to get to Harlem by Thursday morning. His old chauffeur made the drive with Al Sharpton, who had a close relationship to Brown. Sharpton, Brown's daughters and his current wife (who may not be legally married to Brown), Tomi Rae Hynie, were all in......

Earlier today, a horse drawn carriage carrying the casket of James Brown traveled through Harlem to the Apollo Theater, where fans had been lining up since last night to pay their respects to the Godfather of Soul. People had followed in the street, singing "Say it Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud." The casket was carried into the Apollo for his body to lie in repose between 1PM and 8PM. (That's the Reverend......

2007 is just around the corner, and we've got a little tip sheet on where to be when the clock strikes midnight. MUSIC + PARTY • Clap Your Hands Say Yeah will help ring in the new year with their guests the Bob Mould Band and Final Fantasy at Hammerstein Ballroom. Our friends at Stereogum are sponsoring the show, and tickets are still available here. Clap's second album, Some Loud Thunder, comes out in January,......

Looks like Spike Lee called dibs on directing the James Brown biopic. The biography was authorized by Brown before his passing and Lee will rewrite the draft (that's already gone through several rewrites) by Jezz and John Henry Butterworth. The film may be in production as early as fall/winter 2007. Meanwhile, fans have been lined up at the Apollo to pay tribute to Brown since early this morning. Al Sharpton drove from Georgia with Brown's......

In more James Brown news: He will lie in repose at the Apollo on Thursday. "The Godfather of Soul will get a New York-style tribute tomorrow, when he lies in state at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. Tomorrow afternoon and evening the public will get the chance to say their goodbyes to James Brown in person, starting at 1 p.m. His close friend Reverend Al Sharpton will deliver a sermon at 7:30 p.m. The......

James Brown's death yesterday, to many, was more than a loss of "the hardest working man in show business". Reverend Al Sharpton, who toured with him in the 70s and will lead his funeral services, says Brown was the father he never had. On top of that Brown also helped Sharpton become a civil rights leader, after Brown's son (a friend of Sharpton's) died in a car accident. Sharpton stated yesterday to a crowd......

James Brown, the legendary performer who influenced scores of musicians today, died today at age 73. The cause was congestive heart failure. Read what Jon Pareles of the NY Times wrote in an obituary that we believe will be updated throughout the day:Mr. Brown's music was sweaty and complex, disciplined and wild, lusty and socially conscious. Beyond his dozens of hits, Mr. Brown forged an entire musical idiom that is now a foundation of......

After Wired ran a story documenting the GoogleCenter of the United States a bunch of ists jumped on the opportunity to figure out their own middle. Gothamist, Chicagoist, Bostonist and Seattlest all zoomed in on their creamy GoogleCenters. A crack cartography team is hard at work determining the GoogleCenter of the Ist-a-verse as you read this... Austinist read a book about Olympian Bode Miller and liked it. They also took a few pictures of the......

Earlier this week kissy couples were wading through roses and red tissue paper deeper than an east coast snow dump and singles shook a tiny, lonely fist (no ring!) at it all. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 - Valentine's season is in the can, finally. Austinist is already pulsing with SX energy and posting on the People's Choice Award nominees and the short films that will be playing while the......

What? No New Year's plans? Leaving it a bit late, no? Forget the overcrowded bars, the swarms of amateurs, the lame-o house parties. There are a ridiculous number of shows happening around town, some of which are worth your time and some of which not so much. Many of them are sold out, but it's highly possible you could score with the scalpers. Let's have a little look-see, shall we? 2005 was a big year......

Built to Spill was one of the biggest indie rock bands of the 90's, and one of the biggest indie rock bands ever. Many thought they were gone forever, but they're not. Before their new album comes out this September, they'll entertain us at four recommended NYC shows: Irving, Irving, Irving, Southpaw. Also still making music: Weezer (you were eleven years younger when you first heard "Buddy Holly"). They have a new album out......

We first caught the guitar heavy indie-punk band These Bones during CMJ, but we had heard their cover of Britney's Toxic long before then. With a sound that borders on garage anthem rock and choppy punk the bands style and energy certainly doesn't do anything to hurt their live show. You know how people don't dance at shows in this city? They do at These Bones. It's rock n' roll for the attention deficet......

In the many concepts that Spike TV is trying to introduce, in order to shore up their audience, Gothamist would definitely take a cotton to the Arts > Al Sharpton to Host 'I Hate My Job'" href="http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts/AP-TV-Sharpton.html?ex=1089565102&ei=1&en=2dbbae0b60ad2b62">proposed reality show hosted by Al Sharpton, "I Hate My Job." While the actual details of the show are okay ("eight men � including a pre-school teacher, a manure shoveler for a compost company, a lawyer and a handyman......

It's so weird, but when Gothamist is charged with illegal possession of painkillers and has to show up in court, we try to look like we're not using them at the time. We run a comb through our hair, maybe wash our face, have a cup of coffee. God, Gothamist has been embarrased of our parents, but poor, poor, poor Frances Bean. More celebrity legal fun: whatevs on the mug shot of James Brown, who......

New York shopping instution Barneys has unveiled a new website, complete with online shopping (though for only a very limited selection of products). Gothamist is intrigued by the bizarre plush tree stump with two cubbie holes (go to "Shopping," then "Home & Baby Gifts," then finally "Baby Gifts") selling for $150 - can this fit cats or bunnies? And if yes, we want them to create some sort of menagerie in our apartment. Another......

See the Godfather of Soul James Brown tonight at Battery Park. It's part of the River to River Festival. Check out more events from River to River. More from NY1.......