80s heartthrob Corey Haim passed away in the early hours of this morning in his LA home. Famed for his role in cult film The Lost Boys, and lesser known for a brief romance with former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, Corey Haim will never be forgotten. I plan to watch "The Lost Boys" several times this weekend for sure.—Molly Donovan
It was all a dream...Today marks the 13th anniversary of the death of The Notorious B.I.G., and the Atlantic (of all places) has a nice little round-up of tributes.
Was just riding home on the 55 bus when I saw a crowd of very sad looking people gathered outside the McQueen offices. A few minutes later I heard the horrible news that Lee Mcqueen had been found dead in his home. An inspiration to the fashion world and the ultimate createur. He will be sorely missed.
JD Salinger, author of iconic American novels The Catcher in the Rye and Franny and Zooey, died at age 91. Salinger was a known recluse, and hadn't published anything since 1965. (Via The New York Times.)
Twenty-year-old model Daul Kim was found dead yesterday in her apartment, of apparent suicide. This is truly, truly sad.
As an adult, it's not unusual to look back at the staples of your childhood and realize they were all vaguely creepy. Such is definitely the case with Showbiz Pizza and its animatronic band, The Rock-afire Explosion. A group of musical robots in animal suits, it didn't get any weirder, and now it's memorialized in a documentary, called The Rock-afire Explosion, screening tonight at Anthology Film Archives. There will be pizza. (Via The Moment.)
After enough radness to get them booted from the Flying W, Making Time found a new spot to hold their final pool party of 2009. And it's even in the city. Read the full story here.
Brian and Bobby Speak is a blog featuring the written correspondence of Brian McTear and Bobby Wolter. Brian and Bobby have both spent their lives battling Cystic Fibrosis, and due to the dangers of CF, Brian and Bobby have never actually met. It is under these circumstances that they forged an intimate and long lasting friendship. The honesty with which they discuss death, love, and life, among a wide range of subjects, is refreshing, hilarious, and at times, heartbreaking. Sadly, Bobby Wolter, an Urban employee and dear friend, passed away early Saturday due to complications from CF. As his letters to Brian show, Bobby was one of a kind. A sweet, caring, and open person, he brimmed with life even as he struggled with it daily. For those of us who knew him, he is absolutely irreplaceable. For those that weren't lucky enough to meet Bobby, you can get to know him through his letters.
Les Paul (above, right), inventor of his famous, eponymous electric guitars, died today at the age of 94.
In which one blogger remembers her teenage pen-pal, director John Hughes.
Dash Snow died last night of an apparent drug overdose in New York. In the last couple of years, the controversial artist achieved mythical status, for his model good looks, his lifestyle and his appropriation as everything that was both right and wrong about the downtown art scene. His life was one for which the phrase "stranger than fiction" was coined, as evidenced in a 2007 New York Magazine article, and regardless of how you feel about his art, you have to admit that the city just got a little less interesting. (Photo of Dash Snow with Ryan McGinley and Dan Colen by Cass Bird.)
Yoko Devereaux's Liquidation Celebration starts today online and continues until July 2nd. With tees and tanks marked as low as $5 it might be enough to help you forget that they're closing their doors. Sniffle, sniffle.
Farrah Fawcett died of cancer earlier this morning. We spent many summers in the '80s watching Charlie's Angels reruns, so we'll always remember her in those bombshell days, and for bringing pop-culture one of the most famous posters of all time.
Ed McMahon died yesterday at age 86. He was long known as Johnny Carson's sidekick, the host of Star Search and as the spokesperson for Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes. And as evidenced by the pink shirt in this photo, he was a natty dresser till the end.
Rumors about the end of the line for Mayle have abounded for a while now, but a date has finally been set: Jane Mayle will close her beloved Nolita shop on February 28, but will then open a Mayle retrospective pop-up shop with a selection of classic pieces redone in fabrics from the Mayle archives on March 6. Expect fashionistas the city over to call in sick for a day of mourning—and shopping. (Via StyleFile.)
While I've never been the hugest fan of wearing brand logos, you cannot deny the greatness of this new Brian Lichtenberg shirt for Blood Is The New Black. Especially since it's printed on a soft faded black shirt and wearing it you will probably make you the envy of everyone you know. No big deal. X - Jen
Lux Interior, front man of the Cramps, died today at age 62. Interior, born Eric Lee Purkhiser, fronted the Cramps with his wife, Kristy "Poison Ivy" Wallace in 1976, and the band was a staple at CGBG during the birth of punk, and even coined the term 'pyschobilly.' (Via Pitchfork.)
It was with great sadness and many regrets this past weekend that Gallery Space at Space 15 Twenty closed down its Tiny Vices Books exhibit—er, not. Instead, there were performances by Abe Vigoda (the band, not the comedian, though that would have been awesome, too), The Goat, and Mikki and the Mauses. Judging from the photos, good times were had by all.
On the 30th anniversary of her death, New York Magazine looks at the short life of Philly-born Nancy Spungen, and posits the idea that when Nancy died, punk rock went with her. (Via Jezebel.)
The famed Mr. Blackwell, of Mr. Blackwell's Worst-Dressed List, died today, and with him goes the wit that once called Madonna "The Bare-Bottomed Bore of Babylon."
