Earlier this week, Beastie Boy "MCA” Adam Yauch announced (in the clip above) the very sad news of his diagnosis with a cancerous tumor in his salivary gland. Both the Beastie Boys’ summer concert dates have been canceled, and their upcoming album release, Hot Sauce, has been pushed to a later date so Adam can tend to treatment and surgery. The canceled dates left openings at several concerts, including New York’s biggest festival, All Points West -- the Beasties were set to perform on July 31. Yesterday, APW revealed that Jay-Z is stepping up to the plate and filling in for his buddies for the Friday-night headlining slot.

When Adam Yauch walks into the room, he’s demure. Graying, meek, and quiet, it’s hard to imagine him the delinquent who, 22 years ago, coaxed us into fighting for our right to party. He’s a man who shook stadiums, starred in classic videos, forefronted New York rap for over two decades, and is now establishing himself as a filmmaker to be reckoned with. Yauch is here to discuss his first major Beastie Boys-less project—the precise yet goofy documentary Gunnin’ For That #1 Spot, about eight elite high school basketball players and the lead-up to an all-star game in Harlem’s hallowed playground, Rucker Park.

Last night at Bottino, the barely-there air-conditioning wasn't doing its part in helping the sweat off my forehead. The shoulder-to-shoulder guests didn’t help either, and the cool white wine was futile. It was hot. I envied the rows upon rows of Heinekens, Coronas, and Amstel Lights, cooling off in a field of ice. So I drank as many as possible, because, well, screw them. But to be fair, revenge upon beer wasn’t my sole reason for sweating my away around the Chelsea restaurant. There was an event going on, funds were being raised, awards were being presented, and young talent was being recognized. The Ghetto Film School is a nonprofit film training program started in the South Bronx, and last night was their fourth annual Spring Benefit, celebrating excellence and raising money to send ten of its students to Uganda, for their fourth-ever thesis film project.