Yesterday, we heard from the Brooklyn Paper that Studio B, the Greenpoint hipster hangout, had been closed down by the Department of Buildings, which revoked the club's license to host large crowds indoors. Neighborhood locals complained that the club was "too noisy, doesn't control its customers and built a second floor addition without a permit," forcing the city's hand.

Having never had anything more than a marginally good time at Studio B, we can't say we're sorry to see it go, but those nostalgic for the good old days of February won't be left without options. Galapagos, recently relocated to Dumbo, is now open, hosting theater, cabaret, dance, orchestral music, puppetry and whatever else you can imagine (although no rock and/or roll).

Brooklyn Based, the thrice-weekly email list of the borough's best offerings, has an interview with the art space's director and founder Robert Elmes, in which he reveals that they might start a "new ferry planned for N. 8th Street to Dumbo" to help shuttle the crowds from Williamsburg. And all this time we were worried the Real World would be bad.

There has been a lot of chatter this week about the ever disappearing "New York of Old." First there was a Times article on the last remnants of Manhattan's Lower East Side shops, and then came word that everyone's favorite late night eatery "Florent" would close its doors next month (the addition of mac 'n cheese to the menu was apparently a sign of the end times). Now the NYTs "City Room" wants to know what you miss about "Old New York."

Personally, we've never been one hundred percent convinced that the place actually existed — not that this ever stops us from bemoaning the current state of Ave B or complaining about the fact there are tour buses in Brooklyn. A glance over the comments reveals that, so far, the winner (or loser depending how you look at it) seems to be the old Penn Station. However, this guy definitely gets top marks for sarcasm (or is he merely channeling the future?).

Banks. I miss banks. Have you noticed there aren't any more BANKS in Ol' Gotham? Can't find a one anywhere. And drugstores! Oh, how I miss seeing those Duane Reade's and CVS's and Walgreens.

FishbowlDC reports the sad news that Bloomberg's Lee Walczak lost his two-year battle with cancer Sunday night. Before joining Bloomberg in 2006, he had been BusinessWeek's Washington bureau chief for 20 years.

Express your condolences or write your favorite memories here.

Veteran ZDNet blogger Russell Shaw passed away this weekend. He covered internet telephony for the company.

Our thoughts go out to his friends and family.

From DM News comes the news that Ziff Davis Media, publishers of PC Magazine among other titles, filed for Chap. 11 today.

Integrated media company Ziff Davis Media Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York as it attempts to implement a restructuring program. Ziff Davis expects operations to continue as usual during the reorganization process and to emerge from Chapter 11 this summer with an improved capital structure.

We'll be back tomorrow with more.

RELATED: Ziff Davis Media files Chap. 11 [PRNewser]

Sad news to report. Glen Giles of Hallmark Data Systems and the Western Fulfillment Management Association was killed in an apparent homicide. Giles, who previously worked at BPA Worldwide, ESP, Strategic and Hutchings, was a major national figure within the tight-knit world of magazine circulation. A prominent figure in b-to-b publishing, he was found stabbed to death across from his Burbank, CA house, on the porch of his neighbor's house directly across the street. It appears that after he was stabbed at home, Giles managed to make his way across the street while attempting to get help. A suspect is in custody and friends were stunned that the 6'4", 340 pound ex-varsity basketball player was stabbed. Giles, who was single, is survived by his sister, brother-in-law and mother.

(Image via Folio)

The Associated Press' longtime budget director was found dead under bizarre circumstances at a Brooklyn hotel.

Paul Mento, 52, was found dead in a hotel bathroom with his face covered by duct tape inside the Best Western Gregory Hotel in Bay Ridge. Mento, a father of two, had worked at The Associated Press for 26 years. He started at the AP as an audit clerk in 1978 and worked his way up to budget director in 1988 before leaving the AP in 2004. Police believe Mento's death was a suicide and have found indications that he had a gambling problem.

This was the second death in 90 days at the Bay Ridge hotel. The Associated Press was reached for comment but cited company policy on not commenting on personnel.

Longtime Post and Daily News freelance gossip columnist Baird Jones has passed away of apparently natural causes. Ben Widdicombe has more.

Our thoughts go out to his friends and family.

We just got the sad news that retired ABC National Security correspondent John McWethy has died in a ski accident.

Our condolences go out to his family and loved ones.

Michael Thaler, a longtime editor at Hackensack daily The North Jersey Record, passed away on January 4 of parathyroid cancer at the age of 45. The paper's obit writer, Jay Levin, wrote a tribute to him that's well worth reading. Why are we writing about an editor at a North Jersey newspaper passing away? Because the loss of any journalist at such a young age is a terrible thing. Check out the piece; it's worth it.