DUMBO: Jane's Carousel Almost Ready

Workers are going around the clock to get Jane's Carousel in Empire State Park ready to open by September 16th, the opening date posted on Janescarousel.com.

The carousel's housing, designed by Jean Nouvel, shone like a jewel last night. A few workers were still inside, but not the horses. A park employee told us that Walentas hoped to open the park as early as Labor Day but that seems like it would be pushing it.

Photo by MK Metz

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Brooklyn Heights: Chopping Up the Mansion House Elm

The giant elm in front of the Mansion House on Hicks Street in Brooklyn Heights blew down Sunday during Hurricane Irene. The elm was roughly 85 years old, and was one of the few survivors of Dutch elm disease in the Heights. (More about the tree blowing down here.)

Workers from Terry Tree Service started chopping up the tree at around 9 a.m. Monday.

They started with the small limbs that had smashed against the wooden frame houses across the street.

It took about six hours to clear the tree away. When they were done you could see the broken cast iron fence at 146 Hicks Street, directly across from the Mansion House. Some wooden pieces fell off the facade as well.

Workers from the Mansion House picked up the bricks from where a wall used to stand. Terry Tree Service left the trunk for the Mansion House to take care of.

Photos by MK Metz

- Giant Elm With Contentious History Felled in Heights

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Missing Person In Columbia Street Waterfront District, Brooklyn

The NYPD has issued a Missing Senior Notification for Parvez Khan, male, of Pakistani descent, age 66. He is 5'5", 155 lbs, with brown eyes and black balding hair, wearing a white shirt, black pants, and white sneakers.

He was last seen near Baltic St. and Columbia St. in Brooklyn on 8/23/11. Mr. Khan is in good physical condition but poor mental condition. If you see Mr. Khan, call 800-577-TIPS (8477).

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Have a Safe Day, Everybody

Positive plywooding from Galapagos in DUMBO.

Photo by MK Metz

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No Buses From Brooklyn to Manhattan. Thanks, MTA.

What's missing from the bus map above?

Brooklyn commuters scrambling to find a way to travel to Manhattan in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene can say, "Thanks, MTA, for eliminating the only bus routes from Downtown Brooklyn and Williamsburg to Manhattan."

MTA decided last year to eliminate the B51 from Downtown Brooklyn to Manhattan, and the B39 from Williamsburg to Manhattan. They saved a miniscule amount of money -- probably less than it costs to chauffeur the MTA bosses around by car --and inconvenienced thousands of commuters, especially elderly, disabled and high school students.

MTA will crank up subway service this morning starting at 6 a.m. but warns that trains will run less frequently
and will be more crowded than usual.

Ever helpful, Mayor Bloomberg said yesterday at his post-Irene press conference, "There’s taxis, and some people can walk."

Thanks for the advice, Mayor.

- No More Bus Between Brooklyn and Manhattan

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Giant Linden Tree On Joralemon Street Just Fell On Someone's Car: Brooklyn Heights

At 5 p.m. this afternoon, when the streets were full of strolling pedestrians (celebrating the departure of Hurricane Irene), a giant Linden tree came crashing down on top of someone's car on Joralemon Street. The front windshield was cracked (and the roof may have been dented but it was hard to tell). The tree was growing in front of 49 Joralemon Street.

A white car, parked behind the blue one, can be seen buried in the branches. The tree's trunk didn't land on this one so it may not be very damaged.

Earlier this morning Hurricane Irene blew down the huge old elm tree in front of the Mansion House on Hicks Street.

Photos by MK Metz

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Hurricane Irene Blows Down Huge Old Elm Tree in Brooklyn Heights

The huge and lovely 80-year-old elm tree in front of the Mansion House at 145 Hicks Street in Brooklyn Heights was blown down by Hurricane Irene early this morning.

Residents of the Mansion House told the Brooklyn Eagle back in 2007 that the tree was "one of the few healthy survivors of the Dutch elm disease that devastated most of these majestic trees in the past century."

The tree caused a stir (and here) several years ago when the Mansion House considered chopping it down. But popular sentiment prevailed and the tree was stabilized with cables instead.

Super-saturated soil and wind from Hurricane Irene finally brought this graceful giant down.

The tree fell on an early-19th century (1826) wooden house at 146 Hicks Street, smashing the iron fence and perhaps causing some structural damage. It also hit 148 Hicks, a similar old frame house. The Wooden House Project blog has information about these houses.

UPDATE: Late Sunday afternoon a giant linden tree crashed down on Joralemon Street. More here.

- Arborcide in Brooklyn Heights, Again

Photos by MK Metz

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Hurricane Irene Power Outages in Brooklyn -- UPDATE Sunday, 8 p.m.

UPDATE: As of 8 p.m. Sunday, Con Ed reports that roughly 7,000 customers in Brooklyn are still without power.The company says it hopes to get all power up and running by Tuesday.

* * *

Before Hurricane Irene Hit Brooklyn Heights

We were wandering around Brooklyn Heights before Hurricane Irene this evening. After a day of taping windows, clearing balconies, filling bathtub, charging batteries, etc, we were hungry. Most stores and restaurants had closed or were putting on the last bit of tape or plywood. That's the Plymouth Deli on Henry Street, above.

In spite of buying about a hundred dollars worth of survival food and water yesterday, we were looking for something good. Gristedes was pretty much sold out.

Key Food on Montague Street was closed.

Even Starbucks was closed!

But there, like a lovely oasis, was Lassen & Hennigs. Neighborhood folks were shopping like there wasn't going to be a hurricane in a couple of hours and they had plenty of everything that all the other stores were out of: cases of water, salads, pastas, dinner stuff, sandwiches, snacks, but best of all . . .

Hot, juicy, mouth-watering, fresh-roasted chicken! Way to go, Lassen! We're coming here before every hurricane.

Photos by MK Metz

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Irene On Way, and Now a Tornado Watch in Brooklyn and All New York City

Waiting for Irene on Brooklyn Heights Promenade.

Hurricane Irene is just hours away, and now the National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch for Brooklyn and the surrounding boroughs. The Tornado watch is in effect until 5 a.m. Sunday.

Probably time to stay inside.

- Storm Surge Will Hit Brooklyn

- Hurricane Irene Prompts Hazardous Weather Outlook In Brooklyn, New York City

Photo by MK Metz

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Hurricane Irene: Storm Surge Will Hit Brooklyn - UPDATED Saturday p.m.

The odds of Brooklyn waterfront experiencing storm surged has increased to 100 percent.

FEMA warns that the greatest potential for loss of life related to a hurricane is from the storm surge.

Storm surge is water that is pushed toward the shore by the force of a strong storm or hurricane, such as the rapidly-approaching Hurricane Irene. This advancing surge combines with the normal tides to flood roads, homes and critical infrastructure.

Compare the National Hurricane Center's storm surge probability map above, calculated Saturday at 4 p.m., with the one below, calculated Thursday.

The areas that are now in the purple zone -- Bay Ridge, Fort Hamilton, Bath Beach, Coney Island, parts of Red Hook and Gowanus, (lower) Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, Vinegar Hill, the Navy Yard, Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Brighton Beach  -- have a 100 percent probability of getting at least two feet of storm surge. They have a 40 -50 percent chance of four feet of storm surge. This is double the amount of storm surge calculated Thursday.

The reddish-purple areas -- Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach and most of the Rockaways -- have an 80 - 90 percent probability of at least two feet of storm surge.They have a 30 -50 percent probability of at least four feet of storm surge.

The small green areas near Gowanus and part of Red Hook have a 10 - 30 percent chance of at least two feet of storm surge.

* * *

Storm Surge Probabilities Calculated Thursday, August 25

The map above shows the storm surge probabilities for the area as calculated at 5 p.m. Thursday evening.

Check with NOAA's storm surge calculator as the Hurricane Irene approaches to see if your neighborhood is in danger from storm surge.

More here:

Things You Need to Buy Before the Hurricane Hits

Hurricane Irene Prompts Hazardous Weather Outlook in Brooklyn, New York City

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Hurricane Irene In Brooklyn -- Hunker Down Saturday

Hurricane Irene 8-27-11 noon NOAA

Brooklyn is now on the fringe of Hurricane Irene, so expect increasing amounts of rain throughout the afternoon.

Brooklyn, Long Island and all of New York City is under a hurricane warning. The full Category 1 storm is expected to hit us tonight with winds between 55 and 80 miles an hour in Brooklyn, with higher gusts in Long Island. The greatest danger to us here is from the storm surge.

Stores Closing Early -- Last Chance to Get Supplies

Reports are in that some stores are closing early to let employees get home. It's not or never, folks!
Things You Need to Buy Before the Hurricane Hits

Mass Transit

A full-system shutdown is underway.
The subways and buses are now closed or closing, as are the LIRR and Amtrak. Some PATH trains will remaining running til 6 p.m. today (Saturday).

Evacuation

Mayor Bloomberg has issued a mandatory evacuation order for the more than 370,000 New Yorkers residing in the low-lying areas called Zone A areas, and in the rest of the Rockaways, which is classified as Zone B. (Zone B is higher, but the Rockaways are a special case because if the bridges get closed, there's no way off the island.)

Here's a zone finder to see if you live in an evacuation zone.

Here's the city's evacuation map (pdf).

Map Problems: The city's evacuation map is crashing. Try the New York Times.

Staten Island Ferry service will be suspended as of 10 p.m. tonight or earlier if the winds come earlier. Mayor Bloomberg said this morning that city bridges may close if high winds make driving across them dangerous. The TBTA and Port Authority bridges, which tend to be the bigger, higher bridges, may close even earlier.

Power

If the low-lying areas begin to flood, Con Ed may have to shut down their power lines. NYCHA buildings will be shutting down their elevators, as will other buildings. If winds reach 100 mph the Indian Point nuclear plant may shut down, reducing the city's available electricity.

Evacuation Center Note:
The Evacuation Center at JHS 57, 125 Stuyvesant Avenue, Brooklyn, is being closed. The center will be moved to PS26, 1010 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn.

Yankees and Mets games have been canceled. Giants and Jets games have been moved to Monday night.

More:
- Hurricane Irene Prompts Hazardous Weather Outlook In Brooklyn, New York City
- Hurricane Irene: Storm Surge Probabilities Increasing for Brooklyn


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The Old Days: 1893 Hurricane in Brooklyn Heights and Downtown Brooklyn

Here's the beginning of an article published in the New York Times in 1893 which gives a fascinating look at the damage caused in Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn and the "sparsely settled suburbs" from a monstrous hurricane (called a cyclone by the paper) that swept through the independent city of Brooklyn.

The subhead reads: "Many Cellars Flooded -- Houses Dismantled -- Streets Caved In"

According to Wikipedia, winds from the storm exceeded 50 mph. At Coney Island, the storm completely destroyed many buildings, walkways, piers, and beach resorts. Brighton Beach was also hit hard. Houses were dismantled and uprooted trees blocked streets.

Click to enlarge.

Read the rest of the article here.

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Hurricane Irene from Space, Friday at Noon

This image of Hurricane Irene from the MODIS instrument aboard NASA's Terra satellite was taken at August 26 at 12:30 p.m. EDT, when Hurricane Irene was off the Carolinas.

Hurricane Irene updates here.

Credit: NASA Goddard MODIS Rapid Response Team

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Tacky Changes To Gage & Tollner in Brooklyn Made Without Landmarks Approval

Landmarks says the hot pink material and wall panels installed by the new tenant of the landmarked former Gage & Tollner restaurant on Fulton Mall may have to go, reports the Brooklyn Eagle.

Amazing it got away with this for so long.

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Things You Need To Buy Before the Hurricane Hits Brooklyn / New York City

Assuming you are going to ride out the hurricane without evacuating, here is a list of things you should have in your house or apartment to survive comfortably for a couple of days, even if the power goes out.

(Note: This is NOT a "Go Bag." This is a stay at home shopping list. If you are in an evacuation zone, you had better get your Go Bag ready now.)

Hurricane Shopping List:

- Cash: Get enough cash for a few days' needs. Break it into smaller denominations. (Remember the last time the power went out none of the ATMs worked?)

- Basics electronics: Flashlight, transistor radio, batteries. Here in Brooklyn, many drug stores and major groceries have already sold out of several sizes of batteries -- go to little bodegas and oddball stores to find them.

- Duct tape. (To tape big "Xs" on your windows facing the wind so they won't shatter, and to tape plastic sheeting or hefty bags over the ones that break.) Don't do this. We still haven't gotten the tape residue off the windows -- a year after the hurricane.


- Water: Fill up jugs with water, or buy a 24-pack of Poland Springs drinking-size bottled water -- $4.99 at CVS, $9.99 at Gristedes. Get some individual juices if you like them. (Fill up your bathtub for water to flush the toilet. You'll need a bucket or plastic garbage can for this.)

- Food*: Granola and protein bars, nuts, a box of crackers, cans of tuna fish or other protein (after your mayo goes bad pour in a little oil), fresh peaches and apples, dried fruit, single serving canned fruit. Want hot food? Buy a couple of cans of Sterno (you'll need matches!) and some canned food or dry packaged meals and soup. If you like cereal make sure to buy powered or canned milk or Parmalat. Get some cookies and snacks. Buy paper plates, cups and utensils (there may be no water to wash dishes).  Make sure you have a manual can opener.

*(You're going to eat this stuff after you have first eaten the food in your refrigerator that will spoil within a few hours. To keep items cooler longer, avoid opening the fridge unless absolutely necessary.)

- Pet food! Kitty litter!

- Important Meds: Aspirin, prescriptions and anti-diarrhea medicine. Hand sanitizer. Rubbing alcohol. Contact lens solution. Toilet paper, paper towels, tissues. Feminine supplies. Condoms. Baby wipes to wash up if the water stops.

- Baby Things: Diapers, baby meds and formula, baby food. (Again, baby wipes to keep them clean if no water is available for baths.)

- Communications: Charge your cell phone and other electronic gear. If circuits are busy send text messages, which will go through if any cell towers are working, even if voice doesn't. If the power is out altogether, standard landline phones, which run on the power running through the phone wires, usually work.

- Misc.: A book to read. An itty-bitty book light.

NOTE: Electric stoves won't work in a power failure. Gas stoves with a pilot light work even if the electricity goes out, but the newer gas stoves have an electric igniter and they won't work. You may be able to manually light them with a match, however.

Ready.gov has much more information about preparing for a hurricane emergency.

More Here:
- Hurricane Irene Prompts Hazardous Weather Outlook In Brooklyn, New York City
- Hurricane Irene: Storm Surge Probabilities Increasing for Brooklyn

Photo by Jeff Keen, Creative Commons license 

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Hurricane Irene Prompts Hazardous Weather Outlook In Brooklyn, New York City- UPDATE

UPDATED: Saturday, August 27 here

UPDATED: Friday, August 26:

As Hurricane Irene heads towards The East Coast, the National Weather Service issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for Brooklyn, New York City and the surrounding areas.

According to NOAA as of Friday morning:


IMPACTS FROM HURRICANE IRENE ARE LIKELY FROM SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY NIGHT. CONDITIONS ARE THEN LIKELY TO RAPIDLY DETERIORATE IN TORRENTIAL RAIN AND STRENGTHENING WINDS LATE SATURDAY NIGHT.

THE WORST CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY LATE SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY AFTERNOON WITH INCREASING POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGING WINDS...FLOODING RAINS...AND SIGNIFICANT COASTAL FLOODING ACROSS MUCH OF THE REGION.

DEPENDING ON THE TRACK...INTENSITY AND TIMING OF THE HURRICANE...A DANGEROUS AND POSSIBLY LIFE THREATENING STORM SURGE COULD OCCUR LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON INTO SUNDAY EVENING.

ADDITIONAL IMPACTS FROM THIS SYSTEM COULD BE SIGNIFICANT BEACH EROSION...WHICH COULD BEGIN AS EARLY AS FRIDAY NIGHT AS LARGE SWELLS FROM IRENE BEGIN TO ARRIVE.

SIGNIFICANT AND WIDESPREAD URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING WILL ALSO BE AN ISSUE. AS A RESULT A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA.

NOW IS THE TIME TO REVIEW YOUR HURRICANE PLAN.
BE READY TO EVACUATE IF NECESSARY.

More Here:

Storm Surge Updates Here

Things You Need to Buy Before the Hurricane Hits 

* * *
Tuesday, August 23
Irene is presently a Category 2 hurricane near the Bahamas, but is expected to increase to Category 3 shortly. While the timing is uncertain this far in advance, the impacts of the storm could begin hitting this area on Saturday, according to NOAA.

From NOAA:
IMPACTS FROM TROPICAL SYSTEM IRENE ARE POSSIBLE LATE THIS WEEKEND AND FOR THE START OF NEXT WEEK. THE TIMING IS UNCERTAIN...BUT IMPACTS COULD BEGIN STARTING ON SATURDAY. HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS ARE POSSIBLE DURING THIS TIME PERIOD.

ADDITIONAL IMPACTS FROM THIS SYSTEM COULD BE SIGNIFICANT BEACH EROSION...HIGH SURF WITH DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS...AND COASTAL FLOODING.

The Christian Science Monitor reports that Irene "could reach Category 3 as early as Tuesday and possibly become a monster Category 4 storm within 72 hours."

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Another Pedestrian Mowed Down By Biker On Brooklyn Bridge

Forget the Cyclone -- one of the scariest places in Brooklyn is the walkway of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Another in a long list of near-death experiences, a biker ran into a pedestrian on the bridge walkway at roughly 6 p.m. yesterday. Witnesses said that the pedestrian was in the pedestrian half of the walkway, and the biker ran into her from behind.

The biker stopped momentarily, witnesses said, but was not present as emergency responders from FDNY stabilized the victim's head and neck and carried her to a waiting ambulance.

Biker / pedestrian collisions are a frequent occurrence (here, here, here, here) on the Brooklyn Bridge, packed with thousands of  pedestrians and fast-moving bikers during rush hours.  Pedestrians are supposed to stay in their half of the walkway and bikers in theirs, but the narrow lanes are so crowded that this is virtually impossible.

Bikers fear oblivious tourists and darting children, and pedestrians are terrorized by a minority of bikers who blast past them, just inches away, at 30 mph.

This is an ongoing problem. Some possible solutions are here.

UPDATE: The Brooklyn Eagle has more details on the collision here.

Photo by MK Metz

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Alan Harding Sued; Thrown Out Cat Adopted; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- Alan Harding, owner or partner in popular Smith Street eateries like Pacifico, Patois and Gowanus Yacht Club, is being sued by his estranged wife Leslie Parks, the Brooklyn Eagle reports. Ms. Parks is daughter of the late filmmaker and musician Gordon Parks. 

- Brad McDonald, the new Executive Chef at Colonie on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn Heights, will be opening a small, “kitchen-focused” restaurant in DUMBO. BHPress

- Cat thrown out on Verrazano Bridge adopted by Whoopi Goldberg. Gothamist

- Woman robbed at gunpoint on Williamsburg Bridge. Gothamist 

- The infamous “Son of Sam” serial killer, David Berkowitz, has no intention of seeking parole from prison as he is now a born-again Christian.  Brooklyn Eagle

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Time-Lapse Video of Hurricane Irene Forming In Atlantic, from NOAA

Hurricane Irene's evolution from tropical wave to Category 3 storm is shown here in time-lapse imagery from the GOES-East satellite starting on August 19th and ending on August 24, 2011.

Visualization courtesy of  NOAAVisualizations.

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Unnerved Pigeons; Gribbles and Borers; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- A photo shows that pigeons in Brooklyn were just as unnerved by the earthquake as the borough's human residents. BHPress

- Jane's Carousel opening announced. Brownstoner

- Three more digital companies moving to DUMBO.  Brooklyn Eagle

- Waterfront parks like Brooklyn Bridge Park are spending millions to ward off gribbles and borers. NY Times 

- Dov Hikind is ecstatic over removal of pedestrial islands. Brooklyn Politics

- They caught the guy who robbed the Chase bank on Myrtle Avenue last week. The Local

- Brooklyn home prices up 8 percent, but still down 24 percent from the peak. Brooklyn Eagle

- The most disgusting thing we've ever heard about hotel rooms. NY Times

- Facebook is preparing for Armageddon. Gawker 

- Freeze-dried food with a 30-year shelf life. Shelf Reliance 
 

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Earthquake: Brooklyn Probably Shook More Than Manhattan

Hipsters were right: Brooklyn probably shook more than Manhattan in today's earthquake.

As reported in the Brooklyn Eagle, Dr. Won-Young Kim, senior research scientist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University says that when an earthquake hits the city, Brooklyn's going to shake more than Manhattan.

As we reported last year, Manhattan is resting on rock, while Brooklyn is sitting on sediment. So a tremor you would hardly feel in Manhattan will cause rocking and rolling in Brooklyn.

This seems to be borne out by today's quake, at least if measured by all the Twitter chatter coming from Brooklyn!

Before today, the last big quake in Brooklyn (about a 5.2) took place in 1884.

Earthquake: Brooklyn Probably Shook More Than Manhattan Brooklyn Eagle

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The Great Earthquake of 2011 Hits Brooklyn -- Check Your Pilot Lights; Expect Aftershocks

Brooklyn residents hit the streets after today's quake.

Construction workers at 20 Henry Street evacuated the building.

Brooklynites are calling it an "artisanal earthquake." Hipsters are Tweeting that they felt it last week, before it was cool. A Brooklyn Earthquake Fund has been started for the poor creatures in Williamsburg. The Brooklyn Earthquake Party is ON!

Hundreds of Brooklyn residents evacuated their offices and apartment buildings during this afternoon's 5.9 earthquake (it took place in Virginia at 1:51 p.m.), but there have been no reports of major damage.

UPDATE: Hipsters were right! Brooklyn probably shook more than Manhattan!

Federal buildings in the Washington, D.C. area have been evacuated. JFK Airport has been shut down. The Indian Point Power Plant is still online.

Pilot lights on gas stoves frequently go out when shaken, so remember to check yours when you get home.

Verizon Wireless, Sprint and AT&T reported congested lines, making it difficult for many to get through.


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Santa Rosalia Feast Cancelled; Wal-Mart's Bribes; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- Two heroic men jump onto track at Carroll Street F station to save a disoriented man. Gothamist

- The fabled Santa Rosalia Feast, an Italian-American tradition that has taken place on 18th Avenue for more than three decades, has been canceled this year,and people are yelling and pointing fingers. Brooklyn Eagle

- New York Magazine has put together a list of all the baksheesh that Wal-Mart has been spreading around to gain approval for one or more stores in New York City -- starting with East New York, Brooklyn.

- Mayor Bloomberg found himself in the Navy Yard Monday, flanked by women dressed in retro Pan Am uniforms, giving a speech about how TV has been very good to NYC. NY Times

- It's not speeding that makes Atlantic Avenue dangerous, says Downtown Brooklyn leader. Brooklyn Eagle

- Human placenta smoothies: popular in Brooklyn. Gawker

- Tediously, anti-Prospect Park West Bike Lane people again demand removal of lane. Brooklyn Eagle

- Non-stop Culver Viaduct restoration even includes weeding. PMFA

- Where the Grateful Dead played in Brooklyn. Brownstoner

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Blood-Thirsty Fans Flock to 2011 'Dark Shadows' Convention at Brooklyn Marriott

Dedicated fans flocked to the 45th annual  Dark Shadows  convention at the Brooklyn Marriott this past weekend. The Gothic vampire soap opera ran on ABC from 1966 – 1971, but has a huge cult following.

Dark Shadows starred the great Jonathan Frid as the vampire Barnabas Collins, Joan Bennett as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, David Selby as the ghost of Quentin Collins, Grayson Hall as Dr. Julia Hoffman, and many more (listed below).

Johnny Depp -- a long-time Dark Shadows fan himself --is collaborating with Tim Burton on a film remake as we speak. (Other cast members include Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, and Chloe Moretz.)

Original cast members Jonathan Frid, David Selby, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Nancy Barrett, Laura Parker, Jerry Lacy, Marie Wallace, Roger Davis, Christopher Pennock, Donna Wandrey, Kathleen Cody, Sharon Smyth, and Barbara Woronko signed autographs, performed re-enactments and answered questions. (Above: David Selby signs autographs.)

Marie Wallace, left, with a fan.

The cast answers questions.

They had a sense of humor about the whole Dark Shadows phenomena.

Fans snatched up CDs, DVDs, books and posters.

Nurse Pritchett.

The crowd filled the ballroom at the Mariott, pretty surprising for a show that last ran in 1971.

Fans get ready for the Dark Shadows Costume Gala.

For more about the 2011 Dark Shadows Convention, see the Brooklyn Heights Press blog.

Photos by MK Metz

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Surreal Giant Food Experience at Brooklyn IKEA

We didn't realize on when we went to the Brooklyn IKEA on Friday that it was all-you-can-eat-crayfish day.

Giant red crayfish (called crawfish or mudbugs in Louisiana) were wandering around the store, freaking out small children.

Sadly, we don't eat mudbugs -- especially giant ones -- and on crayfish day that's all they serve. So we went hunting for something at the "Bistro," where the line was a mile long.

On the way there we saw this giant sign hanging from the ceiling promoting all-beef hot dogs for only 50 cents.

 Then we noticed the little type on the lower right-hand corner of the sign.

Are they trying to tell us we don't get a six-foot hot dog for 50 cents?

IKEA you are a strange place sometimes.

Photos by MK Metz

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Verizon Strike Over, Workers and Management Back to the Table

The strike that has seen Verizon workers picketing on Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights, rallying in Cadman Plaza Park and marching over the Brooklyn Bridge is over for now.

The New York Times reports that union leaders have agreed to call off the strike because Verizon management "had finally agreed to engage in serious bargaining."The existing contract will remain in place while a new one is being negotiated.

More 45,000 Verizon landline (and Fios) workers have been on strike for almost two weeks. The company had asked for nearly 100 concessions, including wage cuts and increased employee contributions to health care plans, a freeze on existing pensions and the elimination of them altogether for new employees.

Christopher Calabrese, executive vice president of CWA 1109, told the Brooklyn Heights Press on Wednesday, “This strike is not just about Verizon. “It’s a fight for the middle class. Verizon is just one of several huge, very profitable companies trying to outsource jobs overseas — while they made $5 billion last year and received a $1.3 billion tax rebate. The middle class is saying enough is enough!”

The landline business, however, is not nearly as profitable to Verizon as the wireless business, which has lower maintenance costs and is mainly non-unionized. Americans in general, however, appear to be getting fed up with profitable corporations putting the squeeze on middle class workers. CNN Money takes a look at how both sides could win in this contest.

- Verizon Strikers Rally in Cadman Plaza Park

Photo by MK Metz

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'Dark Shadows!' Vampires, Werewolves and Zombies Invade Brooklyn This Weekend

UPDATE: We went to the convention! Photos here.

Downtown Brooklyn will be ground zero for vampires, witches, warlocks, zombies and their fans this weekend when the annual Dark Shadows Festival comes to the Brooklyn Marriott.

Dark Shadows, a Gothic vampire ABC soap opera, aired on ABC-TV from 1966 to 1971. An "intense" cult fan following has kept the show alive all these years. Many of the original cast and crew will be at the convention to answer questions, re-enact and sign autographs.

According to Dark Shadow News, event highlights include a dramatic performance from Jonathan Frid and David Selby, acting together for the first time in 40 years, a panel on the new Dark Shadows movie, and a presentation about the history of Seaview Terrace. The Festival concludes with a special gala banquet, which will feature a special Dark Shadows 45th Anniversary awards ceremony, with each attendee receiving an autographed picture of Jonathan Frid (who is pictured above). Schedule here.

According to Wikipedia, "The series became hugely popular when vampire Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) appeared a year into its run. Dark Shadows also featured werewolves, zombies, man-made monsters, witches, warlocks, time travel, and a parallel universe."

The Dark Shadows remake, starring Johnny Depp and directed by Tim Burton, is due for release on May 11, 2012.According to Dark Shadows News, four actors from the original series have filmed cameo appearances. Jonathan Frid (Barnabas Collins), Lara Parker (Angelique), David Selby (Quentin Collins) and Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans) all recently flew to England and spent three days on set at Pinewood Studios. More here.

More Brooklyn Zombie News

- Luna Park is searching for evil scarecrows, zombies and clowns for their Nights of Horror. Luna Park  (click third dot from left)

- Drink punch. Do the Hokey Pokey. Eat your date's brains. BITE (Brooklyn Innovative Theatre Experience) presents Prom Night of the Living Dead -- an interactive horror play. Living Dead Prom

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