McBrooklyn's Taking a Thanksgiving Break

Watch out for ice! Photo: MK Metz

 McBrooklyn is taking off a couple of days over the Thanksgiving holiday to see family and friends --  and eat turkey.

Hope your holiday is warm and cozy. See you when we get back!

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Kushner-Owned Brownstone in Brooklyn Heights Unsecured for Weeks

Photo by MK Metz

Brooklyn Heights activist Jeff Smith says that an unlocked $6.3 million brownstone on Monroe Place is "a bomb ready to go off," reports the Brooklyn Eagle.

The brownstone -- with a broken window and unlocked basement hatch -- is owned by real estate group Kushner Properties, which bought it from Brooklyn Law School in April, 2014.

Smith worries that squatters or kids may set off a conflagration in the building. FDNY and NYPD have been out to look at the brownstone, which has been gutted.

Smith's activism may be paying off. DOB is going to reinspect the site, and the Brooklyn Heights Association has reported the problem to the 84th Precinct.


Brooklyn Heights resident wants more security for $6.3 million brownstone [Brooklyn Eagle]

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Ferguson Protestors March Over Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Block Traffic

In Brooklyn:

Close to 200 chanting protestors blocked the Brooklyn Bridge around late Monday, reacting to the news that Darren Wilson was not indicted in the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson.

Other marchers holding black signs flooded into DUMBO from one of the bridges just before midnight.

Demonstrators marched over the Brooklyn Bridge, blocking Adams Street in Brooklyn at 1 a.m. The march was angry -- "no justice, no peace" -- but orderly. The group was led by a police vehicle.

Globalgrind reported that protestors had blocked the Manhattan and Tri-Boro bridges as well.

In Manhattan:

At 2 a.m., NYPD dispatch reported roughly 60 marchers inside Union Square Park at 14th Street in Manhattan, headed north on Park Avenue.

Another group of roughly 80 in northern Manhattan headed south along Madison at 106th Street, according to NYPD. At 2:20 a.m., the group was headed westbound on 96th Street. Police vehicles are shadowing the group.

Update: Group reached 58th Street on Madison at 3:12 a.m., moving down 6th Ave.  Police still shadowing as roughly 88 march west along the street. Cop: "They're in the street but they're orderly."


In Ferguson:

"@extrasexual: what the media won't show u right now... #Ferguson https://t.co/CNwi6QS4k3" idk what to say
— ROW-BEE (@roby_toby) November 25, 2014

Fires ravage several blocks; police shoot gas at protestors. Businesses are burning and being looted. Police cars overturned; guns heard outside the Police Department.

Residents ask why the news was released at 9 p.m., and why police didn't protect their businesses. NY Times reports Michael Brown's stepdad yelled, “Burn this down!” after the announcement. “Not often you get to see anarchy, huh?” one man taking pictures outside Walgreens said.
 


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TheCleanBedroom Shop Coming to Montague St., Brooklyn Heights

TheCleanBedroom

 An organic mattress store called The CleanBedroom plans to open soon at 145 Montague St., upstairs.

The shop sells upscale organic mattresses, furniture, pillows, bath and spa items, and even pet beds.

According to their website, other showroom are located in Manhattan; Wellesley, MA, Santa Monica, CA, Greenwich, CT; Austin, TX; Kittery & Portland, ME.


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'Wanted Posters' for Rookie Cop; NBC Staffer Fingers Cosby; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- 'Wanted'  posters for NYPD cops who shot unarmed man are hanging in Brooklyn hosuing project. [Daily News]

- The parents of a 9-month-old girl who was accidentally shot in her Brooklyn home while her dad was cleaning his gun are being criminally charged. [NBC]

- The final Bridging Gowanus planning meeting takes place Monday, November 24 at 6:30, at PS 32 317 Hoyt St, Brooklyn. [PMFA]

- "He had everybody fooled. Nobody suspected.” Frank Scotti, long-time facilities manager at Brooklyn's NBC studio, speaking about Bill Cosby. [Daily News]

- Gov. Cuomo "accusing the National Weather Service of missing the storm ... is just one more bullet point on a list of stupid comments from a sub-par politician venturing into a topic he knows little about." [Gawker]

- The history of a cool little neighborhood called Brooklyn -- in Jacksonville, Florida. [news4jax]

- The U.S. is literally falling apart. [CBS]

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Suspicious Package in Downtown Brooklyn Sunday Night

From the scanner:

At 11 p.m. and again at 11:29 p.m. Sunday night, NYPD was asked to respond to an unconfirmed  suspicious package at Livingston Street and Boerum Place in Downtown Brooklyn.

Police in the area and in other parts of Brooklyn (such as the 77th Precinct) were backed up Sunday night.


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Smoke Reported in F Train Tunnel, Prospect Park West, Brooklyn

From the scanner:

FDNY is responding to a report of smoke in the IND subway F line in Brooklyn at 15th St and Prospect Park West.

The call came in at 11:34 p.m. Sunday night.

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Monday: High Wind, Rain, 70 Degrees! In Brooklyn, Queens & Nassau

NOAA

The National Weather Service has issued a high wind advisory for Brooklyn, Queens and Nassau for Monday morning, from 4 a.m. to 11 a.m.

* WINDS...SOUTH 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.

* IMPACTS...WINDS WILL BE CAPABLE OF BRINGING DOWN LIMBS...VULNERABLE TREES AND POWER LINES.  DRIVING MAY BE DIFFICULT FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.

Rain likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 11 a.m. The high today will be 70 degrees!

The Weather Service also warns of the possible of coastal flooding along low-lying shorelines.

TIDAL DEPARTURES...1 TO 1 1/2 FT ABOVE ASTRONOMICAL TIDES.

* TIMING...DURING TIMES OF HIGH TIDE BETWEEN 8 AND 9 AM MONDAY MORNING.

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Have You Seen Gerald Kinnison? Disappeared in Brooklyn

Gerald Kinnison is missing. NYPD

The NYPD has issued a Silver Alert for Gerald Kinnison, a 60 year old Black man with dementia, who disappeared from the area of Surf Avenue in Brooklyn.

Mr. Kinnison is described as being 6' tall and 180 pounds, thin built, with brown eyes, black hair, and a beard. He was last seen in the area of 23-16 Surf Avenue on 11/21 at 8:00 AM wearing a black jacket, black shirt, blue pants, and large black sneakers. He may be walking in the direction of Manhattan.

If you see Mr. Kinnison, please call 9-1-1.

(Notification issued on 11/23/14 at 5:07 PM.)

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A and C Train Troubles Ahead; Brooklyn Heights Cinema; 'Kung Fu Judge' Lawsuit; and More Brooklyn Briefs

Driver in custody after striking & killing 14 year-old Mohammad Uddin and fleeing scene on Caton Ave. #NYPD #Brooklyn pic.twitter.com/WuLNucY34R
— Allison Papson (@AllisonPapson) November 21, 2014

-After community input meetings, the draft "Gowanus Bridging" initiative will be presented by Councilman Lander this Monday. The Pardon Me for Asking Blog says it's a sham.

- Buyers of Brooklyn Heights Cinema building going for condos. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- A 28-year-old NJ woman was found dead in a parked sedan yesterday in front of a bakery in Bensonhurst. [BensonhurstBean]

- The Cranberry Street Tunnel, which is used by A and C trains between Brooklyn and Manhattan, will be closed for 40 weekends starting this spring. [Gothamist]

- Shut out of P.S. 8? P.S. 307 in Vinegar Hill is hosting open houses (209 York Street) on Nov. 21 from 9-10am, December 8 from 6-7pm, and December 12 from 9-10am. They have pre-K. [DumboNYC]

- Wrongful death suit of Brooklyn ‘Kung Fu Judge' Phillips moving ahead. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Another round of voting took place Thurs. to determine how $19,500,000 from the Exxon-Mobil oil spill will be spent on Greenpoint. [Brownstoner]

- After flurry of excitement, Bed-Stuy man tests negative for Ebola. [News12]


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Brooklyn: Were Bullets Just Shot into the Clinton Hill Coops?

From the scanner:

At least four callers reported four to five shots fired outside 209 Clinton Ave, between Willoughby and Waverly Ave. in the Clinton Hill section of Brookyn Thursday night at 11:04 p.m.

One police responder speculated it was fireworks. At 11:08 p.m., however, a caller from a 4th-floor apartment reported a bullet on the floor.

209 Clinton is the address of the Clinton Holl Coops, located between Fort Greene Park and Pratt Institute.

According to the Coops' website, the Clinton Hill Cooperative Apartments "are a 12 building, 1,200 unit pet-friendly community in a lush park-like setting, featuring beautifully renovated co-ops, 24 hour security, live-in staff and laundry rooms."

The neighborhood is described as "Clinton Hill's historic district, a vibrant, diverse, and urban Brooklyn neighborhood now a mecca for artists, musicians, young families & foodies alike."



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P.S. 8 Meeting Tonight; Brooklyn Strand Meeting Tonight; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- Meeting about overcrowding at P.S. 8 in Brooklyn Heights, tonight, Nov. 20, Plymouth Church. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Why the plastic shopping bag tax is a bad idea. [Bag the Tax] 

- The Rev Al defended himself on ICH against a report of alleged financial negligence. [NY1]

- Review the plan for ‘Brooklyn Strand,’ which seeks to unify green space from Boro Hall to DUMBO. CB2 meeting on Nov. 20. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Transportation Alt says Jay Street is dangerous and scary. [Brooklyn Paper]

- Community Boards 6 and 7 are sponsoring a presentation by the NYC DOT about the Gowanus Connector (Greenway) on Thurs., Dec 11, 6:30pm at the SIMS Recycling Facility, 472 2nd Ave. & 29th St., Brooklyn.

- University basketball team rescued after being stranded on a bus in a snowstorm for 24 hours upstate. [ABC]

- A Utah lawmaker concerned about government spying on its citizens is questioning whether city water service should be cut off to a massive National Security Agency data storage facility outside Salt Lake City. [AP]


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Oh No You Don't: Brooklyn Bans SantaCon 2014 from Bushwick Park Kick Off

SantaCon 2011 at Grand Central. Photo* by MK Metz

The days of SantaCon being a kooky counterculture send up of the Santa concept are waaaay over.

Organizers for the annual costumed pub crawl/ drunk fest, who wanted to kick off this year's festivities in Maria Hernandez Park in Bushwick, Brooklyn, were told to forget about it, according to DNA info.

The group wanted to use the park as a gathering and set-up point for the Dec. 13 event, which attracts about 30,000 Santa-clad, slobbering, puking idiots.

The park is too small and the idiots are so many, Parks officials explained to DNA.

City Councilmember Rafael Espinal, Jr., released a statement asking bars to keep the Santas out.

Saying the nasty Santas left neighborhoods in shambles, he wrote, "I think I speak for many of my constituents and bar patrons when I say that we're not ready for a 'Santification' of Bushwick."

Gothamist links to the Boycott SantaCon website that is pretty hilarious. It calls SantaCon, "The most douchebag event of the year."

- SantaCon 2013
- SantaCon 2012.
- About SantaCon 2010


(*Photo copyright 2014 MK Metz)

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Brooklyn Woman's Remains Tested for Ebola; Sandy Insurance Claims Denied; and More Briefs

- The remains of a woman who died of an apparent heart attack at a hair salon in Brooklyn will be tested for Ebola. She was on a watch list. [7 online]

- Help find missing 12-year-old Ditmas Park girl. [Ditmas Park Corner]

- Homeowners have systemically been denied Sandy claims by insurance companies, say Senators. [WNYC]

- Some drivers had been trapped on the I-90 thruway upstate for more than 19 hours as of late Tuesday. [WIVB]

- Four deaths upstate, so far, blamed on the snow storm. [Fox]

- Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi try to break the Internet with their Christmas card.[7 online]

- Family of late reggae superstar Bob Marley teams up with private equity firm to launch Marley Natural, which will offer ‘heirloom Jamaican cannabis strains.’ [The Guardian]

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Words of Wisdom, in DUMBO

Photo: MK Metz

 Simon and Garfunkel said in The Sounds of Silence, "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls."

In that same exact spirit, here are some words of wisdom we saw spray painted on the sidewalk in DUMBO.

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NYC Pols to Bridge Climbers: 'You Wanna Climb? Then You'll Do Time.'

State Sen. Daniel Squadron, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and Assemblymember Joe Lentol held a press conference on a freezing cold Brooklyn Heights Promenade Tuesday morning to announce they're seeking to pass a bill that would slam bridge or infrastructure-climbing tourists in jail for up to a year if they're caught.

An almost-rhyming BP Adams said, “If you come to New York and walk on the walkway, you will have a great vacation. But if you trespass on the structure, you’re going to have a longer incarceration."

The trio brought up some good points: It's costing the city a hell of a lot of money to guard the bridges now; it's tying up anti-terror resources, and climbers could fall and break their heads.

So watch out, you European daredevil tourists!

More at Brooklyn Eagle.

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View of the Brooklyn Bridge, From Squibb Park

Photo: MK Metz

 The always-breathtaking Brooklyn Bridge / East River panorama, as seen from Squibb Park in Brooklyn Heights.

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Officials Plan Legislation to Penalize Future Brooklyn Bridge Climbers

Cops check out bridge after an previous tourist invasion. Photo: MK Metz

Following the third illegal Brooklyn Bridge ascent in four months, NYC officials plan to introduce state legislation to raise the penalties of trespassing on the city's high-profile structures.

On Tuesday at 11:30 a.m., Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, State Senator Daniel Squadron and Assembly Member Joseph Lentol will gather on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade to announce the legislation.

The latest security breach took place Sunday -- this time by a 23-year-old somewhat dim French tourist.

In the most famous bridge exploit, German artists swiped two American flags from the towers on July 22, replacing them with white ones.

A month later, a Russian tourist climbed to the top of the bridge to take pictures.

The there was the peculiar sighting of a bridge climber described as having red hair and wearing blue shorts . . . That one was never caught.

In a press release, Adams says the officials "will discuss the importance of advancing New Yorkers’ safety and security, as well as furthering other efforts which could help deter trespassing behavior."

Related Articles:

- Does the Brooklyn Bridge Have a Clown Problem?
- Something Else White and Illegal on the Brooklyn Bridge (But Not a Flag)
- Brooklyn Bridge White American Flags: If No One Gets It, Is It Still Art?
- Brooklyn Bridge Security: Maybe White Flag Folks Did Us All a Favor


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Documentary 'Banksy Does New York' on HBO Monday Night (w/ Brooklyn Street Art Perspective)

Image courtesy of BrooklynStreetArt.com

 Two Banksy projects -- the documentary "Banksy Does New York" and the book “Banksy In New York” -- debut one year after the British street artist spent his month-long residency in New York City.

Steven P. Harrington and Jaime Rojo, founders of BrooklynStreetArt.com are featured in the documentary, which premiered in this past Friday night at the DOC NYC festival.

If you get HBO, you can watch the film's TV debut tonight -- Monday, November 17th -- at 9pm.

“We are completely honored that director Chris Moukarbel and producer Jack Turner interviewed us first for this important piece of modern street art storytelling because we were really able to tell it from the perspective of New Yorkers who cover the scene daily from the street,” Harrington, BSA editor in chief, said in a statement.

The film includes street art fans, Banksy hunters and the media as well as experts on the present day graffiti and street art scene like photographer Luna Park, blogger RJ Rushmore (Vandalog), culture critic and curator Carlo McCormick and artist/blogger Robert Stevens.

“Also, I get arrested!,” said BSA co-founder and editor of photography Jaime Rojo. “Even though it was a case of mistaken identity and I was released shortly thereafter, this piece of BSA lore is probably one I’ll have to talk about for a while -- now that it’s in the film.”

The book,  “Banksy In New York” is by Ray Mock, founder of publisher Carnage NYC, who has been documenting street art and graffiti in New York and around the world for almost 10 years.


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'Brooklyn Strand,' Atlantic Yards, Parole Center and More Brooklyn Briefs

Con Ed's new power outage map shows exact locations.

 Shown above: Con Edison has upgraded its power outage map to show exact locations of outages, how many customers are affected at each location, and approximate time of repair. Late Sunday night into Monday morning, more than a thousand Queens residents lost power -- many are shown on this map.

- Upcoming CB2 meeting to discuss ‘Brooklyn Strand’ idea to unify parks, plazas from Borough Hall to Brooklyn Bridge Park. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Forest City Ratner seems ready to buy out former partner Skanska from its share of the shuttered module-building factory at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. [Atlantic Yards Report]

- Gowanus United, a group fighting the state’s proposed mega parole center on 2nd Avenue, is holding a rally on Wednesday afternoon. [South Brooklyn Post]

- BP Adams is encouraging students ages sixteen and over to attend a meeting in Bed-Stuy to learn about how they can join a community board in the coming year. [Gotham Gazette]

- The City Council will consider on Wednesday requiring costumed characters soliciting money to be licensed. [City Council]

- Out of public eye, Andrew Cuomo plans his vengeance. [Perdido Street School]

- More than half of calls to U.S. poison control centers about energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster are for children younger than 6. [NY Daily News]


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Keep Your Eyes Open for Missing Brooklyn Woman, Danju Gao, 77

Danju Gao, missing. Photo courtesy of Notify NYC

Have you seen this woman? Notify NYC isssued the following alert on 11/16/14 at 10:35 PM:

NYPD has issued a Silver Alert for the disappearance of Danju Gao, a 77-year-old Asian female with Alzheimer's, from the area of 28th Avenue and Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn.

Ms. Gao was last seen on 11/15 around 11:45 AM entering the Grand Street "D" Line Subway Station in Manhattan.

She does not speak English, and only speaks Cantonese. If you see Ms. Gao, please call 9-1-1.

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This Is Why Laurie Cumbo Won Stars of NY Dance Event

Dancing Star Laurie Cumbo + Jamel Gaines of Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn from Cheryl Todmann on Vimeo.

In case you haven't heard, Brooklyn Councilmember Laurie Cumbo is the 5th Anniversary Dance Champion for The Stars of New York Dance -- and when you see this video you'll know why.

She and her dance partner Jamel Gaines of Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn sizzled to the sounds of JLo.

Because of her participation, Creative Outlet won $5,000 to provide five or more children from low-income communities in New York City with a free or subsidized year of high-quality dance education and training.

The event, held at LIU in Brooklyn, honored the Rev. Al Sharpton this year.

Annually, Brooklyn leaders, partnered with professional dancers, dance to raise dance scholarship funds for underserved children in Brooklyn.  

Errol Louis (NY1) hosted the affair. Brooklyn DA Ken Thompson was a special presenter.

McBrooklyn linked to videos of previous participants, including the Honorable Betty Staton, PA Letitia James and Scott Stringer here.


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Multiple Victims on Cadman Plaza West, After Two Accidents Near or On Brooklyn Bridge

Photos by MK Metz, McBrooklyn

Several fire engines and FDNY emergency vehicles responded to the scene of a two-car accident on Cadman Plaza West and the Brooklyn Bridge exit ramp at 9 p.m. Friday night.

It took more than an hour (almost an hour and a half) before the injured party (s) was taken by ambulance to Manhattan.

__________________________________________

Details for those who care about the timing:

First accident occurred around 9 p.m.

Around 9:15 p.m., one of the responders was heard asking over the scanner where EMS was. They were told the ambulance was on its way.

At 9:20 p.m., an ambulance was observed coming from Manhattan over the Brooklyn Bridge towards the scene of the accident. The ambulance was momentarily caught in traffic, but made it to the exit shortly afterwards. The ambulance belonged to New York Presbyterian.

Other accidents and incidents across the borough were being handled by the system at the same time. At 9:28 p.m., dispatcher told services, "Unless you have a priority, please stand by."

At 9:29 p.m., dispatch reported another vehicular accident with injuries on the Brooklyn Bridge.

At 9:35 p.m., dispatch reported it was a four-car accident with injuries on the Brooklyn Bridge, and asked if any responders were available.

At 9:48 p.m., the NY Presbyterian ambulance was still parked on Cadman Plaza West, as were other emergency vehicles.

At 9:53 p.m., police asked dispatch, "What's the ETA (estimated arrival time) on the Brooklyn Bridge accident?" No response heard.

At 10:06, dispatch reported that the cars involved in the four-car accident with injuries on the Brooklyn Bridge would be driven off the bridge onto Cadman Plaza West.  The NY Presbyterian ambulance was still parked on Cadman.

At 10:15 p.m., police told dispatch, "We're at a standstill up here."

At 10:19 p.m., police told dispatch there was an accident involving an overturned car, location not heard. Police said the driver crawled out on her own, possibly needing stitches in her hand.

At 10:24 p.m., the NY Presbyterian ambulance was still parked on Cadman. Dispatch inquired about the Cadman accident and the four-car accident.

By 10:30 p.m., the NY Presbyterian ambulance had exited Cadman, more than an hour after the accident was originally reported. At that time, the four cars involved in the Brooklyn Bridge accident pulled into the same location onto Cadman.

At 10:39 p.m., dispatch reported an accident with injuries at Sterling and Rodgers.

 At 10:52 p.m., a responder working the Brooklyn Bridge accident told dispatch, "I'm going to need a flatbed."

At 11:33 p.m., dispatch inquired about the second victim in the Cadman Plaza West accident.

At 11:40 p.m., dispatch asked if a flatbed was still needed. Responder said yes.

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What Is It with the Rubins? Plus, New Heights School, Maybe... and More Brooklyn Briefs

- Plans for a possible Ace Hotel in Downtown Brooklyn hit a snag, as CB2 voted against the development. [Curbed]

- San Francisco’s ALT School coming to Brooklyn Heights. [BHB]

- 14 Satmar Hasidim defendants have been with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud in connection with mortgages secured by properties in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Monroe. Many have the last name Rubin: YEHUDA RUBIN, IRVING RUBIN, DESIREE RUBIN, ABRAHAM RUBIN, JACOB RUBIN, SAMUEL RUBIN, JOEL RUBIN, RIVKY RUBIN, RACHEL RUBIN, RIFKA RUBIN, and a few non-Rubins. [Failed Messiah]

- Brooklyn’s most expensive house is now half-priced. [Brokelyn]

- Brooklyn DA targets lethal gang after 11-year-old paralyzed in shooting. 25 in custody so far. [Daily News]

- Two cabs crashed into each other in Bath Beach, causing quite a commotion. [Bensenhurst Bean]


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Sad Story of Carroll Gardens Families Torn Apart by Real Estate Goldrush

Photo: MK Metz

 The New York Observer has come out with an article about long-time Italian Carroll Gardens families torn apart as the new generation of home owners cash in on grandma's brownstone.

The "tidal waves of cash and transplanted Manhattanites that have rolled over the leafy streets of this onetime blue-collar Italian neighborhood have altered the landscape," Chris Erikson writes.

In some cases, the family turns on the sibling who stayed behind to take care of elderly family members. In others, they try to get rid of the elderly "leftovers" while they are still alive.

And so it goes.

As Brownstone Money Rushes into Carroll Gardens, Families Fall Apart [New York Observer]

(via South Brooklyn Post)

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Weather Service: It Will Probably Dip Below Freezing In Brooklyn Tonight

NOAA

The National Weaather Service says there's a pretty good chance it will dip to just below freezing Friday night in Brooklyn.

During the day, NOAA predicts it will be sunny, with a high near 45. Beware the wind chill: values between 25 and 35 early on, and it will be breezy.

Friday night's low will be around 31. Wind chill will make it feel between 25 and 30.

Bring in the plaants!


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Dobro Culture Brings In the Bucks; Yuletide Ball Folks Get Robin Hood Award; and More Brooklyn Briefs

By the numbers: The $300 million economic impact of the arts in downtown Brooklyn. http://t.co/nbXCri5yiF pic.twitter.com/ELgVjbhyM2
— Jennifer Maloney (@maloneyfiles) November 12, 2014

- Downtown Brooklyn cultural institutions drew more than 4.5 million visitors and generated more than $300 million in economic activity last year, according to a report to be released Thursday by the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. [WSJ]

- The people who produce the glittery, old-school Yuletide Ball in Brooklyn Heights just got the 2014 Hero award from the Robin Hood Foundation. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- De Blasio was late to Flight 587 service. Blamed the fog. [NY True]

- The mysterious owners of Nets.com have long trolled Brooklyn Nets fans, but nobody knew who actually owned the domain ... until now. [NY Magazine]

- Now there's an app for people who don't want to wait in line for coffee . . . [Gothamist]

- A 13-year-old boy was taken to the hospital after he was struck by a car in Coney Island on Wednesday. [NY1]


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Giggly, Terrifying Clowns On Montague Street, Handing Out Apple Slices

Photo by MK Metz

These way-too-happy, colorful, TERRIFYING CLOWNS were giving out apple slices on Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights this past weekend.

We refused to eat the apples, naturally . . . But were happy to take this photo!

Then we ran away as fast as we could.

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Dense Fog Warning for Brooklyn and Surrounding Areas

Photo: MK Metz

 The National Weather Service has issued a "dense fog advisory" for Brooklyn, most of Queens, and all of the other boroughs, from midnight tonight to 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Take care driving: Slow down and use your low beams.

* VISIBILITIES...ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES.

* TIMING...AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT INTO MID MORNING WEDNESDAY.

* IMPACTS...REDUCED VISIBILITIES...ESPECIALLY IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS AND NEAR BODIES OF WATER.


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Marilyn Monroe's Love Letters from Dimaggio, Miller Up for Sale

Hidden away for more than 50 years, Marilyn Monroe's love letters from baseball legend Joe Dimaggio and her third husband, Brooklyn playwright Arthur Miller, are going up for sale by Julien's Auction house.

Arthur Miller's love letters are described as "so detailed and so descriptive -- he was truely in love with Marilyn."

Miller wrote "Death of a Salesman" and "The Crucible," among other plays. In June 1956 he left his first wife, Mary, and married Monroe.

Miller lived in Brooklyn Heights at 62 Montague St., 155 Willow St. and 102 Pierrepont St. 

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Shooting in East New York, Brooklyn Early Wednesday Morning

From the scanner:

Confirmed: One person shot at 375 Fountain Ave. between Blake to Dumont avenues in Brooklyn's 75th Precinct.

A Level 1 Mobilazation was called at 12:20 p.m. early Wednesday morning.

Police are searching for four black males who fled in a silver Honda on Fulton Street, headed towards Dumont.

UPDATE: Possibility of a second person shot; not confirmed. 

UPDATE 1:41 a.m.: Confirmed one male shot. Level 1 Mobilization has been terminated.



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Scare Yourself: Fun with the NYPD Interactive Crime Map

NYC crime map.

 Want to scare yourself silly?

Just check out the NYPD's interactive crime map for your area. 

As of today, the map is listing crimes since September, 2014.

Above is the map for the Brooklyn Heights / Downtown / Fort Greene/ Cobble Hill area. On the actual map, you can click on the blue dots and get a listing of the number and types of crimes. (We notice there's a lot of grand larceny going on.)

The maps list seven major types of felonies:  Murder and Non-Negligent Manslaughter, Rape, Robbery, Felonious Assault, Burglary, Grand Larceny and Grand Larceny Motor Vehicle.

Hint: Avoid parks that give you the willies, even if they look clean on the map. NYPD says: " Crimes occurring in parks, beaches or open areas often cannot be mapped; some may be mapped if there is enough information on the report to determine a close cross street."

At the least, the map helps provide a handy guide to where to avoid walking at night.


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Homer Fink's Last Brooklyn Heights Walking Tour (of 2014)

Brooklyn Bugle Media Kingpin Homer Fink (Brooklyn Heights Blog, Cobble Hill Blog, The Brooklyn Bugle) sends word that he is hosting the "amped up 2014 version" of his “Hidden Brooklyn Heights” walking tour.

Fink says: Think you've seen all the sights in Brooklyn Heights? Guess again! Learn about some of the odd, weird, controversial and amusing history of America’s First Suburb.

"This is 90 minutes of fun!"

Important point: Some of the subject matter is "R" rated, so attendees should be 17 or older/ parental discretion advised.

The tour takes off from the Clinton Street entrance to St. Ann's. More info: hiddenbrooklynheights.com


WHEN: Saturday, November 22 at 11AM
WHERE: St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church (Clinton Street side)
TICKETS: hiddenbrooklynheights.eventbrite.com


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Pot Arrests; Pier 6 Flap; Stolen Chihuahua; and More Brooklyn Briefs

the news @BilldeBlasio & @CommissBratton will announce Monday: no more arrests for small pot possession http://t.co/4Gv5hF20rT
— Azi (@Azi) November 10, 2014

- At Brooklyn Bridge Park board meeting, groups demand Pier 6 financial analysis. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Tomorrow is Veterans Day. Despite its vital function, NYC pays little attention to its own Veterans Advisory Board. [Gotham Gazette]

- A Brooklyn woman is distraught after a car thief took off with her Audi which had her Chihuahua puppy still inside. [CBS]

- The guy who turned Trader Joe's from a little quirky California group of stores to a multi-billion dollar chain has died. [NY Times]

-The "new electronic Brooklyn underground." [Pitchfork]

- The City Council will hold a hearing re amending sex designation on birth records, and related issues. [Gotham Gazette]

- Did you know a cargo ship hit the Brooklyn Bridge on Friday? [NY Post]

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Pretty, Shiny Things Light Up DUMBO ... or Not

Photos by MK Metz

DUMBO was awash in light Thursday night for the kickoff of the inaugural New York Festival of Light (NYFOL).

The Manhattan Bridge Archway was an explosion of dancing light figures, glowing artworks and glittery, shiny things. A DJ was surrounded by lit panels,  and food trucks parked next to the party.

The event continues from 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, under and around the Archway and Pearl Street Triangle.

UPDATE: It was soooo crowded in DUMBO on Saturday organizers actually had to shut the festival down almost three hours early. Friends reported they couldn't get to the subway and couldn't even walk near the Archway.

Luckily the crowd was well-behaved and no one had to get to a hospital. The F train at York was closed because of overcrowding, and streams of people (rivaling the July 4th crowd) headed into the Heights and Downtown Brooklyn to catch the subway.

Don't want to draw any larger conclusions here about land use and planning, but . . .

UPDATE 2: In-depth description of the crowd situation that took place on Saturday. 

Updated Monday

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Mysterious Blue Subway Signs; Brooklyn's Ugliest Subway Station; and More Brooklyn Briefs

Have an idea for a participatory-budgeting project in Park Slope? Tweet it to @bradlander tomorrow at 2 pm, using #pbdistrict39.
— Park Slope Neighbors (@psneighbors) November 6, 2014

- Gov. Cuomo's puzzling blue subway signs deemed a "mystery,""ambiguous" and "disorganized." [Observer]

- A driver speeding north on Fourth Avenue in Park Slope Wed. ran a red light and struck a woman, leaving her seriously injured before speeding away. [Streetsblog]

- Fix Brooklyn's ugliest subway station: Volunteer w/ FOFA to make props, brainstorm ideas and plan strategy to help make a pop-up installation at the 4th Ave/9th St Transit Hub on Nov 21st. [IOBY]

- Charles Barron won the Assembly seat once occupied by his wife, Councilmember Inez Barron -- who more recently took over the city council seat previously occupied by her husband. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- A little more insight into Grimm's election night. [NY Sate of Politics]

- De Blasio calls NY GOP wins an “aberration.” [WNYC]

- How Cuomo played the Working Families Party -- and de Blasio. [NY Magazine]

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Ebola Drill Wed. Night from Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn, to Bellevue

Ebola virus by NIAID

Don't be alarmed: This is just an Ebola drill.

New York City warns us that a "full-scale FDNY exercise" is scheduled to take place tonight, 11/5, from 6 to 11 p.m. at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn and Bellevue Hospital, Manhattan.

"The exercise will involve the simulation of a patient transport between the two facilities, and an increase in the presence of emergency personnel and vehicles should be expected. This is only an exercise," NYC says.

SUNY hospitals not in Brooklyn -- Stony Brook University Hospital and the SUNY Upstate Medical University -- are part of a statewide network of hospitals that will treat potential Ebola patients.

SUNY Downstate -- across the street from Kings County -- in Brooklyn, however, is not one of the chosen treatment hospitals.  

SUNY says its Ebola Steering Committee is led by Dr. John Williams, president of SUNY Downstate Medical Center, which "will meet on a regular basis to monitor the situation locally and will work to ensure information is up-to-date."

Now are you alarmed? 

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Brooklyn Election Factoid: What Percentage Voted for Cuomo on the WFP, WEP Lines?

By Diana Robinson, Wikimedia Commons

Among the Brooklyn election stats uncovered by the Brooklyn Eagle: Roughly 67 percent of Brooklyn residents voted for Gov. Andrew Cuomo on the Democratic line on Tuesday. Another seven percent voted for Cuomo on the Working Families Party line.

Only one percent voted for Cuomo on his Women's Equality Party line, "despite sweetly-worded ads made by Cuomo's female family members," the Eagle reports.

About 12 percent of Brooklynites voted for Cuomo's challenger Rob Astorino.

Full Brooklyn election results at the Eagle website.


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Complete NYC Voters Kit: Quick Links for All the Info You Need

Tomorrow, we're teaming up with @CNN to show real-time results of #Election2014 in red and blue lights! #CNNElection pic.twitter.com/oCU2ppiRWv
— Empire State Bldg (@EmpireStateBldg) November 3, 2014

- Find which candidates are on your local ballot by inputting your address. [WNYC Election Guide]

- Find your poll site in NYC by inputting your addresss. [NYC Poll Site Locator]

- Find your polling site and laugh your f*cking head off here. [Find Your F*cking Polling Place]

- Quick guide to the three proposals on the ballot. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- List of judges running for office in Brooklyn. [2014 NYC Voter Guide]

- List of all the candidates by borough. [2014 Voter Guide]

- Compare where the gubernatorial candidates stand on the issues. [Gotham Gazette]

- See problems on Election Day? Call NYC BOE at 866-VOTE-NYC and also NY Dem Lawyers Council @NYDLC: 866-693-5201.

- Twitter hashtags for tweeting and reading about the election:
#NYCVOTES
#IVoted
#Election2014


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'So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish'

We've been admiring for some time now the goodbye left on the marquis at the now-closed Brooklyn Heights Cinema at 70 Henry Street.

The cute little building will soon be demolished to make way for yet another residential development.

Photos by MK Metz

"So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish" is the title of one of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books by Douglas Adams.

It is the message left by the dolphins when they left Earth just before it was demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass.

Unlike the dolphins, Ken Lowy hopes to return to our planet, perhaps moving to DUMBO. (He had hoped to announce a site by now. We hope to hear from him soon.)

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Cop Shoots Himself in the Leg at Atlantic Ave. Brooklyn Detention Center; and More Brooklyn Briefs

Charlie Chaplin, in the Arch in DUMBO. Photo: MK Metz

- Pub. Adv. Letitia James says police chief resignation is "deeply troubling." [Observer]

- A cop at the Brooklyn Detention Center on Atlantic Ave. shot himself in the leg Saturday. [Daily News]

- Plymouth Church's Yankee Fair takes place Sat., Nov. 8 in Brooklyn Heights. [Plymouth]

- What happened when Denis Hamill tried to drive 25 mph in NYC -- the speed limit that kicks in Friday. [Daily News]

- Again? The McDonalds on Court Street in Brooklyn Heights is sued because its coffee is too hot. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- A Marist College poll last week showed Gov. Cuomo with a 26-point advantage over Rob Astorino. But a  Siena College poll shows Cuomo leads Astorino by just 48-41 percent, with five percent for Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins.

- POLITICO's video recap of the best late-night jokes about the midterm elections. [Politico]

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