Brooklyn Hipsters Can Now Rent a Mom; Trouble in CB9; and More Brooklyn Briefs

Ricky's Halloween window, in Brooklyn Heights. Photo: MK Metz

 - Brooklyn preservation groups join coalition fighting powerful developers; aim to put pressure on Mayor de Blasio. [Brooklyn Eagle]

-  On the same day she lost her job as Brooklyn Community Board 9’s district manager, longtime administrator Pearl Miles hit back with a $20 million age-discrimination lawsuit. [DNAinfo]

- Need a mom? Brooklyn hipsters can now rent one. [Death and Taxes Magazine]

- Haul your old Legos to the Brooklyn Museum (for art). Ai Weiwei, Chinese artist and activist, needs them after Big Lego refused to fill his order. [Patch]

- Brooklyn Assembly debate devolves into shouting match over Planned Parenthood videos. [Observer]

- Hmmn: Two Brooklyn men arrested for heroin possession after claiming they had doctor's prescription. [Daily News]

- Owners of the historic SS United States may be forced to sell the enormous vessel, and a Brooklyn developer has a plan to turn the ship into a mixed-use development in Red Hook. [Curbed]

- Loco Dice + Friends appear in a secret Brooklyn warehouse party on Halloween. [Village Voice]


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7-Year-Old Girl Brain Dead After Choking at School; 'Dwight Schrute' Coming to DUMBO; and More Brooklyn Briefs

Watching the World Series Game 1 at Brooklyn Borough Hall. Photo: MK Metz

 - A 7-year-old Brooklyn girl has been declared brain-dead after choking on her public-school lunch. The EMT who tried to save her was suspended from his job. [NY Post]

- Velázquez introduces gun bill that would tax sales, and fund anti-violence and mental health programs. The NRA is going to hate it. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Police are looking for a Canarsie man wanted for allegedly shooting his wife in the face. [NY1]

- A man was charged Tuesday night in a shooting in Bushwick that left one man dead and two others hurt. [CBS]

- Rainn Wilson -- beet farmer Dwight Schrute on “The Office” -- is coming to DUMBO to talk up new book. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- After a surge in ridership, Coney Island’s elected officials are calling on the MTA to restore F train express service. [Sheepshead Bites]

- A "mixed-race" wedding in 1907 in Bed-Stuy attracts unwanted attention. [Brownstoner]

- A list of all the weird things that happened during the first game of the World Series last night. [Slate]

- Florida man is in a coma after e-cigarette explodes in his face. [Daily News]

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Shooting in Busy Downtown Brooklyn: One Dead, One Wounded

Location of Applebee's in Downtown Brooklyn. Map data c Google.

 Two teenage boys were shot, and one of them was killed, in a shooting in Downtown Brooklyn Monday evening, CBS reports.

The shooting happened at DeKalb Avenue and the Flatbush Avenue Extension just after 6 p.m. near the Applebee’s — across DeKalb Avenue from Long Island University.

According to 1010 News, a 17-year-old was shot in the head. He was taken to Brooklyn Hospital and pronounced dead. An 18-year-old was shot in the ankle.

CBS reported a "crazy commotion," with 5 or 6 shots.  Police recovered a gun a few blocks away but did not find the shooter.

According to the Daily News, the 88th Precinct, where the killing occurred, has seen a spike in killings and shootings this year. As of Sunday, seven people had been murdered inside the borders of the command, which encompasses Fort Greene and Clinton Hill.

Last year, only two people were killed during the same time period.


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Party: Watch the World Series at Brooklyn Borough Hall on Tuesday

I'm proud to announce that #Brooklyn Borough Hall will be open for watching Game 1 of the #WorldSeries on Tuesday! pic.twitter.com/0XK7fJRNYA

— Eric Adams (@BPEricAdams) October 25, 2015

Want to cheer on the Mets with hundreds of other fans?

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams is opening up Borough Hall for Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday! The fun starts at 7:30 p.m.

Adams says: When we watch together, we win together!

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Man Kills Wife with SUV; 62 More Citi Bike Stations; and More Brooklyn Briefs

What's with all these naked (or almost naked) guys performing in Union Square, anyway? Photo: MK Metz

- A 26-year-old woman was killed outside her Brooklyn home by her husband backing an SUV out of the driveway. (An unconfirmed comment raises many questions.) [Gothamist]

- Citi Bike expansion bringing 62 new stations to Brooklyn. [Curbed]

- A wetland grows in Brooklyn: Filthy NYC tributary turned back to nature in $455M project. [AP]

- Some things you may not know about the Gowanus Canal. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- A Brooklyn-based group is arguing that gentrification is a human rights violation. [The Atlantic]

- Massive police presence at Thursday’s anti-police violence rally and march in Downtown Brooklyn. [Brooklyn Eagle]


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Parking Mess: 'The Mysteries of Laura' Filming in Brooklyn Heights on Monday

Photo:MKMetz

Tow trucks are scheduled to start moving cars tonight from many Brooklyn Heights streets in preparation for tomorrow's (Monday's) taping of the TV show, "The Mysteries of Laura."

Tow trucks will be clearing the following streets:
- Montague St. between Clinton and Henry;
- The east side of Clinton between Pierrepont and Remsen;
- The south side of Pierepont between Clinton and Henry;
- Henry between Pierrepont and Rensen;
- The east side of Cadman Plaza West between Middagh and Tillary

Brooklyn-born Debra Messing ("Smash," "The Starter Wife") stars as Detective Laura Diamond in the series, which airs on NBC on Wednesday nights.

As described in IMDb, the plot is: :A single mom NYPD homicide detective cracks case after case while raising wild twin boys and locking horns with her less than helpful police detective ex-husband."

Wikipedia calls the show a "police procedural comedy-drama."


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Automatic Gunfire Near Brooklyn Bridge Park; Racist Journal Sold on Brooklyn News Stands; and More Brooklyn Briefs

Sign from art project in MetroTech says, "The truth is I love you." Photo by MKMetz

 - Automatic gunfire shatters calm at Brooklyn’s Fulton Ferry Landing, next to Brooklyn Bridge Park. 1 man hit. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- A racist Hasidic journal for teenage boys, on sale in Brooklyn book stores, calls blacks "lowly people" and "animals on two legs." [Failed Messiah]

- Pay $1,950 a month to live with 18 other people in Brooklyn for some crazy reason. [Gawker]

- Advertising for the New York Islanders, which covered the much-promoted "green roof" at the entrance of Barclays Center, disappeared soon after an article in Atlantic Yards Report. [Before] [After]

- Tomorrow, demonstrators protesting police shootings will march from Brooklyn Borough Hall at 2 p.m., headed to Barclays Center.  [Rise Up October]

- A completely intact apartment by American Postmodern architect Michael Graves has been in storage at the Brooklyn Museum since it was acquired in 1986. [Observer]

- A new game app brings the Battle of Brooklyn to your phone. [Village Voice]


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STVN Says Survey Shows Brooklyn's Pierhouse Cuts Into Protected View Plane

Photo: MK Metz

 OFF WITH ITS HEAD: The group Save The View Now (STVN) says a land survey has discovered that a 20-foot section of the penthouse apartment atop the Pierhouse project in Brooklyn Bridge Park juts into a protected view plane, according to the Brooklyn Eagle.

STVN is the group working to protect the scenic view from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade -- a view now partially obscured by the massive hotel/residential project.

The report has been delivered to the Commissioner of the city's Dept. of Buildings.


Advocacy group says survey shows Pierhouse project juts into protected view plane [Brooklyn Eagle]


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Diane Ravitch Speaks in Brooklyn Heights Tonight, and More Brooklyn Briefs

Grace Chorale will be performing J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio Dec. 18 & 20 in Brooklyn Heights.

- Despite EPA warning him not to, Christopher Swain swam the entire 1.8 mile length of the Gowanus Canal on Saturday. [PMFA]

- Education expert and author Diane Ravitch, 'Reign of Error' author, to speak at Brooklyn Heights Library benefit tonight. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Photos: Smorgasburg and Brooklyn Flea invade Industry City. [Brownstoner]

- Father of young boy was fatally shot in broad daylight in East New York. [PIX11]

- A man fell between the slats of a subway track up to his chest — and was then struck by an D train on Saturday. [NY Daily News]

- New Boerum Hill townhouse asks $7.5M. [Curbed]

- Spooktacular! Halloween listings for Brooklyn. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Marketing 550 Vanderbilt condos "with deception." [Atlantic Yards Report]

- Mobile food pantry comes to Farragut, Ingersoll and Whitman Houses. [BKReader]

- The history of the "Society to Prevent Disparaging Remarks about Brooklyn." [WNYC]

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Story of Brooklyn Marathoner Inching His Way Back to Health

We've been a fan of Brooklyn marathoner  Michael Ring for a couple of years. He's a tireless supporter of the  Prospect Park Track Club, he inspires runners everywhere, and he writes a great blog,  What You Do Not Know Because You Are Not Me.

After he was struck by a devastating illness more than a year ago -- CIDP (Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy) -- suddenly Michael could not walk, eat by himself or drink without a straw. He was in the hospital for 135 days, getting chemo. He sweat blood, and he wrote about it all in his blog.

Now he is inching his way back and making real progress. A walk in the park, riding on an escalator, spending time with his kids, running a 5K race (real slow), victories!

News 12 did a great job on the video above showing Michael's progress.

Michael says, "Like everything in the media only some of the stuff is true."


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Overcrowded Schools in Cobble Hill, Booze in Brooklyn Bridge Park, and More Briefs

- Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill parents will be holding a discussion about overcrowding in the area’s public elementary schools on Oct. 21. [PMFA]

- The meteoric price rise of the Brooklyn penthouse. [NY Post]

- Booze in Brooklyn Bridge Park: CB2 approves Pierhouse hotel’s rooftop bar liquor license. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- In case you haven't seen the terrifying Williamsburg rat vs. pigeon video yet.... [Patch]

- How to be a successful billionaire, according to Brooklyn Nets Owner Mikhail Prokhorov. [GQ]

- Pilot program aims to save Jamaica Bay’s shrinking marshes. [NY Times]

- SAT, AP test scores up for NYC students. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Fall festival and movie night in Kaiser Park Saturday, October 17, hosted by Councilman Mark Treyger. [Sheepshead Bites]

- Costume free-for-all 80s- and 90s-themed Halloween party in Brooklyn on Oct. 30. [Brokelyn]


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Provocative Forum: 'Is the NYPD Doing Its Job?' at St. Francis College in Brooklyn

Harry Siegel (NY Daily News) and Heather Mac Donald (Manhattan Institute) discuss 'Is the NYPD Doing Its Job?' at St. Francis College in Brooklyn on Wed., Oct. 21 at 6 p.m.

A new tracking system is in place to measure use of force by the New York City Police, but does that satisfy the critics of Police Commissioner William Bratton and the NYPD? Siegel and Mac Donald will try to answer that question, and decide if the NYPD is doing its job.

The free forum will be moderated by social critic Kay S. Hymowitz, author of Manning Up: How the Rise of Women Has Turned Men into Boys."

The event was organized by St. Francis Scholar in Residence Fred Siegel, a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute and author of "The Revolt Against The Masses: How Liberalism Undermined the Middle Class." He has been instrumental in bringing a number of timely and provocative events to the College, including: "Does France Have a Future?", "New York's New Digital Media," "A Discussion of the Common Core," and "Can You be Both a Business Success and Ethically Noble?"


St. Francis College – Maroney Forum for Arts, Culture & Education; 180 Remsen Street, Brooklyn Heights, NY 11201


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The Dem Debate, Condensed

Missed the debate last night and want to catch up? These websites have condensed it to its essential bits:

The #DemDebate, abbreviated: pic.twitter.com/6qVakC2fG9

— Slate (@Slate) October 14, 2015

AND MORE:
* Debate highlights: 9 quotes that sum up the Democratic debate. [Mashable]

* The 10 best moment's from the Dem debate. [Mother Jones]

* CNN's post-debate Nightcap. 

Best tweet about the debate:

I must say I am really proud to be a democrat tonight, this is how big boys debate, not like the clown show of the republicans. #DemDebate

— Michael Liu (@emmanuel763) October 14, 2015

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Scenes from NYC Comic Con 2015

Photos by MK Metz

NYC Comic Con at Javits Center this past weekend was swarming with fans of comics, video, film and TV shows.

Cosplayers dressed like their favorites and some of the costumes were eye-popping.

This is just one of several popes to bless the scene. His companion's name is Venom.

A mashup including Jurassic and Ninja Turtle overtones.

Characters from Daredevil.

A very convincing Dr. Octopus!

Nice costume, Harley Quinn!

Quite a crowd for the Iron Man panel...

Katherine Chavez, playing Lightning.

Progressive "protector-corns" kick up their heels.

Teen Titans Raven & Gamora, Guardian of the Galaxy. (Thanks very much to Phantom Zodak for these ID's and other info.)

Star Wars characters.

After a hard day of Comic Con, this frog-like guy found a good place to collapse.

Part 1.

The End.

More images at Collider.

Even more photos at Brooklyn Eagle.


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Fireworks Over NYC on Monday, Oct. 12, 2015

Photo: MK Metz

Fireworks were set off over New York City Monday (Columbus Day) at roughly 9:50 p.m.

They were shot from a barge 500 years south of the Battery and went up over the Hudson River. They could be seen from Manhattan, Brooklyn, N.J and Staten Island.

The fireworks were sponsored by Briggs Inc event-planning company for Lexus.

Some good viewing spots in Brooklyn included the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Red Hook and the Brooklyn Bridge.


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Thousands Rally for Charter Schools in Cadman Plaza Park, Brooklyn

Photos by MK Metz

That amplified music and cheering you might have heard in Cadman Plaza Park, Downtown Brooklyn Wednesday morning was the sound of 15,000 bused-in charter school kids and parents holding a pro-charter rally.

Most of the participants were from the Success Academy charter chain, run by former Councilmember Eva Moskowitz, who is trying to get more territory for her schools in NYC.

The kids got the morning off from school, and these nifty red T-shirts.

Star Jennifer Hudson put on a show, as did other musical entertainers.

After the rally, some of the kids went home, others were bused back to school and some went to City Hall to hold another smaller rally.

More photos and information here.


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Get Ready for Haunted, Horrific Brooklyn Heights

Nestled within the sedate charms of one of Brooklyn’s oldest neighborhoods is a wealth of gory, ghastly, haunted and horrific tales...

Yes, we're talking about Brooklyn Heights.

On Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m., Boroughs of the Dead owner and founder Andrea Janes will guide you to the frightening sites of dreadful stories that inspire terror in those who pass them after dark.

The tour takes off from Brooklyn Bridge Park. Tickets are $10.

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Negligent Landlord? Crown Heights Tenants Forum Tonight (Wed.)

Does your super following you around with a GoPro? Does your landlord neglect repairs?
Assemblymember Diana Richardson is holding a forum tonight in Crown Heights on tenants rights.

The forum takes place at the Crown Heights Library at 6:30 p.m.


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Put In Your 2 Cents About Fort Greene Park's Pathways Tonight

Fort Greene Park received $3 million to improve its pathways, and wans to hear from you about how they should do it.

The meeting is at the Fort Greene Visitor Center tonight at 6 p.m.

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No More Polytechnic Name in Brooklyn; 'Creative Control'; and More Brooklyn Briefs

From The Verge: Amazon has cut a deal to acquire the independently produced Creative Control (above), a dark satire about the tech industry that premiered at SXSW in March. Creative Control tells the story of an advertising executive tasked with selling "Augmenta" wearable glasses. The film is set in an achingly hip corner of Brooklyn, and featuring a cast made up of actual tech executives and future-savvy celebrities . . .

More Brooklyn News:

- No more Polytechnic name in Brooklyn? Brooklyn’s NYU Poly receives $100 million, changes name to ‘NYU Tandon School of Engineering.' [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Scenes from Grace Church's blessing of the animals. [BHB]

- Residents say Brooklyn super's body cam is an invasion of privacy. [CBS]

- 2nd body found in Borough Park rubble. [Brooklyn Eagle] and [NBC]

- You know that truck with 3,000 lbs. of marijuana cops discovered on Monday? Three of the guys arrested are from Brooklyn. [Daily News]

- "New Brooklyn" is a comic universe which "encapsulates the borough’s spirit" with comics starring Brooklyn as their centerpieces and created by Brooklyn writers and artists. [Newsarama]

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It's Organ Donor Day at Brooklyn Borough Hall

Tuesday is the first annual Organ Donor Day in New York, and you can sign up to be an organ donor at Brooklyn Borough Hall, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The statewide push is sponsored by LiveOnNY, a non-profit organ procurement organization.

Why are they doing this? Because our state SUCKS in terms of organ donation: New York is 50th out of 50 states in the percentage of residents enrolled as organ donors.


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Suing Over a Parking Space, School Rezoning Squabble, and More Brooklyn Briefs

Just another naked guy on a cross in Union Square, Manhattan. Photo: MK Metz

 - One dead, one still missing in Borough Park blast. [abc7ny]

- Brooklyn neighbors battle over parking spaces in court. [NY Post]

- Squadron: ‘DOE has pitted neighbor against neighbor’ in Brooklyn Heights/ Vinegar Hill rezoning battle. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Man dies after jumping in front of oncoming L train at Bushwick subway station. [Daily News]

- Godspeed You! Black Emperor storms Brooklyn, shattering eardrums and psyches. [Billboard]

- IHOP comes back home to Downtown Brooklyn. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Photographer merges photos from the past with today's Brownstone neighborhood pix. [Brooklyn Based]


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Fireworks Seen in NYC, Brooklyn Oct. 4: Happy Diwali!

Photo: MK Metz

Fireworks are being set off in New York City on Sun., Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. to celebrate Deepavali, a.k.a. Diwali, one of the largest Indian events in the city.

The fest includes a day of food, clothing, crafts and dance performances (the Naach Inferno competition).  The "festival of lights," which commemorates the end of Hindu king and deity Rama’s 14 years of exile, culminates in the fireworks display.

They rockets are being shot off Pier 16 (Beekman St. and South St.) on the East River and can be seen from Manhattan, Brooklyn, S.I. and New Jersey.

More at Time Out.


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Coming Up in DUMBO: Virtual Reality Film Festival

Oculus Rift headset by Sebastian Stabinger

Virtual reality films will be on view in DUMBO on Oct. 6 from 8 to 11 p.m. at the Kaleidoscope VR Film Festival.

Audiences will wear Gear VR equipment supplied by Samsung, as well as Oculus VR headsets.

"Who hasn’t wanted to step into their favorite movie?” René Pinnell, co-founder of the film festival, asked the Brooklyn Eagle.

Virtual reality film festival coming to DUMBO [Brooklyn Eagle]


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Hurricane Joaquin May Miss NYC, But Deluge Likely

It's looking more likely that Hurricane Joaquin will not hit New York City directly, as various models show its trajectory moving more to the east, according to the National Weather Service and Dr. Jeff Masters of Weather Underground.

But the weather on Friday and afterwards will be plenty wet. In Brooklyn, showers will be on and off, with rain and wind picking up Friday night. A coastal flood watch is in effect through Saturday afternoon. The low in Brooklyn on Friday is predicted to be 50 degrees.

Masters says, "Dangerous Hurricane Joaquin has intensified to a Category 4 storm with 130 mph winds and a 936 mb pressure, making it the strongest Atlantic hurricane in five years." However . . .  "Confidence is growing that Joaquin will move out to sea this weekend, although a U.S. landfall still cannot be ruled out."

The city's emergency preparedness plans have improved, Mayor de Blasio said Thursday night. Evacuation shelters are ready, as are extra ambulances, firefighters, water rescue teams, additional ladder companies and emergency boats in case of flooding.


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Big Brooklyn Concert with Beyoncé, Prince and Nicki Minaj; and More Brooklyn Briefs

Slow-zone rolling out in Brooklyn Heights will include 21 speed humps. Photo: MK Metz

-  Two hundred or so people turned up at Valentino Pier on Sunday for the Red Hook Regatta, a 3D-printed boat race. [Untapped Cities]

- Tidal is putting on a huge Brooklyn concert with Beyoncé, Prince, Nicki Minaj and others at Barclays. [Newsweek]

- Crochet mural sparks anarchist protest at Bushwick's Brooklyn Flea. [Hyperallergic]

- A few women still want to be beauty queens in Brooklyn. [NY Magazine]

- A city-owned car used by a member of Mayor De Blasio’s staff was broken into in Brooklyn and an iPad and a Blackberry were taken. [Daily News]

- Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Oryx and Crake," will come to St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights to share her new novel, “The Heart Goes Last” on Friday, Oct. 9. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- If you live in District 39 and want to have a say in what projects are funded in the area, stop by Brad Lander's Participatory Budgeting meeting next Tuesday, October 6. [Kensington BK]

- The city’s sudden push to use eminent domain to grab land in Coney Island would connect three beloved landmarked attractions with a grand walkway. [NY Post]


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