Brooklyn Borough Hall Puts On Its Christmas Colors

The colored lights create a lovely mood, and look: there's the just-delivered Christmas tree (are we still allowed to say that?) to the left.

Photo by MK Metz

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Silver Rolls at Fulton Ferry

This little beauty was parked on the sidewalk in front of Sam's Auto Body, at 50 Old Fulton Street in Fulton Ferry Landing near the Brooklyn Bridge.

It's a 1987 Rolls Royce Silver Something, with a four-door limo body.

At last inspection, it had 7196 miles. The sticker implied it was from London.

Photos by MK Metz

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

False Alarm at Schermerhorn House

These guys working on the windows at Schermerhorn House (Schermerhorn near Smith Street in Downtown Brooklyn) seemed to be weirded out when a couple of fire engines came roaring up and fire fighters poured into the building.

But it turned out to be a false alarm. Soon the excitement was over and everyone went back to work.

The Actors Fund and Common Ground Community are developing this residence for single adults. Half of the building will target individuals affiliated with the performing arts and entertainment industry, and half will house formerly homeless individuals living with HIV/AIDS or mental health needs. More here.

Request to be on the wait list here.

Photos by MK Metz

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Laughing In the Face of Economic Breakdown

We like to think it has something to do with Brooklyn real estate.

Laughing man painted on a construction fence on Atlantic Avenue near Smith Street, Downtown Brooklyn.

Photo by MK Metz

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

National Grid Down One Truck on Brooklyn's Atlantic Ave.

The front of this National Grid truck was totally staved on Monday morning around 8:30 when it ran into the rear of another truck (the MXI truck, shown below) at the intersection of Atlantic Ave. and Bond in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn.

The MXI truck appeared to suffer no particular damage, while the National Grid truck appears to be a total loss. We didn't see the moment of impact, so we're not sure if anyone was hurt -- but no one seemed to be carrying on.

Through the rear window of the National Grid cab, you can read the words "No Rats!"

National Grid used to be KeySpan, which used to be Brooklyn Union Gas.

Previous posts about National Grid/ KeySpan here.

Photos by MK Metz

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Shop Brooklyn? Bah, Humbug: Santa Gets a Ticket!

It seemed like a great idea -- as part of Brooklyn's Shop Brooklyn holiday shopping initiative, the Merchants of Third Avenue, with Borough President Marty Markowitz, brought in jolly old Santa in a horse-drawn wagon.

But while Santa was busy handing out out free candy and toys to the eager children, a traffic agent was busy slapping a ticket on the SUV belonging to his helpers, and no amount of pleading could change her mind.

Story and photos at the Brooklyn Eagle.

Photo by Western Dave, Creative Commons license

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

That Christmas Spirit On Fulton Street, Downtown Brooklyn

The holiday shopping season may have gotten off to a subdued start, but not due to the efforts of these Salvation Army musicians on Fulton Street in Downtown Brooklyn.

Video by MK Metz

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

New Yorkers Have Faith in Bloomberg, and More Brooklyn Briefs

- A nice new pub opens on Prospect, everybody gets excited -- then it turns out it's only a movie set. Bummer. Gowanus Lounge

- A Brooklyn judge says you can't arrest a couple of guys on a plane just because they're Arabs. WSJ blog

- About 53 percent of New Yorkers polled by Crain's have faith that Mayor Michael Bloomberg can lead the city out of the economic crisis. Crain's NY Business

- Don't censor Sunflower the Sambo Centaur! The Rev. Spyros'Snake Oil Emporium

- Ribbon cutting at JJ Byrne/ Washington Park, Wednesday. OTBKB

- Councilmember Bill de Blasio will join other elected officials today to rally against the MTA's proposal to shut down numerous subway and bus lines in Brooklyn. Corner of 9th St & 5th Ave, Park Slope. From McBrooklyn's email.

- Research on mice links fast food to Alzheimers. Reuters

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

No Black Friday Lines at Brooklyn IKEA

This took us by surprise: There were lots of folks at the Brooklyn IKEA on Black Friday but no frantic mobs, no pushing and (by 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.) the shortest lines we've ever experienced at IKEA!

While many people were at work yesterday, we still expected more of a Black Friday-style scene. Instead, while the store was full of people milling about, the vibe was mellow and we were out within five minutes.

There was even a clown making kids smile near the checkout lines.

Can't say this will be repeated over Black Weekend. But it's got to be better than the lines that confronted us on one horrible Saturday in August.

Photo by MK Metz

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Brooklyn Rabbi and Wife Killed in Mumbai

A Brooklyn rabbi and his wife were among those killed during the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India. The couple ran the local headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish group.

"He was the nicest gentleman you can imagine," said one of his mourners.

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.