Taxi Choice Fixed? Second-Class Condo Residents; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- Markowitz slams Mayor's choice of Nissan taxi, says the fix was in.  Brooklyn Eagle

- Apartment fire on Pacific Street yesterday. CGPatch

- To get big tax breaks, two big condos in Williamsburg built "affordable" rental units for low-income residents -- but require them to use a separate, shoddier entrance and bans them from the pool and other amenities. Gothamist

- Dance the Night Away -- an adult-only prom -- in Brooklyn. Brooklynian

- AOL hires Brooklyn hyperlocal blogger to increase community engagement for Patch.com. NYConvergence

-  George W. Bush declines Obama's Ground Zero invite. NY Magazine

- Hipster Threat Level was High at the Brooklyn Bridge last night, when Matt and Kim did a musical video shoot involving bike bells. Gothamist


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Bad Nanny Sighting at Chase Bank in Park Slope

 Do you have a nanny with a West Indian accent who takes care of your two boys in Park Slope? If she is the nanny described at I Saw Your Nanny -- she yanks the the kids' arms, pinches them and just plain doesn't like them -- you might want to think about getting a different caregiver.

Photo by Basheertome, Creative Commons license

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Lousy 5 Boro Bike Tour Experience; Gowanus Grind and More Brooklyn Briefs

- Lousy 5 Boro Bike Tour experience. Brooklynian and Gothamist

- The proposed rezoning of Boerum Hill and the revised Squibb Bridge design for Brooklyn Bridge Park will be considered at the next general meeting of Community Board 2. Brooklyn Eagle 

- The Brooklyn Heights Hillbillies. Lost City

- Why we need raised pedestrian islands in crosswalks. WYDNKBYANM

- Video of the Gowanus Grind III at Carroll Gardens Patch.

- Paul Krugman is America's most correct columnist. NY Magazine 

- A new kissing device lets you make out over the Internet. Fast Company 

Osama bin Laden Related:

- Death of Bin Laden has special meaning for Brooklyn. Brooklyn Eagle

- Bin Laden may be dead, but U.S. officials expect at least one new bin Laden tape to surface soon. Huff Post

- Photos from inside the Osama bin Laden kill zone. ABC

- Look for Al Qaeda retaliation in the "next three to six months." NY Magazine
 
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5 Boro Bike Fest, Brooklyn Bridge Park

Bike riders may have been pissed off about the traffic jams at Sunday's 5 Boro Bike Tour (see  Brooklynian and Gothamist), but a good time was had by all at Saturday's 5 Boro Bike fest at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

The Meetles sounded exactly like the Beetles!

Mini-class about how to buy or fix your bike.

Photo by MK Metz

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Sakuri Matsuri -- Cherry Blossoms -- at Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Tens of thousands visited the Brooklyn Botanic Garden this past weekend for the annual Sakura Matsuri festival (Japanese cherry blossom festival), one of the most popular public events of the year in Brooklyn. There were fascinating activities all over the garden -- from anime standup comedy to classical Japanese dance to karate demonstrations to Samurai drama to flower exhibitions to tea ceremonies. Above is a manga demonstration at the "J-Lounge" with cute inflatable armchairs.

In spite of the crowds, the beauty of the cherry blossoms was breathtaking.

Cosplay was so big this year! There was a cosplay fashion show and groups were posing all over the garden.

The weather was perfect for sitting on the lawn under the cherry trees.

You could play all games like Sodoku and logic puzzles. Here are folks playing the ancient game of Go in the Puzzle Plaza.

In spite of usually aiming to visit the garden when we can have it all to ourselves, we really has a great time. Highly recommend.

Photos by MK Metz

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Hope Reichbach Dies; the Royal Wedding; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- Hope Reichbach, a rising star in city politics and a key aide to Councilman Steve Levin, is dead at 22. Brooklyn Paper  and Carroll Gardens Patch

- Walcott tries to instill some civility at first Ed Panel meeting. NY1 

- Miss USA's vagina was aggressively frisked by the TSA. Four times. NY Magazine

- U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm (R-Brooklyn/Staten Island) held his first town hall in Brooklyn Wednesday night and got into a verbal fisticuffs with his constituents. Brooklyn Eagle

- 2,600-year-old mummy from Brooklyn Museum gets CAT scan, has perfect teeth. CBS

- In Prospect Park there are people who fly kites fitted with devices that make an annoying humming sound. Brooklynian

- Don't forget: The Brooklyn Botanic Garden's annual Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival will be in full swing this weekend. NY1

- Where to watch/celebrate the Royal Wedding in Brooklyn.  Brokelyn

- A Brooklyn fish importer is on trial for attempting to smuggle around 350 incredibly scarey live snakehead fish through Kennedy Airport last year. NY Magazine

- Now we're really sunk: Superman renounces his U.S. citizenship. Comics Alliance

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Sinkhole, Brooklyn Bridge Park

 A sinkhole at the south end of the Pier 1 walkway at the new Brooklyn Bridge Park has swallowed an orange traffic cone.

Com'on people, we need revenue!

Photo by MK Metz

- Housing in Brooklyn Bridge Park . . . Pros and Cons
- Gelber Proposal -- Watchtower to Generate Funds for Brooklyn Bridge Park
- Here Are Some Ideas to Generate Funds for Brooklyn Bridge Park  

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Couple Who Split House in Half With Wall Finally Gets Divorce

 Remember six years ago when a warring Brooklyn couple was ordered to build a wall down the middle of their house because neither would admit to fault in their divirce proceedings?

Simon and Chana Taub had been living in their brownstone separated by that wall ever since. According to the Brooklyn Eagle, on Wednesday a Brooklyn Supreme Court judge finally granted the divorce and also ordered the Taubs to sell their home.

Simon Taub was reportedly happy about the arrangement; his wife was not. Simon Taub, by the way, is charged with several counts of attempted grand larceny in an unrelated case. More here.

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Cherry Tree, Cadman Plaza Park, Brooklyn

 The statue of a woman with a child (by sculptor Charles Keck) at the Brooklyn War Memorial in Cadman Plaza Park overlooks a cherry tree in full bloom.

In Downtown Brooklyn.

Photo by MK Metz

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Inclement Weather Advisory in Brooklyn, New York City

***WARNING: INCLEMENT WEATHER ADVISORY***

DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS ADVISES PROPERTY OWNERS AND CONTRACTORS TO TAKE PRECAUTIONARY STEPS IN PREPARATION OF POSSIBLE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND HIGH WINDS

            The National Weather Service forecasts possible severe thunderstorms with gusts of wind up to 55 mph for the New York City area today, April 28, 2011. In preparation for the windy weather, the Department of Buildings is reminding all builders, contractors, and property owners to secure their construction sites and buildings.  The Department will be performing random spot-check inspections of construction sites around the city.  If construction sites are not safely secured in preparation for the inclement weather, the Department will take immediate enforcement action with the issuance of violations and Stop Work Orders if necessary.

            These winds may reach higher speeds than forecast depending on the area of New York City. Property owners must consider the safety of their buildings and construction sites, cranes, suspended and supported scaffolding, hoists, and any other building appurtenances that may come loose from exposure to high winds. Structures that have been subject to deferred maintenance or are in delicate condition could be at greater risk. The Department strongly suggests consulting a professional to advise how to safely secure construction sites and buildings. 

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