It's Nice To See Good Blackboard Art

We stopped to admire this well-done chalk illustration on a blackboard set up in front of Blanc & Rouge on Washington Street in DUMBO.

Photo by MK Metz

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

The Revolution Comes To a Bench in Cadman Plaza Park

A few of the 99% take a rest from the revolution in Cadman Plaza Park in Downtown Brooklyn /Brooklyn Heights.

Photo by MK Metz

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Brooklyn Fishing Debry; Cult at Atlantic Antic? And More Brooklyn Briefs

- City bus drivers sued the New York Police Department on Monday for commandeering their buses and making them drive to the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday to pick up detained protesters. CBS

- How to escape from zip ties around your wrists. For whatever reason you may need to. Animal  via  Gothamist

- The Brooklyn Fishing derby is officially underway -- in the East River. Village Voice

- 250 Baltic St., housing Brooklyn Community Board 6, Families First and the South Beach Psychiatric Center, is trying to recover from a flood that seriously damaged parts of the building. Brooklyn Eagle

- State Senator Daniel Squadron announced that the MTA has heeded his call and plans to improve weekend service on the L train. Brooklyn Politics Blog

- A table for a "Stalinist political cult called the National Labor Federation, or NATLFED" was in action at the Atlantic Antic this past weekend. Brooklynian

- Cops are criticized for inadequate response to Park Slope rapes. Brooklyn Paper 

- Why would you jump the turnstile if you were carrying a loaded gun and a sock full of weed? Brooklyn Eagle  

- Starting November 1, you can donate $5 at Starbucks and they will use the money to help fund loans to community businesses. They estimate one new job will be created for every $3,000 in donations. Starbucks

- Facebook's tracking scandal is mushrooming. Gawker

- Why every American should register as a Republican. Huff Post

- Climate change could make chocolate a luxury item. Huff Post

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Atlantic Antic 2011: Food, Music and Beer On a Great Day

At yesterday's 37th annual Atlantic Antic about a million people converged on one street in Brooklyn for the longest and most delicious street fair in the world.

First place we always go is La Mancha, for their incomparable grilled sardines. The line was pretty long and it was mostly locals, who wait all year for these babies.

Then to Sahadi's for a little homous and baba ghanoug.

Plus an ear of corn browned over a fire and slathered in butter.

Having a little bite on the run.

It's amazing how good the Windsor Terrors are. They pound out classic British invasion rock and oldies by groups like Dylan and the Stones. They were playing for the Chip Shop.

Gigi & Pop performed at Last Exit. They're our new favorite band.

Eddie "The Sheik" Kochak -- what a showman!  He had to kill about 15 minutes between sets, and between his song about a guy's troubles with his wife and his Amer-Abic orchestra, he had us dancing in the street.

The pubs set up nice little spots to sit and have a sip or maybe two of Sixpoint Atlantic Ale Amber. The one above was next to Pete's Ale House.

- Atlantic Antic 2010
- Atlantic Antic 2009
- Atlantic Antic 2008 

Photos by MK Metz

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Brooklyn Bridge: Thousands Of United Way Volunteers Protest Cuts in Health, Education and Income

The Occupy Wall Street protesters weren't the only group to march over the Brooklyn Bridge and rally in Cadman Plaza Park this past weekend.

Roughly 3,500 marchers joined in the United Way Brooklyn Bridge March Saturday to bring attention to drastic budget cuts in health and education and growing disparities in income.

United Way says one fifth of all New Yorkers live below the poverty line, and thousands of children lack access to basic preventive and primary health care.

After marching across the bridge, a volunteer festival was held in Cadman Plaza Park in Downtown Brooklyn.
More at United Way.

Photos by MK Metz

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Fireworks New York City, Brooklyn: October 2

Happy Deepavali! The fireworks you heard tonight over New York City and Brooklyn were shot off at the South Street Seaport to celebrate the Indian festival of Deepavali.

Deepavali (also: Depawali, Dipavali, and other spellings) marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year. It literally translated means 'Row of Lights.' It celebrates the victory of Goodness over Evil and Light over Darkness and it ushers in the new year.

A festival was held by the Association of Indians in America all day at the Seaport. Besides food and music, the event included:

Excelsior Award - Recognizing successful individuals of Indian origins who have excelled in their respective fields.
Food and clothing drives for the homeless.
Various events and programs in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History.
Social events such as fashion show, movie premier, concerts etc.
Educational Indian Awareness program in schools and Libraries.
Sponsorship and internship programs.
Project India program: To eradicate and educate about HIV in India.

More here.

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Occupy Wall Street Protesters Occupy Cadman Plaza Park (Others Get Arrested On the Brooklyn Bridge)

Hundreds of anti-Wall Street protesters were arrested Saturday night after police corralled them while they were marching in the car lane of the Brooklyn Bridge. Half of the protesters -- members of the Occupy Wall Street movement --  had kept to the legal walkway and made it to Cadman Plaza Park in Brooklyn Heights (shown above).

Those who made it to Brooklyn rallied in the park. We were told that some of the protesters went to Brooklyn Bridge Park as well.

The marchers were protesting the Wall Street bailouts, joblessness, foreclosures, and the war. They carried signs saying, "We are the 99%" and "We have been robbed of our future."

This woman's sign says "Our government has failed you."

A person dressed like Death wore a costume that said, "Claim Denied."

This lady's sign reads, "Woman was screwed by Bank of America. (Widow.)"

In the meantime,the police had boxed the car-lane marchers into orange pens. Some protesters said it was the police who had led them onto the roadway, and they trustingly followed them. Others said that provocateurs urged marchers to walk on the roadway with the words, "We can do this the legal way or the illegal way." UPDATE: Police have released video clearly showing that they warned the protesters to get off the roadway or face arrest, but the protesters ignored them, chanting, "Take the bridge!"

As arrests began, some marchers got away from the police by climbing out or backing up.

The Brooklyn Bridge was closed for hours as the police put plastic restraints on protesters' wrists, put them on buses and sent them to various precincts for processing. One cop said that no regular crimes were going to get processed tonight because of all of the protest arrests. Some people estimated 500 protesters were arrested. City buses were brought in after the police buses were all filled.

The protesters yelled up to people on the walkway. They asked if anyone knew they were being arrested. Some of the protesters, who had been on the bridge for hours in the drizzle, said they were cold. An organizer on the bridge walkway said that lawyers had been contacted and would be trying to get them out of jail, and that 20,000 people were watching video of them. The protesters cheered and chanted as the police led them to the buses.

Same Day, Same Bridge, Different Protest

Photos by MK Metz

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Scissura Steps Down; Seniors 'Penned' Inside Center; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- Carlo Scissura, chief of staff to Borough President Marty Markowitz, has stepped down from his post -- in order to run for his boss's job. Brooklyn Eagle

- Brooklyn (parts of it, anyway) becomes the City of Light Saturday. Brokelyn

-  The Brooklyn Night Bazaar will be taking over the DeKalb Market for an evening of independent food vendors, art, music and a beer and wine garden on Sunday, October 9th. Gothamist

- Boerum Hill residents criticize the iron gate built to keep seniors penned inside the Hopkins Center (it used to be called Bishop Mugavero Center), and say it's indicative of a declining quality of care. Brooklyn Eagle

- Swoon hits Gowanus. South Brooklyn Post

- New York photographer unsure what diamond-shaped object is. In related news, New York is a current UFO ALERT 3 rating. Examiner via Gothamist

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Fireworks Near NYC and Brooklyn, Sept. 29, 2011

Once again Brooklynites were treated to an unexpected fireworks display, this time a bit further out.

According to NewYorkology, tonight's fireworks, set off from a barge near Ellis Island, were sponsored by Briggs Inc. for Citgo and/or Bridgestone.

Nothing can beat Tuesday's spectacular fireworks, however. Folks in Brooklyn Heights are still talking about them.

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

McDonalds Rubbout Video; Pan Am in Brooklyn Heights; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- Chilling surveillance video, released by police Wednesday night, shows the rubout attempt that nearly ended the life of Tyquan Sewall, 18, at a Brooklyn McDonalds. NY Daily News

- Willoughby Square Park in Downtown Brooklyn gets $8 million in funding -- some from local developers -- after the city eliminated its funding. TRD

- Downtown Brooklyn to get some of those talking traffic signals. Brooklyn Eagle

- The 2011 Tour del Taco -- a bike ride through the finest taco establishments in Brooklyn -- takes place next weekend. Gothamist

- Pan Am films in Brooklyn Heights today -- but one reader says since the signs just went up yesterday, residents DO NOT have to move their cars! BHB

- In Brooklyn: protests against people swinging live chickens over their heads for the Jewish holidays. Brooklyn Eagle

- Cantaloupe will kill you. For real. Gawker

- It's probably time to stop visiting the Wall Street Journal's website. NY Magazine

- It's probably time to disconnect from Facebook, or at least eliminate aps like Spotify. Gizmodo

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.