Building Collapse in Brighton Beach; Strip Club Riles Red Hook; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- A huge pile of rubble is all that is left of a five-story building under construction in Brighton Beach after it suddenly collapsed around 2:30 p.m. as local residents and passers-by watched in horror. Firefighters are still searching through the rubble for victims. Brooklyn Eagle

- Hookers seeing red over strip club. Brownstoner

- Muslims in New York feel powerless over NYPD secret reports. NY Daily News

- Party boat makes emergency stop because three "intoxicated teens" needed medical attention. Gothamist

- The FAA has launched a manhunt for laser-wielding criminals after several attacks against pilots at LaGuardia Airport over the weekend. Gothamist

- Even stranger: "Child's foot" found on lawn in Queens was actually bear paw. Quote: "It's more common than you think." Gothamist

- Obamacare scores big legal victory. NY Magazine

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Record Numbers of Visitors at Brooklyn Bridge Park

More than 60,000 visitors came to Brooklyn Bridge Park on an average summer weekend this year and weekday attendance was approximately 11,500 per day, according to the Brooklyn Heights Press.

A terrific slate of programming was one of the draws -- including Syfy Movies With A View, fitness classes, chess lessons, opera, volleyball workshops, theater, children’s events and more.

Not to mention beautiful, wind-swept views, greenery and interesting snacks.

More here.

Photo by MK Metz

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Have You Voted Yet? Brooklyn Judicial Elections Tuesday

Did you know that you have the opportunity to vote for the judge you may appear before? Today is voting day in New York City and according the Gotham Gazette, voters in Brooklyn actually have a bit of a choice.

Two Democrats running for Civil Court in Brooklyn — Sharen Hudson, a court attorney at the Red Hook Community Justice Center who has the support of Vito Lopez, and Supervising Civil Court Judge Peter Sweeney — are running against two Republican/Conservatives — attorney Joseph Elhilow and lawyer Vincent Martusciello — for two seats.

Here's a reason you may want to vote outside of party lines.

Here's the Voter's Guide if you want to look up the candidates.

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Bearded Lady at OWS; PetSmart to Have Pet Hospital; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- Brooklyn cafe owner missing over a week. Ditmas Park Blog via Gothamist

- Wine store opening at 1 Brooklyn Bridge Park. Brownstoner

- Jennifer Miller, the Coney Island bearded lady, performed at the Occupy Wall Street protests in Zuccotti Park on Sunday. Brooklyn Eagle 

- Brooklyn Navy Yard Museum to open this Friday. Brooklyn Before Now

- A number of renowned comic artists will be featured at this December's Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Festival. ComicsBeat

- The new PetSmart in Boerum Hill will provide adoptions and a pet hospital. Brooklyn Eagle

- Job opportunity: emergency snow removal. The Local

- A sad reminder that even if you have it bad someone somewhere probably had it worse. WYDNKBYANM 

- Zuccotti Park protesters setting up 16' x 16' military tents for the winter. Huff Post

- The world's oldest working stockbroker. NY Magazine

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KiwiSweat Popped Up in DUMBO, Briefly

We were surprised to find a gym with cycling equipment at 81 Front Street (Gair Building No. 6) over the weekend. It turns out that KiwiSweat pop-up gym was only there from Thursday till Sunday (yesterday) for an exercise "experience."

KiwiSweat says they use the “pop-up” model to keep their fitness content amazing. "Because we focus on short-term individual events, we’re constantly reinventing ourselves. This allows us to integrate the latest fitness trends, feature the best instructors, and respond immediately to customer feedback."

Details regarding pop-up locations and schedule are kept secret until they are released online a few weeks before the event begins. KiwiSweat says they get the hottest instructors, and people pay per class with no membership fees. (More at DumboNYC.)

Next stop: Invisible Dog, from November 17th - November 20th.

Photo by MK Metz

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'Occupy Brownsville' Marches Over Brooklyn Bridge to City Hall

Marchers brought coffins to Cadman Plaza Park in Downtown Brooklyn and marched over the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday to bring attention to the unacceptable level of gun violence in the city. The "Ride. March. Rally." started out in Brownsville where Zurana Horton, a mother of 12, was recently shot and killed as she shielded children from a hail of bullets.

City Councilman Charles Barron headed up the march over the bridge to City Hall. Many of the participants carried signs bearing photos of children killed in gang violence.

Marchers said that poverty, unemployment and the lack of centers for youth create a climate of violence. The event was organized by the National Action Network (headed by Rev. Al Sharpton), with the groups Man Up, King of Kings Foundation, and I Love My Life.

Photos by MK Metz

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Cadets, Saturday, Brooklyn Bridge Park

It appeared on Saturday that military cadets were taking over Brooklyn Bridge Park but it turned out that numerous Quinceañera groups were flooding the park for photo shoots.

Quinceañera is a 15th birthday coming-of-age celebration for Latina girls.

According to various Internet posts, in Mexico cadets would often participate in the ceremony. Today cadet uniforms are often worn in honor of this tradition.

Photo by MK Metz

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Park Ranger Arrests Pervert Carrying Loaded Gun in Prospect Park

A park ranger leading an educational tour for school children in Prospect Park averted a potential tragedy by arresting a man carrying a loaded gun who was exposing himself, A Walk In the Park reports.

Park patrons spotted 53-year old Glen Perouza of Queens masturbating inside Prospect Park between 3rd and 4th street Saturday at approximately 3:30 p.m. Perouza was carrying a loaded 9mm Taurus Pt. 99 hand gun.

Read the full story at A Walk In the Park.

Photo courtesy e-gun.net

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Two Trees to Break Ground on Dock Street in DUMBO Next Summer

Two Trees Management Co. will break ground on its controversial Dock Street DUMBO project (shown above next to Brooklyn Bridge) next summer, “if all goes well,” reports the Brooklyn Eagle.

Jed Walentas, a principal at Two Trees, broke the news at the Brooklyn Real Estate Roundtable luncheon on Tuesday.

More than a dozen high-profile local and national preservation groups opposed the 18 story private development just 92 feet from the Brooklyn Bridge “that will forever alter New York’s legendary landscape," according to Doreen Gallo, Dumbo Neighborhood Alliance executive vice president.

- Dock Street Sides
- School 'Not Allowed' in Brooklyn Bridge Park
- Dumbo Dock Street Public Hearing Tonight (past)
- Put Middle School in Brooklyn Heights' P.S. 8, Says Yassky

Image courtesy of Two Trees Management


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Fake Meat; Hipster Litmus Test; Grandma's Ashes; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- How to tell if you're a hipster. tumblr via reddit

- Five spots to get your fake meat fix, all in Brooklyn. Gothamist

- Fabulous police work: Brooklyn woman reunited with grandma's ashes, stolen from her car. NY Daily News

- Bay Ridge has eerily similar twin -- in Norway. Brooklyn Eagle

- Charter school scam in New York City? Huff Post

- Josh Rubin, owner of Whisk Bakery Cafe on Newkirk Avenue, has gone missing. NYS Missing Persons and Ditmas Park Blog

- Advocates say don't close those 47 failing schools, fix them. Brooklyn Eagle 

- Almondine’s macaroons "best in city." DumboNYC  

- The story of a spectacular fire, in a building opposite Brooklyn Borough Hall where the Supreme Court stands today. Brooklyn Eagle

- The mother of all margin calls: Up to 50,000 former customers of bankrupt broker MF Global must find some $1 billion in additional collateral by today (Friday), or be forced out of their trades. Vosizneias 

- We had so much fun with "do a barrel roll" yesterday. Here are more Google Easter eggs. Gothamist

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