Brooklyn Nets Party at Borough Hall Quite a Scene

The Brooklyn Nets threw a party on Friday at Brooklyn Borough Hall in Downtown Brooklyn to welcome new player Joe Johnson, number 7,  and the recently re-signed Deron Williams, number 8. Nets General Manager Billy King (above right) told the crowd that now the Nets have “the best backcourt in the NBA."

Nets Head Coach Avery Johnson (left) talked about how relieved he was that the team had signed the two players.

Outside Borough Hall maybe a thousand people gathered, including excited kids from three summer camps, basketball fans and lunchtime gawkers. A crowd of folks came over from Metrotech.

The Nets "Experience" Mobile Unit (that big black truck in the background) where you can buy T-shirts and tickets played hip-hop music. Attached to the side is a regulation basketball hoop with a real working scoreboard and flat-screen televisions.

Brooklyn Nets announcer David Diamante practiced his radio voice while the Brooklynettes dancers presented an oversized cheesecake from Juniors. They were very smooth and showbiz.

BP Marty Markowitz, quite excited, talked trash about the Nicks. He said that the "Manhattan" Nicks fans sipped Dom Perignon but Nets fans liked Brooklyn beer. He added that Brooklynites who remained fans of the Nicks would be committing "treason."

People yelled players' names and applauded. Then came a crack that sounded like a gun, and white and black streamers shot out of a device and unfurled over the crowd.

All in all it was quite a scene and professionally staged.

For more about the sports angle, see the Brooklyn Eagle.

Photos copyright MK Metz

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Rowboat Rescue on East River Near DUMBO

Three rowboats and one kayak from the water education program Rocking the Boat, based in the Bronx, were rescued after running into trouble in the East River off Brooklyn this afternoon.

A motorized vessel belonging to the program roped the boats together and towed them south, escorted by NYPD Harbor unit 'Patrolman Walburger.' The current appeared to be quite strong in a northerly direction.

In the yellow rowboat, above, a man who appeared to be injured was stretched out in the back. He remained in this position the entire time the boats were in view.

Normally these boats operate up in Hunts Point Riverside Park. However, today is City of Water Day, a harbor wide event that fills the waters around Governors Island with hundreds of small vessels. 

Photos by MK Metz

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Swastikas at Gerritsen Beach; Too Much Sex; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- Possibly rabid, one-eyed raccoon captured in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Gothamist

- Someone peppered a Gerritsen Beach corner with swastikas — but no one in the community seems to care. Brooklyn Daily

- Brooklyn tenants tell tales about neglectful landlords and apartments full of rats. NY Daily News

- Does this mean that everybody who took the scrap lumber from the Coney Island Boardwalk has to bring it back now? NY Times

- One of the coolest aerial views of Brooklyn we've seen. Brooklyn Eagle

- Why we are so damn tired: New Yorkers have sex five times more than the national average. NY Daily News

- Hidden government scanners will instantly know everything about you from 164 feet away. Gizmodo

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You Can See the Rings of Saturn from Brooklyn Bridge Park

Up until now we had assumed that Saturn was a pretty but totally fanciful illustration made up for the cover of magazines.

Hot damn! It's awe-inspiring to see it with your own eyes, rings and all, up in the sky over Brooklyn.

If you want to see Saturn, Mars, the moon and whatever else happens to be floating overhead at night, the Amateur Astronomers Association sets up telescopes every Thursday night from 8:30-10:30pm at Brooklyn Bridge Park at the Pier 1 Promenade.

Photo by MK Metz

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No Good Deed Goes Unpunished; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- Vacant for more than 35 years, a lot at Woodhull and Columbia streets was lovingly turned into a park by Brooklyn neighbors. HPD's reaction? "Get out." Carroll Gardens Patch

- Those ambulettes that pick up sick people may not be real. Sheepshead Bites

- A 26-year-old woman went missing after heading to volunteer at a Brooklyn shelter on July 8. Her family received a chilling text from her phone: “The owner of this phone is dead, but she was smiling." CBS local

- DOT recommends no residential parking permits for Barclay's area, but some Brooklyn residents question their methodology. Atlantic Yards Report

- The Cyclones are mired in first slump of the summer. Brooklyn Eagle

- Pedophile Andrew Goodman declared his undying love for the boy he molested for years, but was sentenced to a mere two years. NY Post

- Having a stoop sale? Post a notice here: Brokelyn

- What's going on at 340 Court Street. Brownstoner

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The Brooklynettes Will Be Dancing at Brooklyn Borough Hall Friday

Will you be near Brooklyn Borough Hall Friday? Looking for some lunchtime fun?

The Nets Dance Team -- the 'Brooklynettes' -- will be hoofing it in all of their New Jersey / Staten Island glory at 1 p.m. There will also be a mobile Nets unit called 'The Experience' and some basketball players.

NBA via Atlantic Yards Report

Photo courtesy Brooklynettes

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The 2 New Free Wi-Fi Phone Booths in Brooklyn

Yesterday the City announced their pilot program to add free public Wi-Fi to payphone "kiosks" (phone booths) in 10 locations throughout the city. Here are the two initial Brooklyn locations. Above, 2 Smith Street near the Lane Bryant in Downtown Brooklyn.

The second Brooklyn hotspot is not far from the first (about four blocks away) at 545 Albee Square across the street from CityPoint near GameStop. (For locations in other boroughs, see here.)

The wireless signal will extend from 100 - 200 feet from the booth. (A wireless router is installed on the top of the booth.) It will work with smart phones, laptops, tablets, and other Wi-Fi devices. No password is needed.

“One of the most frequent requests from New Yorkers is for more public WiFi in public spaces,” said Chief Digital Officer Rachel Sterne. She said that the city already provides free WiFi access in every library branch and more than 40 parks. 

Since both Brooklyn hotspots are in areas where cell phone thefts are not unknown, we suggest keeping tabs on your device while you surf.

According to the provider's (NetNearU Wireless) license, the company does not screen or restrict any access to the Internet.

Fun for techies: A hilariously outdated "What Is Wi-Fi" page at NetNearU's website appears to be lost in a time warp:

"Our hotspots are tested to support Microsoft® Windows® 2000 and XP and Macintosh® OS X operating systems. Our Hotspots are also optimized for browsers: Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 SP2 or higher and Netscape® Navigator® 4.7 or higher (Windows); Safari 1.0, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.1 or higher, and Netscape Navigator 4.7 or higher (Macintosh)."

Photos by Google Maps

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Tonight: Hearing on Anchorage Place Pedestrian Mall in DUMBO

The DUMBO Improvement District is proposing to close Anchorage Place (the road with black cars, above) to traffic and turn it into a pedestrian plaza.

A hearing on the plan will be held tonight (Wednesday) from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the DUMBO Loft, 155 Water St.

At least eight local businesses back the proposal, citing pedestrian safety and more room for seating next to the Pearl Street Triangle (colorfully painted, above) during events. But Doreen Gallo, Executive Director of the DUMBO Neighborhood Alliance, said that closing the street would take away from the grandeur of the neighborhood.

“People can't imagine this space and how this should be the Grand North Entrance to Brooklyn Bridge Park,” she told the Brooklyn Eagle on Tuesday.

There are better ways to make Anchorage Place safer for pedestrians, she told the Eagle. “If the sidewalks were walkable on both sides of the street and were not misused by DOT on one side and the BID board member/ owner of 155 Water-140 Plymouth Street [on the other], Anchorage Place wouldn’t have to be shut to traffic.”

This discussion will probably be continued at tonight's hearing.

(We also learned from the Eagle story that DUMBO is a great place to find work as a dog walker.)

Photo by MK Metz

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The French Are Coming! Bastille Day in Brooklyn This Sunday, July 15 - UPDATED

Get ready for Brooklyn's 10th annual celebration of French food, French music, pastis drinks and the world-famous Petanque tournament: The biggest Bastille Day party in the U.S. is coming to Smith Street this Sunday, July 15.

Keeping alive the tradition of playing drink in hand.

Once again a sizable chunk of Smith Street will be covered with sand for Petanque, played with tennis ball-sized metal balls (boules). Competitors from 80 teams 64 - 70 teams will throw their boules so they will land close to a little ball called a "pig" (cochonnet). UPDATE: The Brooklyn Eagle explains why not all 80 teams can compete.

French bistro Bar Tabac is the main restaurant sponsor this year. (Sadly, traditional co-sponsor Robin des Bois closed its doors in January.)

Brunch starts at Bar Tabac at 11 a.m., where you can watch Smith Street transform under tons of sand. The festivities continue until 10 p.m.


The event was founded by Bette Stoltz of the South Brooklyn Local Development Corporation along with restaurants Bar Tabac and Robin des Bois, and is sponsored by French apéritif company Ricard.

Past Posts:
- Brooklyn's Bastille Day 2011
- Brooklyn's Bastille Day, 2010
- Brooklyn Bastille Day 2009 -- Great Day, Big Crowds
 - Bastille Day in Brooklyn 2008: The French Conquer Smith Street 
- Bastille Day in Brooklyn 2007 -- La Rue de Smith Sautait!

Photos by MK Metz, video by Ricard

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Rooftop Films Friday, Saturday at Dekalb Market and Old American Can Factory

From "Heavy Heads" by Helena Frank

* This Friday, July 13 Rooftop Films is getting together with Clermont-Ferrand on a program of animation, documentary and short film experimentations at Dekalb Market, 138 Willoughby St. at Flatbush Ave. Doors open 8 p.m., live music at 8:30; films at 9; after party 11 - 12 a.m.

Tickets and more info here.

* And on Saturday, July 14, Rooftop Films presents "The Argentinean Lesson" along with a Q and A with filmmaker Wojciech Staron, on the roof of The Old American Can Factory, 232 Third St. at 3rd Ave. Doors open at 8 p.m.; live music at 8:30; film at 9; reception from 11 - 12:30.

Tickets and more info here.

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