Brooklyn Heights 'Eat 'Em Raw' Attacker ID'd

The mysterious assailant of a Packer dad in Brooklyn Heights has been identified by the Brooklyn Eagle as Brian Land of Pacific Street. The Eagle article also provides eye-witness acounts of this bizarre attack here.




Mysterious Attack in Brooklyn Heights by Man Whose Shirt Reads 'I Eat 'Em Raw'

Photo by MK Metz

Schermerhorn Car Condo Still Stacks 'Em High

While several of the parking lots on Schermerhorn Street are being developed into residential or mixed use projects, this one at the corner of Schermerhorn and Smith Streets still offers vertical parking.

Photo by MK Metz

Sunday Wrapup: Atlantic Avenue Artwalk

This weekend's Atlantic Avenue Artwalk drew nice crowds to the galleries, restaurants, shops and studios on and around the avenue.



Smith Street eateries -- like Bar Tabac pictured here -- were packed.


Sunday events included Mac Premo's film screening and Guestbook making on Nevins; the excellent film festival at the Flying Saucer; a Haitian ceremonial flag exhibit and Vicky Ruben reading at Gumbo and Circus Amuk.

Axelle Fine Arts opened its print studio to the public all weekend; the Metaphor Gallery exhibited work by 20+ artists; and Smith Street's pioneer MicroMuseum shone with the yellow chakra show.



Jolie Restaurant was transformed into an entire environment made up of paintings and sculptures by artist Jay Batlle.




The Brooklyn Heights Blog has more about Sunday's happenings at Magnetic Field.

Photos by MK Metz

Enter the Obama Lottery!

Four supporters who make a donation between now and 11:59 pm EDT on Wednesday, June 13, will join Barack Obama for an intimate dinner for five. Make your contribution here and maybe you can chow down with Barak at Bubby's!

Photo of Barack Obama supporters at Atlantic Avenue and Court Street by MK Metz.

Mutant Zombies Blow Up Brooklyn Bridge

Back in January, "I Am Legend," a Will Smith blockbuster, ran ramshod over lower Manhattan, the waterfront and the Brooklyn Bridge. Now the Gothamist blog has clued us in to the video trailer for this celluloid extravaganza, which included hundreds of extras -- like 160 members of the National Guard in full combat gear. (Not to mention the helicopters, the boats and the high-intensity lighting which turned night into day for a week on the Brooklyn side of the Bridge.)

The film's trailer highlights the graphic destruction of the Brooklyn Bridge, among other atrocities like the wiping out of the human race.

But what we like about it best is, as always, the mutant zombies running amuck in a deserted New York City... kind of like TriBeCa in August...

Downtown Brooklyn: 'A Combination TriBeCa, SoHo, and DUMBO'

"The stars are aligned for great success and new development in downtown Brooklyn ... which is finally transforming into a true 24/7 community," says the New York Sun.

Thursday's article by Michael Stoler quotes the president of Muss Development, Joshua Muss, saying: "With the huge number of luxury apartments, including waterfront and 40-story buildings with worldclass views of Manhattan and the harbor coming on line, as well as the ongoing commercial development and redevelopment on virtually every block, Downtown Brooklyn is arguably a combination TriBeCa, SoHo, and DUMBO. It's a hot, hot area."

The Sun says that almost 17,000 people are expected to move to Downtown Brooklyn over the next five years.

Mysterious Attack in Brooklyn Heights by Man Whose Shirt Reads 'I Eat 'Em Raw'

This one mystified even hardened police officers.

A suit-type dad (above, crumpled onto the sidewalk) was blithely walking his two pre-K kids to school on Joralemon Street in Brooklyn Heights this morning when a buff youngish guy swooped out of nowhere and coldcocked him -- not once, but twice. Pedestrians screamed for the cops and the rapid response of the 84th Precinct was commendable, says everyone involved.

The alleged perp (wearing a blue T-shirt stating "I Eat 'Em Raw") was apprehended on Court Street, cuffed and spirited away in a police car, but no one seems to know why he did it, including the injured dad, who was taken to Long Island College Hospital with facial injuries and breathing problems.

UPDATE: The Brooklyn Eagle ID's the Blue T-Shirt Guy as Brian Land of Pacific Street, and provides eye-witness accounts of the incident.

Photos by MK Metz

Federal Court Dismisses Atlantic Yards Eminent Domain Case

Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn reports that the Federal District Court in Brooklyn today ruled that the plaintiffs’ complaint is "insufficient" in the Atlantic Yards eminent domain lawsuit, and dismissed the case.

The ruling is a major blow to opponents of the project, says Crains New York Business. Thirteen residents and businesses in the way of the project have refused to sell to Forest City Ratner Company, who wants to build a huge office, retail and apartment complex, along with an arena.

According to Newsday, U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis said that "no reasonable juror could conclude that the 'sole purpose' of the project is to confer a private benefit."

The attorney for the plaintiffs said that they would appeal the ruling.

More at The Gowanus Lounge.

Livingston Street Corridor 'Rises From the Ashes'

It's taken years, the Brooklyn Eagle says, but if all goes according to plan, the "Livingston Corridor" (Livingston and Schermerhorn, and some of State Street and Atlantic Avenue) will soon have 1,559 new housing units, an office building for HIP and maybe three hotels.

Fourteen new townhouses have been built on State Street, and all have been sold, with about 12 more planned. State Renaissance Court complex will include 79 market-rate rentals and 79 affordable rentals on Schermerhorn Street.

The Eagle's Dennis Holt says that even Two Trees Management is surprised at the market interest in 110 Livingston St., the former Board of Education building.

Read the whole story here.

Photos of 110 Livingston (top) and State Renaissance Court by MK Metz.

Please Do Not Pick Our Flowers

Sign on Dean Street in Boerum Hill.

Photo by MK Metz