Two Workers for Every Customer at Brooklyn's Five Guys

Is it just us or does the new Five Guys hamburger joint on Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights employ an extraordinary number of burger flippers?

The day we visited (Tuesday), there were at least twelve red-costumed employees working the counter, vs. a maximum of six customers at any one time.

While the burgers weren't exactly flying out the door, a lifelong carnivore gave this unsolicited testimony: "This is the best hamburger I've eaten in a long time."

Peanuts were freely distributed. Hats seem to be a necessary wardrobe component for both employees and customers.

Photo by MK Metz

Relive Those Glorious Fourth of July Fireworks (from a Brooklyn Heights Balcony)

From the vantage point of a balcony on the 30th floor in Brooklyn Heights, relive that glorious last minute or so of the Macy's Fourth of July fireworks.

Video by MK Metz

A Brooklyn Fourth of July Salute

Micky salutes from the window of Sahadi's fine and imported food emporium on Atlantic Avenue.

Photo by MK Metz

Floating Swimming Pool and New Brooklyn Beach Officially Open

The Floating Pool Lady and it's new one-acre beach on the waterfront under the Brooklyn Heights promenade officially opened today and a decent sized crowd took in the scene in the early afternoon (before clouds moved into the area).

The real sand beach -- with chairs and volley ball nets -- is open from 9 a.m to 9 p.m., while the pool hours are from 11 a.m to 7 p.m.

According to the Brooklyn Eagle, a free shuttle bus will run from Borough Hall to the pool every 10 minutes.

Photo by MK Metz

Hot Dog History -- Joey Chestnut Wins the Mustard Yellow Belt at Coney Island

History was made today in Coney Island, where American Joey Chestnut stuffed in 66 dogs, beating Takeru Kobayashi, who downed 63 wieners in the 12 minute competition. It all happened at the annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.

It was a tense competition, all the more so because "The Tsunami" Kobayashi -- six-time champ -- has been suffering from an arthritic jaw. Bookmakers scrambled to adjust their odds boards when Kobayashi's medical situation became murky several days ago.

Blow-by-blow hot dog blogging at the Gothamist here.
Chanel 7 video here. (via the Gowanus Lounge blog)

Strategic Thinking: Where to See the Fourth of July Fireworks in Brooklyn

If you want to see tomorrow's fireworks from Brooklyn Heights (popular option #1), better get yourself to the Promenade early. Although the fireworks don't begin until 9:20 p.m., serious viewers (along with their ice chests, folding chairs and umbrellas) start staking out the benches in the early afternoon.

But you don't necessarily have to join the huddled masses on the Promenade for a good view of the twinkling lights. You can even see the fireworks from the end of Montague Street, says the Brooklyn Eagle. The Eagle article also mentions some other good viewing areas, such as Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park in Dumbo, and Furman Street below the Promenade.

Other possibilities not mentioned above include the dock at the end of Old Fulton Street (west of Grimaldi's), the Louis J. Valentino Jr. Park and Pier in Red Hook (at Coffee Street), the new East River State Park in Williamsburg, along the waterfront near Kent Street in Greenpoint, and the Pencil Factory (also Greenpoint).

The Brooklyn Bridge is closed to pedestrians during the fireworks. In addition, the Department of Transportation provides a list of Brooklyn Heights street closings.

BTW, don't panic if you see bombers ripping through the sky. There will be a patriotic flyover at 8 p.m. courtesy of the U.S. Air Force.

Brooklyn Graffiti Artist Ellis G. Strikes Again

Sidewalk chalk artist Ellis G. created this night time shadow tracing recently on Baltic Street near Henry in Cobble Hill. The shadows were very long and the drawing mystified the local shopkeeper.









Photos by MK Metz

$111 Million Will Open NYC Schoolyards to the Public

Today Mayor Bloomberg launched the first phase of a plan to open 290 New York City schoolyards to the public outside of school hours. He started off by opening 69 playgrounds immediately. $111 million will go towards schoolyard improvements, especially in neighborhoods most in need of recreational areas.

As part of “The Schoolyards to Playgrounds Initiative,” renovations will include new tracks, fields, asphalting, turfing, fencing, play equipment, trees, landscaping and gardens. More at NYC.gov.

"Hopscotch" by Jan Tik, Creative Commons license.

Brooklyn's Prospect Park Rapist Arrested -- Olympic Athlete from Trinidad

NY1 reports that Alvin Henry, 30, of Springfield Gardens has been arrested on charges of rape and sexual abuse. Police say they were able to link Henry to five attacks on women – the latest by gunpoint on June 15th in Prospect Park.

Henry was an Olympic athlete for Trinidad in the 2000 games. Story here.

UPDATE: The NY Post reports that Henry was linked to the attacks after police traced calls he made to the cellphone of one his youngest victims, a 15-year-old girl.

Prospect Park Rapist May Have Attacked Women in Queens
Update: Prospect Park Rape Victim's Boyfriend is a Cop
Rape Reported in Prospect Park

Brooklyn in Brief

ExxonMobil restarted an oil pumping system Thursday in a move to speed up the extraction of millions of gallons of petroleum from a massive decades-old underground oil spill in Brooklyn. Exxon had shut down the pumping in March, causing oil to migrate into a Newton Creek, the waterway separating Brooklyn from Queens. More at Forbes.

Rumor: McDonald's could be bringing Big Macs to Smith Street. A tipster email Curbed that "I heard from a fairly reliable neighborhood source that the Army Navy and Realty shops on the North East corner of Wyckoff and Smith in Boerum Hill will be turned into a...wait for it...McDonalds!" More here.

The Brooklyn Cultural Circuit would like to transform Engine 204, the former firehouse at 299 DeGraw Street that was closed by the city in 2003,into a multi-arts center — the Brooklyn Center for the Arts. More at the Brooklyn Eagle.

Due to the scarcity of prime beef, Peter Luger's appears to have started a new policy, according to Vinoguy on Chowhound. For tables that have an actual reservation, they will serve the entire menu. For those walk ins who don't have a ressie, they WON'T serve the porterhouse -- they will offer some other cut of steak. Anyone eaten at Luger's lately? Chowhound here.