Fireworks Over Manhattan/ Brooklyn Thursday Night -- No Cause for Alarm

The full-fledged sky spectacular started around 8:30 p.m. Thursday night and went on till 9 p.m. A call to the City of New York revealed this bit of information:

"Fireworks are scheduled for 8:30 on December 13 on Pier 15 at the South Street Seaport. There is no cause for alarm."

Anyone know the sponsor?

Saving Officer's Row For Only $20 Million?

Why is preservation of an asset for future generations less important than building a supermarket parking lot, especially when some thoughtful planning and architecture could achieve both goals?

The Gowanus Lounge asks this thoughtful question about the rush to demolish Officer's Row at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

The report that was delivered to a public meeting about Officer's Row on Tuesday night said that the buildings can be saved, and put the cost at about $20 million -- a mere pittance in these days of $10 million dollar row houses.

But as reported in the Brooklyn Eagle, Andrew Kimball, president of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, said he thinks the number is much higher, and doesn’t want the property if the homes must be restored. “Whether it’s $18 million, $30 million or $50 million, the question is who’s going to pay for it?" he asked.

More at www.officersrow.org.

Illustration courtesy of The Brooklyn Navy Yard -- From Harper's New Monthly Magazine, December, 1870

Horrific Plumb Beach Brooklyn Fire

Photographer Butch Moran took some spectacular photos of a house engulfed by flames in Plumb Beach Wednesday. (McBrooklyn nominates the photo above for Brooklyn fire photo of the year.)

According to the Sheepshead Bay/Plumb Beach Civic Association blog, the home -- located at 2825 Haring Street -- is owned by Mikhail Gourgov, but has been occupied by tenants who may have been involved in an outgoing dispute.

Go here to see this story, and more photos.

Photo by Butch Moran -- more photos of this fire by Butch Moran on Sheepshead Bay/Plumb Beach blog.

Brooklyn Mailman Caught With The Goods

It's amazing how few mailmen are crooks, actually.

- Hidden Transmitter Discovers Christmas Mail Crook in Brooklyn

Round-the-Clock Accidents on The Brooklyn Queens Expressway

The BQE -- Brooklyn-Queens Expressway -- has some extremely dangerous on-ramps. The BQE Watch blog has been chronicling the accidents that occur at one particular on-ramp, the one for west-bound traffic just north of Congress Street, since August.

"Frequently there are ambulances, police cars, and, worst of all, distraught people emerging from automobiles," says Werner Cohn, who industriously shoots photos of the carnage from his window. Cohn has also filed a FOIL request (Freedom of Information Law) about the number of accidents and other details at this on-ramp and a few others.

A stroll through his blog is a daily march through a driver's nightmare -- smashed cars, blinking lights, ambulances. Cohn points out that he doesn't monitor this spot 24/7. The photos on his blog are those he just happened to see when he glanced out his window.

Blog here.

Photo courtesy of BQE Watch blog.

'Toxic' Preschool in Boerum Hill?

No heat, exposed wires, unpainted walls and noxious fumes emanating from newly installed carpeting.

These are just a few of the conditions parents say they found when they dropped their toddlers off at Brooklyn Children’s Academy Preschool at 25 Dean Street (near Boerum Place) last month, according to the Brooklyn Eagle. The preschool moved to the Dean Street location on Nov. 5 -- it was originally located in Brooklyn Heights, but lost its lease.

It appears that the preschool didn't even have a license to operate at its new location.

McBrooklyn strolled by the preschool today. It definitely was not in move-in condition, at least for little kids. Wires were sticking out of the wall in the front entranceway, and piles of boxes and other stuff were scattered around.

The school's reaction to the charges here.

Updates on this story here and here.

New York 'Newbies' Find a Home in Brooklyn Heights

IntoTheBox.TV presents their (younger demographic) take on Brooklyn Heights. A bit precious, but worth viewing all the same. (Hit the pause button till it loads in.)

Hidden Transmitter Discovers Christmas Mail Crook in Brooklyn

A mail inspector set up a sting with a card containing a hidden electronic transmitter.

They caught a postal carrier -- accused of pocketing dozens of greeting cards he was supposed to deliver to get at the cash inside.

Brooklyn Eagle

Wine Tasting: Tapas, Music in Dumbo Thursday

'A Taste of Spain' -- a selection of wines to taste and try accompanied by delicious tapas, raffle prizes and live Spanish music by the Subway Band

Tickets $40 in advance, $45 at the door

After Party at Rebar, 147 Front Stree. All proceeds to benefit Dumbo Arts Center, the non-profit contemporary arts organization that has been bringing you the Art Under the Bridge Festival each year free of charge since 1997

For tickets call 718-694-0831 or email gallery@dumboartscenter.org

A 'Splashy' First Look at 'Hotel Indigo' in Downtown Brooklyn; They're Throwing Paint

Described to McBrooklyn as "a V3 Hotels super-luxury," the 164-room boutique Hotel Indigo (the Marino Organization, Inc.), a “hip, new lifestyle hotel," joins the list of new hotels under development in Downtown Brooklyn on Duffied Street.

To draw attention to it's groundbreaking, V3 Hotels CEO Ben Nash, Hotel Indigo executives, and public officials will celebrate by splashing the walls with “Indigo” paint.

It happens Tuesday at 10:45 a.m. at 237 Duffield Street (Between Willoughby and Fulton Street).

Photo by MK Metz