It's Bay Ridge, Not Fort Hamilton

Let's just clear this up.

The Right in Bay Ridge blog wants everyone to know that the term "Fort Hamilton" designates the military base in the neighborhood, not for the entire southern-tier of the neighborhood as once had been the case.

Right in Bay Ridge supplies a big red arrow pointing to Fort Hamilton on the ORC map. While correct historically, "this nevertheless reflects epistemological dissonance today," says RIBR.

Fort Hamilton is the Base, Not the Neighborhood

Chinese Splendor, in Brooklyn Borough Hall

Traditionally garbed Chinese cultural representatives were handing out brochures in Borough Hall to publicize the Holiday Wonders show at the Beacon Theatre by ChineseSplendor.com. The show is running at Radio City from January 30 to February 9.

UPDATE: The New York Times reveals the show to be a somewhat-disturbing outreach of Falun Gong.

Photos by MK Metz

Reasons to Love New York

New York Magazine lists 124 reasons to love New York. Here are a few:

* Because We Could Actually Hit the 2008 Election Trifecta

* Because Broadway Is Back

* Because We Proudly Harbor Illegal Immigrants

* Because Your Foot Can Make You Famous

* Because Philip. Seymour. Hoffman.

* Because the Yankees are the New Red Sox

* Because Brangelina Is Gone

* Because Rupert Murdoch Thinks Newspapers Are a Growth Business

* Because We're Finding Out Who's Worth Their Paychecks on Wall Street

* Because We Shed Our Skin Like Lizards

* Because You Can Find Love Underground

* Because the UES Isn't Interested in Being Cool

* Because of the Retro Glamour of 'Mad Men'

* Because We’re Not Afraid of Frying

All reasons to love New York here.

Red Blooded Downtown Brooklynites to Dine on Barely-Cooked Steak at 'Morton's The Steakhouse' -- and Apple (Or Maybe Barneys) Might Move In Next Door

"Morton’s The Steakhouse," an upscale eatery for carnivores that originated in Chicago, will open in the new addition of the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge in Downtown Brooklyn, it was announced Monday by Muss Development.

New York Magazine reports: "This international chain of steak restaurants may not have the gritty personality of Peter Luger or the classic Old New York feel of establishments like Wolfgang's or Keen's, but it's a decent option if you find yourself near West 45th Street just wanting an honest steak." (Other reviews here.)

The Brooklyn Eagle reported on Morton's -- but also reported that Muss has entered into a contract to purchase the first two floors of the adjacent 345 Adams St. from the City of New York in “a highly unique transaction,” and will convert that space from offices into 40,000 square feet of retail.

Concentrate, people: "Stan Markowitz, a senior vice president at Muss who has been involved with the 345 Adams conversion, did confirm that the interested retailers include Barneys, The Gap, Banana Republic and Apple."

Morton's to Open at New Downtown Brooklyn Mariott -- Brooklyn Eagle

Building photos by MK Metz
Pewter pig lamp available at Morton's

Dumbo Is Landmarked, vs. Dumbo Is a Forbidding Outpost, and More Brooklyn in Brief

- Dumbo preserved: The Landmarks Preservation Commission voted unanimously to protect the blocks and 91 historic buildings in Dumbo. DumboNYC

- Dumbo is "a forbidding outpost lined with dark industrial buildings, some with broken windows and graffiti. Mainly an industrial and commercial district, its choppy, potholed streets are deserted at night." From a 1995 article in the New York Times

- The giant inflatable rat is gone, and the Smith's (Atlantic and Smith) ground floor retail spaces have just hit the market. Brownstoner says construction on the project should be finished sometime in January. Brownstoner

- A father abandons his children at the age of two. He never sends birthday presents or attends graduations. He never asked about their well-being or education, except to obtain their social security numbers after they became of age in order to terminate child support payments. Then one of his kids dies in the World Trade Center -- and the kid's estate is worth $2.9 million. Guess who shows up, claiming his fair share? Brooklyn Eagle

- You have to wonder at the wisdom of having a bike lane running right past the busiest hotel in Brooklyn, in the drop off and pick up lane. Brownstoner

- Dump trucks made 19 pickups on Montague Street last night. Residents are tired. Brooklyn Heights Blog

- Dermot now controls three "primo properties" around BAM, including One Hanson/the Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower. Brownstoner

- Life in Downtown Brooklyn will never be the same. What the Daily News is calling the "Hip Hop IHOP" started serving up silver dollar pancakes, Belgian waffles and the like at Livingston and Bond yesterday. Curbed

More Trouble at 'Toxic' Preschool in Boerum Hill

It seems that the organization that opened an unlicensed and unsafe preschool in Boerum Hill is imploding. The Brooklyn Eagle reports that no one seems to be returning calls lately to families who had left deposits with the Brooklyn Children's Academy Preschool on Dean Street, run by a non-profit called Better Brooklyn Community Center (BBCC). The "toxic" school has been closed, and so has a temporary space on Remsen Street in Brooklyn Heights.

The Fulton Street offices of the BBCC are closed as well.

This story has been UPDATED here.

'Toxic' Preschool Parents Wonder: Where's the Money? Brooklyn Eagle
Toxic Preschool in Brooklyn? Brooklyn Eagle
'Toxic' Preschool in Boerum Hill? McBrooklyn

Slow Going on 'Huge' Bridge Street Residential Project

What with all the hoo-ha on Duffield -- not one but two hotels in the construction phase -- we've overlooked a site at approximately 388 Bridge Street in Downtown Brooklyn (just south of St. Joseph's High School on Willoughby Street), slated to be the location of a 49-story residential building.

According to the Department of Buildings, work is on hold for a while -- the plan was "disapproved" over the summer.

But when it's finally completed, 360 units are planned. WiredNY supplied the rendering to the right. Brownstoner has been watching this one as well.

Photo by MK Metz

Carroll Gardens Park -- Employees Gone

There are currently no Parks Department employees in Carroll Park, reports the Pardon Me For Asking blog: "Zero! Zilch! Not even Kathleen, the wonderful recreation person who does Arts and Crafts with the children in the park house remains.All of the personnel has been reassigned to other parks within Brooklyn."

Why? See here.

The Wrestling Ring in the Woods, and More Brooklyn News in Brief Monday

- Early next year, the city hopes to make a decision on which development team will get the nod to develop the Public Place, a more than six-acre site stretching from lower Smith Street to the Gowanus Canal. Brooklyn Eagle

- Apparently, there was a wrestling ring in the woods of Gerritson Beach, and it's really a mess. Gerritsen Beach

- Tourists can't afford Manhattan, so they're flocking to a "cheap" Brooklyn hotel -- only $400 a night. wcbstv

- The phone companies have allegedly been helping the Bush administration to illegally spy on American citizens, without warrants, since before 9/11. First and Court

- December 16th is Bay Ridge's "birthday." This year, Bay Ridge turns 154 years old, says the Right in Bay Ridge blog -- which also says the naming of the area "Bay Ridge" in 1853 had as much to do with a real estate deal as anything else.

- Williamsburg parent wants to bribe his child into a better school. Can you blame him? (If you can, do you have kids?) NewYorkShitty

- Death row doggie: A Brooklyn court freed Duke, the Long Island pit bull terrier who's been on "death row" for four years for attacking another dog. Brooklyn Eagle

- BCAT TV: Errol Louis of the NY Daily News moderates a discussion on the race for Brooklyn Borough President. Tonight, December 17 at 1pm; Tuesday, December 18 at 1:30pm & 9:30pm; and Thursday, December 20 at 2pm & 10pm.

- Paul Robeson Music Series: December 19th-22nd at the Paul Robeson Theater, Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Ticketweb. To Usher: send an email to info@meanredproductions.com

Dyker Heights Must-Sees: Where Christmas Goes Over the Top

Gawkers travel from miles around -- even as far as New Jersey -- to see the Christmas decorations and light shows put on by the neighbors in Dyker Heights. This is Brooklyn's own little Disneyworld.

The Brooklyn Paper has compiled a list of their favorites. These include The Polizzottos (1145 84th St.), whose decor includes "mechanized horses weighing a ton each, 29-foot-tall toy soldiers marching in place, and 10-foot-tall lords a’leaping keep the front porch busy — while a two-story Santa waits at the door to collect the mail."

The Gowanus Lounge has put together a YouTube playlist of Dyker Heights Christmas videos. Definitely over the top!

Gothamist provides photos of the epic spectacle and provides a Google map.

And Channel 13 will be broadcasting a program about this outlandish phenomenon on Christmas Eve.