Brooklyn Nets Arena Getting Temporary Plaza Instead of Office Building; Farmers Excited

- Bruce Ratner released plans for a temporary plaza in front of the Brooklyn arena for the Nets that he said will be replaced by a planned office building someday when the economy picks up. Until then, it can be used for farmer's markets.  Brooklyn Eagle

- That 10-year timeline that Ratner and Bloomberg repeatedly cited to assure taxpayers they'd be paid back for this project? Turns out they misspoke. The arena, according to the IBO, is now costing taxpayers $40 million more than the tax revenue it will bring in.  WNYC

-What traffic really looks like at the intersection of Atlantic and Flatbush.  DDDB

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Panel Discussion: What's Next For Coney Island?

 The Coney Island History Project sends word that a  panel discussion on the topic:
"Heritage, Rides, Redevelopment: What's Next for Coney Island?"
will take place Thursday, September 30 · 6:30 - 8:30 pm at CUNY Graduate Center, Proshansky Auditorium, 365 5th Ave (at 35th Street).

The discussion will center on the latest developments in Coney Island and on how Coney's past can shape its future.The panel will be moderated by Pulitzer-prize winning historian Mike Wallace. Presenters include Valerio Ferrari, president and CEO of Zamperla USA and Central Amusement International (CAI), operator of Coney Island's Luna Park.

"What's Next for Coney Island?" is sponsored by the Environmental Psychology Program at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, the NYC Graduate Urban Research Network, the New York Landmarks Conservancy, Save Coney Island, the Historic Districts Council, Coney Island USA and the Coney Island History Project.

Admission to Thursday's event is free, but pre-registration is recommended. Please register via the website cunyconeypanel-auto.eventbrite.com/

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Bunny Box on Henry Street, Brooklyn Heights

 Like those Sweet Million ads.

Photo by MK Metz

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Tornado Watch Canceled for Brooklyn, NYC (Tuesday, Sept. 28)

The tornado watch for Brooklyn and all of New York City, issued by the National Weather Service earlier today, was canceled as of 5 p.m., according to NOAA. The watch remains in effect for some areas of New Jersey and upstate New York (more here).

Rip current warnings remain in effect.

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Tornado Watch Issued for Brooklyn, New York City, Upstate

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch till 6 p.m. today (Tuesday, Sept. 28) for Brooklyn and all NYC boroughs. Upstate counties are also on watch.

Warnings also are in effect for heavy rain, flooding and rip tides through Thursday as a low pressure system with tropical moisture moves up the coast.

UPDATE HERE.

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Scenes from Maker Faire New York 2010

 Makers from all over the Northeast trekked to the old World's Fair grounds and the New York Hall of Science in Queens to build, learn and experience the do-it-yourself ethos of the Maker Movement this past weekend at the Maker Faire. Surprises were around every corner, like the human-powered Gerbomatic above.

Brooklyn was strongly represented by the Madagascar Institute,whose motto is “Fear is Never Boring.” They created oddly powerful carnival rides, like the Jet Ponies, propelled by jet engines that shot real flames at the rider behind. Signs said "Ride at Your Own Risk." More about them below.

 The cool thing was the makers were there to explain how they made their inventions. The Cubinator above, which won a blue ribbon, not only spoke but solved a Rubix Cube puzzle in 10 - 23 seconds depending on how you mixed up the cube. Also there were tents full of do-it-yourself- technology everybody could play with, with all the chips and soldering irons provided.

 We were totally taken by the various 3-D printers. You just design your solid using a CAD program or buy a program for some object you want to make, then you manufacture it using the printer.( It's not that it makes flat objects that you need to glue together, it actually fabricates the solid 3-D item.) The above printer is a small one that fabricated the chess pieces and small items you see next to it, but larger printers at the Faire made much larger items.

 The "Boxy Lady" is a mobile homeless sleeper / street kiosk / vacation cube made from recycled wood. It won a “Best In Show/Editor’s Choice Award” from Make Magazine’s judges in the Tiny Housing category. Check out the Relaxshax blog.

 And then there was a totally bizarro Chariot Race hosted by Make Magazine and the Madagascar Institute. Golden men and women provided pomp and pageantry before and during the race, which soon disintegrated into madness.

Let the mayhem begin!

 The warriors driving the black bird with bugged out eyes pass in front of the Swimming Cities Oceans of Blood fish projectile chariot.

 Madagascar Institute's Das Kraken accelerates with all of its tentacles flying. Swimming Cities Ocean of Blood engages in sabotage! A battle ensues with lots of collateral damage. Tentacles everywhere.

 Swimming Cities Ocean of Blood throws pieces of itself onto the other racers to knock them out of the race. Pieces of chariots litter the field and smoke fills the air. Someone has a bloody elbow.

Swimming Cities Ocean of Blood won an Editor's Choice Award from Maker and Best in Show for their fish chariot. We think someone named Joseph from Madagascar actually won the race. (You can see a video of the race here.)

Photos copyright MK Metz

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Atlantic Antic 2010: Brooklyn's Mellow Street Party

TThe Atlantic Antic, probably the city's biggest street fair, drew hundreds of thousands again this year (its 36th year) for a day of music and dance, local vendors, beer and food.

For such a big crowd it's actually a very relaxed day. Some people just park themselves outside one of the local bars, drink beer and listen to the bands all day. Others like to walk the whole length of the street and soak it all in. (We do some of both.)

As we walked we could smell BBQ, roasting corn on the cob, sardines and sausages, and exotic specialties.

Baklava from Sahadi's.

Sardines from La Mancha.

Empanadas from Chilies & Chocolate Oaxacan restaurant.

Roasted corn up and down the street.

The lead guitarist from the Windsor Terrors rocked out on oldies like Brown Sugar  in front of the Chip Shop.

Brooklyn Tattoo was selling T-shirts and tats on glasses.

The Atlantic Antic is one of those only-in-Brooklyn events. It's so huge it can take you all day, or you can just hang out for a while, listening to the music, eating bites of everything and running into dozens of people you know doing the same thing.

Photos copyright MK Metz

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DUMBO Arts Festival 2010: Art Breaks Out All Over

Art popped up everywhere in DUMBO this past weekend with installations tucked into the rocks, into nooks in buildings and on loading docks, in studios and galleries, and right out in the streets. Visitors could visit more than 150 studios and 35 galleries this year.

Once again the vitality of the weekend blew us away. Here's just a bit of what was happening:

On the rocks on the Cove in DUMBO is Jennifer Zackin's "AfterShock," meant to be reminiscent of sea life. It was inspired by the oil absorbent "hair booms" used to clean up the oil spill in the Gulf Coast.

A coffin lined with pink fur and porno and filled with wine corks, a bottle of Jack Daniels, speakers and some kind of urn is part of Ryan Humphrey's "Look for the dream that keeps coming back" installation at the Kunsthalle Galapagos art space.

In the street outside of Bubby's a troupe of artists put blindfolds on participants and then took them on a sensory/imagination journey to different destinations.

 It was easy to imagine you were someplace else with your eyes covered. (We believe this was a project called "The Woods" by Chashama.)

This is a small segment of one of a series of incredible charcoal works by Charlotte Schultz called "The Uneven Intensities of Duration." The exhibit will remain at the Smack Mellon Gallery till November 7. (Make sure to visit because the subtleties of these drawings can only be appreciated in person.)

A crochet-covered performer invited people to shake hands in Olek's "Crocheted Painting to Shake Hands #," inspired by Yoko Ono’s book "Grapefruit."  

New York Photo Festival's "Capture Brooklyn" is on display at powerHouse Arena.

There was so much to see -- videos, musical performances, giant sculptures you had to walk through, dance, spontaneous outbreaks of art. Next year we plan to come earlier and stay until the last possible minute.

- DUMBO Art Under the Bridge Festival 2009 
- DUMBO Art Under the Bridge Festival 2008
- DUMBO Art Under the Bridge Festival 2007

Photos copyright MK Metz

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Atlantic Antic, Yard and Stoop Sales this Weekend in Brooklyn

The 36th annual Atlantic Antic takes place this year from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Atlantic Avenue from Hicks Street to Fourth Avenue. About a million folks show up to enjoy local artisans, musicians, belly dancers and food, food, food -- with 600 vendors and ten live performance stages. Kids will also enjoy acts like Joanne Riel’s interactive “Musical Gumbo,” Graciela’s “Musica Para Mi,” and more. Get the full schedule here. 

Don't miss the grilled sardines from La Mancha Restaurant (above), and the last grilled corn of summer, along with Sahadi's Middle Eastern food tables and pulled pork from Pete’s Waterfront Alehouse.

Brooklyn Heights Stoop Sale

On Sunday, September 26th -- to coincide with the Atlantic Antic -- the Brooklyn Heights Association will turn all Brooklyn Heights into one gigantic stoop sale. People will have their junk treasures spread out on stoops, on tables and on blankets on the sidewalks. See BHA's website to see addresses where special items will be for sale.

Second Place Yard Sale

Second Place Yard Sale takes place this Saturday, September 25 (the day before the Atlantic Antic) starting about 10 a.m. at Second Place between Court and Smith Streets. Some of the resident-vendors will be donating a portion of their proceeds to the lovely Transit Garden.

- Atlantic Antic 2009 
- Atlantic Antic 2008

Photos copyright MK Metz 2010

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Bank of Coney as 'The Banker's Ballroom'

 Save Coney Island sent us this rendering which envisions the Bank of Coney Island as a new, "Bowery Ballroom-style" event and music space named "The Banker's Ballroom."

This is one of four historic buildings Thor Equities has secured permits to demolish. Save Coney Island says they produced the rendering to "show the value of an alternative approach -- restoring and reactivating the structure with an exciting new use. This would not only preserve one of Coney's most attractive and historic structures, but also give new life to the amusement area."

To read more about the proposal in the Brooklyn Eagle click here and in Metro newspaper click here.

Also, Save Coney Island is co-sponsoring a panel discussion hosted by CUNY on the role that Coney’s extraordinary past could play in its future redevelopment. The panel will be moderated by Pulitzer-prize winning historian Mike Wallace, and will have several impressive speakers. Thursday, September 30; 6.30 – 8.30PM at CUNY Graduate Center; Proshansky Auditorium; 365 5th Ave (at 35th Street). More here.

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