Rezoning Brooklyn Navy Yard and 4th Avenue: Public Hearing Wednesday, July 27

Proposed Admiral's Row Plaza project, Brooklyn Navy Yard

The Office of the Brooklyn Borough President sent us a notice of a Uniform Land Use Review Procedure Public Hearing to be held this Wednesday, July 27 at 6 p.m. in the Borough President’s Court Room, Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201.

The first item on the agenda concerns a zoning map amendment to Admiral's Row at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, along with property acquisition there and property disposition. The goal is 153,000 square feet of retail development, including a 74,000 square foot supermarket, and 127,000 square feet of industrial space. (Entire environmental impact statement here.) Brownstoner discusses project details aired at the recent CB2 meeting.

The second item concerns a zoning amendment of the 4th Avenue Enhanced Commercial District. This would facilitate ground floor retail use along Fourth Avenue for new developments. (More details here.)

More information about this hearing can be found on Page 1 of the City Record (pdf)

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More On Closing and Lawsuit at Fortune House Chinese Restaurant

Brooklyn Heights residents are going into serious Chinese food withdrawal as the locally-popular Fortune House Chinese restaurant stays mysteriously closed. McBrooklyn first reported on Fortune House's closing -- and legal troubles -- Monday.

The Brooklyn Eagle has looked into the extended closing and examines whether a pending federal lawsuit is contributing to the delay.

The Eagle reports that three employees -- Manuel Chiqui, Angel Miranda-Alvarado and Eddie Miranda-Vasquez -- are claiming almost $150,000 in damages, allegedly for unpaid minimum wages and unpaid overtime compensation.

But the lawsuit may have nothing to do with the extended closing of the restaurant. A friend of the restaurant's owner told the Eagle, “They trying to remodel and renovate the outside. What’s good is that it opening again soon.”

(We've also learned that Fortune House's actual name is "Golden Nut Restaurant." )

Another UPDATE here.

- Fortune House Sued in Federal Court Brooklyn Eagle

- Legal Troubles at Fortune House Chinese Restaurant in Brooklyn Heights? McBrooklyn

Photo by MK Metz

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Yarrgh! Maritime Bacchanal and Pirates Festival in Red Hook Saturday, July 30

Ahoy, mateys! Dos the word "bacchanal" shiver yer timbers? And have ye always wanted to run away to Pirate Camp?

Then get yerself to IKEA/Erie Basin Park in Red Hook this Saturday from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. for the mother of all Maritime Bacchanal and Pirates Festivals. And bring yer sniveling bilge brats, too.

What be happening: Pirate Theatre for Kids, Pirate Sea Shanteys, Piratory, Pirate reenactments, flintlock demos, Interactive Pirate Camp, Visiting Pirate Ship, Ocean Explorers, Maritime Career Opportunity, Pirates Ecocruise, Live Afro Beat Music on a theme design stage, Pirate Costume Contest, Vendors, Refreshments, Prizes and more. More here.

Presented by UDEC Enviromedia Mobile - the Amazing Traveling Maritime and Nature Museum on wheels at IKEA/Erie Basin Park, in Red Hook Brooklyn.



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Deidra Towns' Mystery Non-Profit; Banned Work at Museum; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- As she runs for the Brooklyn Assembly seat previously held by her brother, Deidra Towns is touting her work as executive director of a mysterious non-profit -- which has never registered or filed an annual statement and which doesn't appear to actually exist. Brooklyn Politics

- A construction worker was in serious condition Monday after he fell into a deep pit at the Gowanus Canal Flushing Tunnel at Columbia and Degraw Streets. NY Times

- The Historic Districts Council is sponsoring a tour of three of Clinton Hill’s most opulent structures on Wednesday. Brownstoner

- Banned work by gay artist among upcoming Brooklyn Museum exhibits. Brooklyn Eagle

- In 2006, New York Civil Liberties Union staffers counted 8,000 surveillance cameras in lower Manhattan. NY Daily News Now the cameras are proliferating in Fort Greene and at Atlantic Yards. WPIX

- Is Bubby's in Tribeca stinking up the neighborhood? Gothamist

- That stupid Capote quote on the signs recently stuck around Downtown Brooklyn and Brooklyn Heights bothers other people, too. Gothamist

- Millions of gallons of sewage spill into New York City's waterways every time it rains a half an inch. NY Magazine

- The weird and creepy side of Facebook's new office. Gawker

- Top U.S. cyber official resigns abruptly. Politico

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'Fake It So Real' with Live Wrestling at Rooftop Films Thursday, July 28, Brooklyn

Thursday, July 28 is the New York Premiere of Robert Greene’s Fake It So Real at Rooftop Films. The movie will be followed by a live "wrestling battle royale" featuring wrestlers from the film.

Fake It So Real follows a ragtag group of pro indie wrestlers in North Carolina, exploring what happens when the over-the-top theatrics of the wrestling ring collide with the realities of the working-class South. Filmmaker Robert Greene and the wrestlers will do a Q&A after the film.

Where: Outdoors in the backyard at Crown Vic, 60 South 2nd St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

7:30 PM Doors Open
8:00 PM Live Music
8:30 PM Film Begins
10:00 PM Q&A with filmmaker Robert Greene and subjects of the film
10:30 PM Live Wrestling Battle Royale, featuring subjects from the film
11:00 PM After-party at the Crown Vic

Also at Rooftop Films this week: Friday is the opening night of the popular Animation Block Party, and Saturday is the Kill Screen Video Game Festival, a night of intellectual and artistic exploration of the question “Why do we play video games?” through short films and live independent video game play.

Subway: Take the L to Bedford, the G to Metropolitan, or the M to Marcy. The venue is located at the corner of South 2nd and Wythe.

Photo courtesy of Rooftop Films

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This Thursday's Film at Brooklyn Bridge Park: 'Basquiat'

Basquiat by Julian Schnabel [rated R] is the featured film at this Thursday's "Syfy Movies With A View" at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Basquiat tells the story of the "meteoric" rise of youthful artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. (More at IMDb.)

Short: Susie's Ghost by Bill Brand, curated by BAMcinématek; DJ David Last from Brooklyn Radio. Bike parking provided by Transportation Alternatives, sponsored by Bike and Roll. After the movie, join the Conservancy Junior Committee for "happy hour" at Superfine.

Presenting sponsor: Syfy

Thursday, July 28, 6 - 11 p.m.. Music at 6, movie at sunset. Pier 1, Harbor View Lawn

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You Can Put Your Own Program On BCAT TV

Interested in getting a time slot on BCAT TV Network? Want free access to professional studio and field production equipment? Or, are you looking for a course to take this summer that will add to your skill set?

Then come to the free orientation on Saturday, August 6 at 11:00 a.m. at BCAT's new interim location at 242 3rd Street. You'll learn about the opportunities available at BCAT's Brooklyn Center for Media Education and review the requirements necessary to air a program on BCAT TV Network.

No reservations necessary. Seats available on a first-come, first-serve basis and it’s free. For more information visit bricartsmedia.org/bcme.


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Lots of Happy Gay Newlyweds at Brooklyn Borough Hall

There were cheers, tears and double doses of happiness as BP Marty Markowitz opened Brooklyn Borough Hall for Sunday's first day of legal gay marriages -- and even threw in champagne and wedding cake.

Stacey Minondo and Barbara Tremblay were the first to exchange vows in a moving ceremony inside Borough Hall.

A small but enthusiastic crowd cheered every time a couple came from the Municipal Building clutching a marriage license.

Council Speak Christine Quinn arrived to hugs and applause.

Some couples came out holding their marriage certificates triumphantly, others snuck out shyly. Some came by themselves and others brought bands of supporters wearing matching T-shirts. But everyone was smiling and good vibes were in the air.

Photos by MK Metz

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Legal Troubles at Fortune House Chinese Restaurant in Brooklyn Heights?

Fortune House Chinese restaurant at 82 Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights has been closed for several weeks and habitual customers are getting restless.

"There was a sign saying they'd be reopening the 18th," said one woman, a regular. "Here it is the 24th. There's a new sign now," she added. "It says they're renovating."

Legal Troubles?

Can legal troubles be behind the delay? Fortune House's actual name is "Golden Nut Restaurant."

The restaurant is being sued by three employees -- Manuel Chiqui, Angel Miranda-Alvarado and Eddie Miranda-Vasquez -- in a case related to the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Act covers issues like minimum wage ($7.25), overtime pay, record-keeping, and youth employment standards.

The case was filed July 8 in New York Eastern District Court.

See UPDATE here.

Photo by MK Metz

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Thousands Still Without Power; Brooklyn, Queens Hardest Hit; Con Ed Distributing Dry Ice

Con Edison crews pressed on today through the third day of the heat wave, restoring approximately 58,200 customers out of 68,000 who had lost electric service since Thursday. As of 5 p.m. today, crews were working to restore approximately 9,800 customers (each customer = one meter, which could be a house or an entire apartment building) without power.

Roughly 2,500 Brooklyn customers were without power at 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 5,800 Queens customers were out.

The company also posted a new peak electric usage record for a Saturday. Today’s peak reached 11,533 megawatts (MW) at 3 p.m., breaking the previous weekend-high mark 11,209 MW set on Saturday, July 24, 2010 at 5 p.m.

While Con Edison crews work to restore electrical power to those affected by scattered outages during the third day of the heat wave, the company is distributing dry ice to customers from two locations in Brooklyn and Queens.

Bags of ice are being distributed at:

Sheepshead Bay High School, at 3000 Avenue X in Brooklyn and,
Richmond Hill High School, at 89-30 114th Street in Queens.

Customer Service vans will be staffed at these locations tonight until 9 p.m., and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., unless the emergency is scaled down earlier.

For residents picking up dry ice, instructions for safe handling and disposal are printed on the paper bag containing the ice. Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide and should be used only in well-ventilated areas. Keep children and pets safely away.

Photo by MK Metz

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