Willoughby Pedestrian Plaza Getting Pretty Impressive

Looking south along Adams Street service road. MK Metz

This is going to be a great place to eat snacks from Panera's and Shake Shack, or just hang out:

Work on the new 14,667-foot Willoughby Pedestrian Plaza in Downtown Brooklyn is in full swing, replacing the "test" plaza wrapping around the southwest corner of 345 Adams Street.

The pedestrian plaza, a project of DOT and the MetroTech BID, occupies a block of Willoughby Street and the Adams Street service road in front of 345 Adams (near Panera's).

Looking north along Adams Street service road. MK Metz

According to MetroTech BID, the success of the test plaza led to an allocation of two million dollars to make it permanent.

The improved plaza will have a new surface, landscaping, bike racks, outdoor seating and new drainage. (A water fountain was originally proposed but that idea seems to have disappeared.) Willoughby Street between Adams and Pearl will probably get new trees as well.

More restaurants will soon line the plaza: Sugar and Plumm and American BBQ and Beer have signed leases at 345 Adams Street.

UPDATE: While nearby businesses are looking forward to the completion of theplaza, a private school around the corner -- Brooklyn Friends -- is expressing concerns. Brooklyn Eagle 

- Work Soon to Begin On New Willoughby Pedestrian Plaza


Photos by MK Metz
Map courtesy of Streetsblog

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Adams Running for BP; LICH Restructuring; 15-Year-Old Stabbed; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- State Senator Eric Adams has officially announced that he is running for Brooklyn Borough President. Politicker

- Skanska, the construction firm in charge of the $508 million Brooklyn Bridge renovation (and the $220 million Brooklyn Bridge Park job), is one of ten firms named as receiving city contracts in spite of having a record of criminal violations. NBC4

- Now we know why the city shrouded the locations of its bike-share stations in such secrecy: parking is about to become hell. Brooklyn Eagle

- A Brooklyn native was one of a group of Boston University students killed in a tragic crash in New Zealand. NY Daily News and NY Post

- Brooklynites gathered Saturday at a massive conference to talk about -- what else? -- food. The Indypendent

- Now we're worried: LICH is undergoing a "financial restructuring" but hospital officials say not to worry. Brooklyn Eagle

- Large gang of teens attack and stab 15-year-old in playground in Bushwick. Gothamist

- Laurence Gluck has sold 111 Kent Avenue, a 62-unit luxury rental building in Williamsburg, for almost $56 million -- a record. TRD

- Williamsburg's most expensive house comes with a loading dock. Curbed

- Kodak had a secret nuclear reactor loaded with weapons-grade uranium hidden in a basement. Gizmodo

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Mother's Day Brooklyn Bridge Walk and Party

What did you do on Mother's Day? Supporters of Milagros Day Worldwide celebrated women who have overcome domestic violence with a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and a concert at Cadman Plaza Park in Downtown Brooklyn.  

Milagros Day provides support to survivors of domestic violence and those who grew up in abusive households. Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, chair of the Assembly's Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Committee spoke about the importance of bringing attention to the issue.

The entertainment was first-rate -- Above: Pablito Drum. TV personality Farah Zulaikha was master of ceremonies.

The soulful singing of Pauline Jean

Natascha Bessez (left), Haley Brawner, and DJ Ophar

Energetic dancing

And an appreciative audience (more in the shade)

Milagros Day's programs include transformation courses and the promotion of entrepreneurship among victims of abuse.


UPDATE: More photos at the Brooklyn Eagle.

Photos by MK Metz


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Packer Headmaster 'Thrilled' About NY Times Article, Adds Nuance

Packer Collegiate Institute headmaster Bruce L. Dennis told the Brooklyn Eagle he was thrilled about last week's New York Times article.

“I’m hearing from people I haven’t heard from for 30 years,” Dennis told the Eagle.

“We’re becoming more of a New York City school located in Brooklyn than a Brooklyn school,” the Times quoted Dennis, adding that roughly 70 percent of the incoming freshman class will come from Manhattan.

It seems, however, there is nuance behind the numbers. “A number of families who came from Manhattan have moved to Brooklyn. I like to believe that Packer is partially responsible for the emergence of Brooklyn — not that we can take all of the credit,” Dennis joked.

More here.

* * *

- Packer Pumpkin Patch 2010
- Packer Pumpkin Patch 2009 
- Packer Pumpkin Patch 2008  
- Paparrazzi Swarm 'Gossip Girl' Shoot at Packer in Brooklyn Heights
- 'Gossip Girl' Filming in Brooklyn Heights Monday

Photo by MK Metz

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Dredging at Pier 1 for Bigger East River Ferries

Dredging for the new East River Ferry slip. Photo: MK Metz

The area surrounding a new floating dock recently attached to Pier 1 at Brooklyn Bridge Park is been dredged out to make it deep enough for larger East River ferries. The successful pilot East River ferry service, operated by New York Waterway, has been operating from Fulton Ferry Landing, which is too shallow to accommodate the larger ferries.

Photo by MK Metz

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Fireworks, New York City, Brooklyn (Saturday, May 12)

Those fireworks you heard Saturday, May 12 close to midnight were set off by N.E.C.O. (National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations) off Liberty Island.

The fireworks are part of a celebration of the Ellis Island Medals of Honor, awarded annually to a group of distinguished American citizens who exemplify a life dedicated to community service.

According to N.E.C.O., those who receive the award are: "People who preserve and celebrate the history, traditions and values of his/her ancestry and who dedicate themselves to creating a better world for us all."

UPDATE: According to N.E.C.O., the ceremony is full of "pageantry, grandeur and emotion." All branches of the United States Armed Forces traditionally participate: "Dancers in their native costume add to the international flavor of the celebration. A gala dinner in the historic Great Hall on Ellis Island follows the moving ceremony. As a grand finale, a majestic fireworks display illuminates the sky and America’s symbol of freedom, the Statue of Liberty."

Photo courtesy of N.E.C.O.

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Century 21 Coming to Fulton Mall; Real Estate Bd. Snubs Brooklyn; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- Finally: Century 21 announces it really will open in the Fulton Mall, in City Point. Brooklyn Eagle

- Rikers is still an out of control hellhole. (Warning: graphic images of bloody injuries.) Village Voice via Gawker

- 30 Washington St. conversion to open next year in DUMBO. NY Times via DumboNYC

- The Real Estate Board of New York has again overlooked Brooklyn in nominations for retail deal winners of 2011. Brownstoner

- Fancy new visitor center opening Wednesday at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Brooklyn Eagle

- Best not to walk around with an iPhone in Clinton Hill. abc  

- Police release video of violent robber attacking young woman in Bed-Stuy. cbs 

- Rangel says, "It's Obama who's after me." Brooklyn Ron

- Brooklyn Paper says there's been a moratorium on filming in most of Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO since April 1. City begs to differ. Gothamist


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Scrum Outside St. Ann's Warehouse, During Creative Week in DUMBO

Hundreds were turned away Wednesday night at St. Ann's Warehouse in DUMBO as Creative Week's 'Celebrate Brooklyn' event -- presented by HUGE and Digital DUMBO -- sold out.

Today (Friday) is the last day of Creative Week, a conference of creativity in advertising, design and digital media. (And your last chance to play with GE's interactive hologram-like experience, Throttle Up.)

Photo by MK Metz

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Northside Music, Art, Etc. Festival; OWS Makes Bucks in Brooklyn; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- The Northside Music, Art, Film, and Entrepreneurship Festival in Williamsburg will showcase "the next generation of culture and technology." Northside Festival

- 5 affordable one-bedroom apartments in Brooklyn. Brokelyn

- Occupy Wall Street protesters may be marching for change in Manhattan, but they’re making money in Brooklyn. NY Daily News

- BP Markowitz says that, like President Obama, his views on gay marriage have "evolved over time." Brooklyn Eagle

- Early-bird booze brunches might be saved after all. Gothamist

- Fox really screwed up report on bike-sharing and bike lanes in New York City. Streetsblog

- People who eat fast have a 2.5-times higher risk of Type 2 diabetes. Huff Post


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A Night of 'Disasters' On Cadman Plaza East, Downtown Brooklyn

Flames shot into the sky and bodies littered Cadman Plaza East in Downtown Brooklyn last night -- but that was a good thing.

With FDNY and NYPD,  members of CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams) were training at the Office of Emergency Management to handle emergencies.

Some volunteers acted as injured victims, calling out for help.

CERT members practiced aiding the injured, controlling traffic, calming the panicky, and putting out fires. (Great job, folks.)

According to OEM, CERT members undergo "an intensive 10-week training program that raises awareness about emergencies and disasters and provides basic response skills needed for fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster medical operations, and traffic control." 

- Putting Out Fires On Cadman Plaza East
- Disaster Training Fires Up Downtown Brooklyn

Photos by MK Metz.

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