'Person of Interest' Filming Around Brooklyn

Photo: MK Metz

Person of Interest has been filming around Brooklyn this past week -- in Brooklyn Heights on Wednesday (shown above on Schermerhorn Street near Court Street in a nighttime shoot); and around 3rd Street between 4th and 5th Avenue on Saturday.

Michael Emerson by zsumoz

Person of Interest stars Michael Emerson, Kevin Chapman, Taraji P. Henson, Jim Caviezel and more.






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How To Get Tickets to Obama's Inauguration; and More Brooklyn Briefs

River Cafe closed.  Photo: MK Metz

- Want to attend Obama’s inauguration? Schumer has tickets! Brooklyn Eagle

- There's a crime spree on 7th Avenue in Park Slope. Here's Park Slope

- The beautiful, century-old Linden tree in Carroll Park fell during the storm and is being cut up and hauled away. PMFA

- Williamsburg cinemas ready for December opening. DNAinfo 

- Report: Majority of Americans not prepared for major disaster. Sheepshead Bites

- Grants for community projects offered now, including hurricane relief. Brooklyn Bureau

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Brooklyn 2012 Holiday Fair Roundup

Photo by Eob

The weather has turned cold, and holiday fairs are starting to come fast and furious in Brooklyn. This weekend two great fairs take place -- the Danish Seaman's Church Christmas Fair in Brooklyn Heights and the Renegade Craft Holiday Fair in Williamsburg.

Like to browse handmade stuff, listen to music and drink hot cider? Here's a list of many of the holiday fairs coming up in Brooklyn.

- The Danish Seamen's Church 2012 Christmas Fair at 102 Willow Street in Brooklyn Heights takes place on Saturday, November 17 and Sunday, November 18. Danish art, crafts and delicacies: Christmas ornaments, fritters, frikadeller (like meatballs) and candy, with a Danish bar in the courtyard. A second location -- at nearby Plymouth Church -- hosts the restaurant with open-faced sandwiches, beer and mulled wine. More here.

- Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Market will take place on November 17 and 18 at the East River State Park in Williamsburg. Crafters, hands-on workshops, food, music, more. Info here.

- The Brooklyn Night Bazaar: One part holiday fair, one part foodie destination, and one part concert series, this year's Bazaar is taking place every Friday and Saturday from November 23 until December 22. Williamsburg. More here.

- Brooklyn Holiday Book Fair: December 1, presented by the Old Stone House and Honey and Wax Booksellers. Features "rare and extraordinary books" from booksellers from across Brooklyn, and a reading of a rare first edition copy of The Gift of the Magi, by a (spoiler alert) surprise Brooklyn lit notable. More here.

- Holiday Handmade Cavalcade, a two day show of items crafted by the "Etsy NY Team" December 1 and 2 in Williamsburg. More at about.com

- Winter Festival and Artisan Craft Fair at Brooklyn Friends School:  A holiday shopping event combined with a children's carnival on on Saturday December 1. More than 40 vendors, food, plenty of activities for kids, book sale, skateboard demo and more. Pearl Street in Downtown Brooklyn near the Marriott. Details here.

- P.S. 8 Holiday Craft Fair: family annual fundraising event on December 1 is designed to bring the P.S. 8 community in Brooklyn Heights together for an afternoon of crafting, shopping and eating. Info here.

- P.S. 321 Holiday Shop takes place on Saturday, December 8, at 180 7th Avenue, Park Slope. Lots of artisanal vendors, arts & crafts, hair braiding. More here.

- 3rd Ward's sixth annual Handmade Holiday Craft Fair features great and unique DIY items from jewelry to art. Saturday Dec 15. Details here.

Did we miss any? Let us know at macrobrooklyn@gmail.com

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Sahadi's in Brooklyn Has Expanded

Baklava from Sahadi's. MK Metz

Sahadi’s famous retail store in Brooklyn Heights has just completed an expansion and renovation, connecting the interiors of 187-189 Atlantic Ave. with 191 next door, according to the Brooklyn Eagle. The square footage of the main store has increased by 2,000 feet

Among the changes detaild by the Eagle: The coffee bins now have their own boutique, where customers can order a home supply "while enjoying a cuppa of fresh-brewed joe." The deli has also expanded.

More here.

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Russians Lose Control of Satellites -- Is LIPA Involved?

A road crew near Moscow accidentally cut a communications cable and now Russia has lost control of most of its civilian satellites.

“Communications have been lost between civilian ground-based tracking, command and control stations,” the source told RIA Novosti, according to Satnews.

It will require at least 48 hours to fix the problem, the source said. This could place on hold the return of three personnel from the International Space Station.

Americans can't talk -- we have the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). While LIPA probably had nothing to do with the Russian cable problem, they've certainly treated some American customers like they were in Siberia.

LIPA received a subpoena Wednesday in response to their bungled response to Hurricane Sandy.

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About the photo: Screenshot from Le Voyage dans la lune (A Trip to the Moon) (1902), a film classic by Georges Méliès

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Did You Know You Can Stand Your Car at a Fire Hydrant During the Day but Not at Night?

Photo: David Boyle

In the legal weirdness category: Currently, drivers in New York City are allowed to temporarily stand at fire hydrants during daylight hours, but not at night.

Councilman David G. Greenfield (44th council district: Bensonhurst, Boro Park, and Midwood) says in an email that he heard from irate constituents who received tickets after dropping off passengers near fire hydrants at night.

So yesterday he introduced what he calls "common sense legislation" in the City Council that would allow motorists to temporarily stop at fire hydrants at all times as long "as they are ready to immediately move their vehicle in the case of an emergency."

“Allowing drivers to temporarily stop at fire hydrants to pick up and drop off passengers will reduce emissions from vehicles circling the block, free up other parking spaces and reduce double parking, which often brings our commercial strips to a standstill," he said.

Earlier this year, the City Council passed Greenfield’s legislation ending the city’s use of neon stickers (remember them?) to punish drivers violating alternate-side parking laws, and he says he played an instrumental role in passing legislation to give drivers a five-minute grace period when paying for parking at a nearby Muni-Meter.

Greenfield also supported a law allowing the use of Muni-Meter receipts on different blocks than where the receipt was issued. All of these bills were passed unanimously by the City Council over the objection of Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

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Time for Another Round of Sandy Volunteering in Brooklyn

Volunteers sort through clothing in Red Hook. Photo: MK Metz

Thousands of New York City residents have volunteered in ways big and small to bring food, water, blankets and other supplies to Hurricane Sandy sufferers in across the city.

But people are STILL without electricity two weeks after the storm. Have you been looking for a way to help? Here's what to do:

- Text ‘Brooklyn’ to 25383 to donate $10 to The Brooklyn Recovery Fund, a joint effort between the Brooklyn Community Foundation, the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President, and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. They funnel the money to the non-profits out in the field.

- Occupy Sandy operates a highly-lauded central command hub, sending volunteers all over the city to where help is needed most. 

- The Brooklyn Eagle has compiled a page of volunteer opportunities by neighborhood.

- Are you an animal lover or a foodie? People are needed to board displaced pets and help find owners; and people with cooking and kitchen management skills are needed to work as supervisors. See Brokelyn

- Check out New York City's service page. The entire bottom half is devoted to Sandy-related volunteer opportunities.   

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What Was There Before Park Plaza Diner?

Photo: MK Metz

The Park Plaza Diner sits at the north-west corner of Cadman Plaza West and Pineapple Walk in Brooklyn Heights. We thought it would be fun to see what was in the same spot in the past.

The Park Plaza Diner was founded in 1981 by Peter Likourentzos. Old-timers remember when a Key Food stood where the diner now stands.

Further back in time:

Back in 1922 when Cadman Plaza West was still called Fulton Street (it was connected to the the Fulton Street of today in Downtown Brooklyn) an entirely different building stood on the spot, and the elevated ran in front. Pineapple Walk was Pineapple Street (see the street to the left, below). This building was constructed sometime after the great fire of 1848.

Photo: NYPL

 In 1880, Mr. Adolphe Ketchum engaged in the clothing business at the corner. According to The History Box,  Ketchum started with a small store and stock, and gradually made additions and improvements "until he gave employment to upward of one hundred hands."

Here's a description:  "Mr. Ketchum is one of the liberal employers, and does not believe in the theory of starving body and soul. Frequently during the year he gives picnics, excursions and other entertainments to his hard working employees. He owns the house in which he lives in Pearl street, together with other real estate, and is worth from $40,000 to $50,000. He is married, has an interesting family, belongs to Temple Israel and several charitable lodges."

Further back:

In 1863, the Father Matthew Total Abstinence Benefit Society occupied the building. According to the New York Times of Feb. 2, 1863:

"The new Hall of the Father Matthew Total Abstinence Benefit Society, located in Fulton-street, corner of Pineapple, was inaugurated yesterday with appropriate ceremonies . . . . It has recently been rearranged and fitted up for the above Association, and is now one of the finest and most capacious halls in the city. Societies Nos. 1 and 2 of Brooklyn, and No. 2 of New-York, assembled about 2 o'clock P.M., and, preceded by two bands of music, marched through Fulton street . . . The members all appeared in full regalia, and presented a very good appearance . . ."

The Father Matthew Society was a temperance (anti-alcohol) organization. According to the Temperance Handbook, "In the Stygian and pest-ridden Twelfth Ward of Brooklyn, not a solitary one of the 500 members of the Father Matthew Society resident therein has been attacked by cholera."

Much of the surrounding land was farmland owned by the Middagh's.

1854: Horse carts ran past this building.

1843: Different building, same lot: In 1843, the Universalist Church commenced the erection of a building on several lots they had purchased on that corner.. According to Universalist Churches, the lower part was used as stores; and the upper part, including a small building adjoining used for Sunday school purposes, was leased to the society for twenty-one years with renewals, at $600 per annum. This building was first opened and occupied June 22, 1843.

In the great fire of 1848, the building was burned; "and the society having disposed of their lots on favorable terms, purchased a lot and erected an elegant new edifice" on Monroe Place.

The fire had started in the store of George Drew at 122 Fulton Street. The houses on both sides of the street, from Poplar to Pineapple Street, from Henry to Washington (now called Cadman Plaza East) burned to the ground. Wonder why Cadman Plaza West is wider here? After the fire, the building line was set back on both sides in the devastated section, widening the street.

1830: Stage coaches ran along Fulton Street past this plot of land.

1818-1822: According to Long Island Genealogy, sign posts were erected along Fulton Street to the village limits in 1818. A gravel sidewalk was laid, curbstones were set up, and the houses were numbered in 1822.

Previous to 1817, Fulton Street was known as the Old Ferry Road. (Robert Fulton and William Cutting obtained a franchise for a ferry to begin to run in 1814 from Old Ferry landing.) The plot was almost certainly farmland.

1666: The Indian trail was widened to a road.


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Brooklynites Still Without Power; Dov Hikind AWOL for Hurricane Relief; and More Brooklyn Briefs

Empire Stores.  Photo: MK Metz

- Con Ed says it has now restored power to nearly all who lost it -- not counting some 35,000 customers, many in Brooklyn. NY1

- AWOL during hurricane relief efforts, Dov Hikind comes back to town and attacks Mayor. Failed Messiah

- Brooklyn man facing felony charges for trying to cut the gas line. CBS 

- Drunk assistant D.A. in Brooklyn jailed after assaulting city EMT. NY Times 

- Since the election, Mitt Romney has lost 847 Facebook friends per hour. Mashable and Disappearing Romney

- Paul McCartney almost crashes in his helicopter. Monsters and Critics

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2012 Plymouth Church Yankee Fair Helps Sandy Victims

Kids had a great time at Plymouth Church's Yankee Fair in Brooklyn Heights on Saturday morning. The fair is a sweet neighborhood tradition, with rides and bouncy castles on Orange Street, arts & crafts, entertainment, gifts, books and hot lunch in Hillis Hall.

Besides raising money to restore church buildings and fund scholarships for Plymouth Church School, this year proceeds are also going to the St. John's Bread and Life mobile soup kitchen, which is helping victims of Hurricane Sandy. People also dropped off donations for Red Hook Initiative, the organization helping hard-hit Red Hook.

Pony rides were a big hit, as always. The ponies came from Brooklyn Stables.

Old-fashioned cotton candy.

Home-baked goodies.

Kudos to the many volunteers who baked goods, cooked lunch and manned the booths and tables.

Photos by MK Metz

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