Good News: Your Eyeballs Won't Freeze Today (But Every Other Body Part Will)

Courtesy NOAA

With New York City temperatures in the single digits and wind chills sending us straight to hell, no doubt at some point you'll be asking yourself today: "OMG can my eyeballs actually freeze?"

You'll be happy to hear that science experts (people who post on websites) say that eyeballs don't freeze for a variety of convincing reasons.

According to The Naked Scientists, one reason is that because your eyeball is contained within your head, and your head is kept at body temperature, it never gets cold enough to freeze.

This all changes after you're dead, scientists gleefully point out.

So bundle up!

Snow will start after midnight tonight, and Tuesday's rush hour is going to be a mess.


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Turn Williamsburg Fire Site into Park? Harder Than It Sounds...

CitiStorage Bld 380

Community groups are organizing to turn the site of the great Williamsburg CitiStorage warehouse fire into a waterfront park, according to Brownstoner.

The city promised to build a park there a decade ago.  (The Open Space Alliance hosted a meeting last night on the subject; word not in yet on what transpired.)

But locals and community groups worry that CitiStorage's owners will sell the site to a private developer to put up condos.

According to the Greenpoint Waterfront Association for Parks and Planning (GWAPP):

"Our City Councilperson Steve Levin has confirmed that, in the aftermath of the fire at CitiStorage, one thing has become very clear: if our neighborhood does not raise its voice – loud and unified – there is almost zero chance that the City will move to fulfill the promises for this park space made in the 2005 Waterfront Rezoning Agreement.

"And the situation couldn’t be more dire. The 11 acre CitiStorage property – the center and essential core of the promised 28 acre Bushwick Inlet Park – could be sold for private development as-of-right (M31 commercial zoning) tomorrow."

More on Free Williamsburg.

More interesting pieces of the puzzle at the NY World. 

Photo courtesy CitiStorage

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Brooklyn BP Adams Raising a Toast to 8,245 Years of Love Today

In honor of Valentine's Day on Saturday, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams will be raising a toast today to more than 150 Brooklyn couples who have been together 50 years or more.

That's a celebration of 8,245 combined years of love, the BP says.

The love-struck couples will enjoy lunch, dancing, a photo booth and a sparkling wine toast led by the BP.

In a release, Adams says he will"will applaud the commitment shown by these couples and speak about his support of the borough’s elder population."

UPDATE: Here's what happened. Adorable! 

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Deep Freeze: Brooklyn Will Be Colder Than Alaska on Friday

NOAA

Strong winds and dangerous wind chills are sweeping across the Northeast states, and the Arctic cold front is descending upon NYC and vicinity as we speak.

Brooklyn will be 14 degrees colder than Anchorage, Alaska on Friday.

According to the National Weather Service, the high in Anchorage Alaska on Friday will be 31 degree Fahrenheit. The high in Brooklyn will be only 17 degrees Fahrenheit.

NOAA has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook and Special Weather Statement for Brooklyn through Friday afternoon.

Don't even THINK of going out tonight without covering every square inch of your body.

Here's what NOAA says:

WINDCHILLS WILL DROP BELOW ZERO LATE THIS EVENING...FALLING TO AROUND 10 BELOW ZERO LATE TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.

WINDCHILLS WILL LIKELY ONLY MODERATE TO AROUND ZERO FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

THE COMBINATION OF COLDER TEMPERATURES AND WINDS BEHIND AN ARCTIC COLD FRONT WILL RESULT IN WIND CHILL VALUES RANGING FROM 0 TO -10 FROM LATE TONIGHT INTO LATE FRIDAY MORNING IN THE NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN AREA. WIND CHILL VALUES BETWEEN 0 AND -5 ARE POSSIBLE INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS.

IF VENTURING OUTSIDE...MAKE SURE TO COVER ANY EXPOSED AREAS TO AVOID FROSTBITE.


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Hunger in Brooklyn, Replacing Grimm, Fest at Barclays, and More Brooklyn Briefs

- Business owners near Barclays hope to benefit from All-Star Game festivities. [NY1]

- Study reveals alarming hunger statistics in Brooklyn. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- A lawsuit filed seeking to compel Gov. Andrew Cuomo to call a special election to replace Rep. Michael Grimm. [NY State of Politics]

- The family of Akai Gurley tore into NYPD Officer Peter Liang and called for comprehensive changes to the police department. [Observer]

- Lentol seeks immediate halt to evictions in wake of bribery scandal. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Powerball says three winners bought tickets in Texas, North Carolina & Puerto Rico. [Lottery Post]

 - Memes of historic moments Brian Williams may have 'misremembered.' [Daily Mail]

- Oopsy, everybody can start eating eggs again. [Washington Post]



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Maimonides Hospital Pays $5M to Widow of Guy Run Down by Its Ambulance

Maimonides Medical Center in Sunset Park, Brooklyn has paid $4.9 million to the widow of a motorcyclist run down by its ambulance.

The Daily News reports that the ambulance was caught on video sailing through a red light before fatally striking the father of two.

Maimonides initially tried to stop the video from being shown in court, DN says. The video "completely contradicted" the sworn statements by the ambulance driver.

A DN commenter said, "Finally! Someone who was mowed down while on 2 wheels has been given justice."


Maimonides Medical Center pays $4.9 million to widow of motorcyclist mowed down by ambulance [NY Daily News]

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Hillary Clinton Looking at Office Space in Brooklyn; Akai Gurley Shooter in Brooklyn Court; and More Brooklyn Briefs

Obama Care presentation in Bed-Stuy Wednesday.

- NYPD officer Peter Liang, who shot unarmed Brooklyn man Akai Gurley, is expected to be arraigned Wednesday in Brooklyn Supreme Court, Criminal Term. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Hillary Clinton seeking office space in Brooklyn or Queens. [Time]

- Four native New Yawkers compete over who has the best accent Thursday night. [Brokelyn]

- Total corruption: This is why thousands of DOB/HPD violations disappeared from properties all over the city, notably Brooklyn. [Failed Messiah]

- Text of note from NBC News president to staff on Brian Williams' suspension. [Stripes]

- If you didn’t catch the broadcast of WNET’s hour-long celebration of the 50-year-old New York City landmarks law Saturday night, you can watch it online. [via Brownstoner]

- De Blasio’s budget: 9 ways it could affect Brooklyn. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Two little Brooklyn girls who disappeared with their parents have been found safe in Sullian County. The father had been afraid he would lose custody. [NY Daily News]

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East Williamsburg: 16 Grand Street Eateries to Dish It Out for Restaurant Week

The Grand Street Business Improvement District (BID) in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn will be holding its second annual Restaurant Week on Monday, February 16th through Sunday February 22nd.

Sixteen restaurants on Grand Street between Union and Bushwick Avenues will be offering great deals on two-course lunches from $8-$10 and/or three-course dinners for $18-$30.

These range from hot tamales and burgers at Chuvoys, to Russian borscht, beef Stroganoff, and a drink ominously named "Chernobyl" at Masha and the Bear.

Check here for menus and more info.


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Brooklyn Heights Association Annual Meeting Features NY Magazine Critic, and Will Probably Be Lively

Photo courtesy of Justin Davidson

The Brooklyn Heights Association’s Annual Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 24th at 7 p.m. at Grace Church.

The Brooklyn Eagle reports that the guest speaker this year is Justin Davidson, New York magazine architecture and classical music critic. Davidson, who has looked deeply at gentrification, will speak about “Preservation as an Agent of Radical Change.”

Thirteen/WNET host Tom Stewart will again present the BHA Awards for Community Service.

If past experience is any guide, the meeting will be a lively one, with neighborhood preservationists ... of the Brooklyn Heights Library, Pier 6 park site and Brooklyn Bridge views ... sure to be on hand.

Brooklyn Heights Association Annual Meeting features music & architecture critic Justin Davidson [Brooklyn Eagle]

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Barclays to Lose Entrance Plaza? Pervert Suspect Arrested in Bushwick; and More Brooklyn Briefs

8 little fellas were rescued from an abandoned building today & on their way to Bklyn AC&C. Kudos to #nypd #AC&C pic.twitter.com/Vhir1eVMfi
— NYPD 61st Precinct (@NYPD61Pct) February 9, 2015

After the cops rescued them, these little puppies were taken to the NYC Animal Care and Control unit in Brooklyn.

- Will Brooklyn Nets fans lose Barclays Center entrance plaza? [Nets Daily and Atlantic Yards Report]

- Brooklyn pediatrician Dr. Edna Pytlak: An unvaccinated child can develop “a horrific case of the measles if they catch it when they get older.” [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Taxi driver of the Brooklyn Orthodox couple killed on their way to Long Island College Hospital in 2013 said in court he was not rushing. [NY Times]

- A man suspected of perverted activity has been arrested in Bushwick. [WPIX]

- Williamsburg residents gave DOH a petition saying they want answers about the health effects of the big Williamsburg fire last week. [CBS] ... DOH told the Brooklyn Eagle last Thursday that the fire posed no immediate health risk.

- Think this is cold? New England got two feet of snow Monday, and Boston's subways, trolleys and commuter rail trains have ground to a halt. [AP]

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