Curtains for Brooklyn Navy Yard's Admiral's Row?

It's probably all over for Brooklyn Navy Yard's Admiral's Row, reports Crain's New York. Most of the buildings that comprise the row of disintegrating 19th-century houses will be torn down to pave the way for a supermarket, sources told them.

The houses are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

The "compromise" plan, which is supposed to be revealed to community groups in late April would preserve "only one of the 10 crumbling residences and a structure known as the Timber Shed," according to Crain's.

The Municipal Art Society emailed Gothamist with the following statement: “If the reported compromise on the future of the Admiral’s Row buildings is true we are deeply disappointed because the majority of these buildings could and should be saved. We will continue fighting to save these important structures."

Last July, the National Guard held an informational forum at Brooklyn Borough Hall to solicit public input about the future of Admiral's Row.

The Navy Yard originally wanted to demolish them all and build the supermarket, with a large parking lot and a light industrial complex.

Preservationists, such as Brent Porter, an architecture professor at the Pratt Institute, developed an alternate plan which calls for "adaptive reuse" of the buildings. This included a supermarket but with a smaller parking lot.

A rally organized by City Councilwoman Letitia James took place on Borough Hall’s front steps. A crowd, bused in by James, demanded the Navy Yard's version.

The two photos below are of renderings that were on display at the rally. Note that these are of the original plan, not the Navy Yard's new "compromise" plan, which is not yet released.

This last rendering is of Brent Porter's "adaptive reuse" plan.


Time Runs Out for Brooklyn's Admiral's Row Crains NY

One Structure to Remain on Admiral's Row Gothamist

- Images From Admiral Row's Forum, Brooklyn Borough Hall McBrooklyn
- Public Hearing on Admiral's Row Held Last Night Brownstoner
- Decrepit Admiral's Row Houses Must Go, Say Pols, Local Residents ... Brooklyn Eagle
- Wrecking Ball or Preservation? Admiral's Row Get a Hearing Curbed

Top photo by kl801, Creative Commons license
Bottom photos by MK Metz


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Unofficially, No Parking On Sidewalk

How many times have we walked past this No Parking sign on Hoyt near Pacific in Boerum Hill without realizing that it was handmade?

The "S's" are always the hardest.

Photo by MK Metz

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Brooklyn Borough Hall Greenmarket Returns On Thursdays

A devotee of farmers markets, Dave of the Dave's Kitchen blog has just posted a notice that the Brooklyn Borough Hall Greenmarket will again be open on Thursdays, beginning this week, and they're planning a small celebration to commemorate.

Additionally, this year will mark the Borough Hall Greenmarket’s 25th anniversary, and the folks at CENYC (the non-profit organization that runs the city’s Greenmarkets) are planning planning free events all season long like cooking demonstrations, raffles, school tours, and kids & family friendly activities.

Check out Dave's Kitchen for more details about this and also about the Sunday market that will open in June in Carroll Gardens.

And see the recipes that Dave has worked out. We have been looking for a Saag Paneer recipe for months!

Photo by MK Metz

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Both 'Bored To Death' and 'Fair Game' Filming On Court Street In Downtown Brooklyn

"Bored To Death," a TV comedy starring Jason Schwartzman, Ted Danson, Olivia Thirlby, Zach Galifianakis and others will be filming at the New York Transit Museum on Schermerhorn Street in Downtown Brooklyn tomorrow.

Crews are busy setting up on Schermerhorn Street today and are bringing equipment down into the museum's subway station, with its historic trains, buses and signage. According to IMBd, the series is in "post production" and is expected to be released this year.

Meanwhile, "Fair Game," a drama about CIA agent Valerie Plame, will be filming on Court Street from Joralemon to Atlantic tomorrow (Tuesday).

Naomi Watts is playing the role of the (real-life) CIA agent, Plame, whose identity was illegally revealed by the Bush administration in 2003. According to TFC18, Sean Penn is set to portray Valerie Plame's husband, Ambassador Joseph Wilson.

Photos by MK Metz

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Squadron To Air Proposal at Brooklyn Bridge Park Meeting

A friend received this letter from Ellen Whelan-Wuest, the Brooklyn Office Director for State Senator Daniel Squadron:

"On Sunday, April 5, State Senator Daniel Squadron will host another public meeting to present his plan for how to make Brooklyn Bridge Park a real, world-class park for our community and our city.

Please join us for the presentation, which will be followed by a Q&A session with Senator Squadron about his proposal.

The meeting will be held at 3:00 pm, Sunday April 5, in the Avram Conference Center, Conference Room A at Long Island College Hospital."

____________________

Squadron, who ran against housing in Brooklyn Bridge Park, hopes to divert a portion of property tax revenue from nearby neighborhoods (DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights) to pay for the park's yearly costs rather than having development within the park.

More at the Brooklyn Eagle, the Brooklyn Paper, and the Brooklyn Heights Blog.

- Lines Drawn, Construction Begins in Brooklyn Bridge Park
- School 'Not Allowed' In Brooklyn Bridge Park

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Serious Eats: Brooklyn Restaurant Week

We just got an email from Erin Zimmer, the Serious Eats New York editor. She's putting together a roundup of recommendations for Brooklyn Restaurant Week and wanted to include picks from Brooklyn bloggers.

We sent in a few lines about our failed attempt to get into the River Cafe Friday, and are looking forward to hearing other bloggers' recommendations about where they plan on eating.

We're going to attempt the R.C. again this week if a lunch hour opens up.

If we do get in: scallop and coconut bisque appetizer, and duck with lingonberry sauce for the main course.

Photo by CarbonNYC, Creative Commons license

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Free 'Heart of Brooklyn' Events

Looking for ways to enjoy the warmer weather? Heart of Brooklyn recently sent us a schedule of free events along the cultural corridor near Grand Army Plaza. Many low- or no-cost activities are available at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Public Library, Prospect Park and Prospect Park Zoo. Information about the free shuttle is provided at the end of this article.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden:
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden presents Hanami, the cherry blossom-viewing season, beginning April 4 and culminating in Sakura Matsuri, New York's Rite of Spring, on May 2 and 3. Spring viewing includes magnolias, forsythia, tree peonies and tulips—with FREE Tuesdays, FREE Fridays for seniors, and FREE weekend hours (from 10-noon every Saturday, except Sakura Saturday on May 2). bbg.org.

Prospect Park: Opening Day Parade, Saturday, April 4, 10am
The 585 acres of Prospect Park offer an urban oasis. Visit Long Meadow, 60-acre lake, Audubon Center, Lefferts Historic House and Brooklyn’s only forest. April 4: Celebrate the coming of spring and the crack of the first bat as Brooklyn Little Leaguers and their parents march through Park Slope and into the Bandshell for the first pitch of the season.

Brooklyn Children’s Museum:
Free: Wednesdays, 2-5pm & Thursday, April 9 to Saturday, April 18, 10am-5pm
In addition to the free hours above, while school's out for the spring recess you can see New York City's first "green" museum and take part in the Spring Break EcoFest with hands-on programs, daily from April 9th to 18th. brooklynkids.org

Brooklyn Public Library:
Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Library at Grand Army Plaza offers thousands of programs to Brooklyn’s 2.5 million inhabitants and more than 850 free Internet-accessible computers available for public use. brooklynpubliclibrary.org

Brooklyn Museum: Target First Saturday: MayFest! Saturday, May 2, 5-11pm On this Target First Saturday, Brooklyn Museum presents a FREE night of music, dance, and art-making classes that celebrate the environment and the special exhibition Gustave Caillebotte: Impressionist Paintings from Paris to the Sea. Interactive Eco-Art demonstrations, learn bike repair tips; Pee-Wee Herman’s Big Adventure on the big screen; and an earth-friendly puppet show by the Puppeteer's Cooperative. brooklynmuseum.org

Prospect Park Zoo:
Free with admission: Meet a Keeper, weekends at 11am and 3pm; view a Sea Lion demonstration daily at 11:30, 2pm and 4pm at the Sea Lion Pool. Or explore hands-on activities at the Discovery Center for Kids, weekends from 11am – 3pm prospectpark.org

__________________

The HOB Connection: Weekends in Spring
The HOB Connection is a FREE weekend shuttle to central cultural Brooklyn. The Connection features on-board tour guides, discount coupons for local businesses, and brochures of information about places to eat, drink and shop near the world-class institutions located near Grand Army Plaza.

The HOB Connection operates three routes on weekends: Saturday Scene, from DUMBO (first and third Saturdays of every month), Bay Ridge (every second Saturday) and Williamsburg (every fourth Saturday) to the Heart of Brooklyn from 10am-6pm. On Target First Saturdays, the TFS Shuttle delivers riders to local restaurants and hotspots. Every Sunday, The HOB Connection’s Museum Mile to Brooklyn Style route offers a free, easy, hop-on hop-off loop from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA and Bryant Park to the cultural attractions near Grand Army Plaza. heartofbrooklyn.org/connection

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Two Of These Could Easily Fit In One Parking Space

This little "Smart Car" (branded smart fortwo) takes up so little parking space that owners should team up and go doubles.

The tiny car is made by Mercedes-Benz, and has received high safety ratings.

Seen on Montague Street, Brooklyn Heights.

Photo by MK Metz

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Tough-Ass Grannies, Scary Botnets, Gnarly Bikers and Brooklyn Developers

- Don't you just love tough-ass grannies? New York Magazine does, too. Here you'll find a list of grannies who kicked, shot, and slashed their way through a mountain of young toughs. New York Magazine

- A developer proposes a two-story addition to an existing building at 85 Third Street. He gets approval and a permit from the Department of Buildings. Then he proceeds to tear the existing structure down and puts a new structure in its place. Make sure to check out all the photos on the Pardon Me For Asking blog.

- On April 1, the Conficker botnet goes active. If you use Windows, go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and download every update. "Conficker is shaping up to be the scariest, largest botnet ever to have existed." Unixronin More on Conficker at the NYTimes, via Making Light

- At 11 p.m. Saturday night, a group of cyclists are going to be competing in a "gnarly unauthorized brakeless bike road race" through Red Hook. The quarter-mile course features "several hairpin turns, a fast sprint through the parking lot of a chain retailer, a cobblestone stretch, and a sprint finish." Gothamist


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New York, Adames Is the Legal Mayor

This sign starts with, "Can you be a mayor and a thief?" and ends with "Amames is the legal mayor."

Now does anyone know who Adames is?

Seen on a lamp post in Brooklyn Heights.


Photo by MK Metz
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Fire At Brooklyn Marriott -- Small Fire, Big Evacuation

The Brooklyn Eagle is reporting that a massive evacuation took place at Renaissance Plaza, connected to the Brooklyn Marriott, today:

"The entire building located at 333 Adams St./350 Jay St. appeared to be evacuated. Prosecutors, city attorneys, criminals, secret-service agents, and hotel guests lined the streets surrounding Renaissance Plaza."

According to an FDNY spokesman, some people were treated for smoke inhalation.

Lots of photos on the Eagle web site.

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No Steve & Barry's At the Fulton Mall, and More Brooklyn Briefs

- A Brooklyn Law School student got a court order Wednesday temporarily freezing the assets of Bernard Madoff's younger brother, Peter, in connection with a nearly $500,000 inheritance allegedly lost in the Wall Street Ponzi scheme. Newsday, via NY Magazine

- A town hall will be held on April 4 at BAM Rose Cinema to learn how the federal stimulus package will impact Brooklyn. OTBKB

- The chain Unique Thrift Store is taking what was supposed to be Steve & Barry's space at 408 Fulton Street in the Fulton Street Mall. In December, the landlord filed a lawsuit against the now bankrupt Steve & Barry's. The Real Deal

- Streetsblog wants you to sign a petition to the DOT to restore Prospect Park West and Eighth Avenue to a two-way flow; also for a two-way protected bike path on Prospect Park West and full traffic-calming on both avenues. Streetsblog

- OMG: women's size five shoes are being phased out. Glamour via Racked


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The Pot(ty) Makes the Plant

A good pot makes a world of difference when it comes to plants. But how about a good potty?

Here's a nicely potted potty on north Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights, in front of the Prominent Car Service near the falafel place and Siggy's.

Should we make fertilizer jokes?

Photos by MK Metz

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Where's A Site God When You Need One?

The words "Site God?" are stuck on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade railing overlooking the future Brooklyn Bridge Park.

After all of the arguing about who's going to pay for the future park if the condo idea falls through, perhaps we do need a Site God to come in and make the decision.

Photo by MK Metz

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Brooklyn's 'Toxic Preschool' Owner Is Opening Up a Summer Camp

If at first you don't succeed . . .

Andy Lewis, the guy who ran the "toxic" preschool on Dean Street in Boerum Hill (left) -- and was subsequently indicted for defrauding the National Child Food Program of more than $500,000 -- is opening up a summer camp in Fort Greene.

According to the Brooklyn Eagle, Lewis still owes thousands of dollars to the parents who signed up for his failed preschool in Boerum Hill.

Eagle: Lewis "is now looking for children to attend his new Fort Greene Day Camp, which he plans to operate out of either a public school or the Masonic Temple in Fort Greene."

Lewis is advertising a summer camp open house at South Oxford Space (on South Oxford Street in Fort Greene) for Wednesday night.

UPDATE: The open house was canceled! Angry parents were planning to stage a protest there to warn new parents not to leave deposits. Brooklyn Eagle

- Brooklyn's Toxic Preschool Boss Charged with Fraud McBrooklyn
- Brooklyn 'Toxic Preschool' Parents Out of Luck? McBrooklyn
- Promises of Refund to Parents Underline History of Scandal As Toxic Preschool Moves On Brooklyn Eagle
- 'Toxic' Preschool Families Get Help From Brooklyn Borough Hall Brooklyn Eagle
- 'Toxic Boerum Hill Preschool to Reopen, Director Says McBrooklyn
- 'Toxic' Brooklyn School to Reopen? Brooklyn Eagle
- More Trouble at 'Toxic' Preschool in Boerum Hill McBrooklyn
- 'Toxic' Preschool Parents Wonder: Where's the Money? Brooklyn Eagle
- Brooklyn Children's Academy Preschool Nightmares A Child Grows in Brooklyn
- Toxic Preschool in Brooklyn? Brooklyn Eagle
- 'Toxic' Preschool in Boerum Hill McBrooklyn

Photo by MK Metz

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The Brooklyn Headhunter: Find a Job in Brooklyn

From time to time, McBrooklyn puts on its Headhunting gear and scouts out a handful of Brooklyn employment opportunities.

Here's our Tip of the Week:

The EmploymentGuide.com is organizing a job fair. On Tuesday, March 31, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Brooklyn Academy of Music – BAM Cafe, employers will meet and interview hundreds of job seekers. Companies will be recruiting for many positions including but not limited to sales positions, managerial positions, IT and technical positions, educational opportunities, government jobs, healthcare positions, etc. For additional information, see Career Builder. (You'll need to email your resume in.)

More jobs in Brooklyn:

- Brooklyn Hospital needs a senior communications writer/editor. Fresh Jobs

- MetLife is looking for a (sales oriented) financial advisor. They'll train the right person. Craigslist

- The Brooklyn Brewery is seeking a Marketing Manager. $45,000 - $55,000. NYT/Monster

- A general contracting firm is looking for person to deliver and pick up materials and debris to various job sites. $15 + /hr. Craigslist

- A children's store in DUMBO is seeking an experienced sales associate with web experience. Craigslist

- JP Morgan Chase needs someone to figure out what all those derivatives are worth. JP Morgan Chase

- MOR credit repair company is seeking an energetic paralegal-type who knows how to read credit reports. PJF

- Equinox gym in Brooklyn Heights is searching for sales associates to earn up to and over $18/hr. Must be passionate about fitness & sales. Craigslist

- Brooklyn College is in need of a President. NYT/Monster

- An international energy firm in Brooklyn (guess you can guess which one) is looking for a new Senior Manager of Finance. IPSO Jobs

- The Green Grape's Provision Store in Fort Greene needs someone to work behind the fish counter, part time. Craigslist

- The Working Families Party is looking for full-time field organizers to join the campaign for affordable health care. Craigslist

- A well-known Swedish vodka is looking for a "brand ambassador." Must enjoy nightlife and meeting new people, have an interest in fashion, music and art, be outgoing, personable and enjoy nightlife. We're not sure if they're serious about being Swedish . . . Craigslist

Photo by MikeColvin82, Creative Commons license.


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Spring Flowers, Cadman Plaza Park

Crocuses have bloomed all over Brooklyn. These are in Cadman Plaza Park, Brooklyn Heights.

Photo by MK Metz

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George Weber Murdered in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn

ABC Radio reporter George Weber was found stabbed to death in his Carroll Gardens brownstone Sunday morning.

Colleagues became worried on Saturday when Mr. Weber did not show up for his shift, according to the New York Times.

He was found in his bed with several stab wounds in his neck and upper torso, according to the Daily News. There was no sign of forced entry to his first-floor brownstone apartment on Henry Street.

An investigation is under way.

UPDATE: - A 16-year-old self-described anarchist and sadomasochist confessed to the murder. Weber was found slashed and stabbed as many as 50 times in an apparent sex act gone awry, according to the Brooklyn Eagle.

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Lines Drawn, Construction Begins in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Construction is truly underway at Brooklyn Bridge Park. In the photo above, you can make out the white outline of the curved walkway being laid down near Pier 2. This segment is circled in the Park's rendering, below.


At the south end, near Atlantic Ave., the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy says that they "anticipate opening a portion of Pier 6 and its uplands by the end of 2009."

According to BBPC, this section of the park near Atlantic Avenue will include a 1.6 acre destination playground with a swing "valley," slide "mountain," wooden structures, and water play area; a dog run; a 30' wide promenade onto Pier 6; a park concession building with 1000 square foot restaurant and roof top deck; and three sand volleyball courts.

Construction company Skanska has begun prepping the site, shown above.

Skanska has also begun work on Pier 1, importing 60,000 cubic yards of fill and topsoil (enough to fill Boro Hall 2x). More on the Pier 1 work at Dumbo NYC.

Photo by MK Metz
Renderings courtesy of Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation/Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates

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Fulton Street Brooklyn, Now and Then

Here's a photo of Fulton Street in Downtown Brooklyn taken roughly a month ago.

We just visited the new Brooklyn Revealed website and ran across a photo (from a Brooklyn Eagle postcard) of this same stretch of Fulton Street -- as it appeared in 1776.

My how we have progressed since then!

Top photo by MK Metz

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Judge: Brooklyn House of Detention Can Reopen

Despite much public opposition, Kings County Supreme Court Justice Sylvia Hinds-Radix ruled Wednesday that the city’s Department of Correction may go forward with its plan to "fully utilize" the Brooklyn House of Detention on Atlantic Avenue without going through environmental and land use reviews, the Brooklyn Eagle reports.

This doesn't apply to the planned super-sizing of the jail, however. The city would still have to go through the necessary reviews if it hopes to expand the Big House.

But it does mean that the city can restore the jail to its full operating capacity of 759 inmates.

Last month City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr., announced the rejection of a contract submitted by the Department of Design and Construction for construction related to expanding the jail.

Judge Reopens Jail Doors Brooklyn Eagle


- Brooklyn House of Detention Contract Rejected by Comptroller Thompson
- Anti-Jail Rally on Brooklyn Courthouse Steps Almost Didn't Happen
- 'Stop the Brooklyn House of Detention' Rally
- Don't Get Your Pants In a Twist Over Brooklyn House of Detention, Says Eagle
- Brooklyn House of Detention, Now With Retail
- Goodbye Supersized, Butt Ugly Brooklyn House of Detention Condos, Hello Bigger Jail
- Brooklyn House of Detention Forum Thursday -- Commissioner Horn Will Answer All Your Questions
- House of Detention Site May Be 'Most Valuable Square Block in Downtown Brooklyn'
- Brooklyn House of Detention Could Get 'Super-sized'

Photo by MK Metz

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Weird Little Green Guy in Trader Joe's, Brooklyn

Correspondent MF sent this photo in, saying:

"This is just weird. I finally downloaded my Trader Joe's pictures from St. Patrick's Day. I was taking a picture of the bread aisle. I swear this little green guy wasn't in the picture when I took it . . . "

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Six Special Trees in Brooklyn's Columbus Park

Look across the row of trees lining the walkway next to the New York State Supreme Court Building in Columbus Park, at Brooklyn Borough Hall.

How many times have you walked by those trees without really noticing them?

Four of the trees, which are probably at least 80 years old see comment as to their age, are extra special. Imbedded in the ground in front of these four trees are four plaques (hard to see unless you know they're there) dedicated to the memory of four young men from Brooklyn who died in WWI: Jeremiah P. Ferrette, Lyman Holdman, David Miller, and Charles R. Richardson.




The plaques say the men "died in the World War, 1914 - 1918."


There are two more special trees. One, age unknown, is dedicated to Arthur H. Bernstein, who also served in WWI but lived to later serve on the Kings County Council.

The tree at the end of the row was planted in 1963 by Borough President Abe Stark, in honor of John F. Kennedy.

Next time you walk by -- hurrying to Fulton Street or whatever -- look down into the grass and find the memorials to the men who are dead, but not forgotten.

Photo by MK Metz

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NYC Starts Taking Bed Bugs Seriously

Finally! The New York City Council voted last week to create a Bed Bug Advisory Board.

“Bedbugs are back, and for the tens of thousands whose homes have been infested they are no longer an urban legend but a personal and financial nightmare,” said Council Member Gale A. Brewer, lead sponsor of the bill, according to an article in the Brooklyn Eagle.

Council Member Brewer said that the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) received roughly 9,000 bed bug complaints in 2008, while 311 received about 22,000 bed bug-related calls.

We've been following the bed bug problem since last year, when 1: we noticed a big increase in the number of mattresses we saw on the sidewalks of Brooklyn; 2: the buildings of many of our friends became infested; and 3: our building became infested.

None of the infested people we know called HPD or 311.

Last summer he Eagle chronicled the extent of the problem in Brooklyn (huge!) and advice about what to do if you get the little bloodsuckers. (Bedbugs in Brooklyn: They're Here. Get Used to It; and Part2: The Secret Life of Bedbugs).

Another great resource: New York vs Bed Bugs. They report that Mayor Bloomberg will sign New York City’s bed bug advisory board legislation on Wednesday, March 18, at 3:30 p.m. in the press briefing room, the Blue Room, at City Hall.

- Bed Bugs hearing Coming Up at NYC Council

- Six Bedbug-Filled Mattresses in Brooklyn Heights?
- The Secret Life of Bedbugs Brooklyn Eagle
- Bedbugs in Brooklyn: They're Here. Get Used to It Brooklyn Eagle
- Brooklyn Bed Bug Complaints Soar 1,900 Percent!
- Brooklyn Living: Beware of Garbage With Something Written on It
- Brooklyn's Bed Bug Club: Everybody Welcome

Photo by MK Metz

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'Saints' Visit St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights

Artist Francis Cunningham's "Saints" is on display at St. Francis College -- 180 Remsen St, Brooklyn Heights -- through March 26.

His portrait of St. Bernadette, shown partially above, is one of several stark and enigmatic figure paintings.

Cunningham, who taught art for many years at the Brooklyn Museum, is a co-founder of the New York Academy of Art.

Photo by MK Metz

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Lilly Is Lost in Boerum Hill

Lilly is a gray tabby lost in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. This sign is hanging on Pacific Street.

Photo by MK Metz

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Two More Hotels in Downtown Brooklyn, and More Brooklyn Briefs

- The Brooklyn Eagle has learned that two more hotels — a Hilton Hyatt Place Hotel and a Best Western — are coming to Downtown Brooklyn. Brooklyn Eagle

- Brooklyn Paper makes it official -- it really has been bought by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Brooklyn Paper

- Brooklyn Heights St. Patrick's Day parade marches up Montague Street. Brooklyn Eagle

- Two Brooklyn boutiques are closing, and holding major sales. Racked

- New York Waterway is facing bankruptcy. Crain's NY

- Don't even think about parking in the "Not A One Girl Cookie Parking Lot." PMFA

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What Lies Beneath the Coney Island Boardwalk, and More Brooklyn Briefs

- Is it just us, or does this lady look like she has another head growing out of her neck? Brooklyn Eagle

- A Sunset Park couple won a $2 million prize from an instant Lottery game. Best View in Brooklyn

- Brooklynites weren't thrilled at a perfume company's graffiti-covered "Brooklyn" perfume bottle, so the company is holding a bottle design competition. YourNabe/Courier Life

- An ominously beautiful world -- of tunnel lairs, abandoned building entrances and discarded sharks -- lies beneath the Coney Island Boardwalk. Kinetic Carnival

- Are mini-blackouts plaguing Park Slope? Dope On the Slope

- Dumbo is getting a storefront Post Office. DumboNYC

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Feral Art in Dumbo

Art gone wild -- it's growing on the rusting steel doors of the Empire Stores in Dumbo.

Artists include Bortusk Leer, The Dude Company and more. Here are just a few. Take a walk and see.

Bortusk Leer

The Dude Company

Bortusk Leer

Bortusk Leer

The Dude Company

Can anyone ID any of the other artists?

Photos by MK Metz

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Buy Us Liquor, Or Else. And More Brooklyn Briefs

- The owner of White Wave Laundromat is being threatened with violence by local teens, if she does not buy them liquor from the next-door liquor store. Gerritsen Beach

- Tuesday's Gowanus “scoping session” revealed that the proposed rezoning could create "5,479 new dwelling units, more than 400 of which would be affordable." Brooklyn Eagle

- New York Magazine has pictures that suggest that Bernie Madoff has been using some of his downtime to get fit and tan. And maybe darken his hair. And the nose looks a little different, too. NY Magazine

- "We don't want Costcos. We don't want no Wal-Marts in Coney Island." NY Daily News via Curbed

- It seems that certain people would benefit if the New York Times collapsed. Newser

- Say it's not true, Big Bird! Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit producer of "Sesame Street" is cutting about one-fifth of its work force because of the economic downturn, according to Huffington Post.

- Michael Jackson concert tickets sell out in minutes. Huffington Post


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Last Chance to Buy Joseph Ades' (AKA Peeler-Man's) Carrot Peelers

Joseph Ades, the man who peddled more vegetable peelers than anyone in New York -- and possibly the world -- died last month, and many people suddenly realized that they wished they had bought one of his peelers.

Yesterday, correspondent Lucien was crossing through the Green Market at Cadman Plaza near Brooklyn Borough Hall and saw "a good-sized group of people" gathered by the fountain. In his words:

"As I got closer, I could see feet and a pile of carrot peels... and a strange sense of deja-vu as I heard the same patter the gentleman selling carrot peelers there for years had been doing, word-for-word, in the same accent -- but I had heard he had passed away, and this was in the voice of a woman. According to her, she is his daughter, and she's selling off his remaining stock."

Thanks, Lucien, for the tip and the photograph.

Don't know about you, but we're going to run over to the park ASAP and buy a couple, in memory of the best peeler salesman in the world.

An 'A-Peeling' Task Brooklyn Eagle


- RIP Joseph Ades -- The Man Who Made Selling Peelers An Art
- Joseph Ades -- NYC's Most Successful Street Vendor -- In Brooklyn Now

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'Stray Voltage?' Call StreetZaps

McBrooklyn has reported on some of the "stray voltage" hazards (i.e. electrified lampposts) around Brooklyn this winter.

Yesterday, we received an email from Blair Sorrel, founder of StreetZaps.com, who wants readers to be aware that the StreetZaps website is "a timely and useful tool intended to reduce the year-round risk of injury and fatality from stray voltage."

Blair confers with Con Edison's Stray Voltage Unit and was the first non-electrical representative to be invited to the Jodie Lane Fourth National Conference in May.

According to StreetZaps, there are about 30 human fatalities a year from street shocks worldwide and countless animal shocks. It pays to read Blair's list of things that can shock you, including those ubiquitous metal plates all over Brooklyn streets right now.

Visit StreetZaps and read about how to protect yourself and your pet, and to report stray voltage in your neighborhood.

Photo by MK Metz

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Murdoch Buys 'Brooklyn Paper' -- Only One Independent Brooklyn Chain Left

The Observer reports that The Brooklyn Paper has been purchased by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, which operate the New York Post, Fox News, Dow Jones (publishers of the Wall Street Journal) and many other news outlets.

Brooklyn Paper editor Gersh Kuntzman and publisher Celia Weintrob confirmed the news.

Of the big independents in Brooklyn, only the Brooklyn Eagle chain is left -- a fact mentioned on their website Tuesday.

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Doubts Over City's Coney Island Plan, and More Brooklyn Briefs

- Did you miss Sir Salman Rushdie at St. Fransis College yesterday? The Brooklyn Heights Blog has the whole story.

- The list of Dine in Brooklyn restaurants (March 23 - April 7) is out! Hey, why is it that Brooklyn Heights has only one participating restaurant (Cafe Buon Gusto) while Carroll Gardens has eight and and Bay Ridge has thirty-one? Visit Brooklyn

- The Brooklyn Greenway Initiative is in the running for a grant from Green Mountain Coffee and needs your online support. Streetsblog wants you to cast a vote in favor of the project.

- Performance Space 122 has announced that the 3rd annual Spalding Gray Award has been given to Radiohole, an experimental theater troupe that works out of a former auto body shop in Williamsburg. NY Times

- The Number One Reason not to get an iPhone. NY Magazine

- Behind the scenes, doubts are mounting over the city's Coney Island plan. CrainsNY

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Carroll Gardens Zipper Artist Thrives

Some people don't get even one good idea.

Carroll Gardener Kate Cusack has built zippers into a "flourishing jewelry-making career," says the Brooklyn Eagle. Her zipper work has been featured in New York Magazine and fashion publications, but her creativity extends beyond zippers to costume design and custom displays which have appeared in windows from Tiffany & Co. to an Atlantic Avenue.

She also knows how to make a hell of a bunny. Check out the great bunny costume here.

More zipper art can be seen on her blog, www.katecusack.blogspot.com.

Photo courtesy of Kate Cusack

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'Flying Knowledge' On Court Street

This bronze relief (created by Laura Donahue, Shauntae Middleton and a long list of artists) hangs near the Brooklyn Heights Montessori School on Court Street in Cobble Hill.

The bird "represents flying and the triangle represents knowledge."

Flying Knowledge is a Groundswell Community Mural Project create in collaboration with the Brooklyn Heights Montessori School and The School for International Studies.

Photo by MK Metz

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The Brooklyn Headhunter: Find a Job in Brooklyn

From time to time, McBrooklyn puts on its Headhunting gear and scouts out a handful of Brooklyn employment opportunities.

Here's the latest batch:

- The Brooklyn Youth Chorus Academy is seeking a full-time Development and Communications Associate. Idealist

- A part time administrative assistant is needed at a television and event planning company in Williamsburg. This expires 3/10 (Tuesday). Craigslist

- The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation needs a Project Manager/Construction Manager to manage the construction of seven new buildings, reconstruction of deepwater bulkhead, facade and roof restoration and more. Brooklyn Navy Yard

- Lucky Brand Jeans is looking for part-time supervisors. Hotjobs

- The Working Families Party is hiring campaign staff. Craigslist

- BRIC Arts|Media|Bklyn is searching for an Associate Television Producer. Craigslist

- Brooklyn Law School needs a Director of Administrative Computing. Dice

- Brooklyn Hospital is looking for a part-timer in the gift shop. Career Builder

- A Mediterranean restaurant in Williamsburg seeks a bartender. Craigslist

- The Prospect Park Alliance is looking for a Boat Captain to pilot and perform tours on the electric boat Independence. Craigslist

- AIG needs a legal secretary to cope with correspondence, motions, appeals, commissions and subpoenas. Coastal Jobs They also need an Accountant III. Coastal Jobs

- Hispanic Family Services has openings for part-time teaching artists who focus on any of the following: music, theater, teaching artist, dance, yoga and martial arts. Craigslist

- The Brooklyn Generation School seeks a Communications Associate. Idealist

- Best Buy is looking to hire a "personal shopping assistant."Best Buy They also need a "business professional." Here And a supervisor. Here

- Dynamic Advertising is looking for a junior graphic designer. Craigslist

- A gourmet market seeks all kinds of help, from shift managers to deli clerks. Craigslist

- A building near Atlantic/Pacific terminal needs a doorman. Pays $12/ hr. Craigslist

- Work full time for Greenpeace, pays $12-$13 per hour. Craigslist They also need a Senior City Coordinator. Craigslist

- Writer needed to create high quality web site, email newsletter, and other electronic format copy. (One full-time and one part-timer needed.) Craigslist

Photo by MikeColvin82, Creative Commons license.


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