Monday, October 31, 2016

Harley Quinn Top Trending Halloween Costume in NYC, but in Missoula, It's "Pig"

Street art. Photo: MK Metz
Google's Freightgeist trends analysis app confirms what astute Halloween costume prognosticators had predicted: Batman super-villainess Harley Quinn is going to be EVERYWHERE during tonight's Halloween mayhem.

This is true not only in New York City but nationwide, where Harley Quinn rules as the number one costume search on Google. This includes cities as diverse as Miami, Richmond, El Paso and Salt Lake City.

In New York City, the second top-trending costume is the all-inclusive "Superhero." In third place is the "Joker," then "Wonder Woman" and "Witch."

While most of the country is dressing up like superheros or villains,  witches, clowns or cartoon characters like Minnie Mouse (oddly popular), some parts of these United States have some pretty quirky top costumes.

The weirdest state seems to be Montana. For example, the number one costume around Missoula, Montana is "Pig."

What the hell is going on up there?

In Great Falls, Montana, the top costume is "Flamingo."

Have those people ever even seen a flamingo?

Here's one that really has us stumped. The number one costume in Helena, Montana is "Gumball Machine."

We can imagine one or even two clever folks dressing up as gumball machines over in Helena. But the top costume in the whole town? Is there an army of gumball machines getting ready to march tonight in Helena? Should we be doing something about this?

Here are a few more that just seem a bit unusual as number one costume in the whole town:

Kirksville, Missouri: "Old Lady."
Sherman, Texas: "Shark."
Jonesboro, Arkansas: "Gangster."
Utica, NY: "Dalmation."
Tallahassee, Florida: "Disco."

Check out your local Freightgeist here.


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Thursday, October 27, 2016

House of Wax Opens at Alamo Drafthouse in Downtown Brooklyn


The Brooklyn Eagle crew some fun live streaming the bizarre display of waxwork sculptures --  including death masks, medical anomalies and other oddities -- at the brand new House of Wax bar, located inside the soon-to-open Alamo Drafthouse in Downtown Brooklyn.

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Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Get Ready for 'Air Sex,' Brooklyn! Plus, F Train Troubles and More Brooklyn Briefs

- A video tribute to Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson, courtesy of his office. [YouTube]

- Air Sex -- where audience members have imaginary sex onstage -- is doing its Brooklyn show this Saturday in Williamsburg. [Brokelyn]

- A teenage girl who has been missing from her Bay Ridge home since Friday, October 1. Have you seen her? [Bensonhurst Bean]

- Brooklyn’s credit not too bad, according to NY Fed report. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- 600 women united for a group photo in Brooklyn. [Hyperallergic]

- Community opposition to proposed local F train cuts grows. [PMFA]

- Have you seen the Owl's Head Park murderer? [Bensonhurst Bean]

- What a time to be alive: Girl Scout Cookie Cereal is coming to your breakfast table. [BK Magazine]

- The right's argument about the election being rigged. [The Hill]

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Monday, October 24, 2016

King George Returns; Orthodox School Pays Off Molested Kids; Halloween Events and More Brooklyn Briefs

A lone protester, whose sign reads "Stop running from the truth," stands outside Hillary Clinton HQ in Brooklyn Heights. MK Metz
 - A gunman shot a man sitting in his car in Bed-Stuy early Saturday. [Daily News]  And in Greenpoint, a cabbie was shot at stoplight by a couple of thugs. [Daily News]

- Parades! Haunted houses! Festivals! Halloween in Brooklyn 2016. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Long-toppled statue of hated King George III to ride again, from a Brooklyn studio. [NYT]

- Off-duty city correction officer arrested for boozed-up mayhem at a Sunset Park hookah bar. [Daily News]

- Prominent Orthodox Jewish school in Brooklyn to pay $2.1M to two students who charged teacher Rabbi Joel Kolko of sexually assaulting them. [NY Post]

- The white powder found in an envelope at Hillary HQ in Brooklyn Heights turned out to be harmless. [NBC]

- Inside of 11 of Brooklyn's top recording studios. [Brooklyn Magazine]

- Your iPhone's "secret" undo button. [Slate]

Dozens of law firms have joined this offer.


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Friday, October 21, 2016

Pumpkin Ride From Hell; Cheap Things To Do This Weekend; Pier 3; and More Brooklyn Briefs


- The 20 best cheap things to do in Brooklyn this weekend, dogs in wigs edition. [Brokelyn]

- Brooklyn's New Lab is an inventor's paradise. [WSJ]

- Officials: Pier 3 groundbreaking a milestone for Brooklyn Bridge Park. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Woman charged in Chinese blessing scam in Brooklyn. [Washington Times]

- Brooklyn's homeless students crisis could result in the shake-up of DOE staffers working to help them. [DNAinfo]

- Brooklyn's favorite Halloween display invites you on a pumpkin ride from Hell. [Gothamist]

- Brooklyn’s Congregation Beth Elohim decided to do something a little different for Sukkot. [Tablet]

- Oops: Guy who stole guy's cell phone at Brooklyn Bridge Park just uploaded his selfie to iCloud. [Patch]

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Two Last-Chance Oktoberfest Celebrations in Brooklyn Tonight and Tomorrow

Courtesy Brooklyn Brewery
 Oktoberfest usually takes place earlier in the month of October. Luckily for Brooklynites, however, two last-chance fests are taking place today (Friday) and Saturday. They are:

* The Brooklyn Historical Society is holding an Oktoberfest party on Friday, October 21st between 5:00 and 9:00 pm. The event promises “an evening of beer appreciation with a home brewing workshop, beer tastings, a Beauty and the Beer film screening, and more!” Brooklyn Heights.  More info at Historical Society.

* Blocktoberfest presented by NYC Brewers Guild: Come out and meet your favorite New York City breweries over a beer at the annual fall fundraiser in support of New York City Beer Week. This event is coming to Bushwick, taking over the backyard at craft beer spot, The Well, on Saturday, Oct. 22. More Blocktoberfest details here.


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Monday, October 17, 2016

Brooklyn School Lockdown; Karate Family Rescues Woman; Kanye West Tour and More Brooklyn Briefs

- NYPD Detectives would like to speak with anyone with info on the 1993 homicide of a baby in Brooklyn. [NYPD News]

- Gunshots prompt brief lock-down at nearby Brooklyn school. [Daily News]

- Downtown Brooklyn construction update: Century 21's City Point debut. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- This Brooklyn coffee shop charges by the minute rather than by the cup. [Business Insider]

- Karate teaching father and stepson rescue woman being beaten in Bushwick. [CBS]

- Kanye West announces tour, New Year's Eve at Barclays Center in Brooklyn included. [Brooklyn Vegan]

- Alamo Drafthouse Brooklyn will open October 28. [indiewire]

- See the hidden murals inside Brooklyn's Black Lady Theater. [Gothamist]


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Replacing Ken Thompson; Brooklyn Bridge Climb; and More Brooklyn Briefs


- Brooklyn community fears DA Ken Thompson’s replacement won’t continue his mission to overturn wrongful convictions. [Daily News]

- Hundreds of mourners gathered at the Christian Cultural Center in East New York on Saturday to remember the legacy of Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson. [Gothamist]

- Brooklyn bars give the finger to pharma schmuck Martin Shkreli. [BHB]

- Why roughly 40 people climbed to the top of the Brooklyn Bridge Saturday. [Gothamist]

- The Japanese ramen chain Ichiran, famous for serving only one kind of soup (pork-bone-broth tonkotsu) is opening in Williamsburg. [Grub Street]

- The Northeast is having a mass earthquake drill on Oct. 20. [Shakeout]

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Friday, October 14, 2016

Neighborhood Classics Concert – Rising Stars from the Mannes School of Music on Monday, October 24th

Inspire your young musicians with this family friendly 1-hour concert. Hosted by Simone Dinnerstein, Mannes graduate students, pianists Anne Ziegler and Sarah Rasmussen, composer Mengqi Lai, violinist Yaeeun Shin, and cellists Benjamin Fried and Yena Seo will perform classical, contemporary, Celtic and Klezmer selections.

P.S. 321, 180 7th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
Monday, October 24th at 7:00 p.m
Tickets are $15 and proceeds benefit the PS 321 PTA.

Not recommended for children under 6.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/neighborhood-classics-mannes-school-of-music-tickets-28301269860


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Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Schedule of Events Commemorating Brooklyn DA Ken Thompson

Several events commemorating departed Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson are scheduled for the coming days.They are:

- Special community send-off hosted by Dee Bailey of Sanders Studios and Friends
Tuesday, October 13th at 5:00 PM 
Sanders Studios NYC, 521-525 Waverly Ave in Brooklyn
 
- Wake
Friday, October 14th from 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Christian Cultural Center, 12020 Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn

- Homegoing service
Saturday, October 15th, from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Christian Cultural Center, 12020 Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn.


Courtesy of Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo, who says of Thompson:

"To acknowledge the loss of this incredible man is immensely saddening, but let us be uplifted by the legacy he leaves behind. As the first African-American to be elected as Brooklyn's District Attorney, a husband, a son, a father of two, a brother, and a fighter, he was an incredible inspiration to many, including myself. Ken has left behind an extraordinary legacy and has truly raised the bar for District Attorneys across this nation."

Thompson and Cumbo, courtesy of CM Cumbo

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Brooklyn Day Care Shut Down After Wiffle Bat Incident

 NBC NY reports that a Brooklyn day care (Bethel Daycare) has been shut down after a worker was caught on video "hitting children with a wiffle ball bat."

Health officials and children's services officials began investigating after receiving a complaint from a staff member, NBC says.

Perhaps the video on the news site does not show the hitting in question. Its quality is poor, and you need to expand it to full size to see anything at all. Still, what this video looks like to us is more like tapping and less like hitting. Anyone see any abuse here?

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Officials Seek Answers After Construction Accident Kills One in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn

Photo by MK Metz
Police, fire and DOB officials gathered at at the site of a hotel going up in Boerum Hill at 61 Bond St. after a construction worker was killed in a work site accident Tuesday afternoon.

A 13-story "lifestyle" hotel is going up at the site, not far from Brooklyn Fare.

 More details here.


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BP Banners Come Down at Brooklyn Borough Hall

Photos by MK Metz
The names and photos of the Borough President and Deputy Borough President which have been hanging from  Brooklyn Borough Hall were finally taken down the other day.


In case you didn't remember, this is what they looked like in their glory. Perhaps they'll be back!


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Tuesday, October 11, 2016

The Thing with Feathers, On a NYC Wall

Photo by MK Metz
“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all ..."

From "Hope Is the Thing with Feathers" by Emily Dickenson


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Thursday, October 6, 2016

Hearing On Placement of Citi Bike Docking Stations in Brownstone Brooklyn

Photo: MK Metz
Do you live in Community Board 6 in Brooklyn? (Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Columbia Waterfront, Gowanus, Park Slope and Red Hook.)

 Have something to say about the placement or size of CitiBike docking stations? Here's your chance to comment. CB6 sent this notice:

IN THE MATTER OF the expansion of New York City’s bike share program, CitiBike, into the Brooklyn Community Board 6 district, the Community Board’s Transportation/Public Safety Committee will conduct a Public Hearing to gather public comment on the deployment of the bicycle docking stations, and any other aspect of the bike share program, for the primary purpose of reviewing and evaluating the density, location, placement, and size of the district’s docking stations with the Department of Transportation.

DATE: Thursday, October 20, 2016
TIME: 6:30 pm
PLACE: NYPD/78th Police Precinct
65 6th Avenue, 4th floor
(between Dean/Bergen Streets)
Brooklyn, NY 11217

Members of the public will have the opportunity to testify up to 3 minutes. Speakers must sign-in at the meeting to testify. There is no pre-registration. Speakers may not transfer time to other speakers. Written comment may also be emailed to the district office at info@BrooklynCB6.org or mailed to the address below by 5:00pm on October 20th.

250 Baltic Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201-6401


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Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Where to Drop Off Supplies for Haitian Hurricane Matthew Victims in Brooklyn

Council Member Jumaane D. Williams (D-Brooklyn), Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte and District Leader for the 42nd Assembly District, Josue Pierre, released the following statement in regards to Hurricane Matthew that made land fall in Haiti Tuesday morning.

The hurricane, which has been downgraded from a Category 4 storm, to a Category 3, is making its way to the Bahamas and Florida.

STATEMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS

"We offer our deepest prayers and sympathy to the victims and all those affected by Hurricane Matthew, particularly in Haiti, which was one of the hardest hit locations. We are working closely with local Haitian organizations to identify needs and provide support to those impacted by the hurricane.

"Those wishing to donate items can drop off supplies at the following locations:

Flatbush-YMCA
1401 Flatbush
Brooklyn, NY 11210

The Multicultural Bridge Project
1894 Flatbush Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11210

Haitian Family Resource Center
1783 Flatbush Avenue
Brooklyn, NY, 11210

"For those with family and friends in Haiti, a hurricane relief / evacuation center has been opened at HAC-Haiti's community center in Croix De Bouquets. The contact information is listed below:

HAC-Haiti Community Center
#64 Rue Double Harvest
Croix De Bouquets, Haiti

CONTACT:
Samuel Darguin
HAC-Haiti Country Director
Info@hac-haiti.org/Info@hacus.org
509.360.94056/ 509.468.21875/509.310.19819

"As Haiti, and rest of the Caribbean including Jamaica, the Bahamas and Cuba, assesses the damage, and prepares to recover from the aftermath of the hurricane, our offices andCouncil District 45 and Assembly District 42 organizations stand ready to assist and provide support."


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Tuesday, October 4, 2016

'Monkey Man' Mobster to Stay Put; Coffee Liquor Drinks; the Creepy Clown Problem; and More Brooklyn Briefs

NYC officials address the intensifying creepy clown issue. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Brooklyn judge rejects ailing mobster 'Monkey Man' Filocomo's release plea, keeps him caged. [Daily News]

- Pro-Trump art show -- #DaddyWillSaveUs -- features "conservative artists and performers" from all over the country. It's coming to Williamsburg. [PaperMag]

- There's a drink called Orange is the New Black, which is coffee layered with Godiva chocolate liqueur, Grand Marnier and intricately patterned foam.You can buy it in DUMBO.  [BK Magazine]

- Police are looking for a man and a woman wanted in an assault and stabbing inside a Brooklyn subway station Sunday morning. [NBC]

- No subway service at Sutter Ave, Rutland Rd. and Junius Street stations in Brownsville for five months.  [Facebook]

- The brat pack: Germans celebrate Oktoberfest in Brooklyn Heights. [Brooklyn Paper]

- The end of an era for a Cobble Hill cornerstone. [Brooklyn Eagle]


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Protest at Atlantic Terminal Mall in Brooklyn for Tyre King


Monday night, #PeoplesMonday demonstrated in Atlantic Terminal mall and shut down Flatbush and Atlantic avenues for Tyre King, a 13-year-old boy wanted for questioning in an armed robbery in Columbus, Ohio last week who ended up fatally shot by a police officer.


The boy was thought to be running away from a police officer when he was shot, but medical evidence is not yet complete.



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