BROOKLYN WEATHER: What’s it gonna do today?  Check here for Brooklyn weather.

CITY NEWS: SUBWAY SERVICE RESUMES AFTER TRACK FIRE IN BROOKLYN. A fire at the Atlantic Avenue Station disrupted the morning rush hour. At 11:00 on Tuesday – the 2,3,4,5 lines seem to be running.

_Two polls show that Ferrer is leading in mayoral race against Bloomberg.

_FDNY to implement new procedures for safety ropes. This comes after a fatal fire in January in which two firefighters were killed and four others were seriously injured when they jumped out a fourth story window.

_Bobby Short, classy and cosmopolitan jazz singer and pianist, who frequently graced the keys of the Cafe Carlyle died of Leukemia yesterday.

_Transportation Altenatives, an advocacy group for New Yorkers, gives the city passing if not great grades for its performance as a city hospitable to bikers.

_212, the area code with so much cache, will soon be available on cell phones. But who cares? 718 is way cooler.

_On Saturday, activists protested the Iraq
War on its second anniversary on the streets of New York and Brooklyn.
Three men and five women were arrested in front of a military recruiting station at 41 Flatbush Avenue. Read all about at Brooklyn Bomb Shelter. Tens of thousands protest across Europe.

_Report says one-third of city’s fourth graders are in danger of failing. Read all about it at NY1

_NYPD named nation’s best dressed police force. Read all about it at NY1

_New York’s favorite hawks, Pale Male and Lola, are expecting at least two little hawks.

 BROOKLYN BEAT:  A sanitation worker was shot while working on a Brooklyn Street. He was wounded by a richocheting bullet during an argument with a gun between two men on the street. Another man was wounded as well.

_A student at Brooklyn’s New Utrecht High School was shot by a gun that went off in his book bag during an English class.

_Mayor Mike Bloomberg joined marchers at the Brooklyn Irish American parade in the rain.

_Coney Island’s Astroland opened on Sunday, two weeks earlier than
usual. Visitors will arrive from the newly renovated Stillwell Avenue
train station. Coney Island draws more than a million visitors per
day in nice weather.

_More than a 130 new buildings are being planned in Williamsburg and
Greenpoint, as well as large-scale development on the waterfront.

_Over 2500 runners ran the Brooklyn Half-Marathon from the world-famous
Coney Island boarwalk to the Nevermeade in Prospect Park. Ivan
Marionda, age 29, from New York City,  won the race in 1:10:37. THe top
female runner was Michelle Bleakley, age 37, in 1:20:58. Thomas Deaver,
age 29, a wheelchair runner, finished the race in 1:41:28.

_English ex-pats love Brooklyn says the City section in the New
York Times. Mini Coopers, Fish and Chips joints and British accents are
cited as proof that there’s a British invasion of brownstone Brooklyn.
Interesting fact: the Park Slope zipcode has one of the largest numbers
of Mini Cooper owners in the country. The owner of  Curry Source, an
Indian "takeaway" in Boerum Hill, told the Times’ reporter: "Brooklyn
is America without tears."

_Barrier installed at exit ramp at the Verrazano Bridge after accident. Read all about it at NY1

_Brooklyn rapper Lil’ Kim guilty of perjury in connection with 2001 murder. Read all about it at NY1

_City is facing $10 million in lawsuits from cyclists who say their
broken bones were caused by injuries caused by the bumps on the
Williamsburg Bridge. City officials are taking a closer look at this
problem. Read all about it at NY1

_ Marty Markowitz writes in response
to a recent New Yorker cover: "Marcellus Hall’s illusletters tration  of Adam and Eve
being cast out of Manhattan by the hand of God is to be commended for
its prominent placement of the Brooklyn Bridge, the world’s most
beautiful. I am concerned, however, that my copy of the issue may have
been missing a second panel, in which the couple realize that what
awaits them on the other side of the bridge is not a dark cloud of doom
but the promised land itself. High rents might push some residents out
of Manhattan, but we Brooklynites welcome these emigres with open arms
to our better quality of life, our unrivalled diversity, and maybe even
a nice brownstone. Just as Saul Steinberg’s famous westward view from
Ninth Avenue exaggerated Manhattanites’ perspective in 1976, your East
River scene in 2005 misleads by rendering gloom where  there should be
a glow; crossing the bridge is actually a blessing in disguise.
Besides, what better than the hand of God to direct you toward the most
divine bagels and lox?"

_From an article called, "School Auction as Economic
Indicator," in today’s New York Times: "The Berkeley Carroll School in
Brooklyn combines the groovy independent film vibe –the "Sopranos"
star Steve Muscemi offered a tour of the set – with local color. One
family paid $4,000 to have lunch with Marty Markowitz at Bamonte’s in
Williamsburg. "The place is quintessential Brooklyn," said Henry
Trevor, an assistant head of school." At Packer, someone paid $100. for
a gift certificate to a company "dedicated to the spreading of sexual
enlightenment throught the promulgation of chosen playthings."

IT’S TUESDAY: At the Brooklyn Botanic Garden tonight a workshop in informal flower
arrangements. Learn how to arrange flowers in interesting containers
found around the house. 6 p.m. at the Garden.

"Play Without Words," a dance theater  piece by Matthew Bourne at BAM. Tonight through Saturday. 8 p.m.

WORTH TAKING A LOOK:  The SECOND GRADE
ART SHOW at Starbucks. Seventh Avenue between 1st and Garfield Place.
The children’s Romare Bearden-esque cityscape collages will be up all
month. 

THIS SOUNDS COOL: Purim Festival at the Brookyn Lyceum. Sunday March 27th. Music by Golem and Jonathan Bayer. (see hand-picked below).

Catpathia Jenkins and Park Slope resident Louis Rosen perform their
song-cycle based on the work of Maya Angelou at Joe’s Pub. March 27th.
6 pm.

_From th New York Times: "Sears Beverley Road, an Art Deco cathedral of commerce christened by
the soon-to-be-first-lady Eleanor Roosevelt in 1932, has seen better
days. The Macy’s-size display windows that faced Bedford Avenue and
Beverley Road have long since been cemented over. The Munchbox is not
exactly a beauty spot, either. The plants in gold hangers are plastic,
the fluorescent lighting somehow both harsh and dim, the feeling of
windowlessness palpable. But where else in this land can you dive
into a generous plate of allspice-laced snapper beneath corporate-morale-building signs urging the meeting of sales quotas
("Can You Bring Home the Gold?") and framed letters from satisfied
vacuum-cleaner customers?  And on the PA system: ‘Attention
all customers, attention all Sears associates. Our Sears cafeteria is now open for
lunch. We have boneless stewed snapper fish, stewed chicken, callaloo
and saltfish, a delicious homemade cowfoot soup.’ The Sears cafeteria is open to the public.

<>
<>

HERE/SAY:

"When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.
Here was a machine of precision and balance for the convenience of
man.  And (unlike subsequent inventions for man’s convenience) the more
he used it, the fitter his body became.  Here, for once, was a product
of man’s brain that was entirely beneficial to those who used it, and
of no harm or irritation to others.  Progress should have stopped when
man invented the bicycle." Elizabeth West, Hovel in the Hills

CITY NEWS: On Saturday, activists protested the Iraq
War on its second anniversary on the streets of New York and Brooklyn.
Three men and five women were arrested in front of a military recruiting station at 41 Flatbush Avenue. Read all about at Brooklyn Bomb Shelter. Tens of thousands protest across Europe

_212, the area code with so much cache, will soon be available on cell phones. But who cares? 718 is way cooler.

_Report says one-third of city’s fourth graders are in danger of failing. Read all about it at NY1

_NYPD named nation’s best dressed police force. Read all about it at NY1

_New York’s favorite hawks, Pale Male and Lola, are expecting at least two little hawks.

 BROOKLYN BEAT:
Mayor Mike Bloomberg joined marchers at the Brooklyn Irish American parade in the rain.

_Coney Island’s Astroland opened on Sunday, two weeks earlier than usual. Visitors will arrive from the newly renovated Stillwell Avenue train station. Coney Island can draw more than a million visitors per day in nice weather.

_More than a 130 new buildings are being planned in Williamsburg and Greenpoint, as well as large-scale development on the waterfront.

_Over 2500 runners ran the Brooklyn Half-Marathon from the world-famous
Coney Island boarwalk to the Nevermeade in Prospect Park. Ivan
Marionda, age 29, from New York City,  won the race in 1:10:37. THe top
female runner was Michelle Bleakley, age 37, in 1:20:58. Thomas Deaver,
age 29, a wheelchair runner, finished the race in 1:41:28.

_English ex-pats love Brooklyn says today’s City section in the New
York Times. Mini Coopers, Fish and Chips joints and British accents are
cited as proof that there’s a British invasion of brownstone Brooklyn.
Interesting fact: the Park Slope zipcode has one of the largest numbers
of Mini Cooper owners in the country. The owner of  Curry Source, an
Indian "takeaway" in Boerum Hill, told the Times’ reporter: "Brooklyn
is America without tears."

_Barrier installed at exit ramp at the Verrazano Bridge after accident. Read all about it at NY1

_Brooklyn rapper Lil’ Kim guilty of perjury in connection with 2001 murder. Read all about it at NY1

_City is facing $10 million in lawsuits from cyclists who say their
broken bones were caused by injuries caused by the bumps on the
Williamsburg Bridge. City officials are taking a closer look at this
problem. Read all about it at NY1

_ Marty Markowitz, the
president of the borough of Brooklyn, got his two cents into the New
Yorker this week. On the letters to the editor page he writes in response
to a recent cover: "Marcellus Hall’s illusletters tration  of Adam and Eve
being cast out of Manhattan by the hand of God is to be commended for
its prominent placement of the Brooklyn Bridge, the world’s most
beautiful. I am concerned, however, that my copy of the issue may have
been missing a second panel, in which the couple realize that what
awaits them on the other side of the bridge is not a dark cloud of doom
but the promised land itself. High rents might push some residents out
of Manhattan, but we Brooklynites welcome these emigres with open arms
to our better quality of life, our unrivalled diversity, and maybe even
a nice brownstone. Just as Saul Steinberg’s famous westward view from
Ninth Avenue exaggerated Manhattanites’ perspective in 1976, your East
River scene in 2005 misleads by rendering gloom where  there should be
a glow; crossing the bridge is actually a blessing in disguise.
Besides, what better than the hand of God to direct you toward the most
divine bagels and lox?"

_From an article called, "School Auction as Economic
Indicator," in today’s New York Times: "The Berkeley Carroll School in
Brooklyn combines the groovy independent film vibe –the "Sopranos"
star Steve Muscemi offered a tour of the set – with local color. One
family paid $4,000 to have lunch with Marty Markowitz at Bamonte’s in
Williamsburg. "The place is quintessential Brooklyn," said Henry
Trevor, an assistant head of school." At Packer, someone paid $100. for
a gift certificate to a company "dedicated to the spreading of sexual
enlightenment throught the promulgation of chosen playthings."

IT’S MONDAY: Learn how to better communicate with your child at this parenting workshop at Families First.  250 Baltic Street.  718-237-1862

_At Barbes" "Native Land," shown as part of their Traveling Cinema Series. 376 Ninth Street. 7 p.m. Live music at 9 p.m.

<>

WORTH TAKING A LOOK:  The SECOND GRADE
ART SHOW at Starbucks. Seventh Avenue between 1st and Garfield Place.
The children’s Romare Bearden-esque cityscape collages will be up all
month.

THIS SOUNDS COOL: Purim Festival at the Brookyn Lyceum. Sunday March 27th. Music by Golem and Jonathan Bayer. (see hand-picked below).

Catpathia Jenkins and Park Slope resident Louis Rosen perform their song-cycle based on the work of Maya Angelou at Joe’s Pub. March 27th. 6 pm.

HERE/SAY: "Brooklyn is America without tears." – the owner of Curry Source, an Indian takeaway in Boerum Hill.

BROOKLYN WEATHER: What’s it gonna do today?  Check here for Brooklyn weather.

CITY NEWS: Activists protested the Iraq War on its second anniversary in the streets of New York and Brooklyn. Tens of thousands protested across Europe

_212, the area code with so much cache, will soon be available on cell phones. But who cares? 718 is way cooler.

_Report says one-third of city’s fourth graders are in danger of failing. Read all about it at NY1

_NYPD named nation’s best dressed police force. Read all about it at NY1

_New York’s favorite hawks, Pale Male and Lola, are expecting at least two little hawks.

 BROOKLYN BEAT: Over 2500 runners ran the Brooklyn Half-Marathon from the world-famous Coney Island boarwalk to the Nevermeade in Prospect Park. Ivan Marionda, age 29, from New York City,  won the race in 1:10:37. THe top female runner was Michelle Bleakley, age 37, in 1:20:58. Thomas Deaver, age 29, a wheelchair runner, finished the race in 1:41:28.

_English ex-pats love Brooklyn says today’s City section in the New York Times. Mini Coopers, Fish and Chips joints and British accents are cited as proof that there’s a British invasion of brownstone Brooklyn.  Intersting fact: the Park Slope zipcode has one of the largest numbers of Mini Cooper owners in the country. The owner of  Curry Source, an Indian "takeaway" in Boerum Hill, told the Times’ reporter: "Brooklyn is America without tears."

_Barrier installed at exit ramp at the Verrazano Bridge after accident. Read all about it at NY1

_Brooklyn rapper Lil’ Kim guilty of perjury in connection with 2001 murder. Read all about it at NY1

_City is facing $10 million in lawsuits from cyclists who say their
broken bones were caused by injuries caused by the bumps on the
Williamsburg Bridge. City officials are taking a closer look at this
problem. Read all about it at NY1

_ Marty Markowitz, the
president of the borough of Brooklyn, got his two cents into the New
Yorker this week. On the letters to the editor page he writes in response
to a recent cover: "Marcellus Hall’s illusletters tration  of Adam and Eve
being cast out of Manhattan by the hand of God is to be commended for
its prominent placement of the Brooklyn Bridge, the world’s most
beautiful. I am concerned, however, that my copy of the issue may have
been missing a second panel, in which the couple realize that what
awaits them on the other side of the bridge is not a dark cloud of doom
but the promised land itself. High rents might push some residents out
of Manhattan, but we Brooklynites welcome these emigres with open arms
to our better quality of life, our unrivalled diversity, and maybe even
a nice brownstone. Just as Saul Steinberg’s famous westward view from
Ninth Avenue exaggerated Manhattanites’ perspective in 1976, your East
River scene in 2005 misleads by rendering gloom where  there should be
a glow; crossing the bridge is actually a blessing in disguise.
Besides, what better than the hand of God to direct you toward the most
divine bagels and lox?"

_From an article called, "School Auction as Economic
Indicator," in today’s New York Times: "The Berkeley Carroll School in
Brooklyn combines the groovy independent film vibe –the "Sopranos"
star Steve Muscemi offered a tour of the set – with local color. One
family paid $4,000 to have lunch with Marty Markowitz at Bamonte’s in
Williamsburg. "The place is quintessential Brooklyn," said Henry
Trevor, an assistant head of school." At Packer, someone paid $100. for
a gift certificate to a company "dedicated to the spreading of sexual
enlightenment throught the promulgation of chosen playthings."

_The MTA threatens to
sue the owner of F Line Bagels, a small corner shop on Smith and Ninth
Street underneath the F-train, if he doesn’t remove all subway
decoration in the shop. Faried Assad, the owner, spent over $1000.
on the MTA’s own website buying subway memorabelia to decorate the
store. Assad received a Cease and Desist letter from the MTA that
informed him that the F-train logo is a registered trademark. The
letter gave him until March 16th to respond. 

IT’S SUNDAY: BROOKLYN IRISH AMERICAN PARADE is Sunday starts at 1 p.m. at PPW and
15th Street. They march down 15th Street to 7th Avenue and down 7th to Union Street and back over to
PPW. Expect traffice problems as Seventh Avenue is closed to cars and buses are re-routed. 

_Composer and Park Slope resident, Louis Rosen and vocalist Capathia
Jenkins perform a SONG CYCLE based on the work of Maya Angelou. Tonight at Joe’s Pub at 6 p.m. (see Hand-Picked below).

At the Brooklyn Academy of Music, "Play Without Words" a DANCE-THEATER PIECE by Matthew Bourne. Starts March 15th through the

_THE WOOSTER GROUP performs House/Lights at Art at St. Anns.

WORTH TAKING A LOOK:  The SECOND GRADE
ART SHOW at Starbucks. Seventh Avenue between 1st and Garfield Place.
The children’s Romare Bearden-esque cityscape collages will be up all
month.

THIS SOUNDS COOL: Purim Festival at the Brookyn Lyceum. Sunday March 27th. Music by Golem and Jonathan Bayer. (see hand-picked below).

HERE/SAY: "Much as I like owning a Rolls-Royce, I could do
without it. What I could not do without is a typewriter, a supply of
yellow second sheets and the time to put them to good use." John O’Hara

BROOKLYN WEATHER: What’s it gonna do today?  Check here for Brooklyn weather.

CITY NEWS: Report says one-third of city’s fourth graders are in danger of failing. Read all about it at NY1

_NYPD named nation’s best dressed police force. Read all about it at NY1

_New York’s favorite hawks, Pale Male and Lola, are expecting at least two little hawks.

 BROOKLYN BEAT: Barrier installed at exit ramp at the Verrazano Bridge after accident. Read all about it at NY1

<>

_Brooklyn rapper Lil’ Kim guilty of perjury in connection with 2001 murder. Read all about it at NY1

_City is facing $10 million in lawsuits from cyclists who say their
broken bones were caused by injuries caused by the bumps on the
Williamsburg Bridge. City officials are taking a closer look at this
problem. Read all about it at NY1

_ Markowitz, the
president of the borough of Brooklyn, got his two cents into the New
Yorker this week. On letters to the editor page he writes in response
to a recent cover: "Marcellus Hall’s illustration  of Adam and Eve
being cast out of Manhattan by the hand of God is to be commended for
its prominent placement of the Brooklyn Bridge, the world’s most
beautiful. I am concerned, however, that my copy of the issue may have
been missing a second panel, in which the couple realize that what
awaits them on the other side of the bridge is not a dark cloud of doom
but the promised land itself. High rents might push some residents out
of Manhattan, but we Brooklynites welcome these emigres with open arms
to our better quality of life, our unrivalled diversity, and maybe even
a nice brownstone. Just as Saul Steinberg’s famous westward view from
Ninth Avenue exaggerated Manhattanites’ perspective in 1976, your East
River scene in 2005 misleads by rendering gloom where  there should be
a glow; crossing the bridge is actually a blessing in disguise.
Besides, what better than the hand of God to direct you toward the most
divine bagels and lox?"

_In an article called, "School Auction as Economic
Indicator," in today’s New York Times, "The Berkeley Carroll School in
Brooklyn combines the groovy independent film vibe –the "Sopranos"
star Steve Muscemi offered a tour of the set – with local color. One
family paid $4,000 to have lunch with Marty Markowitz at Bamonte’s in
Williamsburg. "The place is quintessential Brooklyn," said Henry
Trevor, an assistant head of school." At Packer, someone paid $100. for
a gift certificate to a company "dedicated to the spreading of sexual
enlightenment throught the promulgation of chosen playthings."

_The MTA threatens to
sue the owner of F Line Bagels, a small corner shop on Smith and Ninth
Street underneath the F-train, if he doesn’t remove all subway
decoration in the shop. Faried Assad, the owner, spent over $1000.
on the MTA’s own website buying subway memorabelia to decorate the
store. Assad received a Cease and Desist letter from the MTA that
informed him that the F-train logo is a registered trademark. The
letter gave him until March 16th to respond. 

_Brooklyn Democratic leader faces corruption charges. Read all about it at NY1

THIS WEEKEND: THE BROOKLYN HALF-MARATHON starts on the Coney Island boardwalk  at 8 a.m. Run or come cheer your friends and neighbors. Start on the Coney Island Boardwalk at West Second
Street. Head west on the boardwalk to a turnaround at 36th Street, and
then return east. Exit the boardwalk at West 10th Street and continue
east on Surf Avenue. Turn left/north onto Ocean Parkway to Prospect
Expressway to Park Circle. Enter Prospect Park at Park Circle and head
east on South Lake Drive. Continue around the northern end of the park,
returning south on West Drive. Turn left/east onto Hill Drive and
left/north onto East Drive. Turn left/west on Central Drive to the
finish.

_BROOKLYN FREE SCHOOL
OPEN HOUSE on Saturday March 19th From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the
school: 260 16th Street between 4th and 5th Avenues. Writes school
director, Alan Berger: "See first hand the only school in New York City
where students self direct their own learning and have an equal say in
running the school. brooklynfreeschool@msn.com

_Music for Aardvarks
founder, David Winestone sings ULTRA URBAN KID’S SONGS at PS 58 on
Carroll Street between Smith and Court Streets. Saturday 3/19 at 3 p.m.
$10. per person. Children under 2 free. Hear MFA classics like: "City
Kid," "Bagel," "I was Walking with my Mom Down Avenue A."

Saturday is FAMILY DAY AT THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM. Free admission and lots of fun activities for kids.

At the Brooklyn Academy of Music, "Play Without Words" a DANCE-THEATER PIECE by Matthew Bourne. Starts March 15th through the 29th.

SUNDAY: It’s Bagpipe Time.  BROOKLYN IRISH AMERICAN PARADE is Sunday. Parade starts at 1 p.m. at PPW and
15th Street. Marches down 15th Street to 7th Avenue and down 7th to Union Street and back over to
PPW.

_Composer and Park Slope resident, Louis Rosen and vocalist Capathia
Jenkins perform a SONG CYCLE based on the work of Maya Angelou. Tonight at Joe’s Pub at 6 p.m. (see Hand-Picked below).

WORTH TAKING A LOOK:  The SECOND GRADE
ART SHOW at Starbucks. Seventh Avenue between 1st and Garfield Place.
The children’s Romare Bearden-esque cityscape collages will be up all
month.

THIS SOUNDS COOL: Purim Festival at the Brookyn Lyceum. Sunday March 27th. Music by Golem and Jonathan Bayer. (see hand-picked below).

HERE/SAY:  "Begin conservatively, and don’t waste energy
weaving around others.  Your "chip time" will reflect when you cross
the start line – not when the gun goes off.  GO a few seconds slower
than projected race pace for the first 4-5 miles, gradually picking it
up if you feel good. Hold that pace until mile 10.  Once you’re in the
park, pace according to how you feel.  Don’t fall into the trap of
going out too fast.  I fully expect that you’ll feel relaxed and the
pace will seem easy for the first part of the race, but if you pick it
up too soon, you’ll pay for it later." Jon Cane, Coach of the Jack Rabbit Half-Marathon group.

BROOKLYN WEATHER: What’s it gonna do today?  Check here for Brooklyn weather.

CITY NEWS: NYPD named nation’s best dressed police force.

_New York’s favorite hawks, Pale Male and Lola, are expecting at least two little hawks.

_City is revamping its high
school math curriculum, which will mean big changes in the way that
math is taught in New York City high schools. Read all about it at NY1

_Some public schools to hand out physical fitness report cards in an effort to stem childhood obesity. Read all about it at NY1

 _Tolls rise on all MTA bridges and tunnels: tolls on the Triborough,
Whitestone, the Throgs Neck and the Queen’s  Mid-town and Brooklyn
Battery Tunnels have gone up 50 cents from $4.0 to $4.50. Read all about it at NY1 

BROOKLYN BEAT: Brooklyn rapper L’l Kim guilty of perjury in connection with 2001 murder. Read all about it at NY1

_City is facing $10 million in lawsuits from cyclists who say their
broken bones were caused by injuries caused by the bumps on the
Williamsburg Bridge. City officials are taking a closer look at this
problem. Read all about it at NY1

_ Markowitz, the
president of the borough of Brooklyn, got his two cents into the New
Yorker this week. On letters to the editor page he writes in response
to a recent cover: "Marcellus Hall’s illustration  of Adam and Eve
being cast out of Manhattan by the hand of God is to be commended for
its prominent placement of the Brooklyn Bridge, the world’s most
beautiful. I am concerned, however, that my copy of the issue may have
been missing a second panel, in which the couple realize that what
awaits them on the other side of the bridge is not a dark cloud of doom
but the promised land itself. High rents might push some residents out
of Manhattan, but we Brooklynites welcome these emigres with open arms
to our better quality of life, our unrivalled diversity, and maybe even
a nice brownstone. Just as Saul Steinberg’s famous westward view from
Ninth Avenue exaggerated Manhattanites’ perspective in 1976, your East
River scene in 2005 misleads by rendering gloom where  there should be
a glow; crossing the bridge is actually a blessing in disguise.
Besides, what better than the hand of God to direct you toward the most
divine bagels and lox?"

_In an article called, "School Auction as Economic
Indicator," in today’s New York Times, "The Berkeley Carroll School in
Brooklyn combines the groovy independent film vibe –the "Sopranos"
star Steve Muscemi offered a tour of the set – with local color. One
family paid $4,000 to have lunch with Marty Markowitz at Bamonte’s in
Williamsburg. "The place is quintessential Brooklyn," said Henry
Trevor, an assistant head of school." At Pakcer, someone paid $100. for
a gift certificate to a company "dedicated to the spreading of sexual
enlightenment throught the promulgation of chosen playthings."

_Bruce Ratner, the developer trying to bring the New Jersey Nets, a
stadium, and office complex to the Atlantic Yards made a $1 million
deposit at Carver Federal Savings Bank in the Atlantic Terminal Retail
Mall. The bank is the largest bank owned by Carribbean and African
Americans.

_The MTA threatens to
sue the owner of F Line Bagels, a small corner shop on Smith and Ninth
Street underneath the F-train, if he doesn’t remove all subway
decoration in the shop. Faried Assad, the owner, spent over $1000.
on the MTA’s own website buying subway memorabelia to decorate the
store. Assad received a Cease and Desist letter from the MTA that
informed him that the F-train logo is a registered trademark. The
letter gave him until March 16th to respond. 

_Brooklyn Democratic leader faces corruption charges. Read all about it at NY1

IT’S FRIDAY: At the Brooklyn Academy of Music, "Play Without Words" a DANCE-THEATER PIECE by Matthew Bourne. Starts March 15th through the 29th.

JAZZY CHANTEUSE,
Jezra Kaye, will be performing at The (Very) Good Coffee House at 53
Prospect Park West (the Society for Ethical Culture). She will be
performing with a band that includes: Jerome Harris on guitar and Sonny
Barbetto on accordian. Friday 3/18 at 8 p.m. 10 bucks gets you in. All
proceeds benefit the Park Slope Food Coop.

WORTH TAKING A LOOK:  The SECOND GRADE
ART SHOW at Starbucks. Seventh Avenue between 1st and Garfield Place.
The children’s Romare Bearden-esque cityscape collages will be up all
month.

THIS WEEKEND: THE BROOKLYN HALF-MARATHON starts on the Coney Island boardwalk  at 8 a.m. Run or come cheer your friends and neighbors.
Here’s the 13.1 mile course for the Brooklyn-Half: Start on the Coney Island Boardwalk at West Second
Street. Head west on the boardwalk to a turnaround at 36th Street, and
then return east. Exit the boardwalk at West 10th Street and continue
east on Surf Avenue. Turn left/north onto Ocean Parkway to Prospect
Expressway to Park Circle. Enter Prospect Park at Park Circle and head
east on South Lake Drive. Continue around the northern end of the park,
returning south on West Drive. Turn left/east onto Hill Drive and
left/north onto East Drive. Turn left/west on Central Drive to the
finish.

_BROOKLYN FREE SCHOOL
OPEN HOUSE on Saturday March 19th From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the
school: 260 16th Street between 4th and 5th Avenues. Writes school
director, Alan Berger: "See first hand the only school in New York City
where students self direct their own learning and have an equal say in
running the school. brooklynfreeschool@msn.com

_Music for Aardvarks
founder, David Winestone sings ULTRA URBAN KID’S SONGS at PS 58 on
Carroll Street between Smith and Court Streets. Saturday 3/19 at 3 p.m.
$10. per person. Children under 2 free. Hear MFA classics like: "City
Kid," "Bagel," "I was Walking with my Mom Down Avenue A."

Saturday is FAMILY DAY AT THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM. Free admission and lots of fun activities for kids.

_It’s Bagpipe Time.  BROOKLYN IRISH AMERICAN PARADE is Sunday. Parade starts at 1 p.m. at PPW and
15th Street. Marches down 15th Street to 7th Avenue and down 7th to Union Street and back over to
PPW.

_Composer and Park Slope resident, Louis Rosen and vocalist Capathia
Jenkins perform a SONG CYCLE based on the work of Maya Angelou. This
Sunday at Joe’s Pub at 6 p.m. (see Hand-Picked below).

THIS SOUNDS COOL: Purim Festival at the Brookyn Lyceum. Sunday March 27th. Music by Golem and Jonathan Bayer. (see hand-picked below).

HERE/SAY: