The Brooklyn Paper has the story. Here’s an excerpt:
A literature lover went rogue on Thursday, swiping tomes from the Barnes & Noble in Park Slope before struggling with a cop, breaking free and stealing and crashing a van.
Police are now throwing the book at their suspect, Jay Wilkins, who is charged with more than just lifting the books from the store, which is on Seventh Avenue near Sixth Street, at about 5 pm
The Brooklyn Paper reports that, allegedly, there was a million-dollar Adderall and OcyContin drug ring on Carroll Street in Park Slope:
Cops this week collared Pinchas Goldshtein, charging him with conspiracy and criminal sale of a controlled substance stemming from his distribution of thousands of pills that he received in the mail from two suppliers in California and distributing to New York dealers.
I just went to the Con Edison website and learned that Con Edison has restored electrical service to approximately 42,800 customers affected by the intense heat wave this week but they are still asking people to conserve. The following is from Con Edison:
• The company credits its customers for responding to requests for conservation since the heat wave began, thereby reducing the strain on the electrical system and avoiding more outages.
• The company has hundreds of extra crews and support personnel available 24/7 to respond to any service problems that may arise. The company was working to restore service to about 1,800 customers who were without power as of 9 a.m. today.
• Con Edison is distributing dry ice in Sunset Park, Brooklyn to customers affected by power interruptions. Bags of dry ice are being distributed at 60th Street and 6th Avenue. A Con Edison customer outreach van is at this location. Near that location, company crews are working to restore electrical power to residents from 5th Avenue to 8th Avenue between 59th and 61st Streets.
• Con Edison urges customers to report power interruptions or service problems, as well as view service restoration information, online at www.conEd.com, or on their cell phones and PDAs. Customers can also call 1-800-75-CONED.
• If you experience a power outage:
• Turn off all light switches and appliances to prevent overloaded circuits when power is restored. Leave at least one light switch in the on position to alert you when power has been restored;
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Each time the door is opened, heat enters and speeds the thawing process;
• Have a battery-powered radio and a supply of extra batteries handy. Have flashlights available for every member of your household;• Listen to your battery-operated radio on for updates on our restoration progress and safety tips;
• Fill spare containers with water for cooking and washing.
Continue reading Power Restored to 42,800, Conservation Still Necessary
Two kids and three layer cake: A Cake Bakes in Brooklyn
Night of Riesling at Knitting Factory and seasonal farm stand at Robertas: NY Times
Brooklyn food & drink round up: Brownstoner
10 ways to beat the heat: Serious Eats
Roman pizza on the way: All About Fifth
On this very, very hot day, here’s the latest info on equipment problems and reduced voltage in parts of Brooklyn from Con Edison:
Because of problems on electrical cables supplying power to eight Brooklyn neighborhoods, Con Edison has reduced voltage by 8 percent to that area.
• The neighborhoods are Vinegar Hill, Fort Greene, Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Red Hook, Carroll Gardens, Boerum Hill and Cobble Hill.
• The affected area is bounded by the East River on the north and west, South Oxford Street and Fifth Avenue on the east, and Third Street/Fourth Street on the south. The area includes approximately 51,500 metered customers.
• Last night, the company announced voltage reduction in a number of other neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens.
• Company crews are working now to repair the problems. Con Edison has asked customers in the affected areas to turn off electrical appliances to help reduce electricity usage until equipment problems can be resolved.
• The equipment problems in the affected areas have no effect on the rest of the Con Edison system. Con Edison will provide updates to affected customers both directly and through the media as the situation warrants. The company is in constant communication with the New York City Office of Emergency Management.
Brownstoner responds to the Times’ article comparing the cost of living in the Slope with Orange, NJ. Here’s an excerpt:
New York has a reputation for being an expensive town, which of course it is. But the high housing prices and rents don’t tell the whole story. You see, New Yorkers don’t necessarily need cars. And our property taxes are pretty low. Which is why a Times story this weekend comparing the cost of living in Park Slope versus Orange, NJ found that a family of four with a household income of $170,000 could actually live more inexpensively in Brooklyn than Jersey.
Brought to you from the Feldman Family weather tower in Park Slope.
Deep in the Heart of Brooklyn ponders frying an egg on the sidewalk. Here’s what he had to say:
The Times City Room threw caution to the wind and tried to fry an egg on the sidewalk. I have to give the reporter Andy Newman credit for venturing outside on a day when only Mad Dogs, Englishmen, and the kebab and felafel carts venture out. While the experiment resulted in some lightly cooked tuna, the eggs proved less than satisfactory. Based on our extensive Google research, the Library of Congress reports that, yes, it is theoretically (damn their eyes – there is that word again) possible to cook an egg on the sidewalk, but it is unlikely that the sidewalk would get hot enough.
LoC reports: An egg needs a temperature of 158°F to become firm. In order to cook, proteins in the egg must denature (modify), then coagulate, and that won’t happen until the temperature rises enough to start and maintain the process.
The City Room was on the right track using a frying pan, since metal is a better conductor of heat than just plopping the egg on the concrete. But wo-be-tide to we New Yorkers should it ever approach that chilling temperature. But standing around trying to fry an egg at 103 degrees Fahrenheit just ain’t gonna cut it.
Once, when our kids were younger, I amused them on a long car ride home from upstate by making nachos: melting little bits of cheese on Doritos using the car cigarette lighter. Now that’s entertainment! (My Better Half was suitably unimpressed.)…
Double D Pool: a public pool at Nevins Street between Degraw and Douglas Streets in the Park Slope/Gowanus area.
Coney Island: Take the F train all the way to Stillwell Avenue
The Movies: at BAM or the Pavilion
Shop at Target at the Atlantic Mall: It’s air conditioned
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is open Tuesday–Friday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed Mondays
Brooklyn Public Library is always cool
The Daily News picked up a story from Ink Lake via Gothamist but neglected to attribute the story. Here’s an excerpt from Ink Lake about what happened:
When I wrote on Wednesday about the missing shoe on the Upper West Side, I was glad to see the story was picked up by Gothamist. That night, I got e-mail from Moshe Billet, the shoe-finder, saying the Daily News must have read my blog, because they had contacted him. I wrote back, saying that I was sure they had first seen it in Gothamist.
So the next day, I was happy, and not surprised to see the story in the News, and on their web site. But I was kind of surprised to see nothing mentioning that this was in fact, my story.
I called the News’s City Desk, and asked to be connected to Bill Hutchinson, the reporter whose byline the story ran under. I got his voice-mail, and left a message.
After a couple of hours, I hadn’t heard back from him, and was getting more and more annoyed. I called Hutchinson again. This time, he picked up…
Read the rest at Ink Lake
Oposums in Carroll Gardens: Pardon Me for Asking
Furniture Mattress closing: NY Shitty
In spite of not being able to see fireworks…: McBrooklyn
McB is back from vacation: McBrooklyn
Bike billboards: yay or nay: Sheepshead Bites
Quad crazies: Gerritsen Beach
Park Slope cheap eats: Effed in Park Slope
Those huge bikes: Clinton Hill Chill
Brought to you from the Feldman Family weather tower in Park Slope.
URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
506 AM EDT TUE JUL 6 2010
…HOT AND INCREASINGLY MORE HUMID…
.A WARM RIDGE ALOFT AND SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE MID
ATLANTIC STATES WILL KEEP HOT AND INCREASINGLY MORE HUMID
CONDITIONS ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH MID WEEK.
NYZ072>076-062315-
/O.CON.KOKX.HT.Y.0002.000000T0000Z-100707T2300Z/
NEW YORK (MANHATTAN)-BRONX-RICHMOND (STATEN ISLAND)-
KINGS (BROOKLYN)-QUEENS-
506 AM EDT TUE JUL 6 2010
…HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT WEDNESDAY…
A HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT WEDNESDAY.
THE COMBINATION OF TEMPERATURES AROUND 100 DEGREES AND GRADUALLY
INCREASING HUMIDITY LEVELS WILL PRODUCE HEAT INDEX VALUES OF
100 TO 104 DEGREES TUESDAY AFTERNOON. HIGH TEMPERATURES WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON ARE EXPECTED TO REACH IN THE MID TO UPPER 90S…WITH
HEAT INDEX VALUES OF 95 TO 99 DEGREES. OVERNIGHT LOWS WILL BE IN
THE LOWER 80S TONIGHT AND TUESDAY NIGHT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
When I was a young mom I fantasized about a house with a backyard. I believed that my children would be happier and healthier if they had outdoor space to run wild in, a garden lush with hydrangeas and home grown tomatoes, and a playroom big enough for all their toys and even a ping pong table.
Yes, a ping pong table.
I thought about this last night at my apartment building’s annual fourth of July barbecue.
As usual, Mr. Kravitz set up a make-shift serving table with boards from the basement placed artfully on top of three garbage pails covered by an orange plastic table cloth.
When Mr. Kravitz fired up the grill, neighbors brought wine, beer, and platters of meats, vegetables, and salads downstairs as if on cue and the serving table was filled with a veritable potluck feast
It was a hot night and Mr. Kravitz’s face was turning deep red as he turned an assortment of grilled lamb burgers, Hebrew National hot dogs, turkey burgers and corn on the grill.
By 7PM the front yard was jammed with an enthusiastic group of adults and children from the building and nearby buildings busily eating, drinking and talking.
I have been to so many of these barbecues. Not only have I lost count but they all blur together. The children sort of blur together, too.
In my mind’s eye, I could see a young Teen Spirit and his best friend who moved away standing by the Weber carefully wrapping graham cracker sandwiches of marshmallows and Hershey chocolate in Reynolds Wrap and tossing them into the fire.
In my mind’s eye, I could see OSFO and her best friend standing at the Weber carefully wrapping graham cracker sandwiches of marshmallows and Hershey chocolate in Reynolds Wrap and tossing them into the fire.
Last night I watched the latest generation of young children standing at the Weber carefully wrapping graham cracker sandwiches of marshmallows and Hershey chocolate in Reynolds Wrap and tossing them into the fire.
I imagined it as a black and white movie—faces and hands dissolving one to the other—symbolizing the passage of time and the continuation of childhood traditions and skills.
During the barbecue Teen Spirit and a friend stopped by. At 19, he looked tall and handsome in a red and white striped shirt and his grandfather’s wing tip shoes.
“Hey, do you want to have something to eat?” I asked Teen Spirit and his friend hopefully.
“No thanks. We just came from a barbecue and are on our way to another,” he said.
Teen Spirit and his friend disappeared into the apartment building. He has a busy and complex social schedule that takes him to other parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan. In August he will leave for college.
I felt a pang. I never gave my son a house with a backyard. This patch of concrete was his yard, his childhood yard…
From time to time I hear from Brad Lander, who is in his first months as City Councilmember for the 39th District. He even has an interesting blog. Here Brad discussing the recent passing of the NYC budget.
Yesterday, the City Council passed the $63 billion, Fiscal Year 2011 budget for New York City. Considering the difficult fiscal circumstances we are facing, and the deep cuts the Mayor had initially proposed, the final budget is much better than it might have been. We were able to substantially restore many critical services – libraries, pools and parks, firehouses, adult literacy, cultural institutions and many important social services – while keeping the City on sound fiscal footing. I am especially pleased to report that we were able to restore essential day care slots that hundreds of families in our community rely on, and that the “Double-D” pool on 3rd Avenue will remain open. In each of these cases, we heard loud-and-clear from so many of you how important these services are. Of course, the news is not all good. There are substantial cuts across-the-board – to senior centers, affordable housing, legal services, parks, and public schools – cuts that will have real and painful impact. And we will face even greater challenges next year, with larger deficits and a still-shaky economy … long-term challenges that will require hard choices about how to achieve the right balance. As we move forward, I’ll continue to remember that 89% of the nearly 2,000 people who responded to our budget survey would prefer a “fair share” plan that asks for a bit more from those with the most ability to pay, before we risk the core services and institutions that keep our city strong. Still, given the circumstances, and so much budget dysfunction elsewhere, I’m proud of what the City Council, working with the Mayor, was able to do – both of the very democratic and inclusive process (thanks to the thousands of people who contacted us), and of the strong results we achieved for our city in trying times.
As part of his job, Lander has officiated at quite a few local graduations:
Amidst the sometimes-frustrating scrum of City budget negotiations last week, I had a great counterweight that served as a profound reminder of the value of local democracy: public school graduations. I was honored to speak at several 5th & 8th grade graduations, and one kindergarten stepping-up ceremony.
My teary-eyed takeaway is this: public education is the crown jewel of local democracy.
There is simply no comparable way of living up to our core democratic values – that everyone is equal, that the future can (despite everything) be better than the past, and that by acting together as citizens, we can achieve extraordinary things.
Brought to you from the Feldman Family weather tower in Park Slope.
A message from Craig Hammerman, District Manager of Community Board 6:
Please be advised that the City’s network of cooling centers will be opening on July 5th, per their announcement below.
Try to avoid being outdoors during the hottest part of the day, remember to use sun screen and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
Following this weekend’s 4th of July celebrations, New Yorkers can expect a week of hot and humid weather. Temperatures will climb into the 90s on Sunday and will remain in the mid- to high 90s for most of the week, with heat indices in the upper 90s.
Cooling Centers: New York City cooling centers will open Monday, July 5, until further notice to help New Yorkers beat the heat. Call 311 or use the cooling center finder beginning Monday at 9 AM to find a cooling center near you.
Conserve Energy: During periods of extremely hot and humid weather, electricity use rises, which can cause power disruptions. Use air conditioners only when you’re home, and only in rooms you’re using. If you want to cool your home before you return, set a timer that turns on no more than 30 minutes before you arrive. Turn off nonessential appliances.
Health & Safety: Stay out of the sun if possible and remember to drink plenty of water. Check on neighbors who may be vulnerable to the heat.
100 abandoned houses: CasaCara
A site dedicated to bookshelves: Swiss-Miss
Lori’s bed: Design Sponge
550 sq. ft. studio in downtown Bklyn: Apartment Therapy
“All Those Who Wander…” poster freebie: Limestone Adventures
Staying cool without the AC: Reclaimed Home
Brought to you from the Feldman Family weather tower in Park Slope.
A June 28th article in Inc.com says that “Brooklyn is as much a brand as a location.” Hey, we knew that. And so did that vodka company that sponsored the Brooklyn Blogfest. But the article, How to Open a Business is quite interesting. Take a look/see.
For Alexis Miesen, Atlantic Avenue had all the makings of the quintessential Brooklyn thoroughfare that combines the charm of a small town with the pace of city life. With its colorful boutique storefronts, diverse dining options, smattering of coffee shops, and antique stores, she expected to see happy families strolling along the street sharing ice cream cones.
There was one problem: There was no ice cream anywhere around.
“It’s filled with all these fantastic bars and restaurants and shops and it just has this really great kind of energy. They have all these great amenities to the community but no great ice cream shop,” she said. “This is a gap in what other people are offering.”
Less than three years later, Miesen and her partner Jennie Dundas had opened not only an ice cream shop on Atlantic Avenue, but also had rapidly expanded the franchise to two other Brooklyn locations, feeding summertime crowds that often form lines winding out the door. Blue Marble’s organic, grass-fed dairy-based ice cream has been praised on The Martha Stewart Show, CNN, and in a bevy of New York publications.
Brooklyn has become as much a brand these days as a location. Slap the word “Brooklyn” on a piece of clothing and it’s instantly edgy, and quite likely to sell. New York City’s most populous borough remains a popular place to start a business, and Miesen and Dundas are emblematic of the grassroots, DIY entrepreneurs across the borough who’ve found a niche, and a loyal fan base that helps spread their brand along the way. (Check out Inc.com‘s slideshow on Brooklyn’s Best Entrepreneurs.)
The surge of creative energy, young artists and recent graduates is putting Brooklyn on the map not just for its booming music scene but also as competition with San Francisco to see who will lead the next Internet revolution.
Business owners say starting a venture in Brooklyn requires creativity, a careful study of neighborhoods, and a good deal of Web 2.0 savvy. We talked with several successful companies about why the county of Kings is a bubbling cauldron of entrepreneurship, and how to get in on the action.
The commercial space that used to be Zuzu’s Petals (before their fire and before they moved to bigger digs on Fifth Avenue near 6th Street) is finally going to be occupied. By Petland Petco. Used to be every vacant storefront became a real estate firm. Now it’s pet supplies.
Sign of the times, I guess.
The new Petco will be on Seventh Avenue between Union and Berkeley Place.
Honduran kids feel the excitement as thousands of marchers pass by in celebration of the anniversary of the resistance movement, which began on the day of the military coup (June 28, 2009).
I was sworn to secrecy about this but now I can spill the beans because it’s public information: Aretha Franklin will be performing at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert Series in Wingate Park (August 9) and Seaside Summer Concert Series (August 12).
It’s free. She’s awesome. You figure out how to get there.
Greenpoint photo du jour: Smile: NY Shitty
Bomb threat against mosque spurs demand for investigation: Sheepshead Bites
Power outages what to do: Gerritsen Beach
Frankie’s parents got married 63 years ago today: Pardon Me for Asking
White House chef visits Purple Yam: Ditmas Park Blog
Con Ed to BK: sweat it out: Effed in Park Slope
MTA service cuts make it a Monday from hell: Brooklyn Paper
Oral argument today in motion to reargue AY timetable case: Atlantic Yards Report
Bang, smash, off on a stretcher: BQE Watch
Fresh new look same crappy awesome blog: Brooklyn Streets
Announcements from CB6: Community Board 6
More press on Domino Sugar re-zoning: Brooklyn 11211
On day 1 of doomsday buses remain second class: Second Avenue Sagas
And that includes the Double D pool (no that is not the required bra size it’s the location of the pool between Douglas and Degraw Street on Nevins in Park Slope) which will open along with the rest of the NYC public pools. It was slated for closure but was saved at the last minute. Here’s the info from the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation website:
All 54 Parks outdoor pools open for the season on Tuesday, June 29 and remain open until Labor Day (September 6). General hours of operation are 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Indoor pools are open year-round. Check with the individual recreation centers for schedules. Please note that recreation center membership ($75 per year for adults; $10 per year for seniors; free for children and teens under the age of 18) is required for the use of our indoor pools.
Safety & Pool Rules
Water & Sun Safety— Tips for staying safe when having fun in the water and sun.
Pool Rules – Rules to know before using Parks swimming poolsSwim Programs
Learn about adult lap swimming and Parks’ other freeswimming programs for tots, children, teens, and adults. Call Parks’ Citywide Aquatics at (718) 760-6969 for more information.
Brought to you from the Feldman Family weather tower in Park Slope.
According to Gothamist some nabes in Brooklyn may be experiencing reduced voltage by 8 percent…
UPDATE 5:58 p.m.: In a press release, Con Ed says, “Because of problems on electrical equipment supplying power to several neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Con Edison has reduced voltage by 8 percent to the area… One affected area is bounded by Newtown Creek on the north, Graham Avenue and Throop Avenue on the east, Fulton Street and Pacific Street on the south and the East River on the west. The other affected area is bounded by Fifth Avenue to Prospect Park West and from Pacific Street to 23rd Street.
“Company crews are working now to repair the problems. Con Edison has asked customers in the affected area to turn off all non-essential electrical appliances to help reduce electricity usage until equipment problems can be resolved… Con Edison urges customers to call 1-800-75-CONED promptly if they are experiencing any service difficulties.”
My neighbor, Bob Goldberg, of the Famous Accordion Orchestra says this is the best band ever. Well, he’s in it. But he’s not biased. That’s him pictured on the far right. He invites you to come and see (and hear) what he’s talking about.
A Washboard Jungle Reunion Concert
(to benefit the new Dixon Place!)
with special guest Lee Feldman
Thursday, July 1 at 8pm
Dixon Place
161A Chrystie Street
(between Rivington & Delancy)
NYC, NY 10002
212.219.0736
www.dixonplace.org
$25 ($15 is tax deductible)
$75 includes priority seating and a 7pm cocktail reception
with Washboard Jungle ($65 is tax deductible)
Brought to you from the Feldman Family weather tower in Park Slope. Heat Advisory today (see below):
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY 321 AM EDT MON JUN 28 2010 ...HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS CONTINUE TODAY... .A COLD FRONT WILL SLOWLY APPROACH THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON. AHEAD OF IT...GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO PUMP A HOT AND HUMID AIRMASS INTO THE REGION. NYZ072>076-281530- /O.CON.KOKX.HT.Y.0001.100628T1500Z-100628T2300Z/ NEW YORK (MANHATTAN)-BRONX-RICHMOND (STATEN ISLAND)- KINGS (BROOKLYN)-QUEENS- 321 AM EDT MON JUN 28 2010 ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING... A HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING. CONDITIONS WILL BE EVEN MORE OPPRESSIVE TODAY THAN ON SUNDAY...AS TEMPERATURES RISING INTO THE LOWER 90S AND DEWPOINTS IN THE LOWER 70S WILL RESULT IN HEAT INDICES IN THE MID TO UPPER 90S DEGREES FROM LATE THIS MORNING INTO EARLY THIS EVENING. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A HEAT ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN HIGH HUMIDITIES ARE EXPECTED TO COMBINE WITH HOT TEMPERATURES TO MAKE IT FEEL LIKE IT IS OVER 95 DEGREES FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS... STAY IN AN AIR- CONDITIONED ROOM...STAY OUT OF THE SUN...AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.
