Public Hearing on the Disposal of Admirals Row

On Tuesday there will be a chance to have a say and listen to proposals for the future of the threatened Navy Yard Admirals Row buildings. Hosted by Lt. Col. Mike Milord of the Air National Guard, the public hearing will take place ar P.S. 307 (202 York Street @ Gold Street in DUMBO). Tuesday Dec 11, 7PM - For information call 1-703-607-2780 or view the announcement here. Scott Witter, founder and curator of Brooklyn's Other Museum of Brooklyn, is fighting to have the historically and architecturally significant buildings landmarked. Maybe you saw his publicity drive at the weekend?

Brooklyn Public Library

The Brooklyn Public Library as you see here is by Githens and Keally and was completed in 1941. However there was a 1908 design by Raymond F. Almirall for a Beaux Arts structure. A skeleton was completed before financial problems halted the project, and so the later Art Moderne design had to stick to the Almirall form. The gilded reliefs are by Carl Paul Jennewein who also has murals in the spectacular lobby of the Woolworth Building.

Hot Bird Hanging On: Atlantic Yards Destruction Update

There's a new construction update on the 'Yards over at No Land Grab. We swung past on Saturday to find the Hot Bird building on Vanderbilt has survived so far. * Demolition is complete at 465 Dean Street (block 1127, lot 54). Clean up and back fill will be completed within this 2-week period. * Demolition is complete at 814 Pacific Street (block 1129, lot 45). Clean up and back fill will be completed within this 2-week period. * Demolition is complete at 538 Vanderbilt Avenue (block 1129, lot 46). Clean up and back fill will be completed within this 2-week period. * Demolition is underway at 546 Vanderbilt Avenue (block 1129, lot 54) and will continue for the next two–three months.

Desktop Day: Christmas Yards

Mac and PC versions of the holiday spirit down on the Atlantic Yards footprint.

Ratner's Christmas Turn-On

Bruce Ratner (above left): Love child of Dick Cheney + Al D'Amato? (With a little bit of Norman Tebbit?) Bruce Ratner and his helpers (including Marty Markowitz, above right) were at Metrotech last night for the annual lighting ceremony.

Brooklyn on Film, 1899-2007: Free Screening at the BHS

The Brooklyn Historical Society are putting on a free screening tomorrow (Thursday) night at 7pm. It sounds excellent: "Films from the earliest days of cinematic technology, including the Edison Studios motion picture records of Brooklyn in the 1890s, and Sarah Bernhardt addressing a crowd in Prospect Park in 1917, will be shown. The screening will also include short documentaries about Brooklyn’s diverse neighborhoods and people. One of which, Brooklyn: Among the Ruins directed by Suzanne Wasserman, introduces audiences to Brooklyn born and bred Paul Kronenberg. Paul is a 60 year-old subway buff who built a life-size replica of a 1930s motorman's subway cab in his tiny bedroom in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn."

JC Park Slope

Sign-a-Rama Autographica

Some good examples taken along Stillwell Avenue, Coney Island. I'd like to think Autographica will become a regular feature.

Back in Bay Ridge: Lost Logo

I don't suppose any reader would know the whereabouts of the above loveable logo? It has been replaced with the graphic below.

Drizzly

But there's still colour on the Slope.

Making Movies About Making Movies in Iraq

Come, be part of the story. In Slate today, the Lady BIB looks at Brian De Palma's Redacted and other current films about the Iraq war.

Desktop Day: What, Not Where

We can tell you this is on 5th Avenue in Park Slope, but what is it? It's sized for both Mac (top) and PC desktop wallpaper so you can give it a closer inspection. Click on the picture to open the large version.

Another Fifth Avenue Fire

The small emporium of spiritual curiosities on Fifth Avenue and Douglass was burning just now (about 5pm). My favorite Chinese takeout next door was also damaged. Earlier this year another, bigger fire raged just two blocks away. UPDATE: Botanica La Fe was apparently torched in a robbery attempt. The NY Daily News has more. GL UPDATE: A great round-up of coverage and eyewitness stories here.

Gingerbread House - It's Beautiful Bay Ridge

Thanks to the commenters who helped place the Gingerbread House, also known as the Howard E. and Jessie Jones House, on the corner of Narrows Avenue and 83rd in beautiful Bay Ridge. It's an Arts and Crafts design from 1917 by J. Sarsfield Kennedy, who also designed the Prospect Park picnic house. We'd read about the Gingerbread House in Kevin Walsh's book 'Forgotten New York' some time ago, so were thrilled to finally get down and see it. You can find out more on the FNY website.

The Gingerbread House

More eccentric architecture in Brooklyn, but where?

Going Green

A scooter in Park Slope today.

The Colour Purple: Atlantic Avenue Rig

On the junction of Fifth Avenue and Atlantic this afternoon.

Desktop Day: Creek Out

Here's our first Mac and PC desktop day! We are pleased to present a tree growing from the rotting cabin of a boat in Coney Island Creek. The top image should fit nicely on a regular PC monitor, and the bottom on a wide-screen Mac. Left click on the image to open the full-size version.

Prospect Park Moonlight Ride

The moonlight cycle ride takes place in Prospect Park this weekend. Here's some information from photographer Jonathan Barkey, the tour leader: Prospect Park Moonlight Ride at 9pm this Saturday night. Meet at Grand Army Plaza and tour the paved inside paths to the park's treasured landmarks and hidden places. I suggest bringing lights, a pump and spare tube, and warm clothes, particularly socks and gloves. Ride lasts roughly an hour, longer if the group wants more. Serious rain at 8:45pm cancels. Find out more at Time's Up.

Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn: Klezmatics play at fundraiser

Daniel Goldstein of Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn addresses a sold out Lyceum last night, where the Klezmatics played an excellent set.

The New-York Ghost: Coney Island Creek

Vol. II, No. 33 hit inboxes today and features some Coney Island Creek photos by yours truly... for anyone still wondering about this image. Sign up for the free "Weekly Newsletter You Print Out at Work" here.

Brooklyn Crabs

Above, Coney Island and below Jamaica Bay

What a Drag: NYC Marathon Follow Up

As if simply running the marathon was not enough, Rima Chai from Surrey in the UK dragged 18 kilos (mostly car tyre) behind her for the entire course, to raise awareness on sustainability as well as funds for her Arctic Expedition. Afterward, she wrote, "I was interviewed by the New York Times by Nathaniel Vinton, who was reporting on the trash left behind and decided not to release all my political views on how businesses need to be wholly involved in sustainability of their environment and that the US needed to be more committed to environmental concerns due to their high consumption (has been indicated as 40% of the world's resources) and high waste (approx only 30% of their trash is recycled, the rest ends up in landfills). Although I did ask him why there was a lack of recycle bins in New York. Walking through the boroughs, I did not see any." You can read Rima's whole marathon story here.

NYC Marathon: Park Slope

As the last few runners came along 4th Avenue, many locals stayed to cheer them on.

Where the Cats Meow

You can always bump into interesting folks at the muddy and decaying edge of the city. (Tried to get the little fellow at top to come home with me, but he had other plans.) I also met another photographer, the talented Sam Horine, who was looking for the yellow submarine here in Coney Island Creek.

Desktop Day Double: The Monster and the Monitor

This week it's the last of the Halloween creatures from Park Slope, and a computer monitor in the tidal mud of Coney Island Creek. Thanks to those of you who took part in our poll to find the most common screen size. In future we will try supply our images in Mac and PC formats. Instructions Left-click on the image first to open up the large version. Windows PC: Right-click on the large image and select 'set as desktop background'. You can also right-click and 'save as', then use your desktop properties settings to add the file you just saved and format it how you prefer. There's more info on customising your PC desktop here.

Mac: Macintosh instructions can be found here.

Park Slope Halloween Parade

Borough President Marty Markowitz joined in the frightening parade on 7th Avenue last night.

Halloween Lands In Clinton Hill

The Society for Clinton Hill's Annual Halloween Walk begins at 5pm at the community garden at the corner of DeKalb and Hall. Alien visitations are expected at 313 Clinton Avenue, above, where the famous Halloween show will be playing every half-hour. The event is free.

NYC Traffic Congestion: Have Your Say, Brooklyn

This afternoon, we received the below info from Transportation Alternatives, part of the run-up to Thursday's public hearing with the Congestion Mitigation Commission: 1.) Poster-Making Pre-Game for the Brooklyn Hearing When: Tuesday, October 30th, 6:30-8pm Where: Ozzie's on 5th Avenue, between Carroll and Garfield What: Help make posters for the Brooklyn hearing, and hang out with like-minded Brooklynites. Email wiley@transalt.org if you can attend. 2.) Subway Flyering for the Brooklyn Hearing When: Wednesday, October 31st, 7:30-9:30am Where: Brooklyn Borough Hall (Joralemon between Adams and Court) What: Help us turn out Brooklynites to the hearing by passing out flyers at Borough Hall. Even an hour on your way to work is helpful! Email wiley@transalt.org if you can attend. 3.) Brooklyn Congestion Mitigation Hearing When: Thursday, November 1st, 6pm Where: NYC Tech, Klitgord Auditorium 285 Jay St. Directions: 2/3/4/5/M/R Train to Borough Hall What: Speak out for less traffic and better transit in your neighborhood at the Brooklyn public hearing on congestion pricing. Tell the commission Brooklyn needs less traffic and better transit options like more express buses and more frequent trains - and tell them you want congestion pricing to pay for it. To speak at the hearing, you need to sign up in advance. Go to this website and fill out the testimony form to speak out: https://www.nysdot.gov/portal/page/portal/programs/congestion_mitigation_commission#present

G Train Hustle in Fort Greene Park

Or "G Train Hassle" as the judges put it at the Pupkin dog costume contest yesterday.

Halloween Bungalow

Spotted in Coney Island this sunny afternoon.

Clock Face

We're pleased to see the Williamsburg Bank clock again.

Slab Night

In Park Slope.

True 54

Clermont and Myrtle

Desktop Day Double: Atlantic Yards, No