The Brooklyn Nets are a reality so stop you’re whinin’ and start rooting! The Twitterverse is exploding with excitement for our team. Are you rooting for the Nets this season? Check out fan reaction to last night’s game and a video report from the Brooklyn Bugle’s official Nets correspondent Karl Junkersfeld after the jump. Continue Reading…
Reader Mail: Mixed Bag of Existential Stuff in Brooklyn Heights
October 16, 2012Over the last 24 hours we’ve received a couple of reader submissions on opposite sides of the spectrum. We thought we’d share them with you.
Have an interesting experience in the area recently? Share them in the comments below.
First, HicksonHicks writes:
Hi Neighbors – This week a good Samaritan returned my wife’s lost wallet to Montague St merchant Grand Optician. The wallet was lost with a credit card, a debit card, a receipt for Grand Opticians and $110. We received a call from Grand Optician and found the wallet intact.
A very big thank you to the anonymous do-gooder for returning the wallet and reinforcing our faith that we live among honest folks.
And another from Nancy who claims this incident happened to her husband at a local eatery:
I want to report an incident that my friends and I experienced in Brooklyn Heights on Saturday evening, Oct. 13.
After viewing the sunset on the Promenade, my 4 friends — visiting from London — and my husband and I looked for a place for coffee and tea. The chairs outside of Tutt Cafe on Hicks Street looked inviting, and so we ordered coffee and tea and went outside to sit down.
The chairs were set on a carpet, which concealed the fact that the outer chairs were set on an uneven slope. The front legs were on a level surface, but the back legs were on a slope (concealed by the rug).
When my 67 year old husband sat down and leaned back in his chair, the chair promptly fell back (it was not on a level surface), my husband hit his head on the lamppost and suffered a two inch gash to his head.
This 67 year old man was bleeding profusely. We immediately went inside to inform the personnel. There were 3 people working, 2 preparing food and 1 person waiting on tables and collecting the cash. WE WERE IGNORED!
A 67 year old man is bleeding from the head — and NOBODY could be bothered! In fact, the waiter said,
“You should look before you sit down.” I explained ‘The rug conceals the slope in the sidewalk.”WE WERE IGNORED! My friends from London were SHOCKED! In fact, “It’s SHOCKING!” is exactly how my British friends expressed it.
Nobody would even come outside to see what happened! Not even a glass of water was offered!
I think the utter CALLOUSNESS of the personnel is what angered us the most.
We filed a report to the Better Business Bureau — and now I’m writing to this blog.
The next person who falls back in that chair — could be your grandmother!
Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/49303
From the Web
The Cobble Hill Association will hold its Fall General Meeting on Monday, October 29 at 7:30 p.m., at Long Island College Hospital, 339 Hicks Street. Two guest speakers will be present: John F. Williams, MD, EdD, MPH and the new President of SUNY Downstate Medical Center; and Tony Lewis, new CEO of the Cobble Hill Health Center.
CHA notes, “As always, there are many items to discuss in the neighborhood, from recently approved extended hours in our local park to safety enhancements on our local streets to ongoing repairs to our beloved Christ Church. For updates on these items as well as a presentation from representatives of Long Island College Hospital, please join us. All are welcome!”
Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7918
From the Web
Neighborhood residents are calling for a pushback on the closing time of Cobble Hill Park in an effort to reduce traffic tickets, following what the Brooklyn Paper deems “a mini-ticket blitz that (leaves) late-night visitors facing costly summonses.” A burgeoning group is fighting to extend the park’s curfew from 9 to 10 p.m. amid complaints that cops are issuing $250 tickets for “harmless after-hours activities,” bounded by Congress, Clinton & Henry streets and Verandah Place.
Community Board 6 recently met with members of the Cobble Hill Association to discuss the issue, insisting that later hours for the park would decrease the number of superfluous summonses. Detective Paul Grudzinski of the 76th Precinct counters, “We’re not looking to storm in 5 minutes after closing, then start writing tickets, but we have to enforce the rules fairly and across the board”—although he said that he supports the later curfew, which would also put the park in line with nearby Carroll Park’s hours. Read the full Brooklyn Paper story here. (Photo: Chuck Taylor)
Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7903
From the Web
The NY Transit Museum’s Problem Solvers Discussion Series continues on Wednesday, October 17 when Ben Kabak will speak with Sam Schwartz. They will discuss New York City Transit’s most pressing problems in an open-ended discussion.
Sam Schwartz, also known as “Gridlock Sam,” was New York City’s Traffic Commissioner from 1982-1986, and later worked as Chief Engineer for the New York City Department of Transportation. Ben Kabak writes the Second Avenue Sagas.
The event will be held at the Actor’s Fund Art Center, 160 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn. Admission is free but reservations are recommended.
Date: October 17, 2012
Time: 6:30pm
Place: 160 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn
Reservations here.
From the Web
In the BHB post last Thursday about Brooklyn Heights’ most recent inundation of film crews, Wiley E mused in a comment, “BH = Brooklyn’s Hollywood.” And how. On Monday, Montague Street was abuzz with a robust posse of equipment for a lil’ ole New York Lottery commercial. This morning, the entrance to the Promenade resembled the bravado of a major West Coast film shoot, while all afternoon, the action was centered inside Plaza Cleaners at 84 Montague, tucked between Heights Cafe and Teresa’s Restaurant. Throughout the day, trucks were parked along the entire south side of Montague between Henry and Clinton streets.
You may recall that in March 2012, New York Lottery filmed a commercial on Montague Street with a full cast of zombies in and around the newspaper vendor in front of City Chemist at 129 Montague. At least this time there were no overturned cars or sightings of the undead. (Photo: Chuck Taylor)
Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/49290
From the Web
Brooklyn Heights
Open Thread: The Most Beautiful ‘Aaaah’ Destination In Brooklyn Heights
October 15, 2012 
Brooklyn Heights Blog’s 2012 series on the Best of the Heights this week is a suggestion from our Proprietor Homer Fink. He’d like to know your take on the Best Spot To Read the Paper, Relax, Ponder Life… and just go… aaaah.” The Promenade is an obvious choice, but we feel certain that BHB readers have numerous other precious sanctuaries for solace.
Please share where you most enjoy peaceful moments in the Heights, the time of day and/or day of the week and what makes it so special for you. Despite the natural inclination to fear that exposing your hallowed hideaway might compromise its tranquility, consider all the new neighborhood friends you might make, right?
If you’ve missed previous “Best Of” surveys, see them here: Most Beautiful Building, Best Burger, Best Dry Cleaner, Best Pizza Pie, Best Handyman, Best Car Service and Best Vet & Dog Walker. (Photo: Chuck Taylor/)
Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/49261
From the Web
Ready to get geared up for next weekend? On Sunday, October 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., PS 29 will host its Fall Earth Day Recycling Event, in association with the Cobble Hill Association, featuring electronics, textiles, document and hard drive shredding. Also: a clothing rummage sale, with proceeds to help out the school. It all takes place at the PS 29 schoolyard at 425 Henry Street (Baltic Street between Henry and Clinton streets).
All items collected during the day will be recycled according to the highest environmental standards. Specifically, old computers and electronics will be collected by Lower East Side Ecology Center, in conjunction with CHA. Acceptable items include: computers, monitors, printers, scanners, fax machines, copiers, network devices, keyboards, mice, cables, hard drives, CD-roms, circuit boards, VHS & DVD players, radios & stereos, phones, answering machines, pagers, batteries and the like. See the complete list here.
Textile collection is sponsored by Wearable Collections. Acceptable items include clothing, hats, belts, bags, handbags, matched shoes, curtains, linens, towels, pillows, stuffed animals and Halloween costumes. Stained & ripped clothing and other textiles are welcome. See the complete list here.
For more info: PS29RECYCLES@gmail.com.
Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7899
From the Web
Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, Sports
Brooklyn Bridge Park Ponders Additional Facilities In DUMBO’s Main Street Park
October 15, 2012 
An unused area of the Main Street Park in DUMBO is among expansion plans being discussed for Brooklyn Bridge Park. The area currently houses an unused Department of Environmental Protection building & Department of Transportation paint shed. Brownstoner reports that discussions are ongoing to add a sports court, dog run, skate park, boating program or climbing wall.
Reps will be at the Community Board 2 parks meeting Monday, October 15 at 6 p.m. (121 Dekalb Avenue) to discuss a design for the proposed Main Street conversion. BBP’s proposed timeline: A Board plan review in November, presentation to the Public Design Commission in December, and submitted design to the National Parks Service in January 2013.
Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/49276
From the Web
Arts and Entertainment, Music
Tale of the Tweets: Streisand Comes Home to Brooklyn for Concerts at Barclays Center
October 14, 2012Brooklynites of a certain age are kvelling this weekend as Barbra Streisand, Erasmus Hall’s favorite alum (with apologies to Neil Diamond, natch) plays a two night stand at the brand spaking new Barclays Center. Some of her classmates were on hand as well as Atlantic Yards Report’s Norman Oder who was making doubly sure traffic in the area was running smoothly.
The Daily News’ Jim Farber writes, “In her very first number, Streisand fiddled liberally with the lyrics of “As If We Never Said Goodbye,” adding shout outs to Erasmus High, her old yeshiva, and salty lox.”
Check out all in action in our the Tale of the Tweets after the jump. Continue Reading…