I’m currently job hunting, and while writing resumes that no one will read is really exciting, I’ve decided to also take this (hopefully brief) time to do the things I wouldn’t normally have time to do if I had a job. I don’t have a particular agenda, just wherever the mood takes me. Perhaps you and I both will benefit from this. (Just don’t bet the house on it.)

So here’s my first quest, inspired by a conversation I had with my friend, Liz—learn about the Native American trails that once served as the major arteries through Brooklyn. (I knew Broadway had first existed this way, but didn’t know about any in Brooklyn.) I went to the Brooklyn Historical Society, where a helpful librarian located this map, “Indian Villages, Paths, Ponds and Places in Kings County,” published in 1946 by then-Brooklyn Borough Historian James A. Kelly.

Since this is the Brooklyn Heights Blog, I wanted to concentrate on this neighborhood; however, I couldn’t help but notice the label “Indian burial ground” next to the tepee located in Boerum Hill. It raised a few interesting questions in my mind:

• Does the tepee cover the exact place where the Indian burial ground exists? (If so, it is directly over Wyckoff Gardens.)

• Do all the tepees represent Indian burial grounds, or just the one that’s labeled? (This map has no key; the librarian thought all the tepees were also burial grounds. I, however, think they just represent the settlements.)

• If all the tepees are burial grounds, then that means there is one beneath my building in Brooklyn Heights. This would perhaps explain the plumbing issues.

Interesting to see some of the trails that exist today as major thoroughfares, like Fulton Street, Flatbush Avenue and part of Atlantic Avenue. I have yet to uncover any information on the Ihretonga, which is the tribe listed as living in Brooklyn Heights. I did, however, learn that the Werpos village of the Indian burial ground had a twin village located around today’s City Hall.

One other site I noticed was a park extending from Columbia Street to Smith Street, and from Atlantic Avenue to Kane Street (and labeled as “Sassians” on the map). I guessed it was park of today’s Van Voorhees park, and indeed nycgovparks.org has more information.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of Since I’m Not Working: Native American Edition, where I travel one of the Native American trails, and also try and get answers to the above questions. And now I’m off to the 8-4 for the police blotter. See you there.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/72961

Brooklyn Heights Cinema’s Kenn Lowy has set up an Indiegogo campaign to help save the theater. No, it’s not to buy the building, it’s to help the theater convert from 35mm film projection to digital. “If we don’t make the transition to digital,” Lowy warns, “we lose the opportunity to show some exciting films. In fact, every new film.” The upgrade in technology is juxtaposed against the Mom and Pop-ness of the cinema. “I’m at the theater almost every day, and if someone has a problem with the temperature … or maybe even the sound, all they have to do is come out and talk to me or a member of my staff, and we’ll have it fixed right away. Try that at your neighborhood multiplex.”

Lowy hopes to raise $30,000 by the end of March, and has perks/rewards set up for donations starting at $25. $150 gets you a date night package; and $1,000 gets you a private screening for you and 150 of your closest friends. But any amount is appreciated. “We hope you’ll donate whatever you can, so we can keep showing great films digitally.”

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/65847

When you think trendy vintage fashion, you think Brooklyn Heights. No? Well The New York Times‘ Intersection video series tried to change that by focusing on Brooklyn Heights as a place with a “Refined Vintage” look. The three people profiled are engaging enough—and they didn’t just stick to youngsters—but repeated shots of Tango and Housing Works made it feel like not a lot of new territory was unearthed. Still, it’s good to see the neighborhood profiled about something it’s not usually known for. Watch the video and let us know what you think. Now if only they’d covered the 5am look of those who come into Happy Days hungry for eggs after a night of debauchery—THAT’S a story.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/64851

Sports guy Michael Randazzo is courtside with a report about college hoops.

This week Brooklyn hoops fans experienced heart attack inducing thrills on consecutive nights, as both LIU Brooklyn and St. Francis College had players hit for game-winning three pointers at the buzzer.

On Wednesday night at LIU’s Steinberg Wellness Center, Blackbird junior guard Gerrell Martin knocked down the winning basket with less then a second on the clock to beat Lamar by 82-79.

The following evening, after a long range three by Lafayette’s Bryce Scott knotted the score at 62, St. Francis senior guard Alex Isailovic returned the favor, hitting the game winner with .07 ticks remaining to send the crowd at the Generoso Pope Center into spasms of joy.

“Both teams with walk-off three’s on back-to-back nights? That might never happen again,” commented David Gansell, St. Francis Director of Sports Information.

In an equally unlikely occurrence, at the microphone for both games was David Freeman, who has called LIU home games since 2002 and just happened to be filling in on Thursday for Jaden Daly, St. Francis’s regular PA announcer.

According to Freeman, the probability of teams winning back-to-back games in such unlikely fashion is hard to comprehend.

“Never heard of such a thing,” explained Freeman, who has announced local sporting events for the past 13 years. “The thing I can say about it is that the two of them [games] were as completely opposite as you could expect—yet on the same token, they were both buzzer-beaters for the home team to win. That’s unexplainable.

Having watched Jason Brickman, LIU’s incomparable point guard, lead the Blackbirds to countless wins, Freeman was not surprised by Martin’s winning shot on Wednesday.

“With Brickman on the floor, you feel like they can score at anytime, because he’s going to find a way to get the ball to the right people,” said Freeman. “I was sitting directly behind Martin. The minute he got that ball and it left his hand, I knew it was good.“

From his courtside vantage point Thursday, Freeman expected the St. Francis game to end differently.

“They [the Terriers] had really struggled the whole game, so I was thinking they would play for the tie,” Freeman said. “When [Isailovic] put the ball up with seconds left it was ‘I hope there’s not enough time for the rebound to get picked up.’ And then you realize that the shot was good. It was really surprising to me.”

The Blackbirds and the Terriers face each other twice in 2014: on January 9th at the Pope Center, and on February 16th at Barclays Center, which will be the site for the annual Battle of Brooklyn matchup.

Given past exploits, there’s no telling what might happen when these two cardiac causing teams collide.

“Both those teams take this game very seriously,” said Freeman, who in his role as Barclays’ college basketball announcer will call February’s game. “I’m not aware that there are any two Division 1 schools in the country that can walk to each other’s campus from a few blocks away.”

“To think that two big rivals could have that [a buzzer-beating basket] happen to them is absolutely possible—[but] it’d be even more ridiculous if it could happen again.”

LIU’s Gerrell Martin goes up for the winning shot against Lamar on December 18.
LIU PHOTO CREDIT: Bob Dea

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/64560

Winners of the Atlantic Avenue Children’s Literature Contest will read original stories along with selections from their favorite picture books. Judging panel includes Brooklyn-native Bruce Degan, illustrator of The Magic School Bus series. Kids will decide the Kids Choice Award by voting for their favorite story. Free hot chocolate provided by Sahadi’s along with bookmarks for all but space is limited. Please RSVP on http://bit.ly/1i1YUiA to reserve a spot at one or more of the readings.

Saturday mornings December 7, December 14, and December 21 at the following locations:

December 7, 10am, Sahadi’s: Ruth Chan, “Where’s Bernie?”
December 7, 11am, Nest Egg Kids: Buzz Koenig “Cookie Store Wanted”
December 7, 12pm, Elite Optique: Stephanie Lane Elliott “Raccoons!”
Contest judge Tamson Weston (http://tamsonweston.com/tamson-weston-bio/) published children’s book author and freelance kids book editor will attend the first two readings on the 7th.

December 14, 10am, Flor: Kevin Maertens “Quattro Formaggi”
December 14, 11am, Grumpy Bert: Dana A. Catherine “Jupi’s Journey” & Sarah Heller “Our Walk”
Contest judge and children’s book illustrator Nancy Doniger (http://donigerillustration.com/) will attend the readings on December 14th.

December 21, 10am, The Herbe Shoppe: Graham Willner “Flight”
December 21, 11am, Table 87: Barbara DiLorenzo “Atlantic Avenue Dragon”
December 21, 12:30pm, Gumbo: Kristabelle Munson “Miles and the Garden”
Contest judge Melissa Guinon (http://www.melissaguion.com/), author and illustrator of “Baby Penguins Everywhere!” will attend readings on the 21st.

Prizes will be awarded at the readings with the top prize for the best story at $1,000! Second prize will be $300 and third prize is $100.

Other judges on the esteemed panel include Namrata Tripathi, Executive Editor at Atheneum Books for Young Readers and Rachel Orr, Literary Agent for Children’s Books at the Prospect Agency.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/64199

Thomas Wolfe once wrote “Only the dead know Brooklyn.” I don’t know if he meant that in the literal sense, but given the large number of cemeteries here it’s fitting nonetheless.

However, most of us who head to Borough Hall every day, or run across Cadman Plaza to catch the bus, or head home on Hicks Street don’t realize just how dead Brooklyn is—we’re often stepping on long paved-over graves the date back to when the borough was covered with windmills. And these are just the ones historians know about.

RELATED: Homer Fink’s Hidden Brooklyn Heights Walking Tour – Get Tickets Now!

Many were family plots that were often forgotten about after the families moved away—or deliberately forgotten about. After all, moving is tough enough without having to figure out who’s taking great-grandpa’s femur. Others were a consequence of gentrification, a buzzword that’s popular today, though gentrification has been taking place as long as the city’s been around. I could cite a few instances where this occurred outside of Brooklyn: Washington Square Park began as potter’s field (a cemetery for the indigent) until the wealthy began to move uptown, then the bodies were disinterred (though not all, just whatever they could grab) and moved to what became Madison Square Park, until the wealthy moved there, and so those bodies were disinterred and moved to Bryant Park … and so on. Don’t believe me? Ask a ConEd employee, the dead have a way of showing up during utility digs.

At any rate, this being the Brooklyn Heights Blog, I’ll highlight some the local sites.

Clover Hill Burial Ground – Hicks and Orange Streets
Clover Hill was the original name of Brooklyn Heights, and this burial spot, which began roughly at Hicks and Orange was used by the British while they occupied Brooklyn during the Revolutionary War. After the Hicks family took possession of the land at the end of the war, they leveled the graveyard, though kept the bodies where they lay. Now it’s next to Plymouth Church.

Sands Street Churchyard – Sands and Adams Streets
The Sands Street Methodist Episcopal Church was established in 1794 and was the first Methodist Church in Brooklyn. Its churchyard was used by all Methodists until 1806, when dwindling real estate meant only active church members were allowed. The Church was sold to developers in 1888, and some but not all of the 300+ bodies were moved to the Cemetery of the Evergreens in Bushwick.

St James Churchyard – Jay and Chapel Streets
In 1822, St James Cathedral became the first Catholic Church in Brooklyn, and its surrounding grounds therefore became the first Catholic Cemetery. Roughly 7,000 people were said to have been buried there until 1849, when burials in that part of Brooklyn were outlawed. A decline in groundskeeping meant that by 1914 all of the markers and many of the headstones were gone; many graves remain in the the churchyard though cut off from the rest of Brooklyn by a giant wall. (Also, my great-great grandparents, Antonio Faggiani and Mary Fagan were married here in 1880. Though they’re buried in Staten Island.)

Brooklyn Village Cemetery – Boerum and Livingston Streets
This community cemetery was on land bought by the Schenck family. During construction in the mid 19th century, workers unearthed a gravestone marked “Peter Tyler 183-.” The Brooklyn Historical Society has the transcript of inscriptions from the burial ground here.

First Reformed Dutch Churchyard of Brooklyn
And last but not least: This Gap sits on the site of one of the first graveyards attached to a church—before this, most people were buried on their farms. Because I have to get this in before Halloween ends, I will quote largely from this October 1875 article out of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, chronicling “Brooklyn’s early history”:

One of these old burial grounds stood where the lecture room of the First Presbyterian
Church now stands near the beginning of Clinton street. In many cases the occupants of these
scattered graves were removed by those who afterward used the ground for building purposes,
but it is probable that in some cases the original use of the ground was forgotten and the
occupants of the neglected graves still sleep under our very streets or houses. There have
been instances of human remains being found in digging for the foundations of houses.

Of the cemeteries that have been formerly located within our city limits, the oldest one
was that which formerly belonged to the First Reformed Dutch Church. This was located on the
south side of Fulton street, east of Gallatin place, and was 120 by 200 feet in size. It was
then said to be on the Brooklyn and Jamaica Turnpike road, and directly in front of it, in the
middle of the road, stood the original building of the Reformed Dutch Church.

In 1666 the church building referred to as standing in the middle of the road was erected.
It stood just a hundred years, and was torn down and another was built on the same site. This
stood until 1807 when the church moved to their present site on Joralemon street in the rear of
the city hall. The old burial ground was, however, still retained, and the records of the church
show that from time to time interments were made there, and appropriations were made and
committees were appointed to keep it in order. It was used for a burial ground until April 23,
1849, when a city ordinance was passed prohibiting further burials within the city limits and in
accordance with this ordinance the interments in this cemetery, as in the others in the city,
ceased perforce.

So this concludes the Brooklyn Heights/Downtown Brooklyn tour of cemeteries that are no longer. Stay tuned for others, and watch your step.

The St James Cathedral image and much of the research came from the New York Cemetery Project and also the book Graveyard Shift.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/63533

I tried my best to dig up stories of werewolves and vampires in the police reports, but they must only be in the 76. Here’s what I do have:

Be on the lookout for a gray 2007 Jeep Liberty, NY lic#EML5583. It was stolen while idling on Smith St. between Dean and Pacific after the driver left her keys in the ignition.

Two cabbies were robbed within hours of each other last Saturday. The first incident took place around 6:45 pm on Smith and Schermerhorn, after two fares turned on their driver, who handed over his cash. The second was on Henry and Joralemon at 11:20 pm, when two men–one wearing a gas mask–threatened a cabbie and made off with $100. (Now THAT’S creepy.) If I may, I will put on my Columbo jacket for Halloween and say that these two cases are related, though police have no leads yet.

A man and woman must have been planning an elaborate hairy costume, as they stole $1,317 worth of hair tubes from Indique salon on Bond St.

A week earlier, two women got into an altercation after one used the other’s hair gel. Both were arrested.

Last Wednesday, a 43-year-old man was cuffed for trying to steal Body Elements Moisturizing Gel Gloves. (Now THAT’S creepy too.)

Finally, around 4 am last Friday, a man playing the role of Good Samaritan confronted a thief whom he saw lifting an iPhone from the pocket of a sleeping straphanger. “That ain’t right,” he told him. The perp must have agreed—or the Samaritan was a big guy—because he handed over the phone to the Atlantic Ave booth clerk. The unwitting victim was awoken at Stillwell Ave and reunited with her phone. And that’s this week’s blotter. Enjoy your Reese’s Pieces!

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/63518

Gerald Newman

Horton Foote’s Dividing the Estate has its Brooklyn Premiere with The Heights Players tonight; the run lasts through September 22nd.

As with many of Foote’s plays, Dividing the Estate is set in the fictional town of Harrison, Texas in 1987. This prize-winning play focuses on the Gordon clan, led by octogenarian Stella Gordon. In the late 1980s, the country is facing a shifting economy. The Gordon family must confront their past as they prepare for an uncertain future while facing plunging real estate values and unexpected tax bills. As their fortune begins to diminish, various members of the family – particularly Stella’s greedy children – prepare to divide her estate … while she is still alive!

The Heights Players takes on a new production each month. Visit their site for the schedule.

LISTING DETAILS:
Dividing the Estate
September 6-22, 2013
Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m.
Sundays at 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20 ($18 for seniors and those under 18)
Reservations: 718-237-2752 or http://www.heightsplayers.org/
Location: 26 Willow Place (between State and Joralemon Streets), Brooklyn Heights, NY 11201

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/62299

Ramsay de Give for The Wall Street Journal

Jacques Cousteau was as much a part of my childhood as Marlin Perkins and Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. So I was heartened to hear Cousteau’s grandson, Fabien, is carrying on the family’s oceanographic tradition. Namely, he will try and beat his grandfather’s record of living underwater for several consecutive days—with part of his training regimen taking place walking the streets of Brooklyn Heights and inside his State St apartment.

Just living in this city is the best preparation to exist in a very small space with strangers for a long period of time,” said Mr. Cousteau, 45 years old. “It gives you a sense of spatial awareness. It gives you a sense of constant danger. If I was living in a suburb or the country right now, the idea of living in an enclosed space would freak me out.

Aside from just living cheek-by-jowl with other Brooklynites, Cousteau also holds his breath for several minutes underwater in his bathtub (the Local Hero training) and swims laps in the YMCA pool on Atlantic.

The actual underwater stunt will not take place in the East River, but instead eight miles off the Florida Keys, about 50-60 feet underwater. According to the article in the WSJ, “The younger Mr. Cousteau’s team will consist of six aquanauts who will explore the effects of underwater living, as well as the impact of climate change in the Atlantic Ocean.”

The underwater living starts November 12th.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/61887

Gothamist

It’s Cobble Hill’s equivalent of the Standard Hotel; a local couple have renovated their townhouse to include a glass shower, which is visible to neighbors who aren’t even being nosy. And today they’ve gained further notoriety by becoming Gothamist’s Talk of the Block. Congrats! And keep it clean.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/9036

The film’s roots go back to director Amy Nicholson’s love of Coney Island, as it reminded her of her childhood spent near Ocean City, MD—a shore community full of people watchers, Def Leppard blaring from boom boxes, and ride operators calling, “You want to go … faster?!” But it was an article about the end of the Zipper ride that turned her from observer to investigator, delving into the politics behind the changing Coney Island. “I originally wanted to make a film that was an homage to Zipper,” Nicholson said. “But it bothered me that I didn’t understand why the ride was being taken away.” The film then grew into an exploration of the tug-of-war between those who wanted to turn Coney Island into what resembled a seaside Times Square—namely, Joe Sitt, CEO of Thor Equities—and those who strove to retain the park and community, good and bad … with both sides doing what they felt was best.

And while Sitt—a Brooklyn boy who grew up near Coney Island and who named Thor Equities after the Marvel Comics character—might be an easy target as the film’s villain, Nicholson says it’s not that easy. “I guess the villain is the process and the politics. But I don’t point to him as the bad guy. I don’t think he did Coney Island any favors, but I promised to treat him fairly, and I did. He doesn’t see anything wrong in what he did,” as shown in the scene where Sitt happily listed all retailers that he wanted to add, from a Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, to a Coldstone Creamery.

Zipper also stars a cast of characters from the neighborhood, including the ride operators themselves. According to Nicholson, “The guys who ran it could tell by the sound whether it was working well or not. It’s a contraption! And it was invented to make people scream. I interviewed the ride’s inventor, who said, ‘If people scream, it’s a good thing.’” Zipper the ride now resides in Honduras; to see Zipper the film, visit IFC Center’s site for screening dates and times.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/61594

A tipsy fare means a big tip for cabbie. It’s this week’s blotter.

Six MacBooks totaling nearly $10K were stolen from the HUGE office in DUMBO last Thursday.

Last Saturday at Dr. Jay’s, a man stuffed over $20K worth of clothes in a bag; when confronted, he stomped a man on the foot and fled. The clotheshorse was eventually apprehended nearby.

A woman’s gray Honda Odyssey was stolen last Friday from where it was parked at Pierrepont and Clinton.

A few bike incidents: Last Tuesday, a perp broke into the lobby of a building on St. Marks Ave and stole an $800 bicycle.

The week before, a $2,900 bike was stolen from the common area of an apartment building on 3rd Ave.

And last Thursday, a man riding his bike near Smith and Bergen was punched in the face by a would-be bicycle thief. The victim was able to regain possession of his bike, however, and the perp fled.

Finally, a story from the mixed-up files of Foster Brooks: A man who was apparently already drunk by early afternoon flagged a cab on June 21st. He got in a conversation with the cabbie, who suggested some bars for him to visit, and then told the fare that he had to pay before the trip was over. Confused but compliant, the man handed his debit card to the driver, who then told him it wouldn’t swipe, and asked for the PIN number. You can guess the rest. By the time he was dropped off at another bar, the fare realized he’d left his debit card in the cab, and after $3,700 in charges were made on the card, he filed a police report. And that’s this week’s blotter.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/61270

Our neighborhoods are so filled with French families that the public schools are French/English bilingual. One third of our 220 storefronts are Food & Drink establishments—Vive les gourmets!!! We have huge support from our local business partners, especially Bar Tabac to make this happen.

In addition, there will be live music, food, the largest petanque tournament outside of France, and, of course, crepes. The party starts at 10am, so set your alarm clocks, you dirty stay-outs!

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/8958

Looking for something to do with your summertime guests? Or want to see Brooklyn from two wheels instead of four? Dutch transplant Frank Muller has just the thing—Bikelyn, a series of tours given Mondays and Tuesdays each week (with private tours available upon request).

Muller has taken to his new city rather quickly—after moving here last year, he’s already become a licensed NYC tour guide and launched Bikelyn in part to flex his local knowledge. And Muller’s heritage makes bike tours a natural extension. “In Holland, you learn how to ride a bike as soon as you learn to walk. It’s not cultural like it is here. It’s just the same as buying a car.”

You can BYOB or rent a bike from Rolling Orange Bikes in Cobble Hill, where the tour begins. Monday’s tours are Williamsburg in the morning, and Red Hook in the afternoon; Tuesday’s tours are Park Slope & Prospect Park in the morning and Brooklyn Heights & DUMBO in the afternoon. For private tours, a minimum of four people are requested. Depending on your interests, Muller also makes some food stops, like Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pies in Red Hook. And if you book a tour for morning and afternoon, Muller will in a free lunch at Moo Burger.

More information is on Bikelyn’s site and Facebook page. Morning tours are $49 and afternoon are $39.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/60707

The New York Post and Daily News report that a security guard was shot and robbed of a “large sum of cash” outside the Brooklyn DA’s office on Pearl Street around 5:50 pm yesterday. The unidentified man is being treated at Bellevue Hospital and is listed in stable condition. The assailant is currently at large.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/60578

Mettle, a documentary about people who collect recyclables for cash—at the risk of arrest or enormous fines—will be premiering at the Jalopy Theater on Sunday, July 28th at 7pm. Cobble Hill resident Andy Arrow who produced and directed the film, says:

Each day across New York City, thousands of resourceful citizens, who really seem to need the money, and who aren’t bothering anyone, collect recyclable material from the sidewalk—discarded bottles and cans, and household appliances—and redeem these items to earn money. You will get to know several of these people in the film, and hear their stories, and I think it’s likely that you will appreciate their positive outlook, sense of humor, and strength of character.

More information is available on the film’s Facebook page, or on Jalopy’s site.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/8891

With all the ad agencies and studios filming around the Heights, why not join the fray and aim for a little fame yourself? On My Block Films challenges its participants to:

Reach out to one another, introduce yourselves, and make a movie! We make this process more approachable for those who have never done something like this before. The finished videos are just between 1 and 3.5 minutes long, either narrative or documentary, and must be filmed only on the block you live on, using your real neighbors as cast and crew. This unique, collaborative process converts strangers into close friends, and in the process, builds a more closely connected city.

You can watch earlier submissions here, and check out their Kickstarter page as well. It would be interesting to see the differences (if any) between the inhabitants of Joralemon St compared to Clark St compared to the out-of-the-way folks on Poplar St or College Place. If you film your block, let us know!

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/60419

Those looking for an alternative to spending mega-bucks on a Broadway show need look no further than 3 Pierrepont Place this Saturday, as Enigma, billed as “Brooklyn’s First Outdoor Mystery Theatre Adventure” makes its debut there at noon.

Enigma—part social theatre and part history mystery, allows audience members to embark on a journey into the heart of Brooklyn Heights, armed with a map and tasked with searching for a celebrated esoteric mystery writer. Along the way, audiences encounter dynamic talismans of the neighborhoods’ past that ultimately provide them with clues—from an encounter with the ghost of a famed Victorian-era Brooklyn clairvoyant to stumbling upon an Arthur Miller-era Marilyn Monroe on the stoop of the gorgeous Willow Street home that was the site of their torrid love affair. Throughout the performance, audiences uncover some of Brooklyn’s most notorious rogues and celebrated heroes, enlightened with the aid of a refreshing themed cocktail (complimentary with admission) from an exotic Henry Street restaurant, and simultaneously discover the hidden symbols that live within the architecture of Brooklyn Heights’ grand homes, magnificent churches, and promenades.

I spoke with Enigma’s writer, Dr. Kevin Dann, who told me that the Heights’ rich literary history and historical preservation made it the perfect place to set a show such as this. “I was a tour guide and a history professor, and I tried to make my classes feel like a grail quest … And when I moved to Brooklyn Heights, I felt like everywhere I went I was walking in the footsteps of my heroes.” You can lear more about Enigma from watching the video.

Enigma opens June 29th at 3 Pierrepont Place, and runs Fridays – Sundays through October. Performances run every half hour, from 12:00pm – 4:30pm, with a runtime of 2 hours.Tickets are $60 each and can be bought here. Group rates are available.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/60374

Hold onto your iPhones! It’s this week’s blotter.

Last week’s blotter theme was the theft of expensive wallets; this one is the theft of expensive iPhones.

The first took place on the northbound F train during rush hour last Tuesday evening. At the Jay St station, a 25-year-old woman was dragged onto the platform after the doors opened and a man reached in and grabbed her phone. She eventually let go.

The next robbery took place Friday at 3pm at the Borough Hall station–Perp 1 grabbed a 31-year-old man’s iPhone when the doors opened, while Perp 2 held the doors open during the struggle. The victim eventually chased Perp 1 onto the street but he got away. Perp 2, a 15-year-old, was nabbed at the Nevins St station.

Two days later at 2am at the Jay St station, two perps exiting the southbound A train stopped to grab a 25-year-old man’s iPhone before running out. The victim gave chase but when Perp 1 tried to punch him he relented.

Moving on, a 30-year-old woman fell victim to the ol’ Craigslist swindle. According to the report, she saw a rental listing on Craigslist and met with a man who claimed he was the broker. Two payments totaling $175 cash and one $1,000 money order later, he disappeared and the apartment (listed as being at 486 Brooklyn Ave) is not available.

Another theft during a basketball game at McLaughlin Park–this time, a 20-year-old lost his $350 iPod Touch.

The kiosk on the corner of Henry and Montague was broken into on June 2nd. Among the items stolen were $1,100; a carton of Newports; two cartons of Marlboros; and 80 phone cards. The stolen items totaled $1,632. I thought one carton of cigarettes cost that around here.

Finally, a melee broke out at Family Court, and I have to say, whenever I see “Family Court” at the top of a report, I know I’m in for something else. In fact, this incident took up two reports. In the first, a woman (whom I don’t believe was an attorney but some kind of representative) was consulting with her 17-year-old client when he suddenly hit her in the face with a mug. In the second, the teen’s mother, after hearing he was going to jail, went berserk, tried to shield his body with hers, and then hit the court officers with her umbrella when they tried to take him away. The episode ended with both mother and son arrested. And that’s this week’s blotter.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/59998

Local filmmaker Andy Arrow recently completed a documentary called Mettle, about people who earn their living by collecting recyclables, and how they are “cited, or even arrested, for picking up trash from the sidewalk.” Arrow has a Kickstarter campaign underway to “raise awareness and to fund a premiere event.” Drop a couple bucks if you’d like to help, and let us know here where you come down on the issue.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/59971

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/59862

Where to start? I’ll begin at New York Sports Club. (I’ve lost count at this point, but I still have not come across Planet Fitness. Keep it up!) Last Monday morning, a gym-goer locked his belongings and went for a workout. When he returned, everything was still there. But unfortunately, he then left the locker open while changing, and returned to find his debit card and $100 gone. The card was used in a cab and then (possibly on the way to) Best Buy.

In other workout news–two days later, a woman who rented the second floor of a building on Schermerhorn St to be used as a “fitness facility” lost her $1,100 laptop and $300 video camera when she left the site to buy art supplies.

On Jay St., an employee’s $900 pink Gucci wallet was stolen after she left her desk to go to a business meeting. Yet another reason not to go to a business meeting. I would have interjected with my limited knowledge of handbags (I call them pocketbooks, after all), and say this must have been a $900 Gucci bag, but the report says the wallet was stolen from inside the bag. So apparently my knowledge of wallets AND handbags is zilch.

Another Gucci wallet was stolen a week later on Gold St. This one was only $300. And there was also $200 inside.

The next day a 63-year-old woman realized her $700 wallet (described only as “wallet red”) along with her ID was stolen. The ID was used to open an account with Hertz Rentals, Men’s Warehouse, and two accounts with CitiBike Share. (CitiBike mention!)

On State St. last Thursday, a woman reported a break-in after she realized her “PSE console” and games were stolen. I will interject with my limited knowledge of gaming consoles and say I think this is a PS3, for what it’s worth. Which is apparently $300.

This report was from May 10th, though I just received it—a break-in on St Marks Ave resulted in a stolen $800 drum pad, and what was described as a “$400 bicycle torher.” I have no knowledge of bikes so I don’t know what “bicycle torher” means. Googling just turns up “bicycle torture.”

A night of drinking on Pineapple St. last week resulted in an assault when a woman attacked her boyfriend after he told her he wanted to turn off the TV and go to sleep.

Health Care Provider JNJ Health Care reported a theft of $5,439.87 from the corporate account.

A scary scene on Bridge St. last Sunday. A 31-year-old woman reported that she was waiting in front of her building for a bus, when suddenly a car pulled up and its occupants ran out and attacked her. The two, a 39-year-old woman and 17-year-old male, were apparently angry that the victim had not deposited a check for the perp in the victim’s account. The two are still at large.

Finally, on Saturday night, a 31-year-old man at the MetroTech station was approached by a woman whom he described as having a fake accent. After she asked him the way to Hoyt-Schermerhorn, he noticed his bag and its contents were gone, including $300, an iPod Touch, and a $30 wallet. And that’s this week’s blotter.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/59784

I confess, it’s been awhile between dances. I had my film premiere on the 16th and a lot of hoo-hah before and after. (BTW – the next showing is June 21st, have I mentioned?) But I’m back to the daily grind. To wit: I was wearing my headphones on the way to the 84 this morning, and it looked like some man was trying to get my attention. Was it because of Knishes? My blotter? Had I achieved my dream of getting recognized in Downtown Brooklyn? Alas: “I really want to know—how’s life as a redhead?” he asked. It’s terrific. And now for the perps.

Two women got into fisticuffs inside the Ocean View Diner last Wednesday after some late-night dining.

Two other women got into an altercation the next morning outside 209 Joralemon St. A 45-year-old woman reported that her gal pal threw a cup of coffee at her and her baby after an argument. The accused is still at large.

A few hours before, a camera caught three people breaking into 209 Joralemon St—aka Marty Markowitz’s office. It’s not known if proclamations or anything else was stolen. According to the cameras, the trio hung out on the first floor for half an hour before going upstairs and then leaving, making this one of the dullest break-ins ever.

Last Tuesday in my dream building, a 21-year-old woman gave permission for workers to fix the entryway in her apartment while she was out. When she returned, her $2,500 wedding ring and $550 camera were gone.

While playing basketball at McLaughlin Park last Monday, a 33-year-old (who does not read the blotter) was robbed of two iPhones and $320.

The next day, a laptop was stolen from Amplify’s office on Washington St. The report lists the laptop as a Mac worth $28,500—I’m not sure if the police added an extra zero or there were a heck of a lot of apps.

Finally, a 48-year-old woman was nabbed at Macy’s after trying to grab $76 in men’s drawers, $70 in panties, $234 in “active wear,” and $44 in Epic Threads. And that’s this week’s blotter.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/59446

The days are getting longer but the perps are getting brazen-er. It’s this week’s blotter.

I had to get to the precinct a bit later yesterday but was greeted with a much more relaxed 84–maybe because of the weather, maybe because it was almost lunchtime. Because it certainly wasn’t due to the lack of crime going on, there was a stack of reports to get through. Starting with …

Another sleepy straphanger got snookered. (Alright, maybe “snookered” isn’t precisely correct, but it sounds good.) Translation: a 33-year-old woman fell asleep at the 53rd St R station, and when she awoke at Atlantic, her $1,100 MacBook Pro was gone.

An ATM at 3 in 1 Fast Food on Hoyt Street was destroyed early in the morning on April 29th. Pieces were strewn about the sidewalk, and $7,200 was stolen. Interestingly, this was the same place that an ATM was torn open with help from an SUV a couple weeks earlier. By the way, here are the Yelp reviews for 3 in 1, aside from a new ATM, apparently they need some help in customer service.

Last Tuesday, a 50-year-old woman left her pocketbook–with $9,000 inside–in a drawer at her home office on Bond Street. At some point one of the people with access to her apartment, including a housekeeper and babysitter, found the bag and stole the money. Though whether it was out of fear, guilt, or some other emotion, he or she took $7,500 instead of the entire amount.

Last Sunday, a 29-year-old man spit on a 39-year-old man at Brooklyn Criminal Court, and claimed he was HIV-positive. The man was arrested for assault.

There were several incidents of broad-daylight muggings: Last Saturday afternoon at the Fulton Mall, a 28-year-old man was jumped by three men who stole his Air Jordan 5s.

On Wednesday, a 36-year-old woman was on Dean Street walking toward Smith when a man grabbed her iPhone and disappeared on Hoyt.

The next morning, a bag was stolen from a 33-year-old man who was sitting on a bench at 360 Adams Street.

Last Tuesday at 2 p.m., a 59-year-old teacher at PS 307 went to an 8 am staff meeting; if that wasn’t bad enough, the bag she’d left in her desk was stolen.

That same day at 2pm at the 7 Old Fulton Street restaurant, a 19-year-old girl put her $750 bag down to chat with some friends, only to discover 10 minutes later that it was gone, along with a $2,000 MacBook Pro and $830 Canon Camera. And yikes, here are the Yelp reviews for this restaurant, they’re as bad as 3 in 1 Fast Food.

An hour earlier, a 27-year-old man was mugged on Sidney and Joralemon by someone believed to have a knife. The thief made off with $400.

At 4:45 pm that same day, a 15-year-old was approached by four males at Concordia Park who shoved him to the ground and stole his $375 transitional lenses. A bespectacled police officer and I were discussing what “transitional lenses” were. “Why transitional? He should have gone for the real thing,” he said. He then let me know he’s going for lasik surgery, he’d heard great reviews about it.

And finally, on Thursday at 1pm, a man outside 49 Duffield Street was pushed to the ground by a perp who stole his bike. And then his eyeglasses. And that’s this week’s blotter.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/58739

Another robbery at Macy’s, another sleeping straphanger loses his iPod, and Planet Fitness is now 0-4. It’s this week’s blotter.

On Thursday outside Perla Grocery at 429 Warren St., a 48-year-old man was assaulted and robbed of $19.14. A 47-year-old was later arrested for stealing the loot.

A 25-year-old asleep on the D train on April 11th at 3 a.m. awoke to find his backpack gone, which contained a MacBook, iPod and $500.

A week later, a 54-year-old woman received a surprisingly legitimate email from a real bank—though that wasn’t good news. Apparently, someone changed her account password and stole $7,550.

An 18-year-old looking for a new pair of shoes instead found herself filing a police report on April 19th. According to this report, while she was trying on shoes, someone sat next to her, distracted her, and stole her wallet. I had just seen something like this on a show called Brain Games on Nat Geo the other night. (No advertising intended, even though it sounds like it. Incidentally, have I mentioned I’m job hunting?) At any rate, they showed how easy it is to distract someone, since the brain isn’t wired to handle multiple stimuli. (I’m sure I’m phrasing this wrong, but you get the idea.) I’ve seen this in previous police reports, where the perp will ask his mark, “What time is it?” before striking. So if someone stops you on the street asking for the time, my advice is to run screaming into the night.

Approximately $40,000 worth of copper plating was stolen from the basement of my dream building, the Sweeney Building, back on March 22nd. There was no sign of a break-in, and multiple people have access.

Be on the lookout for a gray Ford Taurus, license plate # DSX6601. It’s hot!

A Queens woman heading to a doctor’s appointment was mugged on April 10th at 9:30 a.m. on Joralemon St.

A 12-year-old was arrested for felony robbery on April 10th. It’s hard for me to believe that someone born in 2001 is now old enough to commit a felony, but I guess time flies. He stole the Metro PCS Coolpad from a 12-year-old schoolmate and then threatened him, saying, “If you bring the cops to my house again, I’ll kill you.” The victim originally reported that the incident took place at the Atlantic St. subway hub, but once he was with his mother, he admitted it actually took place at a park nearby at Schermerhorn St park. He had lied to avoid getting in trouble, as apparently he was not supposed to be there.

Finally, on April 19th at 10:30 p.m., a cabbie picked up a fare with a female at Court and Montague. According to the report, the fare said he wanted to be dropped off at Coney Island Avenue and Cortelyou Road, and the cabbie refused. At this point I can empathize with the fare, as I can’t tell you how many half-wit lies and sneers I get when I ask to go to Brooklyn Heights, never mind Coney Island. But the fare took it one step further, punching the driver and then stealing $310.

Oh, and I’ve been covering the blotter again for a month and all quiet from Planet Fitness. And that’s this week’s blotter.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/57817

Hey there, Perps and Skells! It’s HQ here, newly unemployed and free to get down to business with the blotter again! I know, it’s been a while …

Though I was gainfully employed for a year and a half, I did miss my reports on Planet Fitness and hot-off-the-2-train iPods. So needless to say I was thrilled to be let go from a steady paycheck and gain the opportunity to pay weekly visits to the 84th Precinct.

I got off to a bit of a rough start, though–getting an appointment with Crime Analysis was now like trying to score a table at Rao’s, and “Don’t you know who I am?” impressed no one. Still, after two days I decided to name-drop “Homer Fink” and doors were suddenly opened. Just like at Rao’s! But enough about Homer, on with the miscreants.

On March 19th at 5:30 p.m., a 20-year-old male tried to buy a ring from ID Jewelry on Fulton St. Unfortunately, the love-struck Romeo used a stolen credit card, and was arrested at the scene.

Also on March 19th at 4 p.m., a verbal dispute between two workers at the 388 Bridge St construction site in DoBro (vom) turned violent, with one hitting the other over the head with an unknown weapon. A 35-year-old male was arrested.

On March 22nd at 9:30, two men entered a Blimpie’s at the corner of Pearl and Willoughby–one watched the door while the other ran to the register, flashed a gun, and got the cashier to throw $1,000 into a plastic CVS bag. The two men are still at large.

Also on March 22nd, a 16-year-old male being arraigned at 120 Schermerhorn went berserk and smashed a computer screen, pieces of which went flying into a police officer’s eye. The juvenile was removed from court, while the officer was taken to LICH.

On March 24th around 1 a.m., a woman was mugged at Pacific and 4th; a 31-year-old man was caught red-handed with her bag.

And finally–no reports of any Planet Fitness shenanigans, but the YMCA on Atlantic was the scene of a locker room break-in–a man claimed he locked his locker, but when he returned from his workout, his wallet and cell phone were gone. It’s deja-vu all over again. And that’s this week’s blotter.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/56827

Squibb Park is now open, and I joined a few daring souls who took the first small steps over the BQE, taking into account the sign at the bridge entrance asked “Is That a Bounce in Your Step?”

I also joined a media event already in progress—a beaming Regina Myer posed for photogs, and designer Ted Zoli shared a few interesting facts with reporters about the bridge. When I’d watched it being built, it reminded me a bit of Swiss Family Robinson. But according to Zoli, the look was “adopted from techniques used in farming for a park setting.” This not only includes the wood, but the mesh wiring on either side. A few more interesting facts, courtesy of the designer:

—The bridge is made largely of a type of wood often seen on fence posts called black locust, which Zoli calls “indestructible.” It’s used throughout the park. As it ages it will turn from blond to gray. (As do many of us.)
—Although black locust is terrific structurally, it’s not often used because it’s not commercially cultivated.
—About 100,000 pounds of wood was used, which came mostly from Pennsylvania and Long Island.
—The spans were mostly prepared off-site and then set in rather quickly. The minimal need for a crane reduced the cost.
—Speaking of which, the total cost of the bridge was about $5 million.

So if you’re reading this post in time for your lunch break, ditch work have a look!

Gothamist was there too, took some photos, and shot this video:

A Walk Down Squibb Pedestrian Bridge from Gothamist on Vimeo.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/56589