NYT: But the artists, Mischa Leinkauf and Matthias Wermke, say the flags — with hand-stitched stars and stripes, all white — had nothing to do with terrorism. In a series of phone interviews, they explained that they only wanted to celebrate “the beauty of public space” and the great American bridge whose German-born engineer, John Roebling, died in 1869 on July 22, the day the white flags appeared.

To prove it was them, they posted a video:

And since this is the New York Times reporting, the story wouldn’t be complete without a correction:

Correction: August 12, 2014
A headline that appeared briefly on the home page misstated the occasion for which German artists said they placed white flags on the Brooklyn Bridge last month. It was the July 22, 1869, death of the bridge’s designer, John Roebling, not his birth.

RELATED: The New York Times Pisses Me Off Endlessly

The National Report: Sheldon Wayne Thomas is a New York firefighter stationed in Brooklyn’s 68th precinct. He accompanied officers Tuesday because of his experience as a climber, helping them traverse the cables to reach the flagpoles 277 feet above the ground.
“What NYPD Commissioner William Bratton failed to mention during the recent press conference–and what I believe the American people deserve to know–is that evidence found at the scene point to Islamic involvement.”

It’s not true, it’s satire as the National Report is a humor site. Of course simple logic would alert you to the fact that:

A) The 68th Precinct does not cover the area of the Brooklyn Bridge, it’s the 84th Precinct.
B) Firefighters are part of Engine or Ladder Companies in NYC, not precincts.

Not only that, using a simple tool we’ve discovered called “Google” reveals that Fox News has been duped by this site in the past as has Arizona Governor Jan Brewer.

In my walks across the Brooklyn Bridge and back over the past year or so, I’ve noticed that couples have been writing their names on padlocks and attaching those locks to the fences beside the pedestrian walkway, as shown in the photo above.

Sometimes, a lock displays a  plea instead of an acknowledgement of existing commitment.

Some messages are too long to put on a padlock, so they get written on the bridge itself.

Source: Self-Absorbed Boomer
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/tzVM/~3/P16pJzXDUqM/locks-of-love-on-brooklyn-bridge.html

The helicopters hovering above Brooklyn Heights this morning signaled that something out of the ordinary was happening nearby. As many Brooklynites tweeted and news sources reported, traffic on the Manhattan bound side of the Brooklyn Bridge was halted due to a police action.

NY Post: The 19-year-old was threatening to jump from the Brooklyn-bound roadway around 7:20 a.m. when emergency workers responded to the call, said a spokesman for the FDNY.

All bridge traffic was shut down in both directions to pedestrians and cars, cops said.

The man jumped about 30 minutes later from the Brooklyn side of the bridge and landed in the rear of the River Cafe, police sources said.

A BHB reader adds his first hand account:

I was jogging this morning in Brooklyn Bridge Park and saw someone jump off the top of the Brooklyn Bridge. There were police boats, a helicopter and fire trucks everywhere and a team of first responders was trying to make its way up the cable to reach the person but they couldn’t get there in time. He was on the top of the suspension tower closest to Brooklyn.

After similar events earlier this year, we invited Brooklyn Heights resident Jason Hershberger, MD Chief of Psychiatry, Downstate Long Island College Hospital (LICH) to write a guest blog for BHB on depression and its warning signs. He wrote:

Suicide is the most frightening and dangerous symptom of depression. Eleven in 100,000 Americans die of suicide each year, making it the 10th leading cause of death in our country. For young people ages 15-24 suicide is the third leading cause of death. The major risk factor found in the majority of suicides is major depression followed by the combination of depression with alcoholism.

The Department of Psychiatry at Downstate Long Island College Hospital includes inpatient, outpatient and emergency psychiatric services. For physician referral please call (888) 270-SUNY(7869), or visit www.downstate.edu/LICH.

Image via Aimee Groth

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/52333

This morning I resumed my routine of taking a brisk walk along the Promenade, down Squibb Hill, around Pier 1, and back. I was anxious to see how this part of Brooklyn Bridge Park had weathered the hurricane. On the way in, I passed this blaze of fall foliage (click on image to enlarge). More photos and text after the jump.

Looking north along the riverside esplanade toward the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges.

A single, battered Rosa rugosa clings to its bush, surrounded by rose hips.

Frank Gehry’s 8 Spruce Street shows its Bernini drapery in the morning sunlight. A Machine, part of Oscar Tuazon’s “People” series of sculptures, is in the foreground.

The Brooklyn Bridge, seen through the trees.

Looking south along the Esplanade; the skeleton of the shed on Pier 2 is in the background.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/51203

Your correspondent had just walked out the door Saturday morning when he spotted these late summer blossoms in the garden outside his building (corner of Montague and Pierrepont Place). More photos and text after the jump.

Wasp gathering nectar, Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Double-crested cormorant drying its wings on a piling, Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Hot pink blossoms, Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Spartina grass, salt marsh, south edge of Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Tour boat Half Moon passing close to Pier 1 esplanade; Brooklyn Bridge in background.

Large flower beside pond, northeast corner of Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park.

South Street Seaport Museum’s schooner Pioneer, seen from Brooklyn Heights Promenade; Governors Island in background.

Friday evening: lower Manhattan seen from Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park. Sunset reflected from windows of One Liberty Plaza.

Sunset reflected from Empire State Building, seen through Brooklyn Bridge from Pier 1 esplanade, Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/45502

On Friday morning I took a quick turn around Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park, before heading to work. As I was lining up a shot of Mark di Suvero’s Yoga, a small branch with some dry leaves fell in front of me. I didn’t notice it until I downloaded the photo; it’s at the right side of the picture (click on it to enlarge). More photos and text after the jump.
Rounding a corner of a path, I startled some sparrows. They flew up, then alighted on a fence.
These are rose hips from Rosa rugosa, near the Granite Prospect, where Patti Smith will read and sign books this Monday evening, August 6, at 7:00.
Sailing up the East River, a sloop approaches the Manhattan Bridge.
Worker on a cable of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Flowers by the pond near the pier’s northeast corner.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/45153

A fire could be seen on the Brooklyn Bridge from the Promenade Thursday evening around 9:15 p.m., with plumes of black smoke blowing from the mid-section of the bridge. It appears a car may have caught on fire, with sirens blazing. The majority of the smoke had dissipated within 20 minutes or so.

UPDATE: NBC Channel 4 files a report here. More pics below.

(Photos: Chuck Taylor)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/41485

The stunt started last year and was so successful they’ve decided to do it again.

Brooklyn Tattoo’s Adam Suerte comments via press release, ”We had a great time last year tattooing between 60-70 bridges on prideful residents of the County of Kings, and fans of the Bridge. I tattoo at least a half dozen Bridges on people every month, I would say it’s the most tattooed homage to Brooklyn and NY there is.”

This year adding to the festivities will be an accompanying art show at newly opened Urban Folk Art Gallery on May 20 from 7pm to 11pm.

If you’re not the tattooing type, there will also be signed and numbered “flash sheets” of this years designs available for purchase as well as commemorative t-shirts.