About Claude Scales

Heights resident since 1983. Lawyer, with strong interests in history, philosophy, literature, music, architecture, astronomy, paleontology, ships and the sea, railroads, baseball, food and wine. Married, with one child.
Author Archive | Claude Scales
BHA, Other Groups Settle with City and State over Park Land

BHA, Other Groups Settle with City and State over Park Land

Last year, neighborhood and preservation organizations, including the Brooklyn Heights Association, prevailed in lawsuits in both federal and state courts in which they contested the actions of the National Park Service and the city and state governments to transfer the Tobacco Warehouse site from Brooklyn Bridge Park for use as a new home for St. Ann’s Warehouse Theater, as well as the Empire Stores building for possible commercial development. Following the court decisions, BHA and the other successful plaintiffs began negotiations with city and state officials to establish rules governing possible development of these sites. Yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg announced that an agreement had been made under which, among other things, additional land will be added to Brooklyn Bridge Park should the Tobacco Warehouse and Empire Stores be made available for non-park use. Continue Reading →

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Parade of Ships Opens Fleet Week Tomorrow

Parade of Ships Opens Fleet Week Tomorrow

Tomorrow morning (Wednesday, May 23), weather permitting, you may be able to view from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade a parade of ships proceeding from the harbor entrance up into the Hudson River. Leading the parade, and starting to pass the Statue of Liberty at about 8:15 a.m., will be a line of nine tall sailing ships from countries around the world, including our own USCG Eagle and Mexico’s Cuauhtemoc. Following the tall ships will be thirteen modern naval vessels from the U.S. and other countries, which will begin passing the Statue around 11:30 a.m. Continue Reading →

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Fun, Food & Wine at Brooklyn Heights’ Willowtown Fair

Fun, Food & Wine at Brooklyn Heights’ Willowtown Fair

A kids’ sack race was one of many activities at Saturday’s Willowtown fair, which was blessed by perfect weather. Video, photos, and more text after the jump. Continue Reading →

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Last Minute Weekend Suggestions

Last Minute Weekend Suggestions

Our friends at Theater 2020 are taking the weekend off, but they’ll be back next Thursday through Sunday and the following weekend with their production of Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors. Bard buffs need not feel dismay, though, as Random Access Theater will present free performances of Twelfth Night at the Granite Prospect on Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park starting at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20. More details are here. And don’t forget the Willowtown Fair on Willow Place, Saturday from noon until 5:00. Continue Reading →

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Subway Service Alerts: This Weekend and The Following Week

Subway Service Alerts: This Weekend and The Following Week

It’s ba-a-a-a-ack: yet again, from 12:01 a.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Monday, there will be no service in either direction on the 4/5 line at Borough Hall. The 2 and 3 will be running normally in both directions at Borough Hall and Clark Street, and 3 trains into Brooklyn will have their route extended to New Lots Avenue. 2 trains, however, will not run between Franklin and Flatbush Avenues; shuttle buses will provide alternative service.

There are no planned changes affecting service on the A, C, F, G, R or N trains at any stations in or near Brooklyn Heights. Those traveling from Manhattan to Brooklyn should know that Brooklyn-bound R and N trains will not be stopping at 28th, 23rd, 8th or Prince streets. You can catch a Manhattan/Queens bound train at one of those stations and change to a Brooklyn bound train at 14th or 34th Street. Continue Reading →

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Reminder: Brazilian Dance Party Thursday (5/17) on Pier 1

Reminder: Brazilian Dance Party Thursday (5/17) on Pier 1

Thursday, May 17 starting at 7;00 p.m. there will be a Brazilian dance party at Pier 1 (enter at foot of Old Fulton Street), Brooklyn Bridge Park, featuring Nation Beat (see video after the jump), Maracatu New York, and DJ Greg Caz. Admission to the party is free; food and drinks will be available from vendors. More details are here.

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84th Precinct Community Council Meets Tuesday Evening

84th Precinct Community Council Meets Tuesday Evening

Deputy Inspector Mark DiPaolo, Commanding Officer of the 84th Precinct, has notified BHB that the Precinct’s Community Council will meet next Tuesday, May 22, at 7 p.m. at St. James’ Cathedral Pavilion, 240 Jay Street (between Cathedral Place and Chapel Street). On the agenda are (1) a presentation on crime prevention on NYC transit (2) the Cop of the Month award (3) a transit police report (4) a community crime report and (5) a Q&A period. All are invited, and refreshments will be served.

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<em>Brooklyn Daily Eagle</em> Tries to Create Controversy Where There Is None

Brooklyn Daily Eagle Tries to Create Controversy Where There Is None

This Brooklyn Daily Eagle story has the headline, “Brooklyn Bridge Park at odds with Heights over bike stations.” It implies some sort of Park-Heights conflict that doesn’t exist. Update: If you follow the link above, you’ll now find that the Eagle headline and story have been re-worded, evidently in response to this post.

The story quotes Nancy Webster of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy as welcoming a bike station near Atlantic Avenue and Furman Street, which is not on a residential street in Brooklyn Heights. It then notes that the Brooklyn Heights Association has expressed some concern over bike stations on residential streets in the Heights. This in no way conflicts with the BBPC’s desire for a station near the Park’s entrance, so the BBPC and the BHA are not “at odds.”

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Willowtown Fair This Saturday

Willowtown Fair This Saturday

This year’s Willowtown Fair, part of a growing tradition, will celebrate the lives of two women who made great contributions to the life of that community, and will feature a wine tasting, foood from Iris Cafe, bluegrass music, and fun for kids. Ben Bankson, President of the Willowtown Association, gives us the following:

The dedication of trees in memory of two longtime neighborhood residents and a wine tasting are among the features of the Willowtown Association’s annual Spring Fair to take place this Saturday, May 19, from noon to 5 p.m. the full length of Willow Place. Continue Reading →

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Karl Goes Foraging with Tony of Noodle Pudding

Karl Goes Foraging with Tony of Noodle Pudding

Mr. J and his cam go with Tony of Noodle Pudding to the Hunt’s Point market in the Bronx, where Tony shows what’s available and how he curates selects the ingredients for the dishes on his menu. Then it’s back to the restaurant to taste the day’s gleanings. Having sampled ramps for the first time yesterday, your correspondent is glad someone likes them. Videos and more text after the jump. Continue Reading →

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Mother’s Day Roses

Mother’s Day Roses

For all you Brooklyn Heights moms, including Mrs. Fink and my sweetie, it’s your day. Enjoy! Continue Reading →

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Karl Grooves on Booker T. Jones

Karl Grooves on Booker T. Jones

Our Mr. J. and his cam were on hand at Pier 1 yesterday evening for the opening event in the Dance Party series co-sponsored by BRIC Arts Media and Brooklyn Bridge Park. As you can see, Karl got right into the funk groove. Don’t forget, next Thursday it’s Brazilian. Video after the jump. Continue Reading →

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Saturday Night: Fireworks

Saturday Night: Fireworks

This in from Notify NYC:

There will be a fireworks display near Liberty Island tomorrow, May 12, at approximately 11:30 p.m.. In case of inclement weather, the display will take place May 13.

The fireworks should be easily visible from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. Continue Reading →

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Last Minute Weekend Suggestions

Last Minute Weekend Suggestions

The House Tour. The House Tour. The House Tour! More info at the Brooklyn Heights Association website.

There are several activities at Brooklyn Bridge Park this weekend. The Green Team meets tomorrow (Saturday, May 12) from 10:00 a.m. until noon. At the same time, there will be a MillionTreesNYC community tree giveaway on Pier 6, near the foot of Atlantic Avenue. Continue Reading →

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Subway Service Alerts: Weekend and Following Week

Subway Service Alerts: Weekend and Following Week

Arrrgh!! Another weekend (12:01 a.m. Saturday to 5;00 a.m. Monday) of no service in either direction on the 4/5 line at Borough Hall. The 2 and 3 will be running in both directions at Borough Hall and Clark Street and, for the convenience of those traveling into Brooklyn, the 3 will have its route extended to New Lots. The 2, however, will be terminating at Franklin Avenue; shuttle buses will provide alternate service between there and Flatbush. Manhattan bound F trains will be diverted to the A/C line between Jay Street-Metro Tech and West 4th Street, so no Manhattan bound service at York Street in DUMBO, but more than usual at High Street. To get to the Lower East Side stops on the F–East Broadway, Delancey, 2nd Avenue, and Broadway-Lafayette–take an A, C, or F to West 4th and change there for a Brooklyn bound F back to the skipped stop. Continue Reading →

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