Brooklyn Heights Blog » Arts and Entertainment

Film Shoot Moratorium Short-Lived: Remsen Street Site For ‘Amish’

Chuck Taylor — Wed, 23 May 2012 21:53:19 +0000

So much for New York City’s two-month moratorium on film shoots in Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO. The Brooklyn Paper reported May 10 that following persistent complaints from neighbors about parking restrictions, lights, power cables and trailers, filming was halted from April 1 until the beginning of June.

However, here in the third week of May, a notice is posted at the bottom of Remsen Street that says filming for “Insomnia TV—Amish” is taking place Wednesday May 23, beginning at 4 p.m. (Mind you, as of 5:30 p.m., there were no signs of action, nor were cars ordered to vacate the block.)

Insomnia TV is a Manhattan-based production company comprising entertainment, marketing and promotional shoots, including film trailers and corporate. Its clients include History Channel, CBS, HBO, A&E and Lifetime.

Our best guess is that “Amish” has to do with A&E’s pilot for “Living with the Amish,” a British reality show being developed stateside that features all-American teens living with Amish families.

(Photo: Chuck Taylor)

Adam Yauch Park Closer to Reality: On State Street In Brooklyn Heights

Homer Fink — Wed, 23 May 2012 01:17:28 +0000

The Brooklyn Heights Blog community’s effort (ignited by “She’s Crafty”) to rename Squibb Park to Adam Yauch Park went viral today.

Our Facebook page now has more than 1,300 “Likes” and the idea has been covered by the Hollywood Reporter, Gothamist and 1010WINS Radio, to name a few. But a funny thing happened on the way to critical mass: We found out about an effort by Adam “AdRock” Horovitz and his wife Kathleen Hanna to fix up and rename the baseketball courts at State Street Park after Yauch.

Late this afternoon Ms. Hanna contacted us via Facebook, saying:

I just wanted to let you know that Adam “Adrock” Horovitz has already begun working with the Parks Commissioner to fix up and rename State Street Park where Yauch actually played as a kid to Adam Yauch Park. It would be great to get people behind THIS idea as it won’t hurt the Squibb family….Thanks, Kathleen Hanna

Since receiving that dispatch, we have confirmed with the Beastie Boys management and publicist that this plan is real and going forward. Right now the effort is focused on the basketball courts and not necessarily adjoining Palmetto Playground.

The Brooklyn Heights Blog community ENTHUSIASTICALLY supports this idea. We have updated the Facebook page* to reflect this and encourage all those who agree, their friends, family and friends of friends to continue to “Like” the page and share our strong desire to make Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn Heights a reality.

*Note that Facebook does not allow users to change names of pages with 200+ likes. While the name of our page remains the same, we no longer advocate changing the name of Squibb Park. We are 100% committed to doing all we can to making Adam Yauch Park a reality on State Street.

Heights’ Resident Lena Dunham’s HBO ‘Girls’ Renewed For Second Season

Chuck Taylor — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:46:45 +0000

HBO’s sad-sack series “Girls,” created, produced, directed, written by and starring Brooklyn Heights resident Lena Dunham, has been renewed for a 10-episode second season. The show revolves around the lives of four 20-somethings navigating love, life and careers in New York City post-college. Judd Apatow is an executive producer.

“Girls” debuted April 15 on the premium network, and has averaged 3.8 million viewers, per HBO.

Dunham grew up in and recently relocated back to Brooklyn Heights. As BHB reported in April, the 25 year old was raised in Soho, Brooklyn Heights and Tribeca, and attended St. Ann’s School in the Heights. Her mother is photographer and artist Laurie Simmons and her father is renowned painter Carroll Dunham.

Last Minute Weekend Suggestions

Claude Scales — Fri, 18 May 2012 04:49:53 +0000

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.

Opera fans can delight in a performance of Pietro Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana in the Plymouth Church sanctuary, 57 Orange Street, on Sunday beginning at 4:00 p.m. Admission is $25. The performance features Jason Stearns as Alfio.

There is a wealth of musical offerings this weekend. This evening (Friday, May 18), Grace and Spiritus Chorale will present “Brooklyn–a Garden of Song”, a concert of songs by composers either native to or at some time resident in Brooklyn, at St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church, Clinton and Montague streets (enter from Clinton), starting at 7:00. Admission is $15; $12 for seniors or students. Also at St. Ann, on Saturday evening starting at 8:00, the Metro Chamber Orchestra will present “The Glory of Venice”, a concert featuring works by Offenbach, Salieri, Mozart, and Vivaldi. Tickets are $25; more details are here. Tonight at the First Unitarian Church, Pierrepont Street at Monroe Place, starting at 8:00, the Brooklyn Chamber Music Society will present a concert of works by Robert Fuchs, Beethoven, and Brahms. Admission is $30; or $20 for students.

Finally, I would be remiss not to mention that my building, 57 Montague Street (corner of Pierrepont Place) will hold a sidewalk sale on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Trust me; these are always good. Come early for the best stuff.

Image Of The Day: Hiccup, Belch… Mother’s Day 2012 Post-Mortem

Chuck Taylor — Fri, 18 May 2012 04:05:02 +0000

Montague Wine & Spirits, 78 Montague Street (Photo: Chuck Taylor)

Brooklyn Heights Cinema At 70 Henry Street To Be Razed, After All

Chuck Taylor — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:16:08 +0000

After a push & pull tug of war throughout 2012, it appears the beloved Brooklyn Heights Cinema building at 70 Henry Street is about to meet the wrecking all, after all. But there’s hope: Plans call for a movie theater on the ground level.

BHB Top 10 2011 honoree and Cinema owner Ken Lowy—who wrote this guest post in January—said then that his lease runs until June 30. According to a Brownstoner post today, a new five-story rental will indeed replace the current building, which will result in shuttering of the theater in August.

SEE KEN LOWY’S COMMENT ON THIS POST AFTER THE JUMP…

On Wednesday, architects Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel presented plans to the CB2 Landuse Committee for a five-story, 17-unit building with a movie theater on the first floor and in a section of the basement. There will also be additional commercial space along Henry Street.

Brownstoner says that architect Randolph Gerner addressed preservationists’ concerns that the building is “an integral part of the Brooklyn Heights Landmark District and should not be demolished,” but refuted that the lot originally housed a five-story tenement with a one-story attached building for the proprietor of the site.

Gerner said a commissioned historical report of 70 Henry deemed that the one-story building—now the theater—underwent enough change so that it “no longer retains its historical significance,” according to Brownstoner. He added at the hearing, “We’re borrowing from historic materials in a modern fashion.”

The proposal involves a brick facade and massive steel windows reminiscent of the nearby new 20 Henry Street condo addition, sans balconies. The committee approved the design and, says Brownstoner, “seemed pleased that the movie theater would be retained.”

KEN LOWRY WEIGHED IN WITH THE FOLLOWING COMMENT BELOW:

We’ll find a temporary location close by and yes, we will be back. I will be signing a legal document guaranteeing I’ll be back. As long as we have a temporary location and keep it going, coming back will be easy. And we will still have music and silent films at the temporary space. Also, we’ll be at the current location until at least the end of August.

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

Claude Scales — Thu, 17 May 2012 03:00:43 +0000

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.

Let’s Make It Happen: Rename Squibb Park to Adam Yauch Park

Homer Fink — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:06:55 +0000

READ IMPORTANT UPDATE HERE.
Commenter “She’s Crafty” suggested in a comment on BHB that Squibb Park be renamed Adam Yauch Park to honor the Brooklyn Heights native and Beastie Boy MC who died earlier this month at the age of 47.

We couldn’t agree more. We hope you do too. A Facebook page has been set up to garner support and we encourage you to “like” it as well as voice and share your thoughts here in the comments.

Here’s our brief mission statement from FB:

Squibb Park in Brooklyn Heights, NY is currently undergoing a transformation into a skateboarding facility and gateway to Brooklyn Bridge Park. The Brooklyn Heights Blog community believes that it would be a fitting tribute to name it after Brooklyn Heights native, musician, humanitarian Adam Yauch (MCA) of the Beastie Boys. Adam Yauch Park sits directly across the street from the Harry Chapin Playground which is also named after a great Brooklyn Heights resident, musician and humanitarian. To show your support please like this page and share with your friends.

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Squadron (Figuratively) Pours One Out for Beastie Boy, Brooklyn Heights Native Adam Yauch in NYS Senate

Homer Fink — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:06:19 +0000

Our man in the NYS Senate, Daniel Squadron honored fallen Beastie Boy/Brooklyn Heights native Adam Yauch today with a resolution on the Senate floor. Yauch, who died of throat cancer May 4, was recognized by Squadron for his contribution to music as well as his humanitarian work.

Details and video from a presser after the jump:

State Senator Daniel Squadron honored Beastie Boys founder Adam “MCA” Yauch with a resolution on the Senate floor. The resolution, which recognizes Yauch’s and the Beastie Boys’ major contributions to music, as well as Yauch’s political activism, passed the Senate yesterday afternoon.

Yauch grew up in Brooklyn Heights and the Beastie Boys grew to prominence via the East Village and Lower East Side music scene.

The Squadron resolution reads in part: “Whereas, The music and message of the Beastie Boys evolved over the years, but they can’t, won’t, don’t stop changing the face of hip-hop, of music, and of our culture. Whereas, The Beastie Boys exemplified New York through a period in which grassroots creativity and a community of iconoclastic artists helped redefine and rejuvenate a city on the ropes, with iconic imagery from Brooklyn to Ludlow Street.”

Temporary ‘Photoville’ Village Coming To BBP Pier 3 This Summer

Chuck Taylor — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:38:09 +0000

Brooklyn-based art cooperative United Photo Industries is creating a temporary “photographic village” out of 30 shipping containers in Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 3 Uplands for nine days this summer, with the promise that “central to the Village will be a communal beer & food garden serving chilled brews and artisanal snacks.”

Gothamist reports that “Photoville” will exhibit its “celebration of photography” from June 22 to July 1 (hours are here). It comprises a mix of exhibitions, lectures, hands-on workshops, nighttime projections, a mini dog run with the “Paws Wall of Fame” and beer garden provided by Brooklyn Brewery “that will create a photographic destination like no other.” Four to five food truck vendors will also be on-hand, via the New York Food Truck Association.

The Photoville website describes its mission as “a Brooklyn-born, art-presenting cooperative dedicated to identifying, harnessing and occasionally conjuring unexpected exhibition opportunities. All in the name of fostering conversation, championing new directions in photography and cultivating ties within an ever-expanding, globe-trotting community of photographers.”

Sounds positively hipster.

SOLD! Historic Bossert: Plan In Place To Convert Back To Hotel

Chuck Taylor — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:31:55 +0000

After revealing last week that Brooklyn Heights’ historic Bossert Hotel was returning to its roots as a hotel, Brownstoner reports today that city filings offer a confirmed buyer for the Jehovah’s Witnesses property.

David Bistricer has plans to turn the structure into a 302-unit “Hotels, Dormitories,” in DOB-speak. Meanwhile, according to the filings, the architect of record on the job is Gene Kaufman, who has been in the news lately for his plans to renovate the Hotel Chelsea in Manhattan, a landmark in its own right.

Bistricer had this to say to us about the plans for the Bossert: “The facade is not going to be touched because it’s in impeccable condition. The present owners kept it in very good shape. The plans have not been finalized for the interior of the building but we are going to upgrade the plumbing and electrical.”

Well, now we know who some of the players are for a building that qualifies as a national treasure, since it is public record. What is not yet public record is how much the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ are in contract to sell the structure for, though some real estate insiders we have spoken to opine that it could be close to the $90 million price that the property almost sold for back in 2008.

(Photo: Brownstoner)

Karl Grooves on Booker T. Jones

Claude Scales — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:40:22 +0000

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.

Saturday Night: Fireworks

Claude Scales — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:18:08 +0000

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.

(Photo: panoramio.com)

Last Minute Weekend Suggestions

Claude Scales — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:18:55 +0000

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.

Also tomorrow, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Bike New York will host a free street skills ride for adults and teens (bikes and helmets will be provided for those who need them) at the Pier 1 uplands near the foot of Old Fulton Street. At the same location on Sunday, starting at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., Bike New York will give free learn to ride classes for adults and teens. You must pre-register for Bike New York classes through the linked website.

Don’t forget Theater 2020′s Comedy of Errors, tonight and tomorrow (Saturday) at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 3:00 p.m., at the Cranberry Street Theater Space, Assumption Church, 55 Cranberry Street.

Photo: Judith Angel for BHA.

Babs Returns To Brooklyn Roots With October Barclays Concert

Chuck Taylor — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:26:28 +0000

Barbra Streisand’s Brooklyn roots are certainly no secret. She was born & raised in the borough and graduated in 1959 from Erasmus Hall High School in Flatbush. However, she has not performed publicly in BK since then, some 53 years ago… until now. As the mainstream press has proclaimed, Babs, now 70, is returning home for a concert Thursday October 11, at the spanking new 19,000-seat Barclays Center.

Streisand said, “Brooklyn to me means the Loews Kings, Erasmus, the Yeshiva I went to, the Dodgers, Prospect Park, great Chinese food. I’m so glad I came from Brooklyn‚ down to earth. I guess you can come home again.”

Wonder if home will also mean a stop by the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, where she filmed scenes for 1974 film “For Pete’s Sake,” with Michael Sarrazin.

Tix for the Barclays concert range from $90 to $650, with $1,500 tickets available during pre-sale here. Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark intimated that another night might be added, if tickets fly, as expected. The new Center opens September 28 with a concert by Brooklyn-born Jay-Z. Hmmm, somehow, I don’t think the venue will attract the same audience that night…

Read more about Streisand’s Brooklyn roots in The New York Times here. And scan the full press release announcing Streisand’s appearance below:

The Brooklyn-born and raised, world-acclaimed superstar will perform a concert on Thursday, October 11th, in Brooklyn at Barclays Center, the new 19,000-seat sports and entertainment venue.

Streisand will be making a triumphant return to her native borough. Raised in the Flatbush neighborhood and a graduate of Erasmus Hall High School, Streisand will perform publicly for the first time in Brooklyn.

Streisand stated, “Brooklyn to me means the Loews Kings, Erasmus, the Yeshiva I went to, the Dodgers, Prospect Park, great Chinese food. I’m so glad I came from Brooklyn‚ down to earth. I guess you CAN come home again.”

“When I first thought about building an arena in Brooklyn, I always envisioned Barbra Streisand coming home to take center-stage in her native borough,” said Barclays Center majority owner and developer Bruce Ratner. “It’s humbling and almost surreal to welcome arguably the greatest entertainer of all-time to Barclays Center. Barbra is Brooklyn and there’s nowhere more fitting for her to perform. This will be a night to remember.”

“I’m thrilled that all of America will be celebrating one of Brooklyn’s greatest contributions to the world of music, film, television and Broadway this fall when Barbra Streisand comes home to the exciting new Barclays Center,” said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. “They just don’t get any bigger than this daughter of Brooklyn and proud graduate of Erasmus Hall High School, and although she has entertained millions upon millions across the globe for the better part of 50 years, Ms. Streisand will always find a home here in Brooklyn. So, no more tears, music fans‚ Brooklyn’s very own funny girl, Barbra Streisand, will create new memories as the main event this October at Barclays Center!”

“Barbra Streisand in Brooklyn will be a huge moment and a defining experience for Barclays Center,” said Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark. “We are truly honored to bring Barbra full circle, to the borough where it all started for her, just down Flatbush Avenue from her old neighborhood. We are continuing our goal to bring the best of everything to Barclays Center. Brooklyn, after all, deserves nothing less.”

City Issues Cease Fire On Movie Shoots In Brooklyn Heights & DUMBO

Chuck Taylor — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:11:58 +0000

It’s a good thing NBC’s hit series “Smash” has wrapped its first season. The city has imposed a two-month moratorium on film shoots in Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO—bringing a cease fire to movie-making in two of the borough’s most cinematic communities.

The Brooklyn Paper reports today that the clamp-down follows persistent complaints from neighbors about parking restrictions, lights, power cables and trailers.

“It is part of our office’s continuing efforts to weigh the needs and concerns of the community while supporting the jobs that come from film and television production in the city,” city film spokeswoman Marybeth Ihle said in the Brooklyn Paper.

Production companies have filmed few movies, TV shows or commercials since April 1, when the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment pulled the plug.

Mayor Bloomberg said on Tuesday that the film & TV industry has spent $60 billion in the city over the past decade, including $7.1 billion in 2011, while employing 130,000 people. But small businesses claim they’re not spending their money on local venues.

Read the full piece in Brooklyn Paper here.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Thursday: ‘Celebrate BK! Dance Party’

Chuck Taylor — Wed, 09 May 2012 22:37:21 +0000

A reminder: On Thursday, May 10 from 7-10 p.m., Brooklyn Bridge Park will host the “Celebrate Brooklyn!” Dance Party at Pier 1. Grammy-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Booker T. Jones will perform material from his “The Road From Memphis,” while DJ Rich Medina Rich Medina will warm up the night with a sonic journey of hip-hop, house, Afrobeat, funk & soul.. The best part: This event is free.

BBP reminds us of its “sweeping views, great lawn, dance lessons, beer gardens and bike valet.” More info here.

Heights’ Author Jennifer Miller Profiled About Novel ‘Gadfly’

Chuck Taylor — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:20:34 +0000

Brooklyn Heights resident Jennifer Miller, author of just-published “The Year of the Gadfly,” is profiled on webbie Capital New York, which writer Yevgeniya Traps describes as “a buzzy debut novel set in a posh private school beleaguered by secrets and scandals.”

The piece opens: “At 4 p.m. on a recent Friday afternoon, the Tazza coffee shop in Brooklyn Heights looked like it had been filled by Central Casting. Toddlers gamboled at [sic] their patient, lovingly distracted mothers’ feet; school kids, just set free for the weekend, gorged on pastries; law students seemed lost in their melodramatically oversized tomes; men with varying degrees of facial hair idled with their iPads.”

On her own website, Miller quips: “Jen holds an MFA in fiction-writing and a MS in journalism from Columbia. She is a native of Washington, and currently lives in Brooklyn, with all the other writers.”

Read the full profile on Capital New York here.

(Photos: Capital New York)

Is The Bossert Being Converted Back To The ‘Waldorf Astoria of Brooklyn’?

Chuck Taylor — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:13:10 +0000

Consider this a potential game-changer for Brooklyn Heights: The magnificent Bossert at 98 Montague Street, owned & maintained by the Jehovah’s Witnesses, is apparently returning to its original domain as a hotel. Brownstoner reported Tuesday that according to a Public Hearing notice sent out by Community Board Two, a variance application has been filed to allow “reconversion of the existing community facility hotel back to its original, transient hotel use.”

What remains unclear is whether the flip is a maneuver on the part of Jehovah’s Witnesses to find an interested buyer for the building. It was first put on the market in 2008, just as the economy flatlined. A $90 million bid fell through, and the property has failed to draw serious interest since.

The religious group bought the Bossert in 1988 and meticulously returned the majestic 14-story building to world-class grandeur—restoring its one-time reputation as the “Waldorf Astoria of Brooklyn.” Currently, it is utilized as free lodging for Jehovah’s Witnesses visiting and studying at Brooklyn Heights’ Watchtower. The 200,000-square-foot building is configured into 224 apartments.

The Hotel Bossert was built in 1909 by Louis Bossert, a Brooklyn lumber magnate and opened as an “apartment hotel.” During the 1920s, it was known for its two-level rooftop restaurant that provided panoramic Manhattan views. In the 1950s, the Bossert was home to several Brooklyn Dodger players, and following the team’s win over the New York Yankees in the 1955 World Series, Dodgers fans and players notoriously gathered in the lobby.

A public hearing will be held Wednesday, May 16 at 6 p.m. at the Dibner Library at 5 Metrotech Center.

(Top photo: Josh Derr; Below: BHB)

BBP Dance Parties Start This Thursday With Booker T. Jones

Claude Scales — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:43:07 +0000

BRIC Arts Media Bklyn, in partnership with Brooklyn Bridge Park, is presenting a series of free dance parties at Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park the next three Thursday evenings starting at 7:00. The opening event, this Thursday, May 10, features legendary funk keyboardist Booker T. Jones, whose group, Booker T. and the M.G.’s, provided the backbone for Stax Records’ classic Memphis soul sound. Also on the bill is DJ Rich Medina.

The following Thursday, May 17, there will be a Brazilian dance party featuring Nation Beat, Brooklyn’s own Maracatu New York, and DJ Greg Caz. The final dance party, on May 24, will be a Cajun/Zydeco fais do-do with Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience and Jesse Lége & Bayou Brew.

Food and beverages will be available from these food trucks during all the dance parties: Morris Grilled Cheese, Kumquat Cupcakery, Rickshaw Dumplings, Kimchi Taco, and Pizza Moto.

Remembering Brooklyn Heights Native Beastie Boy MC Adam Yauch

Chuck Taylor — Sat, 05 May 2012 01:35:31 +0000

Beastie Boys member MC Adam “MCA” Yauch, who died today at age 47 from cancer, grew up in Brooklyn Heights, where he taught himself to play bass as a teen and formed the trio with Mike “Mike D” Diamond & Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz on his 17th birthday. Mike D, meanwhile, was a graduate of local St. Ann’s School.

Despite bios alleging Yauch was raised in Midwood, Brooklyn, he actually attended Edward R. Murrow High School in that nabe and was raised in the Heights, according to numerous obituary posts Friday.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz issued the following statement: “Brooklyn, the Creative Capital of New York City, has made so many great contributions to music and the arts, and in the world of hip hop, they don’t come much bigger than Brooklyn native Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch and his fellow Beastie Boys. Of course, Adam’s home borough was immortalized in the Beastie Boys’ 1987 hit, ‘No Sleep Till Brooklyn,’ and he never forgot where he came from with lyrics like ‘Open Letter to NYC’’s ‘At lunch I’d go to Blimpies down on Montague Street and hit the Fulton Street Mall for the sneakers on my feet.’”

Yauch was an only child, the son of painter Frances and architect Noel Yauch. After forming the Beasties, then a hardcore punk band, the white trio meshed punk and rap into a singular sensation, breaking through hip-hop racial barriers with blockbuster 1986 album “Licensed to Ill” on Russell Simmons’ Def Jam Records. The trio is regarded as one of the most influential hip-hop acts of all time, and helped turn the genre into a mainstream force around the world. Beastie Boys are, of course, best known for teen angst anthem “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party).” In all, the group sold 40 million albums and had four No. 1 records.

Yauch also directed Beastie Boys’ videos as well as 2008 basketball documentary “Gunnin’ for #1 Spot,” and he ran a film production and distribution company. He is survived by his wife and daughter.

He was diagnosed with a cancerous salivary gland in 2009, and had been undergoing treatment for a cancerous parotid gland and a lymph node, which prevented him from attending the Beasties April induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year. The group had not performed together since 2009.

BHB reader Hoppy recognizes that the group had Brooklyn Heights in its blood and lyrics in this OTW comment: “I’m saddened by the death of Brooklyn Heights’ own MCA.”

Some locally relevant lyrics:
“Every Morning I Took The Train To High Street Station
Doing Homework On The Train, What A F**ked Up Situation”
-Root Down

“So I’m out pickin’ pockets at the Atlantic Antic
And nobody wants to hear you cause your rhymes are so frantic”
-Shadrach

Mrs. Fink adds via Facebook: “In 2004′s ‘Open Letter to NYC,’ Adam Yauch prayed ‘Dear New York I hope you’re doing well/I know a lot’s happen and you’ve been through hell/So we give thanks for providing a home.’ I always thought if it as a prayer somehow… And, in turn, I wish the same for him on this next step of his journey.”

And BHB founder Homer Fink offers: “The Beastie Boys influenced a generation. As program director of WNYU backintheday, your humble publisher got to witness the birth of the band. My old pal Timmy Sommer helped them along by playing their music on his legendary “Noise the Show.” This intro was immortalized on the band’s 1994 compilation Some Old Bullshit:

Our thoughts are with Yauch’s family and our many friends who worked with him closely for most of the band’s career.”

Please share your thoughts below.

BK Tweets: Reaction to the Death of Adam “MCA” Yauch of the Beastie Boys

Homer Fink — Sat, 05 May 2012 01:26:04 +0000

Brooklyn Bloggers, luminaries and fans took to Twitter in reaction to the death of Beastie Boy Adam Yauch today:

RT @FakeMTA: The M, C. and A trains won’t be running, due to the world being really unfair, sometimes.

— Brokelyn (@Brokelyn) May 4, 2012

BLOG’D: R.I.P. MCA: Beastie Boys frontman Adam Yauch died today of cancer. He was only forty-seven years old. … bit.ly/KiUCze

— Effed in Park Slope (@effedparkslope) May 4, 2012

Adam Yauch marched with us in November over the Brooklyn Bridge. He was a visionary artist who never lost sight of his community. #RIP

— Occupy Wall Street (@OccupyWallSt) May 4, 2012

BP MARKOWITZ STATEMENT ON DEATH OF BROOKLYN NATIVE ADAM YAUCH OF THE BEASTIE BOYS“Brooklyn—the Creative Capital… fb.me/1iuEvDIFk

— Marty Markowitz (@MartyMarkowitz) May 4, 2012

Born and Bred in Brooklyn, U.S.A., they call him Adam Yauch, but he’s M.C.A. RIP Adam. #beastieboys #nosleeptillbrooklyn

— Chuck Schumer (@ChuckSchumer) May 4, 2012

RIP M.C.A. – Brooklyn lost a favorite son today.#BeastieBoys #musicalinnovation

— Stephen Levin (@StephenLevin33) May 4, 2012

“Forget about Kurt Cobain for a second: For kids like me, the Beastie Boys invented the 90s. Technology…” tmblr.co/Zfm8byKu9v__

— bklyndad (@bklyndad) May 5, 2012

RIP, Adam Yauch. All of Brooklyn is sad, dude. music-mix.ew.com/2012/05/04/ada… via @EW

— reclaimedhome (@reclaimedhome) May 4, 2012

RIP Adam Yauch. So talented, so young, so sad. #beastiesforever

— Karyn Bosnak (@karynbosnak) May 4, 2012

RT @KoPoint We’re blasting Beastie Boy classics today at the @KoPoint studio. Twist one up, pour one out, and turn it up loud for MCA.

— Dan Patterson (@DanPatterson) May 4, 2012

first saw this video in ’92 before an intense game of capture the flag.ill never forget that. #Flint #Bklyn #RIPMCA youtube.com/watch?v=ru3gH2…

— THE SHALTZES (@THESHALTZES) May 4, 2012

Film Shoot On Cranberry And Willow Friday

Chuck Taylor — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:17:00 +0000

A small film shoot is taking place this morning on Cranberry and Willow streets, which was scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. “All I Need Prods” is the company manning the filming. At the moment, that’s about all we know. Anybody have details? (Photo: Homer Fink)

Vintage Image: Key Food Market, 1976

Chuck Taylor — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:30:13 +0000

The 1976 Montague Street Revitalization project offered grand plans for the ailing Brooklyn Heights neighborhood, and included numerous photographs of everyday life. Of course, some 36 years later, these casual B&W shots offer a cool triptych to a time gone by: the fashion, hairstyles and simply the way folks gathered back in the day.

We’re featuring Key Food here—nothing overtly dramatic, but entertaining for those very reasons. And below, the view at 106 Montague Street today. Who knows, a few decades from now, we’ll probably be smiling over how “vintage” these millennial images are.

For a campy walk down the aisles of 1960s & 1970s supermarkets, take a look here.

(Current photos: Chuck Taylor)

Last Minute Weekend Suggestions

Claude Scales — Fri, 04 May 2012 04:47:26 +0000

The Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont Street (corner of Clinton) will present a screening of Nancy Buirski’s film, The Loving Story, a love story about a couple whose wedding set the stage for the Supreme Court’s decision, in Loving v. Virginia, that struck down statutes prohibiting interracial marriage.

The show begins at 3 p.m. Saturday, and there will be a discussion with Buirski afterward. The event is free with museum admission, which is free for BHS members; for non-members it is $6 for adults, and $4 for seniors over 62, teachers, and students 12 and over (college students must have ID; children under 12 are free).

Don’t forget Theater 2020′s Comedy of Errors, with performances tonight (Friday) and Saturday at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. More details at the linked post.

Finally, weather permitting, get a view of an astronomical double treat, a “Supermoon” and the eta aquarid meteor shower tomorrow (Saturday) evening. (Image: NASA.)

2012 Brooklyn Heights House Tour: A Preview Of Its Five Historic Townhouses

Chuck Taylor — Thu, 03 May 2012 20:42:47 +0000

The 2012 Brooklyn Heights Assn. Landmark House & Garden Tour, which takes place Saturday May 12, has announced the five privately owned historic townhouses that comprise the annual event.

Highlights of the five homes include:
* A four-story townhouse circa 1873, designed in a classical revival style. After decades as a multi-unit building, it was updated by a gut renovation, preserving what few original elements remain. It is now a spacious home to a family of five.

* A three-story brick and sandstone carriage house constructed in the 1870s. During the 1940s, this building was a social club cum gym, owned by a famous boxer. The current owner’s attention to detail is evident throughout this inventively designed family home.

* A Federal-style row house built in 1826. There is an unusual rear addition dating from the Victorian era, featuring stained glass windows, oak paneling and basket-weave floors. Top floor bedrooms feature charming vintage wallpaper and wide plank original pine floors.

* Built in 1848, this Greek Revival townhouse—from the 1890s to early 1900s—was the home and office of Dr. Robert Latou Dickinson, a pioneer in women’s reproductive health, then became the Alpha Chi Ro Fraternity house, and was later rented by church groups during the Second World war as a hostel.

* This grandly proportioned 1856 Renaissance Revival style brownstone offers unmatched views of New York harbor, the lower Manhattan skyline and the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. The entrance foyer offers red marble floors, Fortuny-covered walls, Tang dynasty horse and Empire-style pedestals featuring Wedgewood basalt heads of Paris and Mercury.

The go-at-your-own-pace, self-guided House & Garden Tour, from 1-5 p.m. is $40 for general admission, and $30 for BHA members who reserve in advance. Tickets, which support the Brooklyn Heights Assn. are tax-deductible, and available (along with much more info, including interior pics) here.

Reminder: Theater 2020′s Comedy of Errors Opens Tomorrow

Claude Scales — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:04:13 +0000

Theater 2020′s innovative production of Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors (cast shown in photo) opens tomorrow (Friday, May 4) at 8:00 p.m. at the Cranberry Street Theater Space, Assumption Church, 55 Cranberry Street. More details are here.

Heights’ Resident Douglas Flamm’s ‘Moyster’ Wins Brooklyn Wort Competition

Chuck Taylor — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:50:31 +0000

Twenty-five local New York beer brewers attempted to go for the gold April 28 in the semi-annual Brooklyn Wort taste test competition, sponsored by Brooklyn Homebrew and Ditmas Park pub Sycamore. The winner: Douglas Flamm, a rare-book seller from Brooklyn Heights.

Judges, comprising a panel of specialists from such lauded drink tanks as Brooklyn Brewery and Bierkraft, rewarded his “Moyster” stout with 2012′s top prize of $800. The brew’s magical mystery ingredient is, uh, a half dozen oysters, shells and all. Flamm came in third-place last summer, according to The Brooklyn Paper. He describes his concoction as having “definite roast notes from toasted barley. It’s got a little bit of bitter chocolate flavors and a nice mineral finish.”

This year’s Brooklyn Wort (named for the sugary liquid that becomes alcohol after fermentation) began with a preliminary taste test of 125 local beers, which were whittled to the top 25 for the competition.

(Photo by Stefano Giovannini/The Brooklyn Paper)

Tour BHS Building Thursday Evening

Claude Scales — Tue, 01 May 2012 03:21:33 +0000

The Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont Street (corner of Clinton) will present a guided tour of its historic building this Thursday evening, May 3, starting at 7:00 p.m. The building, completed in 1881, is noted for its elaborate terra cotta exterior decoration, but its interior is also dazzling, including elaborately patterned tile floors, carved woodwork, and stained glass windows. The Othmer Library is a spectacular space. The building was designed by George B. Post, among whose notable surviving buildings are the New York Stock Exchange and the Wisconsin State Capitol.

The tour is free for BHS members; for non-members it is $6 for adults, and $4 for seniors over 62, teachers, and students 12 and over (college students must have ID; children under 12 are free). There is more information here.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Summer Film Series Announced

Chuck Taylor — Tue, 01 May 2012 02:47:27 +0000

Brooklyn Bridge Park has announced its 13th-annual “Movies With A View” SyFy summer series of free films, running from the beginning of July, every Thursday through the end of August, on Pier 1.

Ditch Plains and Calexio will offer food at the series, although visitors are allowed to bring their own snacks and beverages (sneer: no open alcohol allowed), while no chairs with metal frames are permitted on the lawn. Here’s the schedule:

July 5: “ET”
July 12: “To Kill A Mockingbird”
July 19: “Slumdog Millionaire”
July 26: “Clueless”
August 2: “Wet Hot American Summer”
August 9: “Barefoot in the Park”
August 16: “The Big Chill”
August 23: “Unforgiven”
August 30: Public vote: “Across the Universe,” “Shaun of the Dead” or “Splendor in the Grass”