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Heights History: A Collective Of Awesome Promenade Construction Pics

Most of us Brooklyn Heights denizens have seen dozens of pics of the Brooklyn Heights Promenade in its early days, but there are actually a couple here that were new to a guy who loves to scour the webbie for Heights history. How about you? Via Gothamist here.

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Heights History: A Room At The Hotel St. George, $10 A Week… In 1880

After going back in time to 1902 last month, we’ve given the Brooklyn Daily Eagle archives another spin into the past. This time we transport back to July 10, 1880, 132 years ago today… What a deal! The Hotel St. George is offering special summer rates, for $10 a week. Your offer includes a bedroom, […]

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Times Remembers Eagle’s Dennis Holt, Civil Rights Hero

In the Sunday New York Times Metropolitan section, Kevin Baker remembers his friend of many years, Dennis Holt, who died last month. Baker paints a colorful portrait of Holt as “a classic New York eccentric” who once chased an intruder from his Boerum Hill townhouse while brandishing a Civil War era dress sword.

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Ephemeral New York Deems St. George Liquor Sign ‘One Of Coolest’ Vintage

The always intriguing Ephemeral New York, which “chronicles an ever-changing city through faded and forgotten artifacts,” has deemed the neon sign outside the St. George Hotel one of “New York’s coolest vintage liquor store signs.” It joins age-old comrades in the West Village, 14th Street & Eighth Avenue and the Lower East Side. Of course, […]

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Spike Lee Believes Cobble Hill Has Gentrified Into Brooklyn Heights

In a lengthy Q&A on New York magazine’s Vulture blog, Spike Lee talks with writer Will Leitch in detail about his roots in Brooklyn’s Cobble Hill. The director was born in Atlanta, and moved to Crown Heights at an early age, followed by eight years beginning around the age of 4—from 1961 to 1969—at 186 […]

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Heights History: Heights Casino, 75 Montague Street

As part of its regular series “Brooklyn One Building At A Time,” Brownstoner’s Montrose Morris offers a detailed history of the Heights Casino at 75 Montague Street. The Flemish Revival building was constructed in 1905, designed to accommodate sports and club activities, as well as a reference to Brooklyn’s Dutch heritage. For its entire life, […]

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Pols Pitch Petition To Bring Macy’s July 4th Fireworks Home To Brooklyn

They’re not giving up. At the beginning of April, State Senator Daniel Squadron and City Council Member Steve Levin led a rally to return the annual Macy’s 4th of July fireworks to the East River. Since 2009, the historic annual display has been based along the Hudson, stealing views from residents of Brooklyn, Queens and […]

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If The Bossert Indeed Becomes A Hotel Again, Here’s Your Rooftop View

During the Community Board 2 Land Use Committee hearing June 20, the Bossert was approved to return to its status as a hotel (it now goes before the full Board). Among plans that buyer David Bistricer has in mind for the newly “sophisticated and upscale” hotel are a first-class restaurant and intimate dining on the […]

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Backtrax: Downtown’s Martin’s Dept. Store & Offerman Building

As the Landmarked Romanesque revival Offerman Building along Fulton Street Mall continues buildout of TJ Maxx and a bevy of boutique stores—alongside H&M’s new-construction two-story glass modernist structure—it’s high time to take a look back at the history of the storied location at 505 Fulton Street. Its life began in 1891, commissioned by mogel Henry […]

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Photo Of The Day: Brooklyn Man ‘Stalked By Stork, I Want Work,’ 1937

Times haven’t changed but so much between 1937 and 2012. Some 75 years ago, the U.S. was enduring a marked recession that lasted 13 months and catapulted unemployment from 14.3% in 1937 to 19.0% in 1938. Thankfully, in 2012, the national unemployment rate isn’t quite as dire—but it remains stagnant for a fifth dismal year. […]

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