New York Times

New York Daily News: THE REMAINS of a globe-trotting Brooklyn Heights woman whose journeys took her to Tuscany, Asia and Africa have finally been identified.

Karol Ann Keasler, 42, a bride-to-be who volunteered in a soup kitchen and read novels to the elderly, was finally identified by the city’s chief medical examiner on Friday.

There are 1,270 presumed victims of the attacks whose remains have yet to be identified. In 2005, according to the Daily News article, some of Ms. Keasler’s personal effects were found at the Trade Center site, and given to her sister, Susan.

Tonight’s vote to approve the new P.S. 8 middle school is great news for Brooklyn! By heeding our calls and formalizing the new middle school, DOE is helping to ensure the continued success of P.S. 8 and creating better options for all District 13 students. Now we must work to get the new P.S. 8 middle school ready to go for next school year and continue to work for more options for District 13 students.

Don’t forget: Tonight, February 9, The Brooklyn Bugle/Brooklyn Heights Blog is presenting a special preview of BHB contributor/filmmaker Heather Quinlan’s If These Knishes Could Talk, “The Story of the New York Accent,” at the Brooklyn Heights Cinema from 6:45 to 8:00 p.m. Knishes and egg creams will be served. (buy tickets here).

Quinlan will host a Q&A before the screening of this special 25-minute version of her work-in-progress. All ticket sale proceeds will go to the completion of the full-length film.

The condo project at 20 Henry Street is at last hitting the marketplace after years of delays. Final polishes are taking place at the former Peaks Mason Mints building, known as the Candy Factory, with asking prices between $450,000 and $2.56 million for studios up to 4 bedrooms. The building includes 24 lofts (six of them penthouse units, at $2+ million), with an additional 14 units in an adjacent modern structure on Poplar Street scheduled to wrap by summer.

An article in today’s Wall Street Journal reminds us of the building’s history: The former industrial space was built in 1885 as the base of candy makers Mason Mints and Mason Dots. In the 1970s, it became housing for artists under the state’s Mitchell-Lama subsidized-housing program.

Artists lived in studios there until the program ended in 2004. Developers Urban Realty Partners bought the site in 2007, but weren’t able to finish a conversion to condos after the imminent financial crisis. Los Angeles-based Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund stepped in and took over the project in 2010, alongside plenty of legal drama.

When plans were first announced that the factory was slated to become a condo development, the Brooklyn Heights Assn. wanted 20 Henry’s garden to remain open space, the WSJ adds—which is now the site of the new 14-unit modern building. BHA executive director Judy Stanton says she still prefers the garden to the new building, but is glad the factory is finally ready for new homeowners: “I’m sure it will attract families.”

Brokerage firm Stribling & Associates is marketing the project, and says that 20 Henry St. already has an 800-applicant waiting list.

(Photos: Wall Street Journal)

It’s been rumored for a couple months, but confirmation is now at hand: Starbucks at 112 Montague Street is moving east… to 134 Montague Street, site of the former Nine West shoes, which closed in July 2010. While the current space will lose a lot of window vistas along the front, the folks at Heights Vision next door tell BHB that the new locale is deeper and actually offers more square footage.

Reasons for the move: Apparently, the one-story building at 112 Montague was a constant source of roof leaks and plumbing issues for Starbucks, while the building at 134 is being completely gutted, including the residential above. It looks like the Star was willing to sacrifice views for peace of mind. And knowing most ‘Bucks addicts, the extra block either way from Henry Street won’t make a hill of beans difference.

A flurry of snow began gently falling in the neighborhood before 5 p.m. Wednesday, as Brooklyn Heights local Devan tries his best to catch a snowflake on his tongue along Montague Street. A dusting is expected as late as midnight, while Thursday brings a high of 46 degrees. Saturday’s low temp of 18 degrees may bring “snow showers,” but in all, February 2012 continues to be more a lamb than a lion.

Apparently hookah pipes don’t pay the rent; a new middle eastern bakery is promised on Atlantic Avenue in a basement store under MOCHA, the hookah lounge / cafe / ice cream parlor in the former FOUNTAIN CAFE space.

The Open Thread Wednesday might be a little late, but assuredly, the BHB community will make up for lost time.  Comment away! (Photo: Chuck Taylor.)

The two narrow retail spaces at 214 and 216 Hicks Street—which housed the recently closed Overtures and Dara Ettinger—have been demolished inside to carve out a single larger space.

A manager at next door neighbor Heights Cafe at 84 Montague Street—which owns the retail building—tells BHB that no one has yet leased the space, but it is believed that the additional square footage will attract more potential vendors.

Dara Ettinger jewelry opened at the beginning of May 2011 and barely lasted eight months at 214 Hicks, while beloved stationery and gift boutique Overtures at 216 Hicks endured for 30 years. Still hanging on: high-end clothier J. McLaughlin at 218 Hicks.

Morton’s The Steakhouse at 339 Adams Street (next to the Brooklyn Marriott) has shuttered, due to “shifting demographics.” The national steakhouse chain was purchased by hospitality company Landry’s Feb. 1; hours later, the company closed down the high-end eatery and stripped off its signage.

The Real Deal reports that Landry’s is also closing the Morton’s in West Palm Beach, for similar reasons. Perhaps also explaining the Brooklyn eatery’s demise, Landry’s VP of marketing Kris Guthrie said, “Over time, demographics shift, and so do the areas in which businesses thrive. It’s because of this that we must close the Morton’s location in Palm Beach.”

Landry’s also owns steakhouse chain McCormick & Schmick’s. Perhaps they were intimidated by the new Shake Shack that opened steps away on Fulton Street?

Thanks to “Nancy,” who tipped BHB in last Wednesday’s Open Thread.

(Photo: The Real Deal)

Stepping outside the borders of Brooklyn Heights in search of a wickedly delicious heap of Sliders & fries—and most important, free soda refills—has led me more than once to the dirty, decadent, painfully slow-moving White Castle at 29 Willoughby Street (between Pearl and Jay streets just off Fulton Mall). Well, no more: Sadly, the joint has shuttered.

Within a block, construction continues on the oddball Willoughby urban park, to the left of the new Shake Shack, which may explain why the Castle has been dethroned. And yet the check-cashing biz remains next door. Oh, sigh.

Another factor which makes this case noteworthy is that some of the plaintiffs are represented by attorney Jesse Strauss, former candidate for the Male District Leader of the 52nd Assembly District.  Further intriguing is that Mr. Strauss is also a graduate of Brooklyn Law School.

On a personal note, as a fellow graduate of Brooklyn Law School, there is something unfortunate about this whole scenario.  I am happy with my education and did not expect guaranteed success.  There are too many intangibles to the practice of law to think that these statistics ever actually mean anything.  Who doesn’t know that…?

NY Daily News

New York Daily News: Sometimes less is more, and such is the case at Teresa’s in Brooklyn Heights. The eatery has become famous in its own right, mostly for its well-executed, simple breakfast meals, like eggs any style ($4.95) or their steak and eggs with a side of Polish kielbasa for $7.95. The ambience is diner-like, the service, very friendly, and the prices — just right.

To the hair and nail salons that have opened on Remsen St btwn Court and Clinton, add a new Massage Parlor. Massage Envy is a national chain offering 1-2 hour massage packages (including “Swedish”, Sports, reflexology, and special prenatal and geriatric services) along with facials and other spa treatments. Introductory pricing appears very reasonable, with $39 charged for a one-hour service.

In the BHB post a week ago about the new 80-unit building at 75 Clinton Street & Montague (on right) going rental, a healthy debate blossomed here between the architectural charms of its facade versus the new 40-unit residential building one block down at 101 Clinton Street & Joralemon (left). You guys took each building to task, with typical opinionated passion.

So let’s put up your dukes, BHB followers. We invite a full-on discussion about the merits—or not—of each property. The Corcoran link for 75 Clinton is here. 101 Clinton doesn’t appear to have a dedicated site yet, since it’s still under construction. You are welcome to add whatever you’ve seen, heard or linked to.

Please keep it clean, friends.

Warbling Icelandic recording artist and Brooklyn Heights neighbor Björk, who bought a pad on Henry Street with filmmaker hubby Matthew Barney in 2009, has released new album “Brooklynphilia.” No, wait, that’s not right: It’s “Biophilia.” She appeared on Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” January 31 to rap about the project and perform tracks.

According to USA Today, the recording is—historically—the “first app album,” in collaboration with Apple. Its iTunes link explains that “Biophilia” comprises “a suite of original music and interactive, educational artworks and musical artifacts,” and is released as 10 in-app experiences accessed “as you fly through a three-dimensional galaxy that accompanies the album’s theme song ‘Cosmogony.’” Say what?

Perhaps you can figure out what that means as Björk attempts to explain it to Colbert via clips at USA Today’s Pop Candy blog here.

More likely, it was the effort of Bobby Cruz, who is hoping to open a tapas and wine bar beneath Heights Vision this spring, who took it upon himself to bag a good deal of the garbage of his own accord in January. He told the Brooklyn Paper—which led with the story about the garbage dump—that he intended to tidy the space until it was clean.

When we inspected the grounds January 20, located across from Corcoran real estate on Henry, it was easily accessible through an open iron gate—and remained so January 31. For years, residents have complained to landlords and business owners, to no avail, as it continued to accumulate garbage strewn & stacked at liberty. But as of Tuesday, it was largely free of garbage and clutter, albeit with a few remaining broken bottles here and there.

Cruz says his intention is to open an outdoor space behind his potential tapas bar. Now, the roomy, open courtyard that backs up to Our Lady Lebanon Cathedral on Remsen Street, looks like it could truly become a sweet spot.

What’s on your mind? Comment away!

BHB Photo Club pic by BrooklynBill via Flickr

This Valentine’s Day enjoy Tumbador chocolates and Brooklyn Brewery and Bronx Brewery beer in BHS’s stunning Othmer Library while storytellers, poets, and baseball historians from Brooklyn and the Bronx explore the legendary rivalry and share their borough love stories. Featuring Brooklyn Dodgers historian Joe Dorinson, Brooklyn storyteller Michele Carlo, Brooklyn poet Knickie D, former Yankees batboy Frank Prudenti, Bronx storyteller Bobby Gonzalez, and Bronx poet Skye Cabrera.

Tickets are $15, or $10 for BHS or Bronx Museum of the Arts members, and may be purchased here.

Verizon’s fiber-optic network providing higher speed internet and TV service has been slowly making its way to New York City, but has shown no sign of arriving in Brooklyn Heights — until now. Yesterday, selected houses were left with notices requesting backyard access for Verizon crews to install new telephone polls and replace the existing copper wires with new fiber optic lines and house terminals (previous discussions with repair technicians elicited information that the street lines are already in place, but limited access to the backyard poles has delayed a service rollout). Hopefuly some healthy competition with Time Warner Cable will be available in the near future.

A five-floor, 7,000sf townhouse at 212 Columbia Heights & Pierrepont Street has scored a lofty superlative as the most expensive home sale in Brooklyn Heights’ history. The closing price, according to Brownstoner: $11 million ($1,928/square foot). The owners, who paid $8.5 million in 2006, re The New York Times, listed it only three months ago for $13.5 million.

Here’s what you get for such a pretty penny: The Corcoran listing shares that the 25-foot-wide home was built in 1855 and renovated in 2005 to add a new kitchen and five gas fireplaces, along with its seven bedrooms, six baths and 17 rooms total. The parlor floor offers 14 foot ceilings and a garden facing the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, with full-width terraces on the parlor floor, master bedroom and fourth-floor family room. Add to that library, media and family rooms.

The previous record in Brooklyn Heights, Curbed says, was 88 Remsen Street, which sold for $10.8 million in 2008. 212 Columbia Heights also ties the highest sale in Brooklyn overall for a house in Gravesend that sold in 2003.

Glenn Markman, an executive VP at Cushman Wakefield, shares that rents currently run as high as $250 per square foot along Montague’s “high-rent retail strip,” and notes that the Starbucks there is scouting for a new location.

In addition, the article says: “The Le Pain Quotidien deal comes as Brooklyn Heights retailers are enjoying a surge of new business from new hotels and apartment buildings that have opened in the past few years. More foot traffic is expected in the area from the planned Squibb Park Bridge that will make it easier to reach Brooklyn Bridge Park from the Heights, scheduled to open this fall.” Markman says it will be “a game changer.”

Notification issued 01/30/12 at 8:40 AM. Emergency personnel are on the scene of an overturned truck on the eastbound Brooklyn Queens Expressway near the Brooklyn Bridge. As a result, the eastbound Brooklyn Queens Expressway is temporarily closed near Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn. Expect traffic delays and consider alternate routes.

This Saturday, February 4, Grace Church, 254 Hicks Street (corner of Hicks and Grace Court) will hold its annual Winterfair. From 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., you may shop for children’s clothes and toys, men’s and women’s clothing, books and CDs, sporting equipment, plants and flowers, furniture, housewares and tchatchkes. From 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the cafe will serve delicious hot luncheon entrees. Starting at 6:30 p.m., there will be a gala cocktail reception and silent auction; the theme of this year’s gala is “Russian Rhapsody.” (Disclosure: your correspondent’s wife is in charge of the auction.) Among the prizes available at auction will be goods and gift certificates from local merchants and restaurants, tickets to cultural and sporting events, antiques and art works. Admission to the Fair is free; tickets for the gala are $25 if purchased in advance from the parish office (718-624-1850), and will be available at the Fair for $30.

If you have items you would like to donate for sale at the Fair, please take them to the Church during the day today through Thursday. Books, CDs, children’s toys and clothing should be left on the stage in the downstairs gym; fleas, clothing, sports equipment, and the like should be put in the back side pews on the left of the Church. If you have items for the silent auction, please contact Martha Foley at 718-624-4306 or foley.martha@gmail.com

The piece goes on, “No one has claim to freeze New York’s ever-changing silhouette” and claims that the buildings’ “demolition and replacement would, frankly, be quite beautifying. Here is a landmark case of abusing the landmarking process.”

Good luck: Prices range from $2,800 to $7,000 a month. Marketing Directors VP of Sales Angela Ferrara, the building’s marketing firm, says Invesco decided to take advantage of the “booming” rental market.

Before plans were approved in 2007 to go residential, 75 Clinton Street was a bankruptcy court. Is there a waft of irony there, perhaps?

Apparently, Brooklyn Heights has a reputation for comely kids. Why, yours is certainly cute. Have you ever thought of making a buck or two from his handsome little mug? Now’s your chance. A talent agent is searching for a boy 10-12 years old specifically in the Heights to model for an independent jeans designer’s video look-book.
The shoot will take four hours, in the neighborhood, scheduled in early February to accommodate the family’s schedule. “A small monetary stipend will be provided,” according to ExploreTalent.com, which put out the casting call.

The article did however emphasize the luxurious chambers of the presiding Justice and the extreme competition for being selected to fill the upcoming vacancy.

According to the NYTimes: “Judges say there is such a backstabbing competition to get the attention of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who is expected to fill the vacant position by spring, that fully half of the court’s 19 judges have applied for the job.”

On a personal note, it was almost exactly 18 years ago today, that I was sworn into the New York State Bar on a very snowy January morning.  At least there is now a permanently installed ramp, which they didn’t have back then!