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Is S.S. United States Coming to Brooklyn?

According to a New York Times article, S.S. United States, once the pride of our nation’s merchant marine and last holder of the Blue Riband, may be moved from a pier in Philadelphia where she has been docked for some years (and where I photographed her in 2006) to “a location in Brooklyn within four […]

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Smell Something? Say Something.

We’ve received this somewhat cryptic message from Notify NYC: Notification issued on 7/19/14 at 11:18 AM. The United States Coast Guard reports that a ship in Arthur Kill [red in map] off the coast of Staten Island is offloading various fuel products. As a result, there may be an odor in Staten Island and Brooklyn. […]

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Karl’s Video History of Brooklyn Ferry

We’re approaching the 200th anniversary of the beginning of steam powered ferry service between Brooklyn and Manhattan. Karl Junkersfeld has made a video (see it after the jump) marking the occasion, and giving the history of ferry service, and of the Brooklyn neighborhood (now the Fulton Ferry Historic District and, to its north, DUMBO) that […]

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Marina, Roller Rink, and More to Come at Brooklyn Bridge Park

Construction work at Brooklyn Bridge Park will pick up further in 2014, thanks to some recent awards in response to Requests for Proposals and decisions regarding other projects. Edgewater Resources, “a multi- disciplinary marina design, development, and management company with extensive national and international experience,” will develop and operate a marina between Piers 4 and […]

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Photos From a Night Walk Through Brooklyn Bridge Park

These photos were taken on the evening of Tuesday, December 10. The Empire State Building (Shreve, Lamb & Harmon, 1931), as seen from Pier 1, was illuminated in blue, in honor of Human Rights Day and Human Rights Watch. Ducks paddling in the spiral cove inland from Pier 2. Pier 5, lit up at night, […]

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A Tour of Pier 5 and Unfinished Parts of Brooklyn Bridge Park

Sunday at noon I joined a group of architecture and park enthusiasts for a tour of the completed Pier 5 and the still under construction uplands of Piers 4 and 3. We were led to Pier 5 by Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Senior Project Manager, Leigh Trucks (photo). More photos and text after the jump. As […]

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The Sights that can be Seen from Brooklyn Heights

This morning I set out early for my walk along the Promenade down to Pier 1 and back. The combination of low, scudding clouds and a sun still low to the eastern horizon created some interesting lighting effects on lower Manhattan buildings. In the photo above (more photos and text after the jump) the top […]

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Views from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade at Twilight

A few evenings ago, your correspondent took a stroll along the Promenade, starting shortly after sunset. A sloop was sailing in the harbor. (More photos and text after the jump.) Shortly after, the South Street Seaport Museum’s historic schooner Pioneer rounded the tip of Manhattan, heading out on an evening cruise. Holding her torch aloft, […]

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Evening Walk Photos: Brooklyn Bridge Park and Brooklyn Heights

I took a walk early yesterday (Monday) evening. On my way from the Squibb Park pedestrian bridge on to Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park, I was greeted by this gray catbird (thanks to reader elw_ny and FB friend John Hunt for the species ID). A little farther along, I found a red saddlebags dragonfly (thanks […]

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Whale Carcass Towed Past Brooklyn Heights?

Update: Appearances can be deceiving! It wasn’t a whale carcass; it was a boat fender. Thanks to reader Erin Hughes for the tip. On my morning walk today, I saw this launch motoring past Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park, towing something mysterious. A miniature submarine? The flag flying from the boat’s bow staff said New […]

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