Brooklyn Heights Blog

Archive | May, 2009

Walden Pond to Wallabout Bay: Thoreau in Brooklyn

by Claude Scales on 30. May, 2009 in Arts and Entertainment, DUMBO, History

The New England Society in the City of Brooklyn (disclosure: your correspondent is Secretary of the Society) held its annual meeting and spring dinner last Thursday at Pete’s Downtown Restaurant, at the foot of Old Fulton Street in DUMBO. In keeping with tradition, the entertainment of the evening was a talk about a prominent New Englander. In this instance, Robert Sullivan (photo above), author of The Thoreau You Don’t Know: What the Prophet of Environmentalism Really Meant, spoke about the famous nineteenth century Massachusetts eccentric best remembered for his books Walden and Civil Disobedience, and largely regarded as brilliant, but a crank and recluse.

Sullivan quickly disposed of the notion that Thoreau was an antisocial oddball. During his sojourn at Walden Pond (more…)

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Lebanese Food Fest – Fun!

by Homer Fink on 30. May, 2009 in Brooklyn Heights, Events, Food, Fun

Being Lebanese means a lot more than just loving Danny Thomas. A great primer for learning that is this weekend’s Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral Lebanese Food Festival. As we reported yesterday, not only will you get a belly full of great eats (make sure you wash it down with Almaza beer!) but proceeds from the fair will help fund the renovation of historic church at 109 Remsen Street. We loved it so much today, we’re going back tomorrow!

The fest continues on Remsen Street between Henry and Clinton until 10pm Saturday night and is open from noon – 6pm Sunday (5/31).

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Jacques Torres: Meilleure Crème Glacée Jamais!

by Homer Fink on 30. May, 2009 in Food

The Jacques Torres Ice Cream Store in DUMBO [66 Water Street] opened for business today. We stopped by to check it out and there’s really no need for a super detailed review. (more…)

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Yassky, Gioia Protest Dock Street DUMBO

by Homer Fink on 30. May, 2009 in DUMBO, Development

BHB contributor Matthew Parker sent in these photos of our man in the NYC Council, David Yassky, and fellow councilmember Eric Gioia of the 26th District at this morning’s rally in Brooklyn Bridge Park to protest Two Trees’ Dock Street DUMBO project. Also in attendance project opponent Christian Roebling the great-great grandson of Washington and Emily Roebling who built the Brooklyn Bridge.

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Park Progress: Pier 1 (Thirteenth Report)

by Claude Scales on 30. May, 2009 in Brooklyn Heights, News

Friday, May 22, 2009.

Friday, May 29, 2009. Again, the view of the north end of the pier has a plus ça change quality, though I wonder what’s the significance of the rectangular plot next to the Port-a-John near the bottom of the picture and slightly to the left. More photos after the jump. (more…)

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Internet? Feh! B’Paper Home Delivery Returns to Brooklyn Heights

by Homer Fink on 29. May, 2009 in News

News Corp/CNG’s Brooklyn Paper is coming back to a doorstep near you. The paper suspended home delivery some time ago:

Brooklyn Paper: Brooklyn Heights – We’ll target Columbia Heights between Montague and Cranberry streets; plus an area bounded by Willow and Sidney places, and State and Joralemon streets.

Seems like a big chunk of the Heights is being left out of the mix here. Do you care?

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LICH Obstetrics Decline

by Claude Scales on 28. May, 2009 in Health, News

As reported by The Brooklyn Paper:

Long Island College Hospital is in the midst of a precipitous drop in births this year, months after threatening to shut its maternity ward, a decline that is resulting in large increases in deliveries at other Brooklyn hospitals, including a record number of births in 48 hours at one medical center.

Lebanese Food Festival This Weekend

by Claude Scales on 28. May, 2009 in Events, Food, Fun

Middle Eastern delicacies will be on the menu this weekend when Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral, Henry and Remsen Streets, presents its annual Lebanese Food Festival, beginning Friday evening, May 29 and going through Sunday, May 31. Your correspondent and his wife attended this event last year and were delighted by the superb dishes and the value. Proceeds from this year’s fair may be used for needed renovation work on the historic building.

Update: The Brooklyn Paper has a piece on the Festival, with the usual groan-inducing puns, here.

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Checkers Readies Court Street Store

by Homer Fink on 28. May, 2009 in Food

The Checkers burger chain is hard at work preparing its new Downtown Brooklyn location. The outlet will occupy the former Busy Chef space at 111 Court Street. [photo via McBrooklyn]

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The NEW Homer Fink Show 5/29/09: Get Your Belmont On

by Homer Fink on 28. May, 2009 in Brooklyn Heights

Tune-in Friday (5/29) LIVE at 4pm for The NEW Homer Fink Show.

This week’s guests are Brooklyn Heights resident/horse racing blogger Teresa Genaro (Brooklyn Backstretch, NYT The Rail, Belmont Stakes Blog) and Homer’s Dad/ racing enthusiast John “Poppa Fink” Loscalzo.

We’ll be talking about this year’s Belmont Stakes (6/6), the state of racing in New York and more!

PLUS: Homer rants on this week’s events. Listen now! (Note: show starts 20 seconds in…)

Listen here starting Friday at 4pm. Player after the jump.