Archive | July, 2009

Fight Night in DUMBO

Tomorrow (8/1) is Fight Night  in DUMBO.  Pugilists will duke it out under the Manhattan Bridge to benefit the DUMBO Improvement District.  The USA Boxing Metro amateur boxing event is sponsored by Gleason’s Gym and halcyon the shop in DUMBO.  Tickets are $25 and the event begins at 7pm at the Archway under the Manhattan Bridge. [via DUMBONYC]

Click here to buy tickets.

Read full story · Comments { 6 }

Signs of life in Heights real estate market?

jsw_franklin_trustAccording to StreetEasy, a two bedroom, two bath unit on the sixth floor of the Franklin Trust Building, 166 Montague (corner of Clinton) has gone to contract for $1.29 million. By StreetEasy’s calculations, after making a down payment of $258,000, the buyer will pay an aggregate $8,701 monthly for mortgage, common charges, and taxes.

According to the same source, there are several other properties available in the Heights in the same price range: another two bedroom on the fifth floor of the same building for $1.26 million; a three bedroom at 62 Pierrepont for $1.25 million; and a three bedroom at 40 Remsen for $1.249 million. There are two apartments listed at 360 Furman: a 1,562 square foot two bedroom on the eighth floor for $1.29 million; and a 1,385 square foot two bedroom on the sixth floor for $1.35 million, which must have a superior view to jusitify the higher price.

Thanks to ts for the tip.

Read full story · Comments { 4 }

Ronny’s Seltzer Spritzes Brooklyn Heights

BHB Photo Club pic by j bary via Flickr

BHB Photo Club pic by j bary via Flickr

BHB Photo Club member jbary caught this delivery from Bayside’s Ronny’s Seltzer in Brooklyn Heights today.  Anyone still getting delivery of the “old timey” goodness?  Nothing makes a better Egg Cream!

Update: What? You want seltzer? Here’s the info:  call Gomberg Seltzer Works 718-257-9369 8am – 4pm.  [Via Edible Brooklyn]

Read full story · Comments { 15 }

UPDATE: Shop Bk Boutique Nights

Ok, so we messed up; our apologies. There’s been some confusion over what boutiques are participating in Borough President Marty Markowitz’s new Shop Brooklyn “Boutique Nights” last night and tonight, July 30. We posted the wrong participants in an earlier post about this event — for which we profusely apologize to you, readers — and here now is a list of the correct shops, albeit none are in Brooklyn Heights proper. There are plenty in Boerum Hill, Carroll Gardens, and DUMBO, however — so check it out.

Per Marty’s full release:

Continue Reading →

Read full story · Comments { 1 }

Free Wine Tastings at Heights Chateau

about_heights

Heights Chateau is hosting free in-store tastings on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.   Brooklyn Beat reports this week’s schedule as: July 30th, Paul from Noble House Wines, 5:30-8:30; July 31st, The Famous Grouse, 5:30-8:30; and Aug. 1st, Miolo Brazilian Wines, 4-7.

Heights Chateau 123 Atlantic Avenue.

C.S. addendum: Also check out Heights Chateau staffer Elana’s blog, So Many Wines … So Little Time.

Read full story · Comments { 6 }

Heights ATMs hit in $700K fraud case

Four defendants were arrested and charged in a $700,000 bank fraud case for a scheme in which they allegedly emptied their own bank accounts at ATM machines, reported the ATM cards lost or stolen, and then had the banks replace the money — and several of the targeted ATMs were along Court and Montague streets, a DA spokesman confirmed.

The banks included HSBC, Chase and Signature Bank.

The three men and one woman are charged with stealing $422,000 over five years by exploiting Federal Reserve Board Regulation E, which governs electronic banking and requires banks to reimburse accounts of customers who claim their ATM cards have been used without their permission, according to a press release issued Tuesday by the Brooklyn District Attorney, Charles Hynes. The defendants allegedly made false claims totaling $700,000.

Continue Reading →

Read full story · Comments { 2 }

First Presbyterian Church Music Series Profiled

The First Presbyterian of Brooklyn at 124 Henry Street’s Summer Music Series was recently the subject of a news report from religious broadcaster NET. Video after the jump. Continue Reading →

Read full story · Comments { 1 }

Film Shoot on Remsen: Is it Really So Strange?

Brooklyn Beat photo

Brooklyn Beat photo

Nabe blogger Brooklyn Beat ponders what the heck a film shoot on Remsen Street today is really all about:

Brooklyn Beat: As I walked home from the gym this morning, I noticed a NO PARKING sign from the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting stating that there was to be a film shoot (Day 22 of filming of said project) on Remsen St. between Court and Clinton today, July 29th from 6am- 8pm. The project name is listed as “Art = (Love) 2″. Through my meticulous internet research I’m afraid I’ve fallen short and can find no information regarding this film or the shoot. What’s even stranger is that I walked by the proposed “set” at 11am and still there were no trailers set up or sign of a film shoot of any kind. Does anyone have any news or info they can contribute?

Update: Thanks to commenter Monty and Twitter tweets from Brooklyn Bugle (@brooklynbugle) followers we’ve learned the shoot is for Pakistani filmmaker Mumtaz Hussain’s ART=(LOVE)². It stars Daniel Dugan and Lindsay Goranson.

Read full story · Comments { 1 }

Biv Against the Machine

The Herd for the 33rd City Council District met last night, minus a couple of sheep, for a debate in Williamsburg.  The Brooklyn Paper’s Ben “The Other Guy” Muessig was on the scene and reports that our homegrown candidate, Doug Biviano was quite animated to say the least: Continue Reading →

Read full story · Comments { 20 }

Open Thread Wednesday 7/29/09

BHB Photo Club pic by beau-dog

BHB Photo Club pic by beau-dog

Comment like there’s no tomorrow!!!

Read full story · Comments { 19 }

The Secret Garden

((The Poplar Street garden, looking toward the BQE from the koi pond; photo courtesy Bill Spier))

((The Poplar Street garden, looking toward the BQE from the koi pond; photo courtesy Bill Spier))

In a formerly-empty lot on Poplar Street sits one of the borough’s richest and lushest private gardens. It’s almost like the Heights’ own Gramercy Park, but here passersby can look in and see flowers from the sidewalk and still get that pleasant satisfaction of nature all around us. This week, BHB got a tour of the garden, and will post a video tour for you soon. A photography slideshow is below.

The 1-acre Bridge Harbor Heights Garden is home to more than 300 different plants; at least six species of birds (including migratory ones, season permitting); a koi from Fortune House (until recently, there were two); and a hive of bumblebees. The garden wraps around residential buildings on Poplar Street, between Hicks and Henry streets, and rests along Old Fulton Street (and the residents’ parking lot) to the north.

(Slideshow after the jump)

Continue Reading →

Read full story · Comments { 12 }

84th Precinct Police Blotter – 7/28/09

A car theft from a parking garage and a pair of burglaries on State Street top this week’s police blotter. Continue Reading →

Read full story · Comments { 0 }

Brooklyn Heights Doc and Patients Featured on WABC-TV

Brooklyn Heights resident and City Council candidate in the 33rd District Doug Biviano let us know about this clip of his wife Lee, son Quinn and Brooklyn Heights pediatrician Dr. Stephen Turner discussing probiotics on last night’s WABC-TV newscast. Watch the video.

Read full story · Comments { 3 }

This is Brooklyn and he lives in the Heights

img006783On Atlantic Avenue.  He’s a big dog Great Pyrenees, weighing in at 92 pounds and not even two years old.  But don’t let that fool you— recently, upset because he’d been left at home alone, he leapt over a fish tank, jumped out of his 2nd story window and landed splat on the sidewalk.  Subsequent trips to the vet— found him A-OK.  Not surprising as his ancestors were once guard dogs for French nobility, avalanche rescue dogs and even sled dogs.  These days, however, Brooklyn contents himself with parading up and down the avenue.  Say hello to him if you see him, but don’t mention the fish. (p.s. the owner got window guards, so don’t get all ASPCA on me.)

Read full story · Comments { 25 }

CB2 Meeting Recap – Tea Lounge Liquor License Approved

cb2-mtg_072709

We’re reporting live from the Community Board 2 meeting tonight, and so far the executive committee has unanimously approved a liquor license for the potential Tea Lounge at 41 Clark St. and new facade designs within the Heights Historical District for the new Armando’s and a new Japanese restaurant at 78 Clark Street, in the former Sea Asian spot.

UPDATE 7/28/09:

Here’s more news from last night’s CB2 meeting, in which the executive committee met in lieu of a full board monthly meeting since it’s summer:

About the Tea Lounge approved liquor license: owner Jonathan Spiel assured CB2 that the café was primarily a tea and coffee spot, with muffins and sandwiches and the like. But, in order to spike tea or coffee with Bailey’s or kahlua, he needs a liquor license. “The main source of our business is the café,” he said.

As for the new Japanese restaurant at 78 Clark St., owner Aaron Liu told BHB he hopes to open Moritomo Japanese Cuisine “as soon as possible,” probably by September. He and his architect went before the Board with an application to change the facade by removing the brick columns and restoring the original stucco.

Maria Byros, who will manage the new Armando’s at 143 Montague St., also wants to change the restaurant’s facade by bringing in new windows that won’t have as many panes looking out, yet will have the same shade of painted wood.

The Board unanimously approved both Landmark applications, and Byros’s architect said this application was not related to the famous lobster sign.

Read full story · Comments { 10 }