Brooklyn Mourns as Paris Reels: Attack Across the Globe Hits Close to Home
Photo by Katia Kelly for Pardon Me For Asking
As the death toll for Friday night’s Paris attacks reaches 129, a common, fearful solidarity has gripped many New Yorkers: It could have been us.
Second Borough Park Explosion Victim Found, Investigators Considering Suicide as Cause
Investigators in Borough Park have found the remains of the second victim of this weekend’s fatal gas explosion.
Breaking: Apple Store Not Opening at 247 Bedford Avenue After All?
A for-rent sign has gone up on the corner of the building under renovation at 247 Bedford Avenue, where Brooklyn’s first Apple store is supposed to be opening.
The sign went up yesterday, according to a tipster who passed by and saw it and sent us this photo.
There were no construction workers at the site and no work happening when he passed by at 8:45 am, he said.
“I wonder if this means that the Apple Store deal is dead?” he said.
New West Elm Store Concept Pops Up in Dumbo
This sign just went up on Washington Street around the corner from West Elm’s regular location at 75 Front Street. We’re not sure what “Market” refers to, but we’re dying to find out. Last month Dumbo NYC wrote that West Elm plans to debut a new store concept at 50 Washington. Could this be West Elm’s take on the heritage-influenced housewares stores that are popping up globally (Brook Farm General Store being the prime Brooklyn example)? Packaged artisanal groceries? Maybe both?
Rally Against Windsor Terrace Walgreens Draws Pols
An impressive array of politicians and about 200 residents protested yesterday in the parking lot of the now-defunct Key Foods at 589 Prospect Avenue in Windsor Terrace, the same date Walgreens’ lease on the spot started, reported Windsor Terrace-Kensington Patch and DNAinfo. Borough president Marty Markowitz, a Windsor Terrace resident, joined the rally, as did Councilman Brad Lander, State Assemblyman James Brennan and State Senator Kevin Parker. Locals are demanding a grocery store to replace the one that closed in June, the only supermarket in the neighborhood. In the meantime, they’ve been driving to Key Food on 5th Avenue and Fairway Market in Red Hook. Residents are calling for a boycott of Walgreens when it opens in the space, said NY1.
Windsor Terrace Sends Message to Walgreens [Patch]
Windsor Terrace to Walgreens: Stay Out of Our Neighborhood [DNAinfo]
Brooklyn Community Protests Walgreens Move to Supermarket Location [NY1]
Photo by Windsor Terrace-Kensington Patch
Party Leaders Come out to Support Lincoln Restler
In what can only be interpreted as a slap to State Assemblyman Vito Lopez, thirteen Brooklyn politicians came out yesterday to endorse the youthful Lincoln Restler in his bid to retain his unpaid position as district leader in the 50th District. Restler is being challenged by the Lopez-backed Chris Olechowski in a race that is bringing a rift in Brooklyn’s Democratic Party bubbling to the surface. The list of supporters includes folks like Borough President Marty Markowitz, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez and State Senator Daniel Squadron. (See this NY Post story for the complete list.) “This race is about the future of Brooklyn politics,” Restler said on the steps of Borough Hall yesterday. “I am inspired by this groundswell of support from the leading elected officials in our borough against the status quo of machine politics.” As reported in the Daily News, Markowitz called Restler “a real Brooklyn character — with a style all his own [who] has brought fresh ideas to issues ranging from mass transit and education reform to open space, affordable housing and securing a much-needed supermarket in Fort Greene.” Olechowski is no stranger to local politics — the current chairman of CB1 has been involved in community boards for over 20 years.
Brooklyn Industries Opens on the Fulton Mall
Brooklyn Industries opened its 16th shop yesterday, at 342 Fulton St. in the Fulton Mall in downtown Brooklyn. The artist-owned men’s and women’s clothing chain started out making bags from recycled vinyl in Williamsburg in 1998 and debuted its first store on Bedford Ave. in 2001. The Fulton Mall shop is its ninth in Brooklyn and another giant step forward in the mall’s upscaling efforts.
Brooklyn Industries Coming to Fulton Mall? [Brownstoner] GMAP
Greenwood Heights Beer Garden Now Open
Greenwood Park, Greenwood Heights’ first beer garden (as far as we’re aware) opened last night according to a couple of tipsters who wrote in. The photo above is from Sarah Kim’s Instagram feed. And here’s a photo of people actually drinking beer in the garden. You can also check out our slideshow of the massive indoor/outdoor space on 7th Avenue between 19th and 20th Streets from last spring. Did any readers check it out? How was it?
Jeffries and Velázquez Win Congressional Primaries
Hakeem Jeffries and Nydia Velázquez both handily won their Democractic party Congressional primaries yesterday, striking a blow against homophobia and North Brooklyn party machinery, respectively. Jeffries, who won by more than a 2-1 margin, had this to say at his victory party: “I’m going down to Washington to stand up for our children, to stand up for job creation, to stand up for civil rights, to stand up for senior citizens, and to stand up for our president, Barack Obama.” Not surprisingly, Barron did not go down graciously, blaming his defeat on “the white media,” “the Wall Street elite,” and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, according to The Times. Velázquez received 58 percent of the vote, while her three challengers split the balance. “Clearly the voters and constituents sent a clear message, that they are the ones who decide who represents their communities,” said Velázquez in reference to North Brooklyn party boss Vito Lopez’s attempt to block her from an 11th term.
New Businesses on Classon Near Lincoln
A string of storefronts on Classon Avenue beginning at Lincoln Place and running toward Eastern Parway have been renovated, and almost all have new tenants now. The photo above is a few weeks old, but it shows the storefront for Colour Me Silly, a paint-your-own pottery shop that has been open for at least a couple of weeks and has long lines of kids and parents waiting to get in on weekends. Directly to the north, a barbershop opened about a month ago. GMAP