[Photo courtesy of Deborah Matlack]

We used to think this was one of the scariest looking buildings in Brooklyn. It’s the old grain terminal in Red Hook. Sometimes we still think it is. But when its captured in this kind of beautiful light by contributor Deborah Matlack, even ominous structures can take on an attractive appearance.

For some reason some “service change” (which is an MTA euphemism for “you’re fucked”) notices are more complicted than others. We found this at the Metropolitan Avenue/Lorimer St. Station in Williamsburg. We had a hard enough time with it at 2PM totally sober. What we’re wondering is how this looks at 2AM after a ton of beers or other poisons of choice at one of the local watering holes. Imagine the conversation among the drunken couple and/or group of friends that ensues.

[Photos courtesy of Katia Kelly/PMFA]

We’ve run so many posts about energy scammers running all over Brooklyn lately it makes our blood boil. (Even more so that mainstream media haven’t focused on this story like a laser beam and that consumer protect officials haven’t gone after these people like crazed jackals.) Here’s a really helpful email from Tom Gray at Council Member Bill de Blasio’s Office, in whose district energy scammers have been particularly active:

Have you been a victim of Energy Service Company (ESCO) slamming? Were you asked by someone representing themselves as a ConEd worker to see your energy bill, later to be sent a bill from a new energy company? Were you told by a door-to-door salesman that switching to another energy company would lead to great savings on your energy bill, later to receive a bill higher than ever before? When you tried to break your contract with the ESCO, were you told that you would have to pay an extreme fine?

The entire energy scammer FAQ ahead. Read it.

Another day, another tale of IDT Energy Scammers. This one comes from a GL reader who is also a reliable source and contributor about an unwelcome visit:

Uggghhhh…. Horrible…. I had a guy come by yesterday nearly two weeks after my first report. Told him to leave. Stared me down and kept on buzzing people in the building despite me asking him to leave. Asked him again. Then he says, “Is it because I’m black?” And I respond, “It’s because you guys are scammers and we all know it. Get out of here before I call the cops…” He tells me to do that. Stares me down. Call on my phone. He’s still staring me down. Tell the 911 operator what’s up and how I’ve asked this guy to leave and he’s not. Still stands there. Finally when I give my address, he starts to move away and walks down the block. I thought he was going to take a shot at me during that standoff. Unbelievable! I feel very sorry for anyone taken in by these idiots. I imagine there are lots of elderly and retired folks who have “Signed up…” because they were coerced or bullied.

Somebody stop these assholes, already. This is rapidly becoming one of the most disgusting scams perpetrated against the naive and the elderly in recent memory.

Watch a guy dressed as a freaking banana run through Prospect Park at 750AM on a Sunday morning when it’s 18 degrees. It’s kind of little documentary that just proves how grand life can be in our favorite borough in the city so nice they named it twice.

Despite all the abandoned construction sites around Williamsburg, there are still plenty of projects under construction from huge ones like the Edge on Kent Avenue, to small ones, like the one above, which is 196 N. 9 Street. It will be a four-story building with six units from Frank S. Smith Architects.

This baby has been on N. 9 Street and Roebling in the Burg for quite a while. It’s across the street from Buffalo Exchange and it is a seriously sad sight.

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If you’re upset about the cuts in service the MTA is proposing and the fare increases, there’s a meeting on Wednesday that will be off interest. We got an email from Tom Gray at Council Member Bill de Blasio’s office that has been circulated widely. The Public Hearing takes place tomorrow night (Wednesday, January 28) at the Brooklyn Marriott from 6PM-9PM, which is located at 333 Adams Street. Among the issues in Mr. de Blasio’s district alone is the possible elimination of the B16, B23, B37 and B75 entirely along with the end of weekend service on the B71 and overnight service on the B67 and B77. Station Agents would be cut from the Metrotech end of the A, C and F station at Jay Street; the west side of Flatbush Avenue entrance to the Bergen Street 2, 3 station; the southbound F and G station entrance at Bergen Street; the northbound entrance to the Carroll Street F- and G-train station; and the entrance to the Borough Hall 2, 3, 4 and 5 trains at Court and Joralemon streets. There would be reduced frequency of service weekends on F and R and increased crowding during off-peak on F, R, 4 and 5 lines. There could be a total elimination of M service between lower Manhattan and
Bensonhurst (That means 16 fewer trains on the 4th Avenue line during the rush hour mornings; and 12 in the p.m. rush. As a result, rush-hour waits will double and crowding will greatly increase on the
R.) The G would terminate at Court Square all the time (now goes from Smith-9th to Forest Hills on weekends, nights)

Then, of course, there are the fare hikes. Bus and subway fares could go up to as much as $3.00. Express buses could go to $6.25. The price of Unlimited Ride MetroCards could go to as much as $9.50 for a 1-day card, $32 for a 7-day card, $60 for a 14-day card and $105 for a 30-day card.

Oh, there’s more ahead.

[Photo courtesy scaredy kat/flickr]

With all the attention being paid to whether or not LeNell’s is closing, there is other news to report of closure in Red Hook. First, however, we will turn to a colorful detail about LeNell’s (and what detail about her and her place isn’t?) from a prized Red Hook store has been sporting a sign that says it’s new hours are “When ever the Hell LeNell feels like being open.” Which does, indeed, sound like LeNell. Now on to other interesting news aboiut Annabelle’s/Bouillabassie, which took over the space that had been Lillie’s, once on the wasteland of Beard Street and now across the street from Ikea. Our source writes:

It would seem that Annabelle’s/La Bouilllabaisse, the restaurant across the street from IKEA, continues to pay homage to it’s predecessor in the space, Lillie’s. By closing. After keeping sporadic hours during December, it has been shuttered for all of January. Craigslist postings – and angry public tirades – would indicate that Neil Ganic (who we will refer to with diplomacy as “hot-headed,” or, if you prefer without diplomacy, as an “asshole“) is no longer involved with the endeavor. He lasted about 6 months.

What can you say? Red Hook is just different.

Manhattan may have its mysterious maple syrup smell, but Boerum Hill has a mysterious nighttime diesel fume smell in the area around Pacific Street and Fourth Avenue. This comes from an email from the Boerum Hill Group:

Anyone know what that diesel smell is? I live on Pacific b/t 3rd and 4th, and the past few nights there has been a cloud of diesel or other fumes filling all the back yards in the block bordered by 3rd, 4th, Pacific and Dean. I have actually woken up at night b/c it has been so thick – but in the morning – it is gone. Anyone have any idea what this is? It is a fairly recent development. I thought it might be a generator or something – but have not seen anything running out there.

Another person writes:

Hmm… well at least i’m not alone in being disturbed by it. Anyone have any ideas what to do about it? I’m thinking of calling 311 and seeing if there is any recourse, but I have a feeling that 311 will probably get me nowhere without knowing what is causing it…

And, finally, someone else wrote: “I smell it too! I smelt is last week in the early morning.” The Great Boerum Hill Diesel Stench Mystery of 2009!!!

We’d have to say this looks like a case of dog theft, which is clearly on the rise. This pup was taken from outside Sunac on Union Avenue in Williamsburg.

This is about right for a post that goes up at 8AM. It’s the late Nick Drake’s Northern Sky set to some photos that someone shot. There was a time when we were very young that this song touched us so deeply that it always made us cry. Now, we can make it to the part where Nick starts singing asking questions about “Will you love me….” before we get misty eyed. We think it’s one of the most beautiful, simple songs ever recorded. On 25 November 1974, Nick died from an overdose of amitriptyline, a prescribed antidepressant. He was 26 years old.

[Photo courtesy of herrc/GL Flickr Pool]

We love this shot from the Carroll Street Bridge in black and white.

Into our email box comes this invitation to enroll “a child aged 14 through 20” in the NYPD’s 78 Precinct Explorer Program:

The Explorers is an NYPD-sponsored youth organization, open to young men and women ages 14 through 20. It educates young men and women about Law Enforcement as a potential career path choice, by participation in a variety of activities. Such activities include character education and practical life-skills training, crime-prevention awareness, participation with positive youth groups and involvement in community assistance activities. The potential benefits of Explorer participation include a development of personal skills and care for others, and a positive social atmosphere in which to foster leadership, strong character, and a sense of accomplishment. Also available through the program are exciting field trips and a chance to win awards and scholarships through competitive activities. Meetings for Explorers are held twice per month on Wednesdays at 4:00 PM, at the Explorer Post 2078, 65 6th Avenue (between Dean and Bergen Streets), Brooklyn. Enrollees are required to maintain a minimum “C” average to maintain membership in the program. If you are interested in having your child partake in this wonderful opportunity, please feel free to contact P.O. Emmanuel, Explorer Post Advisor for the 78 Precinct at (718) 636-6451.

A 20-year-old is a “child”? And don’t they call 14-year-old “teens”? Ah, but it does say young men and women so all is forgiven.

[Photo courtesy of New York Public Library]

This is Willow and Poplar Streets in Brooklyn Heights, looking west in 1936, in the pre-BQE era.

[Photo courtesy of Rubys Host/GL Flickr Pool]

A part of the Coney Island Boardwalk running from W. 12 Street to Stillwell Avenue is finally being repaired so that people no longer face injury by tripping or falling through the rotting, loose boards. This is an interesting view under the boardwalk, as they say, which will no longer be made of boards but of recycled plastic. It is one of the very, very few positive developments that one can report right now for summer 2009, assuming the job is finished on scheduled. Odd: 50-50.

Are you a member of our GL Photo Pool yet? Why not? Are you a member but not contributing much? We want your photos. Please join or add photos, we love seeing them and running them.

[Photo courtesy Josh Derr/GL Flickr Pool]

Nice place to sit under the Manhattan Bridge on an ice cold winter day enoying the bracing seasonal breeze.

[Photo courtesy of Property Shark]

The talk of Cobble Hil and Carroll Gardens this weekend–at least among those who pay attention to real estate in the neighborhoods is a Friday report that Continuum Health Care, the company that owns Long Island College Hospital, has put a large number of properties on the market via Grub & Ellis. The story was written by Barbara Benson of Crain’s Health Pulse and since we don’t have a link, we’ll direct readers to the LICH Watch blog. In any case, here are the details:

Offered by Grubb & Ellis on an all-cash basis, the properties include 74, 76-78, 82 and 86 Amity St., and 113 Congress St. Of those, 74 Amity is a 12-unit walk-up apartment house; the others are townhouses. Also for sale is 43 Columbia Place, a four-story, 11-unit walkup. The last is 385-389 Hicks St., a one-building site that can be developed to about 23,000 square feet. Most of the buildings are vacant or will be by July.

We looked but couldn’t find the properties listed online yet by Grubb & Ellis. One of the biggest charges against Continuum was that it was more interested in selling off LICH’s valuable real estate in Cobble Hill than in continuing to operate it as a hospital. Most of the buidings on the block in the photo above are on the market.

This is an amazingly amusing short film from the 1950s that’s about Cleveland from the perspective of Brooklyn. Priceless. Props to E.C. Stephens for coming across this. Seriously, if you want to chuckle, watch this.

[Photo courtesy mikkime/GL Flickr Pool]

We’ve been following the long running saga of Urban Green in Williamsburg since it was a gaping pit threatening to undermine its neighbors and since the fence was open so people could play on the construction equipment we called it Urban Death. But, we haven’t dealt with its urination and defecation policies yet. Until now. Office staff uses its toilet. Dirty workers use theirs. Urban Green will be six stories and have 57 apartments. It is not a green building, but the name sounds nice. The official address is 142 N. 6 Street and while there are worse buildings that have gone up in the Burg, it’s pretty darn fugly.

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This one caught our attention as we were skimming the Rants and Raves on Craigslist. Why wouldn’t we exam a rant called “Damn Hipsters”?:

Damn Hipsters (Brooklyn)

Damn hipsters. Why is it that every personal ad that catches my attention ends with, “and I only go for skinny hipsters.” I can never be a hipster for one simple reason: I don’t like to wear hats. Maybe that’s not the only reason, but still. Can’t a nice young man with low fashion standards meet nice girls online anymore? Appears not.

Dude. Don’t give up so easily. Or, just give in and get a freakin’ hat.

[Photo courtesy of donkey attack/GL Flickr Pool]

Ha. Ha. ha. Ha. Gentrificatiion caution tape. It comes from the site of the (possible/unlikely) Whole Foods site in Gowanus. Ha. Ha. Ha. Utter genius by both the person who put it up and the photographer that captured it.

[Photo courtesy of Save the Slope]

From what does Park Slope need to be saved, on might ask, other than the little ones running amok and moms wielding strollers like weapons? From destruction, of course. This is actually a serious post about the critical subject of extending the Park Slope Landmark District, which currently covers a lot less of the neighborhood than one might think. The original boundaries weree drawn quite bizarrely even by Brooklyn standards. The Park Slope Civic Council has been working on the issue for a long time (a request for evaluation went the Landmarks Commission in 2000) and here’s the email they sent:

We’re kicking off a campaign to expand the Park Slope Historic District! Help us research the history of Park Slope’s unprotected blocks. Research will be submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission in support of our request to expand the Park Slope Historic District (our Request for Evaluation was submitted in 2000 so we have been waiting a long time; the LPC wants to be coaxed!). Regards, PSCC HD Expansion Committee.

They’ve created a nice blog called Save the Slope that is worth checking out so people can see the kind of incredible buildings that have no landmark protection and that could be demolished (unlikely in most cases given the value of the buildings) or radically altered in a way that changes their fundamental character (more likely).