[Photo courtesy of Brooklynian.com]

Approaching the corner of Bedford Avenue and Dean Street in Crown Heights, one would have a hard time conjuring up the magnificent structure that once graced the corner in the bare bones of what stands there now. At the turn of the century, Grant Square in Crown Heights was one of the hubs of affluent Brooklyn. Anchoring the square at the corner of Bedford Avenue and Dean Street stands the former Union League Club. Built in 1889, the club was designed by Peter J. Lauritzen, whose firm was responsible for many buildings in the borough, including eight firehouses for the former Brooklyn Fire Department. Like other clubs of its time, the Union League Club featured a number of amenities—each floor with a special purpose. There were bowling alleys and shooting galleries in the basement, dining and reception rooms on the first floor, library and billiards rooms on the second, private dining rooms and bachelor’s apartments on the third, a gymnasium on the fourth, and a rooftop lounge! Reminiscent of the Montauk Club in Park Slope, the Romanesque Revival structure of light colored brick with rough-faced brownstone trim, it once featured a handsome and imposing octagonal tower at its corner and eagles atop the peaked gables on the roof (see picture #1). If you look closely, you can see that the main entrance is still flanked with portrait heads of Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant. It is now the Bhraggs Square Senior Citizen’s Center—and, sadly, has been stripped of its vertical tower and gables. It now has the aspect of a faded beauty, whose architectural visage hints at an earlier time.

Keep reading this cool history.

Eponymy, a women’s boutique, opened on Bergen Street a few weeks ago. Aside from frocks, the store also sells local art (see pic on jump). The person who runs the shop, in fact, told a GL Correspondent that everything in the space is for sale, “including the fixtures, though I doubt anyone would want to buy them.” The stretch of Bergen between 5th Ave and Flatbush that the shop opened on–which we call Pintchik Row, since most of it is owned by proprietors of Pintchik Hardware–has seen a lot of new retail activity over the past few years. In the last six months alone, for example, both Babeland and Organic Heights have opened, adding to a mom-and-pop cluster that includes the most excellent Unnameable Books (formerly Adam’s Books).

Another picture ahead.

“Don’t be surprised if you see a few Sarah Palin look-alikes in Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods like Brooklyn’s Borough Park. A wig wholesaler there says its Palin wig has become one of the company’s most popular items. Georgie Wigs Vice President Shlomo Klein said Thursday that the company has sold about 50 Palin wigs since the Alaska governor joined John McCain on the GOP ticket.” The wigs are…$695!–AP/Newsday

184 Kent, Version 2004 [Curbed]
Dumbo, Before the $7 Million Condos [DumboNYC]
No One Can Resist the Gowanus Whole Foods Site’s Verdant Fields [JVNY]
The New Look Kellogg’s Diner [Grub Street]
Doggie Costume Parade in the Heights this Sunday [BHB]
Nothing Says Halloween Like a Can of Pabst [NY Shitty]
Not Bklyn, But: No-Duh-Should-Be-Landmark Pavilion Still Rotting [QC]
4-Boro Preservation Awards Announced [Brownstoner]

There is irony today in the aftermath of yesterday’s outrageous and appalling approval of the term limit extension that will allow Mayor Bloomberg and others like Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz to run for new terms in office. America is poised on the brink of a paradigm shift and one of the most historic electoral outcomes in our nation’s history, electing not only the first African-American President but a person with the qualities to be one of the true great leaders of this century. Yet, New York City is backsliding into a fetid political quagmire more suited to Vladimir Putin’s Moscow and reversion to Cold War fantasies of European domination. Yes, we exaggerate. Micheal Bloomberg can’t dominate Staten Island, let alone take over New Jersey and Connecticut, yet the foul anti-democratic tactics are the same and the ruling oligarchy of developers and moneyed interests that are behind it are no different than Putin’s oil mafia and KGB operatives.

Imagine this man, and his cronies, had the country had the misfortune to elect him as President, as the prospect of a second term ending drew near. Picture President Bloomberg ordering Chief of Staff Quinn and Congressional Liaison Markowitz to draft a repeal of the 22nd Amendment limiting a President to two terms and using his personal fortune to set up non-profits to work in each state capital to push for it. Imagine the political horse trading in Congress that would ensue. The money that would be thrown around. The hundreds of billions in pork that Vice President Daniel Doctoroff would dispense to get the Bloomberg Amendment through Congress. One can easily see President Putin Bloomberg saying, “These people calling me Putin are really getting under my skin. That freedom of the press thing is just an amendment too. How much do you think it would cost to get it repealed? The blogs especially. Maybe we could get an amendment banning blogs? I don’t care how you do it Dan. Get it done. Buy every Member of Congress a mansion in Tahiti. I don’t care. Buy Tahiti and give it to them. Whatever it takes.”

There are heroes too.

Here’s a list of how the City Council Members from Brooklyn voted on extending term limits which, of course, passed the City Council yesterday. There were 11 that voted “yes” and only 5 that voted “no”: Charles Barron: no; Bill de Blasio: no; Erik Martin Dilan: yes; Mathieu Eugene: no; Simcha Felder: yes; Lewis A. Fidler: yes; Vincent J. Gentile: no; Sara M. Gonzalez: yes; Letitia James: no; Darlene Mealy: yes; Michael C. Nelson, yes; Domenic M. Recchia Jr., yes; Diana Reyna, yes; Kendall Stewart, yes; Albert Vann, yes; David Yassky, yes.

Here’s a full chart of how every Council Member said they’d vote and how they voted.

So, how, one might wonder, does a couch in Red Hook end up atop a bus shelter? The GL tipster who sent us the photo explains:The couch was in the apartment when i moved in a year ago and out of sheer laziness kept it even though hand me down fabric couches skeeve the hell out of me. After I realized I NEVER sit on it because of that “who knows how many strangers farts have been blasted on here,” well, it had to go. Sunday night I rounded up a few good drinking buddies from the neighborhood and a strapping visitor from San Francisco, and within two minutes, the offensive couch was out of the house and on top of the bus stop below. It would have been too easy to render it useful by leaving it on the ground, and Red Hookers, especially after drinking, are always up for capers and shenanigans. The bus stop is often a target for the simple fact it’s opposite two local bars.

We also have the ending of the story below, sent in by the same tipster late yesterday. Someone, alas, took the sucker down.

[Photo courtesy of PMFA]

The Land Use Committee of Community Board Six voted overwhelmingly in favor of the zoning changes requested by Toll Brothers to build their big condo project on the shores of the Gowanus Canal. Only one committee member voted “no.” The firm has spent more than $375,000 lobbying for the zoning change so far. While the committee vote is advisory as is the full board vote, it does carry some weight in the Land Use Review process and in getting final city approval. Local blogger PMFA was deeply unhappy with the pro-Toll outcome, writing:

The committee voted last night on the Toll Brothers’ behemoth condo project along the shores of the very polluted Gowanus Canal. Let me just say that no amount of testimony from concerned residents at last night’s meeting, no concerns about pathogens in the waters of the canal, nor warnings that the land is in a flood zone were able to sway a majority of our board members from voting yes for Toll’s spot rezoning. Most may have felt like member Jeff Strabone, who stated that he had misgivings about voting for the project because of the risk factors involved, but that in the end, he wanted to see the canal cleaned. That, he felt, would happen quicker if condo buyers would move to its shores.

The odds of the project being approved are massively in its favor. Local City Council Member Bill de Blasio was reportedly making phone calls to Community Board members urging them to vote “yes” on the project, according to PMFA. There are deep concerns about the toxicity of the site and the impact of the project on local infrastructure, including an already overburdened sewer system that routinely features geysers of crap erupting from the streets during severe rain storms. There is also deep opposition to the scale of the project, although it is in keeping with the overall rezoning proposed by the city for the neighborhood.

The interesting question is that, even with zoning approvals, the deep financial problems faced by the Toll firm and the credit market meltdown could make it hard to get the development out of the ground.

Just so you know what’s coming today: there’s more political content than usual on GL today. Then, again, an historic Presidential election is almost upon us and, yesterday, the City Council rolled back the clock on democracy in New York City. Hence, politics in many different shapes and forms. The irony is we normally avoid political coverage, preferring public policy, development and things to make readers laugh. Bear with us today.

It’s a sad and sullen time at the corner of 215 Prospect Park West. Daniel Mills Sr., the long time owner of Farrell’s Bar & Grill, took his own life at the Verrazano Bridge this past Sunday, October 19, apparently after his doctor’s diagnosis of a terminal illness. A well known and liked face of his Windsor Terrace tavern, Mr. Mills will surely be missed by many. So, we say in old fashion Irish tradition, and in the tradition of any Farrell’s patron, lift your Styrofoam to-go cup of beer and drink to Daniel Mills.–Brooklyn Eagle

Well, the Gowanus Whole Foods isn’t dead, but God only knows what’s going to happen on the polluted property that could cost a fortune to remediate and develop. Yesterday, Curbed posted an email that Whole Foods sent out late last week to local officials saying that it was looking for a development partner on the property. This immediately raises the possibility of an above-ground redesign of the store, which will require zoning approval, and of the addition of commercial or residential space above the store. Here’s the text of the email that Curbed obtained from a tipster:

As you may know, Whole Foods Market has been working in recent months to re-evaluate our proposed plans for a new store on our property at 3rd Street and 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn. As a result of these efforts, we have now concluded that the optimal path for this project will be for Whole Foods Market to partner with a developer on the store’s construction, rather than to self-develop the store as originally planned.

We wanted to make you aware of this change of direction and to assure you that we remain wholly committed to bringing a Whole Foods Market to Brooklyn. We are currently in discussions with potential development partners, so as I am sure you can understand, we are not yet in a position to be able to share information regarding timetables, development scenarios or other specifics. However, we will be back in touch as soon as we are able to provide additional details about our plans.

This one is bound to go on for a loooong time given the current credit and development environment. Remember, “groundbreaking” on this one was two years ago.

“The people will long remember what we have done here today, and the people will be unforgiving. We are stealing like a thief in the night their right to decide the shape of their democracy. We are forgetting who we work for.” Council Member Bill de Blasio, speaking about the effort to extend term limits.

This Sunday (10/26) is another big day for pumpkins and related festivities. Come join Friends of the East River State Park at, well, the East River State Park (located on the waterfront on Kent Avenue between North 7th and 9th Streets) from noon to 6pm for pumpkins til you puke, fun and games for the kids, arts & crafts (including wreath making) for all, live music by The Hungry March Band, and a Green Expo with hands on learning of alternative energy, Weatherization and recycling games. Oh and be careful crossing Kent Avenue, which can be like a drag strip! If you make it – sign the petition for a stoplight. Seriously. It’s desperately needed before people get killed.
—Vaduz Uvunt

[Photo courtesy of Rubys Host/GL Flickr Pool]

All we can say about this pic shot by Rubys Host in front of Shoot the Freak on the Coney boardwalk is: Ruby, we love your photos.

The City Council has just voted 29-22 to repeal term limits so that Mayor Bloomberg and others can run for another term.–CityRoom

Bay Ridge may be the best neighborhood in Brooklyn, but it has it’s share of troubles. The neighborhood witnessed a rape earlier in the month as well as what appears to be a rise in home burglaries and drug trafficking. Police report that crime in the 68th precinct is down this year, but citizens feel that crime is worsening. There’s even been a “town Hall” meeting about what the Brooklyn Eagle has deemed a “crime wave.” (To the extent that Compstat numbers are reliable, they show overall crime down 3.91 percent this year from last year, although burglary has spiked 100 percent in the last week compared to the same week a year ago.) Check out the latest Compstat report for the precinct here. What has happened in the last few weeks to spark this rise (or perceived rise) in criminal activity? Last Tuesday police officers were on our corner handing out flyers about burglary prevention, but on Friday a friend witnessed a mugging in broad daylight on Ovington St. and 5th Avenue.
—Vanessa Raymond

[Photo courtesy of Miss Heather]

Well, it’s not the best Barack mask we’ve ever seen, but it’s from Manhattan Avenue and shows that they’re in the Obama spirit in Greenpoint too.

The Farm on Adderly is not the only reason to go to Ditmas Park. (Attention: this is a joke. Do not be offended. If this had been a real insult, you would have been instructed to click away.) The Halloween decorations are pretty freakin’ good too. Here’s a whole slide show of them. Enjoy.–Flatbush Vegan

And now, a selection of upcoming music events courtesy of our faithful contributor Dan Bennis:

Thursday 10/23/08
Freddy’s Bar & Backroom: The Rich Get Richer (Indie) –Free!!, 10:00pm

Southpaw: Daptone Family Fundraiser For Barak Obama. Featuring–The Budos Band & Naomi Shelton and The Gospel Queens + a variety of guests from the Daptone family sure to keep your feet moving. (Funk/Soul/Daptone!!) $25, 8:00pm

The Bell House: Donovan Quinn, Gabriel Kahane, Fatula, Neckbeard Telecaster, Bad Veins, Twi The Humble Feather (Indie) Gothamist CMJ showcase-Free!!, 2:00-7:00pm

Friday 10/24/08
The Bell House: Wild Sweet Orange, Travels, Jukebox The Ghost, Fight Bite, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson. (Indie) Gothamist CMJ showcase-Free!!, 2:00pm-7:00pm

Saturday 10/25/08
The Bell House: PWRFL Power, The Forms, + more TBA (Indie) Gothamist CMJ showcase-Free!!, 2:00-7:00pm

Sunday 10/26/08
Barbes: Gaucho (Gypsy Swing) $10, 9:00pm

—Dan Bennis

There’s been a great deal of worrying in Park Slope over the sudden closing of Mailboxes of Park Slope on Flatbush. Without warning, the postal service closed it’s gates. Then a sign appeared from the United States Post Office, a “Notice of Abandonment“:

Mailboxes Etc.: Located on 328 Flatbush Avenue has abandoned their private mail boxes. Customers that rented private mail boxes can pick up their mail at Adephi Post Office at 950 Fulton Street Brooklyn 11238. The date notice: 10/21/08.

Yet, the saga continues: To help customers the store will open today (Thursday 10/23/08) between 5pm and 7pm, and Friday, 10/24/08, between 9am and 12pm. This will be your only opportunity to get your mail. Yeah, thanks. There’s a long discussion thread and info at Brooklynian, of course.
—E.C. Stephens

This post was flagged as a Best of CL and we agree. It’s a classic and it’s from East Williamsburg. (Props to Super Correspondent E.C. Stephens for hunting this down and bringing it to us.) All we can do is say, read this thing. You’ll be glad you did:

To the girl who stole my bike as a gesture of flirtation – m4w
I love how well you get me–you know that the way to my heart is through my bike, and I can only assume that you cut the chain binding my ’86 Benotto to that stop sign in East Williamsburg late Thursday night in the hopes of starting a conversation with me. It was a really gutsy plan.
“Oh hey,” you’d say as I walked up. “I was just stealing your bike.”
“What the fuck?” I’d say.
“I feel terrible,” you’d say. And then you’d say something cute to move things along, like “Can I make it up to you with coffee?“

Trust us, the best is yet to come.

It will be a busy Saturday (10/25) in Brooklyn. Here’s another fun event happening at the red-and-white tent better know as the Brooklyn Indie Market on Smith and Union – an all day thing (11am-7pm) of “vintage inspired merriment” with an array of Victorian and Vaudeville goods and entertainment called “The Grand Chono’nauts Tea.” Heh… even just the name of the event, itself, cause the chuckle of curiosity. Throw in a description of a Steampunk as “an aesthetic movement with a mix of antique (think Victorian or Edwardian) and time-traveling fantasy (imagine Apple laptops in the steam engine era), and a punk/maker flair,” and well – you got yourself a cat with one less life.–Brooklyn Based

What happens to mozzarella made in Bensonhurst when it’s imported to that far off land known as the Upper West Side? Uh, the price goes up. Waaaaaay up. We see that Whole Foods in Columbus Circle’s Time Warner Center is selling “Lioni’s in Brooklyn” beautiful homemade mozzarella balls…for $9.50 a ball. Is this the same Lioni’s that we buy as homemade mozzarella in Bensonhurst for $4.50 a ball? Yes, it is and we certainly hope that Lioni’s is getting a cut of the exorbitant price hike that Whole Foods is imposing.
–Vanessa Raymond

This building project has been going on at the corner of Hope & Havemeyer Street in the Burg for a while. (For a long while, actually.) It’s formally known as 99 Havemeyer Street and it’s noteworthy for one reason in particular: it’s one of the dwindling number of Robert Scarano buildings under construction in Brooklyn. It will ultimately be four stories and have six units when it’s eventually done. We’re going to guess 2010 rather than 2009, but we could be wrong. Brownstoner took a look at this baby a few week ago.