I always get a kick out of this scene. A Burger King, a Five Guys, a Popeyes, and an old-school luncheonette all literally within a stone’s throw of each other, all vying for a share of consciousness.
Jan 252012
News Corp’s Brooklyn Daily chimed in on the announcement from Staten Island Democrat Mark Murphy would challenge Michael Grimm for the Congressional seat that includes Bay Ridge as part of its constituency. After the Staten Island Advance covered the dissension between the Richmond County party chair and elected leaders from that borough, I was expecting the Bay Ridge Courier team to publish the Bay Ridge reaction.
On the contrary. The article didn’t mention Brooklyn until the end, mainly to say this:
Another hurdle — probably the biggest — is that no one Bay Ridge knows who he is. Murphy has yet to introduce himself to voters and many Bay Ridge Democrats are holding back their support until he hones his message — and crosses the Verrazano Bridge.
“I think he’s handsome, but I have no idea what he stands for,” said one Bay Ridge Democrat.
Yikes. I knew the Richmond County bosses – in both parties – hold most of the cards when it comes to official party support. But for Bay Ridge partisans to be completely in the dark? Yikes. Wait – I said that already. Continue reading »
Jan 192012
WNYC reports that a new contender has emerged for the Congressional seat of Michael Grimm (R-Staten Island): Mark Murphy (D-Staten Island), the son of a former nine-term Congressman.
Murphy, 41, most recently worked as an aide to Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio representing Staten Island, south Brooklyn and northeast Queens. Murphy resigned from the position over a week ago and plans to launch his campaign Wednesday evening at his headquarters in Staten Island.
His father, John Murphy (D-Staten Island), served as Staten Island’s Representative from 1963 to 1981. He lost his re-election bid to a tenth term to Guy Molinari (R-Staten Island) after being indicted for bribery charges.
On the Staten Island side of the district, there’s already some ruffled feathers. As reported by the Staten Island Advance, Richmond County Democratic Chairman John Gulino (D-Staten Island) has embraced the Murphy candidacy. This boost has apparently raised tensions with several elected leaders, including Diane Savino (D-Staten Island), whose North Shore State Senate district reaches into Sunset Park, Bensonhurst, and Coney Island. Of particular note, Staten Island Councilmember Debi Rose (D-Staten Island) has expressed interest in running for the seat. (Murphy declared last summer that he would not challenge Rose for her spot on the Council, possibly as a favor to then-boss Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio.)
To date, the media discussion seems to be absent of any opinion whose name ends with (D-Bay Ridge) or (R-Bay Ridge).
Photo: Curbed.com
A few weeks ago, I poked a little fun at the mansions depicted in the tilework of the 86th Street subway station. To be clear: I know there’s plenty of detached housing in Bay Ridge, and we know some of those houses can qualify as mansions. We have, after all, written about them before.
Recently, Curbed put the spotlight to one such home, a little 11-room number on 83rd Street that’s selling for a cool $2.9 million. The January 10 Curbed article appeared right around the same time that (1) a $200+ million lottery ticket was bought on Long Island, and (2) the second season of British costume drama/prime-time soap Downton Abbey aired on PBS. And I cannot lie to you – the convergence of the three events has made me want a $2.9 million mansion more than I ever have in my life.
If that winning ticket had gone to me instead of some dude from California, I’d be buying this house. No, check that – I would already be moved in by now.
Now, this place has six bedrooms, but realistically I only need two for my own purposes. So I guess that leaves room for four servants. For $200 million, less $2.9, I should be able to afford four servants.
For the greater good of the estate, I’ll take one for the team and marry Michelle Dockery.
But alas, I did not win a $200+ million lottery jackpot. Some dude from California did.
This two-bedroom apartment rental looks nice…
- Who: Nablus Sweets
- Where: 6821 5th Avenue
- Personal Favorites: Hadeesa, Kunafa
- Typical prices: about $10 for a small tray
Nablus Sweets has been a BK Southie favorite for a while. Located across the street from the Alpine Cinema (and thus ideally situated for smuggling contraband into the movies), this shop has a wide variety of Middle Eastern pastries. My favorite is at the bottom of the picture above. I had the name wrong the first few times I ordered it, they told me that it is called “hadeesa” (a spelling I know I’m butchering… corrections are welcome if you find it before I do). It has a date filling, is very sweet, and is primarily responsible for my weight gain in the month of December. Continue reading »
Jan 162012
I’d say the ballfields don’t get much of a workout when it’s 20 degrees out… this picture is actually from December, when it was a balmy 40.
Facebook reports: the BrooklynOne Jazz Orchestra will be putting on a concert next Saturday, January 21, at St. John’s Parish Hall.
Hey Everyone we are having a very special night featuring the BrooklynOne Jazz orchestra led by musical director Anthony Rodriguez
The 21st would’ve been our founder Tom Kane’s Birthday so we are holding a special jazz concert to celebrate.
Remember this is a pay what you want event so the cover charge is whatever you feel like giving, and we are looking for a big turn out so please come and join us for this exciting Jazz filled night!!
The show starts next Saturday at 7pm.
The Bay Ridge Historical Society is releasing a new book, titled Bay Ridge, Etc., starting tomorrow, Thursday, January 12th. The book will sell for $20.00, with the proceeds going to the Bay Ridge Historical Society, a nonprofit, non-sectarian community-based, state-chartered educational organization.
The Yellow Hook Grill (there’s some Bay Ridge history for ya, mate) will be hosting a book launch party that day at 11am, according to the Bay Ridge Journal, for “business and community leaders and local media representatives.” I’d love to go myself, as a member of the local media. But since I almost certainly can’t. If there are any readers who are interested, and would be willing to take pictures, please let me know (brian@bksouthie.com), and I can give you my blessing to go as a member of this local media outlet.
P.S. I don’t think they’re really turning away any non-media, non-community-leader types. That’s just my plea for someone to go take pictures for me. Please, someone, go to this and take pictures for me.
Brownstoner reports: “A controversial developer who owns dozens of properties in Bay Ridge is facing foreclosure on several of the houses he owns in the neighborhood.” Seven one- and two-family properties, including several Colonial-style houses, owned by Mousa Khalil are scheduled for auction later this month with $2+ million in liens. There have been numerous complaints about Khalil’s pattern of buying up historic houses in the area and allegedly leaving them to rot, as documented by the Bay Ridge Courier and Bay Ridge Courier in 2007. Khalil owns more than 30 houses in Bay Ridge. (Full story at Brownstoner.com)
Jan 112012
If you think State Senator Marty Golden's district is whack, you should see the departed Mr. Kruger's.
The NY Daily News and Brooklyn Daily have recently published separate-yet-similar editorials regarding one of the pressing issues of the 2012 election cycle – redistricting. The Daily News leads off with horse-trading – the political game that both shapes gerrymandered districts and is caused by it. But they eventually get to the point that Lou Powsner made for Brooklyn Daily – gerrymandering carves up communities.
Powsner focuses on the City Council, and more so on Bensonhurst, where the problem is acute. None of the four Councilmen who serve Bensonhurst residents – David Greenfield (Borough Park), James Oddo (Staten Island), Vincent Gentile (Bay Ridge), or Dominic Recchia (Gravesend/Coney Island) have enough of the neighborhood to consider Bensonhurst part of their core constituency. Powsner sites Greenfield especially for being a no-show at Bensonhurst community events.
The Bensonhurst problem is hardly limited to City Hall… and for that matter, it isn’t really limited to Bensonhurst. Some parts of Bensonhurst are represented in Congress by Upper West Sider Jerold Nadler. Others are represented by Staten Islander Michael Grimm… same as Bay Ridge, incidently. The Daily News article pushed the redistricting plan put forward by Common Cause New York. It wouldn’t help our chances of getting Brooklyn representation, but it wouldn’t carve up our neighborhoods, either.
For that reason alone, given the jokers responsible for implementing it, it probably won’t succeed. But here’s to hoping!
Related: Gerrymandering A Problem For Neighborhood Unity (Bensonhurst Bean)
