Yesterday was Maundy Thursday, named for ‘The Maundy,’ which is what medieval English monks called the Footwashing they did on Thursday of Holy Week. According to Reverend Meeter of Old First Church in Park Slope, the word ‘maundy’ derives from the Latin word mandatum, for ‘commandment,’ as they repeated in Latin the text from John’s Gospel, ‘a new commandment (mandatum novum) give I unto you, that ye love one another.’ Apropos of this, Meeter wrote the following homily for the small group, who showed up last night for the footwashing. I told Meeter that he should send it to the Op-Ed page of the New York Times or the letters section of the New Yorker. He thought it was too preachy. I didn’t. I found it very interesting and unpreachy.”–OTBKB

Anyone that needs a fix of the Easter Bunny or Easter baskets this weekend can head to Piramide Restaurant on Fifth Avenue in Park Slope. This is because the Easter Bunny will there on both Saturday (3/22) and Sunday (3/23) from 9AM-11AM. Mr. Bunny will greet the children (and presumably the adults) and “distribute free Easter baskets filled with goodies.” Piramide is at 499 Fifth Avenue.

It’s looking pretty good out there from the Brooklyn weather observatory. Today’s forecast is “windy with sunshine and a few clouds.” The high will bbe 49 and the wind will make it feel like 38. Tonight will be mostly cloudy and cold with a low of 34. It will feel like 24. Enjoy the day off is you’re lucky enough to have it.–Accuweather

1) Rumor has it that McDonald’s has its sights set on Bedford Avenue. (Repeat: This is a rumor. It is only a rumor and we are presenting it as a crazy rumor.) A reader notes that “Word on the street is: Mc Donalds bought Salvation Army on Bedford and N7 few months ago. Their lease is ending soon, here come the Mc Muffins in the morning. This is a rumor, but it sounds awfully accurate.” Property records show that the building (above) is still in the hands of the Salvation Army, however, which acquired it in 1974 from GTR Realty Corp.

2) A significant number of shops are opening on N. 3 & N. 4 Streets by mid-year. A tipster writes, “I’ve learned that between 5 to 10 stores will open on the next block in the next 5 months, between Wythe and Berry. This is getting out of control. Fastest gentrification of a neighborhood ever? Feels like the developers want to beat Brasilia on the speed level…” The detail provided includes “a furniture store, a candy store, a fashion store on the north side of the [N. 3] street and i have no clue about the 3-4 shopping spaces on the ground floor of the new condo building on the south side.” The new building in question, which is pictured below with its street-level retail space, is 100 N3 Lofts.

Is New York City Transit trying to get a sense of ridership on the B61 route, which terminates in Red Hook and is being extended to the new Ikea when it opens on Beard Street, or are they actually trying to gauge ridership in order to make independent service improvements? A reader emails to say:

I hardly ever take the B61 bus because I prefer walking rather than riding with 1000 other people, but I rode both to and from the A train today and there were MTA employees on board counting passengers each way. I’m assuming they’re trying to determine the usage so that when Ikea opens they’ll add more buses. Or at least I’m hoping thats the case. I’m curious if they’ve been on for longer than just today.

Anyone with a sense of this, please be in touch via a comment or email. In the meantime, think of all the people who have no idea what a B61 is who will come to know its unique joys in late summer. Extra points to the first person to bring a Billy Bookcase home to N. 10 Street in Williamsburg on the B61.

We will be gathering to celebrate their kindness on Sunday, March 30, from 3-5 pm. (NEXT SUNDAY). Due to the overwhelming desire of clients and neighbors to pay tribute to them, we need to change location from Sam’s Restaurant on Court Street. I will
be speaking with the secretary at Kane Street Synagogue today to work on details.

As you may know, only kosher food may be brought into the Synagogue so we will basically be having simple items (fruit, desserts, beverages)….Kane Street Synagogue is located at 236 Kane Street between Court and Tompkins Place.

The death march of useful businesses continues. Anyone interested in more info about the even can contact kmgweigel (at) aol (dot) com.

Check out one of the coolest neighborhood features we’ve seen in a long time for coffee drinkers: a guide to prices at Fort Greene cafes. “In what we hope will become a semi-regular feature here, we present our first Fort Greene Guide, a view of the cafes in the hood and their prices. We focused on the three items we figure most people are likely to get: a small coffee, a medium cappuccino or a baked good of some kind…When possible, though, we asked about that cafe staple, the muffin. Our results are below, but we’ve also made a handy Google Map if you’d prefer the geographic view.” How cool is that?–General Greene

A lot of Brooklyn neighborhood activists are up in arms over proposed school budget cuts. We got an email last night from Lauren Collins at the Windsor Terrace Alliance directing our attention to a page they’ve posted with some sample letters protesting the budget cuts and contact information. She writes:

Many Brooklyn neighborhoods are rallying around the fight against the proposed school budget cuts. We’ve taken a stand protesting these cuts. We have some sample letters and links to local elected officials on our website to make it easy for Brooklyn parents to express their displeasure with these cuts.

Click here to go over to that page and make your voice heard.

At this very moment, the crisp ocean breeze is aglow with an air of carnival excitement as the enormous disco ball is being lifted into ceiling of the glorious, historic, Childs Building in Coney Island (on the Boardwalk at W. 21st Street) in anticipation of Saturday’s Roller Skating Extravaganza!! The colorfully draped ceiling refelect the glittering spinning lights as the historic Childs Building in Coney Island is being transformed into Lola Staar’s Dreamland Roller Rink!!

Ashanti, the “Princess of Hip Hop and R&B” and Grammy Award winner as well as actress Marissa Tomei will join Lola in an “Opening Performance Spectacle which will amaze and astound you on Saturday!” Briana Winter, who has written a Lola Staar theme song, will also perform. As will Lola Staar’s Heartthrob Skate Dancers. DJ Momotaro will “be spinning the hot Disco, 80s classics and New Wave tunes on the turntables!!” Also, there will be Stilt Walkers, Hula Hoopers, Skate Dancers!

We are thrilled for Dianna. We are beyond happy to see life return to the magnificent Child’s Building. And, we’re serious in saying that we think Saturday’s opening is going to kick some serious Coney Island ass.

It’s that time again. Sidewshows by the Seashore opens on Easter Sunday. Come see Donny Vomit, Heather Holiday, Insectavora, Serpentina, Twisted Shockmeister Scott Baker and Nick Sin.–Kinetic Carnival

• End Nears for Koscuiszko Bridge [NYDN]
• Planner Amanda Burden Speaks [AYR]
• No Parking at Brooklyn College Dorm [Brooklyn Junction]
• Markowitz Chief of Staff is Stepping Down [NYDN]
• Wednesday Food & Drink Roundup [Brownstoner]
• Estelle Closing Its Doors [Kensington Brooklyn]
• First Look at Pomme de Terre [Ditmas Park Blog]
• The Hole in Carroll Gardens [Lost City]
• Who’s the Best Brooklyn Heights Dog Walker? [BHB]
• The Face of Bed-Stuy [Bed-Stuy Banana]
• Brooklyn Lamp-Phone-Clocks [Pardon Me for Asking]
• Vid of Coney Historian Charles Denson from Documentary [Kinetic Carnival]
• Dumbo Cat & Dog Adoption Event, Sat. 3/22 [Dumbo NYC]

Trying to figure out what to do over the next few days? Perhaps you need Dine in Brooklyn info? Or want four choices for Saturday night? An Easter Egg Hunt perhaps?–Brooklyn Based & About Brooklyn

If you catch the first Seventh Avenue photo below, this shot of a little girl in spring colors with matching balloons is a very different sort of rainy day Park Slope photo.

You’ve heard me mention Regina McBride’s amazing writing workshops, Inner Lives, Developing Characters. Some of the best writers I know take her workshops. That’s why Brooklyn Reading Works is presenting a reading of work from these workshops called Inner Lives Out Loud on Thursday March 27th at 8 pm at the Old Stone House. Fifth Avenue @ 3rd Street in Park Slope. I will be reading an excerpt from my new novel, ‘The Last Sublet,’ at this reading!…”–OTBKB