Brooklinks is a daily selection of Brooklyn-related information and images:

• Atlantic Yards and PlaNYC 2030 [AYR]
• Brooklyn Bridge Park Needs Bus Routes, Bikes [NYDN]
• Strong Opinion on Smith [PMFA]
• In Praise of Booty [New York Shitty]
• Haunted in Bed-Stuy [Bed-Stuy Banana]
• Broadway & Hart 70 Years Ago [Bed-Stuy Blog]
• Drug Dealer Attacks 2 in Brooklyn Courtroom [amNY]
• Supermarket & Condos in Fort Greene [NYDN]
• Prospect Park Swans, Pigeons, Etc. [A Year in the Park]
• Nice Work on Henry and Degraw [Lost City]
• Bedford Ave. Park Opening in May [Brooklyn Junction]
• Lola Staar’s Skating Rink Opens 3/22 [Kinetic Carnival]
• Worst Intersection in PLG? [Hawthorne Street]
• Nasty: Brooklyn View is Stealing Photos [GerritsenBeach.Net]
• Urban Outfitters on Thursday [Cobble Hill Blog]

Some reactions from Brooklyn bloggers to the Eliot Spitzer scandal:

• Eliot Spitzer Inspires New Song: “Love Client No. 9” [Bay Ridge Blog]
• Client 9 [Sustainable Flatbush]
• Even Governors Get Lonely [White in Bay Ridge]
• Another Moralist Bites the Dust [Brooklyn Optimist]
• Jackass #10 [Bad Advice]
• Whither Spitzer? [Self-Absorbed Boomer]
• On Spitzer [Brooklyn Junction]
• Prostitutes and Congestion Pricing [No Land Grab]
• The Desire for Humiliation [Full Permission Living]
• We Were Kidding at the Time About the Governor [Esthetic/Aesthetic]
• Slopers Excited About “the First Black and the First Blind Governor” [OTBKB]
• Client 9 from Outer Space [DITHOB]

At the end of Huntington Street and the Gowanus Canal, it really is the end, particularly if one were to go over the barriers and check out the water.

The city will be installing a new traffic light at Bond and State Streets in Boerum Hill to try to cut down on accidents. Some residents think it will make matters worse with cars speeding up to try to make lights (one person writes, “We should take a stand against all these lights…“), but others think it will make things safer. A light was installed at Hoyt and State Streets and cut accidents. The busy intersections only have stop signs.–GL Inbox

This beautiful specimen comes from Leonard Street at Montrose Avenue in East Williamsburg via our Roving Greenpoint Correspondent. She writes, by way of background:

As anyone (especially women) who live in the area can attest, this corner is often populated by large groups of men “hanging out”. While drinking beer they sometimes enjoy themselves (and each other) by hollering at female passersby…these gentlemen were indeed members of the Katz Club which, as you can clearly see, is strictly a “Members Only” organization. They even have their own couch.

Nice sofa.

“On Thursday night, there was a robbery on the corner of Front and Washington Street. Another story said that the “same group” jumped a man and tried to “pull his eye socket out”. In another incident, the group pulled a man between cars and mugged him…With the increased number of families in the area, we need the full support of the police to help curb violent attacks. Please be careful at night.”–Dumbo NYC

It is face down on Meeker Avenue and may have been the victim of a traffic accident. It appears to have been in this condition for a while, given the dust and grit that have accumulated. Then again, on Meeker Avenue in the Burg beneath the BQE, that could happen in a matter of days.

There is morning gloom at our Brooklyn weather observatory this morning. The forecast calls for a morning rain or (gasp) snow shower here and there. Otherwise, it will be cloudly, but the clouds will give way to some sun. The high will be 50, but it will feel like 44. Tonight, there will be patch clouds with a low of 33.–Accuweather

No matter how you cut it, the survival of the Red Hook Ball Field vendors with a six-year permit is a victory. A beloved local institution has been saved, after a long struggle, and it is national news. The AP story on the permit has been picked up and is running in more than 60 papers and news outlets around the country and internationally today. The fate of the Red Hook vendors is interesting, it turns out, as far away as London, Tucson, New Orleans and San Francisco. Ultimately, there were no other bids for the permit to operate in the park. We are cheered, and we are happy for Vendor’s Committee director Cesar Fuentes and all the vendors. Now that that is settled, it’s time to ask how the city’s push for standardization and expensive equipment is going to change the scene at the ballfields. Yesterday, Mr. Fuentes said that some of the “mercado” feeling will be lost. Overnight he sent out an email thanking thanking everyone that had been supportive of the vendors’ effort to stay in the park, but noted, “It is important to understand that while this is a tremendous victory for us, we are still facing tremendous challenges ahead before we can consider an official opening date this summer. These challenges affect every vendor as he\she needs to be in full compliance with DOHMH standards & be able to afford costly equipment in order to operate legally.” Each vendor needs to purchase equipment estimated to cost $15,000 to $30,000, and two dropped out early on because of the costs involved.

Red Hook Vendor Coverage:

• Vendors Get Six Year Permit [Eater]
• New York Soccer Tacos Survive Rules Crackdown [AP]
• Red Hook Vendors: Safe for Six Years, But in What Form? [Grub Street]
• Oh Happy Day! The Vendors Prevail! [Lost City]

Yogo Monster, the new very Oko-Pinkberyesque frozen yogurt place on Seventh Avenue in Park Slope opened on Saturday. We stopped in late yesterday afternoon to take a few photos and sample the goods. It wasn’t the most enticing evening for frozen yogurt, but give it a few weeks, and Yogo Monster will look like a very refreshing spot. We had a small “original” flavor with kiwi, raspberry and rice cakes (foregoing the fourth topping). We enjoy Pinkberry’s pomegranate topping, but the rice cakes as Yogo Monster work for us.

Will 333 Carroll Street lose the growth that it gained on top, which is visible from a great distance? It’s unclear, but neighborhood blogger Pardon Me For Asking reports that Council Member Bill de Blasio told the monthly Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association meeting last night that the Department of Buildings has found issues with the building application as filed by original architect Robert Scarano. (Actually, the words used by PMFA is that Mr. Scarano “lied on the application.”) The issue apparently involves the transfer of square footage from the basement to the roof. An “intent to revoke permit” letter has gone out, giving the developer until next week to respond. What it means, in effect, is that some sort of solution will have to be negotiated unless the developer intends to walk away from the building. There is significant sentiment in Carroll Gardens to remove the the huge addition to the building.

Today’s Daily News confirms what everyone already knew: the desperately needed repair of the Coney Island Boardwalk won’t happen until after the summer season, leaving people vulnerable to falls and serious injuries all summer long. Meanwhile, million-plus lawsuits filed by people that have been hurt by what we call Coney’s trip-and-fall boardwalk will continue to pile up. Here’s a bit from today’s story:

Talk about too little, too late. City Hall has finally come up with a plan to fix the decaying Coney Island Boardwalk — but work won’t likely begin until after the busy summer season, and will only focus on two-and-a-half blocks in the main amusement area.

“By that time it will probably have collapsed,” quipped Coney Island regular Dianna Carlin, who runs the kitschy beach shop Lola Staar, and has seen visitors trip on the broken planks, gaping holes and protruding nails outside her store. “It’s horrific. We fix the boardwalk ourselves so people don’t injure themselves,” she added. “There’s a huge hole outside my store that’s been gated up for at least six months.”

The city’s new plan also calls for replacing a portion of the iconic wooden boardwalk with a mix of concrete and a synthetic material meant to look like wood. Under the city’s plan, workers will begin replacing the worst stretches of the aging boardwalk between W. 12th and W. 15th Sts. this fall.

Another story details some of the lawsuits. Last year’s mess led to 10 suits for injuries caused by holes, broken boards and protruding bolts and nails. Several people have actually fallen through the rotting wood. In 2006, one claim was filed and five were filed in 2005. One suit is for $2 million.

A lot of trees and tree branches came down during the weekend storm (like these in the South Slope) and we’re actually surprised there wasn’t more damage. In any case, yesterday a reader sent us an email about and a photo of the aftermath at Eighth Avenue and Garfield in the Slope, where a car clearly ended up on the losing end of a battle with a tree. Our reader writes:

During the recent wind, a tree on 8th Ave. at Garfield (in Park Slope) fell on a car. I’m not sure exactly when it happened, but noticed it yesterday. Looks like someone did a fast job of getting the tree cut up and out of the street. My friends and I wondered if the owner of the car knew about it yet. It looks like the tree’s trunk had rotted and it gave way.

It would be a nasty surprise to come out and find that.

“More than 30 Brooklyn subway stations could be targeted for badly needed renovations under the proposed capital budget plan released by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority last week. From Bushwick to Bensonhurst, and many neighborhoods in between, dilapidated stations could receive $3.7 billion in repair and refurbishing over the next four years.”–NYDN

These are a couple of images shot at the “Save Coney Island” event at Southpaw in Park Slope this past weekend sent our way by photographer and blogger Adrian Kinloch. The big–and happy–news that came out of the event is that boardwalk entrepreneur Dianna Carlin, AKA Lola Staar, will be operating a roller rink in the historic Childs Restaurant building this summer. That, quite frankly, is the nicest Coney Island news we’ve heard in some time. Mr. Kinloch has a lot of images posted of the show, which can be seen here. Sarah Ryley, meanwhile, supplies some details about the event in the Brooklyn Eagle as well as quoting Coney Island Development Corp. President Lynn Kelly as saying she remains “confident and agreement can be reached.” Meanwhile, March 22 is the opening date for roller skating at Childs.

Here’s an interesting question: Why are they rebuilding the sidewalk on Flushing Avenue in front of the Brooklyn Navy Yard without planning for the Brooklyn Greenway? “Seems kinda silly.” Indeed.–Brownstoner

[Image courtesy of A Year in the Park]

That 20-story glass structure that would rise in Prospect Lefferts-Gardens that we revealed last week, would be visible from parts of Prospect Park. This is a quick approximation that blogger A Year in the Park, who does wonderful items on Prospect Park every day, threw together. We’re not sure about the proportions (we think it may understate the building a bit compared to its surroundings), but it’s definitely worth a look.

[Image courtesy of Deborah Matlack/Matlack Photography]

Brooklinks is a daily selection of Brookyn-related information and images:

• Brooklyn Legislator’s Corruption Trial Starts [NYT]
• Spitzer Scandal Fallout for Atlantic Yards? [AYR]
• City Says No Drugs in Water, but They Don’t Test for Them [NYDN]
• 35 PPW Whopper Chopper [Brownstoner]
• Park Slope Food Coop Considers Bottled Water Ban [Gothamist]
• Pay Phones of North Brooklyn [New York Shitty]
• Juice Box Sign [Brooklynometry]
• Brooklyn Museum Gets with the Times [Kinetic Carnival]
• Bed-Stuy Al Fresco [Bed-Stuy Banana]
• Visiting the New Flatbush Target [Fading Ad Blog]
• Happy New Year in March [PMFA]
• How About Some Lintels? [Lost City]

Sunset Park is among the many, many Brooklyn neighborhoods up for a rezoning, and City Planning will be making a presentation of its Sunset Park rezoning study this month. The big day is Thursday, March 13, and the presentation is scheduled for 6:30 PM in the office of Community Board 7, which is located at 4201 Fourth Avenue (43rd Street). Meetings and discussions about the rezoning have been going on for a long time.

Here’s a random sampling of some reaction and posts by Brooklyn bloggers on the Spitzer/Client 9 prostitution scandal:

• The Spitzer Spritzer [New York Shitty]
• Holy Crap: Spitzer and Prostitutes? [Brooklyn Streets]
• The Spitzer Scandal: Any Fallout for Atlantic Yards? [AYR]
• Gov. Spitzer to Resign? [DITHOB]
• What Happens After Spitzer? [Brooklyn Heights Blog]
• Jackass #9 [Bad Advice]
• Spitzer is a Ditz [OTBKB]
• Welcome Governor…Patterson [Z. Madison]
• Eliot Spitzer Nears Political Death [Bay Ridge Blog]

Local writer Gabriel Cohen, who is a wonderful person and whose work we admire, is doing a reading and presentation tonight (3/11) at BookCourt in Cobble Hilll. He will be presenting the third book he’s published in the last year, Storms Can’t Hurt the Sky: The Buddhist Path through Divorce. It’s a very personal story about his divorce and how Buddhism helped him through the experience. Mr. Cohen has previous written very good Brooklyn-based fiction. If you’re not familiar with his work, check it out here. The reading is free and BookCourt is located at 163 Court St near Dean Street in Cobble Hill.

What are the retail possibilities for the huge Edge development–which will have 60,000 square feet of retail space–in Williamsburg and what do they mean for Kent Avenue? Consider the bit of speculation that Racked engaged in in its Like/Likely feature:

…Who’s going to be doing business at the Edge? What we’d like to see open: Well, since being swallowed whole by the earth isn’t an option for the Edge, wouldn’t a W’burg Barneys Co-op be nice? How awesome does Topshop Brooklyn sound? And can you imagine how pissed Manhattanites would be if Nordstrom ditched its midtown dreams and went this far east?

What we’re likely to see open: A supersized Duane Reade, anyone? A mega-Target store, perhaps? A Subway sandwich shop? Those all seem to be relatively safe guesses. And since Steve Jobs has said no way to the area, maybe Circuit City or Best Buy will swoop on in. Oh, and let’s not forget the bank chains.

2009 should be quite the year for Kent Avenue.

It’s rare to find a mannequin with such cleavage, or even to pay attention to one, but this one at Dr. Jay’s in Downtown Brooklyn is “falling out of her dress stacked.”–McBrooklyn

There will be a craft fair outside John Jay High School on Seventh Ave. in Park Slope on Saturday, March 22, hosted by the Secondary School for Research PTA. It will take place from 10AM-4PM. The school is located in John Jay. Here’s what an email about them says, in part:

The Secondary School for Research is a small, 6-12 school serving predominantly minority and low-income students, most of whom will be the first generation in their families to go to college. 94% of our Class of 2007 went to college, and we anticipate that this number will be higher for the Class of 2008.

Many of our current juniors will be staffing tables at the fair in order to raise money for our school’s College Fund. We are hoping to raise the necessary funds to pay for buses to take the entire junior class to visit colleges in Upstate New York. The buses are expensive–the total cost is close to $3000, an amount our school is no longer able to subsidize due to the recent DOE budget cuts. Please come out and support our students and our school!!

Sadly, we keep seeing these appeals from schools or school-related groups about trying to replace funds for kids that have been cut.

Well, this is probably more “street seating” than a street couch and it’s in much better shape than some of the sofas we’ve featured. In any case, it’s from Sudyam Street in Bushwick and comes from our traveling correspondent, Miss Heather.