“Speaking of shit that stinks,” nothing smells worse that finding a photo that you took and annotated on a rotten, thieving website that even has tosses their own watermark on your (annotated) photo.”Unfettered by such vagaries as copyright law or intellectual property they saw fit to neither link to the site where this photograph came from (New York Shitty) or give credit to the person who took the trouble to shoot and annotate it (yours truly).”–New York Shitty

This is S. 6 Street in Williamsburg near Broadway and Bedford. It has changed significantly in the last two years ago, one of the major changes being the complete overhauls of the gorgeous buildings on the right. One tenant is the Soma Fitness Club and the other is the restaurant, Viñas.

This week’s taste of snow led to to think about previous Brooklyn snowfalls in previous years. Here are some vids:

“I am looking for a woman who marched in the Mermaid Parade in 2007. White, early-mid thirties, light brown hair, VERY PREGNANT. She’d painted her belly to look like the planet Earth. My friend took a gorgeous picture of her and I am DYING to use it for a photo/visual art project I’m producing, but need her permission. My friend said the baby’s due date was July 10th. If you think you might know where I can find her, please email me. Leads leading to my finding and securing permission of photo use will receive full astrology chart AND a tarot reading–plus beer.”–Craigslist

This “Stop Ahead” sign entangled in construction goodness is on N. 5 Street in Williamsburg. It’s actually across the street from the Sign at Rest we featured yesterday. This one doesn’t rest. It perseveres.

Check out Eagle Provisions, an old store on Fifth Avenue in Park Slope south of the Prospect Expressway, and while you’re at it, do not miss the way cool mural on the side of the building. The local landmark offers “epicurian delights from around the world.”–Fading Ad Blog

We wondered why nobody was working at the site of the Modern, the controversial Burg building on N. 7 Street, when we passed by last weeked. Now we know why: the building was hit with another Stop Work Order. This time, the trouble is that it was causing damage to a neighboring building “causing water to enter” the basement. Modern fans will, of course, recall a long, long list of issues at this neighborhood favorite, which just came out the penalty box in early January. Since then, seven complaints have been called in to the Department of Buildings about the project, many of them for illegal after-hours work. Given that most were checked out 72 hours after the complaints were made, no evidence of the work was found. Here’s hoping that when the DOB’s new teams go out hunting for illegal work, they focus on Williamsburg. It should be like going hunting in a petting zoo.

We’re starting a new series this week that we hope will be a regular weekly feature–or, at least, a fairly regular one: adoptable pet of the week. We’re going to be featuring animals available for adoption at the Sean Casey Animal Rescue shelter in Kensington. If we help one kind soul hook up with one dog, cat or other creature in need of a home, we’ll be quite content.

This is Willis. He is not only a gorgeous animal, he’s had a tough life and could use some love. Here’s the info about him:

Willis is a big mush Akita/Chow mix who just wants to cuddle up and sleep on the couch. He was found locked in a building under the Willis Ave Bridge starving and lonely. We think he is six years old. Shy and sweet from his tough life, he needs a home with much love to bring him out of his shell.

How can someone not want this gorgeous dog and show him some years of comfort, pampering and love? His petfinder profile, along with more sad details, are here. Sean Casey Animal Rescue is located at 155 East 3rd Street in Kensington. Their number is 718.436.5163.

A GL reader writes: “Last night I came across a simple 8×10 sheet of paper taped to the wall of the Bergen Street subway station with plans listed for asbestos abatement. From what I can remember, the project is slated to begin on 2/23/08, and continue until 12/31/08. That’s a lot of asbestos!”–GL Inbox

We always like the way this building on rapidly changing S. 6 Street in Williamsburg looked when it had it’s older look. It still has a look thanks to the door, but the overall impact now is different thanks to the paint job and the less old and moldy look. The top photo is two year old. The bottom photo is now.

Stories of credit card fraud from Park Slope, involving bogus cards being used to run up charges far from Brooklyn continue. A reader passed us a report from another Park Slope Parents email from someone with a card in the family that was used to buy gas in Kissimmee, Florida. “Coincidentally, I did some shopping using his card in Park Slope last weekend,” the victim says. The report fits earlier reports of fraud, with victims wondering if there is a Park Slope merchant that is the source of some of the incidents. The 78th Precinct was supposed to be investigating a few cases that were reported them. [GL Inbox]

“Coney” – Excerpt from the Documentary from Mike Healey on Vimeo.
This is a short preview of a very interesting documentary about Coney Island that we found on Vimeo. Enjoy.

[Cool pic of the South Slope courtesy of f.trainer/flickr;Food of the Future]

Photos:

• Alone in Coney [lornagrlphotos]
• Brooklyn View [Blue Jake]
• Dumbo Room [Atomische]
• Desktop Day: Williamsburg Bank [Brit in Brooklyn]
• Sheepshead Bay #7 [seriously excited!]
• Brooklyn Fisheye [Ann Althouse/flickr via Brooklyn Heights Blog]
• Coney Wedding [lornagrlphotos]
• Bushwick Birdhouses [New York Shitty]
• Brooklyn Day [babadri/flickr]

Photos/Words:

• Stroller Mafia in Downtown Brooklyn? [Curbed]
• Goliath Beats David in Greenwood Heights [Brownstoner]
• City Planning Says They Might Have Blown It on Fourth Avenue [Streets Blog]
• “Cowardly Anonymous Weasels” Challenge Red Hook Vendors [Lost City]
• Times Not Fixing Arena Setback Error [AYR]
• Bed-Stuy Real Estate Picks [Bed-Stuy Blog]
• Did Recession Talk Hurt Valentine’s Day in Park Slope? [OTBKB]
• Weird Pole in Bed-Stuy [New York Shitty]
• Light Designer Lashes Out at Markowitz Desire for “Bling” [Kinetic Carnival]

Here is some info on the Winter Festival in Prospect Park that starts today and runs through Sunday, February 24. The Audobon Center at the Boathouse and Lefferts Historic House are open daily from 12 to 4 p.m. From Feb. 16-24 you can catch Winter Festival: Coming In From the Cold, 12 – 4 p.m at the Lefferts House:

No TV? No video games? No radio? Ever wonder what folks in the past did during winter? Visitors participate in traditional winter activities such as repairing, sharpening, sewing, weaving, and spinning. Lefferts Historic House. Free.

There’s also the Winter Festival: Children’s Film Fest, 12 – 4 p.m. at the Audobon Center:

Watch exciting, kid-friendly environmental films at the Con Edison Discover Nature Theater and enjoy nature and craft activities for kids of all ages. Audubon Center. Free.

And, here are the special holiday week hours at the Wollman Rink for ice skating: Feb. 18 – 21 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., 2 – 6 p.m. and Feb. 22 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., 2 – 6 p.m., 7 – 9 p.m. For more info on the Winter Festival click here.

If you’re in or near Bay Ridge, then, think about checking out the Pet Adopt-a-Thon today at the Happy Pets store on Fourth Avenue between 98th Street and Marine Avenue for an all-day pet adopt-a-thon! The store’s owners have teamed up with Sean Casey Animal Rescue. “Everyone can use a little bit of love – especially the weakest amongst us. Here’s your chance to make a real difference in our neighborhood and help those who are helping innocent animals. Even if you aren’t planning on adopting, please stop by and show that Bay Ridge cares about life in all its forms!”–Right in Bay Ridge

This “Stop Sign Ahead” sign is friends with the building going up at Berry and N. 5 Street in Williamsburg that comes from Karl Fischer. It’s been working very hard and listening to a lot of construction noise and just want to take a break for a while.

So, if you stop and take a photo of the NYPD’s “Tower of Fun” skywatch thing, which is currently stationed in Crown Heights, an undercover officer might pull you aside and suggest that you’re a terrorist. Like this: “What are you, a terrorist? You look like you’re taking photographs of the officers in that secure area so you can follow them home to hurt them or kill them! Cops get death threats, you know!” Watch where you point that camera, people.–Razor Apple

N. 3 Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn

“The Gowanus seems to endlessly inspire. Real estate speculators. City historians. Mafia hit-men. Artists. Ah yes. The light of the Gowanus has been compared to Venice. Even Hepcat, who takes many a picture there, says so. What is it? The romance of the industrial landscape? The Kentile sign? The view of Manhattan and the elevated subway train? And now, a well-known Brooklyn artist is showing her pictures of the Gowanus on the Upper East Side.” La Serenissima in South Brooklyn!–OTBKB

There is no more certain a sign that the end is near than the erection of the fence around the building that will be dispatched. So it is with 340 Court Street, which will be the site of a controversial project from the Clarett Group that has been opposed by many nearby residents. And also has caused some developments with nearby buildings and profoundly ironic blow up rat appearances. Our Carroll Gardens Correspondent just sent us this photo of the fence. Demolition permits were issued on February 1. Building plans have also been filed, but have not been approved. The fence permit was issued on Wednesday.

We finally got our hands yesterday on some high quality renderings of the Rogers Marvel plan for McCarren Pool in Greenpoint/Williamsburg and posted them on Curbed. (Full slide show below.) The renderings came with the caveat that they are “drafts” and the reminder that, of course, the Landmarks Preservation Commission has to sign off on any alterations to the landmarked structure. The renderings come in summer and winter versions, showing the pool version in the summer (along with the concrete peninsula that would jut into part of the pool) and the ice skating rink of the summer. There are also some diagrams below of what would be inside the existing buildings. It’s worth noting that even though the pool would only cover about 70 percent of the old one, it would still be immense in size, given that the original was huge. About two-thirds of the pool would be a wading pool and one-third would be a deeper lap pool. In addition, the diving pool would be restored with a 12 1/2 foot diving platform added. Money has already been allocated for the jobs and the plan is to start work by the end of the year once all the approvals are in place. Jotham Sederstrom has a story on the new plan in today’s Daily News.

GL Analysis
Having seen the pool deteriorate and make a superb photo of urban rot and having stood on the blazing concrete floor of the pool in summer and dreamed of water, we are, frankly, almost giddy that McCarren Pool will be a pool again. We will leave aside the discussion about motivations and demographics and won’t get into specific details or things that could be tweaked. The pool will be an amenity for the entire community and will have a capacity of 1,400 people. That is a wonderful thing.

This was almost a given. There are now dueling petitions over the controversial oyster bar on Hoyt Street that restaurant operator Jim Mamary wants to open. There’s a pro-bar petition at Bagels by the Park on Smith Street. Now, the Hoyt Street Alliance, which is trying to block an Oyster Bar, has started an online petition to Community Board Six to supplement their low tech activism. It says in part:

SAY NO TO A LATE HOURS LIQUOR BAR AT 301 HOYT STREET!

The residents of Hoyt Street between Sackett and Union need your support to make sure that the residential qualities of our block and our community remain stable. We do not want to give it over to those who, for quick profit, would turn our block and our neighbors� blocks into a night-time playground.

Smith Street is saturated with bars. Guess what? Bar owners are now targeting Hoyt Street. This times it’s our block – a month from now it could be any of our neighbors’ blocks.

The owners of Patois, Bagels by the Park, Smith Union Cafe, and other restaurants have contributed much to the re-vitalization of Smith Street and have been responsible business owners. We, their residential neighbors, have contributed to the success of their establishments by eating and drinking there. We call on them to respect us, our homes and families by keeping Smith Street strong, and leaving the neighboring blocks to the residents and to their right to enjoy their homes in peace and quiet. We, the undersigned, urge Jim Mammery, James Geritano, and Alan Harding, to respect our right to live on a residential block and to accept that there is no community support for a liquor bar on Hoyt Street.

We also call on CB6 to ensure that our block remain residential and we urge the State Liquor Authority to reject an application for a liquor license.

We await the blog. In the meantime, anyone interested in the petition can click here. The pro-bar petition is apparently a paper-only affair, but can dueling online petitions be far behind?

Is this the image of a 2009 Carroll Gardens development discussion? A “for sale” sign has gone up at 227 Carroll Street, which houses the Casa Rosa restaurant. Last night, we got an email titled “Development Fever Spreading,” that said “huge realtor sign on Casa Rosa Restaurant….Building for Sale…development Site…” It’s being marketed by Massey Knakal and the asking price for the small corner parcel is $3.3 million. One can only assume that, at that price, the buyer is not interested in the small building for opening another Italian restaurant. Carroll Gardens #1 watchdog, Pardon Me for Asking, had photos of the restaurant and the sign ready to go before the email went to a long list of people. Odds of neighborhood controversy when the buyer decides to cash in on the development and put up a new building on the corner: significantly greater than 50-50.

When all is said and done, lighting up the Parachute Jump will have cost $3.45 million, give or take. Last week, Borough President Marty Markowitz announced a $2 million redo of the lighting designed by Leni Schwendinger and the city issued an RFP for the job. Mr. Markowitz is now calling it “Phase II” of the illumination project. What is now known as Phase I cost $1.45 million. The RFP calls for “a very dramatic illumination” of the landmark known as Brooklyn’s Eiffel Tower.–Brooklyn Paper

1) Park Slope: Work is very much underway on the Seventh Avenue storefronts that once housed D’Agostino’s and Gothic Cabinet Craft. The plywood is up around two-thirds of the property and permits have been issued by DOB, although they don’t make clear who the new tenants will be. When we passed by, not a single permit had been posted outside the building, however. The word we got last year was Bank of America, but there’s no firm indication of the new tenants.

2) Park Slope: Building permits have been issued for work on one of Seventh Avenue’s most cursed storefronts of death near Third Street. Building permits are not illuminating as to the identity of the new business going into the space. The most recent tenant was Maggie Moo’s, which went to the Big Dairy in the Beyond last year. So many business have occupied the space and died over the last decade that everyone has lost count. Rumors of ritual animal sacrifices and curses being placed on the property are unfounded, however. We think.