And in this case, on N. 9 Street, it seems to have done just that. With that, we conclude our broadcast day.

[Photo courtesy of the New York Public Library]

Court and Montague Streets circa 1927.

Those crazy Carroll Gardens residents are not into forgiving and forgetting. Some are still peeved about last week’s decision by the Board of Standards and Appeals that let the 360 Smith Building rise to 70 feet instead of the 55 feet allowed by current zoning. This came our way from Art Dog, who had a big role in creating what we used to fondly call the Democracy Wall at the 360 site.

Can you feel the joy, friends? Actually, we put this up because of the music, which almost caused us to wet ourselves.

In these trying financial times in a city with exorbitant rent prices that rarely falter, we’re all looking for an easy way out of deciding if we’re going to pay that cell phone bill, rent or get another night of drinking in at the local watering hole. Some of us, however, don’t have the financial woes and are just looking for an easy fantasy to come true instead. Here, for instance, is a Burg CL Casual Encounter that seeks to combine well, real estate and a little bit of master and servant stuff:

Free Rent for a submissive girl in need – m4w – 38 (Williamsburg)

Ok I know what I have to offer isn’t for everyone and for this I am sorry but what I am offering is for a submissive girl who is just tired of paying rent. I have a big loft in Williamsburg and I have a room available. Now I work all the time and am out of town allot so I have no time to find a girlfriend nor do I want one. What I am looking for is a playful submissive that will exchange her generosity for rent. So if you need to catch up, save money, or just tired of paying rent drop me a line.

Sigh. If only I were single and on the hunt for an adult trust fund hipster… and could submit. Also, does the submission stuff involve housework?
—Vaduzuvunt

Look it’s a recession, friends. Why spend more money in Manhattan when you can do it cheaper here right in your very own Park Slope? Huh? Huh?

Frankly, we liked our rides on it better in summer, but there is something evocative and moving about the wheel just turning. Captain Nemo who shot the vid swears there was no one in the park operating the wheel and that the cross that is placed atop it every holiday season is already there.

M&S Meat on Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, which is the successor to A&S up the street, which is now closed, is on its way. We stuck our camera inside the other day for a look at the current state of affairs, as well as the huge space the new shop will be occupying.

More looks at the future of eating your meat, ahead.

· Bus Driver Murdered in Bed-Stuy [NYT]
· Suspect in Custody in Murder of Driver [NYDN]
· Times Columnist Says Send the Nets to Newark [AYR]
· 348 Sackett’s Long Dormant Construction Site [PMFA]
· Weird Vermont Market & Pharmacy Now Has Scaffolding [Lost City]
· National Grid Loses a Truck on Atlantic Ave. [McBrookyln]
· Best Subway Announcer. Ever. [New York Shitty]
· Could Someone Please Consider the Horses? [Kensington Brooklyn]
· I Can Has Hipster [Free Williamsburg]

Just don’t tell any of the handball players or skateboarders that have been using the Terrapin Playground, which we call the Boymelpark, for the last couple of weeks that the park doesn’t officially open until tomorrow. (Only the dog owners seem to have been kept out.) But it does. The official ribbon cutting and dedication of the long-delayed restoration work on J.J. Byrne Park’s Terrapin Playground takes place tomorrow (12/3). There’s a skate park, two new basketball courts, six handball courts and a new dog run. Apparently the park will also officially be renamed Washington Park with the playground becoming JJ Byrne Playground. Among the mysteries that remain: how long before condo owners at the Novo Park Slope go apeshit over the noise from the skatepark, handball courts and dog run. Also, will Sanitation Workers be allowed to continue their VERY early morning handball games featuring, shall we say, intense competition and colorful language. Also, how many years will it take to install lights in the new Boymelpark? Yes, some genius designed a park without lights, including a dog run that in winter will be used after dark. Maybe the warm glow of Novo Park Slope condo lights will keep it safe. Or, perhaps, when someone is mugged, beaten, raped or killed or the place starts attracted–shall we say–sordid activity, a decision will be made that having no lights is a boo boo of major proportions. Did someone say too fucking stupid for words? No. That wasn’t us.

The sad premature destruction of Astroland continues. These photos were captured yesterday by Captain Nemo and posted on the Coney Island Message Board. He calls the photo above “Stairway to Nowhere.” It’s not even so much that Astroland is going, it’s that there’s no need for it to go right now that makes the blood boil and that the Mayor’s protestations to the contrary, no one has lifted a finger to stop this.

More heartbreaking photos of destruction if you click here.

Lyn Hill, the New York Methodist VP for Communications and External Affairs has responded to concerns raised by Park Slope Parents about disturbing conditions in the hospital’s emergency room (although she seems  unaware that the issue made it into the blogsphere and became of concern to the greater community beyond the Park Slope Parents private club). The letter is addressed to “Dear Park Slope Parents” rather than “Dear Park Slope Community” and addresses itself to the PSP Advisory Board rather than to average residents who may have been mistreated in the emergency room. Putting all that aside, however, it does address many of the concerns that were raised, and we reproduce it in its entirety as we believe it is highly newsworthy to the entire Park Slope community and to every Brooklynite who walks through the hospital’s doors:

We at New York Methodist Hospital understand that there has been a recent discussion about the service in the Emergency Department at NYM on the PSP listserv and that several people have posted messages that express significant concern about the care they have received and/or the attitude of the staff. The Hospital has been invited to respond by the PSP Advisory Board and we are grateful for the opportunity. We take community comments very seriously and were especially disturbed that, in many cases, there was a sense that the staff of the Emergency Department did not seem to care about the feelings of the patients or their family members. That is inexcusable and, to the extent that it is the case, we will make every effort to address it.

Seriously, we don’t want PSP Members coming to Methodist and dropping dead.

[Photo courtesy of Caryn Rose/GL Flickr Pool]

One word: genius.

CB1 will be having its monthly meeting tonight (Tuesday 12/2) from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm at 211 Ainslie Street, corner Manhattan Avenue (Swinging Sixties Senior Center). Among the issues to be discussed and voted on are this 40-story Ismael Leyva tower on the Greenpont Waterfront that has already been approved by the land use committee.–GL Inbox

[Photo courtesy of oneiroi/GL Flickr Pool]

No words necessary other than the title, we think.

Okay, maybe it’s a little early in the morning for Kraftwerk, but this is a vid shot last night by Lost in Brooklyn on Flickr: “12.01.08 during the “conjunction” (a close configuration of planets/stars and the moon) of the early December’s crescent moon and the planets Venus and Jupiter from our view through Green-Wood Cemetery. And OK, I had to add some music to our “moody” stop motion slide-show-esque clip. (“Uranium” by Kraftwerk)”

The gift of giving is in full force at the the Junior League of Brooklyn. Join league members for a night of drinks, laughs and friends on December 5th, 2008, 6:30pm – 8:30pm. They will be collecting can good and monetary donations, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Christian Help in Park Slope (CHIPS) Food Pantry. Come join the festivities at Building on Bond, 112 Bond Street.

—E.C. Stephens

[Image Courtesy of New York Public Library]

This is 33 Flatbush Avenue on September 8, 1936.

Back in May, we noted that the “mystery of what will end up in the big lot at Metropolitan and Marcy Avenues has been solved by a sign.” The sign announced it would be the future location of a Capital One Bank branch. Nothing has happened on the site since, other than that the weeds had a chance to do nicely during the summer months and the construction fence has been wide open for all wishing to use the lot (which used to be a gas station) for recreational purposes. (Also, the dry cleaning plant next door burned down.) Last time we checked, Capital one was still one of the handful of banks that existed, although we’re not clear how much of a government bailout its gotten. It was signficiant because it would have been the first branch of a big bank on the west side of the BQE in Williamsburg, although it’s still not close enough to Bedford Avenue to pose a serious challenge to bodega ATMs (which have multiplied by a factor of 50 in the interrim). The branch niche was supposed to be filled by a Commerce Bank, although they’re now TD North and the building where it would go has been a skeleton since 2006 and is on-and-off a threat to public safety with open fences off Bedford Ave. leading to one-story drops to the basement. But we digress. What are the odds this puppy will ever be built and what bank will it end up being, other the than the Federal Reserve, which should own ever bank by this time next year.

And, now, a selection of musical happenings between today and Wednesday:

Monday 12/1/08
The Bell House: OUTSMARTED – Music Trivia Night (In the Front Lounge) Hosted by Conrad of Takka Takka & Sara Schaefer. Free!!! 8:00pmpm

Jalopy: Country Blues Jam: Bring you fiddle, accordion, banjo, washtub, mandolin, guitar, or maybe even spoons and participate in an open jam session. Free!! 9:30pm

Tuesday 12/2/08
Bar 4: Open Mike Night: Hosted by Tanya Buziak.
Pre-list @ 6:15pm, Sign up @ 8:00pm, Start @ 8:30pm (mostly Singer-Songwriters) Free!!

Union Hall: Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains, Josh Reichmann (Indie Rock) $10, 7:30pm

Barbes: Slavic Soul Party (Funk/Gypsy-Jazz/Balkan/Soul) $10, 9:00pm

Wednesday 12/3/08
Music Hall of Williamsburg: Boris (Melodic Japanese Experimental Rock) $15, 9:00pm

Between now, and the big day, which is only 24 days from now, we’re bringing back our annual Brookyule feature for its third season, which involves pics of decorations and other seasonal things. Since we can’t be everywhere, we invite your contributions. See a house that’s decorated? See a cool store display? Email it to us at thegowanuslounge (at) gmail (dot) com and we’ll feature it (either with credit or anonomously…always your choice) on Brookyule.

PortSide New York will host a birthday bash for the tanker Mary Whalen on Saturday, December 6th, from 11am to 5pm (rain date is Sunday, December 7th). This will be the first public event in the Atlantic Basin. Highlights include free cake, music and open house tours of the Whalen all day long. In addition, the public can see visiting tugs and workboats that come to the party! Ceremony, birthday proclamation and remarks will begin at 2pm with the Master of Ceremonies Jonathan Atkin. Former crew and folks with memories of the Whalen are invited to come to the microphone and tell stories about the vessel. Want to give a birthday gift? Need directions? Check out The PortSide Mary Whalen’s event site. Location: Pier 11, Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, on Pioneer Street and Conover Street, Red Hook.

—E.C. Stephens

We have utterly nothing to add except to point out the rat poison sign on the upper left.

Check out this little guy. A kind soul rescued him from traffic on Seventh Avenue in the Slope over the weekend. He took him to the Animal Kind vet clinic on Seventh, which we understand is not an animal shelter, but their kind advice was to call 311, which would have no doubt directed this creature to a kill shelter. It amazes us that they don’t have a list of local shelters like Sean Casey, BARC, the Empty Cages Collective and others to give people or the human courtesy to call one. But the more important question is: Do you recognize him? Is he yours? We will put you in touch with the kind person who rescued him and DID NOT call 311 per the advice of an uncaring person at “Animal Kind.”—Do You Know Me? They Were Unkind at Slope’s Animal Kind

One place that seemed to be drawing the crowds this post-Turkey Day weekend was the brand new DII closeout center occupying a prime piece of commercial space at the corner of Ninth Street and Fifth Avenue in the Slope. DII is brought to us by the people at Dee and Dee, which once had a spot further south on Fifth Ave. that begat a Bank of America Branch. The current space meanwhile had been an Eckerd Drugs, but it closed when the chain was purchased by Rite Aid, which itself is already a block away. Brownstoner originally noted the coming of the DII back on November 11. And here we are full of closeouts in time for a very shaky holiday.

A couple more shots of DII goodness right ahead.