Appellate Division: Yes to Atlantic Yards

Today the New York State Appellate Division ruled in favor of the Atlantic Yards project in a lawsuit that challenged the project's environmental review process.

“Once again, the court has ruled favorably and the numerous public benefits of the Atlantic Yards project for Brooklyn have been reaffirmed," said Borough President in a statement.

"More than ever, in this economy, Brooklyn needs the thousands of units of affordable housing and most of all, the good, solid union jobs that Atlantic Yards will create—as well as the permanent jobs that will be created to meet the demands of new residents and visitors to Barclays Center, home to the soon-to-be Brooklyn Nets. Brooklyn’s shovels are ready. Let’s pick them up and get to work!”

Mayor Bloomberg said: “The Atlantic Yards project will create thousands of jobs and generate badly-needed tax revenue. The court’s unanimous affirmation today that the review and approvals processes were comprehensive and properly completed is a big step towards the start of construction.”

Brooklyn Museum Calendar Update

The calendar of the Brooklyn Museum now can be viewed by either date or event type.

For example, guided tour can be found at here. Or each weekend's events can be seen here.

Based on a study, 75% of the museum visitors now visit the website to see what will be offered beforehand. Thus the searchable database, exhibition information and event calendar are crucial.  If you cannot remember the link, here is the easy way:

Subscribe the event calendar from here. 

Peeping at Peeing Under the Post Box

Irene Kaoru sent this interesting shot from Sheepshead Bay. It makes you wonder who's watching. You might also think twice about touching the mail. photo credit

Experience Early American Life at the Lefferts House

Every week at Lefferts, kids engage in arts, crafts, and games just like they did in 19-century Brooklyn. Bring history to life! Using your hands and your skills, make arts and crafts the old-fashioned way and play games that were popular 150 years ago.
Every Saturday & Sunday, 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Flushing in Grand Army Plaza

No, the neighborhood in Queens is not setting up an annex, but a public toilet may soon grace the landscape in Grand Army Plaza with its presence. Not discounting the need for public toilets, these self-cleaning mechanisms are commonly used as shelters by the homeless in San Francisco. Will they be used for their intended purpose here?

The Transformation of Grand Army Plaza Through Viewing Vintage Postcards

A lot of early postcards of GAP dated between 1892 and 1902. The relative abundance from this period indicates that Broolynites’ pride and joy in the grandeur of the park entrance and the arch designed by McKim, Mead and White. Devoid of automobile traffic, the plaza is reminiscent of European neoclassicism; yet the large empty space around the arch declared it American: Here, with enormous growth in wealth and confidence of the late Gilded Age, the order, dignity, and harmony of the old civilization still hold, but on a bigger and more ambitious scale. READ MORE Join the Grand Army Plaza Group on LinkedIn

Walking in Brooklyn

Brooklyn is relatively walker-friendly as far as American communities go, but it isn't all equally walkable. One web site gives Brooklyn Heights a walk score of 98. Park Slope gets a 95. Williamsburg gets a 92. Bay Ridge Gets an 88 and Manhattan Beach gets a 69. Check out the walk score for your neighborhood.