Operating Costs Per Acre:
Central Park: $32,000
Hudson River Park: $109,000
Brooklyn Bridge Park: $245,000 (as of 11/15/2004)
(Source: Metro)

The current state’s plan for Brooklyn Bridge Park will include luxury high-rises as well as a hotel and retail to pay for the park’s operations. In 2002, Governor George Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg committed $150 million to build the park and the following year the plan went to the Empire State Development Corporation. According to a Metro article, the plan was changed to include a residential building and the playing fields, pool, skateboard half-pipe and outdoor amphitheatre was gone. They were replaced by a kayak area and a marina for 180 yachts. The operating budget jumped to $15.2 million, which included dune buggies, hybrid cars, 40 sit-down lawnmowers, 7 pick-up trucks, 2 garbage trucks and a 31 person security force that included 8 armed guards.

Why not just have a simple park for residents and visitors to relax in and be able to enjoy the view of the water and of Manhattan? The park has the advantage of amazing views, and we don’t need any buildings or fancy marina to support the upkeep. Just build the park land that could be used by many to improve overall quality of life and for the borough of Brooklyn. Why the need to ‘develop’ the land to take up area and cut off parts of the waterfront as a private playground for the rich? Do you see luxury high rises and a security force in the park below Eiffel Tower in Paris or Vancouver’s Stanley Park? Having a luxury high rise or other private development in the space costs the park, and therefore taxpayers, more money for upkeep. Areas of the park can be rented out for concerts and shows, much like the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park in Dumbo, to raise money for upkeep. There’s already committed funding by the city to build the park, so can’t we just keep it simple?

 ”nice view”, Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge Park from Plymouth Street, Dumbo Brooklyn (Photo courtesy of okreitz)

 Abandoned rail tracks, Dumbo Brooklyn (Photo courtesy of supertremendus)

What: product launch party for Brooklyn for Bloom (www.bloombaby.com) at ModernTots (www.moderntots.com)
When: Sunday, March 18, 2007 at 12noon – 3pm
Where: ModernTots, 53 Pearl Street, Dumbo Brooklyn

The event marks the official US introduction of Bloom, a new contemporary line of baby furniture and goods designed to meet the needs and lifestyle of today’s design savvy parents.

What: BoConcept Opening Celebration and Charity Event
When: Friday, March 16th, 6 to 8p
Where: 79 Front Street in DUMBO, Brooklyn

Please Join Niki, Cienna and Shaokao Cheng for the Opening Celebration of BoConcept DUMBO to benefit Keep a Child Alive

rsvp@boconepetny.com
Twenty Percent of the sales from that evening will benefit Keep a Child Alive
Event Sponsored by Pink Vodka and Itoen

What: Seasonal fashion event for emerging designers hosted by the
non-profit Brooklyn Style Foundation
When: March 16-18, 2007 from 6pm.
Where: 201 Water Street in DUMBO, Brooklyn

The upcoming runway shows will feature 19 designers, 9 tents and 40 models all packed into three days of excitement and fashion innovation.

The shows will be held at 201 Water Street in DUMBO, Brooklyn and while those attendance will have this event packed to capacity, we’ve managed to arrange for a number of seats to be made available strictly on a donation-only basis. Your donation includes an all-access glimpse into this event, so head over to the THIS SEASON area of the site for detailed breakdowns and a donation form.

BK Fashion Week[end}’s Fall/Winter collections will be held March 16, 17 & 18 and for those who have already received invitations, please RSVP with the BUZZ International Group. Click the image below for more information and be sure to make your donation if you are interested in attending

The photo taken from Washington Street at Front Street in Dumbo Brooklyn is one of the most photogenic and the most often shot taken by photographers who visit the area. I’ve seen (and taken) so many versions of these photos, but every one is unique in their own way. Below are three very distinct and among our favorite photos taken by different photographers:

 ”Under The Bridge”, Manhattan Bridge from Washington Street, Dumbo Brooklyn (Photo courtesy of Sergei.y)

 ”Dumbo”, Manhattan Bridge from Washington Street, Dumbo Brooklyn (Photo courtesy of theronin)

 ”Manhattan Bridge from DUMBO”, Manhattan Bridge from Washington Street, Dumbo Brooklyn (Photo courtesy of With_L0ve)

Although we’ll forgive The Times (Online UK) misnaming of the Dumbo acronym (“Downtown Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass”) and that “Grimaldi’s has nothing on L&B up in Benson-hurst” (you can’t compare the two; they’re both great, different style pizzas), they did a good job summarizing the Slice of Brooklyn Pizza Tour, which is a guided bus tour of Brooklyn’s best pizzarias, including Grimaldi’s and L&B Spumoni Gardens. The interesting part is the fact that there are actual tours of Brooklyn pizzarias. We Brooklynites have our favorite local pizzas, so there are probably some pizzas that are missing from the tour (what about Totonno’s in Coney Island or DiFara’s in Bay Ridge?), but it’s great to see that foreigners are recognizing one of the best pizzas in the world exist in Brooklyn.

If you have friends or family coming into town, this is a great way to introduce them to real Brooklyn pizza. But you might also want to take them to your favorite pizzaria after the tour. Read some of the reviews on their website.

“”A Slice Of Brooklyn Pizza Tour” invites New Yorkers and tourists alike to climb aboard the city’s only guided bus tour of Brooklyn’s BEST pizzerias. For one low price this 4 1/2 hour foodie romp through Brooklyn includes pizza, soft drinks and an audio-visual historical tour of Brooklyn’s famous movie locations, landmarks and points of interest. During this 4 1/2 hour pizza tour you’ll learn about and see some of the things that have made Brooklyn famous…”

What’s your favorite neighborhood pizzaria?

Slice of Brooklyn Pizza Tour is on Mondays and Fridays, 11am. Tickets ($55) must be bought in advance. See www.bknypizza.com

{A pizza tour of New York, travel.timesonline.co.uk}

What: That 70s Show: New York City in the 1970s
When: Exhibition Dates: March 9-April 15, 2007
Where: The powerHouse Arena * 37 Main Street * Brooklyn, New York 11201

That 70s Show is an ode to a city long forgotten, a city on the brink of bankruptcy, rife with anarchy, brimming with uninhibited flavor and fearless adventure: New York City in the 70s. The exhibition pays tribute to the people of New York-from the pimps and the pushers to the police and the politicians, the musicians and the artists to everyday citizens-whose perseverance during these years reveals the true spirit of our city. That 70s Show takes us back to a time of crisis and creativity, anxiety and artistry, madness and majesty-when genius burned up the sky like the Bronx on fire.

For more information, please call 212-604-9074 x101
Gallery Hours:
Mon-Fri: 10am-7pm
Weekends: 11am-7pm

To preview the show please visit:
www.powerhousearena.com/70s_home/home.html

 F Train, York Street Station (Photo courtesy of smoothdude)