Sneaker Corner's old look - Source: Google Maps
Three businesses on and around Nostrand Avenue are fixin’ up the joint, including Brooklyn’s Sneaker Corner, which redid its storefront. The decades old business at 3570 Nostrand Avenue has a new look with a real sign on the way. It’s old sign has been a Sheepshead Bay fixture with a lot of character, so I look forward to see if the new sign will be an improvement to this rather dreary stretch of Nostrand Avenue businesses.
Currently closed for renovations are two Avenue U businesses a few blocks shy of Nostrand Avenue. Pizzeria Del Corso (3003 Avenue U) has been closed since at least last week with a sign in the window informing readers of the work going on inside. No word on when it’ll reopen. Also, Jay & Lloyd’s Kosher Deli at 2718 Avenue U is shuttered for repairs. We’ll let you know when the area’s only kosher-style deli is reopened. I hear good things about this place, but never had the chance to try it. I’ll remedy that when doors are open again.
Photo by George
Nostrand Avenue and Avenue Y was blocked off for about 45 minutes this afternoon, after a car burst into flames in the middle of the intersection.
The car was traveling southbound in the left-hand lane at around 2:15 p.m. After pulling into the intersection, the driver said she noticed smoke coming from the hood of the car, and the flames coming out of the sides. She jumped out of the car and watched from the sidewalk as flames engulfed the vehicle.
No one was harmed in the incident, which she said was probably caused by an electrical problem.
When we spoke to her, she waited for her husband to pick her up and joked about the incident.
“I don’t care,” she said. “It’s just a car. No one got hurt. I got out. It’s just a car and I don’t care.”
Firefighters put out the flames while police shut down Nostrand Avenue for a half block in each direction. A police truck came and towed the remains away, leading to the full reopening of the avenue by 3:00 p.m.
View more photos of the car after the fire.
Made you look! Sorry, I couldn’t resist, and I’ve heard the Congressman make enough jokes at his name’s expense that I feel he won’t mind…
Moving on, Congressman Anthony Weiner will be meeting constituents on the corner of Nostrand Avenue and Avenue Y today. Stop by with any questions and concerns. Here’s the press release from his office:
Brooklyn, NY – Today, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Brooklyn and Queens) and members of his staff will take his office directly to the streets of Brooklyn as part of his “mobile office tour” to accommodate those unable to visit one of his three community offices. Constituents can come to discuss a range of issues and ideas and share individual concerns.
Who: Rep. Anthony Weiner (D – Brooklyn and Queens)
What: Weiner to bring mobile office to Brooklyn to assist constituents unable to visit one of his district offices.
When: 2:30pm—4pm
Monday, August 9th, 2010
Where: In front of Pathmark
3785 Nostrand Avenue, at Avenue Y
Brooklyn, NY
We’ve heard from a number of sources now that there was a shooting at around 10:07 a.m. on Avenue X between Nostrand Avenue and Haring Street.
Neighbors report hearing between three and five shots in the vicinity of the Sheepshead Bay-Nostrand Housing Projects. Within minutes, several police vehicles arrived, along with as many as three ambulances and a helicopter. The first ambulance left the scene with sirens blaring.
Another reader told us they asked witnesses and said the shootout involved “machine guns,” but we haven’t yet confirmed that.
If you have any additional information, please e-mail us.
UPDATE:
From reader Scott K.
There were about 9 or 10 police cars, a van, and step van that included officers with helmets riot gear, body shields and semi auto matic weapons. I drove by and left the scene as officers were going into the building. I heard the helicopter about 3 minutes later.
UPDATE:
From reader Amy:
2 suspects fled in a vehicle to the Housing Projects somewhere on Avenue V between Bragg and Batchelder ST. Both were detained shortly after.
UPDATE:
From News 12:
1 dead, 1 wounded in Ave. X double shooting
(06/25/10) BROOKLYN – Police are investigating a double shooting on Avenue X that left one person dead and another injured this morning.
Authorities say the incident happened at 3043 Ave. X shortly before 10 a.m. One of the victims, a 26-year-old man, was taken to Lutheran Medical Center in stable condition with a gunshot wound to his leg.
The other victim, a 25-year-old man, was rushed to Coney Island Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead from a wound to his chest.
Police say they have arrested two suspects in the double shooting. Charges are pending.
Courtesy of the MTA
As part of the deal to reinstate student metrocards, Albany is giving a thumbs up to camera enforcement of 50 miles of bus lanes along Select Bus Service / Bus Rapid Transit routes, for which Nostrand Avenue is slated for conversion.
Dedicated bus lanes are a key component of the MTA’s SBS service, which aims to make commuting by bus speedier and efficientto increase ridership. But even advocates note that without proper enforcement to keep them clear of idling cars, bus lanes will amount to little time saved. In the MTA’s Select Bus Service FAQ, the agency says cameras monitoring the bus lanes “would automate the enforcement process by issuing violation notices to vehicles that illegally drive or park in the bus lane.” Camera enforcement requires approval from State legislators.
According to Streetsblog, “If the MTA would eat the cost of student fares, Albany would allow it to keep its bus lanes free of traffic.” With the MTA’s part of the bargain fulfilled, the State has worked the following language into a budget bill:
WITHIN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, SUCH BUS LANE PHOTO DEVICES SHALL ONLY BE OPERATED ON DESIGNATED BUS LANES THAT ARE SELECT BUS SERVICE LANES WITHIN THE BUS RAPID TRANSIT DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM AND ONLY DURING WEEKDAYS FROM 7:00 A.M. TO 7:00 P.M.
Down in our neck of the woods, this may affect the stretch of Nostrand Avenue from Emmons Avenue to Avenue X, where dedicated bus lanes are planned for a Select Bus Service route replacing the B44, according to the MTA’s website. From Avenue X to Flatbush Avenue, buses will travel in mixed traffic, before returning to dedicated lanes for the remainder of the trip.
The MTA/DOT proposal to replace the B44 has already received a thumbs down from Community Board 15, which says the elimination of parking is not worth the six minutes saved. They also found the agency to be unresponsive to their questions, despite six years of study.
Approximately 5,000 people crowded Nostrand Avenue between Gravesend Neck Road and Avenue V on Sunday, coming together to celebrate Israeli history and culture.
For more than 10 years now, the Kings Bay YM-YWHA has been organizing the event to “present the history, diversity and culture of Israel, and not politics,” said Leonard Petlakh, executive director of the Kings Bay Y.
Around two dozen tables kept the crowd busy with arts and crafts, Israeli jewelry and art, products and information. Inflatable amusements buffered both ends of the event, with a stage in the middle playing Israeli and other tunes for the audience. Borough President Marty Markowitz came, along with other local politicians. The event was not just for Jewish residents – almost every race, religion and ethnicity could be counted among the attendees.
“I think that the community had an incredible time with so many various activities for the children, and such great music performances,” Petlakh said. “Next year, we hope to invite some celebrities or musical performers from Israel.”
View the photo gallery
Last year's Kibbutz petting zoo - Courtesy of Kings Bay Y
And on the seventh day, the G-man ended his work which he had made; and he rested. Because the day after that, it was time to par-tay. Challaaah!
That’s how we did it back in Hebrew school. Judaica O.G., yo.
Anyway, enough of that silliness. The Kings Bay YM-YWHA is throwing their annual Israel Celebration this Sunday, June 13, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The group is inviting everyone from the community to eat, dance, rejoice and boogie down for free.
They’re featuring Israeli music and dance, children’s rides, arts and crafts tables, an “Israeli marketplace,” a kibbutz petting zoo, and more.
The celebration is going on in front of their building at 3495 Nostrand Avenue, and the entire Avenue will be closed between Avenue U and Avenue V. Elected officials and community leaders are scheduled to attend the event.
And then after the party, we shall look back at all that we’ve done, and we shall see that it was good. Real good.
View the Kings Bay Y’s flier.
Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons
There was an incident last night near the Nostrand Avenue / Sheepshead Bay Houses between Avenue W and Avenue V. Some time around 8:00 p.m. on April 5, shots were fired and emergency service units were called. It seems a weapon was dumped in a nearby sewer and recovered around 9:00 p.m., and evidence searches continued for at least another hour.
It doesn’t appear anyone was injured. We’ll update as we find out more.
[Compiled from Gothamist Map reports]
Brennan & Carr (3432 Nostrand Avenue) seem to really love their Facebook page, using it to connect with fans and pump up the rivalry with Roll-N-Roaster. Now, they’re musing on a second location. They asked, “If another B&C was to open up, where would an ideal location be?”
Here’s a screenshot of the status update:
Seems like they’re looking to expand and open a new location outside Sheepshead Bay. A lot of commenters begged for an opening on Long Island or Staten Island, where the residents of Sheepshead past have moved to. A number of them are also saying Florida. As for us, we want to see it across the street from Roll-N-Roaster. That’d really throw some beef on the simmering feud.
But wait, don’t get too excited. We called Brennan & Carr and an employee there told us they have no plans for such an expansion. Despite the extreme popularity of their Facebook page, and the professional feel of it, they told us they have no affiliation with the page and don’t know who runs it. But can’t a boy dream?
If Brennan & Carr opens a second location, where do you think it should be? Should it be nearby, or far away? How about a small location at Coney Island? Maybe a swanky new pad in Park Slope? The city? Out of state even? Let your voice be heard!
