Sometimes, you just want someone else to do it

Memorial Day marks the official start of the wonderful season known as “grilling season,” where it finally becomes acceptable to gorge yourself on grilled meat (or vegetables, we guess) while lying shirtless in public. Of course, you might not have the barbecue skills of the piece of prime 100% beef seen above. Or you just don’t want to bother with effort, because vacation. In that case, why not let these Brooklyn bars feed you and get you drunk on Memorial Day. (more…)

The Brooklyn Bridge in 1888

On this day 130 years ago, 150,000 people took the first steps across the then-longest suspension bridge in the world: the Brooklyn Bridge. Our borough’s iconic span opened May 24th, 1883 and has been operating ever since.

Leave it to a German to decide to start one of the most ambitious bridge projects in history. Immigrant John Roebling starting dreaming of building a span across the East River in 1857. Only until after the Civil War did plans get underway. Unfortunately for Roebling, he crushed his foot between a boat and a pier on a surveying trip (were there only a bridge!) and died soon after of a tetanus infection. His son Washington Roebling took over the project at the age of 32. (more…)

Will all this Arrested Development anticipation ruin it? [AV Club]
OK, this real estate bubble will never burst! [Brownstoner]
Mike Bloomberg can’t keep track of all his houses [NYM]
Charles Hynes propaganda Brooklyn DA, reviewed [Daily News]
The Nets can’t have the Celtics’ coach [ESPN]
New Yorkers OK with more surveillance cameras. Sigh [NYO]
Are you one the of 17.7 million with a Borders gift cards? Sorry [The Billfold]
Some reasons you suck at online dating [The Good Men Project]

God, what a bunch of Marnies

You’d think that Facebook, home of such groups as “The Raping Tree,” “Abducting, raping and violently murdering your mate as a joke” and “Festival Sluts” wouldn’t really be too picky about the things that we choose to promote on our page. Well, you’d be wrong. Apparently, much like when Google decided that a post about selling your (ahem])knickers online was too much for their delicate sensibilities, Facebook gave the boot to our post about This Ain’t Girls XXX.

There was no reason given, but those of us who were admins on the page were given the boot, forced to say that we re-read Facebook’s TOS, and you’ll notice the post has been scrubbed from our page. So remember kids, when you’re making a Facebook post, don’t use the word “porno.” But do promote violence against women, casual rape jokes and creepshots and slut shaming.

Young Jessica Walter could totally get it. It = Afternoon delight.

Before you go into a two-day long Arrested Development binge-watching cocoon super late tomorrow night, let’s take a moment to appreciate one of the show’s finest actors, a total pro in the business and one of the sexiest creatures we have ever laid eyes on: Lucille Bluth (her?). Jessica Walter, the actress who plays the wicked matron Lucille, is actually a Brooklyn native, born here on Jan. 31, 1941.

So we all know her as the witholding, curly fry hating, former Motherboy champ from Arrested, which makes its glorious return to Netflix at 3 a.m. Sunday east coast time. But Walter has given us so many more roles, and we love her for her crackling wit, her stellar timing and that kind of aged actorial wisdom you only get from slugging it out in the trenches of the industry for decades, making her one of the best on-screen mothers of all time. If you still ask whether she is truly a modern treasure after reading this, we don’t understand the question, and we won’t respond to it. (more…)

That’s one way to show it

Do you love bikes? Like, really love them? Uncomfortably? Oh, well, this event still might not be for you. On Saturday, the City Reliquary Museum in Williamsburg is welcoming bike lovers of all stripes gears to come on down and show off their rides and celebrate the cycling community at Bike Fetish Day. Just keep your pants on. (more…)

You don’t have to be elected to spend a day here. via Facebook

Time to get on Island Time! Governors Island is back for what appears to be its best season to date. As big changes get underway on the island, vendors, events, and displays aren’t slowing down. For the perfect day sojourn, choose from any of the events listed below (and many more that we couldn’t list because, you know… space) or just post up under a tree and read. Don’t have a book? Visit the Uni Project’s outdoor reading room and select a tome—they’ve partnered with the NYPL, Brooklyn and Queens Libraries to bring you a great selection.

You could also bike, or nap, or play mini-golf (this year’s theme: “State of the Art”). (more…)

Brooklyn loves tree

Tired of stepping outside of your apartment and only being greeted with the site of parked cars and angry scowling faces? Well, if’ you own a building or have a really good relationship with your landlord, may we suggest asking the city to plant a tree in front of your building? We don’t know why everyone’s scowling at you though, that’s on you. (more…)

We will! Via Park Slope Family Circus

Family Circus continues to survive today, against all odds. But thanks to the internet, an important question as been both asked, and answered: “What if Family Circus were set in Park Slope?” We have the answer in Park Slope Family Circus, which repurposes the rarely amusing single-strip cartoons to show us kids who are unimpressed with BAM, eat fancy ice cream and go to GoogaMooga. Hey! We do that too! Anyway, it’s all done by Erin Bradley, so thanks Erin, bored cubicle dwellers across Kings County salute you.

Photo by Maria Gotay

Mama Joy’s
1084 Flushing Ave., at Porter Ave.
Bushwick
(347) 295-2227

What is it: Perfectly placed between the Morgan and Jefferson L stops, this Southern food slinging bar is home to a rotating selection of 8 drafts, a $4 beer and shot combo and 45 different whiskeys. The walls show off half exposed brick and half old wallpaper and wooden panels. The owner said that in the process of renovating, he decided he liked the pulled off wall paper look and left it as is – we like everything about it.

Why We love it: So many reasons. Spacious inside, backyard in the summer, knowledgeable bartenders, great southern food and again, 45 whiskeys and a $4 beer and shot combo. The owner and bartenders are knowledgeable about all things booze and super nice. They are what gives this bar a true neighborhood feel. (more…)