Prospect Yoga taking over Game Stop Spot on 7th...JK!

Walking home along 7th Avenue last night, I noticed new signage for a fancy-ish looking yoga studio at the old Game Stop location next to Jack Rabbit. Fortunately, as I was snapping pics, and thinking, "at least it's not another burger joint or frozen yogurt place," the totally awesome Todd from Jack Rabbit came outside and set me straight, "You know that's not real, right? It's for The Intern." Well, dang. I did not know that, Todd. Thanks for the heads up -- I could have looked like a reall asshole this morning (as opposed to every other day of the week). 

And thanks a lot Nancy Myers for getting our hopes up!

[FIPS WAS THERE...] People's Climate March

I’m very happy to have dragged my ass out of Park Slope and into Manhattan to be “part of history” (we know this because before the march, the organizers Deloreaned themselves right into the future to confirm we’d made history), even though 2 of my companions, 10-year-olds with tired feet, couldn’t quite push through the last 4 blocks to the Javits Center to witness the end game. No matter, it still gave me an opportunity to play Brooklyn’s favorite parlor game: How Many People Did You Run into That You Know?

Before I launch into the somewhat disappointingly low numbers, let me stress that my small party were at a disadvantage in the game because we did not join one of the many (many) groups from Brooklyn marching together. We free-formed it, just hopped in as the march was approaching its 2nd to last leg, on 42nd and 7th, and ambled pleasantly along, without an affiliation.

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Cop Acts Like Cop at 4th and 9th Street Subway Station

A FIPS reader wrote to us about an unfortunate encounter she had with a police officer on Friday morning: 

I just wanted to make you aware of an incident that happened to me [Friday] morning. My 20 lb dog and I were going to my office, as we have many times, and an officer stopped us as we entered the turnstile at the 4th and 9th St station in Park Slope. He asked if I had a bag for her, and I said I could easily put her in the large bag I was carrying. I said I had seen plenty of dogs on the subway not in bags, and some in handbags and in grocery bags. My understanding from reading the MTA rules before ever taking my dog on the subway is you only had to put them in something if asked, or have it with you. 

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Parole Office Coming To Gowanus. Predictable NIMBY Reactions Ensue.

DNAinfo/Nikhita Venugopa

Last week a public meeting was held about the new parole office being opened in Gowanus, not too far from the Whole Foods. The office’s relocation was announced in July, many complaining that the process was kept secret for too long and demanding answers. To which I say: you actually aren’t entitled to even that. See, parolees are no longer in jail because they’ve served their time; they don’t owe you any more explanation for conducting their business in your neighborhood than you’d expect from anyone else.

According to DNAinfo, people were left "shocked and worried about their safety." "The sheer numbers of traffic — 40 [parolees] an hour and 400 day — is terrifying, really," said Freida Lim of the Eight Street Block Association. I'm not going to pretend there's even a possiblity she is merely concerned by the amount of people as a matter of infrastructure. We're not naive and we know what she means by "terrifying." This fear is not based on fact but pure stereotyping. To address it in a forum meant to discuss tangible issues is to grant legitimacy to another narrow minded way of marginalize a group of people because you don’t like them. 

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No Sleep Till... You Pay 5 Mill to Live in Cobble Hill

Tagged facade not included!

Mike D. of the Beastie Boys is building a $5 million townhouse on the corner of Beorum and Pacific right smack dab next to the Slope. And it ain't for him. He wants you to buy it. Gothamist reported that Mike Diamond (Mike D. duh), his wife Tamra Davis and their architect friends joined forces to create a home that just screams Brooklyn.

How you ask? Well besides the inflated price tag, it's reported to have a roof terrace and a "flexible space" which is described by the New York Times as perfect for "editing films, recording albums or just painting and doing yoga." The flexible space in my apartment is perfect for standing perfectly still in one tiny spot and holding your breath. But this isn't about me and my shit box apartment, it's about Mike D. and the house he is trying to sell you. Sorry. 

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