Does Dumbo’s Squarehead Have a Secret Admirer?A copycat has taken over for a famed Dumbo robber. Plus, déjà vu at Astroland, tenant grievances in the East Village, and more in our post–Labor Day boroughs briefing.
BLT Fish Is Just a Little Tacky; Corn Strippers Now in SoHoAstoria: Tonight is trivia night at Dillinger’s on 30th Avenue, which means $5 pitchers. [Joey in Astoria]
Brooklyn Heights: Uncommon Grounds is closed for renovations, and it looks like the coffee shop’s application to set up outdoor seating will get approved. [Brooklyn Heights Blog]
Coney Island: Since Thor Equities can’t start developing any time soon, the company has handed out leases to eight vendors to keep the fryers operating until next fall. [Lost City]
East Village: Some pork hater tagged the entrance of Vanessa Dumpling with the word “LARD.” [East Village Idiot]
Red Hook: LeNell’s is hosting a bourbon festival on the 23rd with a tasting, discounts, and even alky ice-cream made on the spot. [LeNell’s]
SoHo: Wondering how to get those kernels off the cob? Sur La Table sells a Corn Stripper that actually works. [Serious Eats]
Tribeca: Ceci-Cela may still be cranking out croissants on Chambers Street, but there’s a “Store for Lease” sign in its window. [Grub Street]
Union Square: Bruni extols the virtues of BLT Fish, but warns would-be diners that the upstairs and downstairs spaces differ greatly, and the Laurent-Tourondel cookbook listing on the menu is tacky. [Diner’s Journal]
intel
Coney Island USA to Buy Its Building, Thwarting ThorYou’d need a fortune-teller to determine the future of Coney Island these days: What will Thor Equities ultimately build, and will the city swap land with the developer, as has been proposed, to preserve amusements on the boardwalk? But this much, at least, is clear: Fans of sword swallowers and facial tattoos can down a celebratory pint of Coney Island Lager in two weeks, when the nonprofit that runs the Mermaid Parade, the Coney Island Museum, and the Circus Sideshow closes a deal to buy the building it currently leases. Coney Island USA founder Dick Zigun says that with the city’s backing, it will purchase the 1917 structure, originally a restaurant, at a price of $3.6 million — beating out Thor for the deal. “We have never been so secure and permanent in the neighborhood,” Zigun said, “and that’s totally thanks to the political leadership of New York City.” Within five years the building will be restored to its former glory and the Coney Island Circus Sideshow will expand, along with the Freak Bar and museum gift shop, to twice its size. Best of all, this means the Mermaid Parade will have a long-term home base. Unless, Zigun points out, everything is under water 30 years from now. —Daniel Maurer
Neighborhood Watch
Just 9,680 More Signatures Needed to Preserve Coney IslandChinatown: Tow-happy deputy inspector Gin Yee instills fear in government officials: no more double-parking for dumplings. [downtown express]
Clinton Hill: The Pan Y Mas grand opening, and the 49-cent coffee it promised, has come and gone. [Clinton Hill Blog]
Coney Island: Online petition to battle Thor Equities needs 9,680 more e-signatures. [Kinetic Carnival]
East Village: Birdies chicken restaurant takes over Flor’s space on First Avenue, panders to the stereotype that old ladies and chicken naturally go together. [Gothamist]
Flatiron: Shake Shack open early! [Eater]
Midtown East: Hip new Pod Hotel soon to have “bitchin’ roof deck” and bar. [Gridskipper] Upper West Side: Saigon Grill’s delivery workers continue strike; “Fat Guy” implicates all of us. [egullet]
West Village: A campaign backed by Virgin Atlantic, Tea and Sympathy, and celebs like Mischa Barton looks to rename part of Greenwich Avenue “Little Britain.” [Englishman in New York]
Williamsburg: Almost all the ice-cream trucks involved in last Tuesday’s Koolman garage fire were indeed damaged. [i’m not saying, i’m just saying]
