In his State of the Borough address tonight, Borough President Marty Markowitz will lobby to turn two Brooklyn armories into recreation centers with gym facilities. Currently the huge old buildings—located on Bedford Avenue in Crown Heights and on Sumner Avenue in Bed-Stuy—house homeless shelters, and, like the recently-opened Park Slope Armory YMCA, they may continue to do so. "The [YMCA] in Park Slope is just beginning, but I have a hunch in a few short months it's going to be jam-packed," Markowitz said. "Bedford Stuyvesant deserves it as much as Park Slope, and so does northern Crown Heights." more ›

Distressed Haitian immigrants will be able to get help at a resource center that's opening up on Monday. Gov. Paterson and Mayor Bloomberg have designated the National Guard Armory in Crown Heights as the go-to location for Haitians living in New York City. The "epicenter of New York's Haiti relief effort" will provide earthquake-related grief counseling and assist Haitian immigrants in applying for temporary protective status to allow their stay in the states. Located on 1579 Bedford Ave., The center will be open from 10am to 8pm on weekdays and from 10 a,m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays starting next week. more ›

After many set-backs a new YMCA celebrated its grand opening in the 115-year-old Park Slope Armory yesterday. The 140,000 square foot space, which used to be a drill factory, will now host separate track, soccer and basketball events as well as weight rooms, fitness machines and exercise classes, according to the Brooklyn Paper. “It’s ginormous!” said Tess Lovell, a first-grader whose school will use the new facility as its gym. As for how the renovation was financed, NY 1 says The Department of Homeless Services gave $8 million, since a women's shelter shares the space, and the rest came from the borough president's office and the City Council. The new Y opens to the public on Jan. 30, and the best part? Like all Brooklyn YMCAs individual memberships costs just $40 a month or $72 for families. more ›

In a rare decision for the City Council — which has voted in support of almost every single development project backed by Mayor Bloomberg — the group turned down a plan to convert the Kingsbridge Armory into a shopping mall, voting 45-1 against the proposal. Following the landslide decision, Bloomberg said he would veto the ruling, even though the Council will easily have enough votes to override him: "We will veto it. It is the right project for the Bronx" more ›

Ladies in over-the-top lingerie get-ups stomped down the runway at the Lexington Avenue Armory for Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. According to Newsday, "Some 2,000 showgoers including Jay-Z, Michelle Trachtenberg and Virgin Atlantic's Richard Branson (a 'fashion show virgin,' he said) were treated to the extravaganza of bra-and-panty clad Victoria's Secret angels - much more modest than in years past - strutting down a runway with adjacent mosh-pits, wearing massive wings, lunar sculptures, branches and glitzy accessories that conjured a 'magical journey' from space voyage, old world train travel, an enchanted forest and a happy hippie segment that included a giant inflatable pink polka-dot puppy that rose from the floor." more ›

In February of this year, State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo crashed Fashion Week and announced an indictment against the former superintendent of the 26th Street Armory who solicited bribes from designer Marc Jacobs. Now TMZ reports that Cuomo has brought his wrath upon Jacobs himself, you know, "for bribing a State official so he could get a desirable venue for his fashion show." Marc Jacobs International has now admitted their guilt and agreed to pay a $1 million fine. The Observer points out that a company spokesperson noted they are “pleased that this matter has been resolved. We have already taken and will continue to take steps to avoid incidents of this nature in the future.” Looks like the designer will have to come up with a thrifty idea for his next showing! more ›

The Kingsbridge Amory in the Bronx has stood as a colossal unused edifice in the Bronx for years. The City recently negotiated with development group The Related Companies to transform the building into a commercial mall. Some residents are unhappy that a piece of their neighborhood with a lot of potential is being sold out from under them. more ›