State senator Carl Kruger, an outspoken critic of Mayor Bloomberg’s plans for Coney Island, is now accusing the city of “extorting” $68,000 from the owner of Tatiana Restaurant and Nightclub, a popular Russian nightspot on the Brighton Beach boardwalk. Tatiana Varzar lost her restaurant in a massive fire in 2003 that authorities believe was caused by homeless people living under the boardwalk. The Post reports that Varzar has since used insurance money to reopen her......

The revelation that Bruce Ratner, would-be Atlantic Yards developer and Nets owner, has been secretly discussing selling the team to the owners of the New Jersey Devils, has put Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz’s athletic reputation on the line. Newark mayor Cory Booker, who would love the team to come to the Prudential Center in his town, has offered to settle the fight for the Nets with a simple, winner-takes-all game of hoops: Cory vs.......

Marty Markowitz: President of Mixed Messages? Every summer he tells fat people in Brooklyn to lose some weight already with his “Lighten Up Brooklyn” program, but in the spring he’s all, “You look great! Now eat at as many of these local restaurants as you can!” Last week the borough president (pictured) announced the impending arrival of Brooklyn’s version of Restaurant Week, called Dine in Brooklyn. This year it runs from March 24th to the......