What was supposed to be a night of drinking, TV-watching, and "hanging out" turned deadly Friday night for Vinegar Hill resident Marcquel McDuffy, whose buddy allegedly stabbed him to death after a little friendly roughhousing spiraled out of control. "They were drinking together and then he took out a knife and stabbed him," the victim’s brother, Kenneth McDuffy, tells the Daily News. "They had no beef before then." A police source adds, "They were hanging out, joking around." Then, for reasons that remain unclear, McDuffy's "buddy" Keylester Williams allegedly plunged a knife into his neck and chest. more ›

The latest Scouting NY post, where he comes upon a privately owned mansion in Vinegar Hill that used to be part of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, is simply drool-worthy and envy-inducing. The home has received press here and there throughout the years, but as the Scout points out, "the fact that I was unaware of it means there’s gotta be one or two readers out there who will be as taken aback by it as I was." more ›

Vinegar Hill, that quaint little area between DUMBO and the Brooklyn Navy Yard, was declared a Landmark District in 1997 — and today Forgotten NY takes a look at the neighborhood, saying: "Know that this streetscape will likely survive, as is, indefinitely." The area is filled with overgrown alleys, cobblestone streets, structures built in the early 1800s, and places we would like to live. There are even some old cars scattered about. It's worth checking out the photos and history, but would you live there? more ›

Police say Keyleste Williams was drunk when he returned to his 6th floor Brooklyn apartment on Sunday morning around 3 a.m., got into a vicious argument with his sister, and threw his cousin Lateya's cat Shadow out the window. Shadow's (not pictured) fatal fall was heard by a neighbor, who only heard a loud thump and told the Post, "I thought it was bricks. I didn't know it was a cat. Oh, my God." Police charged Williams, 29, with aggravated cruelty to animals, plus torturing and injuring animals. But Lateya says her family doesn't want to press charges because he was intoxicated when he dangled the cat out the window and let go, "We just don't want him to come back home for a while...I would just want God to charge him." Related: The ASPCA on cats and falls—cats "may actually be at greater risk for injury when falling shorter distances... Shorter distances do not give them enough time to adjust their body posture to fall correctly." more ›

The future development of Brooklyn's DUMBO district could be shaped by the results of a public hearing scheduled for today at 1 Centre Street in Manhattan. Although the Landmarks Preservation Commission's online calendar does not list such a meeting, the Gowanus Lounge and DumboNYC are spreading the word about this important first meeting, which could initiate the process of protecting DUMBO as a historic preservation district. Such a designation would require property owners to obtain special approval for renovations, demolitions, or additions to existing structures. more ›

Ask.MeFi has been assembling an eclectic guide to "the best alternative/weird/unusual/eye-opening places in Manhattan." Most of the suggestions are actually located in the outer boroughs, but nevermind that. We've pulled out the highlights and linked everything for your browsing pleasure: more ›

Fake tilt-shift of Prospect Heights by Michael. more ›

You have to love the Community Plan for sending a singing telegram (MOV file) City Councilman David Yassky to beg for the rezoning of Greepoint and Williamsburg to include more parks and open space, plus afforable housing and a limited on how high buildings can be (see their campaign overview). No word on the reaction of Yassky, who serves Williamsburg, Brooklyn Heights, Greenpoint, DUMBO, Park Slope, Boerum Hill, Vinegar Hill and Fulton Ferry Landing, but Gothamist hopes he was also given the text of the telegram, because it went pretty fast. more ›

And if you're interested in NYC waterfront development, read Waterfront by Philip Lopate, which discusses the past, present, and future of the NYC waterfront. more ›

This little clothing company is getting a lot of play among the Carroll Gardens/Williamsburg/Noe Valley hipster set. Basically they put the name of your neighborhood on a classic old sweatshirt. NeighborHoodies.com... We weren't sure what neighborhood to get- K thought "West SoHo" sounded real stupid. We ended up going with "Thompson St." Other neighborhood choices that I liked: Orchard St., Vinegar Hill, Arsenal, Battersea, Dreamland (a subway stop in Boston), Little Tokyo, Sunset, Watts, South Side, Le Marais... and most obviously, Park Slope. What neighborhood would you get?
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