It's official. Today the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to designate DUMBO a historic district, pending City Council approval. The area, composed of 91 industrial buildings dated mostly from 1880 to 1920, is bound by John Street to the north, York Street to the south, Main Street to the west and Bridge Street to the east. It is the city's 90th historic district. The district contains the Manhattan Bridge, and its support piers and anchorage......

Possibly on a Brooklyn-bound F train: Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The Mayor's "bullpen-style" offices need some new paint, a new carpet and a few other fixes, so Bloomberg and his staffers are temporarily relocating to work out of the Office of Emergency Management headquarters in Brooklyn on Cadman Plaza East. The Mayor explained, “Somebody’s going to kill themselves with all of the rips in the carpet." Nice to know that he's concerned with personal injury lawsuits......

We'd like to use this space to say that our thoughts are with the friends and family of John Pike (pictured). The 23-year old drummer of Syracuse band Ra Ra Riot was found dead yesterday in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Here are some things happening around town tonight... FILM: The Staten Island Film Festival is coming up later this month. A preview to one of the films that will be screening there, When Broom Sticks Were King,......

Close your eyes for a moment (Crap, I guess this doesn’t work as well in print – maybe have a friend/co-worker with a soothing yet textured voice read the first paragraph to you). Ok, now imagine a magical land where each place you went, greeted you with a frosty beverage. Turn right and there’s a fine crafted, small production stout, straight ahead a zesty, refreshing Hefeweizen and perhaps a nutty, spicy ale and behind......

Sometimes there are things happening in this city that would (and could) only ever happen here, whether we like it or not. Thankfully we usually like it. The following are a few events taking place tomorrow that not only seem pretty cool, but somehow encompass why we love this city so much. First up is 1 More Time for the 9: "A gospel revival and art attack train party". From the people who brought you......

To the disappointment of DUMBO residents, the City Council has approved zoning that would allow Jehovah's Witness to build its "colony," which is called "Watchtower." According to the Post, the 'hovahs are building:The huge residential complex will comprise four towers, the tallest 20 stories high, a large, glassed-in welcome center, a dining hall, a church and a 1,110-car underground garage. It will house about 1,600 of the religion's faithful working at the Witnesses' Brooklyn Heights......

Brooklyn hipsters wore black the day that über-mod coffeehouse-cum-record shop-cum-bar-cum-antique ephemera peddler Halcyon closed its doors on Smith Street. This Friday, however, Kings County hipsters can finally throw off their black garb and, well, don more black garb - this time in celebration of Halcyon's rebirth. Rising like a Phoenix from the ashes, Halycon has relocated to DUMBO, where it will continue to feature an eclectic selection of vinyl, retro furniture and collectibles. (Be assured......

Tonight there's a book release party for G.O.P. D.O.A. by Jay Brida. The book is described as a NYC-based thriller of murder, hypocrisy, and sexual heat set on the eve of the Republican National Convention. When a well-connected ‘escort’ is found murdered on the night before the opening ceremonies, RNC operatives must move fast to cover up a potentially politically fatal secret. A Brooklyn-based political fixer named Flanagan is hired to wade through the pasty......

Gothamist was taking a brown-bag lunch at Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park last week when we noticed preparations were underway for the Brooklyn Bridge Park Summer Film Series, which kicks off this Thursday, July 8. Now in its fifth year, the film series is a free public event sponsored by the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy. Six films about Brooklyn, or featuring Brooklyn-native actors and directors, comprise the six-week festival. This year's schedule: July 8: Radio Days......

Saturday's fire on the southbound F-train in Brooklyn seems to have been caused by a piece of the train, connected to the third-rail, came loose. Passengers jumped onto the tracks near York Street to escape the fire, bringing to light a whole new batch of safety concerns: Most subway stations only have one marked exit, many other emergency exits are shuttered off. The police are insisting that their fortuitous presence at the York Street staiton......