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An Elegy for Oakland Street

BQE Admin on January 14, 2026

Mamdani crosses McGuinness Boulevard. Photo: Mayor’s Office.

GEOFFREY COBB

Author, “Greenpoint Brooklyn’s Forgotten Past”

gcobb91839@Aol.com

One of the first things that our new Mayor Zohran Mamdani did was to come to Greenpoint and address the controversy surrounding McGuinness Boulevard, the four- lane traffic artery that divides the neighborhood and many local resi- dents. Before we address the present controversy let’s take a look at the history of the boulevard. Once, Mc- Guinness Boulevard was not a four- lane speedway at all/ It was once quaint Oakland Street; a charming cobblestoned street lined by pretty, wood-frame 19th-century homes typical of our historic district.

It is hard to conceive the mindset that wanted to destroy such a lovely street and replace it with a soulless four-lane highway, but in the late 1950s automobiles were seen as the future of transportation and the city was ready to carve up Greenpoint for motorists. Robert Moses, the in- famous power broker, had his sights on our area. Moses, who arguably had the greatest influence on New York’s infrastructure of any person who ever lived, wanted to destroy Oakland Street. The destruction of Oakland Street was only a small piece in the grand scheme of Rob- ert Moses who built the BQE, the Tri-borough Bridge, and the Cross-

Bronx Expressway. Moses wanted a city for motorists and tens of thou- sands of homes across the city fell victim to his projects.

Oakland Street was, sadly, the only north-south street, other than Manhattan Ave. that stretched to Newtown Creek. In the late 1950s the city determined that the rick- ety old Vernon Blvd. Bridge, which Greenpointers called the Manhattan Avenue Bridge, should be replaced. The north end of Oakland Street be- came the logical place to build a new bridge of the creek, and they built the Pulaski Bridge to funnel traffic between the Brooklyn Queens Ex- pressway in Brooklyn and Long Is- land City.

When the new bridge first opened, Oakland Street was widened, but only as far south as Greenpoint Ave- nue – and gas stations to service the heavy car and truck traffic quickly appeared. The narrow section of Oakland Street remaining beyond Greenpoint Avenue survived, but created traffic jams, dooming the quaint cobblestone street and its pretty houses.

All of the houses on the east side of Oakland Street and all the houses from Driggs Ave to the BQE were condemned by the City to create the new grand boulevard. Some residents tried to fight and save their homes, but their utilities were cut off, and they grudgingly accepted com- pensation for their beloved homes. Amazingly though, most people did not protest. They regarded losing their homes and the cobblestoned street as the price to pay for progress. The only defiance by the community was a proposal for more gas stations on the boulevard south of Meserole Av- enue. The commu- nity killed the idea and that is the only reason new hous- ing was built on the thoroughfare at all.

In 1964, Sal- vatore Tortorici pressed his local alderman, Joe Shar- key to rename the new boulevard in honor of the great- est politician in lo- cal history: Peter J. McGuiness, who had passed away in 1948. The City Council passed the name change unani- mously and Oak- land Street was re- named McGuinness Boulevard.

Many local residents have complained about the way motorists drive along the boulevard. The four wide lanes encouraged aggressive driving, illegal passing, and excessive speeding—conditions that routinely lead to serious motor vehicle collisions. Hundreds of pedestrians have been hit on McGuinness Boulevard, with over 200 fatalities since 1956, including 11 pedestrians or cyclists killed between 1995 and 2021.

Activists in the community pushed for the transformation of McGuinness into a two-lane, pedestrian friendly artery with bike lanes. Wealthy production company own- ers Gina and Tony Argento funded a movement to block the changes to the boulevard. After the redesign began in 2023, the Adams admin- istration abruptly switched course, throwing its support behind a re- vised plan for the northern section of the road that critics called wa- tered down and insufficient.

In August, the Manhattan district attorney charged Ingrid Lewis-Mar- tin, a top aide to Mr. Adams, with conspiring to kill the original pro- posal, in exchange for a relatively small sum of money and a speaking role on a television series owned by the Argento siblings. Ms. Lewis-Martin pleaded not guilty, as did the production company’s owners, Gina and Anthony Argento, who were also charged.

Last week, Mayor Mamdani, surrounded by supporters with signs bearing the names of crash victims on the boulevard, said he would finish the original, full plan for the roadway as soon as weather permit- ted, and that he would not be “bowed by big-money interests.” “Thanks to so many who went out and pounded the pavement, that pavement now will change,” he said. Some residents fear that the changes to the boulevard will lead to increased auto traffic on the streets running parallel to the boulevard. One thing though is certain, the boulevard will soon change into a narrower, more pedes- trian and cyclist friendly artery.

New Years Fireworks Fraud in DUMBO

BQE Admin on January 14, 2026

A crowd massed by the Brooklyn Bridge on NYE for fireworks that never came. Photo: Kevin Burke, @keankburke on Instagram.

By COLE SINANIAN 

news@queensledger.com 

Thousands of people were left disappointed on New Year’s Eve after waiting in the cold at Brooklyn Bridge Park for a midnight fireworks show that never came. 

According to 40-year-old photographer and Brooklynite Kevin Burke, the confusion likely stemmed from erroneous information from popular tourist account Time Out New York, which posted an article advertising a New Year’s fireworks show over the Brooklyn Bridge. In reality, fireworks shows on New Year’s are held annually in Central Park and Prospect Park, but not at the Brooklyn Bridge, which is instead known for its July 4th fireworks.  Additionally, a Facebook video posted on an account called New York Vibes that showed the July 4th fireworks show over the Brooklyn Bridge circulated on multiple social media platforms, which Burke suspects might’ve contributed to leading some tourists astray. 

By the time Time Out New York issued a correction to its article it was too late. Burke had been in Midtown, attempting to photograph the Times Square New Year’s Eve festivities. But when the immense crowds blocked him from getting anywhere near the celebration, he decided to check Google for a last-minute plan B. 

“I saw the AI response from Google saying where to see fireworks,” Burke said. “They mentioned all these normal places, like Prospect Park, Central Park, and it also mentioned Brooklyn Bridge Park.”

“I’m like, Brooklyn Bridge Park, they don’t do fireworks,” Burke continued. “Then I saw articles from Time Out New York, which is a big Instagram page. So I’m like, ‘hold on, maybe they got some inside information that I don’t know about.”

The A train was quiet until he got to High Street, Burke said, where large crowds clogged the stairs and subway entrances. Outside, there were cops, police barricades, and what looked like thousands of people, some with tripods set up, Burke said, yet the bridge was still open and full of cars. The crowds at the park were so large that Burke hardly had space to set up his own camera. 

Burke also noticed that there were few English speakers among the crowd, suggesting the majority could have been tourists who were easily misguided.

“The crowd didn’t even want to let me get a spot there,” he said. “I was like ‘let me squeeze in here.’ And they were, they were looking at me funny. I don’t know if they didn’t understand me, they were just like, staring at me. I had to push my way through.” 

Videos on TikTok and Instagram showed crowds of people on the grassy hill overlooking the East River at Brooklyn Bridge Park counting down with their phones out. Some cheered and shouted “Happy New Year!” despite the lack of fireworks. In other videos people danced and posed for photos, seemingly unphased by the disappointment. According to Burke, people stuck around until about 10 minutes after midnight. 

”No one got pissed off,” Burke said. “That’s another reason I knew they weren’t from New York. New Yorkers would have been like, bugging out.”

Waterfront Museum Gets 400k Boost

BQE Admin on January 14, 2026

Waterfront Museum Director David Sharps (left) and museum Docent and Researcher Stefan Dreisbach-Williams (right).

By COLE SINANIAN 

news@queensledger.com 

There’s only one wood-covered barge in all of the five boroughs, and it’s about to get a makeover. 

The Lehigh Valley 79, better known to its Red Hook neighbors as the Waterfront Museum, has for decades been a floating testament to the region’s maritime-industrial past. Now, thanks to a $410,702 state grant, the boat will be towed to Staten Island for structural repairs in the spring, while its dock will be fortified to keep the barge afloat in an age of worsening storms and rising sea levels.

Built in 1914, the boat is the project of Captain and Museum Director David Sharps, a professional juggler who spent his career performing on boats in Europe and the Caribbean. Sharps, who acquired the Lehigh Valley 79 in 1985 and has spearheaded its restoration, belongs to a presumably niche community dedicated to the art of floating theater. Visitors to the barge are greeted upon entry with a bizarre contraption that passes a ball through a series of elaborate slides and pulleys—a nod to Sharps’ juggler past. 

It is among the last remnants of a period of New York history known as the Lighterage Era, during which small barges called “lighters” transported railroad cargo from railyards on the mainland to and from the islands of New York Harbor. Now, the barge offers a rare glimpse into this near-forgotten era of maritime commerce. But keeping a 112-year wooden boat afloat is no easy task— the wood structure is susceptible to rot and destructive mollusks called ship worms. With the grant, Sharps will lead structural improvements to the ship’s wood body, as well as the construction of a new mud berth that will help keep the barge grounded during storms and flood conditions. 

”I bought the boat for $500,” Sharps said. “It had 300 tons of mud in it.  Took two years to float it, another couple of years to get it accessible for the public.” 

Despite major redevelopment coming to Red Hook in the coming years, Sharps is confident that the Lehigh Valley 79 will remain for decades to come. Docked on private land, the barge turns into a floating theater in the summer, offering concerts and children’s programming to the public. In May 2026, the barge will host a Cajun music night called “Swamp in the City.” This past May, it hosted a Moby Dick-themed performance called “Into the Charmed, Churned Circle” by NYC artist Stanzi Vaubel. 

When Sharps first arrived in Red Hook in 1994, the neighborhood was what he described as a “no man’s land.” Part of his goal with the Waterfront Museum has been to build a cultural hub that draws visitors to Red Hook with the promise of a unique experience. 

“Now that there’s people here, it’s our hope to provide a community space where people can come together, where diverse people can share ideas, where creative people can maybe take you out of your everyday life and maybe transport you in time,” Sharps said. 

Altogether, Sharps said the repairs will take about eight weeks and will likely begin sometime in the spring. In the meantime, the Waterfront Museum has free open hours on Thursdays from 4-8pm and Saturdays from 1-5pm at 290 Conover Street in Red Hook. 

Celebrating Dia de Los Reyes

BQE Admin on January 7, 2026

Marcus Luna (L), dressed as King Balthazar, Marcus Sanchez, center, as the King Gaspar, and Junio Alvarado as King Malchoir pose with camels during the Three Kings Parade which winds through Harlem on January 6, 2011 in New York City. Three Kings Day, also called the Epiphany, celebrates the kings biblical journey to see the baby Jesus in Bethlehem and offer him gifts. UPI /Monika Graff. 

GEOFFREY COBB

Author, “Greenpoint Brooklyn’s Forgotten Past”

gcobb91839@Aol.com

A few years ago, I was driving towards the BQE on a cold blustery early January day, not unlike the recent cold snap we have been having, when I was shocked to see a camel at the intersection of Graham Avenue and Meeker Avenues. Much to my delight, I realized that the camel was part of an old Hispanic tradition that is still celebrated in our area, the Feast of the Three Kings, a beautiful part of Puerto Rican and Latinx heritage that will be on display this week.

The Feast of the Three kings has its roots in Spanish and Latin American Catholic culture. The feast is a celebration of the Epiphany, the day the Three Kings, or Three Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, reached Bethlehem, after a 12-day journey guided by a star, to where baby Jesus lay. The Kings, who arrived by camel, brought gold, frankincense, myrrh, and annotated oil to Jesus. According to Hispanic tradition, on the Epiphany before going to sleep, children leave grass or hay under their beds, or in their shoes, for the camels that carry the Three Kings on their travels to deliver gifts to children around the world. In the morning, children find gifts in place of the hay and families have a big celebration. Inspired by the Magi who brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the Infant, in many Hispanic cultures families
also celebrate the day with an exchange of gifts. Another tradition is the eating of a Roscon de Reyes (King’s Ring). This sweet bread shaped like a wreath has a figurine of a baby Jesus baked inside.  Customarily, the person who finds the figurine is expected to host a party on Día de la Candelaria (Candlemas), celebrated on February 2nd.

Three Kings Day is widely celebrated in Spain and across much of Latin America, including Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Colombia, and parts of Central and South America. There are celebrations across New York City in areas where Puerto Rican and other Latino immigrants have settled including East Harlem, The Lower East Side and Williamsburg/Greenpoint. In Puerto Rico towns across the island, from San Juan to Ponce, hold vibrant celebrations every January 6 th . For many in the Latinx and Caribbean communities, this day represents faith, unity, and cultural resilience.  It is a living and vital link for New York Hispanics to the culture and faith of their roots and one that they are fighting to keep alive.

Saturday January 10 th the Southside Williamsburg Hispanic community organization El Puente will hold its thirty-ninth annual Feast of the Three Kings celebration from 10- 6 at 211 South 4th St., Williamsburg with a parade. When the first feast day was celebrated almost forty years ago, there was a huge Hispanic presence in the area, but as a result of gentrification the Hispanic population, which comprised fifty percent of residents in 2010 is now down under 20%, but organizers of the festivities are determined to keep the tradition going. Parade founder and president, Radames Millan, says that the event was begun so that young Hispanics are aware of and continue to preserve the culture of their parents and ancestors. The parade often includes colorful floats, dancers in colorful Mexican costumes, a stilt walker waving the Puerto Rican flag, local merchants advertising their wares and of course vibrant Hispanic music. A Padrino, which literally means Godfather is chosen from the community as a special honoree of the parade. Two Madrinas, or Godmothers are also honored in the parade.

El Puente’s celebration features singing, dancing, acting by local elementary to high school students, highlighting their roles as future leaders. The tradition also blends culture with advocacy, focusing on important community themes like peace, justice, self-determination, and environmental sustainability, the same themes that inspired El Puente’s legendary late founder Jose Garden Acosta to found this community service organization.

Each year El Puente chooses a theme for the feast. Last year the theme was Planting a seed, honoring children as future leaders and focusing on nurturing their potential for peace and justice. For El Puente the celebration is also a means for local Hispanics to affirm their identity and culture, while maintaining their unique traditions, even in a new setting.

Another celebration of the Feast of the Three Kings will take place Tuesday January 6 th at the Moore Street market 110 Moore St., Williamsburg and the free celebration will include hot chocolate, gifts, and arts & crafts.  Even if you are not Hispanic, the Feast of the Three Kings celebration is lively festive and rhythmic offering a fun way to learn about the rich Hispanic heritage of North Brooklyn. Come out and enjoy the fun.

Gowanus Boulderers Picket For Fair Pay

BQE Admin on December 31, 2025

Workers at Movement climbing gym in Gowanus picketed December 15 for a fair union contract.

Weeks after Mamdani marched with striking Starbucks workers in Gowanus, employees at a local climbing gym are renewing their own push for a union contract. 

By COLE SINANIAN

Workers at a local rock climbing gym picketed on Monday, December 15 to demand a fair union contract and call out what they describe as rampant wage inequity, unfair scheduling practices, and corporate management’s refusal to come to the negotiating table.

At Movement Gym on Butler Street in Gowanus, dozens of employees unionized under Workers United — the same union that represents Starbucks workers — stood outside for an hour in the bitter cold, holding signs and chanting into megaphones. Passing customers of the gym were sympathetic to the workers, picketers said, with some even holding signs and joining in the chants with their children.

The picket came just a few weeks after workers at the Long Island City Movement Gym rallied to demand a fair contract, and amidst a wave of labor actions that have swept the city and country in recent weeks, including the so-called “Red Cup Rebellion” at Starbucks, and walkouts and strikes at Amazon warehouses throughout the US. According to a Workers United press statement, the union has already organized 900 workers at 24 climbing gyms around the country.

Workers at the Gowanus gym first announced their unionization in 2023 but have since struggled to secure a union contract. According to 33-year-old organizer and employee Charlie He, Movement’s upper management has been stonewalling workers, refusing to engage in conversation when union reps are present and rejecting all attempts at negotiation.

“We want the company to know that we are serious about wanting a contract, and we want it as  soon as possible,” explained He, who’s worked at the climbing gym since 2022. She said nearly all employees at Movement are part-time, working a maximum of 30 hours a week. This means that He and her colleagues must work multiple jobs to make ends meet while also navigating a scheduling system at Movement that defies logic. Some weeks, she’s scheduled 29 hours, other weeks 12.

The lack of scheduling consistency makes planning her life difficult, He says. Additionally, wages vary and have little to do with seniority. He makes about $22/hour, while some colleagues who make more than her have less experience at the company. Meanwhile, the gym’s facilities could use an upgrade— workers described break rooms with mold on the walls and unreliable heat and air conditioning.

Movement Gym, an Englewood, Colorado-based company, first acquired the Gowanus gym in 2023, which was then called The Cliffs. Movement is the largest climbing gym operator in North America and is owned by the private equity firm Tengram Capital Partners. Other Movement locations in New York include the LIC gym, and one on 125th street in Harlem.

Rock climbing gyms surged in popularity around the country after the pandemic, bringing major growth to the industry and with it increased tensions between workers and management.

“All these companies are growing and the people who work for these gyms are realizing how much they matter to this industry,” He said. “These businesses are profiting off these workers, they’re profiting off how much we just want to be here.

Haak Departs for LA

BQE Admin on December 31, 2025

Boys in Blue lose homegrown defender to Galaxy

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

After a decade with New York City FC, the club’s first ever academy graduate to sign a pro deal is heading to the West Coast. This week, homegrown defender Justin Haak officially penned a deal with the LA Galaxy, joining Major League Soccer’s most storied club on a one year deal with a second year club option.

The departure is a tough blow to the Boys in Blue, who relied heavily on Haak’s hard work this year. Justin saw a clear elevation in his game this past season, making terrific tackles and standing tall in the back line.

It’s a little surprising that it was another MLS club to land Haak, especially after reports that NYC offered more than any other club in the league could and some rumblings about European interest. Nevertheless, it’s a major signing in the Galaxy’s attempted resurrection, finishing second to last in the Western Conference after winning MLS Cup in dramatic fashion in 2024.

Haak will now accompany the Galaxy on their quest for a league-leading 7th championship, set to be paired with another marquee defensive pickup in Jakob Glesnes, who was named Defender of the Year in 2022. Only two teams allowed as many goals as the Galaxy in 2025, so it’s clear defense is at the forefront of their offseason.

The Galaxy have alluded to Haak helping out in the midfield, as he came up as a defensive midfield prospect. While he excelled as a reliable center back last year, Haak’s defensive versatility will be useful for Los Angeles.

NYC’s offseason has gotten more complicated with the departure of Haak, and he may not be the only youngster gone as there is some trade talk regarding youngster Seymour Reid. The 17-year-old became the youngest goalscorer in club history last season, showing plenty of promise for the upcoming season and beyond.

The recent homegrown signings and draftees will also help assist the club as they look to tighten up the squad for 2026. Just as Haak did, perhaps one of the many promising talents can work their way into key roster positions.

The club also has to address the Maxi Moralez question, as the club legend would turn 39 before the start of next season. The Argentine midfielder continued to show moments of brilliance, also providing valuable toughness and leadership for the team.

JJ: “New Year’s Resolutions – Four Mistakes NY Teams Need to Learn From in 2026”

BQE Admin on December 31, 2025

New York New York

By John Jastremski

Last week, I looked back on the year in New York Sports for 2025, a year unfulfilled for a majority of our teams in town. The calendar is over and done with and now 2026 awaits.

Look, we all may have some resolutions we want to tackle for 2026. Some of them may be more realistic than others, but in the spirit of the new year, I figured I would offer some advice to our teams.

David Stearns must change approach when it comes to handling starting pitchers.

Mets GM David Stearns hit the lottery in 2024 with the way he built his pitching staff. His buy low guys panned out brilliantly. A year later, Stearns did not come anywhere close to the same success.

The Mets collapse in 2025 in many ways was triggered by atrocious starting pitching. Yes, Stearns is right to be confident in youngster Nolan McLean as a major part of the puzzle.

However, he needs to be aggressive in targeting a legitimate front of the line arm to help McLean.

Will Stearns properly pivot?

Will Yankees Adjust Approach For October success?

The Yankees properly pivoted last offseason after losing Juan Soto to the Mets.

Max Fried & Cody Bellinger were a big part of the success of the 2025 regular season.

However, in the postseason, the result remained the same. Another year without a World Series title.

Will Brian Cashman acknowledge the need for balance and an a contact approach up and down the lineup? Or will it be a lineup with automatic outs at the bottom like we saw a year ago in the ALDS?

Will Giants ownership learn from past mistakes in Head Coach Hiring Process?

The Giants once again will be in the market for a head coach in January. 

It’s a franchise that hasn’t gotten it right with their head man since the days of Tom Coughlin.

Can they find the proper leader equipped to handle the battleground that is New York?

Don’t make the same mistake of years past. Try to find a leader with experience as a head coach who can go and hit the ground running.

Will Aaron Glenn learn from his mistakes from his nightmarish first season?

It’s tough to have a more miserable first season than Jets Head Coach Aaron Glenn.

From non competitive football to dust ups with the media, it’s been as bad as it gets.

Will Glenn acknowledge the mistakes of year 1 on and off the field and grow from them?

Or will he join a long list of failed Jets head coaches…

Hopefully 2025 will bring a lot of reflection and learning for the power brokers of NY Sports and 2026 will be a year of upward mobility!

You can listen to my podcast New York, New York on The Ringer Podcast Network every Sunday/Thursday on Spotify/Apple Podcasts. You can watch me nightly on Honda Sportsnite at 11 PM on SNY. 

Happy Net Year! Brooklyn Turns the Page With 7-4 December

BQE Admin on December 31, 2025

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

While their winning came to an end with Monday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors, the Brooklyn Nets were able to close out their first month above .500 of the season, their third in the last three seasons.

It’s been a drastic 3-month turnaround for Brooklyn, going winless in five October matchups before a woeful 3-11 November. Since then, a switch has flipped. In addition to their strong shooting, Brooklyn maintained the best defensive rating in the NBA during the final month of the calendar year. They finished 7-4, with impressive wins against the Raptors, 76ers, and Timberwolves.

Already riding a 6-3 stretch into Minnesota, the Nets took on their toughest foe of the month. They only shot 28% for three, but interior scoring helped bring their total FG% to 55%. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 28, while Jaden McDaniels added 16. Both were terrific on the defensive end.

Leading Brooklyn off the bench was Cam Thomas, his first game back after missing 20 with hamstring issues. It was his 30th time scoring 30 points in a game, shooting an efficient 9-15 and adding 4 assists and 3 rebounds. Thomas scored 12 straight Brooklyn points in the 3rd Quarter, helping them pull away late for a 123-107 win.

Back home to play the middling Warriors in their 2025 finale, Brooklyn had much less help from the second unit. The bench only added 27 points on 36% shooting, compared to 62 with 64% shooting against the Wolves.

The Nets put together a pair of 10-0 runs in the 1st but couldn’t pull away as Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry powered the Warriors to a 120-107 win. 

It was a tight physical matchup the whole night, with some phenomenal shooting by Michael Porter Jr. and Egor Dëmin. As well as another stellar all-around game from Nic Claxton.

Porter Jr.’s 56% shooting helped him to a team-leading 27 points while Brooklyn’s top draft pick matched his NBA best with 23 points. All of Dëmin’s made field goals came from beyond the arc, setting a Nets rookie record with seven three pointers. Claxton scored 15 points, tallying 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks.

In his second game back, Thomas produced significantly less in 19 minutes off the bench. He seemed overeager to put up shots despite a focused defensive effort to stop him, shooting 5-12 and finishing with 13 points and 2 assists.

The Warriors shot efficiently in the 4th quarter and a strong effort to stay within reach finally petered out for Brooklyn. They fell for the 20th time this year, an unfortunate finish after dominant play the rest of the month

Cam back off the bench

In his two games back, Cam Thomas showed the positive and negative side of his impact. When his shots are dropping like in Minnesota, he can easily provide a winning spark. When he fixates on getting shots up like against Golden State, he can be taken out of the game and made a detriment on both ends of the floor.

Since Brooklyn began to really turn the ship around in his absence, many were quick to suggest Cam’s ball-dominant playstyle as a culprit. Saturday’s win over Minnesota showed that Cam is more than capable of fitting into this Nets playstyle and providing exactly what Jordi Fernandez needs to lead the second unit.

Alternatively, there are games like Monday’s, where Thomas puts up a game-worst +/- at -24. When he doesn’t get the shots to fall and can’t fit the team’s flow, Thomas turns from a bonafide bucket to a tank engine.

If Brooklyn gets the good side of Thomas over the next month, they’ll be in a fascinating position. While they’re positioned to maximize their first round draft pick in 2026, they may not be sellers at the trade deadline as many expect. General Manager Sean Marks has shown hesitation to deal players and assets without clear benefit, and between Porter Jr. clicking in his first year in Brooklyn and Claxton turning the page, some of his most valuable assets may be ideal building blocks for the future.

Chris DeMarco in the building

Also on the Barclays Center hardwood on Monday night was Chris DeMarco, the new head coach of the New York Liberty. In his final game as an assistant with the Warriors, DeMarco was spotted chatting with Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez before tip-off and taking photos with the Golden State coaching staff after the final buzzer.

With the new year comes DeMarco’s new role, and the longtime Dubs assistant has officially closed that chapter of his career. Now DeMarco shifts his focus to the team taking the floor later in 2026, with a busy offseason still playing out.

“I love Barclays, I love what they’re building with the Brooklyn Basketball Training Center across the street,” DeMarco said after his final NBA game. “It’s a beautiful thing to see and it’s a growing league, I’m just excited to get started.”

The Best BK Sports Bar for Banter

BQE Admin on December 31, 2025

A typical scene at Banter, the king of Greenpoint’s sports bars. Via @banterbrooklyn

GEOFFREY COBB

Author, “Greenpoint Brooklyn’s Forgotten Past”

gcobb91839@Aol.com

There are people who claim that Americans will never fully embrace soccer and that it will always be a foreign game. Those people have obviously never visited Banter, a soccer bar located at 132 Havemeyer Street in Brooklyn. Voted one of the ten best sports bars in the United States by CNN, it has also been featured in a 2023 article in the New York Times about fans coming to the bar at 7AM to watch the Women’s World Cup.

Though I can describe the banter vibe, you really have to experience for yourself the passion for the beautiful game that pulses in the bar. The bar opens at 7:30 AM on Saturdays and at 7:00 AM on Sundays during the British Premier League season, which typically runs for about nine months, from August to May. Few bars open that early and fewer still are packed before most people are out of bed, but Banter isn’t like most other bars. On big match days it is almost as if there is an electric current permeating the bar. It is a football mecca, drawing its devotees.

Customers sit and anxiously watch, glued to the eight or so large TV screens showing different matches. If the English Premier League is on,” says co-owner Conor Carolan. “We get packed regardless of the hour for the bigger games.” Banter also shows Spanish, Italian and German league matches but British football is far and away the biggest draw. 

I sat down with Greenpoint resident and co-owner Chris Keller, a German born passionate fan of the game. As a kid growing up in Germany, he developed a love for both soccer and beer, which have a happy marriage at Banter. Chris and his co-owners started Banter Fifteen years ago. Prior to opening Banter, Chris worked at Iona where he experienced the passion for football that animated many of the customers. Before Banter occupied the space, it had been a fish market, so Chris and his partners needed to do a painstaking total renovation. They opened up previously bricked up windows, installed a beautiful bar and decorated the place with football memorabilia including dozens of scarfs from supporters around the world, creating a really comfortable place to watch a football match.

Banter has twenty-four beers, ales and ciders on tap, including my favorite, Bitburger lager from Germany. Their pint of Guinness is also regarded as one of the best in New York City by aficionados. Chris has hired a really great, friendly staff, which adds to the bar’s friendly vibe.

Many banter regulars have formed friendships with other customers based on a shared passion for the beautiful game. As someone who has lived in Europe, one aspect of Banter stands out; though there are bitter rivalries between soccer clubs, the atmosphere is friendly, not hostile. Everyone is welcome, regardless of the team they support. Keller had to bar a few aggressive bad apples, but even fans of teams in bitter rivalries seem to get along with each other and supporters of many different teams have become friends at Banter.

I support the Liverpool football club, and I can watch their matches at home, but it is far more fun to watch a match at Banter. It’s not hard to spot the bar’s Liverpool supporters because many come to the matches dressed in the team’s red kit, but other days you are greeted by fans wearing Manchester City, Tottenham or Arsenal jerseys as well.

The customers are a mix of Americans and ex-pats. Some European and Latin American customers have grown up playing the game and passionately supporting a club. Others are Americans who have recently developed a love for the beautiful game, but all feel at home at Banter, where the customers relish the special atmosphere that makes this bar so unique.

Chris and many of his customers are eagerly anticipating the World Cup, which will be played here in the United States, Canada and Mexico next year from June 11th to July 19th. Chris expects a huge turnout for the competition. Though Banter is a big bar, Keller expects many of the more popular games to pack out the bar. Even if you are not a football fan, watching a world cup match or any soccer game at Banter is an experience not to be missed.

You can find more info at banterbrooklyn.com.

Kashi Brings North Indian Flavors to Downtown BK

BQE Admin on December 26, 2025

By COLE SINANIAN  | news@queensledger.com

History, spirituality, and cuisine collide spectacularly in the North Indian city of Varanasi, where the Buddha is said to have given his first sermon in the 5th century BC and where Hindus believe the waters of the Ganges River have the power to wash away the sins of mortals. 

As Mark Twain once said, the city is “older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together.” It is also a world-class culinary destination known for a diversity of cuisine that reflects its position at the crossroads of Mughal, Punjabi, and Awadhi cultures, noted for its heavy use of aromatics like cardamom, clove and saffron, slow-cooked lamb and mutton stewed with bright herbs, rich curries, and addictive fried street snacks. 

Brothers Sam and Nick Yadav, along with renowned Chef Hakikat Dhawan, bring a piece of this rich tradition to Kashi, their new restaurant on Livingston Street in Downtown Brooklyn. Named for Varanasi’s ancient moniker, Kashi’s menu highlights both hard-to-find North Indian specialities and beloved global Indian classics. It’s all paired with an equally exhilarating cocktail menu that showcases Indian whiskies and South Asian flavors like cardamom, rose water, coconut and hibiscus. 

The restaurant’s roots go back to 2000, when Nick Yadav worked alongside Chef Dhawan at the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi. But their professional relationship didn’t begin until 2023, Nick said, when the trio got together to discuss the restaurant concept. Sam and Nick had by this point spent more than 20 years working in the New York City restaurant scene, while Dhawan had built a career helming kitchens at classic NYC Indian joints like Union Square’s GupShup and the Upper West Side’s Baazi. 

“Most of our signature dishes are coming from North India,” Nick Yadav said. “Before we were more in the American restaurant scene, but our dream concept was to one day open an Indian restaurant.” 

Sam and Nick kept a close dialogue with the Staten Island-based designer Maria Shafran during Kashi’s design process, ensuring that the deep spiritual roots of the restaurant’s namesake could be felt in its two dining rooms. The first dining room, for example, features a wall-to-wall painting of a tranquil forest scene in which followers of the Hindu deity Krishna romp among the trees and flowers. Called gopi, these worshippers are often depicted as young women and are regarded in Hinduism for their unwavering commitment to Krishna and are said to embody unconditional love. 

In addition to Indian diasporic classics like Butter Chicken and Dal Gosht — or slow-cooked lamb and yellow lentil stew —  other specialties at Kashi unique to North India include Methi Murgh, a rich, Fenugreek chicken curry with roots in the 17th century Mughal Empire, and the Paratwala Paneer Tikka from Punjab, marinated cubes of salty paneer cheese cooked with mint and cilantro chutney. 

Kashi’s Achari Gobhi, or chili-laced fried cauliflower, is a tempting appetizer in its own right, though it’s also, perhaps inadvertently, a shockingly convincing meat substitute. As the Yadav brothers  explained, the dish is a version of a popular street snack in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, traditionally made with battered and deep-fried fresh cauliflower. But Kashi’s version forgoes the deep-frying for a less greasy pan-fry and is served in a bright orange spicy-sweet chili sauce and garnished with black and white sesame seeds. 

“The traditional one they make with batter and a sauce, it could be coriander and mint chutney,” Nick said. “But with this one you don’t need anything because it’s already sauteed with sweet chili.”  

Other dishes are creations of Chef Dhawan’s inspired by regional flavors. In what he’s dubbed Chicken Tikka Chlorophyll, four herby, deeply spiced slabs of green-hued chicken breast come topped with sliced yellow chilis. And in a rice dish called Gucchi aur Sukhe Tamater Ka Pulao, wild Himalayan morel mushrooms — foraged only in the alpine forests of Kashmir — are paired with acidic pops of sundried tomato and fragrant basmati rice. 

“You won’t see a lot of places that are using Gucchi mushroom,” Nick said. “It’s very expensive. It comes dry and you soak it in water and it gets very soft and spongy.” 

As Sam explained, the brothers grew up in New Delhi but would spend their summers visiting their relatives in Uttar Pradesh, not far from Varanasi. Evenings in this part of India indisputably taste of Malaiyo, Nick said, a kind of condensed milk confectionery eaten throughout the region. The brothers recalled their grandfather taking them out for nightly Malaiyo during visits. Although it’s sweet and decadent, so ubiquitous is Malaiyo in Uttar Pradesh that it’s hard to even call it a dessert, Sam said. 

“In India, in a lot of places, they’re eating it as an evening snack,” he said. “A few friends meet in the evening, they’ll say ‘ok, I had a very good day, let’s go for a party, a little treat. Let’s go eat Malaiyo.” 

But in US restaurants authentic Malaiyo is not so easy to find. This is partly due to its laboriousness, as it can take up to ten hours to prepare. The milk is gently cooked on low heat for eight hours, then left to cool in the fridge before sugar and sometimes cardamom is added for flavor. The result is a dense but light mixture that’s thicker than condensed milk. 

But the most exotic item at Kashi might actually be on its cocktail menu. Kashi’s Old Fashioned features rosewater, Indian whiskey, black cherry and is garnished with a betel leaf, known in India as paan. Used for millenia throughout southern Asia as a palette cleanser, breath freshener, and stimulant not unlike tobacco, paan imparts a mild bitterness to the drink. As a garnish it represents another bridge between modern Western dining and the ancient culinary traditions of Uttar Pradesh. For example, a popular snack found at markets in the region involves a paan leaf rolled into a cone with rose petals, honey, cardamom and sometimes tobacco. 

To experience the full effect at Kashi, Nick and Sam recommend chewing a bit of the paan between sips and bites.  

“Varanasi is the main place I would say where a lot of people eat paan in very large quantities,” Sam said. “So we made our old fashioned with it. But ours has no tobacco, of course.” 

Kashi is open Monday through Thursday from 5pm to 10pm and Friday through Sunday from 11am to 10pm. For reservations, check Resy, OpenTable, or visit Kashiny.com

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