MillBasinBlog.net

Aviator Sports and Recreation Center in Floyd Bennet Field hosted the Irish Festival on June 27th and 28th. There was a large turnout both days and featured Irish bands food and drink (hamburgers, hot dogs, ices, pizza, hot pretzels, soda), beer (on tap from a truck!?!?), inflatable rides, arts and crafts, and even a clown. (more…)

Caffeine addicts rejoice! A new Dunkin’ Donuts is going to open on Utica Avenue and Avenue K here in Mill Basin. (more…)

“Boy Wonder” a full feature length movie coming out in January of 2010, is being filmed in Brooklyn on Ryder Street between Avenue S and Avenue T in Marine Park.

(more…)

E. 60th and Strickland Avenue

A triple whammy…3 consecutive stores have been abandoned across from Strickland park.

(more…)

Hendrickson & U

Pictured: The old Nobody Beats the Wiz under construction (By the way the block isn’t that crooked. It’s an illusion.)

As posted in an earlier story (see “Mill Basin For Sale”) the old Nobody Beats the Wiz is available for leasing. The old contact information said to call Mr. Jam at 1212-866-2880, but upon further construction the sign has changed to say “Retail Professional Medical” and is under a different name. The new sign says to call Jay at 904-334-7080. Wooden boards have now been put up and the construction is progressing fairly quickly. Millbasinblog.net will be keeping track of this story and update you on what this new building might become.

(Picture is a link. Click for larger picture.)

Pictured: Mural for Mill Basin resident, Paul Zaccaria. From left to right: Depiction of accident, his entrance into heaven, and portrait of Zaccaria.

At 6154 Avenue U there is a mural painted in memory of a young teenager who resided in Mill Basin until his death in 2006. On June 30th of 2006 Paul Zaccaria, 17, and his friend Aristotle Plagianakos, 19, went out on their jet skis looking for a good time off the waters in Mill Basin. Out on the water the two teenagers were having fun when Plagianakos jet ski slammed into Zaccaria’s, severing his aorta and killing him.

3 years later and now Plagianakos is fighting back claiming that Zaccaria was high on pot when the accident occured and that, in fact, he was the one who was speeding. Aristotle Plagianakos faces 15 years in prison if he is convicted.

In opening statements, the defense lawyer for Plagianakos, Joseph Tacopina, said Zaccaria was the one speeding. “Paul Zaccaria caused this accident 45 minutes after he inhaled marijuana,” Tacopina said.

Tacopina wanted to tell jurors police had found 15 glassine envelopes of marijuana hidden inside Zaccaria’s Jet Ski, but Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Deborah Dowling deemed it too prejudicial and not relevant to the case.

Prosecutors still contend that Plagianakos aimed his vehicle at Zaccaria, sped up and killed him. Prosecutors also point out that Plagianakos left the scene of the crime that day in 2006. ”And the defendant doesn’t stick around to help; he doesn’t even look for his victim.” says Assistant District Attorney Kyle Reeves, who is standing in defense of Zaccaria.

Zaccaria’s mother, Jo-Ann, says she never wanted her son to get a jet-ski, and is calling for stricter laws in regard to jet-skis, wanting any jet-ski owner to take a course before getting on, live vests, and is also calling for all jet ski riders to be at least 14.

Pictured: Jo-Ann Zaccaria holding photos of her son.

I’m a little late on this story, but it happened a block down from my old house so eventually I found out about this by word of mouth from some friends in the neighborhood. According to police, on June 3rd a Mill Basin cab driver was traveling on E57th Street and L when around 7:45 p.m.a car pulled out of a driveway on the right side of the road causing the cab driver to swerve around itand proceeded to slam into the man who was putting his child into a car-seat.

The man’s leg was amputated at the knee. The neighbors tried to help the man by putting his leg on ice and he was rushed to Bellevue Hospital. According to one of the witnesses at the scene, “He just put the baby into the vehicle when he hit him. The little child is ok”

According to police, the man’s wife and child were not seriously injured in the accident.

the eSavoy lounge opened in Brooklyn in March 2008 and is a great place to if you’re into music, drinking, comedy, and are a night owl.

The eSavoy Lounge features 80s, Hip-Hop, Pop/Top 40 Karaoke and R&B music.

According to one of the staff members there at the lounge, the eSavoy establishment features comedy acts, happy hour, Live music, all different types of drinks, great food, and parties.

According to their website www.esavoybar.com  “the eSavoy bar is the new benchmark for style, ambiance, delectable foods and cocktails.

The venue layout, incorporates dining and lounging with a cocktail bar that creates the perfect atmosphere for relaxing and unwinding.

We have an extensive cocktail and wine list which is guaranteed to please all palettes, but for those expecting a lot more can inspire our mixologist to compose their own cocktail composition.

You can also come to enjoy our delicious mouth watering Caribbean and American cuisine; serving from appetizers to entrees.

We at eSavoy Lounge will host an array of events from luncheons, brunches, birthdays, cooperate parties, bachelor (ette) parties, anniversary and engagement parties. We take tremendous pride in fulfilling the needs of our patrons and will guarantee to make each and every event a success.

The management and staff at eSavoy Lounge looks forward to serving you.”