Brooklyn bound riders on the (2) and (4) trains will see modified late night service this week.

Between 12:01 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. between tonight and Friday morning, service on the (2) train will operate as express trains instead of locals between Atlantic Avenue, Prospect Heights, and Crown Heights-Utica Avenue, stopping only at Franklin Avenue Station.  Direct (2) train service to and from Manhattan and The Bronx will operate to Utica Avenue instead of Flatbush Avenue.  A (2) shuttle train with 30 minute headways will operate between Franklin Avenue and Flatbush Avenue…

Additionally, the (4) train will also operate express between Atlantic Avenue and Utica Avenue.

Brooklyn-bound passengers travelling from Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn to Bergen Street, Grand Army Plaza, Eastern Parkway, Nostrand Avenue, and Kingston Avenue stations should get off the Brooklyn-bound trains at Utica Avenue, then board a Manhattan-bound train to reach these stations…

The late-night (G) train service adjustments reported by Brooklyn News last week remain in effect through the rest of this week.  This involves two sections of (G) service – one section will operate between Court Square, Queens, and Bedford-Nostrand, Bed-Stuy, the other between Bedford-Nostrand and Church Avenue, Kensington.  Trains will operate both sections every 30 minutes with passengers required to transfer at Bedford-Nostrand.  This will be in effect between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m…

Riders on the (L) train should be aware of platform boarding changes for late night service.  Brooklyn-bound riders will be required to board on the Manhattan-bound platforms at 3rd Avenue and 1st Avenue stations in Manhattan and at Bedford Avenue Station, Williamsburg, between 12:01 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. through Friday morning…

Manhattan- and Queens-bound riders on the (N) will see service re-routed over the Manhattan Bridge instead of the Montague Tunnel, skipping the Canal Street, Rector Street, and Whitehall Street stations in Manhattan and Court Street and Lawrence Street stations in Brooklyn.  Riders are asked to take the (4) train as an alternative…

And, finally, the (Q) train will be operating in two sections during late night hours.  The (Q) will operate in two sections – one segment will operate between 57th Street/7th Avenue, Manhattan and Atlantic Avenue/Pacific Avenue, Prospect Heights on the 4th Avenue Line (served by the (D), (M), (N), and (R) trains; the other section will operate between the Atlantic Avenue on the Brighton Line (the normal (Q) train station) and Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue.  Trains will operate every 30 minutes on the Brighton Line between 12:01 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. nightly through Friday.

This is in addition to the ongoing construction on the Brighton Line, causing intermittant delays on the (B) and (Q) trains and local service on the (B) between Prospect Park and Brighton Beach.

For updated service adjustment information, call the NYC Transit information line at (718) 330-1234 or visit www.mta.info.

At his press conference last week, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg told reporters that Brooklyn was one of his favorite areas for fine dining.

“It is amazing the change in Brooklyn in the last dozen years or thereabouts. I’m going to have dinner tonight in Brooklyn,” Bloomberg said at his Thursday City Hall press conference on the Coney Island land deal.

“Time and time again, when I say, ‘Where do you want to go to have dinner?’ Friends who’ve come from out of town pick restaurants in Brooklyn, and that is really different,” the mayor added.

Now, whether or not Bloomberg meant it or was just trying to score points with Brooklynites could be open for debate.  In any event, Bloomberg has been a fairly regular customer at the Stone Park Cafe, 324 Fifth Avenue near 3rd Street, Park Slope, according to the New York Post.

Of course, Bloomberg can afford to dine out at a place where a salad runs between $11.00 and $15.00, a burger $14.00, and entrees around the mid-$20 range and nobody is going to confuse Stone Park Cafe with Nathan’s at Coney Island.

As a related sidebar, the Post also pointed out five other restaurants that its readers should check out (though, as a service to our readers, Brooklyn News is not only including locations, but, where applicable, web sites).

Vinegar Hill House, 72 Hudson Avenue, between Front and Water Streets, DUMBO

The Post says: “This old-fashioned restaurant in the shadow of the Brooklyn Navy Yard features a giant wood-burning oven, where its delicacies, including a tart drizzled with creme fraiche, are concocted.”

One would certainly hope this oven makes that $8.00 mashed potato dish as tasty as a potato one would by from the local grocer.

Located between the Navy Yard and the Manhattan Bridge, Vinegar Hill House is a short walk from the York Street Station of the (F) train.

Marlow and Sons, 81 Broadway, between Berry Street and Wythe Avenue, Williamsburg

The Post says: “This tiny eatery serves up fresh oysters and jalapeño-rum cocktails along with an oldschool atmosphere.”

And, there’s also the $9.50 roast beef sandwich on the lunch menu.  Other than the oysters, there isn’t a large menu selection, though the $22.00 brick chicken on the dinner menu certainly sounds tempting enough to try.

Marlow and Sons is located in the shadow of the Williamsburg Bridge; the nearest subway stop is the Marcy Avenue Station on the (J), (M), and (Z) trains five blocks to the east.

Tanorren, 7704 3rd Avenue, at 77th Street, Bay Ridge

The Post says: “A massive menu is among the highlights at this Middle Eastern restaurant, where garlic and spices aplenty adorn such dishes as ground lamb.”

The $15.00 chicken kabob appears reasonably priced, especially when served with rice and salad.  Half portions of these entrees are available between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Tanorren, which celebrates it’s 10th anniversary in Bay Ridge this year, is located one block away from the 77th Street/4th Avenue station on the (R) train.

Noodle Pudding, 38 Henry Street, between Cranberry Street and Middagh Street, Brooklyn Heights, (718) 625-3737 (no web site found; link to Menutopia’s listing)

The Post says: “It’s like a SoHo transplant with its trendy crowd and trendier wait time of up to 45 minutes, but the gnocchi and buffalo mozzarella are worth it.”

Bounded by the Brooklyn Bridge and the BQE, what is known about Noodle Pudding is that it’s an Italian restaurant.  Unless Menutopia is missing an item or two, the menu doesn’t seem as long as expected from a decent Italian restaurant.

Noodle Pudding is located across the street from Cadman Plaza Park and is accessible from the High Street Station of the (A) and (C) trains.

The General Greene, 229 DeKalb Avenue, between Adelphi Street and Clermont Avenue, Fort Greene

The Post says: “Check out the sangria and the candied bacon at this Southern tinged food hall, where the barstools are refurbished tractor seats.”

Seats in the dining room, however, appear to be only slightly more comfortable than a typical seat on the (L) train.  With that said, breakfast is served during the week between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., which seems a little odd, but if it works, more power to them.

The General Greene is located minutes from LIU-Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Hospital Center, Fort Greene Park, and the Brooklyn Flea Market.  The nearest subway stops are Clinton-Washington Station on the (G) train and Lafayette Avenue Station on the (C) train.

There are hundreds of restaurants in Brooklyn, and these are just five that the Post seemed to think quite highly of.  Of course, your mileage may vary, as the old saying goes…

CYPRESS HILLS - A bouncer at a nightclub who had previously worked as a bodyguard for several major celebrities is dead after a shootout with police during a barrrom brawl over the weekend.

Officers from the 75th Precinct responded to the Norwood Palace nightclub on the 3100 block of Fulton Street, between Hale and Logan Avenues, at 3:00 a.m. Sunday morning for a report of a disturbance.  The melee reportedly began over a spilled drink before escalating into an old-fashioned “Wild West” type brawl.

Witnesses told police that patrons were striking each other with bar stools, chairs, and other objects before gunshots rang out.  Two plainclothes officers were in the area at the time of the brawl; upon their arrival, Donovan Wilson, 19, allegedly fired a gun at a bouncer wearing a bulletproof vest, according to NYPD officials.  After identifiying themselves, officers fired their guns at Wilson after he reportedly failed to comply with orders to drop the gun.

After hearing additional gunfire inside the bar, officers reportedly spotted Kevin White (pictured), 43, holding a gun.  White allegedly refused to drop the firearm after repeated orders and was subsequently shot in the neck.  He was pronounced dead a short time later.

White’s family disputed the NYPD’s version of events, according to the New York Post.  “My brother would never carry a gun,” White’s brother told the Post.

Police sources, however, told The Post that video surveillance reportedly shows White shooting at officers.  Officers also reportedly recovered three firearms from the scene.

White, who had five prior arrests for weapons possession, had previously served as a bodyguard for such celebrities such as Jay-Z, Mariah Carey, and Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs.

The officers, who have not been identified, are on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation.

Wilson, who was reported to have been in stable condition, is expected to face charges pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.

It is not immediately known as to whether or not the NYPD or the New York State Liquor Authority had recieved any complaints about Norwood Palace in the past.  It is also not clear if any other patrons were injured in the melee.

Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, actor Mark Wahlberg, and actor Will Ferrell at Nathan's, Coney Island, on the set of the movie "The Other Guys" (nypost.com)

CONEY ISLAND - Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s announcement regarding the re-development of Coney Island wasn’t the only big event to hit the south end of the borough yesterday.

Derek Jeter, the future hall of fame shortstop for the World Champion New York Yankees, was on Coney Island yesterday to film a movie starring comedian Will Ferrell and actor Mark Wahlberg called “The Other Guys.”

The plot of the movie involves Wahlberg’s character accidentally shooting Jeter in the leg, thus ruining Jeter’s career (which is probably an idea that more than a few people just two hours south of here were probably thinking of when the Yankees won the World Series last week against the Philadelphia Phillies).

In the movie, Jeter plays a fictionalized version of himself several years after his movie character is shot.  Let’s just say that the movie version of Jeter in “The Other Guys” doesn’t exactly make him out to be the super-star athlete who has thrilled baseball fans (at least those who are not Mets fans) since the mid-1990′s.

The scene in which Jeter, Ferrell and Wahlberg – a Boston native who is not exactly shy about his allegiance to those Red Sox – appeared was filmed at Nathan’s hot dog stand on the Coney Island Boardwalk.

Unlike the aforementioned Bloomberg, who made his Coney Island announcement from City Hall in Manhattan, at least Jeter made an appearance in the borough.

EAST NEW YORK - Four families were safely evacuated after their apartment house was reportedly unsafe due to unstable floors.

The FDNY reponded to an occupied multiple dwelling structure at the intersection of Hegeman Avenue and Georgia Avneue at around 8:15 p.m. this evening for a report of an unstable building.  Upon arrival, the Battalion Chief reported that missing floor joints on the second floor of the building caused the floor to move, raising concerns that the building could collapse.

The FDNY set up a collapse zone around the structure as four families were displaced as the investigation continues.  The New York City Buildings Department was requested to assist with the investigation.

The New York City Department of Transportation is announcing the following street closings that will impact neighborhood traffic flow this weekend:

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS – The southbound Adams Street service road (coming off of the Brooklyn Bridge) will be closed between Red Cross Place and Tillary Street on either Saturday or Sunday between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. in order to facilitate crane operation.

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS - Remsen Street will be closed between Clinton and Court Streets (near the area of Borough Hall) between 9:00 p.m. tonight and 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning to facilitate crane operation.

EAST WILLIAMSBURG – The Grand Avenue Bridge connecting East Williamsburg with Maspeth, Queens, will be closed either Saturday or Sunday between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to facilitate bridge maintenance.  NYCDOT is recommending using Metropolitan Avenue as an alternate route during this closure.

For additional information, simply dial 3-1-1.

The City of New York has formally announced plans to purchase property to expand the amusement area at Coney Island.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) announced that the City signed a contract with Thor Equities, the company at the center of a controversial plan to redevelop the area, to purchase 6.9 acres valued at $95.6 million.

City Council approved a zoning plan in July that would expand the amusement area to 12.5 acres within a new 27 acre amusement and entertainment district.  Thor Equities had proposed a major mixed-use development which would inlcude retail options and up to 5,000 new housing units.

Bloomberg claims that the proposal would generate $14 billion in economic activity for the City over the next 30 years and that 25,000 construction jobs and 6,000 permanent jobs would also be created as a result of the project.

“Coney Island’s amusement park will be owned by the public, and its future will be in the hands of New Yorkers who have cherished it for generations,” Bloomberg said at a press conference yesterday.  ”What’s more, today’s announcement means that we can move full-steam ahead with our plan to revitalize Coney Island – not only as America’s greatest seaside amusement park – but also as a vibrant community with thousands of new apartments and jobs.”

The New York City Economic Development Corporation released a request for proposal to potnential developers today.  The RFP states that bidders must include an operating plan for – at a minimum – the amusement park at the Astroland site at Surf Avenue between West 8th and West 10th Streets for next summer as well as an “enhanced visitor experience in keeping with Coney Island’s tradition of public access.”

The NYCEDC is also seeing proposals for two parcels of land bounded by Surf Avenue, West 15th Street, West 12th Street, and the Boardwalk.

VIDEO: Mayor Bloomberg’s press conference on Coney Island deal

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is planning service adjustments on several lines, including a shuttle bus though Brooklyn, due to scheduled construction work this weekend.  All service adjustments are effective from 12:01 a.m. Saturday until 5:00 a.m. Monday unless otherwise noted:

• Service on the (D) train will operate in local service between 36th Street/4th Avenue, Sunset Park, and DeKalb Street station, Fort Greene.
• Northbound (D) trains will operate over the (N) line (Sea Beach Branch) between Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station and 36th Street/4th Avenue; southbound (D) service between 36th Street and Coney Island is unaffected.  The re-routing is due to track panel installation north of 62nd Street.  The re-routing takes effect at 5:00 a.m. Saturday until 10:00 p.m. Sunday.
• Service on the (F) train will operate into two segments: Between Jamaica-179th Street, Queens, to Jay Street, Brooklyn Heights and between Church Avenue, Kensington to Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue.  The re-routing is effective between 11:30 p.m. Friday through 5:00 a.m. Monday.
• (G) train service will operate in two segments: Between Court Square, Long Island City, Queens and Bedford Avenue-Nostrand Avenue, Bedford-Stuyvesant and between Bedford-Nostrand and Hoyt-Schermerhorn station, Brooklyn Heights.
• (N) train service will operate local between 59th Street/4th Avenue, Sunset Park and DeKalb Avenue, Fort Greene, then operate via the Manhattan Bridge instead of the Montague Tunnel.
• (R) train service will operate in two segments: Between 34th Street-Herald Square, Manhattan, and Forest Hills-71st Avenue, Queens and between 36th Street/4th Avenue, Sunset Park and 95th Street-Bay Ridge; no subway service will operate between Canal Street, Lower Manhattan and DeKalb Street, Fort Greene.

A shuttle bus will be implemented between Jay Street and Church Avenue stations, serving Jay Street, Bergen Street, Carroll Street, Smith St/9th Street, 4th Avenue/9th Street, 7th Avenue/9th Street, 15th Street/Prospect Park, Fort Hamilton Parkway, and Church Avenue.

The service changes will be in effect from Friday evening through Monday morning.  The changes are in effect due to ongoing construction on the Culver Viaduct and for maintenance in the Montague Tunnel.  The (N) and (R) train adjustments are due to track work at Cortlandt Street, Manhattan.

For additional information and updates on this service adjustments, please call MTA New York City Transit at (718) 330-1234 or visit the official MTA web site: www.mta.info.

A late-night service adjustment is in effect for Queens-bound riders of the (N) train.

Late night service on the (N) that operates to Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, Queens via Lower Manhattan will be re-routed over the Manhattan Bridge, bypassing the Lawrence Street and Court Street stations in Brooklyn, and Whitehall Street, Rector Street, and City Hall stations in Lower Manhattan.

(N) train riders are asked to use the (4) train as an alternative. Straphangers who normally use the Lawrence Street and Court Street stations are asked to use the (4) train to Borough Hall station.

Passengers using the affected stations in Manhattan are asked to use the (4) train to the following stations: Whitehall Street passengers should use the Bowling Green station, Rector Street passengers should use the Wall Street-Broadway station, and City Hall passengers should use the Brooklyn Bridge station.

The service adjustment is in effect through November 20; weekday and weekend peak, mid-day, and early evening service on the (N) is not affected.

The NYPD and members of City Council are asking for the public’s assistance in searching for subjects involved in what is being described as a “hate crime” assault in the borough two months ago.

Officers from the 83rd Precinct recieved a report from a hispanic male that he had been assaulted while riding his bike along Broadway between Marcy Avenue, Williamsburg and Lafayette Avenue, Bushwick, between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on September 23.

The victim told police that 3-to-4 black males assaulted him with a blunt instrument, and that the perps had directed anti-Hispanic statements during the attack.  Police were not able to obtain a further description of the subjects.

The offices of Councilwoman Diana Reyna (D-Bushwick), Councilwoman Rosie Mendez (D-Lower Manhattan), Council President Christine Quinn (D), and Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez issued a joint statement condemning the attack:

“In the City of New York, hate incidents like these will not be tolerated.”

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS, text “577TIP” to CRIMES, or log on to NYPDCrimestoppers.com.