New York City already has four huge Apple stores, which are doing fine keeping the city's residents stocked with overpriced pieces of metal. But that's not good enough for Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz. He's begging Steve Jobs for an Apple Store.
• Glenn Beck has put his house in New Canaan, Connecticut on the market. And he's preparing to take a loss on the sale. The right-wing Fox News host (and gold pitchman) has listed the 8,720-square-foot, six-bedroom home for $3.999 million, which is a quarter of a million dollars less than what he paid for the 2.87-acre estate back in 2005. [Real Estalker, LLR]
• The former Dakota residence of the late model/actress Ruth Ford is now on the market. The three-bedroom co-op, which Ford used to host the likes of Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, Edward Albee and Terrence McNally over the years, is up for sale for $7.5 million. [Cityfile, Corcoran]
• An unidentified "Manhattanite couple" has reportedly gone into contract to buy two duplex penthouses at 166 Perry Street. The apartments had been listed together for a combined $24 million. [Curbed, Corcoran]
• Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz and his wife, Jamie, have paid $1.45 million for a two-story home in Windsor Terrace. [NYDN]
"Spike Lee is organizing a block party-style celebration in Brooklyn to mark Michael Jackson's birthday. The filmmaker's bash in Kings County for the late King of Pop will be on Aug. 29, when Jackson would have turned 51." Naturally, Marty Markowitz, Brooklyn's useless borough president, plans to be fully involved with the planned celebration. He will proclaim that Aug. 29 is officially "Michael Jackson Day"—in Brooklyn, at least. [AP]
Scene: At the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival in DUMBO on Saturday. Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz takes the stage for his mandatory media-whoring opportunity, and starts shouting out Brooklyn and the headlining act, KRS-ONE (who's actually from the Bronx). "K..R.. uh.. K-R-So- One!" says Markowitz (A WHITE GUY, LOL). Later, KRS-ONE is on stage doing his rock-the-vote bit. "Y'all heard from the Bronx Borough president..." he says. BURN, MARKOWITZ.
Marty Markowitz
Reactions to the MTA's proposed fare hike ($2.25/ride, unspecified increases to monthly and weekly metrocards, and higher prices for LIRR and Metro-North tix): "Hell no," "I find it ridiculous," and "Ladies and gentlemen, fuhgeddaboutit!" (that last from Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. Does he have any other purpose?). The increase will most likely happen anyway, starting early next year. Because you don't matter. [NYP]
Bad news: Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz — the jovial Kings County booster whose accomplishments include installing a "Leaving Brooklyn, Oy Vey!" sign at the Williamsburg Bridge — suffered what we're told was a heart attack over the weekend or this morning. (His office is saying only that a stent was installed.
Not that anyone who knows anything about Brooklyn politics would have bet against this hondler, but, almost two years after Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz first proposed the idea, he's finally getting his way. The city's Department of Transportation two weeks ago approved a sign now posted on the Williamsburg Bridge, directed at Manhattan-bound drivers: "Leaving Brooklyn; Oy Vey!"
