Day: August 5, 2025

The smell of hot dogs, the crack of a bat, and the unmistakable thump of the “Seinfeld” theme song echoing through the stadium could only mean one thing: Seinfeld Night was back at Maimonides Park.

The Brooklyn Cyclones hosted their 10th annual Seinfeld Night on Saturday, transforming their Coney Island ballpark into a celebration of one of New York’s most iconic television shows. And once again, fans responded in full force. Tickets sold out quickly, bringing together a diverse crowd of Seinfeld enthusiasts who embraced the spirit of the night through creative costumes and passionate fandom

Originally launched in 2014 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the “Seinfeld” premiere, the event has since evolved into a full-scale fan festival, complete with themed promotions, giveaways, and interactive contests that blend baseball with sitcom nostalgia.

“We don’t miss this,” said Michael, 42, who drove in from Pennsylvania for the second year in a row. “I’ve been a ‘Seinfeld’ fan since high school. When I heard about this a couple years ago, I knew I had to experience it. Honestly, it’s not about the game at all, it’s the vibe, chilling with everyone, and how much we all love the show.”.

Fans arriving early were greeted with one of the night’s biggest draws, a limited-edition Kramer bobblehead modeled after his famous portrait. Inside the park, between-inning contests paid tribute to memorable moments from the series, including a Junior Mint toss, a “Little Kicks” Elaine-inspired dance-off, and a race involving Snickers bars eaten with knife and fork.

“It’s just one of those perfect New York events,” said Leah from Long Island, who attended with her fiancé.“There’s something about sitting at a ballpark on a summer night, surrounded by people quoting your favorite show. It’s silly, but it’s kind of magical, too.”

The Cyclones wanted to bring together local pride and love for the show when they started the event. Billy Harner, the team’s assistant general manager and the creator of Seinfeld Night, said the idea was born out of a breakfast conversation and grew quickly from there.

The inaugural event crashed the Cyclones’ website due to overwhelming demand. It’s now considered one of Minor League Baseball’s most successful themed nights, one that regularly attracts national media attention and international visitors.

One fan, visiting from Toronto, described Seinfeld Night as a bucket-list experience.

“I’ve seen every episode a dozen times, but being here, seeing people in full costume, hearing people shout quotes across the stadium, it makes the show feel alive in a different way.”

As the sun dipped behind the boardwalk and the Cyclones faced off against the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, fans continued to dance, laugh, and recite their favorite one-liners. For many, it was never really about the score. It was about stepping into the world of “Seinfeld,” if only for an evening, and finding thousands of others who wanted to do the same.

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NEW YORK CITY PARKS is set to reconstruct St. Mark’s Playground, on St. Marks Avenue between Kingston and Albany avenues.

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MTA NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT MTA reopened the Clark Street 2 and 3 subway in Brooklyn Heights at 7:28 a.m. on Tuesday, following a closure.

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NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL Letitia James continues her crackdown on gyms and health clubs with misleading cancellation policies.

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THE CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION is holding a special virtual information session Tuesday, Aug. 5 via Zoom at 6 p.m.

The post Learn about the NYC Charter Revision questions Tuesday night appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

For his craft, New York City is the only canvas big enough.

Hundreds of protesters gathered at Grand Army Plaza in Park Slope on Aug. 3 to for the “Families Stand Up for Gaza” rally calling for for an immediate opening of humanitarian corridors, a U.S. arms embargo on Israel, and an end to American military aid — part of growing pressure from progressive groups amid the war in Gaza.

After the rally, more than a dozen protesters — including New York State Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes — were arrested by NYPD officers for blocking traffic with banners in a coordinated act of civil disobedience.

The rally was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace-NYC, UAW Region 9A, the New York City Democratic Socialists of America, and Brooklyn Families for Palestine. It took place a block from the residence of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Prospect Park West. Protesters called on Schumer and fellow lawmakers — Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Reps. Hakeem Jeffries and Dan Goldman — to end their support for Israel.

On July 30, Schumer and Gillibrand voted against a proposal from Sen. Bernie Sanders to block the sale of U.S. bombs and firearms to Israel — though a majority of Senate Democrats backed the measure. Both senators cited Israel’s right to self-defense and the need to maintain pressure on Hamas to release hostages as reasons for opposing the proposal.

State sen. Jabari Brisport noted the contrast between the rally in Brooklyn and the crisis in Gaza, noting that many families with young children were able to enjoy a “beautiful” summer day.

“But thousands of miles away in Gaza, the children are not so lucky,” Brisport said. “In Gaza, the children don’t know where their next meal is going to come from. Their schools have been destroyed, their homes leveled, their hospitals erased.”

Brisport criticized Schumer, Gillibrand, and Jeffries for “gleefully signing off on billions of dollars of weapons of war and destruction.”

“We watched you do this for nearly the past two years,” Brisport said. “But I want you to notice all the new voices that are coming out to say that the starvation that is happening in Gaza is immoral, is unjust, is horrific, and must be stopped.”

Mitaynes said that remaining silent was equivalent to complicity.

“I refuse to be complicit,” Mitaynes stated. “The people of Gaza are not dying because this world doesn’t know. They are dying because of political leaders, including Democratic leadership here in New York.”

Former congress member Jamaal Bowman also condemned Schumer and Gillibrand’s rejection of Sanders’ proposal, questioning their “moral leadership.”

“How do you vote against Senator Sanders’ bill to stop weapons from going into Israel at the same time as you watch children starving to death right in front of you?” Bowman asked. “We are at an inflection point in human history. What we do now will determine what happens for generations to come.”

Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led terror attack that killed about 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in the abduction of more than 200 hostages. According to Israeli officials, 50 hostages remain in Gaza, only 20 of whom are believed to be alive — among them Israeli hostage Evyatar David.

On Aug. 2, Hamas released a video showing David emaciated and digging a hole he said was intended to be his own grave. France, Canada, Germany, the U.K., and the U.S. expressed outrage in response. According to Reuters, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the United Nations Security Council will hold a special session Tuesday morning to address the hostage crisis in Gaza.

In an address on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the video convinced him that Hamas does not want a deal.

“They want to break us through these horrific videos, through the false horror propaganda it spreads around the world. But we will not break,” Netanyahu said, according to the Jerusalem Post. “I am filled with even stronger determination to free our kidnapped sons, to eliminate Hamas, and to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to the State of Israel.”

Meanwhile, Israeli strikes killed 33 aid-seekers in Gaza on Aug. 3, according to local health authorities. Israel has denied targeting civilians at aid sites, claiming that soldiers fired warning shots to maintain order around distribution centers run by a U.S.- and Israel-backed private organization. Israeli officials have acknowledged the severe humanitarian challenges in Gaza but say their military operations aim to neutralize Hamas’s capabilities and protect Israeli civilians from ongoing rocket attacks.

International organizations such as the United Nations have repeatedly called for unhindered access to food, water, and medical supplies for Gaza’s civilians, emphasizing the urgent need to balance humanitarian relief with security concerns.

Eon Huntley, a member of DSA, said he and others were emotionally overwhelmed by the ongoing crisis.

“All of us out here are really, really just broken up where we can’t even sometimes go a day without crying and losing it just because of what we’re seeing and what our government is doing to the Palestinian people right now,” Huntley said.

Gloria Mattera, co-chair of the Green Party of New York, attended Sunday’s rally to protest the starvation of children in Gaza, the Israeli occupation, and U.S. funding of the Israeli government.

“Schumer, Gillibrand, Jeffries, and Goldman, they all need to be voted out,” Mattera said. “In terms of what needs to be done immediately, people need to be given food, water, and medical attention, because at this point, the starvation is pretty serious. But the real solution is that Israel as an occupying force must end.”

A spokesperson for Schumer’s office referred Brooklyn Paper to a letter that 40 Democratic senators — including Schumer and Gillibrand — sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steven Witkoff on July 29.

In the letter, the senators called for renewed ceasefire talks, the release of Israeli hostages, opposition to the displacement of Palestinians, and an end to Hamas rule in Gaza. They also advocated for expanded humanitarian aid delivered through trusted organizations.

“With recent efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas being unsuccessful, the situation in Gaza remains perilous. Efforts to secure an agreement are as critical and urgent as ever and we urge the resumption of good-faith talks as quickly as possible. While we appreciate that additional aid is beginning to enter Gaza, the humanitarian situation remains dire,” the letter reads. “Yet there still remains a viable pathway to end this war, bring home Israeli hostages, and achieve a diplomatic resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

Reps for Jeffries and Goldman did not respond to requests for comment.