It’s officially Spring, and nothing screams ‘romance’ quite like inscribing your desire to have unprotected sex w/ the object of your affections in sidewalk cement.

Ever since Bay Ridge ranked #2 among New York’s top 5 graffiti’d nabes of ’07, ‘Graffitti Free NYC’ has stepped up efforts across our community to erase all evidence of that dubious honor.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg will introduce Senator John McCain at a small business round-table luncheon, this afternoon, 12:45pm – at none other than 5th avenue’s luxurious Bay Ridge Manor.

*The official location of the luncheon is not at the Bay Ridge Manor as originally reported by WNBC TV this morning, who now report on their website it’s at the office of a local ‘window distributor.’ Sources maintain however that the actual luncheon is ‘undisclosed’ for security reasons.

Among those likely to be on hand greeting the Republican Presidential nominee: State Senator Marty Golden, New York Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long, Congressman Vito Fossella and Richard Martin .

update: NY Observer:

John Turnbull, the owner of Windows We Are, Inc. in Bay Ridge, where John McCain is set to deliver a speech with an introduction by Michael Bloomberg, just told me he’s a Democrat and voted for Al Gore in 2004.

But being a Democrat in Bay Ridge is sort of like being a Republican on the Upper West Side.

When I asked if he thought Bloomberg would make a good vice presidential candidate, he smiled politely and said he didn’t know.

Walking by in a blue suit and green tie was George Prezioso, a vice chairman of the G.O.P. in Brooklyn. He told me he thinks McCain needs a vice president with strong conservative credentials, like Charlie Crist, the governor of Florida.

So, not Bloomberg, I said.

“He’s a Democrat,” he said.

John’s Deli, rumored to be opening this past Saturday, appears to have officially opened their doors today – according to one neighborhood tipster.
With John’s conveniently situated just a couple blocks north of Bay Ridge’s Little Cupcake, and south of a handful of new brick 0ven pizzerias – 3rd avenue is shaping up to be an epicurean showdown to win the waistlines of the Bay Ridge hungry.
You don’t need to be Faith Popcorn to know what Bay Ridgites will be doing this summer – getting fat & burnin’ calories – as Bay Ridge’s Caloric Industrial Complex: John’s, brick oven pizza, and NYSC prepares to reign supreme.

According to the New York Post: a Bay Ridge woman is suing popular Bay Ridge salon, Pilo Arts, for allegedly botching her ‘Brazilian Bikini Wax.’

‘Jessica Iburg claims she needed treatment from a doctor after visiting the Pilo Arts spa in June 2006, according to court papers.’

‘Brazilian Bikini Waxing‘ is described as: ‘the complete removal of hair from the buttocks… adjacent to the anus, perineum, vulva…’

While the extent of Jessica’s injuries are unknown, experts say it’s always the emotional scaring that takes the longest to heal.

Pilo Arts owner Jude LaBarca said he couldn’t comment, but pointed to community awards the salon has received.

In 2000, Pilo Arts received a certificate of recognition after celebrating the LPGA’s 50th anniversary by transforming one Bay Ridge woman’s pubic area into a scale replica of the 18th hole at Pebble Beach.

Richard Martin could not be reached for comment.

On last night’s edition of Fox 5 News at 10, reporter Toni Senecal – channeling all the insanity of the crypt keeper herself, Penny Crone, and the vocal stylings of Jack Buck – appears to have barged into the Little Cupcake Bake Shop, ate a whole bunch of cupcakes, the rest gets hazy from then on.
Toni and the gang eventually took the show on down the road to Nino’s Pizzerria, where Sencal – who may have a future in TV should she ditched the Annie Hall outfit – proceeded to make television history by concluding her Bay Ridge cupcake piece interviewing a friend in Pennsylvania over a cellphone.

The only thing less scary, probably could have been Richard Martin.

watch it here

While Bay Ridge will undoubtedly have to take the loss of its beloved Green Church on the chin, when it comes to last year’s three fallen Victorians – Basile Builders gave it to Bay Ridge up the ass.

9 new units of “townhouse living” on the site of the three fallen Bay Ridge Victorians – bought last year by Basile Builders with a very public promise to restore – are rounding completion.

They will no doubt import lots of ‘savvy’ first time buyers who think $400/ sq ft is a ‘deal’ in Bay Ridge.

*based on comparable asking prices of other Basile projects in Bay Ridge, specifically Cento and the townhouses on 92nd street betweeen 3rd and 4th: $/sq ft could be anywhere from $500 – 520.