Although widely expected to open “right as Obama gives his speech”, as owner Robert Shapiro expressed to the Times, Brooklyn Bowl is no longer expected to finish on time for tomorrow’s opening.

Instead, according to Justin Bolognino, Media & Marketing Director of Brooklyn Bowl, expect the 16 bowling lane, Blue Ribbon restaurant and ‘Wetlands’-like rocknroll stage to debut in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in “1-2 months”.

Brooklyn Bowl is at 61 Wythe at N. 11th, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Top Video Games just launched and it looks like video game fanboys everywhere will be delighted to have a home for all manner of lists related to the best video games. We’re talking top rated, best selling, most critically acclaimed (like Grand Theft Auto 4, above, which just won Spike TV’s Video Games Award) Check ‘em out if you don’t mind pulling your hair over whether Zelda 2 was indeed an underrated classic video game.

Kent Ave is getting bike lanes, with work already completed on Kent Ave from Division St. to South 5th. With neighborhood groups, including long time residents, the Hasidim, complaining about lack of parking, we took a look back to Spring of ‘08 when the lanes were initially approved. There are two promises we’re not sure are being addressed in the implementation.

First, that the loss of 500 parking spaces on Kent would be made up for by “reclaiming” parking spaces in the neighborhood - this would be done by revisiting load zones, etc. to see what parking spaces can be taken back from street regulation.

Second, that the north/south bike lanes, in keeping with the design for the Brooklyn Greenway, would both be on the East River side of the street, with a protective, plant-filled buffer between the bicyclists and the semi-trucks that use Kent Ave. (see illustration below) Clearly this isn’t the case. Perhaps its a future upgrade and these more conventional bike lanes are temporary placeholders. Certainly, having a buffer would be a much safer way to bike and enjoy the waterfront. It would also be in keeping with the bike path that runs along the West Side Highway near Chelsea Piers.

photo: Kent Ave @ S. 8th.  PSE/The New York Herald.

illustration: proposed Bike path for Kent Ave, via Brownstoner

photo: “Neon” by roboppy

Yeh! The New York City real estate market should be among the first to bounce back, sometime in 2010, according to a report issued by accounting firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers and the Urban Land Institute. Their report, Trends in Real Estate 2009, which was released today, predicts that vacancies will rise, rents will decrease and lending problems will spread.

Industrial, retail markets, commercial and hotel real estate will all take a beating. Rentals is one bright spot, since those who can’t get a mortgage will invariably look for a place to rent, thus sustaining the market, even if the report did predict rent will still go down in response to the economic slowdown and financial credit crisis.

Other cities expected to bounce back relatively soon-ish include Seattle, L.A., Boston, Seattle and D.C. Apparently Miami, you didn’t make the cut, so hold on for dear life for the next couple of years.

photo: render of Domino Sugar condo development, slated to open sometime after the housing market picks back up, according to PriceWaterhouseCooper.

Domino Sugar - or the new owners of the famous American sugar refinery in South Williamsburg, decided to open up the waterfront to its neighbors this afternoon. Hundreds of residents showed up, kids and cameras in tow, to take advantage of the rare view. It was also good P.R. as 4′x5′ posters showed off renditions of what a future Domino Sugar condo park would look like.

It may take a while, but thanks to neighborhood groups, including the Open Space Alliance and architectural preservationists, the building’s exterior will essentially be preserved, even as a high-tech condo is built from within.

photos: PSE via crappy iPhone camera

This Sunday, Domino Sugar is having an “open house” for the community to check out their space and views. The ad says “dominos” will be provided, along with light refreshments. Check it out this Sunday between 2PM - 6PM on Kent Ave at South 2nd St. in the 11211.

Two graphic designers, Derick Holt, 30, and Milton Carter, 33, of Greenpoint, believe that calling a Russian Orthodox Cathedral Church a “Mosque” is funny, in an ironic hipster kind of way. Along the way they’ve managed to do two things - upset the proud sensibilities of a 100 year old Russian Orthodox Church, and achieve a mild odor of fame for their efforts.

Unfortunately they’ll be remembered for insisting on TV that because a Google image search for “McCarren Park Mosque” yields images of the Church, they might as well go ahead and start calling it a Mosque. Um, ok. Apparently this is the state of ironic hipster humor. Let’s hope Derick and Milton save the money they make hawking these colorful totes, and travel the world a bit. Moscow might be a good first stop. Or, assuming Brooklynites are too broke to buy anything this factually “ironic”, we recommend the pair simply do a Google image search for “russian orthodox church“. Yes, the resemblance is striking.

Yet she may have calculated that working along the high-powered Mayor was smarter than opposing him, the way Anthony Wiener has chosen to.   Mayor Bloomberg has also been generous with praise for Quinn over the years.  Her profile has certainly increased by working with and not against the popular billionaire mayor.

Quinn’s decision tonight was understandable and widely expected, but her week-long “no comment” reaction to Bloomberg’s announcement is somewhat disconcerting. Quinn didn’t make a decision out of political ideology tonight - she made it out of political loyalty, and it took her a long time to do it.