We’ve rounded up the top stories of the week in Brooklyn, including the announcement of new NYC Ferry routes coming in December, the federal government letting Mayor Adam’s last-ditch plans for a BQE overhaul expire, the closures of Colonie in Brooklyn Heights and Hildur in DUMBO, the opening of Ziggy’s Roman Café, with pizza, cocktails, and a play space for kids in DUMBO, and the reopening of Park Slope’s Barnes and Noble with an expanded kids’ section. Read on for the latest!
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NYC Ferry will launch new routes on December 8
NYC Ferry announced that system upgrades will take effect December 8, bringing more rides, faster service, and several new connections. The East River will now have two all-day routes, and Brooklyn will gain new links to Staten Island and Manhattan’s west side. The South Brooklyn route will offer direct service to Midtown, plus added weekend connections between Sunset Park, Bay Ridge, and Red Hook. Soundview and Rockaway will merge into one route, giving Rockaway and Sunset Park riders a one-seat ride to Midtown and East 90th Street. And a Rockaway shuttle bus will now run during weekday peak hours and on summer weekends.
Federal government will not advance controversial BQE overhaul
The U.S. Department of Transportation will not advance the city’s $4 billion plan for the deteriorating Triple Cantilever section of the BQE in Brooklyn Heights. Earlier proposals included demolishing the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and building a temporary bypass highway. The Adams administration had been pushing to finalize a redesign before Zohran Mamdani takes office, but local officials and community groups—long critical of the plan’s transparency and scope—are welcoming the pause. The redesign has been in the works for more than a decade,with no progress made under Adams.
Colonie in Brooklyn Heights & Hildur in DUMBO are closing their doors
The owners of Colonie in Brooklyn Heights and Hildur in DUMBO have announced that both restaurants will shut their doors this month. Hildur, which offered a new Scandinavian concept in the former space of the Mexican Gran Eléctrica, will close on Saturday, November 15. Colonie will have its last service on Sunday, November 30 after close to 14 years one Atlantic Avenue. The owners also closed their wine bar Pips, also on Atlantic Avenue, earlier this fall.
Ziggy’s Roman Café has opened in DUMBO with a play area for kids
Ziggy’s Roman Café is now open in DUMBO! Founded by husband-and-wife team Helen Zhang and Igor Hadzismajlovic (co-founder of Employees Only), the restaurant is designed for families, offering a place where parents can relax over a meal and cocktails while kids enjoy a mezzanine play area stocked with sensory toys. The two-level space includes a bar, ground-floor dining room, and upstairs seating and play zone. The menu features Roman-style pizzas, classic pastas like Cacio e Pepe and Carbonara, Artichokes alla Romana, crostini, salumi and cheeses, and dishes such as fennel agrodolce sausage and grilled skirt steak. The cocktail list includes martinis, bellinis, and other signature and low-ABV options. Located at 15 Main Street, Ziggy’s is open Wednesday–Sunday, 5-10pm, with more hours coming soon. Walk-ins welcome.
Barnes and Noble has reopened in Park Slope
The Barnes and Noble bookstore at 267 7th Avenue in Park Slope was closed for an extended period for renovations, but reopened this week. The 23,500-square-foot store will now have a expanded kids’ section, with tons of books, games and toys for young readers. The store also has a cafe and will host author and book signing events. They are open Monday-Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday 9am-8pm, and Sunday 10am-7pm.
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Updated: November 15, 2025. Main Image: Ziggy’s Roman Café in DUMBO.
