Brooklyn’s biggest stories of the week: Ariana Grande made Barclays history; World Cup Final watch parties popped up across Brooklyn; Red Hook Pool finally reopened; heat wave, Canadian wildfires and thunderstorms challenged outdoor summer fun; a teenager was injured in a Bed-Stuy shooting; police made an arrest in the moped chain-snatching spree; a Brooklyn Heights townhouse set the year’s price record; Riverside tenants demanded repairs; Sichuan dim sum favorite Breeze signed on at The Ashland; a pizza-and-wine bar readied on Atlantic Avenue; weekend focaccia landed in Red Hook; parents got their say on smaller class sizes; and the Liberty, Nets, Cyclones and Brooklyn FC kept summer sports humming. Read on for the latest!
Events & Entertainment
Spain wins the World Cup 2026
Spain defeated defending champion Argentina in overtime! Brooklyn buzzed with public viewing events and celebrations!
World Cup Fun at Atlantic Terminal Mall Plaza
Brooklyn Bridge Parents and Atlantic Terminal Mall hosted free World Cup Fun for families on Sunday as part of the Summer Series for families. Next up: Back to School Bash on August 29. RSVP here.
Ariana Grande makes Barclays history
Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine Tour parked at Barclays Center for five nights this week (July 13–19) — the longest run by a female artist in the venue’s history, complete with a “BKLYN ❤️S ARI” flyover and pastel takeover of Atlantic Terminal. It was her only NYC-area stop.
City Hall
Red Hook Pool reopens
At last: after repairs kept it dry all season, the Olympic-size Red Hook Pool reopened Saturday, July 18. Adult lap swim started Monday, July 20 at 7 a.m. Pack the towels.
Extreme weather tests Brooklyn
A short but intense heat wave hit the borough mid-week, sending families to pools, sprinklers and cooling centers. Wildfire smoke from Canada drifted into the city and Saturday was hit with intense rainfall and thunderstorms.
Police Blotter
Teen injured in Bed-Stuy shooting
A 17-year-old boy was shot in the arm in front of 63 Jefferson Avenue just before 10 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14. He was taken to Kings County Hospital and is expected to recover. The investigation is ongoing.
Arrest made in moped chain-snatching spree
Police arrested one of two men suspected of 29 daytime robberies across Brooklyn and Queens since mid-June — most of them necklaces snatched off pedestrians by a duo on a moped. The second suspect is still being sought; until then, consider keeping chains tucked in.
Real Estate & Development
Brooklyn Heights townhouse sets 2026 price record
A historic townhouse at 192 Columbia Heights sold off-market for $24.5 million — the borough’s priciest residential sale of the year, and reportedly among the highest in Brooklyn history.
Riverside tenants demand repairs
Rent-stabilized tenants of the landmarked 1890 Riverside Apartments in Brooklyn Heights rallied this week over rodents, mold and crumbling stairs, citing dozens of open violations at 10 Columbia Place as roughly 20 families fight eviction proceedings in housing court.
Openings & Closings
Breeze bringing its Sichuan dim sum to The Ashland
Greenpoint favorite Breeze has signed a 15-year lease at 590 Fulton Street in Fort Greene, joining Peaches Prime and Fulton Hall at the base of The Ashland. The new location — expected to open this fall — will be the restaurant’s flagship.
Frenzie nearly ready on Atlantic Avenue
Signage went up at 129 Atlantic Avenue for Frenzie, a vintage-inspired pizza-and-wine bar from the team behind neighboring Confidant. No opening date yet, but it’s close.
Weekend focaccia lands in Red Hook
Red Hook Focacceria is now open Saturdays and Sundays at 421 Van Brunt Street, baking small batches of long-fermented focaccia with Italian flour. Quantities are limited — go early.
Schools
Parents can weigh in on smaller class sizes through July 28
Public hearings on the city’s Class Size Reduction Plan — the roadmap to the state’s 25-students-or-fewer mandate, backed by $1.5 billion in new capital funds — continue through July 28. Brooklyn parents who want a say in how it rolls out can find details on the NYC Public Schools site.
Sports
On the Court
The Liberty’s Jonquel Jones was named to the WNBA All-Star Game (July 26 in Chicago), joining Breanna Stewart, as the defending Commissioner’s Cup champions use the break to get healthy for a playoff push. Meanwhile in Las Vegas, Nets rookies Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Dëmin have been lighting up Summer League, powering wins over the Knicks and Kings.
On the Diamond
The Cyclones returned to Maimonides Park this weekend, hosting the Hudson Valley Renegades July 17–19 fresh off the All-Star break.
On the Pitch
Brooklyn FC battled to a 1-1 draw at Rhode Island before bowing out of the USL Cup in a penalty shootout — a gutsy finish to the club’s cup run. The squad returns home July 25 against San Antonio.
Do you want all local parenting news in your inbox? Sign up for our weekly newsletter now!
