A miniature plastic teddy bear sits atop a stuffed teddy bear. Photo: Dario Lopez-Mills/AP
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The Lede: What is it about the teddy bear that has kept children wrapped around its furry paws for over a century? The quintessential American toy started in 1902 as just clothing scraps and sawdust stitched together by Morris and Rose Michtom, Jewish candy store owners in Brooklyn.
The Rundown
Building workers authorize citywide strike with Mamdani’s support: Roughly 1.5 million New York City residential tenants may be left holding the bag — that is, the garbage bag — after members of 32BJ SEIU on Wednesday voted at a Park Avenue rally to authorize a strike, if a new contract agreement isn’t reached by the end of Monday.
Brooklyn beginnings: How the teddy bear became a childhood treasure: “Nothing says childhood better than a teddy bear,” says Michael Kimmel, author of “Playmakers: The Jewish Entrepreneurs Who Created the Toy Industry in America” and Morris Michtom’s great-great-nephew. “It’s an utterly genderless toy. It is embraced by both boys and girls.”
MLB celebrates Brooklyn Dodgers great Jackie Robinson: Major League Baseball honored Brooklyn Dodgers icon Jackie Robinson on Wednesday with every player, coach and umpire wearing his No. 42 to mark the 79th anniversary of the infielder breaking the sport’s color barrier.
Brooklyn Bookstore Crawl begins Saturday: For one week, participating bookstores will give visitors a “passport,” which can be used to redeem rewards at the shops and keep track of how many bookstores one visits.
NYPD detectives punch wrong man during Boerum Hill drug bust: The plainclothes NYPD detectives, assigned to the Brooklyn North narcotics unit, mistook the man for an accomplice of an alleged crack dealer.
Narrows Community Theater celebrates its 55th season with production of ‘Brigadoon’: The Narrows Community Theater is gearing up for its latest production, “Brigadoon.” The musical will be running at the theater from April 24 to May 3.
2 former USPS workers sentenced in Brooklyn for stealing tax refunds, Social Security checks: From June 2021 through August 2023, the two men worked with others to steal parcels containing the checks, valued at more than $4 million, then sold them for a portion of their face value.
Our world in photos: Birds, balls, branches and more.
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Our World in Photos
MAINE — A female eastern bluebird brings pine needles to her nest in Freeport. Photo: Robert F. Bukaty/AP
More Brooklyn News
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Staff Picks
READ: "The California town with less than 30 residents begging for young people to move in" (SFGATE)
EAT: Here are 17 must-visit brunch spots in New York City, including seven in Brooklyn. (Eater)
CARTOON: A new toy. (Brooklyn Eagle)
LIVE: "Emma Straub’s Guide to Her ‘Tiny Village’ of Brooklyn" (Vogue)
The Wrap
⌛ ON THIS DAY
In 1937, the Eagle reported, "A unique exhibit of life-size wax figures depicting the coronation of King George VI was opened for public view today at Abraham and Straus." Click here to see what else happened on this day in history.
📔 IMPRINT
British actor Carey Mulligan graces the latest cover of The Hollywood Reporter.
👑 ROYAL WATCH
"Meghan Markle: I was the most trolled person in the world" (The Telegraph)
🏀 SPORTS
Liberty bring Betnijah Laney-Hamilton back (Brooklyn Eagle)
Spice Girl Victoria Beckham
“Alias” star Jennifer Garner
Former Pentatonix member Avi Kaplan
Former N.Y. Jets quarterback Boomer Esiason
“Romeo and Juliet” star Olivia Hussey
Click here to see a full list of birthdays!
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Brooklyn Today’s editor is Scott Enman. Contact him at [email protected].